Start and Sit for Week 2
Welcome back to the road to Titletown! This week, Leo Grandio (@smooth1074) and Matt Miles (@DirtyAirFC) look at who are some options to start or sit for Week 2 as we continue our weekly journey to raising a Fantasy Football Championship in 2023/2024.
Remember that you are starting your studs no matter what. We will focus on some of the tougher decisions that fantasy managers have to make and give you an edge to getting the win for the week. Without further ado here are some options to Start and Sit for Week 2.
Starters at Quarterback
Brock Purdy, QB San Francisco 49ers
Let's start week 2 with another Purdy pun! No? Well if you waited for a QB, you have a Purdy nice option in Brock Purdy. Okay, okay, but seriously, if you waited and grabbed Aaron Rodgers or Jared Goff, Purdy might just save your season, just like he saved the 'Niner's season last year. In 6 consecutive starts, he is the only Quarterback under the age of 24 to have a QB rating of 95 or higher. He's good, and you're starting him this weekend. - Matt Miles
Justin Fields, QB Chicago Bears
Justin Fields did not start the season like plenty of fantasy managers would have hoped. He faced divisional rival Green Bay Packers who locked him down like they usually do. This week Fields gets a chance to spread his wings and be at the very least a low-end QB1. Although he did not have a great day throwing the ball, Fields led all quarterbacks in rushing with 59 yards in Week 1. I can see him pushing close to 100 yards rushing and being able to get more openings downfield in the passing game for Week 2. - Leo Grandio
Sitters at Quarterback
Zach Wilson, QB New York Jets
The optics were palatable on the highlight reel. The Wilson connection between Zach Wilson and Garrett Wilson made for a fun highlight. For whatever reason, Josh Allen tried harder than a single guy on Ladies Night at the local watering hole, and ended up with the same result. Zach Wilson, despite playing all but 4 snaps, still only put up 14/21 for 146 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. So as they head to Dallas, whose defense just shut out the Giants last week, we should expect the same Zach Wilson isn't a good storyline to continue. -Matt Miles
Dak Prescott, QB Dallas Cowboys
Although the Cowboys embarrassed the Giants in Week 1, Dak Prescott had very little to do with it. The win was mainly due to the Tony Pollard and Cowboys' defense show. Prescott only passed for 143 yards in the victory. Now the Jets defense comes to town after making Josh Allen look foolish with his three interceptions and fumble. With both teams having exceptional defenses and no Aaron Rodgers, this will be a defensive slugfest and a low-scoring affair. Look for other options at quarterback for this week, because you may not be happy with Prescott’s results.
Starters at Running Back
Rachaad White, RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Volume is king in the world of the Running Back Position. Rachaad White was fourth in the NFL in running back snap percentage, being on the field for 73% of the Buccaneers' snaps in Week 1. Chicago let Aaron Jones look like he could run anywhere he wanted to last week. White will do his best to bring a solid encore in Week 2. White's kind of volume makes for a high-floor RB2 or Flex player. As the late, great "Macho Man" Randy Savage used to say, "You may not like it, but learn to accept it." - Matt Miles
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB New England Patriots
Last week Rhamondre Stevenson scored most of his fantasy points through the air since he was stuffed by the nasty Eagles run defense. Stevenson caught all six of his targets for 64 yards en route to 14 fantasy points. This week he will rumble with the Miami Dolphins defense, which just allowed Austin Ekeler to rush for 117 yards and a touchdown as well as four receptions for 47 yards. Even Joshua Kelley ran for another 91 yards and a touchdown. Stevenson should have a very solid week and be an RB1 for fantasy managers in Week 2. - Leo Grandio
Sitters at Running Back
Miles Sanders, RB Carolina Panthers
I feel a bit hypocritical in starting Rachaad White because of volume and sitting Miles Sanders because of volume, but there's always some nuance to the game. Carolina just doesn't have any juice in their receiving corps, and a very green quarterback in Bryce Young. The ghost of Adam Thielen might play this week, and D.J. Chark could be over his hamstring injury which may take away some of the necessary volume Sanders had in Week 1. The underrated New Orleans Saints defense disposed of an arguably better Tennessee Titans offense in Week 1. Look for a dud, that I see coming from miles away. - Matt Miles
Najee Harris, RB Pittsburg Steelers
Many fantasy managers drafted Najee Harris as their RB1 depending on how they drafted, and after Week 1 might be wondering what in the hell are we to expect for the rest of the season. Even though the 49ers defense just manhandled the entire Steelers offense, Harris only had six carries for 31 yards. There was plenty of speculation heading into the season that James Warren was going to be more involved in the offense and after Week 1 he was. Maybe due to the game script Warren had three carries of his own but was the running back that was used more in the receiving game. In Week 2 it will not get any easier with the Browns' tough defense waiting for them. The Browns' defense just made the high-octane Bengals offense look like the Cardinals. Look for other options at running back because Harris will disappoint you in Week 2. - Leo Grandio
Starters at Wide Receivers
Kendrick Bourne, WR New England Patriots
The country for old men seems to be with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. With Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator, there seems to be an old-school, pocket-passing West Coast-style offense. Mac Jones seems to be the right QB for the job, and Kendrick Bourne seems to be the wide receiver that Jones seems to favor in this style of offense. This week, Bourne is not in Belichick's Dog House, so start him with confidence. - Matt Miles
Nico Collins, WR Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud targeted Nico Collins 11 times in the Texans season opener against the Ravens in Baltimore. Collins was able to turn those targets into six receptions for 80 yards. Now for Week 2, the Colts' crappy secondary that got roasted by the Jaguars comes to Houston. Collins should maintain his target volume going forward and be able to easily get double-digit fantasy points for fantasy managers. Collins should be inserted into starting line-ups and be at the very least a WR3 for Week 2. - Leo Grandio
Sitters at Wide Receivers
DK Metcalf, WR Seattle Seahawks
DK Metcalf was more like a gas station decaf at 2 a.m. with a 3-47-1 line. Most of us didn't draft Metcalf to catch 3 balls for under 50 yards in the third round. Unfortunately, I don't see things getting better this week. The Seahawks face the Detroit Lions who made Patrick Mahomes look human. Is Geno Smith going to be any better this week? If you have higher ceiling options, it might be best to sit Metcalf this week. -Matt Miles
Garrett Wilson, WR New York Jets
Oh, how such a promising season came crashing down after four plays on Monday Night Football. In case you have been living under a rock for the past few days Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles after just four plays and is done for the season. Now Garrett Wilson must rely on Zack Wilson to get him the ball to make plays. We’ll see if that can happen in time. This week Garrett Wilson will not only have no Rodgers throwing him the ball, he will face a menacing Cowboys defense that just took out Daniel Jones and the Giants receivers with ease. Wilson was drafted as a WR1 or WR2 by fantasy managers but he will not perform like this week. Maybe you can use him as a flex but try to look at other options if you can. - Leo Grandio
Starters at Tight End
Sam LaPorta, TE Detroit Lions
Death. Taxes. Avoid Rookie Tight Ends. Let's stop that thought for a moment. Sam LaPorta in his first start, facing the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs, on the road, in prime-time, in the first game with the sports universe watching, fared better than most tight ends league wide in week 1. Laporta caught all 5 targets, putting up a 5/39 line. The Detroit Lions host the Seattle Seahawks, who allowed the Los Angeles Rams to throw for 339 yards last week can leave enough for an even bigger day for LaPorta in week 2. -Matt Miles
Cole Kmet, TE Chicago Bears
Even though D.J. Moore is on the Bears roster now, Cole Kmet still tied two others with seven targets in Week 1. With tight end position being so volatile, Kmet offers safety for fantasy managers. He will hover around 10 fantasy points most weeks and in Week 2 it will be no different. Kmet may not have a lot of yardage on the day but he will have plenty of opportunities to work underneath and get plenty of receptions. Insert Kmet into your lineups as he should be producing as top 10 tight end for the week. - Leo Grandio
Sitters at Tight End
Kyle Pitts, TE Atlanta Falcons
Arthur Smith has a DILLIGAF approach to fantasy football. Smith values pass catchers that can block. Smith was absolutely stoked and gushing about Drake London's blocking assignments Week 1. Smith's team won their game on the backs of Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson. The floor is zero for any player position that is not running back in Atlanta. It's literally spelled out for us. Arthur Smith is the Pitts. - Matt Miles
Hayden Hurst, TE Carolina Panthers
One thing that was evident after Week 1 for the Panthers, Hayden Hurst will be Bryce Young’s security blanket this season. Hurst was targeted seven times and he brought in five receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown. This made Hurst a priority pick-up in the waiver wire this week, and rightfully so. The only thing is that his match-up this week is against the Saints defense that has been shutting down opposing tight ends since last season. In Week 1 they held Chigoziem Okonkwo to zero catches. Look for more of the same this week. Hold Hurst for now but try to start someone else at tight end this week because it will not end well for Hurst in Week 2. - Leo Grandio
Starters at Defense
Washington Commanders D/ST
Congratulations if you chose the Washington Commanders in your Survival Pools last week, despite a holy crap 16-10 Cardinals lead going into quarter 4. Lots of fantasy teams dropped Washington to move on to Week 2, but I like staying the course this week as they travel to play the Denver Broncos. The Broncos scored 16 points as well against an average Las Vegas Raiders defense. Washington was able to force 3 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries against Arizona. The Raiders only forced 2 sacks and no turn overs. I see a very nice floor for the Commanders this week. - Matt Miles
New York Giants D/ST
Although the Giants got dismantled by the Cowboys in Week 1, there is an opportunity for fantasy managers to roll the dice with the Giants' Defense as a streamer for Week 2. They face off against the Arizona Cardinals who just allowed the Commanders' defense to score 11 fantasy points in the season opener. If your fantasy team's defense has a tough match-up for Week 2, start the Giants if can. Last week the Cardinals only scored 10 points and turned the ball over twice. - Leo Grandio
Sitters at Defense
New York Giants D/ST
Congratulations if you chose the Dallas Cowboys in your Survival Pools last week. Lots of fantasy teams are rushing to the New York Giants to move on Week 2, but I am pumping the brakes on this rush to the Big Apple. The Giants were midgets against a well prepared Cowboys team. The Washington Commanders had a bit of an oh crap moment with a 16-10 Cardinals lead going into quarter 4. Can the Giants pull off a fourt quarter rally and have this defense buckle down to finish a game? I just don't see it, especially after the Sunday night game Week 1. - Matt Miles
New England Patriots D/ST
The Patriots' Defense held their own against the Eagles in Week 1, but now faces the high-flying Dolphins this week in Foxboro. The Dolphins just lit up the Chargers on the road for 36 points in the season opener. I know this is a rivalry game but as long as Tua Tagovailoa is standing up on his feet this offense has been pretty unstoppable. If you have the Patriots' Defense, bench them this week and pick up a streaming defense Giants or Browns if want a chance to get more fantasy points. - Leo Grandio
If you have any start or sit questions, feel free to reach out to us on X @FCFantasySports.