While there are no bye weeks to deal with yet, Fantasy Football Week 2 lineup choices seem like a daunting challenge already. Injuries to prominent starters such as Tyreek Hill and Hunter Henry have forced some owners to go to their benches quickly. Disappointing opening week outings have also caused Fantasy players to lose some confidence in previously productive performers. Also, some newcomers and less proven performers busted out in Week 1, and have created scenarios where we are wondering if they can shine again in the second week. We help you make sense of what seems unsettled as we get ready for the Sunday and Monday games. Lineup choices lean to PPR formats.
Fantasy Football Week 2 Start ‘Em and Sit ‘Em
Start ‘Em
Running Backs
Sony Michel at MIA: He carried 15 times for 14 yards in the season opener, but that was not the real Sony Michel we saw last week. Look for him to get fed frequently and establish a rhythm this week as he is worked back into the flow of the New England offense. There is also a strong chance he may rush for more than one TD against the Dolphins.
Austin Ekeler at DET: Last season, he was often just adequate when asked to start, but Ekeler looks like a must-start RB2 after totaling 158 yards from scrimmage and scoring three times in the season opener. The Chargers are suddenly depleted in the passing game, so they will continue to lean heavily on the RBs, most notably Ekeler, to fuel the offense.
Devin Singletary at NYG: Sean McDermott has said Frank Gore is Buffalo’s starter, but that just means he will be on the field before the exciting rookie. Singletary totaled 98 yards on nine touches in his pro debut and is a fine flex option for Fantasy Football Week Two against a very vulnerable Giants defense.
Wide Receivers
Michael Gallup at WAS: The second-year breakout began in the opener as Gallup caught seven passes for 158 yards against the Giants. Look for Gallup to continue to elevate his Fantasy profile in Fantasy Football Week Two against the Redskins, who let up some big passing plays to the Eagles.
John Brown at NYG: He set a Bills record for receiving yards by a WR in their team debut (123). Josh Allen likes to take shots downfield and now he has the ideal wideout to connect with in such situations. Brown has dealt with QB issues and injuries in the past, but now that he is healthy and playing with a passer who is not shy about gunning it, you have to start him in a matchup like this.
Marquise Brown vs. ARI: He certainly made a strong initial impression in his first pro game, but it is fair to wonder if he will be boom or bust the rest of the way, You also may be faced with a tough decision between Brown and another more established wideout. Go with Brown in those situations against a very shaky Arizona secondary.
Quarterbacks
Ben Roethlisberger vs. SEA: Look for a rebound outing in the home opener vs. Seattle in Fantasy Football Week 2. The Steelers will be ready to put an awful opener behind them, and the Seahawks’ pass defense allowed Andy Dalton to deliver a career-best outing in Week One.
Russell Wilson at PIT: Opposing defenses will focus on stopping the Seattle run game first, so Wilson may come out throwing. He will try to loosen up the defense for the running game and may have to continue passing frequently to keep pace with Roethlisberger.
Tight Ends
Jared Cook at LAR: He was quiet in the opener, but Cook will prove to be a significant part of the New Orleans offense over the full season. Expect Cook to be a frequent TD target for Drew Brees, and you should maintain faith in him in Fantasy Football Week 2.
Vance McDonald vs. SEA: He caught two passes for 40 yards in the opener and he may have been overrated coming into this season. McDonald was often disappointing during the second half of last season. But he should get open often in the middle of the field against Seattle in Fantasy Football Week 2.
Sit ‘Em
Running Backs
David Montgomery at DEN: He was limited in production as part of an uninspiring committee situation in Chicago in the season opener. Mike Davis will continue to get quality reps and Montgomery is not yet being ticketed for the lead RB role so many expected. Mitch Trubisky also has to play better to stabilize the Chicago offense.
Phillip Lindsay vs. CHI: This is an obvious tough matchup for both Denver RBs. While Lindsay maintains a slight edge over Royce Freeman on the depth chart, both RBs will be splitting opportunities to run into walls against the league’s best defense.
Chris Thompson vs. DAL: He became a sought after waiver add following a seven-catch outing in the first week, and the latest injury to Derrius Guice. But using him against a sturdy Dallas defense is too risky in Week 2. The Cowboys will be ready to defend Thompson, who is a top possible playmaker in a thinly stocked Washington passing game.
Wide Receivers
Jamison Crowder vs. CLE: He was a PPR force in the opener, catching 14 passes, but his Fantasy appeal has instantly tumbled with the absence of Sam Darnold. You likely have another viable option you can plug in over Crowder this early in the season, so reserve him in Week 2.
Emmanuel Sanders vs. CHI: He looked good in the opener, with 86 receiving yards and a TD. While he has looked healthy so far in his return from an Achilles injury, he is in danger of going down at any time because of a compensatory issue. He may have come back too early. This is a bad matchup and bad news could come down crashing on Sanders at some point, too.
Quarterbacks
Kyler Murray at BAL: The rookie engineered a valiant comeback against the Lions in his first NFL game, but now he gets a much tougher test. The Ravens defense underwent some notable changes but remains a very sturdy unit that will make Murray look like a true pro newcomer.
Matthew Stafford vs, LAC: He looked like classic Matthew Stafford in the first week, throwing for 385 yards and three TDs. Do not expect that type of outing in Week 2. The Lions want to run the ball and not have Stafford carry the offense.
Tight Ends
Jimmy Graham vs, MIN: He showed some signs of lingering life in the season opener against Chicago. But one game of flickering hope is not yet enough to push him back into your lineup in Fantasy Football Week 2.
Vernon Davis vs. DAL: Only use him if you are desperate for a TE replacement for Henry. The Redskins simply are not going to surprise the Cowboys like they did early against Philadelphia.
Scott Engel is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association’s Hall of Fame and a four-time award winner. He was one of the driving content forces in the rise of RotoExperts.com and was the lead host on the RotoExperts in the Morning for six years on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. He was also instrumental in the launch of the FNTSY Sports Network. Scott was the first-ever Senior Writer and Managing Editor at CBS SportsLine and won a company Hall of Fame Award. He was also an Associate Editor and Fantasy analyst for ESPN.com. He has been the featured Fantasy Writer on Seahawks.com since 2012 and his work has been syndicated to the Associated Press, NFL.com, New York Daily News, New York Post, Yahoo Sports, Bloomberg Sports, Sports Illustrated and many others. He is a credentialed media member who won an FSWA award in 2016 for his Insider Fantasy Reporting. Known as “The King”, Scott is on Twitter @scotteTheKing
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