Week 2 Fantasy Football Start/Sit & Waivers
And just like that, we are already heading into Week 2 of the fantasy football season! Week 1 brought us plenty of highs, including some big fantasy performances by guys like Kyler Murray, Amari Cooper & Tyreek Hill, but also plenty of lows with the season-ending injury to Raheem Mostert plus tough starts for guys like Aaron Rodgers & Ronald Jones with his infamous negative fantasy outing.
So if you're looking for some guidance on which guys you should start and sit, @K_H_Ray, @ZTwiceFF, & @MattFFDynasty have you covered with their weekly Start/Sit article. Here's to a successful Week 2...
Quarterback
Starts
Start Of The Week
Aaron Rodgers Vs DET (@ZTwiceFF)
The season could not have started any worse for Green Bay and Rodgers. His time off did not seem to do him any good as he wasn't able to get into a rhythm. Who better to expect a comeback from than Aaron against Detroit. He's motivated to prove he hasn't lost a step and is playing a team that just allowed 314 yards to Jimmy G. I expect Rodgers to come back in a big way, looking a lot closer to his MVP self.
Baker Mayfield Vs HOU (@MattFFDynasty)
Mayfield had a quiet Week 1 where, despite throwing for 321 yards, he failed to throw a single TD, yet did have 1 INT. And It was the CLE run game that dominated against KC in this exciting Week 1 game. However, Baker has an opportunity to have a fantasy bounce back this week against HOU who allowed rookie QB Trevor Lawrence to throw for 332 yards and 3 TDs. Mayfield sadly won't have star WR Odell Beckham Jr back this week but the signs are Mayfield should have an improved Week 2 performance.
Russell Wilson Vs TEN (@K_H_Ray)
Wilson did whatever he wanted to on Sunday against the Colts -- 18/23 (78% comp!), 254 yds, 4TDs. Russ always seems to put up great numbers early in the season, and I expect the train to keep rollin' when Tennessee comes to town this weekend. If Kyler Murray's line against them last week is any indication (21/32, 289 PaYd, 4TD, 1INT - 20 RdYd, 1TD), Wilson should be a start, with confidence.
Sits
Sit of the Week
Matt Ryan ATL @ TB (@MattFFDynasty)
Ryan struggled Week 1 with only 164 passing yards and 0 TDs against what should have been a gettable Eagles defense. This week he gets the Bucs, who may have been involved in a shootout against DAL Week 1, but this ATL offense looked nowhere near the threat that the high powered DAL offense looked last week. The matchup may be enticing, but there’s clearly work to be done on this offense under new HC Arthur Smith and I’d avoid Ryan until there are signs of it turning around.
Tua Tagovailoa MIA Vs BUF (@K_H_Ray)
A 3 yard touchdown run salvaged what was an otherwise mediocre fantasy day for Tua. He threw for 202 yards, one TD and an INT against a good Patriots defense on Sunday. This week he'll face the Bills who just held Big Ben to under 200 yards passing in a tough loss at home. This Buffalo D is no joke. Unless Tua is able to make some magic with his legs, he'll be in for a long day.
Carson Wentz IND Vs LAR (@ZTwiceFF)
Wentz looked pretty good in week 1 posting a respectable stat line of 25/38, 251 yards, and 2 TD's. Unfortunately this week he's up against the Rams defense that held the Bears offense last week to just over 200 yards in the air with no TD's. With no true #1 WR to work with, I'm not expecting much for the passing offense of Indianapolis.
Running Back
Starts
Start Of The Week
Najee Harris PIT Vs LV (@MattFFDynasty)
Harris had a somewhat average Week 1 with just 45 rushing yards and 4 receiving yards, however it was against a strong Bills defense that contained both the Steelers rushing and passing game for the most part. The eye opening thing for Harris was that he saw 100% of the RBs snaps, in his NFL debut too! That kind of usage against a much weaker Raiders defense Week 2 should lead to a much more successful afternoon for PIT and their RB Najee Harris this week.
Kareem Hunt CLE Vs HOU (@K_H_Ray)
Don't let James Robinson's numbers fool you. The Jags were down early against the Texans and had to air it out. Both Robinson and Carlos Hyde still averaged approx. 5 yards per carry. Enter the Browns who face the same Texans during their home opener in Week 2. Cleveland will look to control the game using their superior ground attack, including Hunt who went for 3 receptions, 61 total yards and a touchdown against Kansas City. I like Kareem to be heavily involved in the air and on the ground.
Melvin Gordon/Javonte Williams DEN @ JAX (@ZTwiceFF)
Jacksonville allowed three different RBs to have fantasy relevant weeks against the Texans. Now, especially with Jerry Jeudy going down, Denver will look to establish the run and will likely have a positive game script against a bad Jaguars team. Gordon and Williams split time pretty evenly last week and will both have value with high upside this week.
Sits
Sit of the Week
Mike Davis ATL @ TB (@ZTwiceFF)
I don't feel like I need to say much here. The Tampa Bay run defense looked elite in week 1 shutting down Ezekiel Elliott. The Falcons will likely be playing from behind for most of the game and turn away from the running game.
Myles Gaskin MIA Vs BUF (@MattFFDynasty)
Gaskin was the clear lead RB Week 1 for MIA with a RB20 performance including 9 carries for 49 yards and 5 receptions for 27 yards. This week though he faces a Bills defense that contained PIT in Week 1 and looked really strong against both the pass and rush. He will need to see plenty of targets again this week or his floor could be very low, making him a risky option Vs BUF. Temper expectations this week with a more favourable matchup coming Week 3 vs the Raiders.
James Robinson JAX Vs DEN (@K_H_Ray)
Negative game script contributed to a lack-luster Week 1 performance for Robinson. Week 2 it's the tough Broncos defense that's likely to give him fits. To open the season, the Broncos held NYG running backs to 46 total yards (pass + rush), and 2.4 rush yards per attempt. I like the season long outlook for Robinson, but this week I have him as a low end RB2.
Wide Receiver
Starts
Start Of The Week
Allen Robinson CHI Vs CIN (@ZTwiceFF)
It would be unfair to judge Robinson solely for his week 1 statline against the Rams. He was often covered by Jalen Ramsey and Nagy did not have him running any routes beyond 10 yards due to Aaron Donald rushing up the middle. Facing the Bengals, I expect a bounce back week for the main target in this offense, with the chance for Justin Fields to have more playing time raising the ceiling of the entire offense.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling GB Vs DET (@MattFFDynasty)
What a disappointing Week 1 performance by the Packers and heartache for fantasy managers with any of them on their rosters. This Week they face DET who allowed the 49ers to rack up 41 points against them, so a bounce back should be expected and while most will look towards Davante Adams, MVS is a guy to consider too. He actually out targeted Adams (7) with 1 more target (8) last week. So if he can continue that involvement into Week 2, MVS could be in line for a potential boom week with DET also losing their young star CB Jeff Okudah for the season.
Mike Williams LAC Vs DAL (@K_H_Ray)
If not for Keenan Allen's 13 targets, Mike Williams' 12 would have been the headline coming out of the Chargers 20-16 victory over Washington. Now healthy and with a full offseason of work with Justin Herbert, Williams could be shaping into the player we've been dreaming of since his name was called on draft day. With 8 receptions, 82 yards and 1 TD in Week 1, Williams will look to do it again against Dallas who gave up 250 yards in the air against the Bucs.
Sits
Sit of the Week
Russell Gage ATL @ TB (@K_H_Ray)
Man, it's hard to trust anything going on in Atlanta right now. It's too soon to hit the panic button on Gage. After all, it was just Week 1 (a really bad Week 1 - zero receptions on just 2 targets). He's locked in as WR2 for Atlanta and ran plenty of routes. But until this offense can put together a decent showing, I'm fading any Falcon not named Ridley, especially against the Buccaneers in Week 2.
Kenny Golladay NYG @ WAS (@MattFFDynasty)
Despite the injury worries, Golladay had a respectable Week 1 with 4 receptions for 64 yards. However, he actually finished 3rd in NYG targets behind both Shepard and Slayton so there is clearly going to be plenty of target competition moving forward for Golladay. This week they play the tough WAS defense that could cause NYG weak O-Line plenty of problems with their strong pass rush, not allowing QB Daniel Jones to find his big downfield threat, Kenny Golladay.
Will Fuller MIA Vs BUF (@ZTwiceFF)
Coming back from suspension Fuller will likely be eased in. The passing offense was limited in week 1 like mentioned with Tua above and Fuller will be splitting a small pie with Waddle, Parker, Gesicki, and Gaskin.
Tight End
Starts
Start Of The Week
Noah Fant DEN @ JAX (@K_H_Ray)
Fant led the Broncos in target share (22%) during their Week 1 matchup against the Giants, raking in 6 of 8 targets for 62 yards. With WR teammate Jerry Jeudy out for 4-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain, there is room for him to see even more action this weekend. I think the Broncos stick to their Fant-friendly gameplan Sunday versus the Jaguars, who should be reeling from a surprising defeat to Houston. I like Fant as an easy top 10 TE play this week.
Jared Cook LAC Vs DAL (@MattFFDynasty)
Despite being 34 years old, Jared Cook looked as good as ever Week 1 for LAC, seeing 8 targets and turning them into 5 receptions and 56 yards. He led LAC TE’s in snaps by being on the field for 58% of their offensive snaps, so the opportunity is there for him to potentially have a decent floor in fantasy moving forward. He now faces a DAL defense that allowed fellow veteran TE Rob Gronkowski to explode with 90 receiving yards and 2 TDs. In what could be another shootout, Cook should be in line for another solid fantasy output.
Dallas Goedert PHI Vs SF (@ZTwiceFF)
Goedert had a respectable Week 1 performance going for 4 catches, 42 yards, and a touchdown against Atlanta. Hurts looked like the real deal and silenced a lot of doubts about his ability to throw the football. Goedert will face a San Francisco team that allowed TJ Hockenson to have a big game in Week 1. I expect a lot of points to be put on the board this game, allowing Goedert to get a lot of work as a receiver.
Sits
Sit of the Week
Mike Gesicki MIA Vs BUF (@MattFFDynasty)
If you haven't noticed by now, we are fading all MIA fantasy options this week… and who could blame us! Gesicki laid a goose egg Week 1 and now faces BUF who only allowed PIT TE duo of Ebron and Freiermuth 2 reception last week. Don't be tempted to start Gesicki in the hopes of a bounce back this week, it’s going to be a long afternoon for Tua & co.
Robert Tonyan GB Vs DET (@K_H_Ray)
Tonyan and the entire Packers offense struggled against the Saints to open up the season. With only 2 catches for 8 yards on 4 targets, there is plenty of room for #85 to turn things around. However, this week against Detroit on MNF, the Packers simply may not need him. In the 49ers debut against Detroit, George Kittle (a fixture of the SF passing attack) posted just 9.8 fantasy points as they chewed clock for half of the game. Listen, it's the Lions, so anything can happen. But don't be surprised if this game goes through Jones & Adams while GB runs out some clock.
Waiver Recap
CLICK HERE if you missed Tuesday's waiver article - Waiver Stargazing
Thanks for reading. Be sure to keep an eye out for both our weekly articles, Tuesday Waiver Targets & Wednesday Start/Sit and Waiver Recap with the @FF_Astronauts. Follow @K_H_Ray, @ZTwiceFF, & @MattFFDynasty on Twitter for more Fantasy Football content throughout the season, and hit us up with any of your Start/Sit or Waiver questions.
