Week 2 Fantasy Football Starts And Sits | The Phinest Insights

Congratulations if you managed to win Week 1 with a large majority of the top players not performing. Other fantasy managers may not have been as fortunate. Several big-name players were letdowns coming out of Week 1. Some big-name flops put up low fantasy numbers. These include Ja’Marr Chase, Nico Collins, Joe Burrow, Dak Prescott, and Jahmyr Gibbs. A new week of fantasy football gives everyone a clean slate.

Several players should be looking to bounce back in Week 2. They aim to help fantasy managers get back into the winning column. That said, let’s see what matchups will yield some good fantasy fruit this week.

*Disclaimer: You generally won’t see guys like Derrick Henry or Ceedee Lamb in these articles. Those kinds of players should be locked into your lineups each week. So again, don’t expect to see them here.

Week 2 Starts and Sits

Quarterbacks

Starts

CJ Stroud vs. TB

The Texans quarterback came out swinging at the air in Week 1. Against the Los Angeles Rams, Stroud put up just 188 yards on 27 pass attempts. While he did have a 70% completion rate, it did not yield any touchdowns. Stroud was the QB26 for Week 1, per Fantasydata. Now Stroud will try to shake off his poor Week 1 performance. The Texans will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2. The Bucs gave up 24 fantasy points to Matthew Stafford last week. The Bucs defense is showing some grit against the run. They held Bijan Robinson to just 24 yards on 12 attempts. Stroud could be forced to go to the air. The Bucs gave up 298 yards to Michael Penix in Week 1. Just something to keep in mind.

Justin Hebert vs. LVR

Justin Herbert cooked his division rival, Patrick Mahomes, and the Kansas City Chiefs last week. Now he will look to keep the momentum going against the Raiders. The Raiders’ defense allowed 287 yards from Patriots QB Drake Maye in Week 1. Herbert also showcased some rushing ability against the Chiefs. Herbert added 32 rushing yards to his 318 passing total against the Chiefs. If running is going to become a staple for Herbert moving forward, more points will come. The Raiders finished 17th in points allowed to fantasy quarterbacks but Herbert presents a much bigger challenge.

Sit

Cam Ward vs. LAR

Cam Ward has the talent. But it will take some time for time before he and the Titans are running on all cylinders. Ward had a tough outing against a defense projected to be one of the best in the league this season. Posting just 112 yards on 28 targets and watching several players drop passes wasn’t a great start. Now Ward faces off against a Rams defense. They shut down CJ Stroud and the Texans to just 118 passing yards. Another bad match-up right out the gate. Avoid Ward for now in your fantasy lineups.

Honorable Mention: Aaron Rodgers vs. SEA

Running Backs

Starts

Dylan Sampson vs. BAL

News circulated that rookie running back Quinshon Judkins will play against the Baltimore Ravens. However, Judkins won’t see a full plate of work in his first game back. That still leaves a lane for Dylan Sampson to be productive. The Ravens gave up 102 total yards and a rushing touchdown to James Cook in Week 1. Sampson also profiles as the Cleveland Browns ‘ pass-catching back. Sampson went 8 of 8 for 64 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals. Sampson may lose some early down work to Judkins, but will still be involved in the Browns’ passing game. Sampson also saw 12 attempts in Week 1. This shows that the Browns trust him enough to be used on the ground.

D’Andre Swift vs. DET

A revenge game is on deck this week. D’Andre Swift not only gets to face his old team, the Detroit Lions. He will also do it with his former OC coach, Ben Johnson, now the Chicago Bears’ new head coach. Swift is currently seeing a large workload as the top back for the Bears. Swift had 22 total touches against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. The Bears should look to pull out all the stops against the Lions. Johnson stated that the Bears want to win this game, especially against the Lions. The Lions gave up 15.7 fantasy points in Week 1 to the Packers running backs (23rd overall).

Sit

J.K. Dobbins vs. IND

J.K. Dobbins had a solid game against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. Dobbins ran for 63 yards and a score. Now it seems that there will be a third party introduced on passing downs in Tyler Badie. If Badie does take over the pass-catching duties for the Broncos’ backfield. The move is a bit of a head scratcher considering RJ Harvey is a good pass catcher too. Should Badie get more work in the passing game, that means less upside for Dobbins (and Harvey). Dobbins is a sit for Week 2.

Honorable Mention: Chase Brown vs. CLE

Wide Receivers

Starts

AJ Brown vs. KC

The Eagles’ wide receiver was on a milk carton in Week 1. He got just one target late in the game against the Dallas Cowboys. That can’t happen again. The Eagles take on a Chiefs defense that was scorched by Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, and old man Keenan Allen. Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert is ruled OUT with a knee injury. The Eagles’ passing game will need Brown to get it going. Brown should be another strong bounce-back candidate for Week 2. The Chiefs allowed the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers heading into Week 2 at 60.5. Brown should see targets early and often this week.

D.K. Metcalf vs. SEA

It’s “Beef Week” for Week 2. D.K. Metcalf is facing off against his former team in the Seattle Seahawks. Metcalf led all Steelers wide receivers in targets against the New York Jets in Week 1 with seven. Facing off against a Seahawks defense that let up a 92.2 passer rating to Brock Purdy and allowed 277 passing yards, there should be more than enough work for Metcalf to eat. The Seahawks also allowed nearly eight yards per attempt against the San Francisco 49ers last week. Metcalf averaged nearly 21 yards per attempt in Week 1.

Sit

Cooper Kupp vs. PIT

Cooper Kupp may have finished second in targets last week but it was not a great performance. Kupp finished with just three targets to Jaxon Smith-Njiba’s 13 against the 49ers. Kupp only had 15 receiving yards in the contest (JSN- 124). With Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold hyper-focused on JSN, that left Kupp out in the cold. Now they get a Steelers defense ready to put the screws to a new opponent after allowing 13.6 yards per attempt to Garrett Wilson (seven for 95, touchdown). Kupp’s lack of targets is concerning. Until you can trust Kupp, find a better option.

Honorable Mention: Tyreek Hill vs. NE

Tight End

Start

Kyle Pitts vs. MIN

Michael Penix made good on his word to get Kyle Pitts more involved in the offense and it paid off. Pitts had one of his better games in quite some time in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pitts finished second on the team in targets with eight behind WR Drake London (15). While he didn’t score a touchdown, the target share was a welcome surprise for fantasy managers. The Vikings allowed just 43 yards to the combined efforts of Bears tight ends Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland. Both Bears tight ends saw just six targets combined as well. Penix should continue to look Pitt’s way, especially if London is hampered by his shoulder injury.

Sit

Cade Otton vs. HOU

You would believe that with the injuries to the Bucs’ wide receivers, Cade Otton would have a bigger role. That wasn’t the case in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. Otton saw just three targets in the contest and ended up catchless. Otton needs to become a bigger part of the Bucs’ passing attack. Only then can fantasy managers trust him in their lineups. The Texans allowed the 12th-fewest fantasy points to the tight end position in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams. Otton isn’t trustworthy yet for lineup consideration.