Start/Sit: Week 2
With Week 1 in the books, it’s time to make those weekly decisions on who to start and sit for Week 2. Anyone can start their studs but where match-ups are won and lost is with those mid-level decisions. Here at Fighting Chance Fantasy Matt Miles (@DirtyAirFC) https://x.com/DirtyAirFC and Leo Grandio (@smooth1074) https://x.com/smooth1074 will be giving you some weekly Start and Sit options to help guide you to a win, and hopefully a championship at season’s end. So crack open your favorite adult beverage, sit back, and relax because here we go!
Start
Quarterback
Brock Purdy, 49ers
In Week 1 Brock Purdy threw for an uneventful 231 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He would have found pay dirt a few times but Brandon Aiyuk couldn’t haul in the grab. Although the 49ers might be without Christian McCaffrey again, Jordan Mason proved that he’s more than capable of replacement which will alleviate the pass rush. Look for Purdy to break through with multiple touchdowns versus a susceptible secondary. - Leo
Jayden Daniels, Commanders
Konami Code. Scrambles. Quarterback Rushes. Whatever you want to call it, Jayden Daniels does it and the Rookie of the Week for Week 1 will do it again. Daniels ran on a whopping 23.5% of his drop backs, the sixth highest rate for any quarterback since 2022. The Commanders host the New York Giants, who are already struggling to stop any type of offense. Look for another solid floor with some passing upside as Daniels gets better in Week 2. - Matt
Wide Receivers
Jameson Williams, Lions
Has Jameson Williams finally arrived? Well, all arrows are pointing up for the third-year receiver. Williams is a big play waiting to happen. In the season opener Williams brought in five receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown. Initially, fantasy managers might want to think twice about starting Williams this week against a tough Buccaneers defense, but Tampa Bay will be missing three starters from their secondary. Start the talented wideout with confidence. - Leo
Ladd McConkey, Chargers
Someone has to catch balls from Justin Herbert, right? On 60% of routes, Ladd McConkey was the Chargers top target with seven targets resulting in a 5-49-1 line. On a trip to Carolina, expect McConkey’s role to grow further against a weak secondary. - Matt
Running Backs
J.K. Dobbins, Chargers
Can J.K. Dobbins stay healthy all season? If he can, Dobbins illustrated last week what he could do when he is on the field. Dobbins took hold of the lionshare of the touches for the Chargers and exploded for 135 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Look for another explosive game from the running back, as he will face a Panthers’ defense that just allowed 172 total yards to running backs in Week 1. - Leo
Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
Tony Pollard is what we thought we were going to get with Pollard in Dallas last season. The RB11 against a stout Bears defense last week 60% of snaps and 84% of carries on 44% of routes run is a stellar value for a sixth round pick. Look for more of the same as the Titans host the Jets, who just let Jordan Mason gash them for 146 yards. It’s wheels-up for Pollard. - Matt
Tight End
Colby Parkinson, Rams
Now that Puka Nacua is on IR, plenty of extra targets are available for the rest of the offense. One player who is surely to get some extra looks for the foreseeable future will be Colby Parkinson. Unless you miraculously started Isaiah Likely at tight end, every tight end seemed to underperform. Parkinson however had a solid debut for the Rams by grabbing four receptions and 47 yards on five targets. The Cardinals' defense will focus on trying to stop Cooper Kupp, allowing Parkinson to get open looks. - Leo
Isaiah Likely, Ravens
Baltimore is a top pick to win the AFC, and right out of the gate, they went toe-to-toe with the other AFC Favorite in Kansas City. The Ravens know that they need to do something to keep up with the high-octane Chiefs offense, and the Ravens ran two tight end sets the most of any team, with Isaiah Likely lining up as the slot receiver. There is room for both Mark Andrews and Likely in this scheme, and the Raiders middle-of-the-road defense will have a hard time containing Likely. - Matt
Defenses
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers defense face-off against the Carolina Panthers who looked abysmal in Week 1, getting destroyed by the Saints 47-10. New head coach Jim Harbaugh will have the Chargers fired up and bring the pressure on the edges with Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa. - Leo
Chicago Bears
Against Will Levis, the Chicago Bears Defense started slow, but quickly figured out the Titans passing game and positioned themselves for several key takeaways. Coupled with three sacks, the Bears also picked off two passes, returning one 43 yards for a touchdown. TJ Edwards was also credited with 15 tackles, 12 of them solo. The Texans Pass game will present a challenge, but that will only present more opportunity for takeaways. - Matt
Sit
Quarterbacks
Caleb Williams, Bears
After turning heads all pre-season, Caleb Williams found it tough to get going in Week 1. The overall number-one pick just threw for 93 yards. This week, Williams travels to Houston to tangle with the Texans who only allowed nine completed passes in the season opener. Furthermore, Williams will be without rookie wideout Rome Odunze due to an MCL strain and possibly Keenan Allen as well. This will make it more difficult for Williams to get on track. - Leo
Derek Carr, Saints
We hear it now, how can you not start Derek Carr this week? Did you not see how good he looked? Yeah, he looked like Tom Brady playing the JV Squad of Polk High. The Saints travel to Jerry’s World and face the Dallas Cowboys, who made the Browns offense look like, well, The Polk High JV Squad. Rookie Calen Carson with four tackles, two PBUs and a 55.6 rating allowed was a top-5 performance last week. Carr Crashes this week. - Matt
Wide Receivers
Jayden Reed, Packers
It pains me to list Jayden Reed as a sit this week after his 171 total yards and two touchdowns breakout performance. Unfortunately for Reed and the rest of the Packers receivers, Jordan Love suffered a knee injury and he could miss up to three games. Queue in Malik Willis as his replacement who hasn’t shown much since being drafted by the Titans. If you have to start Reed temper those expectations because it will be a rough day for all of the Packers’ receiving weapons. - Leo
Davante Adams, Raiders
Gardner Minshew, the Meme QB of the Raiders, is a check-down machine. Davante Adams is not a check-down receiver. Adams is disgruntled. Adams wants out. Adams is passive-aggressively posting on his socials. You can’t start him in good faith. - Matt
Running Backs
D’Andre Swift, Bears
D’Andre Swift was spinning his wheels in mud in his Chicago Bears debut. The veteran running back rushed 10 times for 30 yards. In Week 2, Swift confronts a Texans defense on the road and they just held Jonathan Taylor to 48 yards and a score. With this offense suddenly sputtering look elsewhere for another running back option. - Leo
Javonte Williams, Broncos
Denver reverted to a typical Sean Payton’s offense in Week 1 with 42 passing plays, leaving Javonte Williams to pass protect and the little opportunity he did have was not very efficient with a 8-23 line with one catch for zero yards. The Broncos host a Pittsburgh Defense that kept Bijan Robinson to just 68 yards with zero touchdowns. Williams will have another tough week ahead. - Matt
Tight Ends
Brock Bowers, Raiders
Brock Bowers led the Raiders in targets in Week 1. He posted a respectable six receptions for 58 yards. Unfortunately, he faces a Ravens defense that locked down Travis Kelce for 34 yards on three receptions. So expect the same for the rookie in Week 2, and temper your expectations. - Leo
Pat Freiermuth, Steelers
The Muth isn’t loose. Despite a 17.4% target share, Pat Freiermuth had a typical pedestrian 4-27 day on four targets. A trip to Denver likely won’t help, as the Broncos defensive unit kept Seahawks tight end Noah Fant to a two catch 11 yard day. It looks like more of the same for the Muth this week. - Matt
Defenses
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears defense came out gangbusters and put Will Levis and the Titans in their place. Unfortunately for them, they are going to run into the Texans buzzsaw offense and find things to be a little more difficult than it was last week. - Leo
New Orleans Saints
The Saints Defense travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys who just hung 33 points on a top five rated defense heading into the 2024 season. CeeDee Lamb in last season’s matchup against the Saints six receptions for 84 yards. Another week of practice after the hold out and I am expecting the Cowboys to be more than ready for this home opener. - Matt
If you have any start or sit questions you can reach us on Twitter at @FCFantasySports.