The Biggest Start/Sit Decisions for Week 2 (Fantasy Football)
Football is officially in full swing, and Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season is upon us! Didn’t snag the W in Week 1? Shake it off — no Taylor — and get ready to dial in and dominate your fantasy matchups. I’m here to help you navigate those tough start/sit decisions with a little help from the Fantasy Footballers’ Start/Sit tool. I’ll give you my take on the trickiest calls to help you make the right moves and secure that Week 2 victory. Let’s dive into the most critical start/sit decisions and get that momentum rolling!
Jared Goff or Kyler Murray?
Jared Goff struggled a bit in Week 1, only completing 18 passes for 217 yards and a single touchdown in the Lions’ overtime win against the Rams. Most of the offensive production came on the ground, courtesy of the 1-2 punch of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Amon-Ra St. Brown had a shockingly quiet day, while former first-round draft pick Jameson Williams balled out. Williams lands on the injury report ahead of this week’s matchup, logging limited Wednesday and Thursday practices. The Lions face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2, who themselves are dealing with a slew of injuries to their defense.
Todd Bowles says four Bucs are ruled out for Sunday in Detroit: S Antoine Winfield, DL Calijah Kancey, RT Luke Goedeke and CB Josh Hayes.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 13, 2024
Vegas projects this game to be a high-scoring game, with the over/under set at 51 points. Goff’s passing line on FanDuel is set at 267.5 yards. The last time he squared off against the Buccaneers, Goff finished as the QB4 on the week, tossing three TDs and racking up 236 yards. With Tampa Bay’s defense looking thin, Goff has the potential to finish as a top-five QB this week.
Last week, Kyler Murray only threw for 162 yards but faced a stout Bills defense in Buffalo, which held the Miami Dolphins to 10 points just last night. Murray did manage 57 yards on the ground from five scrambles but finished the week as a disappointing QB15. This week, the Cardinals face the Rams at home. Last week, the Rams held Jared Goff to 18 completions. They are coming off a tough OT loss in Week 1 against the Lions and will have everything to prove this week. Hopefully, the Cardinals have heard the noise surrounding Marvin Harrison‘s Week 1 utilization and get him more involved in the game plan for Week 2. One catch for four yards wasn’t the debut anyone envisioned for the WR1 from the NFL draft. Until we see a real connection develop between Murray and Harrison, it’s tough to trust a quarterback who constantly checks it down.
Every route from Marvin Harrison Jr. in Week 1 📽️
Quick thoughts:
-Normally, I ignore boxscore hunting this early.. but his 3 targets really do tell the story: He seemed like the “1st read” on just 3, maybe 4 plays.
-The long developing plays just weren’t there as Kyler… pic.twitter.com/FAFI6H5c2R— Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg) September 9, 2024
Verdict: Jared Goff. I know Kyler’s rushing upside is tempting, but I can’t overlook Goff’s history against the Buccaneers and how decimated their defense is right now. I fully expect Baker Mayfield to put up a ton of points on the other side, forcing Goff into a high-scoring shootout. Goff has the potential to deliver a strong performance this week.
Tank Dell or Brian Thomas Jr.?
In Week 1, we got our first look at the Texans’ revamped offense with Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon. The targets were fairly distributed among the receivers — Nico Collins led with eight, followed closely by Tank Dell with seven, and Diggs right behind with six. However, Dell was the lowest fantasy scorer of the bunch. Diggs had three red zone targets and two TDs to Dells one red zone target per PlayerProfiler. This week, the Texans take on what looks to be super dominant Chicago Bears defense (well, at least against the Titans.)
Chicago’s defense and special teams scored all of the Bears points today 😳 pic.twitter.com/BFN00ePlV1
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) September 8, 2024
My main concern with Tank Dell is the opportunity. When Dell saw his WR1 breakout, he commanded between 10 and 14 targets. With only seven targets, it will be tough to get there. Is this backfield too crowded for Dell to be a dependable start?
Brian Thomas Jr. saw a promising start to his NFL career, bringing in all four targets for 47 yards and a TD. He almost had a second if Jalen Ramsey hadn’t caused pass interference. The Jaguars take on the Cleveland Browns at home. The Browns just embarrassed themselves against the Cowboys, allowing 33 points to be scored. Vegas, however, still only has Brian Thomas Jr. with 38.5 yards. I’ve already placed the bet on that over.
Verdict: Once again, I’m going against the Ballers and giving the edge to Brian Thomas Jr. He’s at home against a defense that just let the Cowboys light them up through the air, and he’s clearly the go-to guy in this offense. His target competition is Christian Kirk and Evan Engram, which feels manageable. As for Tank Dell, while he’s electric and talented, he’s stuck in a much more crowded offense, especially now that Stefon Diggs is dominating red zone looks. They also face the Bears, which completely shut down the Titans in Week 1. While I expect the Texans to fare better against them, I’m still concerned about the distribution of targets for Dell.
Calvin Ridley or Brian Thomas Jr.?
This one is easy. I’m not starting Calvin Ridley. Sorry, Andy, I know he’s a My Guy for you, but the Titans’ offense isn’t looking very hot. Despite being targeted seven times last week, Ridley only managed three catches for 50 yards. With DeAndre Hopkins returning from his knee injury and expected to be more involved, Ridley’s role might shrink even further. As I mentioned earlier, I’m high on Brian Thomas Jr. this week — he’s the standout in that offense, while Ridley may be nearing the end of his prime.
Verdict: Brian Thomas Jr.
Brian Robinson Jr. or J.K. Dobbins?
Coming into the season, we definitely had a lot of questions about the Washington Commanders and the Los Angeles Chargers. The Commanders signed veteran free agent Austin Ekeler to a two-year deal worth up to $11 million, joining Brian Robinson Jr. after they let go of Antonio Gibson. The Chargers brought in the entire Raven’s backfield with Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, and they drafted rookie RB Blake Corum to replace Austin Ekeler. Because of the uncertainty in these backfields, these RBs were pushed down draft boards. If you were able to get Brian Robinson Jr. in the ninth round or J.K. Dobbins in the last couple rounds of your draft, or even potentially off of waivers, then you chose right.
Robinson was the workhorse for the Washington Commanders, getting 14 touches to Ekelers’ three. He was very productive in Week 1, even outscoring Bijan Robinson‘s 16.10 fantasy points with 17.9 points. Robinson also played a bigger role in the receiving game than anticipated, but this could change as Ekeler adjusts to the new offense and Jayden Daniels develops chemistry with Terry McLaurin, who had just four targets and two receptions last week. The Commanders now face the Giants, whose defense has strengthened with the addition of Brian Burns. This matchup is likely tougher than the Buccaneers, who were severely hampered by injuries on defense.
If you’d told me before Week 1 that J.K. Dobbins would finish as the RB4, I would have laughed, but here we are. Dobbins went off against the Raiders, rushing for 135 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries. According to PlayerProfiler, he led in yards per touch and breakaway runs and ranked third in rushing yards. Gus Edwards, on the other hand, managed only 26 yards on 11 attempts — an atrocious showing, given he had one more carry than Dobbins. Despite this being a committee backfield, Edwards’s poor performance makes me wonder if Dobbins will see more opportunities in Week 2. This week, Dobbins faces the Carolina Panthers, who just allowed 80 rushing yards and two touchdowns to the Saints (with Alvin Kamara finishing as the RB6) and lost top defensive lineman Derrick Brown to a potentially season-ending knee injury. There’s serious upside for Dobbins to deliver another strong performance.
Week 1 Production Snapshot
Raiders @ ChargersJK Dobbins’ efficiency stands out (+12.6 FPOE) 🔥
Quentin Johnston led LAC in air yards share with 35.1%
LAC was top 10 in neutral rush rate = limited upside for receivers
Brock Bowers: One of only 3 TEs with +25% target share🚀 pic.twitter.com/QRbb8nCKDL
— Marvin Elequin (@FF_MarvinE) September 10, 2024
Verdict: My gut says to go with J.K. Dobbins. After his standout performance and with the Panthers’ defense showing vulnerability against the run, it’s hard to sit him. Last week, Jayden Daniels stole two touchdowns from Brian Robinson, and I anticipate the Commanders’ passing game will improve, though I don’t expect the Chargers to rely heavily on the pass under Jim Harbaugh.
Pat Freiermuth or Colby Parkinson?
All right, tight ends seriously underperformed in Week 1. Only three TEs saw more than five targets, and waiver-wire options outperformed guys who were drafted early. One standout was the Rams’ Colby Parkinson, who finished as TE7 — better than LaPorta, McBride, Kelce, Kittle, and Kincaid. Parkinson was targeted five times, hauling in four catches for 47 yards and leading all tight ends in routes run. With Puka Nacua heading to IR with a PCL sprain, Parkinson could see even more opportunities. The Rams face the Arizona Cardinals this week, who allow the third most points to tight ends according to the Strength of Schedule tool.
Freiermuth managed four receptions last week, but only for 27 yards. This week, the Steelers face the Denver Broncos, who gave up just two receptions for 11 yards to tight ends in Week 1. With Pittsburgh ranking first in rushing play percentage, they’re clearly committed to running the ball. Justin Fields will be starting in Week 2, and as a mobile QB, he’s more likely to pick up yardage with his legs than by checking down to the tight end. Fields also threw for zero TDs last game, and while some positive touchdown regression is bound to happen, I’m not expecting a big offensive explosion. The Steelers rely heavily on their defense and run game to grind out wins, which rarely leads to high-scoring affairs. With limited TD potential, Freiermuth feels like a weak play this week.
Verdict: Parkinson. Andy and Mike have him ranked higher, but it’s Jason’s egregious TE6 ranking of Freiermuth that gives him the edge in the start/sit debate for Week 2. I’m siding with Andy and Mike on this one. With Puka on IR and the Rams eager to bounce back after a tough OT loss last week, I expect Stafford to air it out, giving Parkinson plenty of opportunities.
As we gear up to dominate in Week 2, remember that every lineup decision matters. Focus on favorable matchups, stay on top of injury updates, and trust your instincts. After getting through Week 1, let’s keep the momentum going and aim for back-to-back wins! Fell short Week 1? Well, let’s not make that trend. Get those lineups locked in, and let’s make this season unforgettable. If you have any questions, feel free to hit me up on X, and don’t forget to catch Mike every Sunday morning pre-kickoff for those last-minute Start/Sit decisions. Good Luck!