Week 2 Fantasy Start 'em Sit 'em

Start 'em QBs

Dak Prescott: Prescott is coming off a disappointing week 1 performance against the Rams putting up only 17 fantasy points. I love Dak in week 2 because although he had an off week in fantasy, he still managed 266 yards and a score with no INTs. Russell Wilson and the Seahawks put up 38 points last week in Atlanta and Russ was one of the best players in all of fantasy with as many TDs (4) as incompletions. With the Falcon's solid run defense and below average secondary, Prescott should feast throughout. Although Zeke Elliot will still eat, Prescott will be a great usage play and will throw early and often. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets above 25 fantasy points with ease as the cowboys should score 30+ points.

Kyler Murray: Murray and the Cardinals impressed everyone in week 1 with an upset of the 49ers. This was supposed to be one of his toughest matchups of the season for the second year QB out of Oklahoma, but, he proved to be worthy of a fantasy start recording 27 fantasy points. He passed for 230 yards with a TD and a pick to go along with 91 rushing yards and a score against one of the leagues best defenses. The fact that he did this against the Niners means he could very easily go off this week. The Washington Football Team were getting destroyed by Carson Wentz in the Eagles in the first half before they turned it around and came from behind. Unfortunately for Washington, Murray is a very different animal than Wentz and even if they can somewhat slow him down in the passing game, there will be room for him to take off on the ground. The addition of Hopkins seems like it's a turning point for this offense and one that boosts Murray's stock. He's a must start at this point, and if he plays anything like he did last week, he should be in store for a top 5 overall fantasy play.

Sit 'em QBs

Deshaun Watson: This will be the second straight week that Watson doesn't produce the numbers you hoped for when you drafted him. He goes up against Baltimore who has a great defensive line and secondary. I have no faith in the Texans after what I saw from their offensive line and WRs in week 1 against the Chiefs. If you have no other option, you can start Watson with the hope of him having a great 4th quarter of garbage time like he did in week 1. As much as this hurts, and trust me I know because I drafted him in multiple leagues, just hold on until week 4. He played KC week 1 and has Baltimore this weekend followed by Pittsburgh in week 3. Those are just brutal matchups for any QB. Once Watson gets finished with these tough matchups, you can expect him to produce big numbers the rest of the way. Be patient with him and put in your backup this week!

Drew Brees: Brees is going to be without Michael Thomas for the first time in a long time which doesn't bode well for him. Last week, Thomas was cancelled out by Tampa's secondary and that resulted in Brees only throwing for 160 yards and recording a measly 14 fantasy points. This weekend, they go up against the Raiders who have a mediocre run defense and I would bet that they utilize the run with Latavius Murray and Alvin Kamara all game long. Usage play is a major concern with Brees and now that they are turning into a run-heavy team, I would be concerned about how many passes he'll throw and even if he does throw a lot, he won't have the weapons he normally does.

Start 'em RBs

Todd Gurley II: Gurley is being heavily slept on this year as a flex player but I think he has RB2 potential with RB1 upside every week. In week 1, he had 13 fantasy points carrying the ball 14 times for almost 60 yards and a TD while the Falcons spent most of the second half throwing as they were down big. This week, he goes up against the Cowboys who let Malcolm Brown rush for 80 yards on 18 carries. I predict that it will be a tight game throughout and he Gurley have a bigger workload resulting in a 15+ point fantasy day. He's a must start at flex but can easily be used as an RB2 and has lots of upside as long as the Falcons don't fall into another hole like they did last week.

Latavius Murray: You could've gathered that Murray is an option with what I said about sitting Drew Brees. With the Saints utilizing him and Kamara more than the passing game, Murray could be in for RB2 production this week. He didn't have a good fantasy week against a good Tampa Bay defense in week 1. However, he out-rushed and out-carried Kamara and if that happens again this week against the Raiders defense, he has a chance for a big week. He's certainly a flex play and if you need it, an RB2. He's definitely a risk, but not as big a risk as he's made out to be. He'll get you double-digit carries and has a great chance to find the end-zone in this one.

Sit 'em RBs

Melvin Gordon III: Gordon could be in for a terrible game. And I mean terrible. He goes up against a Steelers defense who held Saquon Barkley to 6 yards on 15 carries. The only reason Barkley didn't have a terrible fantasy week is because he was able to catch balls out of the backfield. Gordon will be held in check on the ground all day and if he doesn't find the end-zone or get heavily involved in the passing game, his chances at more than 5 fantasy points don't look good. Yes, Melvin could get you under 5 fantasy points this week. This is no knock against him but with Pittsburghs defensive front, there isn't much room for any upside. You can only hope he doesn't have an absolute dud.

James Conner: On the other side of the ball in this run-stopping defensive showdown between the Broncos and Steelers, is James Conner. He made a surprising recovery this week after spraining his ankle in the week 1 matchup against the Giants where he totalled 9 yards on 6 carries before leaving the game. Benny Snell came in and impressed rushing 19 times for 113 yards at a 5.9 YPC clip. If Conner's ankle is bothering him, or he doesn't seem 100%, Benny Snell might get involved more in the rushing game resulting in split carries for the two backs. The other possibility is that Conner re-injures his ankle and is out again. Even if he is able to play the whole game, Denver's defense held Derrick Henry to 3.7 YPC on 31 rush attempts. Conner is not going to get the ball that many times and if he does, he isn't as effective as Henry. Conner is a risky week 2 play with a lot of variables that could work against him.

Start 'em WRs

Emmanuel Sanders: Even though I don't think Brees is going to have a great week on Sunday, Sanders will be the number 1 WR for him against the Raiders. He had the same amount of targets and catches in week 1 as Michael Thomas, so without him, both categories should double resulting in a solid fantasy week. I wouldn't put him in as anything other than a flex, but he certainly has WR2 potential as Brees' first option in the receiving core.

Tyler Lockett: Lockett goes up against a good pass defense in New England on SNF this week. However, I think DK Metcalf will be shadowed more by Stephon Gilmore than he will resulting in Lockett having the better game. He had 8 catches on 8 targets for 92 yards in week 1 and as Wilson's most efficient and WR, he should do the dirty work against this tough secondary and catch a handful of passes. He's a great play this week and I wouldn't be surprised if he does more than he did week 1.

Bench 'em WRs

D.K. Metcalf: As mentioned with Tyler Lockett, I believe Gilmore will key in more on Metcalf as a big play receiver. Since D.K. normally doesn't catch many balls and relies on long balls for fantasy relevance, I don't see him having a good week. I would be surprised Russell Wilson passing for 300+ yards with ease like he did last week and I can guarantee that Metcalf won't have more than a few tough chances at big plays. Until his hands get better and Wilson trusts him more, you have to be careful about playing DK against top defenses.

Keenan Allen: Allen had 4 catches for 37 yards in week 1 against a Bengals secondary that is bottom of the league. This week he plays Kansas City who was able to smother the Texans in week 1 and are coming off a 10-day break. I don't see how Tyrod Taylor has a good game after he couldn't even do much against Cincinnati. Keenan will be the go-to WR in this one for the Chargers as always, but the QB situation in LA isn't a good one for Allen and may result in a busted season for the all-pro WR.

Start 'em TEs

Jared Cook: The Saints players are all over this list as Cook rounds them out as another start 'em. He was the most effective player in the Saints passing game last week racking up half of the yards Brees threw for. With no Michael Thomas and Cook being Brees' most trusted option, he should be in for a big game similar to last week if not better. He has lots of upside this week going against his former team on Monday Night Football.

Noah Fant: Fant went off in the first half of Denver's opener and finished the game with 81 yards and a score on 5 receptions. He seemed to be Drew Lock's most viable option and this week shouldn't be any different. In a game against Pittsburgh where Denver will have trouble moving the ball on the ground and through the air, Fant is a great safety valve for Lock. I wouldn't be surprised if Fant leads the team in catches in this one as Lock will have to get the ball out of his hands quickly all game.

Sit 'em TEs

Rob Gronkowski: After week 1, everyone should be aware that Gronk is not what he was back in New England. He is the best blocking TE on the team which unfortunately doesn't get you any fantasy points. If you're looking to start a TE for Tampa, you have to go With O.J. Howard who had more targets, receptions and yards than Gronk while finding the end-zone. If week 1 is any indication, I don't think Gronk is going to be in the fantasy conversation too much longer this year. He is a must bench until he can prove to be lethal once again.