NFL fans are starting to get a taste of what to expect this season as a third weekend of football approaches. While squads like the Chargers, Bengals, and Vikings all have serious cause for concern after starting 0-2, other teams like the Dolphins and Cowboys (it pains me to say) are looking like serious Super Bowl contenders behind a dominant first two weeks.
While the Fantasy landscape is far from set following the first two weeks (I can guarantee you the Cowboys D will not finish as a top 3 fantasy player), players like Puka Nakua and Jordan Love are proving that they are here to stay. With this in mind, let’s take a look at how I fared in Week 2 and what overreactions I bought into to start the year:
As always, good news first: I was lights out with my tight-end predictions last week, correctly hitting on Hunter Henry (snoozer) and Sam LaPorta, who ended up finishing the week as TE2 and TE8, respectively. I also sniped the bust out of Freiermuth, who hauled in just one catch for two yards, good enough to make him the TE51 on the week.
Daniel Jones also made things very interesting this week, entering the second half of the Giants’ contest against the Cardinals with less than 6 points. But after leading their team to victory on a 31-8 run to end the game, Jones finished with over 30 fantasy points, concluding as the QB1. Cam Akers watched the Rams game from the sideline after he was a healthy scratch so while he didn’t play, I would still consider this a hit.
Finally, James Cook shredded apart a weak Vegas defense as I projected, having over 150 total yards, good enough for 19.9 fantasy points and the RB11 spot on the week.
The Bad: Aside from Hunter Henry balling out on SNF, all of my snoozer picks decided to sleep in and not show up to work over the weekend. Michael Thomas and Tyler Allgeier both finished outside of the top 40 for their positions, and Mac Jones finished outside the top 20 at QB this week. I also missed a few times with my sit predictions, as Dak Prescott and the Dallas pass offense proved me wrong as Prescott threw to the tune of 250 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, good for QB17 on the week. While he didn’t reach the endzone, Joe Mixon had an alright day as well, having 4 catches and nearly 100 total yards, making him RB18. Finally, Terry McLaurin had five catches and a touchdown, placing him at WR25 on the week.
You can take a closer look at last week’s picks at the bottom of this page. Now, enough banter, let’s dive right in to this week’s Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em.
Quarterback
START: Kirk Cousins (MIN) vs. LAC After the Vikings’ offense started off slow against the Eagles, I expect Kevin O’Connell to come out of the gates hot with one of the best passing offenses in the NFL. The Chargers have given up the sixth-most Fantasy points per game (FPPG) through their first two weeks to opposing quarterbacks, and in a game of two winless teams desperate for a W, I expect Cousins to rely heavily on Justin Jefferson and the passing game.
SIT: Joe Burrow (CIN) vs. LAR After signing his new contract extension to make him the highest-paid player in the NFL, Joe Burrow simply hasn’t looked like himself, averaging less than 10 FPPG. After reinjuring his calf last week, I’m even lower on him. While many will see this as a revenge spot for Burrow, I conversely see a tough matchup against a gritty defense that allowed the seventh-fewest FPPG to QBs last season and is top 10 again in that category this season. With all things considered, I would steer away from Burrow, especially if his calf is not 100%.
Snoozer: CJ Stroud (HOU) @ JAX The Houston offense has been very surprising to open the year, relying heavily on the pass behind rookie CJ Stroud. The Texans have thrown the ball at the fourth-highest rate to open the season and I don’t see that changing against a Jaguars defense that’s been top 10 in FPPG to opposing QBs each of the last two seasons. After having over 350 passing yards last game, I expect another big day offensively for the rookie.
Running back
START: Isaiah Pacheco (KC) vs. CHI The Chiefs offense looks out of sorts this season, causing many to believe that Mahomes and Kelce are the only two viable options in fantasy for the team. However, against a Bears defense that allowed the second-most FPPG to RBs last season and is top 10 again this year, I expect Pacheco to feast with a positive game script that will likely yield him 15+ carries, especially when the Chiefs are up big at the end of the game.
SIT: James Conner (ARI) vs. DAL This one is simple. The Cowboys are going to rout the Cardinals, and in a game where Arizona will be trailing the entire time, they will have no need for the run game and James Conner. Conner has not proven to be a true receiving back either, so unless he reaches the endzone on Sunday, I expect a dud from Conner after two solid weeks. Oh, and the Dallas rush defense has been top-five in the NFL the past two seasons, so if you had any last hesitation to start Conner, let that be the cherry on top.
START: Breece Hall (NYJ) vs. NE Breece Hall was visibly upset last week after getting just four touches in a loss to Dallas, voicing his frustrations in a Tweet that he eventually deleted. The Jets’ window to compete this season has plummeted drastically with Rodgers ruled out and the last thing they want is to make their stud running back unhappy. The Patriots gave up over 38 receiving yards per game to running backs last season and are ranked in the top 10 for FPPG allowed to RBs this season. Considering this, I expect Hall’s touches to triple in bounce-back game against the Patriots.
SIT: Browns RBs (Ford and Hunt) vs. TEN First and foremost, prayers up to Nick Chubb after that horrific knee injury that removed him from the game on Monday. Jerome Ford relieved Chubb after his injury and looked phenomenal, finishing as the RB6 on the week and if it weren’t for getting tripped up at the 1-yard line, he would’ve finished as the RB1. However, in a very difficult matchup against the Titans who have been top-five in the fewest FPPG to RB both this season and last, I would steer away from Ford or Kareem Hunt, who the Browns just signed on Wednesday. While they seem enticing given the Chubb injury, keep the Browns RBs on your bench this week until they have a more favorable matchup and are more settled into the system.
Snoozer: Jaylen Warren (PIT) @ LV In Monday night’s game against the Browns, Jaylen Warren looked like the better back in Pittsburgh. He had more acceleration, speed, and explosion than Najee Harris and while Harris outcarried and outrushed him, Warren exploded in the passing game, tallying 66 more receiving yards than Harris. Warren has proven to be the explosive runner in this backfield, and against the Raiders, who rank top 5 in FPPG allowed to RBs for both this season and last, I wouldn’t be surprised if Warren sneaks into the endzone – and the top 10 RBs for the week.
Wide receiver
START: Zay Flowers (BAL) vs. IND Zay Flowers has looked like a human joystick in his first two NFL games, and if the Ravens utilize him correctly, we could be in for a Deebo Samuel 2.0 season from him. The Colts have given up the most FPPG to receivers this season and with Odell Beckham Jr. questionable for Sunday, I expect Flowers to tear apart the weak Colts secondary. With Anthony Richardson likely suiting up on Sunday, I think the Colts will be able to hang with the Ravens, forcing Lamar to throw the ball for the most of the game. With a very favorable matchup against the Colts, I anticipate to see Zay Flowers’ breakout game.
SIT: DeAndre Hopkins (TEN) @ CLE Many still believe that DeAndre Hopkins has the capability of dropping 15 fantasy points a game. Wake up, it’s no longer 2018. DeAndre Hopkins is still a phenomenal wide receiver, don’t get me wrong. But his days of being a viable fantasy starter are over, and the fact that over 50% of leagues are still starting him is beyond me. As I mentioned last week, the Titans aren’t going to throw the ball more than 30 times every game like they did Week 1 when Hopkins had 13 targets. After busting last week with just five targets and 8 fantasy points, I expect another disappointing performance from Hopkins this week as he faces the Browns secondary which has been top-five is fewest FPPG to opposing WR each of the past two seasons.
START: Elijah Moore (CLE) vs. TEN On the other side of the ball, Elijah Moore got the second-most targets last week for the Browns after Chubb’s injury, and I expect that to continue as the Browns adjust to their star running back’s absence. The Browns face a Titans secondary that gave up the most FPPG to opposing WR last season and is continuing that trend again, already allowing the fifth most this season. With 16 targets already through the first two weeks, I expect a more pass-heavy approach from the Browns this week, yielding the potential for a big week from Moore.
SIT: Michael Thomas (NO) @ GB Michael Thomas has returned as a reliable fantasy option this season now that he’s healthy with Derek Carr under center, but with a tough matchup against the Packers, you might want to reconsider starting him this week. The Saints are 2-0 this season but have scored less than 21 points in each of their first two games, both against bottom 10 pass defenses. Traveling to Lambeau to now face the Packers, who were top 5 in least FPPG allowed to receivers last season, I expect Thomas and the entire Saints offense to struggle, coming back to reality after a flukey first two weeks.
Snoozer: Drake London (ATL) @ DET Drake London had a huge bounce-back performance last week against a difficult Green Bay secondary after dropping a goose egg in Week 1. The Falcons have showed that they are going to rely heavily on the run in 2023, but in a probable shootout against the Lions, they will likely need to throw the ball in order to compete. The Lions have ranked top-five in most FPPG allowed to receivers each of the past two seasons, and after losing defenders CJ Gardner-Johnson and James Houston to injury over the weekend, the Lions defense should get shredded by London as long as Bijan Robinson doesn’t take all of his touches (I do think Robinson finishes as RB1 this week — but he should be in everyone’s starting lineup already).
Tight End
START: Hayden Hurst (CAR) @ SEA After a down week last week against the best defense to opposing TEs, I expect a big bounceback spot from Hurst against the Seahawks who gave up the second most FPPG to TEs last season and have already given up the 6th most points this season. Rookie quarterback Bryce Young is questionable to suit up with an ankle sprain. If backup Andy Dalton makes his first start in a new system, I expect Hurst to continue in the safety blanket role he’s held in the Panthers offense through Week 2, especially with head coach Frank Reich announcing Wednesday that the team would stick to their same offensive game plan regardless of the man under center.
SIT: Kyle Pitts (ATL) @ DET I feel like this one is obvious but there’s still thousands of people who are starting Pitts. In fact, he’s starting in over 70% of ESPN leagues. While this guy has all the talent in the world, his situation couldn’t be any worse, and last week we even saw Jonnu Smith out-target and nearly out-snap Pitts in their victory over the Packers. Even with a favorable matchup against the Lions who have given up the most FPPG to TE this season, I still don’t have an ounce of trust in Pitts — the consistency just isn’t there.
Snoozer: Dalton Schultz (HOU) @ JAX As previously mentioned, the Texans pass attack has been hard at work this season, and in a divisional matchup against Jacksonville, I expect Houston to continue trusting Stroud’s arm. Schultz quietly had seven targets last week and with a favorable matchup against the Jaguars, who gave up the eighth-most FPPG to tight ends last season and are top 10 again to start this year, I anticipate a sneaky game from Schultz. While all the buzz will be around receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell, don’t be surprised if Schultz finds his way into the endzone and into the top 10 TEs of the week.
Week 2 results
QB
Start: Daniel Jones (30.74, QB1)
Sit: Dak Prescott (19.6, QB17)
Snoozer: Mac Jones (13.74, QB24)
RB
Start: James Cook (19.9, RB11)
Start: David Montgomery (12.4, RB21)
Sit: Cam Akers (0, RBN/A)
Sit: Joe Mixon (13.5, RB18)
Snoozer: Tyler Allgeier (4.8, RB49)
WR
Start: Mike Williams (16.6, WR24)
Start: Brandon Aiyuk (7.3, WR65)
Sit: DeAndre Hopkins (8.0, WR62)
Sit: Terry McLaurin (16.4, WR25)
Snoozer: Michael Thomas (12.5, WR42)
TE
Start: Sam LaPorta (11.3, TE8)
Sit: Pat Freiermuth (1.2, TE51)
Snoozer: Hunter Henry (17.2, TE2)