Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em: Week 2

The 2024 NFL regular season is now underway, and it was a wild one in terms of injuries. We had some pretty prominent players either go down, or they were surprise inactives for the first set of games. Not good.

Hopefully, you were able to avoid the minefields and put up a healthy amount of points, because there were a lot of tremendous fantasy performances, too, especially from some unlikely sources. Let’s try and mine some gems to help get into the win column in Week 2.

Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.

Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.

Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@danieledobish), or check out our start/bench list for Week 2:

Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders at New York Giants: The rookie didn’t do much through the air in his NFL debut, completing 17 of 24 for 184 yards, no TD passes and no INTs, but he had a game-high 88 yards and two scores on the ground in the 37-20 loss at Tampa Bay in Week 1. Daniels is an exciting player who should get his first NFL win against a Giants team that allowed journeyman Sam Darnold to toss a pair of TDs.

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers at Carolina Panthers: How the mighty have fallen. Last season, Herbert was easily considered a QB1, but the landscape has changed dramatically in Southern California. Coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman are both run-first guys, but it’s hard to imagine Herbert won’t be unleashed on a Carolina pass defense that allowed 379 total yards, including 199 through the air. The Saints delivered a knockout blow early through the air, then minced up the Cats on the ground late. Herbert also won’t have to contend with DL Derrick Brown, the best Panthers’ defender, as he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1.

Sit ‘Em

Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles actually allowed 251 passing yards to the Green Bay Packers down in Brazil in Week 1, but it should be better at home. And, Cousins has been a historically poor quarterback in prime time, especially Monday nights. He is 3-10 in his career on MNF, and he has thrown at least one INT in six straight appearances on Mondays, while posting just 10 TDs and eight INTs in that span. He has had just one 300-yard showing in the past seven MNF games.

Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings: While the Vikings defense locked down the New York Giants in Week 1, Purdy is no Daniel Jones. Purdy is actually good. But, there is a question whether or not he’ll have RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles, calf) on the artificial turf at U.S. Bank Stadium. That takes away a big weapon in the passing game, as CMC is tremendous on short routes, which is helpful in a hostile environment. WR Brandon Aiyuk looked rusty in the opener, too, so it’s possible Purdy goes well under Week 2 projections.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos: Harris managed 70 rushing yards on 20 attempts for a pedestrian 3.5 yards per carry, while also catching a pass. He should be able to find more open spaces against a Denver Broncos rush defense that conceded 146 rushing yards to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1. Denver did a decent job against the run in the first half, but it was whittled down in the second half, and it ended up allowing 4.4 yards per rushing attempt for the game.

Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers vs. Indianapolis Colts: Jacobs (back) was drafted as a high-end RB2 in most fantasy leagues, but he could produce big-time numbers in his Lambeau Field debut. Jacobs will be tasked with providing a steadying presence in the offense after losing QB Jordan Love (knee) to a week-to-week injury. The Colts were gouged for 213 yards last week at home against the Houston Texans, so look for Jacobs to add to their woes.

Sit ‘Em

Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns: Etienne managed 44 rushing yards and a touchdown last week in Miami, but he also had a disastrous fumble, which turned the tide of the game. RB Tank Bigsby was given a chance, and he shined with 73 yards on 12 carries — 6.1 yards per attempt to just 3.7 YPA for Etienne. Neither is likely to be able to find much open real estate against a strong, angry Cleveland Browns defense.

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys: Kamara saw a total of 20 touches in the Week 1 rout of the Panthers, rumbling for 83 yards and a touchdown, while absorbing all five of his targets for 27 receiving yards. He had a healthy 5.5 yards per attempt against Carolina, but he won’t duplicate those numbers in Big D. The Cowboys allowed just 54 rushing yards to the position and just 3.8 yards per carry in Week 1. Kamara will have a much more difficult time Sunday than the prior game.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

DJ Moore, Chicago Bears at Houston Texans: The Chicago Bears picked up a victory in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans, but it had little to do with the passing offense. QB Caleb Williams was rather uneven in his NFL debut, and Moore was limited to just 36 yards on five receptions, while adding a 14-yard rush. The Texans were carved up by QB Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis last week, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Moore get loose for a big play or two in a primetime game Sunday night.

Malik Nabers, New York Giants at Washington Commanders: The rookie out of LSU was everything as advertised, looking like a WR1 from the jump. Unfortunately for Nabers, and his fantasy managers, Jones is hot garbage under center. Still, Nabers appears to be the undisputed WR1 for Big Blue, and there isn’t a ton of other mouths to feed. Washington was touched up for 280 yards through the air in Week 1, so perhaps even Jones will find a ray of sunshine on the Suncoast.

Sit ‘Em

Allen Lazard, New York Jets at Tennessee Titans: Lazard was a hot addition off of the waiver wire after he produced two touchdowns Monday night in San Francisco, while posting 89 yards on six receptions. He had one TD in 14 games last season. Yes, having QB Aaron Rodgers helps Lazard’s fantasy value, but WR Garrett Wilson is the top dog in this offense. Pump the brakes on Lazard as he remains more of a fringe fantasy option in most formats.

Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers vs. Indianapolis Colts: Reed had his own little Carnivale down in Sao Paulo, roasting the Philadelphia Eagles‘ pass defense for four receptions, 138 yards, and a 70-yard scoring hookup with Love. He was really developing quite the rapport with Love, but now that’s on pause for a while, as the Green Bay starting signal caller is on the shelf. Reed won’t have nearly the same connection with QB Malik Willis, who was just acquired at the end of training camp.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants: Yes, he is still around. After seemingly getting lost in the desert, Ertz is back in the NFC East with Washington, and he had three grabs for 28 yards on four targets in Week 1 in Tampa. Eventually, rookie TE Ben Sinnott should emerge as a big red-zone target, but he was blanked in his debut. Ertz is the steadying veteran presence a young QB like Jayden Daniels needs, and the two should do a little damage against a bad Giants defense on Sunday.

Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals: Parkinson had a respectable four grabs for 47 yards on five targets in Detroit in Week 1. He is obviously behind WR Cooper Kupp and RB Kyren Williams in the pecking order for targets, but with the team losing WR Puka Nacua to a knee injury, Parkinson suddenly has some viability in the Los Angeles passing attack. Don’t be surprised if he puts up mid-TE1 numbers in the desert.

Sit ‘Em

Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders at Baltimore Ravens: I liked the rookie from Georgia in last week’s game against the Chargers, but I don’t like his prospects for another good performance in Charm City. The Ravens limited TE Travis Kelce to just 34 yards on three grabs and four targets, and the tricky Baltimore defense isn’t about to let a rookie burn them at home.

Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens vs. Las Vegas Raiders: There are a couple of things working against Likely in Week 2. The Ravens are going to get All-Pro TE Mark Andrews the ball and likely to run a lot more in a game they should be ahead in early. Likely will likely see fewer targets and opportunities due to game situation.