Start Sit Week 2 Fantasy Football

Hello Heat Seekers, welcome to episode 103 of Sully’s 2 Cents Fantasy Football Podcast, I am you host Rob Sullivan. Sully’s 2 Cents Fantasy Football Podcast is a proud member of the RotoHeat family of podcasts.

Well, week one is in the books and I hope that you are all 1-0 to start the 2020 campaign. Two individuals that I know have started 1-0 in the Sully’s 2 Cents Listener League and they are long time Sully’s 2 cents fans Blair Dickey and Josh Crab. Both had convincing victories in week 1. Blair put up 175.38 points and Josh posted an impressive 174.5 points of his own. I am happy to say that I squeaked out a victory as well.

The RotoHeat Guillotine League is off and running and with each passing week a team is eliminated. It sure looked like it was going to be me for a while there, and in the end Kenyon Drake scored a TD and Tyler Higbee did just enough for me to escape elimination. I was the lowest scoring team that advanced. Sadly, for Blair Dickey it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows in week 1, as he was the eliminated member this week.

Today we are talking start sit for week two. As I mentioned last week, I won’t be telling you to start Christian McCaffrey and sit Lynn Bowden Jr., those are no brainer decisions. I will be sharing with you all two to start and two to sit at four skilled positions that I feel are real-life decisions that you may have to make.


Last week I told you to trust your draft and start the guys you drafted early. That message remains. Do not overreact to one week. That is all week one was, one of 16 weeks in your fantasy schedule. The odds that you were going 16-0 are beyond slim. Treat last week like any other week. If you had a bad week 7 you likely wouldn’t over react and blow up your roster so don’t do that here.

I had some hits and misses last week. Starting Big Ben was a good call, sitting Arron Rodgers was not. At running back listing James Conner as a start didn’t work out as he was injured yet again, but sitting Le’Veon Bell was the right decision. I nailed Calvin Ridley as a start and was off on listing Hollywood Brown a sit. My TE calls last week terrible. Darren Waller and Hayden Hurst were my starts they were TE16 and TE20, and my sits Jared Cook and Austin Hooper were TE10 and TE32, so I suppose sitting Hooper was a good call.

Alright, let’s get into week 2 we kick it off at the quarterback position.

1. Quarterback

Buffalo Bills Extend QB Josh Allen
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 28: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills throws a pass in the second quarter on Thanksgiving Day during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at NRG Stadium on November 28, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) Start Sit Week 2 Fantasy Football

Start


Josh Allen – Buffalo Bills
Sully’s Rank: QB5

I have been hard on Josh Allen. He is ranked outside my top-12 in my season long rankings and that is already looking like a mistake. Allen had a great start to the season, scoring 28.2 fantasy points in a win over the Jets. This week he gets the Dolphins, who allowed 25.7 points to Cam Newton, in their season opener. Allen has owned Miami during his career too, scoring 21.3 points or more in all four meetings. That includes three games with over 28 points and one with 40.5 points. In my opinion Allen is a must start in this week.

Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons
Sully’s Rank: QB8

Matt Ryan did what Matt Ryan does a week ago. He threw 54 times for 450 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the Seahawks. You have to love a QB that had 3 WRs go over 100 receiving yards in the same game. Keep Ryan in your starting lineup this week too, as he’ll face a Cowboys defense that looked bad in its opener against the Rams and has since lost LB Leighton Vander Esch. This game has an over/under of 52, so it’s expected to be a high-scoring contest. In addition to Matt Ryan I would start all the usual Falcons and Cowboys this week.

Sit

Carson Wentz – Philadelphia Eagles
Sully’s Rank: QB15

I like starting a quarterback who is willing to throw the ball deep, and Wentz certainly did last week. He led all Week 1 passers with 12.0 average intended air yards per throw. Despite connecting with Jalen Reagor for a 55-yard bomb, Wentz nevertheless averaged a lackluster 6.4 yards per completion. His 6.4 yards per completion ranked 11th best.

The Eagles pass protection is a disaster. Playing without Lane Johnson, Brandon Brooks, and Andre Dilliard, the Eagles’ offensive line gave up eight sacks to Washington. The constant pressure also generated two interceptions and fumbles. Wentz had the worst Week 1 QBR than Wentz (14.2), and now prepares to face Aaron Donald and the Rams. After seeing what Washington did to Wentz combined with what the Rams did to Dak Prescott last week, Wentz is an easy sit for me this week.

Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions
Sully’s Rank: QB23

Matthew Stafford should have had a much better fantasy fate last week, but his rookie RB D’Andre Swift dropped a gimmie touchdown that would have pushed Stafford over 20 fantasy points, and given the Lions the win. Stafford is in tough this week when the Lions face Green Bay. The Packers allowed just 13.1 fantasy points per game to visiting quarterbacks a season ago. That includes Stafford, who had a zero-touchdown, 11.5-point stinker at Lambeau Field in Week 6. I will say getting Kenny Golladay back will help. Regardless I am looking elsewhere for my starting QB in week two.

2. Running Back

Start

Jonathan Taylor – Indianapolis Colts
Sully’s Rank: RB8

Rob Silvers, Bryce Frazier and I have debated numerous times on the Fantasy Inferno live steam when Jonathan Taylor will assume the lead back role in Indy. Well the time in now and the answer apparently was Week two. Taylor is the new lead back after Marlon Mack tore his Achilles in Week 1. He will continue to share touches with Nyheim Hines, but it should be noted that he handled 57.7 percent of the team’s backfield touches in Jacksonville in week one. The Vikings also allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs in their opener, so Taylor is in a good spot to make an impact. He’s a virtual must-start in a game with a 47.5 over-under total.

Raheem Mostert – San Francisco 49ers
Sully’s Rank: RB11

Raheem Mostert is coming off a huge performance against the Cardinals with 151 total yards and one touchdown, and he’s in line for another solid line in New York. The Jets allowed just 22 fantasy points to Bills running backs last week, that the reality is they allowed 33.7 points when you add in Josh Allen’s rushing totals. The Jets are a seven-point home underdog, so game script should mean a lot of Raheem Mostert and the Niners’ backfield, especially in the second half. Mostert is a top-12 back this week, start him with confidence, the Jets are terrible.

Sit

Sony Michel – New England Patriots
Sully’s Rank: RB43

The good news when it comes to Sony Michel is he started for the Patriots and scored a touchdown last week. The bad news when it comes to Sony Michel is he played on just 19 snaps and averaged 3.7 yards per attempt. He was also second on the roster in carries behind quarterback Cam Newton, who was used heavily as a runner and had five rushes (two touchdowns) in the red zone. The Seahawks did allow a nice stat line to Todd Gurley last week, but with the typical RBBC in New England and a red zone threat QB, Michel is a tough sell for me on Sunday.

Jordan Howard – Miami Dolphins
Sully’s Rank: RB55

Jordan Howard scoring a touchdown last week. Pretty impressive since he had a brutal 0.9 yards-per-rush average and wasn’t targeted once in the passing game. He also had fewer carries than Myles Gaskin, who led the Dolphins backfield with 39 snaps. With what is a very questionable role in the offense and a tough match-up against the Buffalo Bills in week two, Howard (and let’s be honest, every Miami RB) needs to be on the fantasy bench.

3. Wide Receiver

Start

Marquise Brown – Baltimore Ravens
Sully’s Rank: WR13

Another player that I have been hard on and another player that I may have been dead wrong on. Brown looked good in Week 1, hauling in five of six targets for 101 yards and 15.1 fantasy points against Cleveland. He’s in a good spot to succeed again, as he travels to Houston to face a Texans defense that allowed the ninth-most points to outside wide receivers a season ago. What’s more, Houston allowed two touchdowns to the position last week, and it should have been more had Demarcus Robinson not dropped two end-zone passes from Patrick Mahomes.

T.Y. Hilton – Indianapolis Colts
Sully’s Rank: WR25

As a Vikings fan, let’s just say I am preparing for a long season. Hilton’s opening-week performance like that of the Colts in general left much to be desired. He did play 59 snaps and led all Colts wideouts in target percentage (15.3) against the Jaguars. I’m starting him this week. The weak Vikings defense allowed an embarrassing 22 catches, 315 receiving yards, and an 81.5 completion percentage to Packers wideouts last week, and that was at home. As a result, I have Hilton as a top-24 WR this week and if you need a flex, Parris Campbell is a hell of an option.

Sit

Sterling Shepard – New York Giants
Sully’s Rank: WR42

If we learned anything from the Giants offense last week, it’s that Daniel Jones has a whole lot of love for Darius Slayton. He led all New York wide receivers in snaps and targets, leaving Sterling Shepard as the second option with Golden Tate was out of action. The Bears were also tough on wide receivers last season and held Detroit wideouts without a score in Week 1. The Bears defense remains legit and as a result I have Shepard struggling and as a sit this week.

Sammy Watkins – Kansas City Chiefs
Sully’s Rank: WR43

Sammy Watkins loves week 1 apparently. Watkins went off last week, posting seven catches on nine targets with a touchdown and 21.5 fantasy points. As impressive as his performance was it pails in comparison to his 2019 46.8 week 1 explosion. If you start Watkins this week, be prepared to be let down. The match-up in Los Angeles against the Chargers is anything but attractive. The secondary is one of the best in the NFL, and Watkins has failed to score more than 5.2 points in four games against them.

4. Tight End

Start Sit Week 2 Fantasy Football
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 10: Jared Cook #87 of the New Orleans Saints reacts after a first down against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes Benz Superdome on November 10, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Start Sit Week 2 Fantasy Football

Start

Jared Cook – New Orleans Saints
Sully’s Rank: TE10

Jared Cook , another player it would appear that I was wrong about. Cook had five catches for 80 yards in the Saints’ opener, and he has now had at least 84 receiving yards or a touchdown in six of his last seven games dating back to last season. In addition Cook will be in line for even more opportunities in the passing attack with Michael Thomas out. It’s a great match-up that is also a in a revenge game. The current over/under is 50.5 so we should expect plenty of points scored in the Raiders opening of their new stadium. Start Jared Cook, your fantasy team will benefit.

Hunter Henry – Los Angeles Chargers
Sully’s Rank: TE4

Hunter Henry had a solid opener for fantasy, hauling in five of his eight targets for 73 yards in a win over the Bengals. He ranked second among Chargers receivers in snaps behind Keenan Allen, and his eight targets tied Allen for second. He should be in your starting lineups against the Chiefs, as Henry scored 14-plus fantasy points in both of their 2019 match-ups. Game script could also dictate the Chargers are throwing a ton. I have spoken on numerous occasions this offseason about Charles Clay benefiting from Tyrod Taylor in his Buffalo days, this is why. Hunter Henry is an easy start for me this week.

Sit

Mike Gesicki – Miami Dolphins
Sully’s Rank: TE21

Mike Gesicki was targeted 5 times a week ago and was limited to just three catches for 30 yards in the loss to the Patriots. He’ll struggle to produce a good line this week too, as the Dolphins host a Bills defense that allowed the second-fewest points to tight ends last season and held Chris Herndon to 37 yards last week. Gesicki has also had trouble against Buffalo in his career, scoring 8.1 fantasy points or fewer in three career match-ups against the AFC East foe. Mike Gesicki is a TE that I am high on, but the reality is with the Dolphins early schedule you need alternate plans at the TE position.

Rob Gronkowski – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sully’s Rank: TE19

All offseason I was saying that the Bucs didn’t bring in Gronk to block. Well maybe I was wrong, (an all too reoccurring theme this week I should add). Gronkowski was quiet in his first NFL game since 2018, hauling in two of three targets for 11 yards. He did lead all Bucs tight ends in snaps (54), but O.J. Howard had more targets (6) and scored on one of Tom Brady’s two touchdowns. This week’s match-up versus the Panthers isn’t great either, as tight ends averaged the fourth-fewest points against them last season. Their defense also held Darren Waller to just 45 yards in Week 1. The Panthers defense in general though is pretty weak. I expect a big week from Brady and his WRs. Gronk however should be on your bench.

Thank you for listening to Start Sit Week 2 Fantasy Football

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