Key Starters and Tough Calls - Lineup Spotlights for Week 2

Scott Engel provides Week 2 fantasy football lineups analysis, spotlighting key NFL players to start and tougher lineup start/sit decisions to make.

Welcome to the second week of the 2021 season, RotoBallers! Below you will find some of my spotlight choices and players to go with when faced with tough lineup decisions in Week 2. We also include players who you may be feeling uneasy about after Week 1 that are due for rebound outings, and guys to watch for as possible waiver adds or lineup considerations in the near future.

These choices are based off my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller's NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a discount and get access to all of my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the 2021 season.

Skill position picks here are based on my PPR rankings.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Running Backs

Kareem Hunt has 248 scrimmage yards (124 per game) in two career games vs. the Texans. While those stats are from past seasons, Hunt can certainly roll up those type of numbers this week against the Texans again. Hunt was a strong start in Week 1 against the Chiefs, and the RBs will be the focal point of the offense again. Watch Hunt and Nick Chubb post impressive stat lines as Cleveland brings Houston down hard after its opening week victory. 

Melvin Gordon rushed for 101 yards and a  TD in Week 1. He is aiming for his 3rd game in a row with 90+ rush yards and a rushing TD. Since 2016, he is tied for 3rd in the NFL with 46 rushing TDs. Both Denver running backs are quality starting options against Jacksonville. Gordon has looked like a more decisive runner early on, though, and is the slightly better start over Javonte Williams in Week 2. 

Najee Harris rushed for 45 yards in his NFL debut last week. He did rip off a key 18-yard run late in the game against Buffalo and you should get ready to see Harris rev up for a much better outing in Week 2 against the Raiders. Baltimore was able to run effectively enough against Las Vegas, and their RBs certainly do not have the obvious upside and promise of the Pittsburgh rookie. If Harris seemed to be frustrating last week, you will not be let down in Week 2. 

Chase Edmonds had 106 scrimmage yards (63 rushing, 43 receiving) in Week 1, his 3rd-career game with 100+ scrimmage yards. Minnesota is banged up on defense and the Arizona offense looks like it can challenge opponents in a variety of ways. Edmonds is an upside flex play for Week 2. James Conner should also get some opportunities to score from shorter range. 

Jamaal Williams had 106 scrimmage yards (63 rushing, 43 receiving) in Week 1, his 3rd-career game with 100+ scrimmage yards. Now he faces his former team, the Packers, on Monday night. It was apparent in the Detroit season opener that Jared Goff will rely heavily on his running backs in the passing game since his WR crew is so thin. Williams won’t get as many as snaps as D’Andre Swift, but he should be frequently involved again, enough to be a quality flex option in Week 2. 

Wide Receivers

Jarvis Landry had 106 scrimmage yards (63 rushing, 43 receiving) in Week 1, his 3rd-career game with 100+ scrimmage yards. As we indicated with Hunt, the Browns should have their way offensively against Houston. Odell Beckham Jr. is out again and Landry will continue to be a big part of the Browns passing game in Week 2. He is a must-start as a a fantasy WR3. Landry has five+ catches in his last six games. 

Zach Pascal had 2 TD catches in Week 1, his 3rd-career game with 2 receiving TDs. He has a TD catch in three of his past four games. Injuries have really taken an early-season toll on the Colts WR corps. If you are digging deep for WR help, you may begin to consider Pascal for possible volume this week, but it’s best just to add him and sit him vs. the Rams. But you can possibly consider Pascal going forward if he does perform respectably this week. 

You may be wondering which Broncos WR to consider for possible lineup usage with Jerry Jeudy out and a seemingly friendly matchup with Jacksonville ahead. Tim Patrick has caught a TD pass in three of his past four road games. He has stepped forward before and performed well enough when called on in the past. He is the safer play over K.J. Hamler, but Hamler does appear to have more upside and is Denver’s best possible option for bigger plays. Patrick is the safer start right now, but Hamler is the better roster stash. 

Jaylen Waddle had 61 receiving yards and a TD last week in his NFL debut. He showed a lot of promise against the New England defense, and now gets an even more challenging matchup vs. the Buffalo secondary. This will be another important test for the dynamic rookie, and if he performs well again, it will be hard to keep Waddle out of lineups going forward. But this is a tougher draw for Tua Tagovailoa and Waddle, and the rookie wideout is not quite a lock for lineups just yet. Waddle has earned more defensive attention already and you should monitor this matchup even if you do not start him this week. 

Jamison Crowder had 32 catches for 416 receiving yards (69.3 per game) and five receiving TDs in six home games last season. He may play this week after missing the season opener, but it’s uncertain if he can make enough contributions of note in his season debut. Still, once Crowder rounds into better form, he can be a reliable option for Zach Wilson, who needs another dependable target other than Corey Davis. Crowder could emerge as a good pickup in the next two weeks, so beat everyone else to the Week 3 waiver wire and add him now if you are searching deep for WR help. 

Christian Kirk had five catches for 70 yards and two TDs last week, his 4th-career game with 2+ receiving TDs. The Arizona offense looks like it will be even more potent in 2021, and Kirk may very well solidify himself as the No. 2 WR in the Cardinals passing game. A.J. Green may still command defensive respect, but no longer produces much. Kirk is a very good fantasy WR3 start this week against Minnesota. 

Mike Evans has 567 rec. yards (94.5 per game) and seven receiving TDs in six career home games vs. Atlanta. He had a quiet opener vs. Dallas, but Tom Brady will likely make it a point to get Evans involved early this week in a very good matchup. Start Evans with confidence. 

Mike Williams had eight catches for 82 yards and a TD last week. He is aiming  for his 3rd game in row with 80+ rec. yards and a TD catch. Williams gets a terrific draw vs. Dallas after playing well vs. Washington and is a must-start fantasy WR3 this week.

Quarterbacks

Jameis Winston had five TD passes vs. zero INTs for a 130.8 rating in Week 1, his 2nd-career 5-TD passing game. Winston had a very impressive debut with the Saints despite his receiving crew not being stocked with many notable options. He has to be considered for possible fantasy QB1 status in Week 2 against Carolina. So far, he seems to be very comfortable at the controls of the Saints offense. 

Josh Allen has 20 TDs (17 passing, 3 rushing) vs. four INTs for a 114.3 rating in six career games vs. Miami. He is aiming for his 4th game in a row vs. Miami with 3+ TD passes. The Dolphins defense is somewhat unsung, but we wanted to point out just how well he has performed against Miami in case you are having any second thoughts about starting him. 

Ryan Tannehill had 15 TDs (11 passing, 4 rushing) vs. five INTs for a 94.4 rating in eight road starts last season. He may not be rattled at all by the return of the vociferous home crowd in Seattle, and if the Titans can establish a good ground attack to set Tannehill up for play-action strikes, he should deliver a quality fantasy outing in Week 2. 

Aaron Rodgers has 25 TDs (24 passing) vs. three INTs for  a 118 rating in nine career home starts on Monday. He has 2+ TD passes in six of his past seven on MNF. Rodgers has 50 TDs (46 passing, 4 rushing) vs. eight INTs for a 106.2 rating in 22 career starts vs. Detroit. We just wanted to illustrate further that a big bounce-back week for Rodgers is forthcoming. 

Tight Ends

Cole Kmet had his 3rd-career game with 5+ catches (5) last week. Kmet is one to watch in his second season, and could deliver another quality outing against the Bengals. If your team is thin at TE, he may start to earn a spot in your lineup soon. You may not want to start Kmet just yet, but if he fares well this week, he will deserve stronger lineup consideration going forward. 

Robert Tonyan had 98 receiving yards and a career-high three TD catches in his last game on MNF. He is aiming for his 3rd game in row vs. Detroit with  a TD catch.If Rodgers is going to bounce back this week, we should expect at least one TD reception from Tonyan. 

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