Start 'Em, Sit 'Em For Week 2 Fantasy Football Lineups: Bucky Irving Is A MUST-START

Matthew Stafford | Rams

Stafford put up a stinker in Week 1 with only 155 yards, 0 TDs, and an abysmal 5.1 fantasy points. It was so bad he left early because of the trailing conditions. 

While their unorthodox travel plans might have hurt their Week 1 performance, the advantage they have is that by staying on Pacific Time and returning immediately after the game, they won't suffer from jet lag this week.

While Stafford hasn't been amazing every year with the Rams, he has historically been good when their weapons are healthy, and that is working in his favor heading into Week 2. Freedman's Game Model gives Los Angeles a 27.9 team total—third-highest on the week.

The Fantasy Life Projection Model LOVES Stafford this week. So much so that I had to intervene and bring some of his numbers down. There was only so much I could do; we built the model for a reason!

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 18.1
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 21.8
• Floor: 14.4

I am not overreacting to Week 1, and Stafford is in a great spot in Week 2. He is the QB7 in the projection model and my QB10.

Upgrades For Week 2 Fantasy Lineups (QB)

• Jordan Love | Packers: The Green Bay coaching staff indicated they would throw more this preseason, and that was the case in Week 1, with the fourth-highest dropback rate over expected (DBOE) of 9%. Love cooked a historically good Vikings secondary for 387 yards and two TDs, finishing with 20.5 fantasy points. They draw a much easier matchup against the Jets in Week 2 and carry the eighth-best team total (25.8) in the NFL Game Model. Love projects for 17.8 with an Xfinity Best ceiling of 22.3. He is my QB12.

Downgrades For Week 2 Fantasy Lineups (QB)

• Trevor Lawrence | Jaguars: Lawrence draws a tough matchup against the Broncos. The Chiefs thrashed them in Week 1, but made their hay on the ground with Kenneth Walker dominating. Patrick Mahomes threw for 184 yards and two TDs with 6.8 yards per attempt. Opponents have thrown for 154.8 YPG against the Broncos over the last four outings dating back to the 2025 playoffs, and Jacksonville has a 20.1 team total in the Game Model—historically, that is a bad combo for QBs. Lawrence is a high-end QB2 option in Week 2.
   
• Drake Maye | Patriots: Maye's passing game weapons are in dreadful shape heading into Week 2 against the Steelers. His scrambling ability keeps his projections in a good spot, but there is considerably less upside to his game at the moment. He is a high-end QB2 for me in Week 2.

Start These Running Backs In Week 2 Fantasy Football

Bucky Irving | Buccaneers

Irving collected 20.3 fantasy points in Week 1 despite only having eight rushing attempts in a trailing script thanks to turnovers against the Bengals. He also handled 60% of the short-yardage work—addressing the two primary concerns that held his ADP to Round 5.

He looked like his 2024 self, averaging 5.6 yards per carry (YPC) with 2.29 yards per route run (YPRR). With Mike Evans gone, volume is going to spread around, and Irving will get some of that thanks to the lack of an elite TE option in Cade Otton.

Tampa Bay is a 6.3-point favorite (6.3) with a team total of 24.9 in the Wet Blanket's Game Model. Those marks rank No. 6 and No. 10, a historically good combination for RBs. We should expect more touches on the ground for Irving and opportunities for TDs against a Browns defense that gave up 121 yards (4.8 YPC) against the Jaguars in Week 1.

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 14.7
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 22.9
• Floor: 10.7

Irving is the No. 13 RB in the projection model and is my RB14. That makes him a MUST-START on almost every fantasy team.

Aaron Jones | Vikings

With Jordan Mason heading to IR, Jones is the lead back for the Vikings this weekend against the Bears. The 31-year-old wasn't able to get much going against the Packers in Week 1, with only 40 yards rushing (3.3 YPC) and zero receptions.

The Vikings offensive line is theoretically strong, but they were out of sorts, providing only 0.4 yards before contact. But Jones and Mason each punched in a score and combined for 21.9 fantasy points.

I expect much of that to consolidate around Jones, who has a 63% rush share in the projection model this week. Demond Claiborne and DeeJay Dallas should be involved, but I could be low on the projection—a 70% share is on the table.

Chicago sanctioned 33.7 fantasy points to the Panthers' backfield last season, with Chuba Hubbard scoring 23.7.

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 13.0
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 21.1
• Floor: 9.6

Jones is my RB21 this week and the RB20 in the projection model. I have him ahead of names like Jadarian Price, Jaylen Warren, Cam Skattebo, and Quinshon Judkins. 

Chuba Hubbard | Panthers

Hubbard didn't play the final drive of Week 1 due to blowout conditions, but prior to that accounted for 78% of snaps, 71% of the attempts, and garnered a 61% route participation rate. That is an elite role, which led to 23.7 points.

Jonathon Brooks is ramping up from injury, and his role could grow in the coming weeks, but Hubbard is the No. 1 option for the Panthers right now. Especially with Hubbard looking good against Chicago, averaging 4.9 YPC.

The Panthers face the Falcons this week in what oddsmakers have as a close game, where Hubbard should remain highly involved.

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 13.4
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 21.6
• Floor: 9.8

Hubbard is a mid-range RB1 in Week 2.

Don't Sit Your Superstar RBs For These Options

This group of RBs improved their standing in Week 1 after strong performances, but don't make the mistake of thinking their spike outcome puts them on a level playing field with Christian McCaffrey, James Cook, Saquon Barkley, Omarion Hampton, and De'Von Achane.

We could get there, but we aren't yet. We drafted the RBs above where we did for a reason, and they still have a stronger grip on their backfield than the options below.

• D'Andre Swift
• David Montgomery

Week 2 RB Upgrades For Fantasy Lineup Consideration

• Jadarian Price: Price handled 50% of the rushing attempts out of the gate and looked far better than George Holani. Freedman's model has Seattle as an 8.3-point favorite over Arizona and a 25.7-point team total. Price is a high-end RB3 with upside.
• Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Croskey-Merritt emerged as the lead of a committee with a 50% snap share, handling 55% of the rushing attempts. That might be enough against the Cowboys, who provide the second-best boost to team RB production at +3.2 PPG. Croskey-Merritt is a mid-range RB3 but has mid-range RB2 upside in this matchup if the Commanders keep the game close.

RB Sicko Starts For Week 2 Fantasy Football

These players are for you deeper-league SICKOS that have 14-16 teams or 12-team leagues where you have 2-3 flex spots. These players are available in over 50% of Yahoo leagues and aren't in many starting lineups, but they offer a ray of light. You could get lucky.

• Chris Brooks | Packers: Brooks split the backfield with MarShawn Lloyd in Week 1. We still really don't know who the preferred option is. The Packers have a great team total and are six-point favorites over a Jets defense that concedes the No. 1 boost to RB squads at +3.2 PPG. Brooks is rostered in 4% of Yahoo leagues and is a low-end RB4 with surprise RB2 potential.

Sit These Running Backs In Fantasy Football For Week 2

Travis Etienne Jr. | Saints

Woof. Etienne fell into a three-way committee last weekend where Kendre Miller and CJ Donaldson saw playing time. Now Alvin Kamara is set to return for Week 2, which makes things even murkier.

Etienne could break free from these committee chains; they paid the man, so it doesn't make much sense. But for now, I am proceeding with caution when it comes to Etienne, who was lucky to sneak in 14.8 fantasy points last week thanks to overtime and a league-leading 86 plays from the Saints.

Our projection model doesn't think kindly of Etienne against the Ravens, an 8.5-point underdog with a lowly 18.6 team total in Freedman's Game Model. Those marks rank third- and fourth-worst for Week 2. 

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 10.4
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 17.8
• Floor: 7.6

Etienne is a mid-range RB3 in my ranks and in the projection model. Where I can, I am moving him to my bench.

RB Downgrades for Sit Consideration in Week 2

• Cam Skattebo | Giants: Skattebo lost the passing-down work in Week 1 to Devin Singletary, which makes him a TD-dependent banger for the moment. That isn't a great formula against the Rams, where the Giants are 8.3-point dogs (fourth-worst) with a 19.6 team total (sixth-lowest). Hopefully, Skat can regain his pass-down role (he is great at it), but for now he drops to borderline RB2 territory and falls behind names like Aaron Jones and Chuba Hubbard. 
   
• MarShawn Lloyd | Packers: Lloyd led the team with a 62% rush share, handling half of the short-yardage opportunities. But Chris Brooks led the team with a 55% snap share and is the preferred option on passing downs, handling 75% of the two-minute work. Lloyd isn't a must-bench—the game script should be more favorable this week against the Jets, whom RBs have demolished for a +3.2 PPG boost—but there is some uncertainty with this backfield, so I lean toward more solidified options when I can. Lloyd is a high-end RB3 with a wide range of outcomes.

Wide Receivers To Start In Week 2 Fantasy Football

Terry McLaurin | Commanders

McLaurin's Week 1 performance was a dud with 3.4 points. However, he ran a route on 92% of pass plays—much higher than we have seen from him in recent seasons. Just like some players boom randomly in Week 1, some plays crash. So we don't want to lose sight of McLaurin's long-term outlook this season, which is still intact.

He is still in a good role with a 9.2 average route depth, with 29% of his routes coming from the slot. He is attacking all layers of the field and has a chance to hit a big play or two against Dallas. Especially off of play action on crossing routes against a linebacker group without DeMarvion Overshown. McLaurin ran a crossing route on 26% of routes in Week 1.

The Cowboys provide the No. 4 boost to WR rooms at +3.3 PPG. The Giants carved up the Dallas secondary for three TDs in Week 1.  

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 12.1
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 18.9
• Floor: 8.9

This is a great spot for a bounce-back game from McLaurin, who is a borderline WR2 with WR1 upside in this matchup. Don't let the bad Week 1 force you to sit him.

Mike Evans | 49ers

Evans scored 16.9 PPG in Week 1 against the Rams. His 72% route participation was slightly concerning, but his 27% targets per route run (TPRR) was elite. And on third and fourth downs, Evans was Purdy's security blanket with a 60% target share, securing six looks.

The veteran WR isn't in his historical vertical role. His average depth of target (aDOT) was 8.6 in Week 1, well below his marks of 14.4 and 12.5 the last two years. In Kyle Shanahan's offense, Evans ran multiple in-breaking routes underneath while mixing in downfield corner and post routes. 

Shanahan's offensive design creates a world where Evans can earn more targets while still setting up long downfield chunk plays. This is the best scheme Evans has ever played in for fantasy production.

San Francisco has the No. 1 team total in Freedman's Game Model at 30.1 points against the Dolphins, who offer the No. 8 fantasy boost to opposing WR units at +2.0 per game.  

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 13.8
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 20.7
• Floor: 9.9

Evans was drafted as a WR3, but ascends to high-end WR2 status in Week 2 in a great matchup in a fantastic scheme.

Upgrades For Week 2 Fantasy Lineups (WR)

• Christian Watson | Packers: Moves to low-end WR1 territory in a favorable matchup against the Jets. He is a must-start across all leagues.
   
• Malik Nabers | Giants: Nabers posted a 71% route share in his first game back from ACL surgery. He was highly active when on the field, commanding a 38% TPRR. He finished Week 1 with 12.9 points and a 32% target share while leading the team in air yards (99). The Rams aren't an easy matchup, but if you drafted Nabers, he is very hard to bench—he is a borderline WR1 in Week 2.
   
• Matthew Golden | Packers: Climbs to mid-range WR3 status after leading the team with an 87% route share and 31% target share in Week 1. A soft matchup against the Jets with a 25.7-point team total is a plus. Golden should be in most starting lineups in 12-team leagues with a flex position. He is a shoo-in if you have two flex spots or must start three WRs.
   
• Stefon Diggs | Commanders: Diggs only posted a 66% route participation rate in Week 1, but still scored 15.5 points. His 36% TPRR led to a 31% target share. The veteran WR worked from the slot on 61% of routes and was in motion at the snap on 15% of plays. In a great matchup against Dallas, Diggs gets a rankings bump. He ascends to mid-range WR3 territory and offers WR2 upside. 
   
• Deebo Samuel | 49ers: Samuel notched a 57% route share after De'Zhaun Stribling exited the game. He led the team with a 37% TPRR and came through with 18 fantasy points. Samuel will need more playing time to keep up his Week 1 production, but with Stribling sidelined, the team could ramp up his role. With a great team total against Miami, Samuel has multi-TD upside if he runs pure; he is a low-end WR3 with upside.
   
• Xavier Worthy | Chiefs: Worthy was a dud last week with 4.8 points, but his 91% route share and 25% target share were encouraging. He is a boom-bust WR4 against a Colts defense that Zay Flowers shredded in Week 1.

Don't Start These WRs Over High-End Options Who Struggled Last Week

All of these WRs got a bump in the ranks this week thanks to strong opening weekend roles, but don't get too carried away. Below, I show where each one ranks this week to give you a sense of where the line is for getting them into your lineup. You can check out my complete ranks here.

• Devaughn Vele | Saints: WR49
• Dontayvion Wicks | Eagles: WR54
• Kalif Raymond | Bears: WR81

WRs That Bombed Last Week That I Am Starting Again In Week 2

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm keeping the faith … - Billy Joel

• Ja'Marr Chase | Bengals: WR3 (duh)
• George Pickens | Cowboys: WR8
• Jaylen Waddle | Broncos: WR19
• Davante Adams | Rams: WR23

WR Injury Watch For Week 2 In Fantasy Football

• Nico Collins | Texans (hamstring): I have moved Collins down my rankings to low-end WR2 territory. He has a long history of soft-tissue injuries and comes with re-injury risk if he suits up. If we get full practices today or tomorrow, I will change my view. If he doesn't practice but plays, he will be high-risk (and lower than I think now in my ranks). Unfortunately, I'm not excited about anyone from the Texans starting if Collins sits—Kayshon Boutte and Xavier Hutchinson are below-average talent profiles, and Jaylin Noel is only playing from the slot. 
   
• Ladd McConkey | Chargers (ribs): McConkey is day-to-day and has a shot to play this weekend. I have him at WR29 but am waiting to see if he can get in a full practice. If he does, he will crawl into the top 24. If McConkey is out, Quentin Johnston and Tre Harris will move up the ranks, so be sure to check back on Sunday morning.
   
• Zay Flowers | Ravens (hamstring): Flowers is day-to-day with a chance to play, and is currently a mid-range WR3 in my rankings. If he practices in full, he will move into WR2 territory—he looked fantastic before the injury against the Colts. If Flowers is out, Rashod Bateman and potentially Elijah Sarratt would play more. I added Sarratt in all of my deep leagues last night—he had the No. 1 Production Rating in the Rookie Super Model for the 2026 class.
   
• Jalen Coker | Panthers (ankle): Coker is expected to play after he led the team with a 28% target share on a 93% route share, notching a 93 Utilization Score with 33.8 points. Coker operated from the slot on 39% of snaps, and 33% of his targets came on play action. Bryce Young is a severe limiting factor, but Coker enters the mid-range WR3 conversation against the Falcons if active in Week 2.

WR Sicko Starts For Week 2 Fantasy Football

These players are for you deeper-league SICKOS that have 14-16 teams or 12-team leagues where you have 2-3 flex spots or multiple starting WRs. These players are available in over 50% of Yahoo leagues and aren't in many starting lineups, but they offer a ray of light. You could get lucky.

• Caleb Douglas | Dolphins: The Round 3 rookie pick finished second on the team in route participation (86%) and target share (24%), scoring 14.4 points. He had a strong downfield connection with Malik Willis. Douglas's 16.7 aDOT led to 100 air yards, and 5 of his 6 targets were catchable. He ranked first on the team in average route depth at 11.8. Douglas is rostered in 36% of Yahoo leagues and is a boom-bust WR5 against the 49ers. 
   
• Tre Harris | Chargers: Harris is the WR3 for the Chargers and was rotating in often before McConkey's injury. If McConkey doesn't play in Week 2, he could see a full-time role and have a chance to lead the receiving corps, competing with Quentin Johnston. Last week he was second on the team with a 23% target share. The Chargers are 10-point favorites over the Raiders in Freedman's Model with a 26.5 team total (sixth-highest). Harris is only rostered in 4% of Yahoo leagues—he will be a WR4 this week if McConkey can't play. If you have room, stash him now.

Sit These Wide Receivers In Week 2

Marvin Harrison Jr. | Cardinals

Harrison saw plenty of playing time with an 87% route share, but he struggled to generate targets (8%). Despite camp reports that Harrison would move around more, that wasn't the case, with 0% of his routes coming from the slot.

He is the boundary option attacking downfield with the deepest average route depth of 12. This is a tough spot for Harrison. He hasn't shown much to this point in his career, and he plays the least friendly role in an offense where Trey McBride hogs many looks.

The Seahawks are the third-hardest matchup for WR units, holding them 2.9 points under their average. The Cardinals have the second-lowest team total in the Wet Blanket's Game Model at 17.6 points. Yeah, I'm out, dog.

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 8.5
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 13.9
• Floor: 6.1

The projection model has Harrison as the WR54. Yikes!!! He is a borderline WR4 in my rankings.

Carnell Tate | Titans

The No. 4 pick from the NFL Draft was the No. 1 WR for the Titans with a 92% route participation rate and a 22% target share. But that translated to only 7.8 fantasy points in an offense that tied for the second-fewest regulation plays (49) and second-lowest points (10).

He played from the slot on 30% of snaps, and his average route depth was 9.1, so he isn't limited to a downfield-only role. 

Tate has talent, but he is in a terrible situation with Cam Ward stuck behind an offensive line that can't protect. Ward was under pressure on 39% of his dropbacks with an average time to pressure of 2.2 seconds. A pass under 2.5 seconds is considered a quick pass. Not good, Bob. 

The Titans face the Eagles secondary, which is the No. 8 hardest defensive matchup for WRs dating back to late last season. They also have a better front seven than the Jets, who harassed Ward in Week 1.

The Titans have the seventh-lowest team total in Freedman's Game Model at 19.7 points.

Fantasy Projections

• Median: 9.8
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 15.4
• Floor: 7.1

Tate was drafted as a WR3 to WR4 for much of the summer, but comes in as the WR46 in the projection model. He is my WR43 this week.

Tight Ends To Start In Week 2 Fantasy Football

Colston Loveland | Bears

I broke my rule here of not focusing on high-end fantasy picks, as Loveland was the TE3 off the board. But there's been so much angst around Loveland that I wanted to call out that I have him in my top three again this week.

1. He is the No. 4 TE prospect in the Rookie Super Model since 2018.
2. He CRUSHED last year as the starter, averaging 15.6 PPG in a six-game stretch as the starter.
3. He had the highest route share of any TE in Week 1 at 89%.

Let's keep the macro view in perspective. Players boom and dud in one-week samples ALL THE TIME. It happens. Don't let that cloud your judgment on Loveland—he is very likely going to be an excellent fantasy option this season—especially if Luther Burden remains in a low-route participation role (71%) and if Odunze isn't 100%, playing a downfield role where targets are harder to come by.

The Bears will look to keep things rolling against the Vikings in Week 2 in a divisional game, and Loveland projects as the highest target earner in the offense. And this isn't just the projection model blowing a fuse—it projected his receptions (4.5) and yards (46.9) on the money with oddsmakers before the lines even dropped.

 Fantasy Projections

• Median: 11.8
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 17.8
• Floor: 8.7

Loveland projects as the No. 2 option in the model and is my No. 2 TE in the ranks.

Upgrades For Week 2 Fantasy Lineups (TE)

• Dallas Goedert | Eagles: Goedert was one of my most drafted TEs this summer thanks to A.J. Brown exiting. In 2024 and 2025, Goedert had 32% target share and 2.69 YPRR on plays without Brown—elite territory. The veteran TE boomed in Week 1 for 23.7 points with a 93 Utilization Score and 23% target share. He played 82% of pass plays and was Halen Hurts' security blanket on third and fourth down with a 50% target share. Goedert is my TE6 this week against the Titans. 
   
• Isaiah Likely | Giants: After destroying the Cowboys for 25.8 points with a 29% target share, Likely is moving up the ranks. His 68% route participation rate isn't at the 75-80% threshold we want, but he is the No. 2 target behind Malik Nabers. The Giants have a tough matchup this week against the Rams, but both of their starting linebackers left the game last week, which is something to monitor. Likely is my TE7 in Week 2.
   
• Mark Andrews | Ravens: Andrews posted a route share of 77% with a 25% target share in the season opener. With the WR corps hurting and a lack of receiving depth at TE, Andrews could be the focal point of the offense over the coming weeks. The Ravens have the fifth-best team total in Freedman's Game Model at 27.1 points against the Saints. Andrews is my TE11 as of this writing, but will climb to TE7-8 if Flowers is out.
   
• Hunter Henry | Patriots: Henry could be in for more work with AJ Brown out and a lackluster WR corps. You can do worse than Drake Maye's potential No. 1 option with a 24.9-point team total against a Steelers defense that allowed the third-largest boost to opposing TEs at +3.1 last season. They addressed their LB corps by adding Patrick Queen, so that might not be the case in 2026, but hey, it might still be a great matchup. We don't know. Henry is a high-end TE2 option.
   
• Dalton Schultz | Texans: With Collins questionable due to a hamstring injury, Schultz could add on targets against the Bengals this weekend. Last year, Cincinnati was the No. 1 matchup for TE rooms with a +5.6 boost to the position. Houston also has a thin WR room without any proven target earners, creating a perfect concoction for Ian Hartitz's most-hated TE in history. Schultz is a mid-range TE2 with TE1 upside this weekend.

TE Injury Watch For Week 2 In Fantasy Football

• Brock Bowers | Raiders: Bowers is recovering from a meniscus trim procedure and apparently has a chance to play. I will believe it when I see it, and I really hope the Raiders let him get healthy and avoid a long-term issue this season. If he plays, Bowers will be in the TE4-5 range, with route-limitation concerns. Mayer is a borderline TE1 if Bowers is out—the Notre Dame product led the team with a 24% target share in Week 1.
   
• Chig Okonkwo | Commanders: Okonkwo left last week's game with a hamstring injury and is in danger of missing Week 2. If he doesn't play, it opens up more targets for Stefon Diggs underneath and potentially Antonio Williams.

SICKO START For Week 2 Fantasy Football (TE)

These players are for you deeper-league SICKOS who play in 16-team leagues or TE premium formats with two flex spots.

• Evan Engram | Broncos: The buzz from training camp was that Engram was slotted for a larger role under Davis Webb—his former teammate with the Giants. That storyline proved true in Week 1. Engram upped his route participation rate to 67%—very similar to what we saw with Dalton Kincaid and Likely. The 32-year-old ranked second on the team with a 16% target share and scored 14.3 points. He is a mid-range TE2 and offers low-end TE1 upside against the Jaguars.

Sit These Tight Ends In Week 2 Fantasy Football

Kyle Pitts | Falcons

The Cooper Rush experience in Week 1 was terrible for pass catchers not named Bijan Robinson. Rush threw for only 143 yards and 1 TD while getting picked of twice.

Pitts played 81% of pass plays but was only targeted once and tallied a zero in the box score.

Rush missed Pitts on what would have been a chunk play down the seam that might have been a TD. 

"If Rush makes a better throw, Pitts probably scores; there was no one left to tackle him"

– Troy Aikman

Well, Troy didn't say that because he wasn't covering the game, but you can imagine him saying it if he had.

Freedman's Game Model has lost its mind, upping the Falcons from a 21.4 team total to 22.4. How about downgrading it to 19 or so? It obviously didn't watch the film. Only Freedman could build a model that wants to be a Warm Blanket for the Falcons. What a sick man.

• Median: 7.8
• Xfinity Best (Ceiling): 12.3
• Floor: 5.7

Given Pitts' mercurial past plus the issues with the current version of the offense, I am turning to other avenues where I can. Pitts is my TE17 against the Panthers this week. Of course, that probably means 125 yards and two TDs, so you're welcome in advance.