The Fantasy Footballer Starts of the Week for Week 2
Week two is upon us! This year, more than ever, teams are tilting and panicking about the state of their rosters. If you are one of those managers in shambles due to injury or terrified by a man named Puka, then you need to listen to Andy, Mike, and Jason this week more than ever before. The Fantasy Footballers brought us their Starts of the Week with some truly spicy selections on Thursday. If you want to watch the entire episode on YouTube, check the link below.
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Andy’s Starts of the Week
QB- Justin Fields vs. TB
Do not throw in the towel yet. Fields threw a ton of passes and lost in the shuffle is that he outscored Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen in fantasy point last week. He ran for 59 yards, which was the most by a QB in week 1. You can trust him because of the running, and the passing game should be much better against Tampa, who allowed 344 yards last week.
RB- Jahmyr Gibbs vs. SEA
Welcome to the party! This week is when you should be excited to put Gibbs into your lineup. The coaches said they wanted to start him slowly so he could figure out the NFL speed the first week and then ramp him up into total usage. The Seahawks allowed the 4th most fantasy points to the running back position last year, and last week, Kyren Williams and Cam Akers scored three touchdowns. Gibbs will be an every-week starter, and that starts now!
WR- DJ Moore vs. TB
To stack with Justin Fields, Andy likes DJ Moore. It didn’t look good in week one. This usually means there is a good chance the team hyper-focuses on getting their big trade acquisition more targets. He ran the fifth most routes in the NFL last week and only had two targets. That is going to change. Tampa gave up plenty of yards last week, so expect Moore to get back on top, and he will be ready to go.
TE- Dalton Kincaid vs. LV
Buffalo had a significant change in personnel last week. Last year, they had 68% of their snaps being 11-personnel, meaning there is only one tight end on the field. Last week, they had 57 percent in 12-personnel, meaning two tight ends on the field simultaneously. On those snaps, Kincaid ran 38 routes, tied for the most by a rookie TE in week one over the last decade. Last week, Denver tight ends caught seven passes. Last year the Raiders defense ranked 31st in expected points per pass attempt. Kincaid is a great play for your lineup this week.
Jason’s Starts of the Week
QB- Trevor Lawrence vs. KC
In week one, the Jaguars threw the ball all over the field. Calvin Ridley was a true alpha, Zay Jones was explosive, and Travis Etienne got involved well. Jason ranks him as his QB6 this week. Lawrence quietly ran the ball seven times last week. This game has the highest over/under of the week, which you always want to look for in fantasy. Last year, he played the Chiefs twice, and in week ten, he went for 259 yards and two touchdowns. In the playoffs, Jacksonville upped their passing rate to 66 percent. Now he faces them at home with a 24-point implied team total—Gotta roll with T-Law.
RB- Dameon Pierce vs. IND
We knew week one wasn’t a great matchup, and we know that most matchups won’t be great this year because it’s the Texans. However, the Texans will be home and try to control the clock against the Colts. He should get tons of opportunities, and last season, when he had 17+ opportunities, he averaged 14.8 fantasy points. Very usable.
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WR- Tee Higgins vs. BAL
If you have seen the video of Tee Higgins’s “eight-targets” video, you know it wasn’t eight targets. So you need to wipe that game from your mind and remember that this player is known to be streaky and volatile. This week, he goes up against Baltimore, who was not tested last week by the Texans. Last season, the Ravens were 27th in passing yards per game and 23rd in expected points added per pass attempt. The previous time Higgins played a full allotment of snaps against Baltimore, he had 13 targets for 12 catches, 194 yards, and two touchdowns. Do not bench him in a week when the Bengals have a 25-point team total.
TE- Luke Musgrave vs. ATL
Jason would never go with a rookie tight end! Except he is this week. Musgrave caught three of four targets for 50 yards and had two bomb passes. One was an overthrow, and the other, he fell like a baby giraffe instead of waltzing in for a touchdown. He can catch big plays down the field from the tight end position, which is worth getting into your lineup. Last week, Hayden Hurst had seven targets for five catches, 41 yards, and a touchdown. Get that rookie tight end into your lineup, and good things are coming.
Mike’s Starts of the Week
QB- Jared Goff vs. SEA
This is real life… the Lions have the fourth highest team implied total. If you drafted him or picked him up this week, get ready! The Lions are at home, and we know that the Lions at home are the Lions you want in your fantasy roster. Last week, the Seahawks were picked apart by Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell. Jared Goff has Amon-Ra St. Brown to throw the ball to, which is a recipe for success. Put him in your lineup with Mike, who has him as his starter for the league of record.
RB- Zack Moss vs. HOU
Buckle up! This is a steel underpants moment. Moss is in a matchup where the opportunity for touches and opponent weakness combine for great potential. Last year, the Texans were torched by Zack Moss in week 18 when he finished as the RB2 in the week. Last week, Baltimore ran for three touchdowns, and Moss can stumble into one or two scores himself.
WR- Zay Jones vs. KC
To pair with Jason’s Trevor Lawrence. Zay Jones led the Jags receivers in snaps, saw 50% of the team’s red zone targets, and had 22 percent of the targets. He had five catches for 55 yards and a touchdown. Mike calls him the “Spot Start” for a reason. This game is the highest over/under of the week, which plants Zay Jones heavily into flex ability.
TE- Hunter Henry vs. MIA
Last year, it was confusing why Henry wasn’t a red zone threat for the Patriots. Then, last week showed what happens when you use an actual offensive coordinator. He was the TE1 last week, and even if the week was a low-scoring week, it was good to see him get involved in the game plan. The Dolphins are not good against tight ends, and last week, they were abused again by that position. Henry had three contested catches, which shows that Mac Jones trusts him to make plays for him when needed. That is a big deal! The Patriots will have to try and keep up with the Dolphins, which means Henry is needed.