Fantasy Football Start 'Em Sit 'Em Week 2
by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen
Sportz Nation - 9/16/2026
Quarterbacks
Start 'Em
Baker Mayfield vs CLE
Baker Mayfield is coming off a modest performance in week 1, where we threw for 216 yards but zero touchdowns. The Buccaneers struggled to get things going against the Bengals, but should have a bounce back game against a Browns defense that just let up 34 points to Jacksonville.
Jaden Daniels at DAL
In what was a very tough week 1 draw against the Eagles, Jaden Daniels managed to put up solid numbers. He passed for 164 yards and 2 Touchdowns, while also adding another 34 yards on the ground. Daniels has a new set of weapons at his disposal this season, doing a nice job sharing the ball around against a very good Eagles defense. Dallas should be a much easier matchup for Daniels, who should have a lot more opportunities to make plays both through the air and on the ground.
Sit 'Em
C.J. Stroud vs CIN
Stroud looked like a brand new Quarterback last week vs Buffalo but I really believe that had more to do with Buffalo's defense than himself. This week he'll be at home again and... and I never thought I'd say this... be playing against a much better Cincinnati defense. Stroud connected on 4 different 20+ yard passes last week for the first time in his career which has turned him into QB7 this week all of a sudden. I'm here to tell you that was a fluke.
Jaxson Dart at LAR
Dart had an incredible showing in Week 1 where he not only showed off his dual threat ability like we knew he could but showed tremendous poise and decision-making as well. Dart took advantage of the situation, a Week 1 home game against one of the worst defenses in the league last year. Now he'll be playing the Rams' defense who had a stinker in Week 1 but should be WAY better at both getting to the Quarterback and shutting down receivers this time around.
Running Backs
Start 'Em
Aaron Jones at CHI
With Jordan Mason hitting IR with a Thumb injury, Aaron Jones will assume the RB1 role in the Vikings week 2 matchup against the Bears. Jones, who received 12 carries even with Mason playing, should get even more opportunities both on the ground and as a pass catcher out of the backfield. Mason’s absence makes Jones the work horse as well as the red zone back, warranting him a start in week two against a Bears defense that just allowed 37 points to Carolina.
Chuba Hubbard at ATL
Speaking of Carolina, Hubbard showed that he is the sole RB1 in Carolina and a big part of their offense. With a solid 13-touch, 87 total yard, and 2 touchdown performance, Hubbard can build off a great week 1 performance against a lackluster Falcons defense. If Carolina’s offensive production is legitimate, like we saw last week, Hubbard may develop into a must start should he continue to be involved in the passing and running game.
Sit 'Em
Jonathan Taylor at KC
Jonathan Taylor was the only bright spot for the Colts in Week 1 with Taylor's 22.1 Fantasy points. From a good defense to a better one on the road, Taylor will get every opportunity but there is a slim chance the Chiefs don't lock in on the former OPOY this week.
Javonte Williams vs WAS
Yahoo has Williams as the RB6 of Week 2 but will be facing a much better rushing defense in Washington this week. Williams has the luxury of being the only Running back worthy of touches in Dallas but after they held Barkley to just 8 points last week, I'm NOT hopeful for Williams.
Wide Receivers
Start 'Em
Romeo Doubs vs PIT
I know what you may be thinking; yes, Doubs had an abysmal week 1 performance with zero catches and a horrific dropped pass, but one game can’t define what a player can do. New England paid Doubs for a reason, and with AJ Brown landing in IR, he is going to have to be relied upon more if the Patriots want to succeed.
Doubs should be able to bounce back in week two. We still aren’t sure how good Pittsburg’s defense is, considering they played the Cooper Rush led Falcons last week, but we have to expect New England’s offense to be better. Doubs has a lot of talent but failed to show it in his Patriots debut; I expect Doubs to come back stronger and New England have game-planned more around the emphasis of getting him the football far more often.
DJ Moore vs DET
DJ Moore looked like every bit of the WR1 the Bills have been looking for ever since Stefan Diggs left Buffalo. Coming off a 5-catch (8 targets), 100-yard, and one touchdown performance against a concensus top-3 defense in football, Moore should thrive against a much lesser Lions secondary. Detroit just let up 410 passing yards to Tyler Shough and the Saints, so imagine what the ceiling is for Josh Allen and the Bills if they can put up 36 points against Houston. Moore is a must start and should put up monster numbers in his first prime time game as a Bill.
Sit 'Em
Drake London vs CAR
London is a talented guy but as long as the Falcons' QB room consoists of Cooper Rush, Jack Strand or maybe Tua, just don't start anyone from Atlanta that's not Bijan. Legitimately, what are we saying London's ceiling is this week in a divisional game? The absolute highest would be like 11 points if he got a bunch of targets and a touchdown.
Jaylen Waddle vs JAX
I was hesitant to draft Waddle for this exact reason, I just don't think we'll see a true #1 receiver in Denver this season. Waddle caught only 1 reception on 3 targets for 2 yards in his Broncos debut. He'll get better probably as early as this week but against a defense like Jacksonville there's still a good chance he won't go off and is really just a FLEX option until he proves otherwise.
Tight Ends
Start 'Em
Tucker Kraft at NYJ
Tucker Kraft has a solid week one performance against the Vikings, posting a respectable line of 3 catches on 6 targets for 65 yards. Green Bay’s offense looked explosive before it crumbled in the late stages, with Kraft being a big part of that. Green Bay should score a lot of points in what is a poor Jets defense, making be believe Kraft should he in for another TE1 type performance.
George Kittle vs MIA
Though it wasn’t a great fantasy performance? George Kittle looked pretty good for his first game since tearing his Achilles less than a year ago. His 2 catches for 12 yards is far from serviceable, but he was targeted five times and ran routes on 47.2% of San Francisco’s passes. This is more than expected for Kittle in week 1, likely because 49ers TE Jake Tonges went down with injury. With Tonges now out for the season with a torn MCL, Kittle’s opportunities should only increase against a horrible Dolphins defense.
Sit 'Em
Kyle Pitts vs CAR
You'll notice that the Tight Ends in this "Sit 'Em" section are the same as last week and there's a reason for it, they're both VERY overhyped. Pitts is a great athlete yes but he is not in the situation he needs to be to be successful. Obviously the Falcons' QB situation is a part of it but I mean more about their style and play on offense where they get the ball to Bijan or London 90% of the time.
Harold Fannin at TB
While Pitts situation isn't ALL about the QB-situation, Fannin's is. In his 2nd year in the NFL, Fannin still has the good in both routes and recognition and I thought he'd be the one receiver on the Browns that would get targets being that he's only 4 yards away from Watson. As it turns out, that's still too far. Fannin is a great player with potential to be the outlet his team needs but he is strictly on the "I'll believe it when I see it" list.
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-Z.D.
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