Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 2
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 2
The first week of the 2023 NFL regular season is in the books. I would like to congratulate the fantasy football team owners who won their first matchup and offer my apologies to those who did not. Here are my recommendations for start/sit week 2.
Browns @ Steelers | 8:15 pm EST Monday
ESPN Starting Percentage: 61.4%
In week 1, Watson helped the Browns blow out the Bengals 24-3. He completed 16/29 passes for 154 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. The Steelers defense gave up 30 points to the 49ers in week 1, in which Brock Purdy threw 2 touchdowns. Watson has a good chance of accumulating at least 225-250 yards passing and throwing for a minimum of two touchdowns. Expect Watson to perform as a mid-range QB2 in the Browns matchup against the Steelers in week 2.
49ers @ Rams | 4:05 pm EST Sunday
ESPN Starting Percentage: 2.6%
In week 1, Purdy and the 49ers enjoyed a nice win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in his first game since his UCL injury that he suffered in the NFC Championship last season. He completed 19/29 passes for 220 yards and threw 2 touchdowns. The Rams on the other hand gave up 13 points to Seattle’s offense. In my opinion, the 49ers offense is more efficient than Seattle’s. I expect Purdy to put up similar numbers as he did against the Steelers. I also believe the 49ers will get Christian McCaffrey more involved in the passing game as well in this game. Purdy is a low-end QB2 in this matchup against the Rams on Sunday.
Packers @ Falcons | 1:00 pm EST Sunday
ESPN Starting Percentage: 17.5%
The Packers enjoyed Jordan Love’s first official game as the team’s starting quarterback as they demolished the Bears 38-20. Unfortunately, starting running back Aaron Jones suffered a non-contact hamstring injury in the third quarter while running toward the endzone. Jones did not enter the game for the rest of the day. This leaves the door open for Dillon to become the starting running back in week 2 if Jones is not cleared to play. I’m not concerned by Dillon’s week 1 performance only rushing for 19 yards on 13 carries. On the flip side, the Falcons only allowed 10 points to the Panthers offense led by rookie starting quarterback Bryce Young. However, they did give up a total of 132 yards on the ground from the team’s running backs Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard. Expect Dillon to become a high-end RB2 if Jones does not play in week 2 against the Falcons.
Bears @ Buccaneers | 1:00 pm EST Sunday
ESPN Starting Percentage: 72.9%
White unfortunately did not have the most productive night in the Buccaneers win over the Vikings on Sunday. He rushed for only 39 yards on 17 carries, averaging 2.3 yards per carry, and caught 2 passes for 10 yards. The Bears, however, allowed Packers running back Aaron Jones to rush for 41 yards on 9 carries, averaging 4.6 yards per carry, scoring 1 touchdown. Jones also caught two receptions for 86 yards and scored 1 touchdown. White is an elusive back like Jones, so I expect the Buccaneers to use him similarly in this matchup. Expect White to become a high-end RB2 at his floor, and a low-end RB1 at his ceiling.
Ravens @ Bengals | 1:00 pm EST Sunday
ESPN Starting Percentage: 9.1%
Unfortunately, the starting running back for the Baltimore Ravens J.K. Dobbins suffered a torn achilles that will end his season immediately. This opens the door for Edwards to emerge as the team’s starting running back. This past Sunday the Bengals defense gave up 106 yards to Browns running back Nick Chubb. Edwards has an excellent matchup against the Bengals this weekend and should become a low-end RB1 in week 2.
Colts @ Texans | 1:00 pm EST Sunday
ESPN Starting Percentage: 22.3%
Pittman Jr. put up double-digit numbers in the Colts loss to the Jaguars in week 1. He recorded 8 receptions for 97 yards, averaging 12.1 yards per reception, and scored 1 touchdown. This past Sunday, the Texans defense gave up 25 points to the Ravens offense. I expect Pittman Jr. to become a high-end WR2 in the Colts matchup against the Texans in week 2.
Ravens @ Bengals | 1:00 pm EST Sunday
ESPN Starting Percentage: 9.1%
Flowers helped the Ravens defeat the Houston Texans on Sunday 25-9. Flowers had a nice outing recording 9 receptions for 78 yards, averaging 8.7 yards per reception. The debut for the rookie was promising as he led the Ravens receivers in receptions and yards. Against the Bengals, which in week 1 gave up 24 points to the Browns, is going to be a good matchup for the young receiver. I expect Flowers to perform as a mid-range WR2 at his floor, and a high-end WR2 at his ceiling.
Seahawks @ Lions | 1:00 pm EST Sunday
ESPN Starting Percentage: 11.5%
LaPorta caught all five of his targets for 39 yards in last Thursday night’s victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in an upset. The Seahawks defense allowed Rams tight end Tyler Higbee to record 3 receptions for 49 yards in week 1. He looks to build on his debut performance against the Seahawks defense and in a good matchup. I expect LaPorta to become a low-end TE2 in this matchup against the Seahawks defense in week 2.
Chiefs @ Jaguars | 1:00 pm EST Sunday
ESPN Starting Percentage: 4.5%
The status of the availability of Travis Kelce in week 2’s matchup against the Jaguars is still in question. Gray’s fantasy stock rose exponentially, especially after he played 87% of offensive snaps and recorded 3 receptions for 31 yards in last Thursday’s loss to the Detroit Lions. In week 2 against the Jaguars, Gray should have a more solidified position in the offensive game plan. I expect Gray to perform as a mid-range TE2.
Browns @ Steelers | 8:15 pm EST Sunday
ESPN Starting Percentage: 3.7%
Pickett unfortunately had an underwhelming performance against the 49ers. His performance was surprising to me due to the tremendous preseason he had along with the rest of the offense. He completed 31/46 passes for 232 yards, throwing 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Pickett and the Steelers offense face another tough matchup in week 2 against the Browns who held Joe Burrow to only 83 passing yards last week. I recommend sitting Pickett in this matchup.
Chiefs @ Jaguars | 1:00 pm EST Sunday
ESPN Starting Percentage: 46.0%
Pacheco did not enter the Chiefs matchup against the Lions as the team’s starting running back. Instead, Clyde Edwards-Helaire entered the game as the starter, which I thought was interesting but not surprising. Pacheco was held to 23 yards on 8 carries and recorded 4 receptions for 31 yards. I do not expect Pacheco to perform well this week against the Jaguars defense as they held the Colts rushing game to a minimum in week 1.
Packers @ Falcons | 1:00 pm EST Sunday
ESPN Starting Percentage: 34.4%
The Falcons dominated the Panthers in week 1, winning 24-10. However, the Panthers held the second-year receiver Drake London to zero catches. The Falcons offense relied on two players, running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, who scored touchdowns in their outings. In a horrendous matchup against the Packers defense, I recommend sitting London in week 2.
Colts @ Texans | 1:00 pm EST Sunday
ESPN Starting Percentage: 30.2%
In the Texans poor performance against the Ravens defense, Schultz was held to four receiving yards on 2 catches. In week 2, the Colts held tight end Evan Engram to 49 yards receiving. The Texans offense is still under construction with Stroud as their quarterback, and I am not confident in their efficiency. I recommend sitting Schultz until the offense starts to perform better.
Lawrence is a fan of the Green Bay Packers. He is currently a graduate student at William Paterson University pursuing a master’s degree in Financial Planning. His hobbies include all things fantasy football, weightlifting, collecting Yu-Gi-Oh trading cards, and playing Madden. He specializes in dynasty fantasy football having won two championships in the past five years. He is also a college football fan who loves to watch his Buckeyes play on Saturdays while drinking pumpkin-flavored coffee. He is always looking to evolve his game as a fantasy football player and one of his goals is to help other players do the same.
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