One of the biggest Fantasy storylines heading into Week 2 is the San Francisco backfield. There's a lot of mystery surrounding the 49ers running backs with their matchup against the Eagles. It's almost a guessing game as to what Fantasy managers should do about Elijah Mitchell, Trey Sermon and JaMychal Hasty this week.
The one thing we know for sure is Raheem Mostert (knee) is out for the season after getting hurt in Week 1 at Detroit. Mitchell took over against the Lions and looked like a star with 19 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown, and Sermon was inactive as a healthy scratch. Hasty also scored a touchdown against Detroit, but he only had one carry for 3 yards and one catch for 15 yards on one target.
This week, the 49ers added Kerryon Johnson and Trenton Cannon, but neither is expected to make an impact in Week 2. Fantasy managers are more concerned about Mitchell, Sermon and Hasty, and this isn't an easy matchup at Philadelphia.
Hasty shouldn't be considered an option for most Fantasy leagues. Maybe he vultures another touchdown, but Mitchell and Sermon are the ones in the spotlight.
You have to believe the 49ers will stick with Mitchell after his performance against the Lions. I would start him as at least a flex option in all leagues, with his value higher in non-PPR formats.
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As for Sermon, he's expected to play, and maybe he does enough in whatever touches he gets against the Eagles to be the lead back in San Francisco moving forward. But Fantasy managers can't start him at all in Week 2. His biggest impact would be ruining Mitchell this week, and that's my fear. Shanahan, to no surprise, didn't help matters with his comments Wednesday.
"As you can see with the way Elijah stepped up when he came in, he did a hell of a job," Shanahan said. "I have a lot of confidence in Hasty to do the same, and (the) same with Trey. He'll get his opportunity now, most likely to be up. So, we have some depth there."
Is it going to be a committee in Week 2? Can you rely on Mitchell? Will Sermon be a fa | ctor now and beyond? And what about when Jeff Wilson (knee) is healthy in a few weeks?
For now, start Mitchell against the Eagles if needed, and hopefully he has another strong game like he did against the Lions. If that happens, maybe he'll be the top 49ers running back for the rest of the year.
Editor's Note: Projections are provided by CBS Sports and not Jamey Eisenberg. Projected points are for PPR leagues.
More Week 2 help: QB Preview | RB Preview | WR Preview | TE Preview | Waiver Wire | Sleepers | Starts, sits and sleepers for every game | PPR Cheat Sheet | Non-PPR Cheat Sheet | DFS Guide
Start of the Week
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I have to be honest, I never expected to use Roethlisberger as the Start of the Week this season. I wasn't even sure he'd be playing this year. But here we are, and I like his situation for Week 2 against the Raiders at home.
Let's start with the setup for the Steelers. The Raiders have to travel to Pittsburgh for a 1 p.m. ET start after playing an overtime game on Monday night. This should be a tired defense making a long road trip.
This is also the Steelers home opener, and Roethlisberger has thrived in these games. In the last five home openers that he's finished -- he left the 2019 game against Seattle in Week 2 with an elbow injury -- he's averaged 29.6 Fantasy points per game.
Roethlisberger wasn't great in Week 1 at Buffalo with 188 passing yards and a touchdown on 18-of-32 completions, but we knew that would be a tough matchup on the road. I don't have the same concerns against the Raiders, although they played well against the Ravens on Monday night.
Las Vegas should struggle to contain Diontae Johnson, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Chase Claypool, and all are viable Fantasy options this week. I also expect a strong performance from Najee Harris, who will be a factor in the passing game.
We'll see if Roethlisberger can come through with another strong opener in Pittsburgh. I never expected to trust him in 2021, but Big Ben is due for a big game in Week 2.
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Quarterbacks
Start 'Em
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Hurts was spectacular in Week 1 at Atlanta with 264 passing yards and three touchdowns, and he also added 62 rushing yards. He gets a tougher opponent in Week 2 against San Francisco, but the 49ers just lost cornerback Jason Verrett (ACL) and could be without linebacker Dre Greenlaw (groin). It's also the second consecutive road game for the 49ers, and Hurts should have the chance for another quality outing in his home debut in 2021.
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Stafford looked more than comfortable in his first game as the Rams quarterback in Week 1 against the Bears. He passed for 321 yards and three touchdowns, and he should stay hot against the Colts this week. Indianapolis could again be without cornerback Xavier Rhodes (calf), and the Colts couldn't stop Russell Wilson last week when he had 254 passing yards and four touchdowns.
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I was skeptical of starting Burrow in Week 1 against the Vikings in his first game back from last year's knee injury, but he looked solid in his return. Burrow passed for 261 yards and two touchdowns, and he needed just 27 attempts (20 completions), which was a career low, to score 22 Fantasy points. I'm confident he'll have similar success this week against the Bears, making him a low-end starting option in all leagues.
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Tannehill was a disaster in Week 1 against the Cardinals, but he should rebound this week. Arizona sacked Tannehill six times, and he was limited to 212 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception, along with 17 rushing yards, one touchdown and two fumbles. Things should only improve at Seattle in what should be a high-scoring game based on the projected total score of 54 points, according to the Caesars Sportsbook. Carson Wentz scored 22 Fantasy points against the Seahawks last week.
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Winston likely won't have it as easy in Week 2 as he did in Week 1 against the Packers when he attempted only 20 passes (14 completions) but scored five touchdowns. He finished with 148 passing yards, and he also added 37 rushing yards. The Panthers beat up Jets rookie quarterback Zach Wilson last week with six sacks, but he still managed to score 20 Fantasy points. Winston could be on his way to a great first season as the new starter in New Orleans, and I expect another quality Fantasy outing this week.
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Sleepers
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The Broncos lost standout receiver Jerry Jeudy (ankle) last week at the Giants, but hopefully Tim Patrick and K.J. Hamler can help Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant fill the void. It might not matter this week against the Jaguars, who allowed 27 Fantasy points against Tyrod Taylor in Week 1. Bridgewater had 264 passing yards and two touchdowns, along with 19 rushing yards, in Week 1 and could replicate that kind of performance this week. Consider him a low-end starter in all leagues.
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Mayfield played well in Week 1 at Kansas City with 321 passing yards on 21-of-28 attempts, but he had no touchdowns and one interception. The Browns scored three rushing touchdowns, so Mayfield was left with just 11 Fantasy points. We'll see if Odell Beckham (knee) plays this week in what should be a quality matchup. The Texans had three interceptions on Trevor Lawrence last week, but he also had 332 passing yards and three touchdowns. Mayfield is a decent starter in 14-team leagues or larger.
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Taylor has a tougher matchup in Week 2 at the Browns than he did in Week 1 against the Jaguars, but he still might have decent production. He passed for 291 yards and two touchdowns against Jacksonville but also added four carries for 40 yards, and hopefully he'll continue to run like that all season. The Browns struggled with Patrick Mahomes in Week 1 (39 Fantasy points), which is no surprise, but Cleveland also allowed five quarterbacks to run for at least 34 yards last year.
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Sit 'Em
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Cornerback Ronald Darby (hamstring) is out for the Broncos, but pass rusher Bradley Chubb (ankle) could return this week. Even if Chubb is out, it should be tough for Lawrence to have a big game against Denver. The Texans were able to get three interceptions against Lawrence last week, and the Broncos are a much tougher opponent, even at Jacksonville.
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Carr had a solid stat line in Week 1 against Baltimore with 435 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception, but most of that came late in the game. Carr had 267 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the fourth quarter and overtime, and that should be hard to replicate on the road at Pittsburgh. The Steelers just held Josh Allen to 18 Fantasy points at Buffalo in Week 1, and Carr should be in that range this week.
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Ryan was a disaster in his first game under new coach Arthur Smith and without Julio Jones. He finished with just 164 passing yards on 21-of-35 completions, with no touchdowns or interceptions, and he was sacked three times against the Eagles. He could have more success throwing against the Buccaneers in Week 1 with cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (elbow) out, but it's hard to trust Ryan right now after his disappointing performance in Week 1.
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Tagovailoa gets Will Fuller back from suspension for this game, so this will be the first time Jaylen Waddle, DeVante Parker and Fuller are together in live action after Fuller and Parker were hurt in the preseason. That's a positive for Tagovailoa. The negative is this is a tough Bills defense that just limited Ben Roethlisberger to 188 passing yards and one touchdown. Tagovalia had 18 Fantasy points in Week 1 at New England, and I expect him to be in that range again this week.
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Bust Alert
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The Vikings offensive line struggled against the Bengals in Week 1, and now they have to block Chandler Jones and J.J. Watt, with Jones getting five sacks last week against Tannehill. Now, Cousins still managed to pass for 351 yards and two touchdowns in overtime at Cincinnati, and he's always a potential starter when Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen are healthy. But Arizona also got three turnovers against Tannehill in Week 1. For this week, consider Cousins a low-end starter in deeper one-quarterback leagues only.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Running Backs
Start 'Em
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Henderson dominated snaps in Week 1 against the Bears, playing 94 percent to just 6 percent for Sony Michel. I'd be fine with that continuing all season, and Henderson will eventually become a guaranteed starter in all leagues moving forward if the Rams trust him to that degree. Against Chicago, Henderson had 16 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown, along with one catch for 17 yards on one target. I'd like to see more work in the passing game, but maybe that comes with more comfort with Matthew Stafford. Last week, the Colts allowed Chris Carson to gain 117 total yards, including three catches.
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Edmonds was a great PPR running back in Week 1 with 12 carries for 63 yards, along with four catches for 43 yards on four targets against the Titans. He's more of a flex option in non-PPR leagues because James Conner will also be a factor running the ball, including near the goal line, but Edmonds should continue to be a primary weapon for Kyler Murray. The Vikings gave up five receptions to Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine in Week 1, and I can see Edmonds catching at least four passes again this week.
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I like both Broncos running backs this week against the Jaguars, who allowed all three Houston running backs (Mark Ingram, Phillip Lindsay and David Johnson) to score touchdowns in Week 1. Last week at the Giants, Gordon and Williams split playing time evenly, with both getting 50 percent of the snaps. Gordon had the better game with 11 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown -- he ripped off a 70-yard score in the fourth quarter -- with three catches for 17 yards on three targets. Williams had 14 carries for 45 yards, along with one catch for minus-4 yards on one target. Consider Gordon the better play this week, but both guys are No. 2 running backs in this matchup with Jacksonville.
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I like both Broncos running backs this week against the Jaguars, who allowed all three Houston running backs (Mark Ingram, Phillip Lindsay and David Johnson) to score touchdowns in Week 1. Last week at the Giants, Gordon and Williams split playing time evenly, with both getting 50 percent of the snaps. Gordon had the better game with 11 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown -- he ripped off a 70-yard score in the fourth quarter -- with three catches for 17 yards on three targets. Williams had 14 carries for 45 yards, along with one catch for minus-4 yards on one target. Consider Gordon the better play this week, but both guys are No. 2 running backs in this matchup with Jacksonville.
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It was impressive to see Williams and D'Andre Swift both play well in Week 1 against San Francisco, and both are worth starting in Week 2 against the Packers. Swift is the better Fantasy option this week, and he had 11 carries for 39 yards, as well as eight catches for 65 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets against the 49ers. I like Williams as a low-end starter in PPR and a flex play in non-PPR leagues, and he had nine carries for 54 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, along with eight catches for 56 yards on nine targets. Jared Goff should continue to rely on Swift, Williams and T.J. Hockenson in the passing game (the trio had 30 targets in Week 1), and this is a revenge game for Williams going back to Green Bay. The fans loved him when he played for the Packers, so maybe we'll even see a Lambeau Leap if he scores.
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The Browns are 12.5-point favorites at home, according to Caesars Sportsbook, and we could see Hunt playing a lot in the second half with Nick Chubb resting. Last season, when the Browns were playing with a lead, Hunt had over 500 total yards and six total touchdowns. He just had six carries for 33 yards and a touchdown at Kansas City in Week 1, along with three catches for 23 yards on three targets. I'll take the over on him getting only nine total touches in this game, which should lead to a big outing.
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Sleepers
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Josh Jacobs (toe/ankle) is out for Week 2 at Pittsburgh, so Drake has the chance for a big role against the Steelers. Now, Raiders coach Jon Gruden said that Peyton Barber is going to have a big role, but it's hard to imagine Drake not getting more carries on top of his work in the passing game with Jacobs out. In Week 1 against Baltimore, Drake had six carries for 11 yards, along with five catches for 59 yards on five targets. Las Vegas figures to be chasing points this week, so consider Drake a solid flex play in PPR.
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Damien Harris, if he remains the starter after losing a fumble last week against Miami, should be considered a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. But in PPR, fire up White as at least a flex option. The Jets last week struggled to stop Christian McCaffrey and Chuba Hubbard in the passing game after they had 11 catches for 93 yards on 11 targets. White just had six catches for 49 yards on seven targets against the Dolphins in his first real game with Mac Jones. Jones to White might be a reliable combination all season.
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It was fun to see Hines get 15 total touches in Week 1 against the Seahawks, and hopefully that continues as he plays in tandem with Jonathan Taylor. Hines had six catches for 48 yards on eight targets, and Carson Wentz threw 15 times to his running backs, with Taylor catching six passes for 60 yards on seven targets. Indianapolis is thin at receiver now with T.Y. Hilton (neck) out, so Hines and Taylor should continue to be involved in the passing game. For this week, look for Wentz to get the ball out quick against the Rams, and Hines and Taylor should benefit again.
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I hope Ty'Son Williams remains the best running back for the Ravens, but his miscues in pass protection Monday night at Las Vegas could allow for Murray to take on a bigger role. For now, consider Williams a borderline starter in all leagues, with Murray more of a flex. In his debut with the Ravens against the Raiders, Murray looked a little sluggish with 10 carries for 28 yards, but he scored a touchdown. If the Ravens want to give the veteran more looks, Murray could benefit against the Chiefs, who just allowed three rushing touchdowns against the Browns in Week 1.
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Bruce Arians said Ronald Jones will start against the Falcons after he fumbled in Week 1 against the Cowboys, but we'll see how much work Jones gets. Fournette played the most of Tampa Bay's running backs against the Cowboys, and he can be considered a flex option this week. He had nine carries for 32 yards, along with five catches for 27 yards on seven targets. The key for Fournette, Jones or even Giovani Bernard will be who gets the goal-line chances, and I still think Fournette works best in that role. Fournette also has scored at least 13 PPR points in two of three career games against Atlanta.
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Sit 'Em
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The Buccaneers have the best run defense in the NFL, and they have allowed just one rushing touchdown to a running back in their past eight games in the regular season. Dalvin Cook in Week 14 last year is the lone running back with over 100 rushing yards against Tampa Bay in the last 25 outings in the regular season. Davis faced this defense once last year as the starter for the Panthers and had 44 total yards on 11 total touches (four catches). In his first game with Atlanta in Week 1 against the Eagles, Davis struggled with 15 carries for 49 yards, along with three catches for 23 yards on six targets. He's a flex option at best in PPR.
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I'm hoping this is the last time Barkley will be in this category, but I'm not ready to trust him yet in his comeback from last year's knee injury. He played in Week 1 against Denver and only had 10 carries for 26 yards, as well as one catch for 1 yard on three targets. Washington held Austin Ekeler to 15 carries for 57 yards, although he scored a touchdown, and Barkley will likely need to score to save his Fantasy production this week. Better days are coming for him, so buy low if you can, but I would only start him as a flex option in all leagues for Week 2.
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Robinson played more snaps than Carlos Hyde in Week 1 at Houston (47-25), but Hyde had more total touches, which is troubling (11-8). We'd like to see Robinson more involved, and hopefully that happens in Week 2 against the Broncos. But this is a tough matchup against a Denver defense that smothered Barkley in Week 1 and should be good against opposing running backs all season. Robinson can still be a flex option in most leagues, but I would sit him this week if you can.
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I liked Ingram as a sleeper in Week 1 against the Jaguars, and he delivered a strong performance with 26 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown. But he only had one target in the game, and he still shared playing time with Phillip Lindsay and David Johnson, who both scored touchdowns as well. The Browns will present a much tougher test for Ingram, and Cleveland just held Clyde Edwards-Helaire to 72 total yards on 17 total touches (three catches) in Week 1. If Ingram doesn't score this week, his Fantasy production should be minimal.
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Bust Alert
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The positives for Williams in Week 1 at Las Vegas were obvious. He had nine carries for 65 yards and a touchdown, including a nice 35-yard run for the score. He also added three catches for 29 yards on four targets. But his pass protection wasn't great, and Latavius Murray saw more action in the second half. And now, heading into Week 2 against the Chiefs, the Ravens are talking about using Williams, Murray and potentially Devonta Freeman in a committee. As offensive coordinator Greg Roman said, "we're not going to put in one back and have him play the whole game. Those days are over. We're going to rotate guys in and out." I expect Williams to be the best Baltimore running back in Week 2, but he's just a flex option at best.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Wide Receiver
Start 'Em
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I love all three Steelers receivers this week with Ben Roethlisberger as the Start of the Week, and Smith-Schuster should take advantage of his matchup with Raiders rookie cornerback Nate Hobbs. Dionate Johnson is the best Fantasy receiver for the Steelers this week, and Chase Claypool will also be heavily involved. But use Smith-Schuster as a No. 2 PPR receiver and a high-end No. 3 option in non-PPR leagues.
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Ja'Marr Chase should be considered the best Fantasy receiver for the Bengals this week, but don't forget about Higgins. While Chase had the better game in Week 1 against the Vikings with five catches for 101 yards and a touchdown, Higgins also did well with four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown on five targets. Tyler Boyd is also in play against the Bears, and Chicago allowed Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Van Jefferson to all score touchdowns for the Rams in Week 1.
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Smith was solid in his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Falcons with six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown on eight targets, and now he gets to make his home debut against the 49ers in Philadelphia. San Francisco is down cornerback Jason Verrett (ACL) this week, and Jalen Hurts should be able to connect with Smith in this matchup. He has top-20 upside in all leagues heading into Week 2.
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Williams will hopefully avoid Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs this week after he was able to lock down Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans in Week 1. But while Evans was held to three catches for 24 yards on six targets, Antonio Brown (five catches for 121 yards and a touchdown on seven targets) and Chris Godwin (nine catches for 105 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets) went off. Keenan Allen is a must-start receiver this week, but Williams should be considered a borderline starter in all leagues. In Week 1 against Washington, Williams had eight catches for 82 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets, and hopefully Justin Herbert continues to look for him that much on a regular basis.
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In a game that the Texans won with relative ease in Week 1 against Jacksonville, Cooks had seven targets and finished with five catches for 132 yards. This week at Cleveland, Houston will likely be chasing points, and Cooks will hopefully see a spike in targets from Tyrod Taylor. This is a tougher defense than what Cooks faced against Jacksonville, but the Browns are still chasing Tyreek Hill from last week after he had 11 catches for 197 yards and a touchdown on 15 targets. It would be fun to see what Cooks could do with double digits in targets in Week 2.
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Sleepers
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Landry once again had another productive game with Odell Beckham (knee) out in Week 1 against Kansas City, and Beckham won't play again in Week 2 against Houston. Landry had five catches for 71 yards on five targets in Week 1, and he also added two carries for 13 yards and a touchdown. The Texans secondary was abused by the Jaguars in Week 1 with D.J. Chark, Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault combining for 15 catches, 213 yards and two touchdowns on 30 targets, so there's room for Landry to have another successful outing this week.
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While Nelson Agholor had the better outing in Week 1 against the Dolphins with five catches for 72 yards and a touchdown on seven targets, Meyers still led the Patriots in targets with nine. He finished with six catches for 44 yards, and I still like him as a flex option in Week 2 at the Jets. I would start Meyers over Agholor, and hopefully Mac Jones continues to lean on Meyers this week.
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Callaway did nothing in Week 1 against the Packers with one catch for 14 yards on two targets, but Jameis Winston only attempted 20 passes in the game. Callaway was still on the field for 84 percent of the snaps, and he should see more targets if Winston is throwing more in this matchup. The Panthers just allowed Corey Davis to catch five passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns on seven targets in Week 1, and I would go back to Callaway this week as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
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With Jerry Jeudy (ankle) out, Patrick should assume a bigger role opposite Courtland Sutton. K.J. Hamler should also see more targets, but I like Patrick to benefit the most in Jeudy's absence. Last year, when Sutton was lost for the season in Week 2 with a torn ACL, Patrick had at least 12 PPR points in seven of his final 13 games. And in Week 1 against the Giants, Patrick had four catches for 39 yards and a touchdown on four targets. I hope Teddy Bridgewater will continue to lean on Patrick this week and moving forward until Jeudy returns.
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In last week's disastrous game for the Packers at the Saints, Valdes-Scantling still got seven targets. He only had three catches for 17 yards, but I hope he gets seven targets this week against the Lions. I expect Aaron Rodgers to go off at home on Monday night, and Davante Adams should have a huge game. But don't ignore Valdes-Scantling also having a big play or two and potentially scoring, and he had six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown in his last meeting with the Lions last year.
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Sit 'Em
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Davis was great last week against the Panthers with five catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns on seven targets, but I want no part of the Jets offense this week. Bill Belichick is notorious for shutting down rookie quarterbacks, and he should make it tough on Zach Wilson, especially with left tackle Mekhi Becton (knee) out. The only silver lining for Davis is Stephon Gilmore (quad) is out for the Patriots, but I don't expect Wilson to have much time to connect with Davis this week.
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Golladay was OK in his debut with the Giants in Week 1 against Denver with four catches for 64 yards on six targets. He took a backseat to Sterling Shepard, and the same thing could happen again in Week 2 against Washington. While Keenan Allen (19 PPR points) and Mike Williams (22 PPR points) did well against the Washington secondary, I don't have as much faith in Daniel Jones to support two receivers playing at a high level. I like Shepard slightly better than Golladay this week, and Golladay should be considered a low-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver at best.
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Jones is being put in the No. 3 Fantasy receiver range in all leagues until proven otherwise. The entire Titans offense struggled in Week 1 against the Cardinals, and Jones had just three catches for 29 yards on six targets. He still has plenty of upside, but all the missed time in training camp due to a leg injury could be problematic early in the year in developing his rapport with Ryan Tannehill. I still trust A.J. Brown as a top-tier Fantasy receiver, but Jones should not be considered a must-start option until he shows otherwise, which hopefully starts this week at Seattle.
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Shenault can still be a No. 3 PPR receiver this week, and he had seven catches for 50 yards on nine targets in Week 1 at Houston. But he has a tough matchup against Broncos slot cornerback Bryce Callahan, and Trevor Lawrence could also be under a lot of pressure from Denver's pass rush. Lawrence also showed in Week 1 against the Texans he will lean on D.J. Chark (12 targets) and Marvin Jones (nine targets), but I'm worried about all of Jacksonville's receivers in this matchup. At best, all of them should be No. 3 Fantasy options in Week 2.
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Bust Alert
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Samuel had one of the more surprising games in Week 1 against the Lions with nine catches for 189 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets. He also lost a fumble, but no Fantasy managers were complaining after he dominated Detroit. Now, we'll see how he does in Week 2, especially if Brandon Aiyuk remains out of the game plan. You have to sit Aiyuk this week until Kyle Shanahan involves Aiyuk in the game plan, and Samuel is just a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues. He could draw Darius Slay in coverage, and last week Slay helped limit Calvin Ridley to five catches for 51 yards on eight targets.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Tight End
Start 'Em
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Zach Ertz (hamstring) could be out this week, which could open up more targets for Goedert. He started the season strong with four catches for 42 yards and a touchdown on five targets at Atlanta, and this week he's facing a 49ers defense that struggled with T.J. Hockenson (23 PPR points) in Week 1. Goedert could be a top-five Fantasy tight end this week.
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Fant should benefit with Jerry Jeudy (ankle) out, and Fant played well in Week 1 against the Giants with six catches for 62 yards on eight targets. The Jaguars had a hard time with Houston's Pharaoh Brown in Week 1 when he had four catches for 67 yards on five targets. Fant should eclipse those numbers as a go-to guy for Teddy Bridgewater this week.
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Higbee looked great in his first game with Matthew Stafford in Week 1 against the Bears with five catches for 68 yards on six targets. He should continue to soak up targets from Stafford, and this should be a favorable matchup for him. In Week 1, the Colts allowed Will Dissly and Gerald Everett to combine for five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown on five targets, and Higbee could achieve those stats on his own in Week 2.
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Sleepers
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I was impressed with Kmet in Week 1 against the Rams when he had five catches for 42 yards on seven targets. He tied Darnell Mooney for second on the team in targets behind Allen Robinson (11), and Kmet should emerge as a go-to guy for either Andy Dalton or Justin Fields moving forward. If Kmet is still on waivers in your league, consider adding him immediately.
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Cook played well in his first game with the Chargers in Week 1 against Washington. He was third on the team in targets behind Keenan Allen (13) and Mike Williams (12), and Cook finished with five catches for 56 yards. Rob Gronkowski torched the Cowboys last week for eight catches, 90 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets, so hopefully Justin Herbert continues to lean on Cook again in Week 2.
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The Patriots had Smith and Hunter Henry on the field together plenty in Week 1 against Miami, with Smith playing 73 percent of the snaps and Henry at 72 percent. Smith had the better performance of the two with five catches for 42 yards on five targets, while Henry had three catches for 31 yards on three targets. I don't expect the Jets to do well in defending tight ends this season, and Smith and Henry could be low-end starters this week. Give Smith the nod if deciding between the two.
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Sit 'Em
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Hooper wasn't even the featured tight end for the Browns in Week 1 at Kansas City, with David Njoku getting more targets (5-3) and yards (76-27) on the same amount of receptions (three). I doubt that happens on a regular basis moving forward, and Hooper could have a good game in Week 2 against the Texans, who struggled with Jacksonville's tight ends last week as James O'Shaughnessy and Chris Manhertz combined for seven catches, 70 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. But I don't want to trust Hooper just yet, so he's only a starting option in deeper Fantasy leagues for Week 2.
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Everett found the end zone in Week 1 against the Colts, but he only had two catches for 20 yards on two targets. Will Dissly, meanwhile, had three catches for 37 yards on three targets, and both played nearly the same amount of snaps (39 for Everett and 38 for Dissly). Until one of these guys steps up ahead of the other, this could be a situation to avoid aside from deeper leagues. I'd only start Everett in tight-end premium formats in Week 2.
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Ebron played fewer snaps than Pat Freiermuth (29-27) in Week 1 at Buffalo, and that could be a sign of things to come. Neither tight end did much with their time on the field, as they combined for two catches for 43 yards on three targets, and this is a situation to avoid for now. For what it's worth, the Raiders also held Mark Andrews to three catches for 20 yards on five targets, and Ebron is one of the few Steelers players that I don't like this week.
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Bust Alert
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Gesicki wasn't involved in the game plan in Week 1 against the Patriots with no catches on just two targets, and he played fewer snaps (21) than Durham Smythe (38). Part of that was by design because the Dolphins needed more of a blocking presence, but it shows you the Dolphins don't need to rely on Gesicki as a weapon. He also could struggle for targets now that Will Fuller is back from his one-game suspension. I'd be leery starting him in most leagues against the Bills in Week 2.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
DST
Start 'Em
Packers (vs DET)
The Packers were embarrassed in Week 1 against the Saints in a 38-3 loss, but I expect Green Bay to rebound in a big way Monday night against Detroit at home. While the Lions just scored 33 points against the 49ers in Week 1, Jared Goff was sacked three times and also threw a pick-six. I like the Packers DST as a No. 1 Fantasy option this week.
Sleepers
- Browns (vs. HOU)
- Giants (at WFT)
- Cardinals (vs. MIN)
Sit 'Em
Ravens (vs. KC)
The Ravens DST was a disappointment in Week 1 at the Raiders, allowing 33 points in overtime with just three sacks and one interception. This week, Baltimore's defense should be in trouble against Kansas City, even at home. Last year in Baltimore, the Chiefs scored 34 points and allowed no sacks and just one fumble. It's hard to trust the Ravens DST taking on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense.
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
KICKERS
Start 'Em
Projections powered by
Sportsline
Joey Slye made three field goals and four extra points for the Texans against the Jaguars in Week 1, and hopefully McManus does the same thing. In Week 1 at the Giants, McManus made two field goals and three PATs.
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Sleepers
Projections powered by
Sportsline
Sit 'Em
Projections powered by
Sportsline
Carlson was excellent in Week 1 against the Ravens with two field goals and three extra points, and his 55-yard kick at the end of regulation helped Las Vegas extend the game and eventually win in overtime. But going back to last year, Carlson has scored seven Fantasy points or less in each of his past four road games. And he only hit double digits in Fantasy points on the road three times.
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