Fantasy Football 2025: Start’Em, Sit’Em Week 2

Week 1 for fantasy football felt unusual this year. Fantasy managers were ready with their rosters. Preparations complete. Studying done. All that was left was the kickoff. But from the start, the bigger stars of the fantasy world collectively laid egg after egg to begin the season. And there are plenty of examples.

The fantasy consensus 1.01 Ja’Marr Chase put up an absolute stinker against the Cleveland Browns. Chase scored just 4.6 fantasy points in the game. Texans WR Nico Collins was also a bad performer, posting a three-catch game (on five targets) for 25 yards and 5.5 fantasy points. Most players were lock starters even in bad matchups because of what they can do. Now, fantasy managers are hoping for strong bounce-back performances in Week 2.

So here are some recommendations for your lineups as we head into Week 2.

Week 2 Starts and Sits

Quarterbacks

Start: Drake Maye vs. MIA

Drake Maye’s Week 1 performance was decent against the Las Vegas Raiders. Maye posted a 15.8 fantasy line on 287 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The positive takeaway from the game was the amount of volume Maye produced. Throwing the ball 46 times allowed other players to be involved as Maye spread the ball around. Four different pass-catchers saw six targets or more. Now Maye gets a Miami Dolphins team that was brutalized by Daniel Jones in Week 1. The Dolphins gave up the fourth-most fantasy points heading into Week 2 at 29.5.

Start: Kyler Murray vs. CAR

The Carolina Panthers could end up being the team quarterbacks want to play against this season. The Panthers allowed 178 yards in Week 1 through the air. Kyler Murray heads into the matchup with 163 passing yards. Factoring in his rushing ability, Murray could have a solid stat line against the Panthers. Murray threw the ball 29 times with a completion rate of 72.4%. Murray has another chance to finish as a top 10 fantasy QB this week against the Panthers.

Sit: Daniel Jones vs. DEN

The Colts caught the Miami Dolphins seemingly unprepared for the gam, as both the Dolphins’ offense and defense looked out of sorts. Daniel Jones took advantage of the match and closed out Week 1 as a top 10 fantasy quarterback. Jones threw for 272 yards with an average of 9.4 per attempt. However, the Denver Broncos are expected to be one of the toughest defenses in the league this season. The Broncos allowed just 62 yards passing and made Cam Ward uncomfortable the entire game. Denver’s defense is one to avoid.

Running Backs

Start: Breece Hall vs. BUF

The thought of the New York Jets running a tandem backfield this season took a hit in Week 1. Breece Hall clearly demonstrated why he should be the top man in the Jets’ backfield. Seeing more carries and targets than Braelon Allen, Hall should remain a fixture in fantasy lineups. The Jets take on the Buffalo Bills, who got completely run through by Ravens RB Derrick Henry. Henry hung 169 yards (9.4 y/a) on the Bills’ defense in Week 1. Henry finished as the RB1 with 29.2 fantasy points. Hall has the upside in the match to have another productive week for fantasy managers.

Start: Nick Chubb vs. TB

Nick Chubb saw the majority of work as the Texans’ bellcow back against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1. Expect to see more of that again in Week 2. Chubb averaged 4.6 y/a against the Rams and still runs tough. The Bucs did slow down Bijan Robinson on the ground, holding him to just 24 yards on 12 attempts. Chubb is a volume play here with the opportunity to hit paydirt at the goal line. Chubb isn’t known for his pass-catching ability, but he has shown solid hands in the past when thrown to.

Sit: Kenneth Walker vs. PIT

Major concerns reared their heads in the Seahawks’ backfield. Zach Charbonnet led the backfield in snaps, carries, and yardage in Week 1. This relegated Kenneth Walker to passing down duties for most of the game. With Walker’s shaky usage and the Steelers looking to rebound after being abused by Breece Hall and the Jets’ ground attack, playing Walker looks risky. Fantasy managers should wait to see if his usage improves this week before plugging him into lineups.

Wide Receivers

Start: Jakobi Meyers vs. LAC

Jakobi Meyers and Geno Smith looked well on the field together in Week 1. Meyers led all Raiders receivers in targets and saw two more targets than tight end Brock Bowers. Bowers also went down with a knee injury and did not return. If Bowers can’t suit up for Week 2, that could mean more work for Meyers. The Chargers gave up 99 yards to Marquise Brown after Xavier Worthy went down. The Chargers also surrendered the 10th-most fantasy points to the wide receiver position. Meyers’ volume and matchup make him a good play for Week 2.

Start: Rome Odunze vs. DET

The Bears’ second-year wide receiver is off to a solid start heading into Week 2. Rome Odunze saw nine targets for 37 yards but added a receiving touchdown to his stat line. Finishing as a top 20 fantasy wide receiver, Odunze gets another good matchup against the Detroit Lions. The Lions allowed 32 fantasy points to the Green Bay Packers receiving corps in Week 1 (14th). Odunze should continue to see a strong target share in Ben Johnson’s new offense and Caleb Williams’ top option in the passing attack.

Sit: Ricky Pearsall vs. NO

The 49ers head into Week 2 bit shorthanded. Jauan Jennings is dealing with a shoulder injury. George Kittle has already been placed on IR with a hamstring injury. And now quarterback Brock Purdy will miss two to five weeks with turf toe. Pearsall may end up being the top receiving option, who will have to catch passes from backup QB Mac Jones. The Saints played the wide receiver position tough in Week 1. The Saints held the Arizona Cardinals receivers to just 21.8 fantasy points, the seventh-fewest heading into Week 2. Without Purdy under center, Pearsall may end up being a matchup-based play moving forward.

Tight Ends

Start: Jonnu Smith vs. SEA

The Arthur Smith/Jonnu Smith connection seems to be a thing in Pittsburgh. Smith saw more targets than Pat Freiermuth (6 to 3) in Week 1 and punched in a touchdown. Finishing as the TE1, Smith could continue to be instrumental to the Steelers’ passing game under Aaron Rodgers.  The Seahawks gave up the second-most fantasy points to 49ers tight end George Kittle before he went down. Jonnu Smith has a solid matchup to take advantage of for the tight end position in Week 2.

Sit: Colston Loveland vs. DET

Colston Loveland was drafted in the first round by the Chicago Bears, but so far, he hasn’t been used like it. Loveland saw just two targets for 12 yards against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. Loveland was also out snapped by fellow right end Cole Kmet 60 to 38. The Lions did surrender 12.5 fantasy points to Vikings, but without more work coming Loveland’s way, he’s too risky to play until that changes.