Fantasy football: 6 starts and 6 sits for Week 2

Fantasy team owners have likely had their waiver claims processed by now, and are setting their lineup for Week 2. Let’s check out the top starts and sits for the Week. Like last week, obvious starters will not be included.

Starts

Start of the week: Rashad Jennings- Jennings gets a cushy matchup against a bad New Orleans defense. The Saints allowed Latavius Murray and the Raiders to rush for a total of 167 yards last week. Expect similar production from the Giants. Jennings has finally emerged out of the Giants running back by committee, and is in for a big week.

C.J. Anderson- Anderson is pushing for the obvious starter label after his stellar performance against the stingy Panthers defense last week. This week, he faces the Colts, who were the one team to give up more fantasy points to running backs than the Saints last week.

Mike Wallace- The Ravens play Cleveland this week. This is the same Cleveland defense who just made the Eagles look like contenders. I think that is all that needs to be said.

Julian Edelman/Chris Hogan- Jimmy Garrapolo loved throwing the ball to these two gainst Arizona on Sunday night. Edelman is still a great slot receiver, and Hogan provides the ability to stretch the field a bit. If Gronk is out again, look for both Hogan and Edelman to produce. Facing a Miami defense that is not in the same stratosphere as the Cardinals, look for increases in production from the two wide receivers.

Marcus Mariota- If you are steaming quarterbacks, Mariota may be the best option for this week. Mariota and the Titans are going up against the Lions this week. The Lions just allowed 35 points to Andrew Luck. Yes, the Colts are much better than the Titans, but Mariota should be able to do damage through the air with targets like Tajae Sharpe and Delanie Walker, while also production numbers as a rusher.

Ravens D/ST- With Robert Griffin III injured, the quarterback situation in Cleveland is yet again murky. Even with RGIII starting, the Browns are still nowhere near as good as the Bills, which the defense just shut down. Look for the Ravens turnover drought to come to an end this week in a big way.

Sits

Theo Riddick- Riddick was great in Week 1, and the Lions were keen on using him in both running and passing phases of the game. But I need to see more than one performance like he had against the Colts. Plus, being that this was against the Colts, his numbers may have been a little inflated. The Titans on the other hand, just shut down Adrian Peterson. I would sit Riddick this week, but he may very well be a starter by next week with a good Week 2 showing.

Melvin Gordon- Gordon had a breakout game last week, finding the end zone for the first time in his career, and then adding a second TD later in the first half. But the Chargers are facing a Jacksonville defense that has only given up 3.7 yards per rush going back to last season according to ESPN. ESPN also notes that the Jaguars have allowed the fourth most catches to running backs in that time span. This seems like another Danny Woodhead-heavy game.

Christine Michael- The Seahawks named Thomas Rawls as their starter for Week 2. While Michael played extremely well in the preseason, and started last week, it remains to be seen what his role will be. If Rawls is taking over as the lead back, then Michael owners will want to wait and see what Michael’s role will be as the number two running back in Seattle.

T. Y. Hilton- Hilton was targeted on a quarter of his routes last week according to ESPN. With Andrew Luck under center, Hilton’s value surely rises. But facing the Broncos defense is a bad matchup for the deep threat. If he is not able to create space for himself in the Denver secondary, he will not produce much, if at all.

Tyrell Williams- Yes, I did say in my waiver wire article to pick up Williams. But don’t immediately plug him into your lineup, assuming that he will have an uptick in production with Keenan Allen gone. Wait a week, and see how the Chargers offense fares. If Williams proves to have a key role in this reshaped offense, then play him next week. Keep an eye on Dontrelle Inman who is nipping at Williams’ heels for snaps.

Jameis Winston- If you are steaming quarterbacks, you may have added Winston due to his strong showing against the Falcons in Week 1, and also because I suggested to add him for the long term. But there are better streaming options than Winston this week as his Buccaneers go up against a very stingy Cardinals defense. Mariota and Joe Flacco are both better streaming options.