The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 2 (Fantasy Football)
With one week of 2026 sample size under their belts, the Fantasy Footballers are back with another edition of their world-famous Starts of the Week. Last week, managers who took advantage of the Ballers’ advice and started the stack of Jaxson Dart and Isaiah Likely would have been thrilled to see them finish as the QB6 and TE1, respectively. Other starts of the week, such as Omarion Hampton and Kyle Pitts, left a little bit to be desired. What can we say? Predicting what is going to happen is tough, especially in the first week of a brand new season! Here are the names we think you should be excited to put in your lineup in Week 2.
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Andy’s Starts of the Week
QB Brock Purdy vs MIA
Purdy looked really good in Week 1 against the Rams, and in fact he has looked good since Week 11 of last year, a span over which he is the QB3 in fantasy points per game. The 49ers have a dream matchup against one of the worst teams in the NFL – the Miami Dolphins. They enter Sunday as 13.5-point home favorites – a spot they are familiar with. In the Brock Purdy era, the 49ers have been favored by 10 or more points a total of nine times. They are 9-0 in those games, and they have never scored fewer than 27 points. Purdy should be good for at least a couple TDs to hold down your QB1 spot this week.
RB Bhayshul Tuten vs DEN
There is a moderate level of panic on Tuten after he disappointed last week despite the Jaguars dismantling the Browns defense. Andy is here to quell your fears, reminding us that Tuten still saw 16 opportunities in that game on just 49% of snaps. The TDs didn’t go Tuten’s way, with Lawrence instead accounting for all four, but that should balance out over the course of the season. The snap share should also improve for Tuten in what should be a much more competitive game. The matchup this week with Denver isn’t as scary as we may have thought in preseason, as the Broncos’ run defense got absolutely exposed last week by Kenneth Walker and the Chiefs. Tuten is a solid start this week as an RB2/FLEX.
WR DJ Moore vs DET
This one is going to smash. It calls to mind a performance some of us may remember. In 2023 with the Chicago Bears, DJ Moore had eight receptions, 230 yards, and three TDs on Thursday Night Football – a performance I was on the receiving end of in my main league, ending my week before it even began. I am not calling for this type of performance tonight, but for what it is worth, my opponent has DJ Moore going tonight in my main league. Moore was heavily involved last week in his first game as a Buffalo Bill, garnering 33% of Josh Allen’s first-read targets. On top of that, Detroit’s secondary looked abysmal against Tyler Shough and the Saints. Fire up DJ Moore in this 54.5-point over/under, and sit back and watch.
TE Mark Andrews vs NO
The Baltimore Ravens offense got off to an explosive start last week, hanging 41 points on an Indianapolis Colts defense that is not terrible. This week they find themselves down a couple of weapons in Jakobi Lane and potentially Zay Flowers, leaving Mark Andrews as the beneficiary in what could be another high-scoring game. The Ravens are 7.5-point home favorites against the Saints, giving them an implied team total of 27 points. Andrews, who was targeted on 26% of his routes last week en route to a 4-for-49 line, should be in line for even more opportunities this week. That volume, combined with his TD upside, makes him a viable TE option for fantasy lineups.
Jason’s Starts of the Week
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QB Jordan Love at NYJ
With Josh Jacobs still awaiting suspension, the Packers’ offensive game plan seems to be to let Jordan Love cook. He threw for 387 yards and two TDs against a pretty good Minnesota defense last week, and the New York Jets’ defense is… not as good. They had an easy matchup against Tennessee and Cam Ward last week, but going back to last season, this is one of the worst secondaries in the NFL. They were 29th in fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs last season, and that was despite having a putrid offense that offered little in the way of shootout potential. Jordan Love is a great start this week for fantasy.
RB Aaron Jones at CHI
The Jordan Mason news launches Aaron Jones into every-week starter territory, but in case you need some more convincing, he also gets a plus matchup this week with the Chicago Bears. The Bears allowed Chuba Hubbard (not good) and AJ Dillon (even worse) to run for over five YPC last week and a TD. That work should get consolidated to Aaron Jones this week for a Vikings offense that has no other options. Jones may not be as good as he once was, but hopefully he can be as good once (this week) as he ever was.
WR Terry McLaurin @ DAL
This one might feel a bit “scary” as Terry absolutely tanked for fantasy in Week 1, but Jason believes this is a good bounce-back opportunity for the veteran WR. The Cowboys’ defense looked every bit as bad as we are used to, which should benefit Terry McLaurin and the Commanders offense this week. If you are in the camp that still believes McLaurin is the alpha WR in this offense and hasn’t lost that role to Stefon Diggs and/or rookie Antonio Williams, then this is the week he has to prove it.
TE Colston Loveland vs MIN
Another bounce-back candidate, although this one feels like a safer bet. Even though Loveland GOOSED last week, you have got to go right back to him in a decent matchup with Minnesota. The usage was there for Loveland in terms of route participation last week, and the fact that it did not translate into more targets was an anomaly. Of the 68 TEs who ran at least 35 routes in 2025, every single one caught at least two passes. Throw the goose out the window, and get Loveland back into your lineups this week.
Mike’s Starts of the Week
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QB Dak Prescott vs WAS
Last week sucked for Prescott managers (and Cowboys fans), as Dak threw for just 175 yards and two TDs, finishing as the QB19 on the week. The opportunities for fantasy points were there, as Dak attempted six passes 20+ yards downfield. Unfortunately, he went 0/6 on those passes, including a pretty well-documented drop by George Pickens. Dak’s matchup with Washington sports a 50.5-point over/under, setting him right back up for another smash spot. I expect Dak to convert on some big plays this week and finish inside the top 10 at the QB position.
RB Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt at DAL
On the other side of this matchup, Washington’s clear lead back should find plenty of running room against a leaky Dallas front seven. Bill saw a pretty heavy workload in Week 1, getting 16 carries and converting them into 63 yards and a TD against Philly’s stout run defense. The TD confirmed that Bill owns the goal-line role despite the addition of Rachaad White, and he also ran 13 routes, an encouraging sign that more involvement in the passing game may be on the horizon. Fire Bill up in your flex spot this week against a Dallas defense that got gashed by Cam Skattebo and the Giants’ rushing attack last week.
WR Quentin Johnston vs LV
Johnston is never a must-start for fantasy, but he is always an option you can throw in your flex spot and hope for a big play or two. This week, he draws a matchup with the Raiders, whom he has averaged more than 11 fantasy points against for his career. He also could get an extra boon from an ailing Ladd McConkey, potentially opening up more targets for “Quge”. The Chargers are 6.5-point home favorites, and Johnston is always a threat to find the endzone. Go ahead and start him this week if you are missing AJ Brown or the like.
TE Dalton Schultz vs CIN
The Bengals were historically bad against TEs last year, and while that did not necessarily translate to Week 1, Schultz is still a good plug-and-play option at TE if you need a start. Since coming to Houston in 2023, Dr. Schultz has the fifth-most targets and sixth-most receiving yards among all TEs. He is not a sexy doctor, but he is consistent and should get some extra targets this week in the (likely) absence of Nico Collins.