Sleepers and streamers took a massive loss after Week 1. None of the four running backs delivered. Roast me and my bald head, it will not happen again. A bunch of surprises in Week 1 and a couple of no-brainers. Did you win your first matchup? Let’s give this another go at it. Week 2’s running back sleepers and streamers down below.
Week 2 Running Back Sleepers
Ezekiel Elliott vs. New Orleans Saints
The Ezekiel Elliott Cowboys were in Cleveland in Week 1 to face the Browns and dominated them. Elliott was back on the team that drafted him and found his way to the end-zone.
Elliott saw 12 total touches and turned it into 12.9 fantasy points and finished as an RB2. It looks like Elliott might be a touchdown-dependent play this season, but that is what fantasy football is. Fire Elliott up against the New Orleans Saints as he is bound to find the end zone once again. After Week 1, I believe Elliott will be this year’s Jamaal Williams. The yards might not be there, but the touchdowns will be present.
Justice Hill vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Justice Hill out-snapped Derrick Henry in the Ravens Week 1 matchup. It is one of, if not the biggest shock so far this season. Henry was thought to be the workhorse for the Ravens seeing 20 plus touches every game.
There were times that Henry missed entire drives as Hill was handling the backfield duties. This is not a start Justice Hill over Derrick Henry. This is a long-shot play with receiving upside. The Ravens do not have a receiving game that makes defenses worry. That is where Hill comes into play. He saw eight targets and caught six of them. The Raiders just got torched by the Los Angeles Chargers in the run game. Henry is not the workhorse of hold. I expect Hill to get his turn at times to shred the Raiders’ run defense.
Week 2 RB Streamers
Brian Robinson Jr. vs New York Giants
The talk during the off-season was that Austin Ekeler would be a threat to Brian Robinson Jr. Evidently, that turned out to be wrong after one week. Robinson saw action in the passing game, found the end-zone, and had 40 rush yards. A cool 17.9 fantasy points has Robinson Jr. on my radar.
It gets better because, in Week 2, the Washington Commanders face the worst team in football, the New York Giants. The Giants got crushed by the Minnesota Vikings and Aaron Jones had 18.9 fantasy points with over 100 total yards and a touchdown. I expect Brian Robinson to find the end zone and have a top-15 week in Week 2.
Tony Pollard vs. New York Jets
Tony Pollard left a sour taste in every fantasy manager that drafted him last season. Pollard was drafted as a superstar RB1 and disappointed in a major way. It seems he is finally fully healthy and exceeded his ADP in Week 1. Pollard had 94 total yards with 82 coming on the ground and he found the end zone once.
In week 2, he faces the New York Jets. As I write this, Jordan Mason has 109 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown as he replaces the injured Christian McCaffrey in the San Francisco 49ers’ first game against the Jets. Pollard will look to build off a strong Week 1 and possibly be one of the better late-round draft picks in 2024.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 2 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!