🦃 BLACK FRIDAY - TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
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


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

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.

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

 

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"]




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Darren Waller

"in Play" to Return in Week 13
Trey Benson

Won't Return From Injured Reserve in Week 13
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Not Expected to Go on Injured Reserve
Jarrett Allen

Nearing Return From Finger Injury
Andrew Nembhard

Questionable Entering Friday's Contest
Jaden Ivey

Status Uncertain for Friday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Could Miss Fifth Consecutive Game
Coby White

Questionable for Friday's Matchup
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Questionable With Knee Issue Ahead Of Friday
Jameson Williams

Explodes for 144 Yards, Touchdown on Thanksgiving
Dontayvion Wicks

Breaks Out for Two Touchdowns on Thanksgiving
Jordan Love

Lights Up Lions for Four Touchdowns on Thanksgiving
Stephen Curry

Expected To Miss About A Week With Quad Injury
Michael Porter Jr.

Won't Play Friday Versus 76ers
Paul George

Faces Game-Time Call Against Nets
VJ Edgecombe

Sidelined Again Against Nets
Joel Embiid

Out Again Friday vs. Nets
Paolo Banchero

Ruled Out Again Friday With Groin Injury
Jalen Williams

Set to Make Season Debut Friday
Chris Olave

Misses Thursday's Practice
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Will Miss 1-2 Weeks
DeVonta Smith

Off the Injury Report, Cleared for Friday's Game vs. the Bears
Jaxson Dart

Clears Concussion Protocol, Set to Return vs. the Patriots
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Downgraded to Out, Won't Return on Thursday
Daniel Jones

Dealing With Fractured Fibula, Will Play Through it
Jonathan Kuminga

Hoping to Return on Saturday Versus Pelicans
Stephen Curry

to Undergo an MRI
Josh Jacobs

Feels Close to 100%
Brady Tkachuk

Aims to Return Friday
Matthew Tkachuk

Resumes Skating
Jakob Chychrun

Stretches Point Streak to Nine Games
Matej Blumel

Expected to Miss Some Time
Marcus Foligno

Exits With Injury Wednesday
Jaden Schwartz

Suffers Lower-Body Injury Wednesday
Trendon Watford

to Sit Out at Least Two Weeks
Gradey Dick

Injured on Wednesday
RJ Barrett

to Be Re-Evaluated in One Week
Anthony Davis

on the Cusp of Returning
Gary Payton II

Hurt in Wednesday's Loss
Stephen Curry

Diagnosed With Quadriceps Contusion
Alvin Kamara

Doesn't Practice on Wednesday
Lukas Dostal

Out Wednesday Night
Sean Durzi

Available Against Canadiens
Thomas Chabot

to Remain Out Wednesday
Jared McCann

Expected to Rejoin Kraken Lineup Wednesday
Andre Burakovsky

a Game-Time Decision Wednesday
Mikko Rantanen

Returns to Stars Lineup Wednesday
J.K. Dobbins

Could Return Later This Season
Mark Stone

Ready to Return Wednesday
Dylan Cease

Agrees With Blue Jays on Seven-Year, $210 Million Deal
Terry McLaurin

Plans to Play on Sunday Night
Anthony Rendon

Angels Could Buy Out Final Year of Anthony Rendon's Contract
Brandon Aiyuk

49ers Won't Open Brandon Aiyuk's Practice Window This Week
Joe Burrow

Bengals Officially Activate Joe Burrow for a Return on Thanksgiving
C.J. Stroud

Practicing Wednesday
Trey Benson

Spotted at Practice on Wednesday
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Back at Practice Wednesday
Josh Hader

Says his Shoulder is "Back to Normal"
Ketel Marte

Diamondbacks "Actively Listening" on Ketel Marte
Josh Norris

Nearing Return
Kevin Lankinen

Not Traveling With Canucks
Zach Werenski

Escapes Serious Injury, May Play Wednesday
Auston Matthews

Could Be an Option Wednesday
Jason Robertson

Scores in Seventh Consecutive Game
Wyatt Johnston

Ends Dry Spell With Four-Point Performance
Vinnie Hinostroza

to Miss 4-6 Weeks
Pyotr Kochetkov

Dealing With Undisclosed Injury
J.T. Realmuto

Red Sox Showing Interest in J.T. Realmuto
Sonny Gray

Red Sox Acquire Sonny Gray From the Cardinals
CFB

Jeremiah Smith, Makai Lemon, Skyler Bell Named Biletnikoff Award Finalists
Shohei Ohtani

to Play for Team Japan in 2026 World Baseball Classic
Colorado Rockies

Warren Schaeffer to Stick Around as Rockies Manager in 2026
CFB

Chris Bell Out for Rivalry Matchup Against Kentucky
Ryan Helsley

Tigers Eyeing Ryan Helsley as a Starter
Dan Hooker

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Marcus Semien

Shipped to the Mets on Sunday
Arman Tsarukyan

Gets Submission Win
Brandon Nimmo

Traded to Texas
Belal Muhammad

Loses Back-to-Back Fights
Belal Muhammad

Ian Machado Garry Outpoints Belal Muhammad
Alonzo Menifield

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Volkan Oezdemir

Gets Back In The Win Column
Jack Hermansson

Gets Knocked Out
Jack Hermansson

Myktybek Orolbai Knocks Out Jack Hermansson
Shamil Gaziev

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Shines At UFC Qatar
Tagir Ulanbekov

Suffers Third-Round Submission Loss
Kyoji Horiguchi

Makes Triumphant UFC Return

RANKINGS

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