IDP Fantasy Football Starts For Week 2: Blake Cashman, Evan Williams & More

Just as quickly as we got to Week 1, we’re on to Week 2.

I’ll be looking at the data and favorite matchups based on my ranks and projections, and even though it’s only one week, we have data to look at.

So, my goal is to provide reasoning for the starts you might be on the fence about.

We need to take the Men In Black memory eraser and forget what happened last week. It’s a new week, so here are my favorite IDP starts of the week.

Linebacker Starts In Week 2 IDP Fantasy Football

Blake Cashman, LB, Minnesota Vikings

I think we can cash in on Blake Cashman checks this week against the Bears. The Bears might be one of the better IDP environments.

Cashman is the green dot of the defense and does not leave the field. He finished with a 10.8% tackle rate and was busy in the run, with 6 tackles coming against the run, including 3 against inside concepts. He’s crashing the line of scrimmage and getting downhill.

The Bears' offensive profile, through one week, gives Cashman plenty of opportunity. They allowed 21 tackles to the off-ball LB position last week, and they also profile a strong run environment. They also seem to be favoring a right-side run lean, and they ran inside nearly 54% of the time, so Cashman should get downhill.

I’ve got Cashman as my LB5 this week.

Daiyan Henley, LB, Los Angeles Chargers

Daiyan Henley is in a good matchup with the Raiders this week.

Last week, the Raiders allowed 28 tackles to off-ball LBs last week, and if you saw it, Jordyn Brooks and Jacob Rodriguez had a feast. Vegas had a 53.7% run rate last week. Last week, the Raiders had a +1.4 EPA/rush, and that lines up with Henley’s typical alignment. The EPA shows the Raiders’ success at running on that side, so that lines up with the potential tackle opportunities for Henley.

Henley is coming off an 8-tackle (2 solo) game where he also had a TFL and added a half-sack. Henley was sent in on 7 pass rushes, so there’s pass rush upside here. He only missed on one tackle, so he’s not leaving fantasy points on the field.

Henley has one of the top matchups in an LB-friendly environment. He’s my LB4 this week.

Barrett Carter, LB, Cincinnati Bengals

Even though he had an 8-tackle game last week, I think he’s still under the radar this week in a good matchup. He’s wearing the green dot and has a three-down role.

The Texans offense, early on, is looking like a good matchup for opposing linebackers. Houston ran the ball 32 times.

Houston showed early interior and right-side run success, posting a 0.43 EPA when running behind the center and a 0.38 EPA behind the right tackle. Carter played 50% of his snaps on the left side and another 6 snaps in the middle, so those runs create opportunities for him to attack the play as it develops.

Houston allowed 23 tackles to Buffalo’s off-ball LBs last week, so it’s shaping up to be a solid tackle environment for Carter.

I also like Carter’s big-play upside potential, and I’ve got Carter as my LB14 this week, and he is on the cusp of being an LB1.

Tremaine Edmunds, LB, New York Giants

Tremaine Edmunds had a strong debut with the Giants, as he played 100% of the snaps as the green dot, finishing with 8 tackles

The matchup with the Rams is flying under the radar, as they allowed 22 tackles to the off-ball LBs last week. They also showed encouraging run game tendencies. They had success running behind the left guard and center, but especially the right tackle with a 0.73 EPA. Edmunds should have plenty of tackle opportunities, as they ran the ball 49% of the time, going inside on over 60% of those plays. They also used 13 personnel on 36.8% of their plays, so Edmunds should see tackles in zone underneath.

Edmunds had a 15.4% tackle rate, and I’m not chasing box scores here. He had 100% of the snaps and is playing in what looks like a run-heavy environment. I like the floor here, and the tackle opportunities push him into the LB2 range.

He’s my LB22 this week.

Defensive Line Starts In Week 2 IDP Fantasy Football

Reuben Bain, EDGE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bain was stifled in his NFL debut, which led to all of the ‘but short arms’ memes. He ran up against a solid tackle in Armarius Mims.

I’m not going to overreact to one game, especially since his Week 2 matchup is especially juicy. The Browns offensive line appears to be a vulnerable line we can attack, and as a team, allowed a 43.3% pressure rate. Center Spencer Fano and Tytus Howard were responsible for a 6.7% pressure rate each.

Not only did the line give up pressure, but Deshaun Watson was responsible for 30.8% of the pressure created, so he’s holding onto the ball too long.

Bain was held to zeroes across the board, but I expect that to change this week. I think he has DL2 upside and is a great spot for pressures, which can lead to sacks.

Nick Bosa, EDGE, San Francisco 49ers

Nick Bosa had a week to forget from a pass-rush standpoint, but he did record 4 tackles and 2 TFLs. So, it wasn’t all bad.

Although his pass rush metrics were nothing to write home about, posting a 5.9% pressure rate with a QB hit, he was big against the run as he posted a 25% stop rate.

I think Bosa is able to bounce back this week, as Miami really struggled with the Vegas defensive line, allowing 17 total pressures and five sacks, enjoying success at shrinking the pocket around Malik Willis. This is a squeaky-wheel matchup for Bosa.

The 49ers were able to generate a team pressure rate of 41%, so they just need to finish on their pressure and convert to sacks.

The combination of his pass rush ability and Miami’s offensive line issues make one of my favorite DLs in Week 2.

George Karlaftis, EDGE, Kansas City Chiefs

George Karlaftis is an edge I’m bumping up this week. He played 47 snaps, and even though he finished without a sack, he recorded 3 tackles and was more productive than the box score showed.

Furious George had a rough matchup opposite Denver’s offensive line, but he generated pressure without winning his reps. He produced a 14.8% pressure rate against an o-line that allowed the least amount of pressure last season. The result was 3 QB hits, which could have been sacks, but I know we don’t get points for ‘almost sacks.’ The point being, his ability to create pressure is nothing new, and his metrics show that big weeks are ahead.

The matchup with the Colts opens that door. If he can get on the LT (Bernhard Rainmann), he was responsible for an 8.8% pressure rate, and if Karlaftis kicks inside, the LG allowed an 11.8% pressure rate.

I’m hoping those hits turn to sacks in Week 2, and I’ve got him as my DL8 this week.

Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Carolina Panthers

Princely Umanmielen is a player I’m interested in, especially because the matchup lines up with his alignment.

In Week 1, Umanmielen was the primary right-side edge and generated a 15% pressure rate along with a 15% win rate, and recorded a sack. Although he played 47% of the snaps, he has the traits and technique to get home at any time. But in this matchup, I’m betting on that upside.

Atlanta’s offensive line allowed a team pressure rate of 35.8%, but it’s Jake Matthews that I’m interested in attacking here: Princely’s matchup. Matthews allowed a 15.4% pressure rate, which was one of the highest of Week 1.

Patrick Jones was inactive and is dealing with a back injury, so we’ll have to see if that continues to hamper him, but I think the Panthers look at Princely as an asset, and this is the type of matchup where I ignore the usage and focus on the upside and ceiling.

If he continues to get the pass rush opportunities, I think he has DL2 upside this week. I’ve got him as my DL26.

Defensive Back Starts In Week 2 IDP Fantasy Football

Jordan Battle, S, Cincinnati Bengals

Jordan Battle got off to a good start in Week 1 with 9 tackles, including 6 solos, and is in another tackle-friendly environment in Week 2.

Houston’s run concepts should allow Battle to be busy near the LOS and in the second level. The Texans leaned on heavier personnel in Week 1, and David Montgomery handled the workload. This creates a tackle environment where a LOS safety like Battle can be a cleanup defender. Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight are still missing tackles.

The Texans allowed 14 tackles to the safety position in Week 1, and with Houston’s power/gap runs and their outside zone concepts, Battle can work outside, and cutback lanes created bring funnel plays to the safety.

Battle is a solid DB2 this week.

Evan Williams, S, Green Bay Packers

This one was a bit of a surprise, especially considering Williams played just 25% of his snaps near the LOS in Week 1.

Williams recorded 7 tackles, and the Vikings offense gave up 6 of those deep to Williams. Williams has another matchup that’s conducive to the deep safety role.

The Jets ran 63 offensive plays and allowed 18 tackles to the safety position. Of those 18, 9 came from deep alignment, which bodes well for Williams’s chances at a decent day. The tackles came when the Jets threw into Cover-3/Cover-4, which is what Green Bay was in for 13 snaps in Week 1.

Williams could have a solid tackle floor, so he doesn’t necessarily need a big play to prove useful.

I like the matchup for Williams here, and he’s a DB3.

Josh Metellus, S, Minnesota Vikings

Josh Metellus had an underwhelming stat line in Week 1, but that’s the great thing about the NFL; last week doesn’t matter and doesn’t have any bearing on the coming week.

Mettellus can play all over the field, but I was surprised to see he played just 31% of his snaps on the LOS; 16 were in the box.

Chicago looks to be a high-octane, high-volume offense, as they ran 70 plays in Week 1 with a 45.7% rushing rate. I think this matchup will have the Vikings playing Metellus near the LOS more, which will allow him to get downhill. He also had 6 pass rush snaps, so he can get to the QB if he’s dialed up. He had a 34.8% pressure rate in 2025.

If Chicago’s run-heavy approach continues in Week 2, Metellus could be busy. Even if the Bears air it out. Metellus will provide support in the defensive backfield.

I have Metellus as my DB22 this week.

Players Mentioned in this Article

DeshaunWatson
QBCLE
PPG
15.0
Proj
12.9
MalikWillis
QBMIA
PPG
17.7
Proj
16.1

Published Sep 16, 2026, 4:00 AM ET