Quarterback
Baker Mayfield (vs Houston)
The Texans defense was let off of the hook by a very “rookie in his first NFL start” game from Trevor Lawrence. They won’t be as lucky this week when they go to Cleveland and face the well-oiled machine that is the Browns offense. Mayfield should be highly efficient even without Odell Beckham Jr The only worry here is that the running backs score most or all of the touchdowns on the ground before the game gets out of hand.
Teddy Bridgewater (at Jacksonville)
Bridgewater sliced and diced the Giants defense in Week 1, and he should have an even easier time of it in Week 2 against the Jaguars, who made the Texans look like an offensive juggernaut. The Broncos are about as well-situated as any team to lose their #1 receiver and not miss a beat, so Jerry Jeudy’s absence won’t hamper Bridgewater, especially against a hapless unit like the Jaguars secondary.
Kirk Cousins (at Arizona)
The Vikings defense was pushed around by the Bengals in Week 1, and they should be positively confounded by Kyler Murray in Week 2. That means Cousins attempts will be high, giving him a startable ceiling in 1QB leagues and strong outlook for 2QB/Superflex and DFS. Let’s just hope he doesn’t get devoured by Chandler Jones-like Ryan Tannehill was last week.
Taylor Heinicke (vs New York Giants) **Thursday**
Heinicke isn’t exactly green. He entered the league since 2015 and showed out well against the bucs defense in the 2020 playoffs. The Giants defense looked easy to solve against the Broncos. Heinicke will give the Giants fits as a scrambler and should keep the defense on their toes with aggressive throws and a quick trigger to leave the pocket. Expect the Giants defense to be a beat behind Heinicke at times, which should open up running and passing opportunities.
Running Back
A.J. Dillon (vs Detroit)
Week 1 was a total loss for the Packers, but Week 2 brings tonic in the form of the Detroit Lions. Dillon might be startable in any competitive matchup if he gets goal-line work and few drives a game to himself, but in this one, he has a high probability of some boa constrictor second-half carries to take the life out of a lopsided game, unless the team decides to give them to promising third-stringer Kylin Hill.
James Conner (vs Minnesota)
Conner is going to be the first running back option at the goal line and he ran the ball down to the two before Kyler Murray’s rushing touchdown last week. While this could and will be a frustrating recurring theme, the Cardinals offense should be making a lot of trips to the red zone against the Vikings, and Kliff Kingsbury could look to get him a score or two in the home opener, in addition to the larger share of carries like he got in Week 1 in the easy win.
Devin Singletary (at Miami)
Singletary was the most impressive part of the Bills offense when they tried to come back against the Steelers in the fourth quarter, and he clearly deserves more work going into Week 2. The Bills offense might be predictable if they abandon the run, so there is an extra incentive for Buffalo to use Singletary liberally against the Dolphins in the effort to avoid falling to 0-2.
Kenyan Drake (at Pittsburgh)
Josh Jacobs is banged up and may not play, but even if does, he might not finish the game, and he certainly won’t be too useful against a Steelers defense that is stout up front. This is a Kenyan Drake game, and one that should show off his receiving skills after he caught all five of his targets in the Week 1 win over the Ravens.
Trey Sermon (at Philadelphia)
Sermon’s range of outcomes is anywhere from being the top running back in the 49ers offense to being inactive on Sunday, so monitor this one closely. Sermon might be even better than Elijah Mitchell, but Mitchell impressed the team more over the summer. That doesn’t mean that Kyle Shanahan won’t give Sermon an opportunity out of necessity this week, and Sermon is good enough to make Shanahan reconsider playing Mitchell over him. Consider him a true boom/bust play if active.
Rhamondre Stevenson (at New York Jets)
If you have to dig really deep at running back this week, consider Stevenson, who at least had his fumble happen at a much less costly time than Damien Harris’. Bill Belichick could give Stevenson a long look and even if he doesn’t go in with that plan, Harris could fumble again and open the door for Stevenson. Even if neither of those things happens, Stevenson could get a lot of run in the second half of what should be a comfortable win for the Patriots.
Wide Receiver
Sammy Watkins (vs Kansas City)
Watkins is a longshot against his old team, but he’s the best healthy receiver on the Ravens roster (Marquise Brown missed practice with an ankle injury during a short week of rest), and there’s always the revenge factor. He had enough juice to get downfield and make a pivotal over-the-shoulder catch last week and Watkins might be on the spot against the Chiefs if the Ravens fall behind and are forced to throw more than they want to.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (vs Detroit)
Valdes-Scantling was rendered useless for fantasy like the rest of the Packers offense last week, but he should bounce back against the Lions, who looked totally incapable of tracking a downfield pass or making a downfield tackle against Deebo Samuel last week. Valdes-Scantling is clearly the #1 deep target for Aaron Rodgers, and it will only take one shot for him to make your week if you’re waiting on him as your what the heck WR3/Flex on Monday night.
Cole Beasley (at Miami)
Beasley should be productive against a Miami secondary that encourages more passing between the numbers to avoid their strong outside corner duo, and he could be even more productive if Emmanuel Sanders misses Week 2 with a foot issue that kept him out of practice on Thursday.
K.J. Hamler (at Jacksonville)
Hamler dropped an easy deep touchdown last week, so Teddy Bridgewater and the Broncos should be eager to give him a shot at redemption this week. He should have additional opportunities to do that facing the Jaguars keystone cops secondary while Jerry Jeudy sits and gets Hamler on the field in all three-wide sets.
Jalen Guyton (vs Dallas)
Guyton was the clear #3 receiver ahead of rookie Josh Palmer last week. The Cowboys defense was easy to pass on last week, and that job should get even easier this week with Randy Gregory and Demarcus Lawrence both out, which will give Justin Herbert a lot of time to throw downfield. Last year, Guyton was a productive deep ball receiver, but he shared that role with Tyron Johnson, who is now with the Jaguars. Palmer hasn’t made a strong enough bid to cut into Guyton’s playing time yet.
Cedrick Wilson (at Los Angeles Chargers)
Wilson had a 100-yard game last year on only 24 snaps with Dak Prescott, what can he do with a larger role now that Michael Gallup is out for at least three weeks with a calf injury? He should be the lowest priority for the Chargers defense and the Cowboys should have to pass a lot again to keep up with the Chargers. The Cowboys' top two pass rushers are out, so it is going to be another long game for their vulnerable secondary and Wilson should be lined up against one of its weaker members.
Tight End
Jared Cook (vs Dallas)
Cook was a solid part of the pass offense in the season opener, and he should be able to make some noise against a Cowboys defense that allowed Rob Gronkowski to turn back the clock last week. With their top two defensive ends out, the Cowboys won’t be able to discourage the Chargers from using their tight ends as passing game target.
David Njoku, Austin Hooper (vs Houston)
The Texans let James O’Shaughnessy gobble up six catches last week and Chris Manhertz scored against them, so the Browns pass offense should be able to make good things happen when they throw to tight ends this week. Njoku is the better play as the more likely big-play target and maker, but Hooper could easily score a short touchdown or two against the abysmal Jaguars defense.
Pharaoh Brown (at Cleveland)
Brown led the Texans tight ends in snaps and targets and had more snaps than every wide receiver except Brandin Cooks, while tying Danny Amendola for second on the team in targets with five. You’ll forgive the Browns for having trouble with Travis Kelce, but it does highlight that linebacker and safety are areas of the defense that the team is still trying to figure out. Brown is solid play if you have to get your tight end from the waiver wire this week.
Dawson Knox (at Miami)
Knox was reliable last week, catching all four of his targets, and he could be in for more snaps this week if Emmanuel Sanders is limited or out as he deals with a foot issue. The Dolphins defense is strong outside, which should funnel targets to the middle of the field, where Knox operates.
