2017 NFL Fantasy Football Start/Sit – Week 2

I hit on some really nice suggestions last week. I was one of the few people out there to scream the praises of Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp. He was a stud at Eastern Washington and brought his tight routes and sticky hands to the NFL.

I hope Mr. Kupp enjoys my amazing awkward MS Paint sKiLLz.

Did the sleepers you drafted pay off Week 1? Did you already dump those guys?

Who will takeover for injured Arizona RB David Johnson and Jacksonville WR Allen Robinson?

We help navigate the many decisions you need to make going into the second week of fantasy football.

Here is our Fantasy Football Sit/Start for Week 2 of the 2017 NFL season.

I want to explain what I mean by “sit” and “start.” Of course you are going to start some of the guys i say to bench this week, because you probably used high draft picks or a lot of money in an auction for them. My ‘sit’ players are guys I am just not completely sold that they will have good weeks. If you have a guy that you are on the fence about, maybe this will help you pick between the players.

START’EM

  • WR Cooper Kupp (Los Angeles Rams) – Kupp was my ‘sleeper pick of the week’ in Week 1. Kupp had four receptions for 76 yards and one touchdown on only six targets. He would have had more targets, but the Rams were spanking the Colts and just starting running the ball to kill the clock for most of the second-half.
  • RB Tarik Cohen (Chicago Bears) – Cohen surprised nearly everyone last week and was used in many different ways. He took most of his snaps at running back, but he was even used as a slot receiver. I expected RB Jordan Howard would get the larger percentage of snaps, but the upside for Cohen is hard to ignore.
  • WR Zay Jones (Buffalo Bills) – I whiffed with this pick last week. I didn’t expect Jordan Matthews to play due to his chest injury. Jones still played all but a handful of snaps. I would rank him as the #2 receiver in Buffalo. He’s a nice #3 receiver or flex option for you…at least until he goes off for a big week.
  • RB Kerwynn Williams (Arizona Cardinals) – After the Colts drafted Williams in the 7th round in 2013, he has bounced around between practice squad and main roster, but has made a home in Arizona as a third-string running back. RB David Johnson dislocated his wrist which will cause him to miss 2 to 3 months. Arizona re-signed RB Chris Johnson, but head coach Bruce Arians named Williams the lead running back this weekend. Williams hasn’t had a ton of opportunity, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a big game against the lowly Colts.
  • Arizona Cardinals Defense & Special Teams – As many of you saw last week, the Rams destroyed my Colts. I have little to no faith in Indy to win a single game without Andrew Luck. Any DEF/ST the Colts play the next month will be an instant-start in my book.
  • WR Kenny Golladay (Detroit Lions) – The Lions have a lot of receivers built the same, but then there’s 6’4 Kenny Golladay. QB Matthew Stafford is used to playing with a huge receiver (Calvin Johnson) and it’s nice to have a tall, deep threat if he wants to open up his big arm. Golladay did tweak his ankle last week, so keep an eye on his status this week.
  • WR Marqise Lee (Jacksonville Jaguars) – WR Allen Robinson injured his knee and is out for the season. Lee is the ‘next man up’ and should receive plenty of targets this season. He has 63 catches for 851 yards last season and I expect even better numbers from this point forward. I would also expect an increase for WR Allen Hurns as well.
  • WR Chris Hogan (New England Patriots) – I wasn’t sure which white receiver would benefit from Julian Edelman’s absence…and the answer is Amendola. Unfortunately for Amendola, he suffered a concussion late in their loss to Kansas City. Chris Hogan only had one reception on the day, but if Amendola can’t go, I believe Hogan is the guy. Keep an eye on the injury report. If Amendola is healthy, start him…if not, Hogan will be your guy.
  • RB Darren Sproles (Philadelphia Eagles) – The ‘flex spot’ on your fantasy team was made for a guy like Darren Sproles. He is a PPR stud, but with very little rushing yards. The Chiefs gave up a lot of receiving yards to running back last year. Sproles will be a thorn in their side all day. Safety Eric Berry is out for the year and it will put extra stress on outside linebackers.
  • QB Carson Palmer (Arizona Cardinals) – I really feel like I’m piling on the Colts, but the Cardinals are going to destroy them. Head coach Bruce Arians was a coach in Indy when Colts head coach Chuck Pagano was dealing with cancer. They remain good friends, but maybe not after Sunday. Palmer should have an efficient day against the Colts.
  • Baltimore Ravens Defense & Special Teams – Just like I said above about the Colts, I will say about the Browns. They have some nice, young pieces there, but will be another year or so before they have the depth. The Ravens defense and special teams should be a solid start.
  • WR Corey Davis (Tennessee Titans) – I didn’t like Davis going into last week due to him being bother by a hamstring injury. He didn’t look injured on Sunday against the Raiders. Rishard Matthews and Davis cemented their place as the #1 and #2 receivers for the Titans. Davis will only get better and is a nice deep target for QB Marcus Mariota.
  • QB Jared Goff (Los Angeles Rams) DEEP LEAGUE ALERT – Okay, here me out…I know Goff is owned in less than ten percentage of leagues, but he looked so smooth against the Colts. He faces a pretty good secondary in Washington this week, but if you’re stuck and have Goff in a deep league, start him.

SIT’EM

  • WR Torrey Smith (Philadelphia Eagles) – I never liked the Eagles signing Smith. QB Carson Wentz needs to focus on securing the ball and doesn’t have the option to air it out to a guy like Smith. RB Darren Sproles and WRs Alshon Jeffery & Nelson Agholor and TE Zach Ertz are ahead of Smith on the target hierarchy (I may have just made up a phrase).
  • TE Hunter Henry (Los Angeles Chargers) – Henry may have played more offensive snaps than fellow TE Antonio Gates, but he didn’t get a single target. I’m sure that will change against Miami, but Gates still eats into his targets. I don’t like him this week.
  • WR Sterling Shepard (New York Giants) – I know he had seven receptions last week, but Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall both sat out against the Cowboys. Shepard is nothing more than a possession receiver. OBJ and Marshall are the studs with the big play ability.
  • Jacksonville Jaguars Defense & Special Teams – I loved the Jags defense going into this season and looked great in Week 1. I’m a big fan of streaming defenses and think there are better options than Jacksonville this week. The Titans have a legit offense and their defensive line is one of the best in the league. I don’t see them having many opportunities for turnovers.
  • RB Jamaal Charles (Denver Broncos) –  RB C.J. Anderson made it clear on Monday night that he was the #1 running back in Denver. Charles still received 10 carries, but fumbled last in the game. Charles still has the ability to break a big run, but he won’t get many carries to do so. 
  • RB Le’Veon Bell (Pittsburgh Steelers) – I know if you have Bell on your team, you’re going to start him. I just placed Bell on this list to temper any expectation of a bounce-back week. Running backs almost always struggle when they first come back from a holdout. Bell will need a few games to get back into football shape.
  • QB Eli Manning (New York Giants) – I wouldn’t start Eli until both OBJ and Brandon Marshall are in the game. Also, the Giants offensive line looked mediocre against Dallas. Eli was pressured on nearly every play. It may take a week or two to make adjustments to the line.
  • RB Adrian Peterson (New Orleans Saints) – Why is Peterson owned in 100% of leagues and guys like Chris Thompson, Kerwynn Williams and Darren Sproles aren’t owned in all leagues?! I guess name value gets you places, even if Peterson is the second, third or even fourth option in New Orleans. If you think Peterson will get goalline work in place of Ingram, nope…big RB John Kuhn is there to scavenge TDs.
Email me at BobbyMcRib@gmail.com if you have a specific fantasy football question.

 

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sweetbob-author-picAbout the Author…

Bobby Roberts (otherwise known as Sweetbob) is the creator of ‘America’s White Boy’ and contributor at Project Shanks. His writing has been featured on ESPN’s ‘SportsNation’, Sports Illustrated’s Hot ClicksGuyspeed, and various other sites. You can follow him on Twitter at @Sweetbob.