The Fanatics Sit/Start Advice for Week 2
Hopefully week one went your way and as long as you were not playing against anyone that rostered Saints players you had a pretty good shot at winning. The important thing to remember about week two is not to get too carried away if your stars did not shine or your bench balled out on you. Don’t overreact or over think you players. If you need some help evaluating your roster check out my sit starts below. Remember if you have any other sit start questions you can hit me up in my Facebook group Dynasty League Problems or on twitter @MikeKelleyDLPÂ Good luck this week.
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Quarterback
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
Philip Rivers (LAC) @ BUF
The Buffalo Bills are rapidly becoming the team that you must start your offensive and defensive players against every week. Last week against a less than average Joe Flacco the Bills gave up 260 yards and three touchdowns. Philip Rivers is no average Joe and coming off a tough loss against the Chiefs I am looking for Rivers to go off this weekend. I have high hopes for Rivers this season and after last weeks 34-51/424/3-1 line against a Chiefs team that usually does well against the Chargers and I am really excited about what he can do against a team that looks like it might the worst team from top to bottom. Do not be surprised if Rivers throws for over 350 yards and another three touchdowns against a Bills team that will be giving him good field position all day.
Other Starts
- Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) vs KC
- Jared Goff (LAR) vs ARI
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Patrick Mahomes (KC) @ PIT
WOW! What a week for Patrick Mahomes, 15-27/256/4 could not have been a better start for him this year. Mahomes was five for five and passes behind the line of scrimmage which includes three for three where he takes the shotgun snap and just tosses right in front of himself and the receiver comes running across and grabs it and takes off. That means the passes that traveled past the line of scrimmage he was 10-22/228/2. The yardage and touchdowns are fine, but that completion percentage has me very concerned. Mahomes has a rocket arm and when you have guys as talented as Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins you can just chuck the ball and those guys to the rest. But when you are forced to pick apart a defense that won’t work, and to date, I have yet to see Mahomes consistently read a defense and hit the open guy as he progresses through his options. I think that is why we saw a big drop in Travis Kelce‘s production. Mahomes in ability to methodically work the passing game will hurt Kelce and some weeks really hurt his own production. This could be one of those weeks where he faces a solid Steelers defense. I am expecting Mahomes barely completes 50 percent of his passes and has less than 250 yards with multiple turnovers. I wanna see him dominate a drive, not just chuck the ball a mile before I consider him a weekly starter.
Other Sits
- Andrew Luck (IND) @ WAS
- Ryan Fitzpatrick (TB) vs PHI
Running Back
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
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Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson (WAS) vs IND
The Redskins Duo of Peterson and Thompson accounted for 31 rushes for 161 yards and a touchdown and added eight receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown. That is a total of 294 yards of offense between the two of them. AP was worth 22.6 points in typical PPR formats and Thompson was worth 24.8 points. That was good enough for both backs to be in the top eight among running backs. It remains to be seen if AP can still hold up of the course of a 16 games season, but until we see signs of him slowing down I would be rolling out both of these guys on a regular basis. Regarding Thompson, he claimed that he was not back to where he was last year, but from what I saw I think he looked more explosive than last year. Not exactly an Alvin Kamara like performance, but could certainly consider it a poor man’s Kamara. Bottom line I expect both guys to perform week in and week out for the time being. With AP pushing for 100 yards and a touchdown most weeks and Thompson catching the five or six passes for 60 plus yards with a handful of carries to add on 35 more yards and good chances of finding the end zone.
Other Starts
- Austin Ekeler (LAR) @ BUF
- Lamar Miller (HOU) @ TEN
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Joe Mixon (CIN) vs BAL
Mixon had a very good week one. 95 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown. He also added five receptions for 54 yards. Most weeks I think Mixon can reach these goals, but this week he faces a very tough Ravens defense, who absolutely shut down the Bills running game last week. No one will ever confuse the Colts defense with the Ravens defense so I am not expecting the same type of success this week. Mixon did face the Ravens one time last year and while he had some success on the ground he did not find the end zone and was virtually a non-factor in the passing game. This year I think it is the best Mixon owners can hope for. 75 plus yards on the ground and maybe a couple of catches for less than 15 yards and no touchdowns on the day.
Other Sits
- Kareem Hunt (KC) @ PIT
- Kenyan Drake (MIA) @ NYJ
Wide Receiver
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
Quincy Enunwa (NYJ) vs MIA
In Enunwa’s first game back after missing all of last year and Sam Darnold‘s first game as a pro, the two looked like old buddies that have been playing together for a long time. Enunwa was clearly Darnold’s favorite target. In fact, ten of Darnold’s 21 pass attempts went in Enunwa’s direction. Enunwa turned those ten targets into six receptions for 63 yards and a hard-fought touchdown. If Enunwa maintains the role of security blanket for Darnold he could be in for a very nice season. This week the Jet’s face division rival Miami Dolphins and while the phins did a solid job on defense last week, let’s be honest, Blaine Gabbert spent half of the game playing quarterback, and that is a big drop from Marcus Mariota. I think we can expect a similar line from Enunwa this week in the ballpark of six or seven receptions for 70 plus yards with a decent shot at another touchdown.
Other Starts
- Nelson Agholor (PHI) @ TB
- Cooper Kupp (LAR) vs ARI
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Josh Gordon (CLE) @ NO
Okay, Josh Gordon truthers where are you? Josh Gordon was on the field for 69 of 89 snaps which were the second most among wide receivers. In those 69 snaps, he saw three targets which he turned into one reception for 17 yards and a touchdown. The following is a list of people that saw more targets than Gordon. Jarvis Landry(15), David Njoku(7), Duke Johnson(6) and Rashard Higgins(4). It should also be noted that Tyrod Taylor threw the ball 40 times too. I have argued from the beginning that Gordon would not be nearly what people are expecting because he is no longer the focal point of the offense. Could it change over time? Yes. But for now, I would be avoiding Gordon and would only view him as a boom or bust play. That said a game against the Saints could be just what the doctor order to bring him out, but unless they announce Baker Mayfield the starter I would not be risking Gordon this weekend. Three receptions for 45 yards and zero touchdowns this week is what I am expecting from Gordon.
Other Sits
- Amari Cooper (OAK) @ DEN
- Corey Davis (TEN) vs TEX
Tight End
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
Jordan Reed (WAS) @ IND
As long as Reed is healthy I think he is must start. It also looks like the Redskins are not going to overuse him when they don’t have too. Last week in the first half Reed had four receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown. Then with the Redskins in control of the game in the second half all Reed saw was one target. But what I take away from that is when he is in the game he will be the main target and will produce plenty even in limited action. This week he faces a Colts defense that is not very good and should at least have an opportunity to catch six or seven passes for 70 yards and a good shot at a touchdown. Do
not sit this guy until you see him on the injury report on a late Friday afternoon.
Other Starts
- Tyler Higbee (LAR) vs ARI
- Ben Watson (NO) vs CLE
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Travis Kelce (KC) @ PIT
This is directly related to the Mahomes information presented earlier. I have very serious concerns that Mahomes has no ability to pick apart a defense and hit a guy in the five to 15 yards range. Until Mahomes can make those throws it might seriously limit Kelce value. Kelce owners only hope at this point might be the coach’s work out some very specific things to get Kelce the ball. Until that happens I would be concerned every week you have to roll him out. I just don’t see the five-plus receptions we are used to for Kelce and I am worried that three receptions might be his max for a while. This could be a long year
for Kelce owners.
Other Sits
- Will Dissly (SEA) @ CHI
- Austin Hooper (ATL) vs CAR
Defense
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
Los Angles Chargers @ BUF
This spot is a direct result of playing the Bills this week. If Nathen Peterman starts this week there should be plenty of turnover opportunity. If they go with Josh Allen maybe fewer turnovers but more punts, as Allen is just not ready for the NFL.
Other Starts
- New York Jets vs MIA
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Cleveland Browns @ NO
While the Browns are much better than years past, it’s the Saints at home. The Saints just have too much firepower and one of the smartest coach and quarterback combos since perhaps Bill Walsh and Joe Montana. Don’t count on the Browns defense to make noise this week.
Other Sits
- Arizona Cardinals vs LAR
Michael Kelley is a member of the Going For 2 team. You can check out his website Dynasty League Problems for more writings or find him on Twitter @mikekelleydlp spreading fantasy knowledge for the masses.
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