Starts/sits for Week 2
BC: Pity the fool (like me) who has Saquon Barkley. The NFL schedule-makers did this guy coming off an ACL injury no favors scheduling two games in the first five days of the season for the Football Giants.
Hopefully you didn’t start him. It’s just too risky now. If you’re reading this in print Friday morning, you’ll know.
But honestly be wary of any Giants at the moment.
The Barkley situation is difficult because when/if healthy, he’s a rare talent. If he’s your third or fourth choice at RB, your team is loaded and you’re playing in a league full of dopes.
So here’s how I’m gonna go with my half of this article: Guys who should be starters, all things considered, but you should bench because of their Barkley-esque situation. The starter recommendations are for players not obvious choices. The Vikings should run like crazy to help limit Arizona possessions, but Dalvin Cook should be in your lineup if they’re playing 13 people on defense.
QB: Aaron Rodgers? More like Errin’ Rodgers! (Thank you, thank you very much.) He had a historically bad game last week, and he’s home against the Lions, a team he has owned through the years. But something ain’t right about that boy. Avoid until we find out what it is. SIT!
They grow up so fast. Justin Herbert set a rookie TD record last year, and the Chargers will play their first game at SoFi in front of an appreciative crowd. The Cowboys look like they’ll be without their two best pass-rushers. Herbert will have a field day. START!
RB: How long til Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris breaks out? I say Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Raiders. Vegas played an OT game Monday, now venture across the country for an early start. Harris should crush this. START!
If you have an option — and you probably don’t — consider pining Ezekiel Elliott. If Dallas falls behind (they will) then they’ll return to the pass-happy traits of the last two years when Dak Prescott has been taking snaps. Elliott will start for almost every team manager in fantasy, but I don’t think he has a big day. Hope I’m wrong. SIT (reluctantly)!
WR: With Odell Beckham Jr. still not ready, that increases the pressure on Jarvis Landry, who is basically a possession reciever. I think the Browns struggle passing the ball. SIT!
Tampa is so loaded. Mike Evans. Chris Godwin. And last week Antonio Brown looked like Pittsburgh-era AB. It’s not fool’s gold, he’s still capable of being elite. START!
TE: I just have a feeling Jonnu Smith is gonna do things this week. START!
Robert Tonyan is a fake and his QB might be a flake. SIT!
Lexi?
AI:
It’s time to hit the waiver wire and make some GM moves on who to start and who to sit. It’s not always about playing the best, most flashy guy. Sometimes you have to bench a top-tier player strictly because of who they’re going up against, defensively, or other week-to-week team factors that could hurt their overall performance. So — with that being said — here are my starts and sits for QB, RB, WR and TE this week:
QB START: Josh Allen
He didn’t have the debut we expected, but that doesn’t mean Allen (the QB taken No. 2 in the majority of fantasy drafts) and Co. can’t turn things up a notch against a beatable Dolphins defense. (Yes, I know the Patriots lost to Miami, but the loss was mostly due to offensive penalties, red zone inefficiencies and the obvious fumble). Don’t sleep on the Bills this week.
SIT: Daniel Jones
The Giants just didn’t look good Week 1. I can’t say I’m *that* surprised by this, but nonetheless, I think it’s important to say (as Bruce stated above talking about Saquon) stay away from Giants players in fantasy. Just not a risk worth taking at this point until we see differently.
RB START: Chris Carson
People always sleep on Carson, but he tied for 10th overall this past Sunday — with 19 touches. Plus — for PPR leagues — he’s a factor in the passing game.
SIT: Ezekiel Elliott/Damien Harris
Ditto on what Bruce said about Elliott. No need to repeat, but absolutely in agreement here.
Harris ... not sure what his productivity will be this week after the fumble heard round the league. He hit 100 yards rushing last week, but the Patriots are so unpredictable with their offensive scheme — may be best to sit Harris this week in
the wake of the mistake.
WR START: Antonio Brown
I kicked myself last week when I benched Brown — even though I knew he’d have a solid season opener. Tom Brady absolutely loves the guy and kept saying all offseason/ preseason that Brown looks the best he’s ever looked. He got 25 points for my bench Week 1 (fullpoint PPR), so he has officially been flexed in for Week 2.
SIT: Robby Anderson
Robby Anderson is up against a tough New Orleans defense. You could start him, but I would give a guy like AB a start over Anderson this week just because the sheer productivity may not be there against a tougher opponent in the air.
TE START: Jared Cook
I just picked Jared Cook off of waivers because I had Robert Tonyan as my No. 1 TE. Yuck. Cook is a lock to have a solid week as TE1 if you need him to start Week 2 against a passive Dallas defense.
SIT: Rob Gronkowski
Oh, Gronk. I also picked him up off waivers for the weeks I feel Brady will go to his OG guy the most. But this week — sit him. I think he’ll be productive enough, but your starter you drafted will most likely get you more points for this week. Give him some rest.