Week 1 is in the books, and we nailed the first fantasy start/sit of the season. Let’s make it two in a row to start the season. We won’t be looking at many top flight starters in this article, but rather players who are on the fringes at QB, RB2 and WR2 in single QB PPR leagues to consider. Welcome to our weekly fantasy start/sit!
Week 2 Fantasy Football Start/Sit
Quarterbacks
Start: Aaron Rodgers vs. Lions
For anyone who doubted Aaron Rodgers ability, Week 1 was a reminder that he still has it. He put on a clinic against the Vikings young secondary completing 32-of-44 passes for 364 yards and four TDs and was a dropped pass and a slight overthrow away from two more TDs. Now, the Lions are on tap and their secondary is banged up right now, down two of their top cornerbacks. In addition, Rodgers has averaged 28.6 points against the Lions over his last eight full games, including no games under 23.2 points.
Lock him in as your starter this week.
Start: Cam Newton at Seahawks
Cam Newton finished as the QB6 in Week 1, on a 15-of-19 passing day for 155 yards but he also added 15 rushes for 75 yards and two TDs in his first game action since Week 2 last year. Now, granted this was against the Dolphins, but this week presents another great opportunity against the Seahawks defense that Matt Ryan just carved up for 450 yards and two TDs. While the passing numbers may not be great, or even good for that matter, the rushing floor Cam provides will more than make up for it and he will be a top 12 QB again in Week 2.
Sit: Jared Goff at Eagles
Jared Goff had a very quiet Week 1 vs. the Cowboys at home, going 20/31 for 275 yards with no TDs and an interception. This is going to be a tough matchup for Goff in Philadelphia, as the Eagles’ pass defense that was middle of the road last season upgraded their secondary with both CBs Darius Slay and underrated Nickell Robey-Coleman, who quite literally was born to be a nickelback. This looks like a game where you will want to find a better option to start and leave Goff on the bench.
Sit: Carson Wentz vs. Rams
Carson Wentz finished Week 1 as the QB23, as he went 24/42 for 270 yards with a TD and two INTs. He was also sacked eight times and now he has to face Aaron Donald and the Rams defensive line, which was able to hold Dak Prescott to a quiet Week 1. This looks like another matchup where Wentz will be running for his life, and you are better off finding a streamer to start this week. With games coming up against the 49ers, Steelers and Ravens, you might be better off finding a longer term solution if you can.
Check out our Week 2 Fantasy Football Rankings, including scoring settings for PPR and half PPR leagues! Ranking are updated throughout the week.
Running Backs
Start: Miles Sanders vs. Rams
While Carson Wentz is not set up for success this week, his teammate Miles Sanders practiced in full on Wednesday, which puts him on track to play in Week 2. The Eagles running game was ineffective against Washington last week, as they had 17 carries for 57 yards for a 3.35 yards per carry. By contrast, Sanders averaged 4.6 last season. Doug Pederson will be sure to get him at least 15 touches this week to keep the pass rush from dismembering Wentz. With that Sanders will be an RB2 at a minimum with RB1 upside.
Start: Nyheim Hines vs. Vikings
With Marlon Mack done for the year, this backfield now belongs to Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines. If last week is any indication, this looks like a 1a and 1b type of scenario (a la Gordon/Ekeler). Philip Rivers has always enjoyed having a RB to check it down to e.g. Darren Sproles, Danny Woodhead and Austin Ekeler, and Hines certainly fits this bill. He is set up to be an RB2 in PPR leagues for this week against the Vikings run defense that has gotten gashed over their last several games of 2019 and in the opener.
Sit: Antonio Gibson at Cardinals
Antonio Gibson played the fewest number of snaps in the Washington backfield last week, at 25.7%, trailing both J.D. McKissic (44.3%) and Peyton Barber (41.4%). He was by far the most efficient with his touches, as he finished with 9 carries for 36 yards and two receptions for eight yards. He will almost certainly get more of a share of the backfield work as the season progresses, but with Barber taking the goal line role and McKissic taking the third down role, there is not much meat left on the bone in this offense.
Leave him on the bench until he earns a larger role. Then, he will be in the fantasy start/sit for different reasons.
Sit: Tarik Cohen vs. Giants
With the emergence of David Montgomery in Week 1 against the Lions, Tarik Cohen only managed seven carries and two targets despite the Bears trailing for much of the game. While Cohen out-snapped Montgomery, 30-29, the lack of targets in the passing game is concerning. Having just watched the Steelers Benny Snell run over the Giants on Monday night, I would expect the Bears to feature Montgomery and try to do the same.
Leave Cohen on the bench this week for another option with a larger role.
Wide Receivers
Start: Marquise Brown at Texans
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown came out of the gate strong last season, with four catches for 147 yards and two TDs. This year in Week 1, he had five catches for 101 yards, incidentally his only two 100-yard games. Time to put him on mothballs to save for next year’s opener, right? No, this week he gets the Houston Texans secondary that struggled last season against WRs and fared no better in Week 1 vs the Chiefs. He will keep it going in Week 2 and continue his growth into his role as the alpha WR in this offense.
Start: Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Bengals
It feels strange that Odell Beckham Jr. is not considered an obvious WR start, but after three catches on 10 targets for 22 yards in a matchup with the Ravens, that’s where we are. If he converts on a couple catches, he is ranked right where he should be instead of being a fringe WR2. The Bengals D has allowed either 100 yards or a receiving TD in 11 straight games and one of those was OBJ himself Week 17 of last season. Start him this week.
Sit: Will Fuller V vs. Ravens
Will Fuller V had a great Week 1, with eight catches on 10 targets for 119 yards against the Chiefs, but this week brings a much tougher matchup against the Ravens. The Ravens CB duo, as I mentioned above and last week when writing up Jarvis Landry in this very spot, is one of the very best, if not the best, in the league. This is a week to start another WR if you have comparable depth or limit expectations, if you must start him. He seems to be a boom or bust fantasy start/sit
Sit: Marvin Jones at Packers
In Week 1 with no Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones managed only four catches on eight targets for 55 yards. Golladay may not be back this week yet, as he missed practice on Wednesday morning, but with the Packers on deck, it will not be surprising to see him give it a go. If he plays, Jones become unstartable, as in his last two meetings with the Packers he has three catches for 25 yard total. If he doesn’t, he may post serviceable numbers, but he won’t be playable as a WR2 this week, unless he finds the end zone. Search elsewhere for your WR2.
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