Starts and Sits: Week 2
Wow, Week 1 was a crazzzzy week. There were a ton of players that we didn’t expect to perform as they did and unfortunately some major injuries. Now, Week 2 is here, we need to know who to start and who to sit. Our start/sit article is not going to discuss the obvious players who should always be played. We examine matchups and usage from week to week, which should give you the best chance at winning your weekly matchup. Good luck this week and don’t forget to not overthink it. Here are the Starts/ Sits for Week 2:
Quarterback
Starts
Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers Vs. Dallas Cowboys
Herbert’s first game of 2021 was expected to be less than stellar against a tough opponent in the Washington Football team. He gave us a mediocre start in week 1, I expect week 2 to be much better for the 2nd year quarterback. Dallas’ defense has some major holes which are a positive for any quarterback that faces them. Herbert also has some great talent surrounding him that can help him succeed this week. The Dallas Cowboys offense is pretty darn good as well, which means this has the potential to be a high-scoring game. Herbert is a low-end QB1 with an upside in week 2.
Jameis Winston, QB, New Orleans Saints Vs. Carolina Panthers
If you could only say one word to express how good Jameis played in week 1 it would be WOW. The man looked like a whole other player than the one we knew previously. He threw with confidence and had solid accuracy throughout the game. It wasn’t necessarily an easy matchup either as the Packers D was known to be talented. This week he faces a much less talented defense in the Carolina Panthers. He should have no problem slicing and dicing in week 2. Jameis is a mid-tier QB2 with great upside.
Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots Vs. New York Jets
“Insert player with decent weapons that is playing the Jets.” Jones is not a league-winning quarterback but he has the ability to be a solid start when the matchup is enticing. This is one of those weeks. The Jets defense is one of the worst in the league and made Sam Darnold look good last week. I like Jones’ chances of doing the same in week 2. He is a low-end QB2 with a solid floor against the Jets.
Sits
Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Falcons looked rough in week 1, and it is not going to be any better against the Bucs this week. The Falcons offensive line is terrible and I expect the Bucs will be getting to Ryan early and often in week 2. He has a scary low floor and a capped ceiling. Ryan should be on your bench/ waivers in week 2.
Carson Wentz, QB, Indianapolis Colts Vs. Los Angeles Rams
Wentz looked okay in week 1, but we don’t win matchups by just starting average quarterbacks. The Seahawks defense is definitely not on the same tier as the Rams defense either. I believe that the Rams are going to give Wentz a much tougher challenge this week. Wentz is a low-end QB2 with limited upside in week 2.
Sam Darnold, QB, Carolina Panthers Vs. New Orleans Saints
As I stated above, Darnold looked good in week 1 but that is because he was playing the Jets. Honestly, I feel that he underperformed in what should have been a really good day for Darnold and the Panthers. This week’s matchup does not look anything like the piece of cake that Darnold had in week 1. The Saint’s just completely shut down the Green Bay Packers. I can only imagine what they are going to do against Carolina this week. Darnold is best left on the bench/waivers in week 2.
Running Back
Starts
Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers Vs.Las Vegas Raiders
Don’t be afraid to play your studs. Najee looked rough but that was mainly due to the Bills defense playing solid ball. The Steelers were also relying upon the passing game to get them back into the game. The matchup this week should be much more inviting to those that used a 1st-2nd round pick on Harris. If you have him, you start him. Harris is a low-end RB1 with an upside.
Damien Harris, RB, New England Patriots Vs.New York Jets
Harris looked good overall against the Dolphins, albeit a fumble that might put him in the dog house. Disregardless, Harris should continue to receive the bulk of the carries going forward. This week’s matchup is too juicy to pass up, as Carolina’s run game was able to run all over the Jets defense. Harris is a mid-tier RB2 with upside in week 2.
Melvin Gordon, RB, Denver Broncos Vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Gordon was on this list last week and he gets the start again in week 2. As long as the Broncos continue to roll him out as lead back, he is going to be in my lineup. It is also a great matchup which makes it especially easy to slot Gordon into my flex this week. Gordon is a low-end RB2 with the upside to outperform his ranking.
Sits
Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Jacob’s was written off when the Raiders signed Kenyan Drake this off-season. Then week 1 came along and he had an injury/illness that was a concern for his starting ability. Ultimately he played and gave those that started him a decent enough stat line to keep them happy. The only issue with it though was that his points were backed solely by 2 touchdowns. Although touchdowns are what we rely on, we also want our running backs to receive a good amount of yardage. Jacobs only had 34 yards on 10 carries and 1 catch which is not enough to have me start him this week against an elite Steelers defense. Jacobs is a high-end flex with a limited ceiling. If he doesn’t get into the endzone he may very well disappoint those that start him in week 2.
Mark Ingram, RB, Houston Texans Vs. Cleveland Browns
Ingram looked great this past week, but we do have to realize that the Texans are not going to be in the lead in many games this upcoming season. This week’s matchup against the Browns is one of those matchups. Although Ingram may receive the lion’s share of the workload, it is not exactly clear what that will equate to against a tougher opponent. Ingram is a flex play with a limited ceiling in week 2.
Mike Davis, RB, Atlanta Falcons Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It looks like it is going to be tough sledding for Davis in Atlanta. Not only is his offensive line nonexistent, but he is also sharing the load with Cordarrelle Patterson. This week he faces a defense that was able to shut down Ezekiel Elliot, which means that his upside is bare to none in week 2. Davis is a flex with limited upside against the Bucs this week.
Wide Receiver
Starts
Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers Vs. Dallas Cowboys
Williams has shown bursts of ability in the past but his injuries have held him back from ever being great. This past week we saw exactly what Williams could be when healthy. He is one of Herbert’s favorite targets and there is no reason why that should change going forward. Williams’ matchup this week is as good as they come. The Cowboys defensive backs are less than average. I believe that Williams is going to feast in week 2. Williams is flex with massive upside in week 2.
Marquise Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens Vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Brown has always been underrated due to his boom/bust playmaker ability, but if you paid attention at the end of last year you would have seen that he was being targeted heavily consistently. Nothing really changed for the Ravens either. Their rookie WR is injured and they lost their starting pass-catching running back in J.K. Dobbins. This means Brown is still one of the top targets for Lamar. This week’s matchup is exciting because it could very well be the AFC championship matchup. It also has a shootout written all over it. Brown is a low-end flex with great upside in week 2.
Nelson Agholor, WR, New England Patriots Vs. New York Jets
Agholor is as consistent as it comes ever since leaving the Philadelphia Eagles two seasons ago. During his time in Las Vegas, he was their WR1 and it looks like it could be the same type of situation in New England. This week he faces a Jets defense that was consistently beaten by Carolina’s receivers last week. I like his chances at having another solid stat day in week 2. Agholor is a low-end flex who should have no problem outperforming his current ranking in week 2.
Sits
DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins Vs. Buffalo Bills
Parker looked good this past Sunday catching 4 passes for 81 yards. This week’s matchup against the Bills may look a little different though. The Bills secondary is very good and should put up a challenge for all of the Dolphins pass catchers. Will Fuller is also coming off of his 1-week suspension, so we truly do not know how he will factor into the passing game. Those two factors alone would make me fade Parker for week 2. Parker is a low-end flex in week 2.
Robby Anderson, WR, Carolina Panthers Vs. New Orleans Saints
Anderson is a great NFL receiver and has been great for fantasy managers for a while now. But I fear the end is near to his consistent usage with the Panthers. With Christian McCaffrey returning, Anderson’s ceiling has been capped. The Panthers also now have 3 solid receivers that are all fighting over targets. The issue is that if Robby didn’t receive that touchdown in week 1, would fantasy managers have been happy with his production. The answer is no. So until we see his targets increase I am hesitant to have him in my flex. This week’s matchup against the Saints is also not great, which makes it easier to bench him if you have a player with a higher upside. Anderson is a low-end flex with limited upside in week 2.
Detroit Lions WR’s Vs. Green Bay Packers
There is nothing really to write here. Most people are not starting Lion’s receivers and it is because Lion’s offensive game script totally wrote them off. This offense is going to go through the running backs and T.J. Hockenson. I would avoid any and all of Lion’s receivers going forward unless one breaks away from the rest.
Tight Ends
Starts
Noah Fant, TE, Denver Broncos Vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
After being worried about his ability to start, Fant put up a respectable stat line in week 1 against the aforementioned New York Giants. Unfortunately, Jerry Jeudy had a pretty serious injury that will sideline him for 4-6 weeks. I think one of the main benefactors from Jeudy’s injury will be Fant in the coming weeks. This week he faces an even better matchup against the Jaguars. I like his chances at having an even better stat line than he did in week 2.
Jared Cook, TE, Los Angeles Chargers Vs. Dallas Cowboys
Nobody was really sure if Cook had anything left in the tank, he certainly showed us that he did this past week against the Washington Football team. He had a good connection with Herbert in week 1 and his week 2 matchup has high scoring upside.
Sits
Austin Hooper, TE, Cleveland Browns Vs. Houston Texans
I was high on Hooper coming into his week 1 matchup, but ultimately that excitement was short-lived. Even with OBJ missing week 1 Hooper wasn’t able to do much. Hooper wasn’t even the best tight end for his team as David Njoku outperformed him. Hooper is a low-end TE2 with limited upside in week 2.
Blake Jarwin, TE, Dallas Cowboys Vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Jarwin was supposed to be the lead tight end for the Cowboys just one year ago but that all ended after a season-ending injury. Now he enters a situation where the Cowboys have two great wide receivers and also another tight end competing for targets. The Cowboys offense has upside but Jarwins upside is capped as long as Dalton Schultz is playing. Jarwin is nothing more than a low-end TE2 with a low upside in week 2.
Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles Vs. San Francisco 49ers
Ertz looked good at times in week 1 and you could tell he still has what it takes to be a solid contributor in the passing game. He is dealing with a hamstring injury, which could hold him back in the difficult upcoming matchup against the 49ers. Dallas Goedert also looked to be the lead tight end for the Eagles and I do not see that changing barring an injury. Ertz is better left on your bench/ waivers in week 2.
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