Fantasy Football Week 2, Start 'Em or Sit 'Em?

As we head into the week 2 of the NFL season, fantasy football managers are setting their line ups and preparing for their second match up of the season. I’ll be breaking down some key players to include in your starting lineups, as well as some players to avoid this week.

Najee Harris: Start ‘em. The Pittsburgh Steelers rookie out of Alabama had a slow start in week 1 after facing a tough Bills defense. Harris tallied 16 carries for 45 yards and 1 reception for 4 yards for an underwhelming 5.9 fantasy points. But don’t let his week 1 stat line fool you. Harris was the only running back in the NFL to be on the field for every offensive snap of the game during week 1. As the Steelers prepare for their home opener against the Raiders, expect Harris to have a big game against a less talented Las Vegas defense that was ranked 23rd against the run last season.

Melvin Gordon: Start ‘em. The Broncos face the Jaguars in week 2, and Melvin Gordon had a quality game last week despite getting fewer touches than his teammate Javonte Williams. The Jags defense looked shaky against the Texan’s running game; Thirty-one-year-old Mark Ingram had 85 yards and a touchdown on the day. The Jaguars ranked 30th in the NFL against the run in 2020, so Gordon is primed for a breakout game despite traveling to Jacksonville on Sunday.

Michael Pittman Jr.: Sit ‘em. Pittman Jr. is a fantastic football player, but the Colts offense loves to throw the ball to the backfield. Both Jonathon Taylor and Nyheim Hines had more targets than Pittman Jr. in week 1. As Pittman faces off against the Rams, one of the most elite defensive units in the NFL, expect him to under perform in fantasy this week.

DeVante Parker: Sit ‘em. Parker led the Dolphins in both reception yards and targets in week 1 after tallying 4 receptions for 81 yards. As the leading receiver on his team he scored 12.1 fantasy points last week, ranking him as WR43. The Dolphins are facing a ferocious Bills defense in week 2. I would steer clear of Parker in your starting line-ups.

Matthew Stafford: Start ‘em. Stafford looked great in his debut with the Los Angeles Rams. He connected with Van Jefferson for a 67-yard touchdown on the Ram’s first drive and found Cooper Kupp for a 56-yard touchdown pass on the opening play of the third quarter. Any lingering questions about Stafford’s fantasy legitimacy on the Rams have been answered. If you have Stafford on your fantasy team, he is a must start against a mediocre Colts defense in week 2.

Jared Goff: Sit ‘em. Goff didn’t look great last week against the 49ers as the Lions trailed by 20 points for a majority of the game. He still managed to produce an impressive fantasy stat line after completing 38 passes for 338 yards and 3 touchdowns. Don’t count on Goff for a fantasy comeback during garbage time against the Packers this week, bench Goff.