Fantasy Football: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week Two

Quarterback

Start ‘Em

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills @ New York Giants

This is almost a no-brainer to me. Josh Allen turned the ball over four times against a stout New York Jets defense and still managed to get 16 fantasy points. He now gets to play a porous New York Giants defense that allowed Dak Prescott to cut them apart. His rushing upside also adds great value.

Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders vs Kansas City Chiefs

Derek Carr played extremely well in his first game of the season against a solid secondary in the Denver Broncos. Now, he plays Kansas City who just allowed rookie Gardner Minshew and Nick Foles to combine for 24 points against them. The Chiefs are known for being in shootouts with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, so expect the same here.

Sit ‘Em

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals @ Baltimore Ravens

Kyler Murray looked awful in the first half against the Detroit Lions. He then picked it up in the second half and sent the game to overtime. He ended up finished as a top 12 quarterback this past week. This week he comes up against a much tougher defense in the Baltimore Ravens. Expect him to struggle a little more.

Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans

Brissett played solid game against the Los Angeles Chargers. He scored 16.5 points in fantasy which isn’t ideal, but won’t lose you a game. He now faces the Titans defense that just had three interceptions against Baker Mayfield. Brissett should have more struggles than he did last week. The Colts seemed to also become a running team with only 190 passing yards last week.

Runningback

Start ‘Em

Sony Michel, New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

Sony Michel had 15 carries for 14 yards last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It seemed every carry he had, he was being met in the backfield. This upcoming week, this will not be as much of a problem. The Dolphins allowed the Baltimore Ravens to run for 265 yards against them. The Dolphins seemed to have already quit, and Sony Michel can punish them for that.

Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens vs Arizona Cardinals

Ingram just ran over the Dolphins and punished them. Expect much of the same this week when the Ravens face another awful defense in the Cardinals. Although Gus Edwards had more carries, I expect this to be because they pulled Ingram near the end of the game. No point in running the ball with your starter when you’re up 40 points.

Sit ‘Em

Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles

Freeman struggled last week only registering eight carries for 18 yards with a fumble. That was against a tough Minnesota front, and Philadelphia’s isn’t much easier. The Eagles only allowed 28 total rushing yards to the Redskins last week. Freeman also seems to be splitting carries with Ito Smith frequently. If you have better options on the bench, I would sit him.

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings

Aaron Jones seemed to be splitting carries with Jamaal Williams this past week against the Bears. He only saw 38 total snaps. This Minnesota defense also stymied the Falcons rushing attack of Devonta Freeman and Ito Smith. If you have better options, sit him. If you don’t, start him with caution.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Brandin Cooks, Los Angeles Rams vs New Orleans Saints

Brandin Cooks disappointed last week with a mere 5.9 points in PPR. There are a lot of mouths to feed in Los Angeles, so there will be weeks like that. The New Orleans Saints struggled to cover the deep threat against Houston last week, so expect the deep threat specialist Cooks to capitalize on this.

Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders

Sammy Watkins went off last week, so this may seem as a no-brainer. Now that Watkins is the main wide receiver in Kansas City, he should go off every week. Patrick Mahomes loves to take shots, and Watkins is a great deep threat. He is a must start this week against the Raiders.

Sit ‘Em

Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals vs San Francisco 49ers

Boyd had a solid PPR game last week, but this week he will have a tougher matchup. San Francisco only allowed Mike Evans to have two catches for 28 yards. I’d expect much of the same from the Boyd and the Bengals. He may have some upside if the Bengals get it going, but I’d sit him if you have depth behind him.

Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions vs Los Angeles Chargers

Golladay had himself a fine game last week against the Cardinals, but this week will be much tougher. Golladay will most likely be matched up against shut-down corner Casey Heyward and the Chargers that just locked down the Colts passing game last week. I expect much of the same this week.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders vs Kansas City Chiefs

With Derek Carr benefiting from the potential shootout that awaits them in Kansas City, Waller looks to take advantage of this too. Waller was the most targetted player in their game against the Broncos last week. Waller caught seven passes for 70 yards against the stingy Broncos defense. Look for him to keep it rolling against the Chiefs.

Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles

Since the Eagles just allowed Vernon Davis to shred them up, there is a high probability that Austin Hooper can do just the same. Dan Quinn said this offseason he planned on getting Hooper involved more in the offense, and he did just that this past weekend. Hooper caught nine passes for 77 yards against a solid Vikings defense. He is a must start.

Sit ‘Em

Eric Ebron, Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans

Ebron dominated the end zone last season on his way to fantasy stardom. He may not have the same result this season. With Jack Doyle healthy and Andrew Luck is no longer his quarterback, his upside is very limited. Tight ends were only targeted five times last week against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Jimmy Graham, Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings

Graham gave the fantasy owners a lot of hope last week. He caught three passes for 30 yards and a touchdown in a win against the Chicago Bears. It was the only touchdown all game. In their upcoming game against the Vikings, expect the wide receivers to receive more targets than they did last week. Graham is a touchdown dependent tight end this week.

Defense/Special Teams

Start ‘Em

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

Anybody who faces the Dolphins is a strong fantasy start at this point. The offense is going to be very bad and won’t put up a lot of points. They will also turn the ball over a lot. On top of this, the Patriots just held the Steelers in check in every aspect this past Sunday night. They can easily do the same against a Dolphins offense that only scored one touchdown against the Ravens.

Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers threw three interceptions and fumbled the ball three times (lost one) in their game against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers defense had more interceptions in this game than they had all of last year. Expect the Panthers to create turnovers and to rack up the points in that department.

Sit ‘Em

Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons

The Eagles allowed Case Keenum and their weak receiving core to torch them for almost 400 yards in the air. You don’t think the Falcons can do better? This game could potentially turn into a shootout quick with how poor the Falcons defense looked against the Minnesota Vikings.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans

The Texans and their improved offense look to bounce back big after their sad ending in New Orleans this past Monday night. The Jaguars also allowed Mahomes and co. to pick them apart all game. They allowed almost 500 yards of total offense. I’d sit the Jaguars this week.

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