NFL Week 1 was not so kind. Although my sits went well, my starts struggled. I was premature on Parris Campbell and Trey Sermon had his big game stolen by Elijah Mitchell. Although, Sermon did miss curfew, so he may have deserved it despite the juicy matchup. My record heading into Week 2 of Fantasy Football Starts & Sits:
Starts: 3-3
Sits: 3-1
Overall: 6-4
On to Week 2, we go!
Fantasy Football Starts & Sits Quarterback:
Teddy Bridgewater (vs. JAX) START
Surprise, surprise Teddy Two Gloves looked the role of a safe and competent quarterback last week. Fantasy managers were treated to a pleasant QB15 performance against a bad New York Giants team. As if things couldn’t get any better, Teddy faces the Jacksonville Jaguars this week! The Jags allowed Tyrod Taylor to lead the Texans to not only a win, but a QB1 finish too. He finished QB11 with 23.6 points.
Bridgewater is without Jerry Jeudy, but he has a nice complement of weapons at his disposal. He should be able to expose a Jags defense that really needs no further exposing. Bridgewater even without Jeudy honestly has a better compliment of weapons than Taylor had. Expect another safe and competent outing from Teddy that should plant himself safely as a low-tier QB1. However, if the Jags offense pushes a bit, Teddy has the upside to do more if forced to push the yards and points on the board.
Tyrod Taylor (vs. CLE) SIT
How the mighty will fall! Taylor gave managers a pleasant surprise last week when he finished QB11. Managers should be cautious though because the Jaguars defense is a wreck and his defensive opponent this week is not! He only had to manage
The Cleveland Browns may have blown it against the Patty Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, but you can bet they won’t let lightning strike twice. Especially considering it’s such a juicy matchup in week two versus the Texans. I smell a return to earth for the Texans and this won’t be good for Taylor.
Fantasy Football Starts & Sits Running Back:
Melvin Gordon (vs. JAX) START
I want to preface this by saying MelGo over Javonte Williams because he is running out of games to be a top 24 running back for managers. In-game one of the Broncos season he split snaps exactly 50/50 with Javonte Williams. What’s going for him in week two? I think Javonte and Gordon will have big days against an abysmal Jags defense and both be top 24 running backs.
Gordon was more effective against the Giants than Williams, carrying the ball 11 times for 101 yards and a TD plus three receptions for 17 yards. While Javonte saw more groundwork with 14 carries managing 45 yards and a single reception for negative yardage. Gordon should be equally effective in week two and should be started everywhere. After all, the Jags did give up 144 total yards and three TDs to a combination of Texans running backs headlined by Mark Ingram!
Ronald Jones (vs. ATL) START
I get the risky play with Ronald Jones. He fumbled the ball early against Dallas and never saw the field again. The game was played mostly through the air and apparently, Bruce Arians weren’t thrilled with the limited output, in limited touches by Fournette and Bernard. Jones is due to start in a nice matchup against Atlanta. The game script should create an opportunity on the ground if Tampa can run away with it. Even if not, the ground game should see more than 13 rush attempts.
In his last three games against Atlanta, Jones has seen 11+ touches, over 50 yards, and a TD in two of three games. Never failing to eclipse at least 13 PPR points in those three contests. The Falcons allowed 156 total yards to Eagles running backs last week including a TD. This week could be due to be worse since Tampa should be able to bury Atlanta early.
Saquon Barkley (vs. WSH) SIT
I can’t see very many things playing into Barkley’s favor this week. He’s facing a stout defensive front that should make Daniel Jones and Barkley’s life a living hell, especially with that offensive line. He’s clearly being eased back into action like Coach Judge eluded to. He played 48% of snaps last week while RB2 Devontae Booker played 39%. Lastly, it’s a short week and I normally have a hard time starting players in Thursday night games.
Barkley owners who choose to start him could potentially be saved by goal-line touchdowns. He did see five red-zone touches last week, none of them inside five yards. This would be a risky and sticky stat to pray on. I expect Barkley to ramp things up in week three after a long week of rest, but for week two this is a recipe for disaster.
Fantasy Football Starts & Sits Wide Receiver:
Jarvis Landry (vs. HOU) START
As I am typing this must start, boom my notifications light up with Kevin Stefanski announcing OBJ will not play against the Texans this weekend. Landry would have been a start with or without OBJ there because I’d imagine OBJ wouldn’t be at 100%. The Texans aren’t good despite last week’s win and Landry is the #1 WR in Cleveland. Simple math, Landry is a must-start!
Landry saw five targets catching all five for 71 yards and had two rush attempts, one of which a touchdown, last week. Not overly impressive, but still workload and opportunity enough to make him the WR17. The Texan’s defense is weaker than the Chiefs and Landry should see a similar snap share in the mid to high 80 % range. He has seen 5+ targets in all but three of his last 17 games. He will be due for plenty of opportunities.
Corey Davis (vs. NE) START
Davis played 89% of snaps at the wide receiver position. If Crowder returns this week I feel this affects Berrios over Moore or Davis as Berrios was the lead slot receiver at 68% of snaps in the slot. Davis has the big-money contract and saw seven targets in his first game.
Yeah, New England may be a tough game. It’s divisional and the Jets could push the passing game. A negative game script may lead to Wilson having to throw the ball and his outside receiver may be key. He had two red-zone targets, two touchdowns, and nearly 100 yards. Despite the Elijah Moore preseason hype, Davis will be one of Wilson’s favorite targets this season. That includes this week!
Deebo Samuel (vs. PHI) SIT
San Francisco barely survived a game against the Detroit Lions! Yes, that was as gross to type as you would think. It also seemed the 49ers had an issue of maturity with Sermon a healthy scratch and Aiyuk punished with limited targets for missing curfew. Kittle also saw five targets. Kittle has seen five or less targets only nine times in the last 23 games.
It feels like a lot of things went right for Samuel and his overall WR3 showing in week one. It was his first 30 point PPR showing. He has only eclipsed 20+ PPR points four times in 23 games. Feels very much like just a major boom game for Samuel. He faces a formidable cornerback duo in Darius Slay and Steven Nelson this week in Philly. I’m fading Samuel, inconsistency and injury are a cornerstone of Samuel’s career.
Fantasy Football Starts & Sits Tight End:
Cole Kmet (vs. CIN) START
Although I felt Jimmy Graham would be the TE1 in Chicago, week one may depict a different trend. Kmet played 74% of snaps at tight end to Graham’s 20%. Cincinnati and Chicago may be forced into a shoot-out this week as Cincy may play from behind. ARob should return to form and Mooney should see his share. Who else is thereafter that? Let’s not rule Kmet out.
Kmet saw seven targets and made five catches. This significance of snap share difference does not feel like a coincidence. As long as Dalton is in the picture, Kmet will see targets. Start him as a safe top 12 TE option in what could become a pass-heavy game where he is likely a top-three receiving option.
Rob Gronkowski (vs. ATL) SIT
Do you see me? Now watch me disappear. This is what Gronk has felt like as a fantasy asset over the last season with the Bucs. But managers will react to Gronk’s week one performance how they wish. He was targetted eight times, caught all eight balls, and had two touchdowns. These numbers are mind-blowing alone! It is tied for most targets in a game with the Bucs and also the most receptions as a Buc.
Tampa should get the lead early and never look back against Atlanta making for a script that favors the ground game. This was Gronk’s first 20 point game as a Buc and he hasn’t had consecutive games of 10+ points since week six through eight last season before AB arrived in town. Consistency is not the name of Gronks game as he also produced seven games in 17 with five points or less. Tell me you are starting Gronk with confidence!
