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Welcome to Week 2, RotoBallers! Below you will find some of my spotlight plays and players to go with when faced with tough lineup decisions for Week 2 of the fantasy football season.
These are based off my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller's NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a 10% discount and get access to all of my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the entire 2019 season.
Skill position picks here are based on PPR ranks.
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Spotlight RB Starters for Week 2
Malcolm Brown: While Cam Akers was looking surprisingly tentative, Brown had 110 scrimmage yards and two rushing TDs in Week 1. Brown ran with authority and apparent confidence, and until Akers starts to look like the decisive runner he was drafted to be, Brown has RB2 potential and should definitely be considered in that range this week. You should be starting Brown over the likes of players with tough matchups such as Melvin Gordon, or with less certain roles, like James Conner.
Ronald Jones II: I am well-known for not being a Fantasy fan of Jones, but he actually did not look bad at all against a tough New Orleans front in Week 1. The matchup looks a lot friendlier vs. Carolina and he could get some chances to finish off drives with short-range TD runs. Jones is aiming for his third game in row at home with 100-plus scrimmage yards. If Jones delivers the goods, trade him after this game. At the very least, a time share with Leonard Fournette is still a very strong future possibility. That still may be Jones’ best eventual scenario. Bruce Arians acquired Fournette to take on a significant role, not to be a lesser-used reserve. If both RBs play well it keeps them fresher throughout games and forces the defense to account for both of their styles.
Jonathan Taylor: There were some concerns about the rookie’s ability to catch passes out of the backfield early in his career, but he had six catches last week, the second-most receiving yards by a rookie RB in an NFL debut since 2000. Taylor is now ticketed to start sooner than expected with Marlon Mack done for the season. He should have a good statistical floor because of the instant potential versatility. If he gets into a rhythm as a ball carrier there is also a pretty good ceiling this week. Start Taylor with confidence as a RB2. The numbers will at least be adequate.
Miles Sanders: Many fantasy owners need to know when to shed the concerns about injuries. There is nothing reportedly lingering about Sanders’ hamstring issue from Week 1, and he has practiced in full. Sanders may be utilized quite a few times in the passing game because Carson Wentz’s toolbox at receiver seems almost empty other than at TE. You can assuredly start Sanders a fantasy RB2. You will at least get respectable fantasy totals in his return.
Spotlight WR Starters for Week 2
CeeDee Lamb: All three of the top Dallas WRs are in play this week as Top 25 choices at the position. Lamb may be on the verge of his first impressive pro performance. He already showed a solid rapport with Dak Prescott in the opener and displayed good yardage after the catch potential. I would expect his first NFL TD against Atlanta.
Parris Campbell: He caught six passes for 71 yards in the opener and Philip Rivers relied on him for possession grabs. That is a highly encouraging sign. We have yet to see Campbell unfurl his downfield skills, and if he can make both chain-moving and big-play catches, that gives him a lot of Fantasy promise. He is a must-start as a Fantasy WR3 against a Minnesota secondary that was shredded last week. Philip Rivers will have time to locate Campbell behind a solid offensive line. Campbell is also one of our Top Sleeper and Value Plays for Week 2 in the video below:
The King and Joe Gallina's Sleeper and Value Plays for Week 2
Marquise Brown: The Ravens’ exciting second-year wideout is in fantasy WR1 territory this week. He is healthy and coming off his third career 100-yard game if you include the playoffs. In most decisions where you ask “Brown or” someone else who is never a must-start, the answer will definitely be Brown this week. He simply is a lock in a great matchup vs. Houston. I only have 10 other WRs ranked ahead of Brown this week. He had six receiving TDs in seven road games last season.
N'Keal Harry: He caught five passes against Miami and Cam Newton has been talking Harry up. If you are desperate for some WR help this week, take the shot on Harry. He fits the bill of the type of WR that can work well in the new-look Patriots offense with Newton. He can take a quick-hit pass and gain some yardage after the catch. The Seahawks will be focused on containing Julian Edelman and watching Newton as a runner, which could open up Harry to make some significant plays and truly get onto the fantasy radar for the first time in his career. Harry may also register his first TD catch from Newton this week. Remember, Bill Belichick drafted Harry in the first round and wants to start seeing the returns.
Spotlight TE Starters for Week 2
Jonnu Smith: He is shooting for his third game in a row at home with 60-plus receiving yards. With A.J. Brown out and Corey Davis commanding a lot of defensive attention, Ryan Tannehill should look for Smith frequently. He is a big, very athletic target who learned under the tutelage of Delanie Walker. "He took me under his wing" Smith told USA Today about Walker. He was one of those guys that helped transform the position as far as being able to do electrifying things with the ball in his hands." His combination of pure skills and what he has absorbed from the likes of Walker could push him to a breakout season that begins this week. Smith is a Top 10 start at TE and should be used over some players that were drafted higher at the position, including Hayden Hurst and Noah Fant.
Dan Arnold: I have already broadcast his name widely as a “super sleeper”, and the fantasy splashdown of Dan Arnold happens this week. Washington allowed the most Fantasy points to TEs in the opener, and Arnold gets a much easier draw after facing San Francisco in the opener. Maxx Williams is also out, ensuring more playing time for Arnold this week. He is a Top 15 TE start and a good plug-in if you are without George Kittle.
Spotlight QB Concerns for Week 2
Aaron Rodgers: He has two-plus TD passes in four of his past five home starts vs. Detroit. That seems to be another good reason for Rodgers to sustain the momentum of his Week 1 outing. But Matt LaFleur likes to run the ball and does not want to put the offense purely on Rodgers' shoulders like Mike McCarthy did. Rodgers could be a good, but not great start this week as Green Bay reverts to establishing more of the offensive balance that led them to a 13-3 record last year while protecting Rodgers from more big hits. He is a Top 10 start this week, but not a Top 5 choice at the position.
Carson Wentz: As we have already indicated, Wentz has WR issues, and he also has protection concerns while heading into a matchup against the Rams. After he was sacked eight times by Philadelphia, now Wentz will line up against Aaron Donald. Forget his name appeal, Wentz is not a recommended fantasy starter for Week 2.
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