September 17, 2016

Pierre Camus' Week Two fantasy football matchups analysis (part 2) for the 2016 NFL season. Starts and sits for fantasy football lineups based on matchups.

What's up RotoBallers. Below you will find part two of our Week 2 NFL matchups & fantasy football start/sit analysis for the 2016 NFL football season. Pierre Camus breaks down the second half of the Week 2 matchups to help you prepare your lineups to win this week. Be sure to also check out part one of this week's matchups analysis by Ben Ruppert (@Ben_Ruppert_21).

Each week of the NFL season, we will be breaking down individual matchups and providing you with some fantasy football advice and lineup recommendations based on matchups that we love, matchups that we hate, and some high-risk/high-reward players, as well. It’s essential to analyze the weekly NFL matchups to find lineup sleepers and gems, while also avoiding those players who may turn out to be busts.

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out FantasyAces DFS contests for Week 2. New users that sign up on Fantasy Aces and make a $20 deposit will receive RotoBaller's full season NFL Premium Pass for free (including Premium DFS), normally a $59.99 value. Expert DFS research, sample lineups, matchup ratings and lots more!

Week 1 Matchups Analysis Recap

Greatest Hits: Danny Woodhead (RB, SD), Drew Brees (QB, NO), Devonta Freeman (RB, ATL)

Woodhead played an even bigger part than expected and ran (yes, ran) for 89 yards in addition to his receiving contributions. Brees might seem obvious, but I'm claiming it as a win anyway. Freeman's performance may not be an aberration, but I'll try not to list him in the Hate section every single week.

Greatest Misses: Jameis Winston (QB, TB), Adrian Peterson (RB, MIN), Coby Fleener (TE, NO)

One day I'll learn to stop betting against Winston, although his TD outburst was certainly unexpected. The Titans sold out against the run and it worked like a charm. My expectation that Sam Bradford would start may have changed things, but hindsight is 20/20 but I guess Mike Zimmer outsmarted me. Coby Fleener has about two more weeks to produce something significant before being labeled a bust. You're on notice, buddy!

Patriots @ Dolphins - Sunday 9/18 @ 1 PM EST

Matchups We Love

Chris Hogan (WR, NE)

A trendy pick perhaps, but there's good reason to be optimistic about Hogan after Week 1. He caught three balls for 60 yards and a touchdown from a career backup QB in one of the toughest environments in the NFL. There's a good chance Hogan will draw coverage from rookie Xavien Howard, making his second career start. The Pats will spread the ball around, as usual, but Hogan will draw less attention than teammate Julian Edelman and may have more opportunities to get loose in the secondary.

James White (RB, NE)

Blount dominated rushing attempts in Week 1, but it is White who may see more chances this week. The Dolphins' defense boasts one of the top pass-rushing units around and is strong up the middle with Ndamukong Suh. Their linebacker corps is not quite as talented, although Kiko Alonso had a tremendous first game in teal. White will see more rushes and catch the ball in space, where he could make a big play or two. He had 63 receiving yards in Week 16 against Miami last year and injured teammate Dion Lewis went for 93 yards and a TD in Week 7 versus Miami.

Matchups We Hate

Jimmy Garoppolo (QB, NE)

Always give credit to the Patriots, who know how to make any player fit their system. Garoppolo did as well as anybody could have hoped in his first start against an extremely tough Cardinals team on the road. His 106.1 QBR is great, but his fantasy stats don't quite match (264 YDS, 1 TD). The Dolphins defense wasn't the problem last week, as they held Russell Wilson in check. It's unknown whether Mario Williams will play, as he undergoes the league's concussion protocol, but if so he and Ndamukong Suh may give Garoppolo headaches all afternoon. Hold off on throwing Jimmy G into your lineups too soon.

Jarvis Landry (WR, MIA)

If there's one thing the Pats do well, it's taking away the thing you treasure most. Kind of like a bully stealing your prom date as soon as you walk in the door. Landry is that thing for Miami, as he is the only receiver truly worthy of double digit targets. Expect blanket coverage all night, forcing Tannehill to check down to lesser options. Landry will still haul in a few catches, but he will need to find his way into the end zone to make a fantasy impact.

Ryan Tannehill (QB, MIA)

Tannehill will need to prove himself with actions, not words, on Sunday. The owner of a career 3-5 mark against the Pats, he has a 59% Cmp% and 10/8 TD/INT rate in those eight games. They may be missing Tom Brady, but there is nothing wrong with the Patriots D. Don't trust Tannehill if you can help it.

Notable Players

Arian Foster (RB, MIA)

He looks to be fully healthy and showed some good burst in Seattle, despite limited gains on the ground. He will find easier sledding this week, but doesn't seem primed for a huge game against another formidable opponent. He'll continue making his cheddar as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, so expect a few receptions, making him a better play in PPR than standard, where he is simply a flex.

Bucs @ Cardinals - Sunday 9/18 @ 4 PM EST

Matchups We Love

Carson Palmer (QB, ARI)

Tampa Bay's ever improving offense may force the Cards into more passing situations than they would like. Despite the loss, Palmer was sharp last week with 271 yards, two TD and no picks. He should improve on those numbers against a mediocre Bucs passing defense. He is worth a start in all formats.

Michael Floyd (WR, ARI)

Floyd got the looks, but Fitz got the glory. It was painful for Floyd owners to see him targeted three straight plays in the red zone and barely miss converting a touchdown, only to have Fitzgerald secure his second of the night. Floyd's usage was encouraging, however, and he may find some space in the Bucs secondary. Free agent addition Brent Grimes was in old form, successfully defending two passes. Floyd will likely line up on the other side against seven-year vet Alterraun Verner, who will pose a modest challenge. Expect Floyd to put up the better day this time out. As they say, "chase the targets." I'm sure someone says that.

Matchups We Hate

Jameis Winston (QB, TB)

This one came back to bite me last week, but I'm not predicting another 4 TD showing from Famous Jameis. He has proven capable of putting up solid numbers in any matchup, so he isn't a must-sit, but it wouldn't be surprising if the turnover bug reared its head. Arizona finished fourth in INT last season and Winston threw 15 himself. Expect something closer to QB2 numbers this game.

Notable Players

David Johnson (RB, ARI)

If there were any doubts whether he is a certifiable stud, he proved his worth last week. That said, Tampa Bay plays a fairly stout run defense. Shutting down the Falcons run game might say more about the Freeman/Coleman experiment than anything, but the Bucs did finish in the top half of the league for rush defense in 2015. DJ will have a good, but not great game.

Seahawks @ Rams - Sunday 9/18 @ 4 PM EST

Matchups We Love

Thomas Rawls (RB, SEA)

Rawls has been promised he is the starter again, so it's time to treat him as such. The Rams defense was supposed to be its strong point, but they didn't seem to have any strengths whatsoever in the debacle on Monday night. If Carlos Hyde can run for 88 yards and two TD, you can believe Rawls will be equally productive. Christine Michael should serve as nothing more than a change of pace back despite a solid performance in Week 1.

Matchups We Hate

Todd Gurley (RB, LA)

It's a bit too early to hit the panic button, but this isn't going to be the game where Gurley proves his doubters wrong. We've seen the stat about him only averaging 73 YPG in his last eight games dating back to last season. If he could only muster 47 rushing yards against the 49ers, what will the Seattle defense do to him? You can't sit him when you spent a top 5 pick to get him, but praying for a TD is your best bet.

Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA)

The artists formerly known as St. Louis Rams limited receivers to the fourth-fewest fantasy PPG last year before hightailing it to Cali. Lockett, primarily a deep threat, won't be needed as there's a decent chance the Hawks won't fall behind big in this one. His main asset in this game will be as a returner, but look for a WR with better upside this week.

Russell Wilson (QB, SEA)

For similar reasons, Wilson isn't a player to count on this week. He probably won't be needed to air the ball out too much and you can bet the game plan involves a lot of handing off to keep his gimpy ankle as healthy as possible. If you are in a league any bigger than eight teams, you should still be starting him. If you have a better option, don't hesitate to roll with it.

Notable Players

Jimmy Graham (TE, SEA)

The most notable thing for Graham is that he played. That's it. You shouldn't be starting him anyway until he proves healthy enough to contribute. With just one catch on one target last week, it appears it may take a while.

Colts @ Broncos - Sunday 9/18 @ 4:25 PM EST

Matchups We Love

Emmanuel Sanders (WR, DEN)

Demaryius Thomas is not certain to play through his hip issue, but someone has to be out there to toast the Colts' secondary. Even if Thomas goes, this is a great chance for Sanders to become a target hog by working underneath and making things easier for Trevor Siemian. This is a choice matchup as the Colts allowed the sixth most fantasy PPG to opposing receivers last season and are still having a hard time finding healthy corners.

C.J. Anderson (RB, DEN)

He looked every bit the player that Denver signed (to everyone's surprise) to an $18 million contract in the off-season. It will be interesting to see if he can sustain that level of performance on a weekly basis - something he was unable to do last year. The Colts weren't great against the run in 2015, allowing 122 YPG. Anderson is a RB1 by default these days, but this week shouldn't do anything to change that.

Matchups We Hate

Andrew Luck (QB, IND)

If you saw how the Broncos treated Cam Newton last week, you should be concerned for Luck's safety, much less his fantasy performance. Luck has a shoulder issue that has made him questionable for this week's matchup. A bummer for fans, but it might just make things easier for Luck owners to keep him on the bench rather than suffer through watching him take punishment.

T.Y. Hilton (WR, IND)

Hilton also experienced a setback in practice with a knee injury this week. If he does go, there's still the chance Luck doesn't. Then there's the Broncos defense. This is shaping up as a week to avoid pretty much every Colt players there is.

Notable Players

Trevor Siemian (QB, DEN)

An adequate first start, but did he really deserve a spot on the bus, NBC? Siemian threw two picks, but recovered to finish with a 69% Comp% and 176 yards. This would seem like a perfect chance to put up some fantasy worthy numbers, but we're still not sure if he is capable of such a thing. With Demaryius Thomas questionable, don't take the risk.

Falcons @ Raiders - Sunday 9/18 @ 4:25 PM EST

Matchups We Love

Mohamed Sanu (WR, ATL)

Sanu didn't waste any time showing that he can be a valuable #2 option behind Julio Jones. JJ has been battling a sore ankle and although he will be out there, the team may need to rely on Sanu more than they would like. The Falcons suffered through offensive droughts last season all through the second half, partly because they had so few legitimate receiving options. Sanu may change all that this year. Playing against a secondary that was toasted by Drew Brees last week is a good opportunity to prove that.

Matchups We Hate

Tevin Coleman (RB, ATL)

Owners quick to jump off the Devonta Freeman bandwagon and onto Coleman's may want to pump the brakes a bit. Coleman was just as bad as Freeman on the ground (eight rushes for 22 YDS), but made significant gains in the passing game (95 yards on five catches). The Raiders did a formidable job against the Saints RB through the air, however, allowing 7.3 Y/R to their trio.

Derek Carr (QB, OAK)

It didn't show last week, but the Falcons were actually really good against the pass last season. Maybe they didn't expect Tampa to air it out as much as they did, but the duo of Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford will be looking for redemption. Carr finished with 319 yards and a TD against the Saints porous secondary, so this might be a rude awakening for him. Think QB2 this week.

Notable Players

DeAndre Washington (RB, OAK)

He shouldn't be in starting lineups regardless of matchup just yet, but it will be intriguing to see how he responds to being outplayed by fellow rookie Jalen Richard. D-Wash was touted as a potential threat to Latavius Murray in the preseason, but looked meek in his Week 1 debut. Check usage patterns closely between the two rookies to see if the tide has shifted in any way.

Jaguars @ Chargers - Sunday 9/18 @ 4:25 PM EST

Matchups We Love

Allen Robinson (WR, JAX)

If you watched more than two minutes of the Jaguars game last week, chances are you saw a throw to Allen Robinson. He was targeted 15 times, although he only pulled down six of those. This will be a persistent theme throughout the year and Robinson will have an easier time this week against a Chargers team that made Alex Smith look like an All-Pro. Multiple touchdowns are a distinct possibility.

Danny Woodhead (RB, SD)

I have a feeling D-dub will be making this list frequently. Woodhead didn't just catch his usual allotment of passes, he was also the most effective runner on the field. Woodhead ran for 89 yards on 16 carries and gained three or more yards on 81.3% of his carries. The Chargers will lean on him more heavily than ever before and this week is just the beginning of a positive trend for the PPR darling.

Matchups We Hate

Melvin Gordon (RB, SD)

If this game even slightly resembles last week's tilts for both teams, it will be a high-scoring, pass-happy affair. Gordon finally hit paydirt after a year of waiting, but only finished with 57 rushing yards. Losing Keenan Allen means the Chargers will need to find more balance on offense, but it doesn't mean they will succeed. Gordon may depend on finding the end zone each week in order to garner any sort of value. The Jags' improving D wasn't awful against the run last year and won't give up big plays to someone like Gordon.

Notable Players

Dontrelle Inman/Tyrell Williams (WR, SD)

Tyrell Williams grabbed the attention with 71 yards in Week 1, but Inman may be the more targeted receiver to replace Allen. The third-year wideout from Virginia has the trust of his QB and is the better PPR grab. That said, Williams has the size advantage and showed more big play ability against KC, making him more desirable for standard leagues who value TD potential over receptions totals.

Packers @ Vikings - Sunday 9/18 @ 8:30 PM EST

Matchups We Love

James Starks (RB, GB)

Minnesota bottled up the Titans' running game pretty well, limiting DeMarco Murray to a 3.2 AVG and Derrick Henry to three yards on five carries. While Starks won't fare any better as a runner, he's only playing for you in PPR leagues anyway. The Titans running backs combined for 76 yards in the air on seven catches, so there is promise for Starks to play his role well on Sunday night.

Kyle Rudolph (TE, MIN)

Against GB last week, Julius Thomas put up 64 yards and a touchdown. Rudolph doesn't quite match Thomas in the athleticism department, but the Packers do a better job of shutting down receivers than tight ends. Rudolph himself had a nice opener with 65 yards receiving and eight targets. As a result, Rudolph could be a viable red zone target and a sneaky start in deep leagues, rather than opponent Jared Cook.

Matchups We Hate

Eddie Lacy (RB, GB)

Lacy mustered 61 yards on 14 carries against the Jaguars, but he really should have done better. The Jags allowed 20.9 fantasy points per game to RB last season, but Lacy didn't make a real impact in a game where the Packers were neck-and-neck throughout. The Vikings are one of the tougher teams against the run and don't figure to allow much running space.

Notable Players

Stefon Diggs (WR, MIN)

We still can't whole-heartedly recommend Diggs, despite his 103 yard showing in Week 1. The Titans sold out against the run, daring Shaun Hill to throw, which nearly worked. Without knowing officially who will start at QB, it's impossible to predict Diggs' usage. Even if Sam Bradford does make his first start for the Vikes, is that really a good thing?