RADIO
Hi, y'all! One week of NFL action is in the books and we're moving on to another. Welcome to our Week 2 matchup analysis and start/sit column for fantasy football. Each week we'll be analyzing every game from the Sunday slate, helping you optimize your fantasy lineups and take down your opponent. Be sure to check back regularly for any updates on player injuries or other pertinent information.
Frank Ammirante will start off by covering the part of the first set of games that begin at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, and Justin Carter will take you home with his analysis of three of the early games, then the late afternoon and evening games. Let's guide you to that Week 2 victory!
If you have any additional lineup questions, follow us on Twitter @FAmmiranteTFJ and @juscarts and feel free to ask away! Let's get on to the matchups!
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Matchups Analysis - 1:00 PM ET Games
Panthers at Buccaneers
Matchups We Love:
Mike Evans (WR, TB)
Mike Evans was essentially a decoy against the Saints (4 TGT, 1 REC, 2 YDS, 1 TD) as he played through a hamstring injury. Head coach Bruce Arians has already stated publicly that he regrets not moving Evans all over the field to avoid cornerback Marshon Lattimore, so we can expect Evans to see more targets this week. The Panthers Defense allowed rookie deep-threat Henry Ruggs (5 TGT, 3 REC, 55 YDS) in the first half, so Evans has a great matchup here. Chris Godwin looks likely to miss this game, which would put Evans in a total smash spot.
Ronald Jones II & Leonard Fournette (RB, TB)
The Bucs' running backs have a great matchup against a Panthers defense that got shredded by Josh Jacobs (25 ATT, 93 YDS, 3 TD, 4 REC, 46 YDS). Jones played 47.14% of the team's snaps, while Fournette was only on the field for 12.86%, so it's clear that Jones is the lead back, at least for the foreseeable future. The strong matchup puts Jones on the RB2 radar, while bumps Fournette up to a FLEX dart-throw. It's likely that Fournette's snap count will grow as the season progresses, so he should see more action this week, but Jones is the obvious preferred play. This has the potential to be a blow-out, so we could see more usage for both backs.
Christian McCaffrey (RB, CAR)
Christian McCaffrey received 26 total touches and played 97% of the team's snaps, so it's clear that the Panthers' new coaching staff doesn't plan on reducing his workload. He takes on a Bucs defense that is stout on the ground (3.02 Y/A allowed in 2019) that bottled up Alvin Kamara (12 ATT, 16 YDS). I would expect CMC to do most of his damage in the passing game as the Panthers play catch-up - the Bucs allowed eight targets to Kamara last week.
D.J. Moore (WR, CAR)
Moore had a disappointing season opener (4 REC, 54 YDS), but he still led the team in targets (9), air yards (100), and snap percentage (86.57%). While the Bucs held Michael Thomas in check (3 REC, 17 YDS), the Panthers will likely playing catch-up in this one, so Moore should be peppered with targets. While the Bucs have an improving defense, they still allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers last year. We need to see more proof before we determine that the Bucs' pass defense is no longer exploitable.
Other Matchups:
Tom Brady (QB, TB)
Brady has a good matchup against the Panthers, who allowed 239 yards and 8 yards per attempt to Derek Carr, but it's tough to love this play because Brady is still adjusting to a new offense. While he's still a Top-15 play in season-long formats, I wouldn't recommend him in DFS until he starts to show more chemistry with his receivers.
Scotty Miller (WR, TB), Rob Gronkowski (TE, TB), & O.J. Howard (TE, TB)
Miller (6 TGT, 5 REC, 73 YDS) showed some chemistry with Brady, so he is the preferred choice here, especially if Godwin is out. Gronk (77% snaps, 3 TGT) and Howard (53% snaps, 6 TGT) are touchdown-dependent options who will eat into each other's value, although we could see more usage here if Godwin is out.
Teddy Bridgewater (QB, CAR)
Bridgewater will likely air it out all game against the Bucs, but it's worth noting that this defense just limited Drew Brees to only 5.3 yards per attempt. We could see a lot of check-downs in this game, which benefits D.J. Moore and Christian McCaffrey, but not Bridgewater.
Robby Anderson & Curtis Samuel (WR, CAR)
Robby Anderson (82.09% snaps, 82 air yards, 8 TGT, 6 REC, 114 YDS, 1 TD) had a better game than Curtis Samuel (74.63% snaps, 74 air yards, 8 TGT, 5 REC, 38 YDS), but these two will cut into each other's value all year long. The Bucs limited big-plays from wide receivers last week (zero plays over 20 yards), which favors Samuel here.
Jaguars at Titans
Matchups We Love:
D.J. Chark (WR, JAX)
Chark (3 TGT, 3 REC, 25 YDS, 1 TD) had an underwhelming season debut, but he goes up against a Titans secondary missing their best corner, Adoree Jackson. Malcolm Butler (65.5 PFF Grade) and Johnathan Joseph (64.0 PFF Grade) are their remaining outside corners, so Chark has a chance to bounce-back here. There's also a chance that this game becomes a blowout, which means more targets for Chark.
Derrick Henry (RB, TEN)
Henry remained a volume monster last week, playing 75% of the snaps and racking up 34 total touches. It was encouraging to see three targets and three receptions against Denver - if Henry could become more of a factor in the passing game, that would be huge for his fantasy value. He takes on a Jags defense that allowed a combined 17 receptions for 142 yards to Colts' running backs last week. While this is mostly because Rivers loves throwing to his backs, it's still a good sign for Henry. The Titans have a chance for a blow-out here, which would mean more usage for Henry. In his last two games at home against Jacksonville, Henry has rushed for 397 yards and six touchdowns on 36 carries (11.02 yards per attempt). This is a smash spot, especially with A.J. Brown likely out for this game.
Matchups We Hate:
James Robinson (RB, JAX)
Robinson (68% snaps, 16 ATT, 62 YDS, 1 TGT, 1 REC, 28 YDS) saw volume in his NFL debut, but that was in a close game that the Jags ended up winning. It's a different story this week at Tennessee, where the Titans have a chance to really control this game. If the Jags are playing catch-up, you can expect more Chris Thompson, which makes Robinson a risky play this week.
Other Matchups:
Gardner Minshew II (QB, JAX) & Laviska Shenault Jr. (WR, JAX)
Minshew will likely have to play catch-up this week, so he has some upside against the Titans, but we did see him check-down pretty often last week, as the highest air yards went to Laviska Shenault with only 36, so temper your expectations. It was encouraging to see Shenault's usage in Week 1 as a hybrid, but you still need to take a wait-and-see approach with the talented rookie.
Chris Thompson (RB, JAX)
Thompson has a chance to rack up receptions in a game where the Jags are 9-point underdogs on the road in Tennessee. He's in play as a low-end FLEX in PPR formats, since I would expect the former Washington running back to see more snaps as the Jags encounter more passing downs.
Ryan Tannehill (QB, TEN), Corey Davis (WR, TEN) & Jonnu Smith (TE, TEN)
We could see Tannehill make some big plays against this weak defense, but there's risk that the Titans get out to an early lead and just feed Henry for the rest of the game. Davis (8 TGT, 7 REC, 101 YDS) had a really promising debut who should see an uptick in targets in Brown's absence, but this is a game where the Titans likely be playing with the lead as heavy favorites against the Jags, so fewer pass attempts seems likely. Smith (7 TGT, 4 REC, 36 YDS, 1 TD) also sees a bump in value with Brown out, but he's not quite a play I love because I think that the Titans will go run-heavy.
Giants at Bears
Matchups We Love:
Allen Robinson & Anthony Miller (WR, CHI)
Allen Robinson should be peppered with targets to appease him after a week of reports that he was unhappy with the team over a contract dispute. He goes up against a porous Giants secondary that allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers last season. They gave up the third-most fantasy points last week against the Steelers, so it looks like they're picking up right where they left off. Anthony Miller (6 TGT, 4 REC, 76 YDS) turned in a solid debut and is on the WR4 radar this week.
David Montgomery (RB, CHI)
Montgomery (13 ATT, 64 YDS, 1 REC, 10 YDS) looked sharp in the season opener, which is encouraging considering the Bears were trailing for much of the game. If Chicago has the lead here, we could see a big game from Monty against a Giants Defense that just allowed Benny Snell to rush for 113 yards on 19 carries. Montgomery is a rock-solid RB2 in this exploitable matchup.
Evan Engram (TE, NYG)
The Giants couldn't get Engram (7 TGT, 2 REC, 9 YDS) going last week, but I expect him to be a key part of the passing game this time around. The Bears just gave up five receptions, 56 yards, and one touchdown to Lions' tight end T.J. Hockenson. They also ranked 23rd in fantasy points per game allowed to tight ends last year. Look for Engram to bounce-back in this one.
Matchups We Hate:
Daniel Jones (QB, NYG)
Daniel Jones is a playmaker whose rushing upside raises his weekly floor, but he gets another tough matchup against a Bears Defense that allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks last season. Quarterback is such a deep position, so there should be no reason to start Jones this week against Khalil Mack & Co.
Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, & Golden Tate (WR, NYG)
Slayton looked like the clear-cut number one in this offense, monopolizing air yards (102, next closest: Shepard, 37) en route to six receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns. However, there's still a chance that these receivers cut into each other's value each week, especially when Tate returns to the lineup (currently limited in practice). The Bears allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers last season, so this is a tough matchup.
Other Matchups:
Saquon Barkley (RB, NYG)
Barkley was completely stymied on the ground last week, but it was encouraging to see his production in the passing game (9 TGT, 6 REC, 60 YDS). The Bears ranked 16th in fantasy points per game allowed to running backs last year, so this is a lukewarm matchup for Barkley. Consider him more of a mid-range RB1 instead of an elite option this week.
Mitch Trubisky (QB, CHI)
Trubisky's fourth-quarter comeback saved his fantasy day (20-36, 242 yards, 3 TD, 3 ATT, 26 YDS) and he'll look to carry that momentum into Sunday against a Giants defense that ranked 29th in fantasy points per game allowed to quarterbacks last season. Trubisky carries some streaming and DFS tournament appeal against Big Blue.
Tarik Cohen (RB, CHI)
This profiles as more of a Montgomery game with the Bears as 5.5-point favorites, but if the Giants jump out to a lead, then Cohen would have more value. However, I expect Chicago to control this game, so Cohen is more of a middling FLEX option in PPR formats for this one
Falcons at Cowboys
Matchups We Love:
Dak Prescott (QB, DAL)
Dak had a disappointing debut for fantasy in Week 1 (QB19), but he's in a smash spot against a Falcons Defense that just allowed a QB1 overall finish to Russell Wilson. This is a projected shootout with a 53-point total, which is the highest on the slate, so Dak has a terrific combination of floor and upside here. Expect a bounce-back performance for the Cowboys' QB.
Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup & CeeDee Lamb (WR, DAL)
All three of the Cowboys' receivers are in play against the Falcons, who allowed strong production to D.K. Metcalf (4 REC, 95 YDS, 1 TD) and Tyler Lockett (8 REC, 92 YDS). In Week 1, Cooper (8.1 aDOT) and Lamb (6.2 aDOT) were underneath options, while Gallup (15.2 aDOT) was targeted downfield. It's hard to say if this will stick on a weekly basis, but if it does, it bodes well for Gallup's value. Cooper (37.84% target share) remains the top dog in Big D - fire him up as a WR1, with Gallup as a WR2 and Lamb as an upside WR3.
Ezekiel Elliott (RB, DAL)
Zeke (22 ATT, 96 YDS, 1 TD, 3 REC, 31 YDS, 1 TD) looked fresh and explosive in Week 1. It was intriguing to see him used more in the passing game (4 TGT) after a year where he regressed from 77 REC, 567 YDS to 54 REC, 420 YDS. He has a chance to finish as the RB1 overall if the Cowboys start to get him more involved through the air. Zeke is my top running back of the week and a must-play in DFS.
Matt Ryan (QB, ATL), Julio Jones & Calvin Ridley (WR, ATL)
Fire up the Falcons trio in this projected shootout. Jones (40% air yards share) and Ridley (30% air yards share) are must-plays every week, but especially appealing in games where the Falcons face an elite offense. Ryan (QB7), Jones (WR8), and Ridley (WR3) have become one of the best stacks in fantasy football. Expect another game where these two wideouts are peppered with targets downfield.
Other Matchups:
Todd Gurley (RB, ATL)
Gurley takes on a Dallas defense that just allowed Malcolm Brown to rush for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Gurley had a decent Falcons' debut (14 ATT, 56 YDS, 1 TD, 2 REC, 1 YD), but he's no longer much of a factor in the passing game, so he's a better play when the Falcons are favored and projected to play with a lead. Consider Gurley an RB2 with touchdown upside in this shootout, but he's not a play that I love.
Hayden Hurst (TE, ATL)
Hurst should benefit from this matchup because the Cowboys Defense will be playing without linebackers Leighton Vander Esch and Sean Lee. The former Raven had a quiet debut in Atlanta (3 REC, 38 YDS), but we could see the Falcons try to target him more than five times here, given the depleted Cowboys' linebacking corps.
Lions at Packers
Matchups We Love:
D'Andre Swift (RB, DET)
This game presents an opportunity for redemption for rookie Swift, who dropped what would have been the game-winning touchdown pass in his season debut. The Packers' passing offense looks crisp and the Lions' secondary is banged-up, so there's a chance that Detroit will be playing catch-up in this game. Last season, the Packers allowed 130 targets (28th) and 94 receptions (T-23rd) to opposing running backs. Swift played 44% of the snaps in a game that the Lions led for three full quarters, a number which should rise in this one.
Aaron Rodgers (QB, GB) & Davante Adams (WR, GB)
Rodgers put up a vintage performance in his season debut, completing 32-of-44 (73%) of his passes for 364 yards (8.3 Y/A) and four touchdowns. An absurd 17 of those 44 attempts went to Davante Adams, who blew up for 14 receptions, 156 yards, and two touchdowns. It only took one game for Rodgers to erase any concerns of playing in a run-heavy offense with limited weapons. He's back as a Top-10 quarterback and his running mate has a legit chance at finishing as WR1 overall. They should feast on a secondary that could be without corners Jeffrey Okudah and Desmond Trufant.
Aaron Jones (RB, GB)
While Jones' debut (16 ATT, 66 YDS, 1 TD, 4 REC, 10 YDS) wasn't as productive as his teammates, it was encouraging to see that he received six targets, four of which came in the red-zone. Jones takes on a Lions Defense that ranked 29th in fantasy points per game to running backs last season. Detroit also allowed 864 receiving yards (29th) to opposing backs, so Jones has a chance at some strong all-purpose production.
Matchups We Hate:
Adrian Peterson & Kerryon Johnson (DET, RB)
It's crazy that Peterson (31% of snaps) essentially supplanted Johnson (26% of snaps) in only one week, but that's Matt Patricia for you. These two backs will see the bulk of their volume when the Lions are leading and I don't expect that to be the case against the Packers. Don't even consider starting either of these two, even as a DFS tournament pivot play.
Other Matchups:
Matthew Stafford (QB, DET)
Stafford will likely be playing catch-up here, but it looks like Kenny Golladay will be out for a second straight week, so it's tough to love this play. The Packers Defense allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks last season, so they're a tough matchup. Stafford looks like more of a high-end QB2 until he Golladay returns to the lineup.
Marvin Jones Jr. (WR, DET)
Jones (4 REC, 55 YDS) disappointed last week without Golladay - perhaps being the center of attention on the perimeter is a bad thing. Jones is more of a WR2 who needs an alpha WR1 to attract double-teams in order to thrive, so consider him merely a WR3, despite the likely volume. The Packers were torched by Adam Thielen (6 REC, 110 YDS, 2 TD), but he has amazing chemistry with Kirk Cousins - the same cannot be said for Jones and Stafford.
T.J. Hockenson (TE, DET)
Hockenson (5 REC, 56 YDS, 1 TD) had a great debut last week, leading some to ponder whether this is the start of a breakout season for the talented sophomore. He takes on a Packers defense that ranked 14th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends last year. Hockenson looks like a TE1 this week, especially if Golladay remains out, but I don't quite love the matchup - it's a lukewarm play.
Allen Lazard & Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR, GB)
As long as Rodgers is back to form with pinpoint accuracy on downfield throws, then Lazard and MVS are absolutely in play as upside WR4s with DFS appeal. Lazard (4 REC, 63 YDS, 1 TD) and MVS (4 REC, 96 YDS, 1 TD) both had success last week and they're in an exploitable matchup, so there's a chance at a repeat performance for at least one of them.
Vikings at Colts
Matchups We Love:
Adam Thielen (WR, MIN)
Adam Thielen is going to see a ton of volume this season and he started his season off with a bang (32% target share, 54% air yard share). He takes on a Colts Defense that tied for 23rd in fantasy points per game allowed to receivers last season in a projected shootout. Thielen is locked-in as an every-week WR1.
Philip Rivers (QB, IND), T.Y. Hilton (WR, IND), Parris Campbell (WR, IND)
The Vikings pass defense looked horrendous last week, allowing a 73% completion rate, 8.3 yards per attempt, and four touchdowns to Aaron Rodgers. Conversely, Rivers looked capable of moving this Colts offense, throwing for 363 yards (7.9 Y/A) against the Jaguars. Hilton (80% snaps, 38% air yards share, 12.1 aDOT) and Campbell (82% snaps, 37% air yards share, 11.9 aDOT) monopolize wide receiver volume for the Colts and are prime plays in this one. The Vikings allowed Davante Adams to go off with Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling also playing well, so this is a highly exploitable matchup.
Jonathan Taylor (RB, IND) & Nyheim Hines (RB, IND)
With the injury to Marlon Mack, Taylor takes firm control of this backfield. It was very encouraging to see his receiving volume (6 TGT, 6 REC, 67 YDS), considering that was his main criticism coming out of the draft. Taylor is a strong RB1 should dominate early-down carries, but Hines looks like Austin Ekeler-lite for Rivers, who continues to show his affinity for checking down to his backs. Hines caught all eight of his targets for 45 yards while rushing for 28 yards and another touchdown, so he's absolutely in play as a solid FLEX. If the Colts are trailing in this game, look for Hines to put forth another solid performance.
Other Matchups:
Kirk Cousins (QB, MIN)
The Vikings simply do not throw the ball enough for Cousins (25 pass attempts) to warrant a start in any format besides as a DFS tournament punt play, even in a projected shootout like this one. Even though Thielen is an elite play, I wouldn't consider using Cousins.
Dalvin Cook (RB, MIN)
Cook is still an RB1, but it's a bit concerning to see his usage from last week: 58% of snaps, 12 carries, two targets. Obviously he's a must-start in season-long leagues, but I'd look elsewhere in DFS. It looks like the Vikings might be trying to limit his workload in order to keep him fresh for the stretch run.
Justin Jefferson (WR, MIN)
Jefferson (69% snaps, 3.3 aDOT) is not really worth considering while he's used like this. We need to see his snap percentage increase before firing him up as a WR3. Even in this shootout, I'd look elsewhere in all formats. The Vikings don't pass enough to support two fantasy-relevant wide receivers.
Jack Doyle (TE, IND)
Doyle (4 TGT, 3 REC, 49 YDS) should be in line for better weeks, as Rivers loves to throw to his tight ends and Doyle is a dependable veteran. He's more of a floor play though, and I prefer to start players with more upside. Still, in this shootout, Doyle looks like a high-end TE2, even though he's facing a Vikings Defense that allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends last year.
UPDATE 9/19: Jack Doyle has been ruled out for Week 2.
Bills at Dolphins
Matchups We Love:
Josh Allen (QB, BUF)
Josh Allen dominated the Dolphins last season for a combined 458 passing yards, five touchdowns, 88 rushing yards, and one touchdown in two games last season. The Dolphins just allowed Cam Newton to rush for 75 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, so there's a lot of upside here. John Brown practiced in full, so he should be good to go for Sunday, making Allen a Top-5 QB for Week 2.
Stefon Diggs & John Brown (WR, BUF)
Diggs (94% snaps, 20% target share, 32% air yard share) and Brown (93% snaps, 22% target share, 37% air yard share) monopolize receiving production for the Bills. They face an improved Dolphins Defense that includes corners Xavien Howard (59.4 PFF Grade in Week 1) and newcomer Byron Jones (63.0 PFF Grade in Week 1), but that doesn't strike fear in me yet because the rest of the defense is still a work in progress. Both of these receivers are well-positioned to provide WR2 value for Week 2.
Matchups We Hate:
Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB, MIA), DeVante Parker (WR, MIA), & Preston Williams (WR, MIA)
The Bills allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and fifth-fewest to wide receivers last season. Despite playing in a game where they'll likely have to air it out to catch-up, the Dolphins' pass-catchers are a clear avoid. We simply can't trust them here.
Jordan Howard (RB, MIA), Myles Gaskin (RB, MIA) & Matt Breida (RB, MIA)
The same goes for the Dolphins' running backs, who are locked in the dreaded three-man committee: Gaskin (63%) surprisingly led the team in snaps, but after signing Howard and trading for Breida, you have to still think that the team has plans for them. Add in the fact that the Bills' run defense is also stout and this is an even easier avoid.
Other Matchups:
Devin Singletary & Zack Moss (RB, BUF)
Singletary (59% snaps, 7 targets, 9 carries) played slightly more than Moss (45% snaps, 4 targets, 9 carries), but this has the look of a clear-cut committee. Both backs have a strong matchup in a game that the Bills project to control, so they have FLEX appeal in this one.
Mike Gesicki (TE, MIA)
It was encouraging to see Gesicki line up in the slot on 32-of-45 snaps (71%), so even though he had a slow game (5 TGT, 3 REC, 30 YDS), he's one of the best buy-lows at tight end right now. The Bills allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends last year, but I'd rather go with Gesicki at tight end than Parker or Williams at receiver due to the less depth at tight end. I like this matchup a bit more than I do for the perimeter receivers. Even if you don't start him, make sure Gesicki is not available on your waiver wire.
Hi, Justin taking over now. Thanks, Frank!
Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
Matchups We Love:
Insert Starting Eagles Running Back Here
Maybe it'll be a healthy Miles Sanders. Maybe it'll be Boston Scott. Heck, maybe somehow it'll be Corey Clement. But whoever it is, they'll face a defense that let Ezekiel Elliott make a big impact in Week 1, with Elliott scoring both a rushing and receiving touchdown. I'd especially love for it to be Sanders doing it, as he'll end up with a really high snap rate.
Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods (WR, LAR)
The Eagles allowed the second-most touchdowns to wide receivers in 2019, and while they held the Washington Football Team to just one passing touchdown last week, that's more on Dwayne Haskins than anyone else. I don't trust this Eagles secondary, making both Kupp and Woods very strong plays.
Tyler Higbee (TE, LAR)
Tight end Logan Thomas came from nowhere to have four catches for 37 yards and a touchdown against this team last week. So, yes, you should play Tyler Higbee, who is actually a very good tight end and not a mystery like Thomas was. Easily a fantasy TE1 this week.
Matchups We Hate:
Carson Wentz (QB, PHI)
Wentz's lack of weapons really caught up to him in Week 1, as despite throwing for a ton of air yards, he finished with just 270 passing yards and threw a couple of interceptions. Now, he's got to face a Rams Defense that has Jalen Ramsey on it, plus other solid secondary options. They held Dak Prescott to just one touchdown in Week 1, and Dak's a better quarterback that Wentz. (Yeah, I said it, Eagles fans!)
Darrell Henderson (RB, LAR)
Yeah, ignore the depth chart having him over Akers. Henderson is an afterthought here and shouldn't be in your lineup.
DeSean Jackson (WR, PHI)
Jackson is a boom/bust deep threat who might be covered by Jalen Ramsey for most of this game. Pass.
Other Matchups:
Jared Goff (QB, LAR)
The Eagles held Dwayne Haskins under 200 yards in Week 1, but I think the credit for that might rest more on Haskins being Haskins than on the Eagles Defense being good. Yes, I'm worried enough about Goff to consider him just an okay fantasy play, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Eagles secondary issues from the last few years bite them again and for Goff to go off. We'll see. If you're feeling risky, move this to the "love" category.
Malcolm Brown and Cam Akers (RB, LAR)
The Eagles were middle of the pack against the run last week against Washington and I think Brown/Akers will siphon each other's snaps and carries off just enough to make neither a great play. But this defense has some holes and Brown in particular was getting the right kind of usage for fantasy purposes in Week 1.
Jalen Reagor (WR, PHI)
I don't know who gets the Jalen Ramsey assignment, but my gut says it's DeSean Jackson. That would make Reagor a potentially interesting deep league option after a Week 1 in which he caught one pass for 55 yards.
San Francisco 49ers at New York Jets
Matchups We Love:
Jimmy Garoppolo (QB, SF)
The Jets allowed a big fantasy day to Josh Allen in Week 1. Garoppolo isn't Josh Allen -- the rushing upside just isn't there -- but he's a solid quarterback who has a plus matchup this week against a Jets Defense that shouldn't scare anyone. He's a solid QB2 option.
Raheem Mostert (RB, SF)
In Week 1, Mostert played 60 percent of the offensive snaps for the 49ers. He's not the runaway top guy here, but he is the top running back and will see the majority of the work against a weak Jets defense. Mostert's a strong RB2 candidate.
Kendrick Bourne and Brandon Aiyuk (WR, SF)
The Jets defense is susceptible, but the 49ers don't really have guys outside of a questionable George Kittle who can really make you pay. But they do have two guys I really like in deep leagues or as dart throws in DFS: Kendrick Bourne, their leading wide receiver in yards last week, and Brandon Aiyuk, a rookie who is making his NFL debut after missing Week 1 with a hamstring injury. Both guys are going to fly way under the radar and have solid upside.
George Kittle (TE, SF)
So, first off, Kittle is questionable with a knee injury. He could very well miss this game, in which case you obviously don't want to play Kittle (though you might want to play Jordan Reed!) But if Kittle suits up, we can assume he'll be Garoppolo's No. 1 option, making him the same must-play TE1 that he always is.
UPDATE 9/19: George Kittle has been ruled out for Week 2.
Matchups We Hate:
Jerick McKinnon and Tevin Coleman (RB, SF)
The air quality issues last week likely contributed to Coleman having just a 10 percent snap share. I expect a little more Coleman and a little less McKinnon this week, with the two serving as backups to Raheem Mostert, who should get over half of the running back snaps. I like who these two play against, but I don't like the uncertainty around their roles.
Chris Herndon IV (TE, NYJ)
Yes, he had six catches in Week 1 against Buffalo. But he also lost a fumble and five of those catches were in the fourth quarter. Maybe that means he'll ride some momentum into Week 2? Or maybe it means he's going to have a slow start against a good defense and struggle to put up TE2 numbers.
Other Matchups:
Sam Darnold (QB, NYJ)
I can't hate Darnold this week, because the 49ers did allow the fifth-most points to a quarterback in Week 1, but I also can't love Darnold, because he's 1) still Sam Darnold and 2) still facing a 49ers Defense that scares the hell out of me. Darnold's not a must-sit in two-QB leagues, but he's also not a start in one-QB leagues.
Frank Gore (RB, NYJ)
With no Le'Veon Bell, we'll see a lot of Frank Gore against what should be a good 49ers defense. I think we'll see just enough of Gore to make him a flex option for fantasy managers, and while the Niners defense is good, it did allow two Week 1 rushing scores.
Jamison Crowder (WR, NYJ)
The only major wide receiver threat on this Jets team, Crowder was targeted 13 times in Week 1. But he's also dealing with a hamstring injury that might keep him out of Week 2, which knocks him down to this group.
UPDATE 9/19: Jamison Crowder has been ruled out for Week 2.
Breshad Perriman (WR, NYJ)
If Crowder is out, Perriman becomes an upside play in deeper leagues and a really interesting DFS value.
Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers
Matchups We Love:
Ben Roethlisberger (QB, PIT)
Denver's defense didn't play great in Week 1, even if the scoreboard says they allowed just 16 points. And with A.J. Bouye now on the injured reserve, their pass defense drops another peg. Roethlisberger returned after missing most of 2019 and threw for three Week 1 touchdowns. I like his weapons. I like his matchup. This should be a good week for him.
JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson (WR, PIT)
After a disappointing 2019, Smith-Schuster opened 2020 with six catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns. Consider him a high-end WR2 in what should be a plus matchup for the Steelers passing game. As for Johnson, he was targeted 10 times against the Giants and while he has less touchdown upside than Smith-Schuster, he'll have a great chance to rack up yards and is a solid WR3 option.
Matchups We Hate:
Drew Lock (QB, DEN)
Oh no, get Lock all the way away from me this week. While I think he's going to have a solid second NFL season, the Steelers Defense scares me. They picked off Daniel Jones twice in Week 1, and while the Giants moved the ball well at times, Jones was also aided by a late touchdown to Darius Slayton when things were out of reach. Lock's going to get knocked around in this one.
Melvin Gordon (RB, DEN)
It's not that you need to bench Gordon. It's just that you've got to know the danger going in, which is that he faces a Steelers defense that held Saquon Barkley to six rushing yards last week. Like Barkley, Gordon can make some things happen in the receiving game, but he's going to find it incredibly tough to find room to work with on the ground.
James Conner (RB, PIT)
A hobbled Conner struggled in Week 1, exiting the game after six carries for nine yards. The Broncos appear to be a good team against the run, and it's hard to trust Conner right now. Is he even the lead back now? This is a situation to steer away from if possible, especially in building a DFS lineup.
Courtland Sutton (WR, DEN)
Even if he does play, we'll be looking at a player dealing with a shoulder injury going up against one of the NFL's best defenses. I'm not confident at all in Sutton in Week 2 as more than a deep league option.
James Washington (WR, PIT)
He had a touchdown in Week 1, but was targeted just three times and lost a lot of playing time to rookie Chase Claypool. I don't think he's got a big enough role right now to justify starting him in season-long leagues.
Other Matchups:
Benny Snell Jr. (RB, PIT)
The same downside as Conner, but with the upside of coming off of a 19-carry, 113-yard Week 1 against the Giants. Snell looked the part of a lead back in that game, and I'd rather take a flyer on him in DFS than play Conner. Still, I don't really love the idea of starting any Steelers running back in season-long leagues.
Jerry Jeudy (WR, DEN)
The rookie had four catches for 56 yards in Week 1. He should be the safest receiver option on the Broncos this week, though the matchup against a good Steelers secondary is worrisome. Still, with Sutton not at 100 percent, Jeudy should get the necessary targets to avoid a bust game.
Noah Fant (TE, DEN)
Will he repeat his five catches for 81 yards and a score from Week 1? Not likely. Pittsburgh held Evan Engram mostly in check last week, and while Fant is talented, I don't think he's reached the point where he's matchup proof. Consider him a solid TE2.
Matchups Analysis - 4:05/4:25 PM ET Games
Three games on the afternoon slate for y'all. Let's break them down.
Washington Football Team at Arizona Cardinals
Matchups We Love:
DeAndre Hopkins (WR, ARI)
Hopkins was targeted 16 times in Week 1, catching 14 of them for 151 yards. This is the No. 1 receiver that Kyler Murray has been needing, and he's going to get a ton of passes thrown his way this week. Consider Hopkins a contender to be the overall WR1 this season and a weekly candidate to lead all receivers in fantasy scoring.
Kenyan Drake (RB, ARI)
Washington held the duo of Boston Scott and Corey Clement in check last week, but I don't really know if I'm going to read much into shutting those two down, ya know? I'll read more into Washington being a middle of the road team against the run in 2019 and Drake having 18 touches in Week 1. He should see plenty of work in this one and is a strong play at the running back position.
Antonio Gibson (RB, WAS)
I expect more usage from Gibson this week against an Arizona team that struggled against the run in Week 1. If Gibson can see his snap share rise from 26 percent to closer to a 50/50 split with Peyton Barber, he'll be an upside play in 12-team leagues and a really great option in DFS.
Terry McLaurin (WR, WAS)
I don't love this passing attack, but McLaurin's a very talented receiver who's the clear No. 1 guy in this receiving corps, and the Cardinals Defense can be exploited. I like McLaurin to be a solid fantasy WR2 this week based on opportunities.
Logan Thomas (TE, WAS)
Guess what didn't happen last week? The Cardinals defense didn't allow a touchdown to a tight end. But they allowed 16 of them last season while also allowing more fantasy points to the position than any other team. Yes, it's a new year. No, I'm not ready to say the Cardinals are going to better than "really bad" against tight ends in 2020. Thomas is a great streamer.
Matchups We Hate:
Dwayne Haskins (QB, WAS)
Okay, yeah, not even looking at the matchup data here. Haskins has thrown for 200 or more yards three times in his NFL career. Until I can see him do that consistently, I'm not playing him in a fantasy league unless I have absolutely no other options. Sorry.
Other Matchups:
Kyler Murray (QB, WAS)
I just don't know what to think about this Washington defense, and that makes me lower on Kyler Murray than I'd usually be. In Week 1, they allowed just the 24th-most fantasy points to a quarterback and were able to pressure Carson Wentz into mistakes. Murray's rushing floor should raise him to a higher floor than Wentz had, but I do think there's reason to be slightly lower on Murray than usual, even if you still definitely need to play him in almost every format. (I guess you can bench him in an 8-team league if you have a better option.)
Christian Kirk (WR, ARI)
Week 1 was not kind to Christian Kirk, who had one catch for no yards against a really good 49ers team. He should do better against a worse Washington team, but...man, it's hard to trust Kirk this week. I was bordering on putting him on the "hate" part of this.
Larry Fitzgerald (WR, ARI)
Fitzgerald is a safer version of Christian Kirk, in a way. Won't have an explosive game at this stage of his career, but should use his sure hands to bring in more catches. If Washington's defense had looked worse in Week 1, I'd like Fitzgerald a lot more. But overall, he's fine.
Peyton Barber (RB, WAS)
Barber only had 29 yards against the Eagles, but he had 17 carries and led the NFL in red zone carries, plus found pay dirt twice. The Cardinals gave up more fantasy points to running back than any other team last week, and Barber should have some more chances to dive into the end zone. I love Barber as a deep league flex option or a DFS value play, but don't like him much in shallower leagues.
Steven Sims Jr. (WR, WAS)
Talented player who is going to have an inconsistent role every week until Dwayne Haskins gets better. Probably a weekly boom/bust guy, so if you're needing points once the afternoon slate arrives, you might be able to throw him in a lineup and cross your fingers.
Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans
Matchups We Love:
Lamar Jackson (QB, BAL)
Yeah, this seems like a no-brainer, doesn't it? Houston held Patrick Mahomes to 211 passing yards in Week 1, but he still threw three touchdowns and they allowed running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire to rush for 138 yards and a score. Lamar Jackson has a chance to eat up this defense in Week 2. Consider him the overall QB1 this week in your Week 2 rankings.
J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram II (RB, BAL)
The Texans couldn't contain the Chiefs run game last week, and now they get to face an even scarier run game. Dobbins and Ingram cannibalize each other's value too much for either to be an RB1, but if you're looking for guys who can be strong RB2/3 options this week? Both guys have a lot of upside in that kind of role.
Marquise Brown (WR, BAL)
The only Ravens receiver worth playing in most formats this week is Brown, who is coming off a five-catch, 101-yard game. Houston's secondary struggled against the Chiefs, and Brown has lots of upside in this matchup. Consider him a high-upside WR2.
Mark Andrews (TE, BAL)
LOL, there's a pattern here, which is liking all of the Ravens. Andrews is one of the elite tight ends and Houston was struggling to contain tight ends in the second half of 2019. Andrews had a pair of touchdowns last week and should be a good bet to find the end zone again.
Matchups We Hate:
Deshaun Watson (QB, HOU)
Yes, the matchup is terrible for the Texans. Baltimore just dismantled the Browns, holding Baker Mayfield to 21-for-39 passing and 189 yards. And yes, last year against Baltimore, Watson threw for just 169 yards and no touchdowns and had just 12 rushing yards. But it's really hard to ever bench this man in a fantasy league. Smart idea to avoid him in DFS games in Week 2, though.
Non-Will Fuller V Wide Receivers (WR, HOU)
Fuller's role makes him a relatively safe option even in a bad matchup, but the rest of the receivers here are huge risks. Randall Cobb had just three targets in Week 1. Brandin Cooks had five, but caught just two and is dealing with a quad injury. Kenny Stills was an afterthought. And this week, they face an even tougher defense. I'm not starting any of these guys.
Other Matchups:
Will Fuller V (WR, HOU)
While the matchup is bad, Fuller's the top option for quarterback Deshaun Watson and was targeted twice as much as any other Texans receiver last week. He's got too high of a floor due to his target share here for me to dislike him this week, even if the Ravens secondary has the ability to shut him down. He's been a boom-or-bust guy in the past and 2020 is trending towards that "bust" part disappearing, but this week might be a vintage "will he get 160 yards or 30 yards" Fuller game.
Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers
Matchups We Love:
Patrick Mahomes (QB, KC)
With the Chargers missing Derwin James, I love Mahomes this week, and while I have Jackson just ahead of him in my overall rankings, Mahomes is a clear top-two option and a must start at all times, obviously. But also, this is a really nice chance for him to pile up the yardage and a good week to play him in DFS leagues.
Austin Ekeler (RB, LAC)
David Johnson had a strong game against the Chiefs Defense last week, and they should have trouble containing the even-more electric Ekeler this week. He's a threat on the ground and in the receiving game and should be considered a low-end RB1 this week.
Hunter Henry (TE, LAC)
If there's someone on this team who really benefits from Tyrod Taylor, Week 1 suggested it might be Henry, who had five catches for 73 yards. The Chiefs have struggled in the recent past against tight ends, and Henry should be considered a solid TE1 option.
Matchups We Hate:
Tyrod Taylor (QB, LAC)
Taylor was okay in Week 1, going 16-for-30 for 208 yards and adding seven yards on the ground, but a matchup with the Bengals probably should have produced better results. Now, he faces a Chiefs team that did allow a rushing touchdown to quarterback Deshaun Watson in Week 1, but also held the Texans and their talented passer mostly in check until garbage time. I have no interest in starting Taylor in a fantasy league this week. Maybe he gets some late production. Maybe.
Sammy Watkins (WR, KC)
For the second year in a row, Sammy Watkins had a huge Week 1. And for the second year in a row, he should fall back down to earth after an impressive start, because the Chargers have a much better secondary than the Texans. Watkins is a risky boom-or-bust option, with an emphasis on "bust."
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB, KC)
Yeah, I'm saying it. CEH was so good in his debut aside from some goal line struggles, but the Chargers held Joe Mixon to 3.6 yards per carry and out of the end zone in Week 1. You obviously start Edwards-Helaire in season-long, but I'm very concerned about him as a DFS option this week.
Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (WR, LAC)
The Chiefs have been really good against wide receivers lately, including holding all of Houston's non-Will Fuller receivers in check last week. With Tyrod Taylor under center, fewer targets are available in this offense, and both Allen and Williams feel like guys who could bust this week. They won't both bust, but the sample size of them with Taylor is too small for me to confidently pick one over the other. I'd avoid both in DFS.
Other Matchups:
Travis Kelce (TE, KC)
Is it true that Travis Kelce hasn't been particularly good against the Chargers? Yes. Is it true he only has one touchdown against them? Also yes. But it's also true that Travis Kelce is Travis Kelce and you do not even need to consider benching him or even avoiding him in DFS because his ceiling is incredibly high.
Tyreek Hill (WR, KC)
Like Kelce, the bad matchup is made up for by the fact that Hill is high-ceiling speedster who can break off a touchdown at any moment. Maybe play him in fewer DFS lineups than usual this week, but he's still a solid fantasy WR1, with maybe a lower floor than usual against a good Chargers Defense. But it's really hard to hate Hill at any point.
Joshua Kelley (RB, LAC)
Kelley appears to be the new backup to Austin Ekeler. I like the matchup, but don't know if I like the role, which makes him a deep league flex option or a DFS value play.
Matchups Analysis - Sunday Night Football
New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks
Matchups We Love:
Cam Newton (QB, NE)
Newton had a pair of rushing touchdowns in Week 1 and now faces a Seattle defense that allowed a ton of passing yards to Matt Ryan and the Falcons last week. Ryan threw for 450 yards in that one, and while Newton won't come close to that, the Falcons proved that the Seahawks Defense has some flaws against the pass. Newton's a low-end QB1 option.
Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA)
After a big Week 1 in which he caught all right of his targets for 92 yards, Lockett is the Seahawks receiver who feels the most matchup proof this week. The 'Hawks look like they're finally throwing the ball a ton, and Lockett's going to the player who benefits the most from that, making him a weekly WR2 option.
James White (RB, NE)
White's role as a passing down back and short-yardage receiving threat on an offense with some serious holes at wide receiver makes him a strong weekly play in full PPR leagues.
Matchups We Hate:
Greg Olsen (TE, SEA)
Yes, he had a Week 1 touchdown, but this Patriots Defense remains really good and when it comes to guys at the fringes of fantasy value, I'd rather just steer clear of them.
Patriots Receivers (NE, WR)
Lot of issues here. The Seahawks allowed a ton of yards in Week 1, but New England's wide receivers might struggle to take advantage. Cam Newton won't throw as much as most other quarterbacks, limiting how many targets can go to receivers. N'Keal Harry has a low ceiling and a low floor. Damiere Byrd is an afterthought. And Julian Edelman played just 58 percent of snaps and has a knee injury. Am I really supposed to play those guys?
Other Matchups:
Russell Wilson (QB, SEA)
Seattle is letting Russ cook, but the Patriots allowed fewer fantasy points to quarterbacks in Week 1 than any other team did. Something has to give, and I'm not confident enough in either side to really know if what gives is the Patriots Defense or Russ. That makes Wilson a little risky in DFS, though you start him with no questions asked in season-long leagues.
D.K. Metcalf (WR, SEA)
Tough matchup, but hes coming off a 95-yard, one-touchdown Week 1, so seems like a bit of a wash, right? New England's defense is really good, but after a lot of opt outs, I do wonder if they'll have the right personnel to stop Metcalf from having another strong game. But I am concerned enough about how well Week 1 went for New England to consider keeping Metcalf out of DFS lineups.
Chris Carson (RB, SEA)
Two receiving touchdowns salvaged a rough rushing day for Carson last week. This week, he faces a tough Patriots defense. But Carson's ability to make things happen in the run game and pass game gives him a high floor, making him a solid RB2 option, albeit one with a lot of downside considering this matchup.
Sony Michel (RB, NE)
The primary early-down back for New England, Michel should be better than expected this year as long as he keeps his feet moving forward. Is he a poor man's 2019 Mark Ingram? Maybe! And if so, that's enough to make him an RB3 option this week.
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