Fantasy Football: Start or sit for NFL Week 2

Fantasy football starts and sits for Week 2 of the 2020 NFL season.

NFL football is officially back and, with Week 1 behind us, many fantasy football managers are beginning to see what kind of team it is that they drafted. Week 1 saw many unsuspecting players perform, such as running back Malcolm Brown and wide receivers Darius Slayton and Robby Anderson. However, it also saw proven stars such as Michael Thomas and Mike Evans put up duds.

All that considered, fantasy football managers may be worried about some of their top players underperforming while the prospects on their bench exceed expectations.

Here is a list of the players that you should feel no qualms about starting and those who should take a seat on the bench in Week 2.

Note: All fantasy stats info via Fantasy Pros.

Fantasy Football Starts for Week 2

QB Cam Newton, New England (vs. Seattle)

Newton put on a show in his New England debut, finishing as the QB6 on the week despite throwing for the fewest yards of any starting quarterback. He looked like the Newton of old on the ground, putting up 75 yards and 2 touchdowns on 15 attempts.

Even though his usage as a passer was concerning, he will finish as a QB1 on the season if he continues to run at the rate he did in Week 1. In Week 2 he draws a matchup with Seattle, who’s defense allowed Matt Ryan to throw for 450 yards in Week 1.

Projection: 225 yards, 1 touchdown, 65 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown,  25.5 fantasy points. 

RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis (vs. Minnesota)

In Week 1, Marlon Mack was the clear starting running back for the Colts, with Taylor appearing as a backup and Nyheim Hines coming in on passing downs.  However, this whole dynamic changed once Mack went down in the second quarter with a torn Achilles.

Despite Hines putting up the better week, Taylor still had 15 touches with promising involvement in the passing game. Taylor should take a majority of the first and second down work for the remainder of the season, and should be able to put up RB1 numbers against a weak Vikings defense.

Projection: 121 total yards, 1 touchdown, 5 receptions, 20.6 fantasy points.

RB Ronald Jones II, Tampa Bay (vs. Carolina)

Many thought Ronald Jones would be rendered obsolete with the signing of Leonard Fournette, but he was given 19 total touches in Week 1 against the Saints and was able to churn out 82 yards. In Week 2, the Bucs get a chance to live up to their offseason hype against a bottom-of-the-barrel Carolina defense that was gashed by Josh Jacobs in Week 1.

As the Bucs offense chemistry grows, look for Jones to put together some strong fantasy performances as the teams lead back.

Projection: 101 total yards, 1 touchdown, 3 receptions, 17.6 fantasy points.

WR Terry McLaurin, Washington (vs. Arizona)

McLaurin put up a boring stat line in the season opener, finishing with five receptions for 61 yards. He still led the team in receptions on a day where Dwayne Haskins only threw for 178 yards and the game was dominated by the defense. Haskins should be forced to air it out in Week 2, as the Cardinals pose much more of an offensive threat than the Eagles did in Week, and McLaurin is poised to be the prime benefactor.

Projection: 7 receptions, 102 yards, 1 touchdown, 19.7 fantasy points. 

TE Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia (vs. LA Rams)

One week into the season and Dallas Goedert is the TE1. More importantly, he led the Eagles in targets, receptions and yards. Even though Goedert has had these blow-up games before, Wentz truly has no other options to throw to this year. Expect Goedert to have an extremely high floor all year long, and have high touchdown upside in high scoring games.

Projection: 7 receptions, 85 yards, 1 touchdown, 18.0 fantasy points. 

Fantasy Football Sits for Week 2

QB Carson Wentz, Philadelphia (vs. LA Rams)

Through the first half of Week 1, Wentz looked like he was going to put together an MVP-caliber season. The second half painted a more realistic picture, with Wentz under constant pressure, looking indecisive and making ill-advised throws.

With Aaron Donald and company coming to town, Wentz is going to be experiencing more of the same in Week 2. It will be extremely hard for the Eagles to put together consistent drives with their offensive line situation, and there are better options than Wentz on the waiver wire.

Projection: 237 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 11 rushing yards, 16.6 fantasy points.

RB Melvin Gordon III, Denver (vs. Pittsburgh)

Gordon put up a solid Week 1 performance, but it was apparent that he was in a near 50/50 timeshare with teammate Phillip Lindsay until he went down with a foot injury. Reports expect Lindsay to be sidelined a few weeks with this injury, which would leave Gordon with the full workload for the coming weeks.

However, in Week 2 he draws a matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who held Saquon Barkley to six yards on 15 carries in Week 1.

Projection: 71 total yards, 4 receptions, 9.1 fantasy points. 

RB James Robinson, Jacksonville (vs. Tennessee)

Robinson was one of the pleasant surprises from Week 1, showing promise on his 17 touches. However, his lack of involvement in the passing game is slightly concerning, as he was only targeted one time.

Minshew only threw 20 passes in the season opener and Jacksonville’s offense is clearly better than everyone envisioned, so Robinson should hold some value down the road but it is still important to remember he still finished as the RB31 in his hyped debut.

Projection: 77 total yards, 3 receptions, 9.2 fantasy points. 

WR Keenan Allen, LA Chargers (vs. Kansas City)

It is hard to justify putting a name like Keenan Allen on the bench but it is clear from Week 1 that this is not the same Chargers team that Allen made his name with. Despite receiving eight targets, he only hauled in four catches for 37 yards in Week 1.

Allen will surely put up some big games based on his talent alone, but he offers little floor in a game where the Chargers don’t stand a fighting chance.

Projection: 5 receptions, 66 yards, 9.1 fantasy points. 

TE Evan Engram, New York (vs Chicago)

Engram destroyed fantasy managers in Week 1, posting only two catches for nine yards. While he is sure to see some improvement, this dud also came in a week where Saquon Barkley totaled six rushing yards.

There will be few opportunities for Engram in Week 2 against a stout Bears defense, and with plenty of more appealing streaming options on the waiver wire, Engram deserves a spot on your bench in Week 2.

Projection: 3 receptions, 41 yards, 5.6 fantasy points.