The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 2

How are we doing out there Footclan? Are you panicking yet? The good news is everyone else is as well! Yay! Between injuries and the sudden lack of passing yards, nothing has gone how anyone hoped, and that, my friends, is fantasy football. So, what do you do when everything has gone wrong and all hope seems lost? You listen to The Fantasy Footballers and believe that Andy, Mike, and Jason can help you escape the darkness.

On Thursday, they brought us the Starts of the Week for Week 2 and did their best to identify some players you should be able to depend on. To check out the full episode, click the YouTube link below!

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Andy’s Starts of the Week

QB – Tua Tagovailoa vs. BUF

On Wednesday, the full preview of this game took place, and Andy wanted to double down on his confidence in Tua. He thinks this could be his first top-12 career performance against Buffalo. Last week against the Cardinals, the Bills’ defense was very “bend/don’t break,” allowing 28 points at home to the Cardinals. This game has the second-highest total of the week at 49.5 points, with Miami as a 2.5-point home favorite. Last year, in home games, Tua averaged a 73% completion rate, 273 passing yards, and two TDs. In this high-scoring affair, Tua should deliver for you.

RB – Gus Edwards vs. CAR

Last week, J.K. Dobbins had two impressive carries that made Gus Bus look worn out and unrideable. Except that, he saw the highest rate of stacked boxes in the NFL last week against the Raiders. The good news is that they play Carolina this week, so you can play both Chargers RBs. Carolina’s defense gave up 180 total rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground last week. That was the most rushing yards for the Saints since 2022. Now Carolina has lost All-Pro DT Derrick Brown for the season. The Chargers showed they want to be the highest-T offense possible. Mix that with Carolina’s terrible rush defense, and Edwards looks like he is gassed up and ready to go.

WR – Malik Nabers @ WAS

This week, Head Coach Brian Daboll was asked, “How do the Giants get Malik Nabers more involved?” His response was, “Throw him the ball.” That is what we all want to hear as fantasy managers. In Week 1, Nabers saw seven targets, catching five for 66 yards. This performance is a good week for a rookie wide receiver; only 10 other wide receivers ever put up those numbers or better in their first career game. Washington is the best matchup for the WRs. The Commanders were torched last week by the Buccaneers, and last year, they allowed 29 TDs in 17 games to opposing WRs, the most of any defense since 2007. This week could be massive for the rookie.

TE – Colby Parkinson @ ARI

Mike discussed Colby Jack as a TE to keep your eye on as the season progresses. He received the most guaranteed money of any TE this offseason. He played 88% of snaps and ran the most routes among all TEs in the NFL. Those are metrics that stick in fantasy football. Last week, he had five targets and caught four passes for 47 yards, which doesn’t sound great, but he was the TE7 on the week. With Puka out for a while, there is a massive chance Parkinson gets a heavier usage rate, which could give you a solid floor from that position.

Jason’s Starts of the Week

QB – Jared Goff vs. TB

When Jared Goff, the dome-inator, is at home in a 50-point over/under, he is an automatic smash into your lineups. Tampa allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game last season. When the two teams met in the previous year’s divisional round of the playoffs, Goff threw 30/43 for 287 yards and two touchdowns. As much as the Lions love to run the ball, Tampa is strongest in this area, so the Lions will need Goff to succeed.

RB – Rhamondre Stevenson vs. SEA

Last week, Rhamondre had a heavy workload against Cincinnati, carrying the ball 25 times for 120 yards, a touchdown, and three receptions. To go further, Stevenson saw the ball in 44% of the offensive plays. Only Bijan Robinson had a higher rate among RBs in Week 1, so it is the elite company for Stevenson. He faces a Seattle defense that ranked 31st in rushing yards allowed last year, and it is clear the Patriots believe leaning on Stevenson gives them their best bet to win the game. It’s a good recipe cooking up in this game.

WR – Chris Godwin @ DET

The promise that Godwin would be in the slot more seems to be accurate, as in Week 1, he saw eight targets, going eight for 89 yards and a touchdown. Last year, the Lions allowed the most explosive pass plays in the NFL. This use means he should slot in as a WR2 each week for your team.

TE – Pat Freiermuth @ DEN

The Muth was not super Luth last week, having only four targets, an 18% target share. We recognize that the passing game from Pittsburgh isn’t great, but the Denver defense allowed the most fantasy points to opposing TEs. It is not a sexy play, but if you have to stream a TE this week, you can call on the Muth.

Mike’s Starts of the Week

QB – Matthew Stafford @ ARI

The Cardinals are still not great on defense, as last week Buffalo only threw the ball 23 times but averaged 8.9 yards per attempt. Since becoming a Ram, when Stafford has faced the Cardinals, he averages a 70% completion rate, 254 yards, and two passing touchdowns. He still has his best friend, Cooper Kupp, so he has all the weapon he needs for a good game in the desert.

RB – Jordan Mason @ MIN

He was great last week! Mason had 28 attempts for 147 yards and a touchdown last week. He touched the ball on 41% of their plays last week. He was the offense for the 49ers. Christian McCaffrey hit that usage percentage in just four of his games last year. San Francisco is a 5.5-point road favorite this week, and if the team uses Mason like last week, he should explode again!

WR – DJ Moore @ HOU

Week 1 was rough for rookie QB Caleb Williams. Despite that, Moore still saw eight targets and was the clear number-one option in the offense, at least regarding route participation. This game is on Sunday night in a dome, which has been bet up to a 46-point over/under. Expect Moore to exploit the one-on-one coverage opportunities he will get this week. The only players with higher yards per route run last year were CeeDee Lamb, Tyreek Hill, and Nico Collins. In a game that could surprise with high scoring, Moore is vital for the team to be successful.

TE – Mark Andrews vs. LV

He is being left for dead in most leagues, seeing Andrews ranked behind Pitts, Kincaid, and Kittle. Mike is not there yet with one of the best TEs in the last few years, who ran the second-most routes at the position last week. The Ravens are 8.5-point home favorites with a 25-point team-implied total. The Raiders allowed the sixth-highest opponent TE target share. Last week, the Chiefs did everything they could to take Andrews out of the game; the Raiders do not have the talent to do the same.