👉 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE SPRING
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


Deeper PPR Lineup Sleepers for Week 2: Karlos Williams, Cole Beasley, Jared Cook

Week 1 of this brand new NFL season is already in the books, and injuries and other issues may be keeping your drafted starters out for this week's games. Teams may be using their star players differently then you expected before the season. In these cases, it may be time to hit the waiver wire and dig deep for a spot start for your Week 2 line up.

Before we look at potential spot starters for this week, let’s take a quick look at how my picks for last week did. Benny Cunningham (RB, STL) – 122 total yards for 14.2 points – Correct; Allen Hurns (WR, JAC) – 60 receiving yards for 6.5 points – Could have been worse; Benjamin Watson (TE, NO) – 19 receiving yards for 3.4 points – I probably should have picked someone else here.

So, for the first week of the season, it was solid results considering the types of players we're looking at. I do not think I did that bad. Let’s see who is available in week 2 in case you need a spot start in a deeper league.

Editor's Note: The FFPC Baby Gorilla Tournament is now open, featuring a $100,000 grand prize and a $675,450 total prize pool! This 12-team, Tight End Premium contest uses a 20-round draft format, with the overall winners determined by total points scored during Weeks 15–17. Get $25 to use toward your first entry by signing up through our link. Grab your team now! Sign Up Now!

 

1) Karlos Williams - RB, BUF vs. NE

Owned in 15% of Fleaflicker leagues

This one will be the most risky of my picks for the week. Williams is on a team that features LeSean McCoy and Anthony Dixon, but McCoy is questionable to play this week because of injury. Regardless of who else is on the team, Williams was able to rush for 55 yards and a touchdown against the Colts. Indianapolis may not have a very strong rush defense, but Buffalo is set on running the ball this season.

New England is said to have one of the stronger front sevens in the league, but 32-year-old DeAngelo Williams gashed them for 127 yards in the Patriots’ opening-week win against the Steelers. The combination of McCoy, Dixon and Williams should be able to produce more than the old legs of DeAngelo Williams.

The Bills ran the ball 36 times against the Colts, and only attempted 19 passes. Not to say that the team does not trust QB Tyrod Taylor (they did name him the starter for a reason), but the Bills are going to run the ball. That is what head coach Rex Ryan does, and unless he plans on running McCoy 36 times Williams is going to get his fair share of carries against New England.

Prediction: 8 carries, 45 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown

 

2) Cole Beasley - WR, DAL @ PHI

Owned in 13% of Fleaflicker leagues

We have all heard enough about the injury to Dez Bryant, but no one knows exactly how long he will be out of action for. What we do know is that he will miss at least this week and probably a lot more. Beasley was already the team’s main slot receiver before the injury to Bryant, and with the injury Beasley should expect to see a lot more targets coming his way.

The fourth-year man saw six targets in the team’s season opener against the Giants, a game in which QB Tony Romo threw the ball 45 times. This week, the team goes to Philly to play an Eagles team that threw the ball 52 times against the Falcons on Monday night. This means we are probably going to see a shootout between these two teams this week.

With Dez out, the team will turn to Terrance Williams and Jason Witten primarily in the passing game. But, if Romo needs to air it out as much as he did against New York, he is going to need some additional people to target, Beasley the primary among them. This should be one of Beasley’s biggest game of the season, and all of his big games should come while Dez is still on the injury report.

Prediction: 7 receptions, 80 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown

 

3) Jared Cook - TE, STL @ WAS

Owned in 18% of Fleaflicker leagues

Cook is always a name that is extremely inconsistent in terms of fantasy play. In real life, he has been a reliable tight end for both the Tennessee Titans and the St. Louis Rams. Last week, against the Seattle Seahawks, fellow tight end Lance Kendricks was the recipient of the game-tying touchdown, a target that should have been aimed for Cook. Regardless, Cook finished with five catches for 85 yards.

This weeks, the teams heads to Washington to play the questionable defense of the Redskins. While the ‘Skins played tough against the Miami Dolphins, they still surrendered 77 yards receiving to the Dolphins’ tight end, Jordan Cameron. This means that there should be plenty of room for Cook to operate this weekend.

The only question mark is the targets in the redzone and the scoring opportunities that Cook may or may not receive this week. Since joining the Rams in 2013, Cooks has only been able to find the endzone eight times in 33 games while bringing in almost double the amount of receptions that Kendricks has. Unfortunately, Kendricks has been able to find the endzone nine times in that span while playing in one fewer game. We know the targets and the yardage should be there for Cook, but it will be his inability to score touchdowns that make him a risky play each week.

Prediction: 5 receptions, 75 receiving yards

 

NFL & Fantasy Football Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-0" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]




REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Deiveson Figueiredo

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Song Yadong

Gets Second-Round Submission Win
Russell Wilson

Taking a Job with CBS for 2026 Season
JuJu Smith-Schuster

Giants Adding JuJu Smith-Schuster on a One-Year Deal
Zhang Mingyang

Suffers Back-To-Back Losses
Alonzo Menifield

Gets Back In The Win Column
Braxton Berrios

New York Giants Agree to One-Year Deal with Braxton Berrios
Odell Beckham Jr.

Signing with Giants
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Myles Garrett

and Jared Verse Swap Teams in Blockbuster Deal
Sergei Pavlovich

Scores First-Round Knockout Win
Cameron Smotherman

Suffers Third Loss In A Row
Edwin Arroyo

Reds Promote Top Infield Prospect Edwin Arroyo, Viewed as Priority Pick Up Ahead of MLB Debut
Kai Asakura

Earns His First UFC Win
Elly De La Cruz

Placed on IL with Right Hamstring Tightness
Mason Taylor

Dynasty Value Takes a Hit for Now
Denny Hamlin

Earns the first Nashville Cup Series Victory of his Career on Sunday
Zachariah Branch

a Steal in the Second Round of Rookie Drafts?
Christopher Bell

Finishes as the Runner-Up at Nashville
Chase Briscoe

Earns First Career Podium Finish at Nashville
Ryan Blaney

Scores A Solid Top-10 Finish at Nashville
Eli Stowers

Worth Targeting Now Before Eventual Breakout?
Kyle Larson

Top-10 Streak at Nashville Ends after Late Flat Tire Spin
Germie Bernard

Expected to Require Some Patience in Dynasty Leagues
Denzel Boston

a First-Round Target in Dynasty Rookie Drafts
Bryce Young

Dynasty Value Impacted by Inconsistency
Jeremiyah Love

Can Jeremiyah Love Become an Instant Fantasy Contributor?
Odell Beckham Jr.

Giants Working Out JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios in Addition to Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr.

Working Out for Giants
A.J. Brown

Could Be Dealt Within Next 24 Hours
Parker Washington

Set to Play "Most Important Role" of His Career in Jaguars Offense
Elly De La Cruz

Exits with Hamstring Tightness
Tyler Reddick

Is One of the Top Favorites to Win at Nashville
Kyle Larson

May Continue his Top-10 Consistency at Nashville this week
Christopher Bell

Is One of the Top Competitors for the Win at Nashville
Chase Briscoe

Is A Must Start for Nashville DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

has Plenty of Upside for Nashville DFS Lineups
William Byron

Is William Byron A Playable DFS Option for Nashville Lineups?
Wan'Dale Robinson

Dynasty Value May Have Peaked in 2025
Carson Hocevar

Is Likely to have Another Solid Result at Nashville
Tyler Shough

Should Dynasty Managers Consider Selling High on Tyler Shough?
NASCAR

Should Fantasy Players Roster Bubba Wallace at Nashville?
Garrett Wilson

Dynasty Upside Remains High Despite Questionable Offensive Environment in New York
Chris Buescher

Is A Decent All-Around DFS Option for Nashville Lineups
Daniel Suarez

is Likely to Drop Positions during the Cracker Barrel 400
Kenneth Gainwell

Carries Dynasty Sell-High Appeal After Breakout 2025 Campaign
Emeka Egbuka

Undervalued in Dynasty Formats After Underwhelming Close to 2025?
Garrett Crochet

Suffers Setback, Likely to Undergo MRI for Lat Tightness
Denny Hamlin

Could Denny Hamlin Dominate at Nashville?
Ryan Blaney

Is a DFS Tournament Option at Nashville
Ty Gibbs

Don't Overlook Ty Gibbs at Nashville
Joey Logano

Could Show Life at Nashville
Ross Chastain

Needs a Good Run at Nashville
Chet Holmgren

Fails to Step Up in the Season Finale
Cason Wallace

Ends Postseason with Strong Showing
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Caps MVP Season with Game 7 Exit
Stephon Castle

Continues Postseason Run with 16 Points
Julian Champagnie

Shines in Series-Clinching Win
De'Aaron Fox

Provides Secondary Punch in Game 7 Triumph
Victor Wembanyama

Earns Conference Finals MVP in Spurs' Game 7 Win
NBA

Warriors Prioritize Depth Around Returning Steve Kerr
Donovan Mitchell

Remains Cleveland's Top Priority
Adou Thiero

Remains a Lakers Development Project
NBA

76ers Hire Mike Gansey as President of Basketball Operations
NBA

Chicago Bulls Explore Kevin Young as Coaching Candidate
Kyrie Irving

Reports He's Nearing Full Strength in ACL Recovery
Lane Hutson

Posts a Power-Play Assist in Game 5 Loss
Cole Caufield

Nets a Power-Play Goal in Season-Ending Loss
Seth Jarvis

Closes Out East Finals With Multi-Point Game
Logan Stankoven

Notches Three Points in Big Game 5 Win
Taylor Hall

Racks Up Three Points in Series-Clinching Win
Frederik Andersen

Remains Stellar as Hurricanes Clinch Finals Berth
Jacob Gonzalez

is Heading to the Big Leagues
Munetaka Murakami

Exits with Hamstring Tightness
Mitchell Robinson

Plans to Play in Game 1 After Finger Surgery
Ajay Mitchell

Ruled Out for Game 7
Jalen Williams

Unavailable in Decisive Game 7
NBA

Magic Finalizing Hire of Sean Sweeney as Head Coach
Eury Pérez

Eury Perez is Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Deiveson Figueiredo

Set For UFC Macau Main Event
MMA

Yadong Song Returns At UFC Macau
Alonzo Menifield

An Underdog At UFC Macau
Zhang Mingyang

Set For UFC Macau Co-Main Event
Tallison Teixeira

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Sergei Pavlovich

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Cameron Smotherman

Looks To Bounce Back
Kai Asakura

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
CFB

Faizon Brandon In Position to Start Week 1
CFB

Dane Weber Commits to Cal
CFB

Joey McGuire Attempts to Add Texas to Schedule
CFB

Mike Leach on 2027 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
CFB

Maryland, Baylor Schedule Home-and-Home
CFB

Taron Dickens Decommits From North Carolina
Jalen Williams

Limited in Game 6 Return
Jared McCain

Provides Bench Spark in Game 6 Loss
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Posts Lowest-Scoring Night of His MVP Season
De'Aaron Fox

Struggles From the Field Thursday
MLB

MLB Proposes Hard Salary Cap as Part of Next CBA
Kenley Jansen

Tigers Place Kenley Jansen on Injured List With Pelvic Inflammation
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Heading to Injured List With Hamstring Strain
MON

Lane Hutson Struggles in Game 4 Loss
CAR

Logan Stankoven Nets Eighth Postseason Goal
CAR

Sebastian Aho Pots Game-Winner on Power Play
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Tallies Two Helpers in Impressive Road Win
CAR

Shayne Gostisbehere Records Two Assists in Game 4 Win
CAR

Frederik Andersen Establishes Hurricanes New Postseason Shutout Record
Yordan Alvarez

Continues Homer Barrage With Two More Long Balls on Wednesday
Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Sanchez Makes History With Seven More Shutout Innings Against Padres
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Lifted From Wednesday's Game Early With Hamstring Strain
Kenley Jansen

Exits Relief Appearance on Wednesday With Groin Injury
Eury Pérez

Eury Perez Pulled Early on Wednesday With Hamstring Issue
CFB

Drew Mestemaker a Top Big 12 Quarterback Right Away?
PGA

Sungjae Im Remains Boom-or-Bust at Colonial
PGA

Michael Thorbjornsen Trending in Wrong Direction Entering Colonial
Russell Henley

a Top Option at Colonial
Harry Hall

Hoping Putter Carries Him at Colonial
Rickie Fowler

Looks to Regain Momentum at Colonial
Pierceson Coody

Looking to Stay Hot at Colonial
Martin Necas

Collects an Assist in Game 4 Loss to Golden Knights
Gabriel Landeskog

Scores Only Avalanche Goal in Season-Ending Loss
Carter Hart

Finishes Series-Clincher With 20 Saves
Dylan Coghlan

Continues Unlikely Success Story
Cole Smith

Scores Series-Clincher Tuesday Night
Mark Stone

Nets Another Goal as Golden Knights Finish Off Avalanche
Ludvig Aberg

Looking to Exchange Momentum for a Victory in Fort Worth
Stephan Jaeger

Trending Upward as PGA Heads to Fort Worth
Max Homa

Comes Off Awful Putting Performance at PGA Championship
Tony Finau

Faces Different Test at the Colonial
Robert MacIntyre

Seeks Better Beginning in Fort Worth
Tom Hoge

Ups and Downs Could Continue at Colonial
Brian Harman

Not Having the Best Golf Season in 2026
Austin Eckroat

Struggling Too Often Heading to Charles Schwab Challenge
Zach Bauchou

Tries to Keep Momentum Rolling at Colonial
Keegan Bradley

Looking to Rebound at Colonial
Claude Giroux

Planning to Return for 20th NHL Campaign
Carter Hart

Aiming for Sixth Consecutive Win Tuesday
Evgeni Malkin

Inks New One-Year Deal With Penguins
Ben Griffin

Looking to Repeat This Week at Colonial
Rasmus Hojgaard

a Player to Avoid at Charles Schwab Challenge
Hideki Matsuyama

Needs Solid Driving Week at Charles Schwab Challenge
Justin Thomas

Trending Well Ahead of Charles Schwab Challenge
Akshay Bhatia

Lacking Driving Prowess Needed at Colonial Country Club
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF