2024 Week 2 Start, Sit, and More

In this weekly column, I go over some things that I find interesting about the upcoming slate of NFL games that could impact your fantasy team. It will range from my personal start/sit recommendations to open-ended stats that you can decipher at your own discretion. This is all to make you not only a better fantasy football player but also a more knowledgeable football fan.

Things to Look Out For in Week 2

Quarterbacks

🏇 Anthony Richardson’s style of play led him to have the highest intended air yards per attempt in the NFL last week (16.5) and the highest Aggressiveness rate at 26.3% according to NFL NGS. NGS measures aggressiveness as a defender within a yard of the receiver at the time of completion or incompletion. Given Michael Pittman was in the bottom 8 in separation in Week 1 and accounted for 42% of the target share, that number makes sense. Pittman is Richardson’s favorite target, but he just couldn’t separate. They get the Packers this week who just gave up 266 passing yards to the Eagles, 6th highest in the NFL.

🐈‍⬛ If there was one positive to take away from Bryce Young’s game, it was that he was pushing the ball downfield. He averaged the second most IAY behind Richardson last week. The problem was his abysmal completion percentage. His receivers, aside from Xavier Legette, actually did a decent job separating. He simply didn’t connect and threw the ball to the defense a few times. And he faces a Chargers defense that racked up four sacks in Week 1. 🔵 

I don’t want to keep bashing Carolina because I know Panthers fans read this, but I wanted to mention one thing. Since 2000, there have been seven quarterbacks who have: a completion rate below 60%, yards per attempt lower than 6.0, and a touchdown rate below 2.5% in their first seventeen games with at least 200 passing attempts. That’s an ESPN broadcast stat if I’ve ever seen one, but follow? Those players are Ryan Fitzpatrick, Chris Weinke, Josh Rosen, Ryan Mallet, Jimmy Clausen, Kyle Orton, and…Bryce Young. 📉 

🐏 Matthew Stafford is still on waivers in many leagues, so if you’re in need of a streamer with Jordan Love hurt, he’s where I would go if available. Arizona gave up the fourth most Net Yards/Attempt last week and the sixth most yards per play to the Bills on Sunday. The Rams played well in their loss to Detroit and could be in for a get-right game.

Running Backs

🟣 Las Vegas just gave up the second-most rushing yards to running backs in Week 1 to Gus Edwards and a guy who’s coming off of multiple season-ending injuries (J.K. Dobbins). Now they have to face Derrick Henry and receiving-back Justice Hill. Henry should be in a friendlier gamescript this week and though it seems the Ravens aren’t going to give him the Henry workload of old, he’s still a capable running back. Hill is a nice flex play as he may be involved more if the Ravens get up big in addition to his passing down work.

🛫 Breece Hall should be in your starting lineup this week, but you may need to temper expectations. The Titans’ run defense looks to be solid yet again, after allowing just 44 rushing yards to the Bears’ running backs. But, Hall is better than any RB on the Bears roster and should catch some passes so he’s still a fine start. It just might not be a blow-up week.

🐴 Javonte Williams had a very disappointing Week 1 but could be in for a bounce back in Week 2. Audric Estime was put on IR on Wednesday and that will open things up for Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin. Both running backs were inefficient in Week 1, and both figure to be much the same again. If you’re in need of a volume-based start, you could do worse than the Denver backs, but exactly how much worse is unclear. All that to say, a bounce-back could mean 6.5 fantasy points, not enough for me to consider starting them outside of deep leagues against the Steelers’ defensive front. 🟠 

🏇 While we’re on the subject of running backs, I mentioned Anthony Richardson above, but I want to go ahead and say Jonathan Taylor is in a bounce-back spot against the Packers this week. I don’t think he will score three touchdowns like Saquon Barkley did in Brazil, but the Packers have been a bad run defense for years now, and it doesn’t look like that’s changed.

⚡️ Heck with it, let’s continue talking running backs. Waiver wire sensation J.K. Dobbins should be in starting lineups this week. Gus Edwards will likely factor in too with the Chargers being heavy favorites against the Carolina Panthers and their helpless defense. The Panthers allowed 4.4 ypc against the Saints aging running backs last week and have lost yet another defensive starter.

🐻 One more running back mention. D’Andre Swift was a big disappointment last week, and I don’t think that changes this weekend. The Texans revamped defense held Jonathan Taylor to 3.0 ypc last week, Taylor’s fantasy day was saved by a touchdown. The Bears’ will hopefully move the ball better than they did on Sunday, but even so, I’m not sure it will be enough to warrant starting Swift. 🟠 

Wide Receivers

🔥 I faded Calvin Ridley last week, and I’m going to do it again. Suace Gardner is an elite cornerback and will be guarding Ridley often. Sauce opposing receivers to under two receptions a game and “allowed” ONE touchdown last year. That was an 81-yard reception to Khalil Shakir where Sauce happened to be the nearest defender, Shakir wasn’t even his man. In the final four games of 2023, he allowed just six…SIX receiving yards. Not per game. In total. What if Ridley isn’t shadowed? D.J. Reed is no slouch either. He allowed over 50 receiving yards three times last year, and twice it was while facing Miami. Go figure.

Start the Rams pass catchers this week. The Bills WRs accumulated 14 targets against them, caught 12, averaged 12.7 yards per reception, and scored twice. If Cooper Kupp gets even 15 targets, he’s in for a big day (not that you were sitting him). Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson should be in for flex-worthy days as well, especially with Puka Nacua on IR. 🔵 

🔵 I get that Daniel Jones is bad, but Malik Nabers should be locked into starting lineups this week. Washington’s defense is just. that. bad. Wan’Dale Robinson was targeted 12 times last week against Minnesota and should be a favorite short-area target for Daniel Jones yet again.

On the flip side, Luke McCaffrey presents an interesting deep streaming option. He caught three passes for 18 yards and nearly scored but was tackled at the goal line.🎖️ 

If you can afford to sit Stefon Diggs this week, I would. I have a feeling regression is going to hit him hard this week. His ADOT in Week 1 was an abysmal 1.5, and I doubt he’s going to catch every Stroud touchdown pass. 📉 That 1.5 ADOT will rise without a doubt, but it does highlight his short-area role in Houston. If he scores, he will be fine, but if Nico Collins or Tank Dell has a big game, you’ll be left wanting.

Tight Ends

☠️ Let’s talk about Brock Bowers. Bowers was the clear lead TE in Vegas last week. Not only that, he led the team in targets and receptions to boot. Though the Ravens held Travis Kelce to a low yardage total, they still tied for the second-most yards given up and 6th most receptions allowed to tight ends in Week 1. ⬛️ 

The last player I will shout out today is Dalton Schultz. The Bears were one of only four teams who allowed a touchdown to tight ends in Week 1. It’s hard to go off of one-game sample sizes, but the Bears’ secondary will be preoccupied with stopping the Texans’ outside threats which could leave Schultz open in the short area. 🐄