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Sit Start Running Backs for Week 2 Fantasy Football

Running back sit start Week 2 fantasy football picks for 2025. Matt's top RB starts and sits including Kenneth Walker, Javonte Williams, Dylan Sampson.

Fantasy football continues cranking up as we head into Week 2 of the NFL season! Here at RotoBaller, we're dishing out the sit/start advice for running backs to help you dominate your matchups.

RotoBaller's Matt Donnelly drops his top running back starts and sits for Week 2, looking at players like Kenneth Walker, Javonte Williams, Dylan Sampson.

Be sure to tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM (channel Sirius 210, XM 87) - every weekday morning at 6:00 AM ET as well as Sunday Gameday at 6:00 AM ET. You can also find new weekly shows on YouTubeSpreaker, SpotifyiTunes and on the site under RotoBaller Radio podcasts. Win more in 2025 with RotoBaller!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

2025 Fantasy Football: Week 2 RB Starts/Sits

Matt Donnelly's top RB starts and sits for Week 2 of the 2025 fantasy football season:

Thanks for listening to today's episode! Be sure to tune in throughout the week, and to also follow RotoBaller on Twitter, YouTube, Spotify and iTunes for the latest fantasy news and analysis.

 

Week 2 Fantasy Football Outlooks

Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III is a flex player with upside in Week 2 when Seattle visits the Pittsburgh Steelers. Walker's 40% Week 1 snap share was concerning. That number figures to rise, given that Walker was working back from injuries throughout the offseason, but he does not appear poised to maintain the workhorse role he once held in this backfield. Walker was the preferred pass-catching running back in Week 1, which gives him a solid base in fantasy.

Seattle is facing a Steelers' defense on Sunday that should be solid all-around. However, they just got torched on the ground and through the air by a Jets offense that many considered to be below average coming into the season. With Seattle now having a week to see what their new offense looks like, they should be able to make adjustments and have more success in Week 2. Walker has lost his status as an RB2, but he can be started in your flex.

Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams is "clearly" the starter, according to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. After some offseason uncertainty about how Dallas would deploy its backfield, Williams put concerns to rest with a strong Week 1 showing in Philadelphia. He logged 17 touches for 64 total yards and two touchdowns, proving he can handle goal-line work and sustain drives.

''Schottenheimer later admitted he wished he had given Williams even more opportunities, which signals that his workload could increase moving forward. That's encouraging news for fantasy managers, especially given Dallas' lack of a true challenger for lead-back duties. Looking ahead to Week 2, Williams draws a favorable matchup against the New York Giants, who were gashed for 220 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 32 carries by Washington in Week 1. The Giants' front seven struggled mightily at the point of attack, giving Williams a chance to post another high-volume day with scoring upside.

Williams is a strong RB2 with RB1 upside this week. His locked-in goal-line role, combined with the Giants' weak run defense, makes him a must-start. If he continues to dominate touches in this backfield, he could quickly become one of the most reliable fantasy starters of the season -- health permitting.

Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson will head on the road to take on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. Sampson turned in an excellent pro debut in a one-point loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, catching all eight of his targets for 64 yards. He also dominated the backfield work, earning 12 carries to starter Jerome Ford's six in the contest.

Sampson appears to be locked into the pass-catching role in the Cleveland offense, a spot that should be productive against a Ravens defense that allowed James Cook to catch all five of his targets for 58 yards in Week 1. Sampson sets up as a high-end RB3/flex option with upside heading into fantasy contests in Week 2. Jerome Ford and Quinshon Judkins are both expected to be involved in the running game as well.

 

Who Should I Start Tool

Not sure who to start? Check out the Who Should I Start tool:

Who Should I Start for 2?

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Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 2 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding players like Kenneth Walker, Javonte Williams, Dylan Sampson. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning lineups in Week 2. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups for Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Start? tool will help make your fantasy football lineup decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to start... all free! Get your winning lineups set, and make the right decisions.

Week 2 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players - Kenneth Walker, Javonte Williams, Dylan Sampson. These are some of the most common searches for fantasy football lineups in Week 2.

Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Start? button to see who the recommended starts are based on weekly fantasy football matchups.

Improvements For Who Should I Start? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Start? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win your fantasy football matchups each week. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!

How It Works. Each week, our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football rankings and projections based on their research. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked. If someone is out for the week, they will not appear in the search results.

Scoring Formats. Fantasy football managers play in various types of leagues, and this tool allows you to choose whether it's PPR scoring, Half-PPR scoring, or Standard (Non-PPR) scoring. The second thing you want to do is to select the scoring format. There are three small radio buttons (small circles), so click on the scoring format you prefer. The results may vary based on the scoring format you select.

Popular Week 2 Searches. Curious to see some tough lineup decisions for Week 2 (2025)? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Start? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at this week. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.

 

Popular Week 2 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons

Below are some popular Week 2 searches and comparisons from our 'Who To Start' tool for Kenneth Walker, Javonte Williams, Dylan Sampson compared to others:

Kenneth Walker III
vs
Rome Odunze
Kenneth Walker III
vs
Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Kenneth Walker III
vs
Travis Hunter
Kenneth Walker III
vs
Jameson Williams
Kenneth Walker III
vs
Chris Olave
Kenneth Walker III
vs
Sam Laporta
Kenneth Walker III
vs
Jerry Jeudy
Kenneth Walker III
vs
Khalil Shakir
Kenneth Walker III
vs
George Pickens
Kenneth Walker III
vs
Zach Charbonnet
Kenneth Walker III
vs
DJ Moore
Kenneth Walker III
vs
Christian McCaffrey
Kenneth Walker III
vs
Jahmyr Gibbs
Kenneth Walker III
vs
Saquon Barkley
Kenneth Walker III
vs
Bijan Robinson
Kenneth Walker III
vs
Kyren Williams
Javonte Williams
vs
Courtland Sutton
Javonte Williams
vs
Marvin Harrison Jr.
Javonte Williams
vs
Mike Evans
Javonte Williams
vs
Davante Adams
Javonte Williams
vs
Brock Bowers
Javonte Williams
vs
Tony Pollard
Javonte Williams
vs
Chuba Hubbard
Javonte Williams
vs
DK Metcalf
Javonte Williams
vs
Garrett Wilson
Javonte Williams
vs
TreVeyon Henderson
Javonte Williams
vs
Travis Etienne Jr.
Javonte Williams
vs
Christian McCaffrey
Javonte Williams
vs
Jahmyr Gibbs
Javonte Williams
vs
Saquon Barkley
Javonte Williams
vs
Bijan Robinson
Javonte Williams
vs
Kyren Williams
Dylan Sampson
vs
Austin Ekeler
Dylan Sampson
vs
Cedric Tillman
Dylan Sampson
vs
Tucker Kraft
Dylan Sampson
vs
RJ Harvey
Dylan Sampson
vs
Michael Pittman Jr.
Dylan Sampson
vs
Mark Andrews
Dylan Sampson
vs
Stefon Diggs
Dylan Sampson
vs
David Njoku
Dylan Sampson
vs
Tyler Warren
Dylan Sampson
vs
Kayshon Boutte
Dylan Sampson
vs
David Montgomery
Dylan Sampson
vs
Christian McCaffrey
Dylan Sampson
vs
Jahmyr Gibbs
Dylan Sampson
vs
Saquon Barkley
Dylan Sampson
vs
Bijan Robinson
Dylan Sampson
vs
Kyren Williams

More Fantasy Football Analysis



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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Joe Burrow

Ruled Out for Remainder of Week 2
Joe Burrow

Questionable to Return in Week 2 with Toe Injury
Luis Arraez

Takes a Seat on Sunday With Head Injury
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Activated, Starting on Sunday
Joe Burrow

Leaves Week 2 Game with Apparent Leg Injury
Quinshon Judkins

to Start in NFL Debut
A.J. Brown

Eagles Plan to Get A.J. Brown More Involved
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
Jaydon Blue

Remains Healthy Scratch for Week 2
Wan'Dale Robinson

Active for Week 2 Against Cowboys
Quinshon Judkins

Will See 10-15 Snaps in Debut
Jauan Jennings

Suiting Up Against Saints in Week 2
Xavier Worthy

Hopes to Return in Week 3
Lamar Jackson

Shedeur Sanders Didn't Want to Play Behind Lamar Jackson, Nixed Ravens Pick
Davante Adams

Rams Want to Get Davante Adams More Involved in Week 2
Jayden Reed

Given 6-8 Week Timetable
Jauan Jennings

Expected to Play in Week 2
Brock Purdy

49ers Not Optimistic Brock Purdy Will Play in Week 3
Bryan Woo

Records Career-High 13 Strikeouts
Max Muncy

Exits Early on Saturday
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Quinshon Judkins

to Have "Snaps Closely Monitored" Versus Baltimore
Jauan Jennings

a "Game-Time" Decision for Week 2, Optimism That he'll Play
Salvador Perez

Reaches 300 Home Runs, 1,000 RBI
Jose Altuve

Exits Early With Foot Discomfort
Trey Yesavage

Heading to Big Leagues
Will Smith

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Russell Wilson

Giants Have No Urgency to Bench Russell Wilson
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Brock Bowers

Officially Questionable for Monday Night
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Christian Kirk

Ruled Out for Week 2
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Brock Bowers

Expected to Play on Monday Night
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
Ryan Preece

Seems Slower on Concrete Than on Asphalt
NASCAR

Legacy Motor Club's Short-Track Speed Will Likely Hold John H. Nemechek Back
Erik Jones

Definitely Faster This Year, but Short Tracks Still a Liability
Daniel Suarez

Despite Poor Qualifying Run, Daniel Suarez Might Not Be a Great Choice
Noah Gragson

Unlikely to Be Fast at Bristol but Still Might Be Worth Considering for DFS
Tarik Skubal

Avoids Serious Injury, Expected to Make Next Start
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
Kyle Larson

Can Kyle Larson Dominate at Bristol Again?
Denny Hamlin

One of the Best at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

All Eyes on Ryan Blaney at Bristol
Chase Briscoe

Whiffs in Qualifying, Will Start 31st in Bristol Night Race
Ty Gibbs

Could Contend at Bristol
Tanner Bibee

Fans 10 in Two-Hit Shutout
Zach Neto

Dealing With Wrist Soreness
Masyn Winn

Shut Down for Rest of Season
Tarik Skubal

to Undergo Imaging on Saturday
Tyler Soderstrom

Scratched on Friday With Groin Tightness
Tarik Skubal

Exits with Side Tightness
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
Ketel Marte

Scratched From Friday's Lineup
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Kyle Tucker

"Unlikely" to Return When Eligible on Tuesday
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Ketel Marte

Expected to Return on Friday
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Alexander Hernandez

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Quang Le

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Card Opener
Santiago Luna

Set For His Debut At Noche UFC 3
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Won't Play Against Georgia
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
CFB

Dylan Edwards Slated to Return on Friday
Jesús Luzardo

Jesus Luzardo Strikes Out 10 in Win
Aaron Judge

Matches Yankees Legend with Two-Homer Game
Anthony Volpe

Playing Through Partially Torn Labrum in his Shoulder
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
Charles Oliveira

Not Eyeing Retirement
CFB

Ryan Williams Expected to Play Against Wisconsin
CFB

Billy Edwards Jr. Unlikely to Play on Saturday
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Questionable to Make Debut Against Georgia
Lauri Markkanen

Big at Both Ends as Finland Books Place in EuroBasket Semis
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Notches 39 Points in Losing Effort
NBA

Cam Reddish Expected to Move to Europe
NBA

Trey Lyles Joins Real Madrid
Charles Bassey

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Hawks
Sacramento Kings

Terence Davis Waived by Kings
Matthew Knies

Ready for Bigger Role With Maple Leafs
Jack Eichel

Unbothered by Lack of Extension
Sidney Crosby

Not Thinking About Leaving Pittsburgh
SJ

Michael Misa Signs Entry-Level Contract With Sharks
Rutger McGroarty

Nursing an Injury
Cameron Champ

the Ultimate Wild Card at Procore
Cameron Young

Looks to Extend Momentum in Napa
Davis Thompson

Searching for a Spark at Procore
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Reignite Form at Procore
Mackenzie Hughes

Aims for Another Strong Showing at Procore
Luke Clanton

Brings Ball-Striking Upside to Napa
Seamus Power

Looking to Overcome Poor Course History at Procore
Joe Highsmith

Hoping to Find Form in Napa
Kristaps Porzingis

Reportedly Still Not Completely Healthy
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Reportedly on the Trade Block
Andre Drummond

Future in Philadelphia in Doubt
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Helps Greece Reach Semis at EuroBasket
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Posts Historic Triple-Double
Joel Dahmen

Finishes Tied For 15 at Wyndham Championship
Bud Cauley

Finishes Tied for 33rd at BMW Championship
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied for Seventh at Tour Championship
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied for 25th at Tour Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied for 19th at Tour Championship
Keith Mitchell

Misses Cut at Wyndham Championship
Ben Griffin

Finishes Tied for 10th at Tour Championship
Patrick Cantlay

Finishes Tied for Second at Tour Championship
Gary Woodland

Could Hang Around at Procore Championship
Karl Vilips

Ready for Napa Valley This Weekend
Taylor Montgomery

Heating Up at the Right Time
Jackson Koivun

May Be a Little Rusty at Procore Championship
Doug Ghim

Looking to Rise Up at Napa Valley
Josh Giddey

Re-Signs With Bulls for Four Years
Shakir Mukhamadullin

Joins Informal Skate
William Eklund

Skates With Sharks
Owen Power

Back at 100 Percent
Tyler Seguin

Cleared for Action
Mathew Barzal

Good to Go for Season Opener
Dustin Wolf

Signs Seven-Year Extension
NBA

Mason Jones Takes His Talents to Australia
NBA

Talen Horton-Tucker Joins Reigning EuroLeague Champions
Malcolm Brogdon

on Knicks' Radar
Andrew Wiggins

Attracting Interest From Lakers
Miami Heat

Heat Interested in Reunion With Precious Achiuwa
New York Knicks

Ben Simmons Reportedly Declined Knicks' Contract Offer

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP