2019 Week 2 Sit/Start (#FantasyFootball)

The Fanatics Sit/Start Advice for Week 2

Last week I talked about how challenging it is determining who we should sit or start. Talked about how we really do not have any information to go on or how the preseason is pretty useless in helping us figure things out. That said week 2 is not that much better. Yes, we have real game action to look at, but it is only one week and not enough to accurately draw conclusions on how players will perform this season. Which is this weeks lesson to not to overreact to a bad week or even overvalue because of a good week. So let’s dive into some sit start options you might have this week.

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Quarterback

The Fanatics Starts of the Week

Dak Prescott (DAL) @ WAS

Dak was one of my favorite guys to target this past offseason because too many people don’t consider the big picture here. Dak is one of those quarterbacks that play better when surrounded by talent. Having Ezekiel Elliot at running back then Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and Randall Cobb at wide receiver followed by Jason Witten and Blake Jarwin at tight end, you now have a pretty deep and impressive stable of weapons at his disposal. The end result is a total dominance of the New York Giants. Followed up with a matchup with a team that is not that much better on defense in the Washington Redskins. I will be riding Dak at least until week 5 this season.

Other Starts

• Russell Wilson (SEA) @ PIT
• Josh Allen (BUF) @ NYG

The Fanatics Sits of the Week

Jameis Winston (TB) @ CAR

Could Winston had a worse start to the season? Not by much I don’t think. Things are not looking any better either. Coming off a very poor performance he has a short week with a game on the road against division rivals Carolina Panthers. Who just did a pretty solid job in slowing down Jared Goff and the Rams passing game. It does not look good for Winston to rebound this week. Maybe if he survives this week a little extra time before week 3 might do him some good.

Other Sits

• Baker Mayfield (CLE) @ NYJ
• Mitchell Trubisky (CHI) @ DEN

Running Back

The Fanatics Starts of the Week

Matt Breida (SF) @ CIN

I am not a firm believer that Breida is a long term answer for the 49ers, but I cannot deny his opportunity this week. As long as Tevin Coleman is out Breida should do well as the lead back for no other reason than plenty of opportunities. He was in a similar situation last year and at times he looked great and sometimes not so much, but in a year where running backs as a whole have gotten off to a slow start, he is worth the flier if you are struggling at running back and are desperate for some points.

Other Starts

• Devin Singletary (BUF) @ NYG
• Duke Johnson (HOU) vs JAX

The Fanatics Sits of the Week

Phillip Lindsay (DEN) vs CHI

I think the number player that I got asked about this offseason regarding keeper value or should I trade for was Lindsay. I am almost positive I told every single person to stay away from Lindsay. I have zero faith in the guy and I firmly believe he comes crashing back to Earth this year. Now on top of that, he faces a very tough Bears defense this week so that will not help his cause at all. So between crashing down this year and facing the Bears defense this week he is firmly placed on the top of my sit list this week.

Other Sits

• James Conner (PIT) vs SEA
• Aaron Jones (GB) vs MIN

Wide Receiver

The Fanatics Starts of the Week

John Ross (CIN) vs SF

I LOVE target hogs. Guys that are targeted often and catch the ball are usually some of the most consistent players you can roster in fantasy football. That is why I am not surprised that my wide receiver start list consists of three guys that were targeted a total 39 times. I picked Ross to be my number one because I think Crowder and Brown are going to be pretty steady all year, but Ross is going to see this uptick until A.J. Green comes back. Once Green is back I think he drops down some, but I think he will do enough before then to remain an important part of the game plan the rest of the way. Watching last weeks game tape you can see Ross was used in a variety of way and his numbers were not a result of a fluke play that went his way. Feels like we have been waiting forever, but I think we are finally seeing the Ross we were hoping to see back when he was a first-round pick.

Other Starts

• Jamison Crowder (NYJ) vs CLE
• John Brown (BUF) @ NYG

The Fanatics Sits of the Week

Stefon Diggs (MIN) @ GB

Last week Kirk Cousins only attempted 10 passes. For the record, he played the whole game too. Now I am not suggesting that those numbers will be weekly, but I think it is clear that passing 40 to 50 times a game will be pretty rare moving forward in Minnesota. Even look at the last four games of 2018 where he only averaged 28 attempts a game. The Vikings are clearly trying to be more balanced this year and if Cousins is only attempting 30 passes a game I think we will see plenty of weeks where either Diggs or Adam Theilen will struggle to make a fantasy impact. As a result, I just don’t see and banged up Diggs producing this week the way we have gotten used to in recent years.

Other Sits

• Emmanuel Sanders (DEN) vs CHI
• Marvin Jones (DET) vs LAC

Tight End

The Fanatics Starts of the Week

Darren Waller (OAK) vs KC

Last year Jared Cook caught 68 passes for 896 yards and six touchdowns making him the number five tight end in PPR leagues. This year all of those numbers will be going to Waller. He should have a very good year as the Raiders offense as a whole is much better and when Antonio Brown was escorted out of town things only got better for Waller. Start Waller with confidence that he will at least produce a solid number of receptions with a good amount of yards.

Other Starts

• Austin Hooper (ATL) vs PHI
• Mark Andrews (BAL) vs ARI

The Fanatics Sits of the Week

Delanie Walker (TEN) @ IND

Walker benefited last week from great field position, which resulted in two pretty short touchdown passes. This week I just don’t see things work out as well for the Titans. I think they will have to open things up a little bit more this week than they had to do last week. Walker still might get four or five receptions, but I don’t see him getting in the end zone this week, which will really limit his point production.

Other Sits

• Greg Olsen (CAR) vs TB
• Tyler Higbee (LAR) vs NO

Defense

The Fanatics Starts of the Week

Shaq Thompson (CAR) vs TB

Shaq is now the starter for the Panthers who have a history to linebackers that make plays and most importantly in IDP, make tackles. Shaq is pretty solid in coverage and stopping the run. I think a game against a struggling Bucs could mean a big night for the linebacker.

Other Starts

• Justin Reid (HOU) vs JAX
• Akiem Hicks (CHI) @ DEN

The Fanatics Sits of the Week

Myles Jack (JAX) @ HOU

I am not sure what is going on in Jacksonville but that team needs to get their act together. Jack who was ejected last week for throwing a bunch is not the type of player I want to put my faith in. He has a tough matchup this week against a Texans team that has a good offense, but not much in the way tight ends. So if Jack is going to be valuable this week it will come in stopping the run, which Houston might not do too much of this year after losing Miller.

Other Sits

• Tre Boston (CAR) vs TB
• Brandon Graham (PHI) @ ATL

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