Week 2 of the NFL season is getting underway and there are some very interesting matchups fantasy football players need to keep an eye on. Here are some tips on which games to take advantage of to win your fantasy games this week.
Now that the first week butterflies are out of everyone’s system, let’s get back into the rhythm of the football season. NFL Week 1 provided fans with everything they hoped for and more. This weekend is not going to disappoint either with several key games coming in Week 2.
Before getting into this week’s list for start-em, sit-em, let’s run through last week’s picks to see where they fell short and who performed big:
Week 1 Hits: Austin Hooper (ATL) start-em vs. Chicago, Eric Ebron (DET) sit-em vs. Arizona, New England defense sit-em vs. Kansas City
Week 1 Misses: Ameer Abdullah (DET) start-em vs. Arizona, Mike Gillislee (NE) sit-em vs. Kansas City, Kelvin Benjamin (CAR) vs. San Franscico
They can’t all be winners, but more hits would be nice for this Week 2 list.
Start-em: Tom Brady (NE) vs. New Orleans
The 2017 season started off with a bit of a shocker when the Kansas City Chiefs went into Gillette Stadium and destroyed the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots. Here come overreactions again after just one week. The Patriots are going to be fine, and Tom Brady is going to go out and prove it this week versus New Oreleans.
This is just as much about me believing in the Patriots offense as it is me hating the Saints defense. On Monday night, the New Orleans defense made Sam Bradford look like a star NFL quarterback.
The Patriots offense added a new top wide receiver in Brandin Cooks, a new top running back with Mike Gillislee and lost their top target from the last few years to injury in Julian Edelman. Any team with that much change is going to go through some growing pains. It was odd to see a Patriots team that has won so much over the past decade struggle so mightily, but just give it some time.
Brady has to be salivating, to not only get the bad taste of Week 1 out of his mouth, but also to face this porous Saints defense. Can anyone remember a time where Brady had two bad weeks in a row? Neither can I.
Roll him out with confidence in Week 2.
Other options: Alex Smith (KC) vs. Philadelphia
Sit-em: Eli Manning (NYG) vs. Detroit
The New York Giants are not the same team without Odell Beckham Jr. That fact is obvious, but they have bigger problems than just that. Eli Manning and the offense looked horrible Sunday night and there is no real hope in sight.
One wide receiver being out doesn’t make a team look that bad. There are many problems with the New York offense and Manning happens to be one of them. He missed wide-open targets all night long and never got the offense into any kind of flow. That was apparent by the three points scored.
Although Manning played poorly, he has a track record to say he might be able to turn it around for Week 2.
However, the biggest problem is the Giants offensive line. Manning was under constant pressure and the running backs had no holes to run through.
Manning was never good at handling pressure, and now he is behind what is perhaps the worst line in the NFL. No running game to speak of and the possible absence of OBJ again this week should terrify Manning. It terrifies me enough to say sit-em in all fantasy leagues.
Other options: Deshone Kizer (HOU) vs. Cincinnati
Start-em: Kareem Hunt (KC) vs. Philadelphia
Anyone else would start this with a slight brag that Kareem Hunt was one of my top picks in all of my fantasy football leagues this year, but not me. Instead let’s fondly reminisce on one of the greatest debuts in NFL history.
Hunt didn’t only break records on Thursday night with the whole world watching, he did it versus the Patriots. That’s unheard of! The Patriots defense just doesn’t let running backs have games like that, ever. Here is an article by Mike Reiss of ESPN to prove it. This makes what he did to open the season that much more impressive.
This week all eyes will be on what Hunt can do for an encore against Philadelphia. The Eagles held the very poor rushing attack of the Washington Redskins in check Sunday, but don’t expect the same this weekend. Hunt is going to go for another big game.
The Kansas City offense is scary good. They have three legitimate weapons teams have to try to stop. Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt are going to give teams fits this season.
Hill and Kelce have had proven success in the league, so stopping them is going to be a priority. That leaves room for Hunt to do more of what he did to start the season. Kareem Hunt owners everywhere, you did good and have fun watching this guy in 2017.
Other options: Christian McCaffrey (CAR) vs. Buffalo, Jay Ajayi (MIA) vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Sit-em: DeMarco Murray (TEN) vs. Jacksonville
DeMarco Murray was last season’s fantasy football darling, but this season is off to a completely different beginning. This truly is a timeshare backfield in Tennessee and fantasy football players need to realize that before it’s too late.
Murray did get two-thirds of the running back carries on Sunday, but Derrick Henry statistically performed better. Henry averaged 4.2 yards per carry, while Murray averaged 3.7 yards. Neither was incredibly effective, but don’t think the Titans didn’t see these stats after the game.
I apologize to players who drafted Murray this season in fantasy football expecting last season to repeat, but that isn’t happening. Henry is going to get more and more touches. Murray is still going to produce solid numbers, but not top-five numbers like last season.
That drop off started last week and continues into Week 2 verses that suddenly stifling Jacksonville Jaguars defense?!? Sacksonville! Love the nickname, after the Jaguars incredible 10- sack performance in Week 1. Houston is not an offense force, by any means, but 10 sacks is impressive against anyone.
The combination of a loss of touches and a strong opposing defense makes Murray a risky play in Week 2. In order for me to have confidence in him again, I need to see him get 20 or more touches in a game, and I don’t think that’s happening soon.
Other options: Eddie Lacy (SEA) vs. San Francisco, Jordan Howard (CHI) vs. Tampa Bay
Start-em: Mike Evans (TB) vs. Chicago
Tampa Bay has to start a grueling set of 16 straight games after Hurricane Irma forced the league to cancel its Week 1 match up with Miami. That means many of the Tampa Bay players are going to get less rest and might not perform as well later in the season. Because of that, take advantage of the Buccaneers offense early and often in fantasy football this season.
Mike Evans is going to have an incredible season for the up-and-coming Buccaneers. Jameis Winston and Evans have developed some of the best chemistry in the NFL over the past two seasons. That chemistry has led to 4,000 passing yards and 1,200 receiving yards each season.
That trend continues in 2017.
Chicago’s defense did a surprisingly solid job against another top receiver in Week 1, Julio Jones. That indicates more on the way the Falcons played in Week 1. Chicago gave up a number of big plays to Jones and Austin Hooper, but the Atlanta offense was unable to put touchdowns on the board. That won’t be an issue for Evans and the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Evans has the rare combination of elite speed and hands to go with his height. He towers over all of the Chicago defensive backs and will win most jump balls this week.
Evans is always a threat to score from anywhere on the field, but mix that with his elite red zone ability and he becomes a must start in fantasy football for Week 2.
Other options: Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) vs. Indianapolis, Tyreek Hill (KC) vs. Philadelphia
Sit-em: Terrelle Pryor (WAS) vs. Los Angeles Rams
Terrelle Pryor’s journey to being a viable wide receiver in the NFL is admirable. Quarterbacks-turned-wide receiver hardly ever work, but he seems to have figured it out. His first game in Washington went well, but he is in for a different result this Sunday.
The Los Angeles Rams defense is still one of the best in the NFL, and they reminded us of that in Week 1. They may have played the Andrew Luck-less Colts, but the Rams not only won, they demolished the Colts. The Rams held T.Y. Hilton, last year’s leading receiver, to three catches for 57 yards in Week 1.
Terrelle Pryor is also hurt by the lack of a Washington Redskins rushing attack. Against defenses like the Rams, if you can’t run the ball, you are in big trouble. Letting Robert Quinn attack the quarterback with no threat of a running game is going to lead to trouble for the Redskins offense.
If you drafted Pryor in your fantasy football league, Week 1 was a positive sign. Don’t get discouraged if Week 2 isn’t as productive. Terrelle Pryor isn’t a great play this week in fantasy, but like I said, the matchups dictate a lot and he has a bad one in this week.
Other options: Alshon Jeffrey (PHI) vs. Kansas City, T.Y. Hilton (IND) vs. Arizona
Start-em: Travis Kelce (KC) vs. Philadelphia
Did I mention I’m all in on the Kansas City offense this season? Travis Kelce is one of many weapons that teamed up to make Alex Smith look like a star Week 1 in New England.
Philadelphia has had trouble on defense for years now, and 2017 is no different. They have a formidable front seven on defense, but their secondary is questionable. Kelce can exploit Philly’s weaknesses on defense perfectly with short routes to help gain first downs and keep the Eagles offense off the field
The thing Kelce can do that not many other tight ends can do well is run longer routes. It isn’t just his speed and hands that allow him to do this, but he is a great route runner and Alex Smith trusts him. Look for him to be open on many seam and post routes this Sunday versus the Eagles.
Kelce is poised to be a top-five tight end in fantasy football for 2017. The Chiefs are a good football team on both defense and offense, and they proved that Thursday night. There aren’t many tight ends who are going to have the opportunity and ability to make the plays Kelce will this season and this week. Add him to your lineups with confidence.
Other options: Austin Hooper (ATL) vs. Green Bay
Sit-em: Jack Doyle (IND) vs. Arizona
Jack Doyle’s fantasy football value depends solely on the healthy of Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. The Colts offense looked abysmal in Week 1, and there is no hope in sight. Luck has already been ruled out for this week against a very tough defense for the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals have two of the best defensive backs in the league in Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu. Mathieu will most likely draw the coverage on Doyle Sunday, and that is a bad matchup for the young tight end. Mathieu has shut down far more experienced tight ends over the past few seasons, and Doyle should be no different.
Scott Tolzien is the quarterback in charge of getting Doyle the ball. I don’t want anything to do with Tolzein, or who ever the Colts quarterback is on my fantasy football team. They had a very difficult time with a good defense Rams defense in Week 1 that was without their best player, Aaron Donald.
Until Andrew Luck is back in the Colts offense, avoid all of the Indianapolis players. Doyle is no exception. Fantasy football tight ends are flexible. There are usually two or three decent tight ends on waivers with good matchups. Add one of them this week and sit Doyle.
Other options: Zach Miller (CHI) vs. Tampa Bay
Start-em: Arizona Cardinals defense vs. Indianapolis
Scott Tolzien and Jacoby Brissett are both a gift and a curse. They are gifts for fantasy football owners of the Cardinals defense and curses on basically everyone else. The Cardinals defense has been so good under head coach Bruce Arians for so many years that they seem to be forgotten.
Patrick Peterson is still a top-tier cornerback, Tyrann Mathieu is still a great safety and their defense line can still sack the quarterback. The Colts offense line is responsible for the Andrew Luck injury that has essentially derailed the Colts’ 2017 season already.
Tolzien and Brissett are being thrown behind that same offensive line with far less talent than Luck. They have no chance. Tolzien is one of the few starting quarterbacks in the NFL that can say they have more interceptions than touchdowns. He has thrown nine interceptions and only two touchdowns. And Brissett is only in his second week with the team, and he is unproven as well.
Arians has nothing but respect for the Colts organization, but this one isn’t going to be pretty. They aren’t going to try to run the score up on the Colts, but with all the defensive touchdowns I’m expecting, it will be hard not to.
Other options: Raiders defense vs. New York Jets
Sit-em: New Orleans Saints defense vs. New England
Monday Night proved it, the Saints defense is still bad. They added all new personnel on defense, aside from Kenny Vaccaro and Cameron Jordan, and still couldn’t stop Sam Bradford and the Minnesota Vikings.
It looks like Drew Brees is going to have to continue quarterbacking the Saints to 54-50 wins this season. Stefon Diggs of the Vikings was open all night in Week 1, and now they go up against their former teammate, Brandin Cooks.
Tom Brady is the best quarterback I’ve ever seen play football, and the fact that he had a bad week to open the season scares me for what he is going to do to this poor Saints defense. Even without wide receiver Julian Edelman, Brady should have no problem picking them apart.
New England doesn’t lose two weeks in a row often. They aren’t going to this week. The New Orleans defense is in for a rude awakening facing a mad Tom Brady on Sunday. The Saints should be able to score versus the New England defense which will help a little, but that also means more time on the field for Brady and that offense to work.
This is going to be a fun one to watch regardless of fantasy football implications. Expect big fantasy football points for both offenses. Start-em, sit-em for Week 2 is complete. Let’s go win some fantasy football games.
Next: Fantasy football: Waiver-wire players to watch in Week 1
Other options: Eagles defense vs. Kansas City