Which moves should you make to maximize your points? Use this weekly post as your guide, as I offer one start and one sit suggestion at QB, RB, WR, and TE. These suggestions are based on my rankings compared to the consensus each week. To measure our success, check back each week for a recap of how I did.
For this project, a start is a player I think will finish in the Top 12 at QB or TE and the Top 24 at RB or WR. A sit is a player I think will finish outside those metrics. In the coming weeks, I’ll start with a recap of how I finished the prior week. All scoring will be courtesy of Fantasy Pros.
Before we move forward, let’s see how we did in Week 1. In brief, not well.
Week 1 Starts
QB: Justin Herbert, QB22 Miss. What happened to the Chargers…
RB: De’Von Achane, RB24 Hit. Just made it, but I’ll take it.
WR: Jaylen Waddle, WR103 Miss. Not even top 100; harsh.
TE: Colston Loveland, NA Miss. That’s right, 59 points and not a single reception… Make it make sense.
Start Record: 1-3
Week 1 Sits
QB: Patrick Mahomes QB9, Miss. He looked better than expected.
RB: Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks, RB10 and RB38 Miss. Hubbard and the Panthers scored more than expected.
WR: Drake London, WR69 Hit. My kingdom for a quarterback in Atlanta.
TE: Sam LaPorta, TE17 Hit. He is healthier than expected, but I’ll take the win.
Sit Record: 2-2
Let’s dive into the Week 2 recommendations.
Quarterbacks
Start: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
About: Baker had an uneven Week 1. He had some good moments, and the Buccaneers scored some points, but he was plagued by turnovers. This week, the Buccaneers are back home against the Browns. Deshaun Watson and the Browns wilted in the Florida sunshine in Week 1, and I see more of the same this week. It should be a bounce-back for our boy Baker!
Sit: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
About: The Bengals won in Week 1, but they didn’t look good. Ja’Marr Chase was a non-factor, and Burrow looked just OK. He was only QB20 in Week 1. Now, he’s battling an injury and is on the road against a Houston team motivated to avoid a 0-2 start. I like Burrow and the Bengals this season, but I don’t love him this week.
Running Backs
Start: Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
About: Henry finished as RB1 in Week 1. That’s pretty good. He looked like a beast and ran through the Colts’ defense like it was tissue paper. In Week 1, Jahmyr Gibbs was RB3, adding three touchdowns of his own. That game was against a practically non-existent Saints’ defense. That’s who Henry draws on Sunday, for a team with ailing wide receivers. It’s wheels up.
Sit: Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
About: The new-look Titans offense turns out to be a lot like the old Titans’ offense. The team was stymied and held to ten points by the New York Jets. The Jets. Let that sink in. Pollard may be the main man in the backfield, but that backfield—and the offense in general—isn’t that thrilling. This week the Titans host the Eagles. I’m staying away.
Wide Receivers
Start: Mike Evans, San Francisco 49ers
About: Turns out De’Zhaun Stribling has a lot in common with Ricky Pearsall—they’re both unavailable. But the 49ers reloaded with veterans this off-season, led by former Buccaneer Mike Evans. Now fully healthy, he looked like a champ in Week 1 against the Rams, finishing as WR14. He should be a key part of the passing game again this week as a well-rested 49ers squad returns to California to host the woeful Miami Dolphins. Start Evans if you’ve got him!
Sit: D.K. Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers
About: The Steelers’ offense was almost a non-factor in an all-too-close Week 1 win over the Falcons. There isn’t enough consistent volume to support all the mouths to feed with Metcalf, Michael Pittman, Pat Freiermuth, Jaylen Warren, and more. And now they go to New England to face a talented, angry Patriots team off a long rest. I’m not bullish on a WR2 week from Metcalf, or on many points in this game overall.
Tight Ends
Start: Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
About: Henry has been a stalwart in the Patriots’ passing game for the past few years. This year, the Patriots loaded up at receiver in the off-season. But A.J. Brown is on IR, and Romeo Doubs looks like he was born without hands. That leaves Henry, a key Patriots receiver, as a focus as the team tries to get a win against the Patriots. I think he’ll be a TE1 again in Week 2.
Sit: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
About: Michael Penix Jr., Tua Tagovailoa, Cooper Rush, or Jack Strand. Those are the Falcons’ quarterback options. Does it really matter? As we saw last week, the Falcons have limited options. While Bijan Robinson is still dominating on the ground and as an outlet target, Drake London and Pitts are struggling. I’m still not on Pitts to finish Top 12 until Atlanta gets itself together a little.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
