Week 2 NFL Matchups Analysis: Start/Sit for Fantasy Football (Part 3)

Welcome to Week 2 of NFL and fantasy football action RotoBallers.

Each week of the NFL season, we will be breaking down each of the NFL matchups and providing our analysis. Below you will find our Week 2 NFL matchups & fantasy football start/sit analysis, which should hopefully help you prepare your lineups to win this week.

To read about the rest of this week's NFL matchups, check out our other matchup articles. Here you can see the Start/Sit &  Matchups Analysis for Games 1-8, and Start/Sit &  Matchups Analysis for Games 9-12. And of course you can always stop by the RotoBaller chat rooms for any live advice you may need.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) rankings
• Quarterback (QB) rankings
• Tight end (TE) rankings
• Defense (D/ST) rankings
• Kicker (K) rankings
• FLEX rankings
• Dynasty rankings

Editor’s Note: make sure to also check out our famous fantasy football waiver wire pickups list. It's our running list of waiver wire adds, to help you find those sleepers and dominate your fantasy football leagues. Our waiver wire list is updated daily throughout the fantasy football season, for all positions. Good luck RotoBallers!

Jets at Packers - Sunday 9/14 @ 4:25 PM EST

Matchups We Love

Aaron Rodgers - The Jets passing defense was fairly respectable in their season opener, allowing only 151 yards to the Raiders through the air.  Fortunately for owners of Rodgers, looking respectable against the Raiders is an accomplishment on par with walking while chewing gum.  Look for Rodgers to rebound from his rough Week 1 outing against the Seahawks.

Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb - Nelson and Cobb managed respectable production against the Legion of Boom, with Nelson getting 83 receiving yards and Cobb snaring a touchdown.  Look for them to do much better against the Jets.  Both are solid starts.

Eddie Lacy - As of the writing of this column, Lacy has not been cleared to play after suffering a concussion.  If he is cleared, play him.  Don't sit your studs.

Chris Johnson - The Johnson/Ivory timeshare resulted in Johnson getting 18 touches to Ivory's 10.  Johnson is the favorite going forward and is a decent low-end RB2/flex play this week.

Matchups We Hate

Geno Smith - Remember what I said looking respectable against Oakland?  Smith only managed 13 points against the Raiders.  That is well south of respectable.

Chris Ivory - The second favorite member of an RBBC isn't a reliable point generator.  Sit him.

High Risk, High Reward

Eric Decker - Decker is the best receiver on the Jets, but his quarterback is spotty at best.  He could put up solid points, especially in PPR leagues, or he could fizzle.

Chiefs @ Broncos - Sunday, 9/14 @ 4:25 PM EST

Matchups We Love

Jamaal Charles - Despite uncharacteristic production in the opener, we know he's a stud.  Start him.

Peyton Manning - The Chiefs' D made Jake Locker look good.  What do you think Peyton will do?

Demaryius Thomas / Julius Thomas / Emmanuel Sanders - In order, start at WR1/holy cow, absolutely start at TE1 did you see his statline/startable at WR2 or flex.

Matchups We Hate

Alex Smith - Absolutely stunk against the Titans and the Broncos are better.  Avoid him.

Any Chiefs Receivers - You saw what happened when they got away from their core offensive principles, namely "giving the ball to Jamaal Charles."  Not worth starting any of these guys.

Other Matchups

Montee Ball - Provided solid if not spectacular play for the Broncos' rushing game against Indianapolis.  He's a safe bet at RB this week.

Bears @ 49ers - Sunday, 9/14 @ 4:25 PM EST

Matchups We Love

Vernon Davis - He lit up the scoreboard with two touchdown receptions in Dallas.  He's a favorite target of Kaepernick in the red zone, and against the Bears, he may end up there often.  Start him.

Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde - The Bears gave up 193 rushing yards last week, and with San Francisco's stable of backs, don't look for that number to decrease.  Gore dominated Hyde in touches against Dallas (Gore had 16 to Hyde's 7) but while Gore managed only 66 yards on those carries, Hyde got 50 yards of his own and a touchdown to show for it.  Either back could be a low RB2/flex this week but for different reasons: volume for Gore and efficiency for Hyde.

Brandon Marshall - Marshall scores points.  You'll probably get double-digit production from him.  But you knew that when you drafted him.

Matt Forte - He's your first-rounder, and San Francisco may not be the running back killers they have been in years past.  They gave up 143 all-purpose yards to DeMarco Murray last week.

Matchups We Hate

Michael Crabtree - He's still hobbled by a calf injury and saw very little in the passing game.  With Vernon Davis dominating the red zone, opportunities will be slim for Crabtree.  Sit him until he's 100%.

Stevie Johnson - He's the fourth option on a team that favors the run.  You're not getting much out of him.

Jay Cutler - The 49ers' defense harassed Tony Romo into 3 interceptions last week, and Cutler threw two of his own against the lowly Bills.  Too much potential for a trainwreck here.

High Risk, High Reward

Alshon Jeffery - Jeffery was boom-or-bust last season, and against the Niners, he could do either.

Other Matchups

Colin Kaepernick - The Bears' defense isn't nearly what it was during the Lovie Smith days, and for the second straight week, Kaepernick should give you respectable numbers at QB.

Eagles @ Colts - Monday, 9/15 @ 8:30 PM EST

Matchups We Love

LeSean McCoy - see Charles, Jamaal.

Zach Ertz - He's caught 6 touchdowns in his last 10 games.  If he's your TE, you're starting him.

Jeremy Maclin - Maclin is just as capable of busting a big play as DeSean Jackson before him.  He's a solid WR2 in deeper leagues, and a good flex option if you're in shallower ones.

Andrew Luck - Actually outscored Peyton Manning in their head-to-head showdown last week.  He's a top-tier starter.

Matchups We Hate

Trent Richardson - If for some reason you started him last week, he rewarded you with 20 yards on 6 carries.  If you haven't given up on him yet, I doubt there's anything I can do to dissuade you.

High Risk, High Reward

T.Y. Hilton - He didn't see the ball much against the Broncos, but we know Hilton is capable of dropping gaudy statlines.  He's the textbook player for "High Risk, High Reward."

Riley Cooper - Gets some love from Nick Foles on occasion, but is also neglected by Foles on occasion.  If you're not a gambler and/or are uncomfortable with Kenny Chesney fans, you probably have better options.

Other Matchups

Nick Foles - Provided decent enough play for fantasy owners despite three turnovers.  He's still a decent starting option with upside.

Reggie Wayne - He's somehow still the number 1 target in Indianapolis, but Luck spreads the ball around.  He's a flex option at best.