Let’s take a look at players that you may be tempted to start Week 2. Instead, our analysts feel it would be in your best interest to consider sitting these players this week in fantasy football.
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
Players to Consider Sitting Week 2
Rashaad Penny (RB – SEA)
“Rashaad Penny and the Seattle Seahawks are facing a stout front seven in San Francisco in week 2. Penny averaged 5 yards a carry on 12 rushing attempts and caught 2 of 3 targets through the air for 7 yards in week 1. The 49ers, after one week of NFL play, find themselves in the middle of the NFL in opponent rushing yards allowed (99yards) on 37 attempts, making them tied for the third most in the NFL. ”
– Mason Riney (IDP Army)
Mike Evans (WR – TB)
“Mike Evans. He’s up against ace CB Marshon Lattimore in New Orleans, and this has been a tough matchup for Evans. These are Evans’ stat lines in his last seven games against the Saints, including playoff games: 0-0-0, 4-69-0, 1-2-1, 4-64-0, 1-3-1, 2-48-1 and 1-14-0. That averages out to 1.9 catches, 28.6 yards and 0.4 touchdowns. Evans is good enough to overcome a tough matchup, and of course you’re going to start him, but you probably shouldn’t expect a smash game.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Amari Cooper (WR – CLE)
“Start Amari Cooper? Fat chance. After being out-targeted by Donovan Peoples-Jones by a hefty amount in Week 1 (11 vs. 6), Cooper has to show something with Jacoby Brissett under center before he can sniff starting lineups. Doesn’t work in his favor that he’s slated to match up with rookie Sauce Gardner. The first-round pick allowed just one catch for 8 yards on 35 coverage snaps in Week 1 (42.4 passer rating). Take the under on Cooper’s four receptions prop. Jets allowed the 7th-lowest completion rate in Week 1.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Najee Harris (RB – PIT)
“I could see fantasy managers being disappointed with the performance of Najee Harris this week. Not only is a dealing with an injury and could be limited as a result, but he’s also facing Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots coming off a loss, and it’s safe to say Harris will be the focal point of the Patriots’ defensive game plan. His game also has one of the lowest totals on the week and has one of the lowest implied team totals. Just a lot of cons for Harris this week that make me think he will be a disappointing start if he even suits up. ”
– Jon Jeune (Fantasy Football Diagnostics)
“The concern for Steelers RB Najee Harris in Week 2 is real! Not only does he have to work behind the atrocious offensive line they’ve put in place, but he also has to do it at less than 100%. He was forced from Week 1 early with an ankle injury, but not before posting a god-awful 26 scrimmage yards on 12 touches. The only thing to save his day for fantasy managers was a receiving touchdown on the goal line – otherwise, we would have been toast! Harris himself said he should be good to go this week, but plan to sprinkle your lineup with some high-upside flex options to offset what is likely to be a disappointing week.”
– Kate Magdziuk (BallBlast)
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB – KC)
“Clyde Edwards-Helaire. He was buoyed by two receiving touchdowns last week, but the volume still isn’t quite there. The passing game usage is encouraging though, and most likely he was game scripted out and replaced by backups once the game was in hand in the KC-ARI blowout. Still, LAC is a good defense and I don’t think CEH will have a very successful day this week.”
– Tyler Moore (King Fantasy Sports)
Josh Jacobs (RB – LV)
“I believe Josh Jacobs will continue to disappoint fantasy managers after a Week 1 that saw Jacobs produce 57 rushing yards while seeing just one target. The Raiders went with a pass-heavy game plan in their Week 1 loss to the Chargers. With an implied 51.5 total points scored suggested by Vegas oddsmakers, there seems to be reasoning that their matchup against the Arizona Cardinals will involve more of the explosive Raiders’ passing game. Unfortunately, Jacobs played just 58.9% of the Week 1 snaps with only 22 percent running plays. His lack of involvement in the passing game with Brandon Bolden taking over the backfield pass-catching duties limits his ceiling and the ability to provide value as a Week 2 option for fantasy managers. ”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)
Ezekiel Elliott (RB – DAL)
“Ezekiel Elliott (58%) and Tony Pollard (55%) saw very close snap rates in Week 1, which is concerning for those hoping Zeke can volume his way to RB2 fantasy production in a Cooper Rush-led offense. News flash people, that’s not going to happen. Elliott totaled only 11 touches to Pollard’s 8. And Zeke only ran a route on 39% of team dropbacks – outside the top-30 in Week 1 – because he was pass-blocking on a vast amount of dropbacks. Without guaranteed volume to fall back on, in an offense led by a back-up quarterback, in a matchup versus a defense that allowed Najee Harris to hit 23 yards on 10 carries, Zeke is an RB3 TD-or-bust in Week 2. Cincy owns the No. 2-graded run defense per PFF.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Thanks to the experts for sharing their advice! For more of their insight, be sure to follow each pundit on Twitter (click their names above) and visit their respective sites.
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If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
