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Thursday Night NFL Matchups Analysis: Week 2 Start/Sit for Fantasy Football

The second Thursday night matchup of the season is hours away, featuring an AFC West division matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Denver Broncos have been the class of the division the past four seasons, looking for their fifth straight division title in 2015. The Chiefs were the last team not named the Broncos to win the division back in 2010.

With one week in the books for each of these teams, we’ll project who will be the fantasy studs and duds for the earliest matchup on the NFL schedule this week. Below you will find our Week 2 matchups breakdown and start/sit analysis for your fantasy football lineups. Let's get to it.

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

 

Broncos @ Chiefs - Matchups We Love

Jamaal Charles: Charles actually underwhelmed in Week 1 against the Houston Texans, rushing for 57 yards on 16 carries, but was way more of a factor in PPR leagues catching five passes for 46 yards and a touchdown. Charles will be heavily involved per usual, even though the Chiefs opted towards more of a passing attack against the Texans. The Broncos held the Ravens to only 73 rushing yards last week and have one of the premier defenses in football. This may not be Charles’ best matchup, and there are bad memories lingering as Charles left last season’s Week 2 game against the Broncos after only two rushes due to injury. Charles faced the Broncos later that season, rushing for only 35 yards on 10 carries with a receiving touchdown.

Travis Kelce: Kelce and the word breakout have been synonymous for a while now, but Week 1 was an indication that he’s a top-flight TE fantasy option. With a real receiving threat on the outside in Jeremy Maclin, and the threat of Charles looming every play, Kelce’s opportunities to find space and positive matchups should be frequent. After catching six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns last week, fantasy owners can only wait and see what the follow up performance will be.

Demaryius Thomas: Any worries about Thomas’ hand can be put the rest as it’s been labeled a non-issue. The only concern for Thomas is the play of Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, who no one can trust right now after a dismal Week 1 performance. Thomas will get his targets and receptions, but here’s to hoping he finds the end zone, which he did in both matchups against the Chiefs last season. Don’t panic yet.

 

Broncos @ Chiefs - Prove It To Me Matchups

Peyton Manning: Without diving too deep into it - as media coverage around the league already has one of the league’s greatest pass throwers in history labeled as "finished" through one game - Manning needs a bounce back performance to prove he’s a reliable fantasy option going forward.

Denver Running Backs: After a Week 1 dud by C.J. Anderson, and a toe issue that had fantasy owners more nervous than they should be this early in the season, the Broncos running game has to produce sooner rather than later. Baltimore and now Kansas City are above average defenses, which people have to be thoughtful of, but with Anderson having such a high ADP this season, the returns need to be seen to be believed. Despite the injury concerns throughout the week, I'd be starting him in my lineups. I'd rather start him and not get a huge game, than bench him and see him go big. Ronnie Hillman will be involved, and may be getting more touches than normal, but is nothing more than a desperation FLEX play. If he's still available on your league's waiver wire (56% owned), he's a great stash.

Alex Smith: If the Chiefs continue their throwing ways like Week 1, Alex Smith can be one of the quarterbacks people will be playing instead of Manning. Imagine saying that two weeks ago. Smith completed 22-of-33 passes in Week 1 for three touchdowns, as Andy Reid let him loose. Smith also has the threat of running the football, although his nine scrambles only resulted in 15 yards last week. This is perhaps the best offensive group Smith has had to work with in his career, and a top-15 overall finish this year is in play.

Jeremy Maclin: Maclin had nine targets in Week 1, but only caught five passes for 62 yards without finding the end zone. It’s been well documented that Maclin isn’t going to replicate his numbers in Philadelphia - but if Reid shows two straight weeks of a more passing oriented attack with this Chiefs offense, he’s a talented option in an above average offense.

Emmanuel Sanders: 12 targets is a great sign for Sanders, who with the decline of Manning and a lack of a run game in Week 1 could’ve spelled disaster. But eight catches for an off day from Manning is a pretty good floor to have. Still, Sanders had a ton of success mainly due to finding the end zone last season, so hopefully him and Manning will be on the same page this week after a few overthrows against Baltimore.

 

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