The Week 2 fantasy football rankings, sleepers and projections are here. Need a Christian McCaffrey or Puka Nacua sleeper replacement? Looking for each game’s breakdown of things to know? How about joining a Best Mega Man stage music debate? I have it all, so let’s get to those ranks!
- Fantasy Football rankings! — obviously
- Sleepers — will aim to give at least one per team
- Notes — aka, breakdowns, game previews, what have you — important things
- Fun ranks! This can be anything from cartoons to players from the 80s to things not to do when you’re over 30 — feel free to suggest yours
- Answering questions in the comments — I try to answer as many as I humanly can!
#CheckTheLink-age
Week 2 SOS Ranks (coming soon)
Fantasy Football 101 (weather, lineups, trading, more)
All in Football Podcast
WEEK 2 FANTASY FOOTBALL PREVIEWS
Bills at Dolphins, Thursday, 8 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Keon Coleman, WR, BUF — See below. Khalil Shakir is in play too if Coleman struggles in a Jalen Ramsey bounce-back effort (struggled to stop Brian Thomas Jr. last week).
- Jeff Wilson, RB, MIA — Many will gravitate to Jaylen Wright if Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane are out, but Wilson is the lead in that scenario and has more trust (currently). Wilson would be in play even if both suited up, as the Dolphins could limit both leads this week.
- NOTES: For those wanting more James Cook rushing touchdowns this year, Josh Allen actually had a third called back on a hold… You know I love Khalil Shakir, but Keon Coleman is the early favorite and potential Top 30 WR with team highs in 90.0 Route% and 21.7 TmTGT%, plus the only end zone target… Dalton Kincaid ran the second-most routes and was constantly bracketed, so don’t panic yet…
Saints at Cowboys, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Foster Moreau, TE, NO — It could be Juwan Johnson too, but Moreau historically does significantly better versus man coverage, and the Cowboys ran/run it the fourth most.
- Brandin Cooks, WR, DAL — Similarly, Cooks jumps from 0.73 EPA versus zone to 4.66 versus man last year and through Week 1. The Saints run man third most.
- NOTES: Not only did Rashid Shaheed have a huge Week 1 with 3.84 YPPR (min 10 routes), which was good for eighth, but he was one of five players with over 100 unrealized air yards (102)… Rico Dowdle might lose his handle on the backup role if Hunter Luepke is already involved and Dalvin Cook gets up to speed.
Buccaneers at Lions, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Jalen McMillan, WR, TB — Actually led the Buccaneers in Route% (88.2) and nearly had two, if not three, touchdowns, and this has shootout potential written all over it.
- Uh, Week 1 pick is gone — Jameson Williams was here last week, so with Williams heavily in lineups this week, I wouldn’t look deeper on the Lions.
- NOTES: Dating back to last year, Baker Mayfield is seventh in TD/ATT% (5.4) ahead of names like Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa and Patrick Mahomes… The Lions allowed nearly four more plays per game to opponents at home — it might not sound like a lot, but it’s a bump worth noting, especially when we already know Jared Goff’s home/road (specifically outdoors) splits.
Colts at Packers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Adonai Mitchell, WR, IND — As mentioned in waivers, Alec Pierce hit the big plays, but Mitchell had a TGT% (percent targeted on routes) of 27.8 (Michael Pittman led the way with 38.1), while Pierce had 15.0. Mitchell also narrowly missed a huge touchdown.
- Jayden Reed, WR, GB — You might be hesitant to start any Packers receiver with Malik Willis behind center, but the Packers will continue to manufacture touches for Reed. Don’t be surprised if Romeo Doubs is Willis’ safety blanket, by the way.
- NOTES: Jonathan Taylor was the only running back with 100% of his team’s RB touches… Josh Jacobs checked in 13th at 75.0%… Since Willis was drafted in 2022, he has a 14.9 OffTGT% — 14th worst — with names like Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Davis Mills, Drew Lock and Zach Wilson around him.
Jets at Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Allen Lazard, WR, NYJ — Yes, I wet-blanketed Lazard a bit in waivers, but until Mike Williams is 100%, I can see rolling him out, especially if Aaron Rodgers is going to funnel the passing game through just Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall and him (essentially).
- Tyjae Spears, RB, TEN — Identical TmTGT% to Tony Pollard with 100% of the Titans’ RB touches on third and fourth down.
- NOTES: No one had more unrealized air yards than Calvin Ridley in Week 1 (134)… DeAndre Hopkins ran just nine routes and, similar to Mike Williams, he’s unstartable until we see if he’s going to be 100%.
49ers at Vikings, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- 49ers DST — I mean, you’re starting the skill players, so chase the potential Sam Darnold anti-revenge excitement.
- Jalen Nailor, WR, MIN — With Jordan Addison sidelined, Nailor is next up, and while the 49ers are tough, they give up chunk plays, and Nailor’s nickname is “Speedy” — was a state champ sprinter.
- NOTES: Back to the 49ers, and things change, but last year they gave up the eighth-most receptions of 20+ yards… Ty Chandler mixed in a good deal, but Aaron Jones doesn’t need 20+ touches to be an RB1. In fact, most of the time in Green Bay he was in the low-mid teens for carries with a handful of receptions.
Seahawks at Patriots, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Zach Charbonnet, RB, SEA — Obvious if Kenneth Walker is out, but still in play if Walker is active.
- Demario Douglas, WR, NE — Volume underneath is the Bo Nix way, but so is much of Jacoby Brissett’s.
- NOTES: Despite running 25 routes to Tyler Lockett’s 20, Jaxon Smith-Njigba had just two targets to seven for Lockett (team-high). Lockett isn’t going gentle into that good night, yet… Rhamondre Stevenson was one of five running backs with 80%+ of his team’s RB touches and 100% of the third-down touches (Jonathan Taylor, Jordan Mason, Kyren Williams, Bijan Robinson).
Giants at Commanders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Jalin Hyatt, WR, NYG — After Malik Nabers and Devin Singletary, it gets rough, but if Darius Slayton is out, the Commanders give Hyatt the chance for some big plays (he doesn’t have to rotate with Slayton).
- Austin Ekeler, RB, WSH — The Giants can’t stop anything, and Ekeler had a 4-4-52 receiving line in Week 1.
- NOTES: Obviously, Brian Robinson is the better play than Ekeler, as not only did Robinson get tackled at the one-yard line twice in Week 1, but the Giants allowed the eighth-highest goal-to-go touchdown rate from last season (plus Week 1) at 76.5%… Dating back to Week 1 last year, only the Panthers are worse than the Commanders at generating QB pressure, and Daniel Jones not only jumps from 2.7 TD/ATT% to 3.4, but all 13 of his career rushing touchdowns are while not under pressure.
Chargers at Panthers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Ladd McConkey, WR, LAC — Likely not a true sleeper to those who know, but while Joshua Palmer should see better days, CB Jaycee Horn is a tough matchup and could cover Palmer often. That leaves McConkey to do work underneath again.
- Diontae Johnson, WR, CAR — I’m giving Johnson a pass, hoping the Panthers wisen up.
- NOTES: I mentioned the Panthers’ inability to defend the slot last week, and Rashid Shaheed spends/spent a good amount of time there, and he went off in Week 1. Well, guess who’s the top slot option for the Chargers?… The Panthers are also abysmal against the run and just lost Derrick Brown to injury — J.K. Dobbins is a strong start and Gus Edwards is a touchdown-prayer play… No Panthers wideout had more than 74.4 Route% and that was Adam Thielen. I’m not dropping Diontae Johnson yet, but the Panthers need to get their heads right — why bring him in to do this?
Browns at Jaguars, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Jerry Jeudy, WR, CLE — I’m not overly interested in Jordan Akins, but I’ll take a chance on Jeudy seeing more targets in a role more suited for Deshaun Watson’s (lack of) ability.
- Gabe Davis, WR, JAX — He was the only wideout in single-WR sets, and Brian Thomas is obvious at this point — or my guy should be! — so, chasing big-play upside, especially after the Browns gave up a few in Week 1.
- NOTES: The Browns led the league in forcing 3-and-outs last year, and even with the loss in Week 1, they were at 50%, tied for fifth highest… Tank Bigsby had one game with double-digit carries last year (10 in the Week 17 drubbing of the Panthers). It remains to be seen if Bigsby is part of a one-two punch or if that was a one-week aberration.
Raiders at Ravens, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Pass — It’s the Raiders offense against the Ravens. Outside of Davante Adams — maybe Brock Bowers because you have to — who else do you want to touch?
- Justice Hill, RB, BAL — The Ravens aren’t going to give Derrick Henry “30 touches a game,” and Hill was the primary passing game option, also seeing 80% of the third downs.
- NOTES: The Raiders are 5-13 in games where they are dogs by a touchdown or more… The Ravens are 14-2 over the last five years in home games favored by a touchdown or more… The line is currently 8 for the Ravens.
Rams at Cardinals, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Tyler Johnson, WR, LAR — As mentioned in waivers, Johnson filled the Puka Nacua role, so while everyone knows about Demarcus Robinson, don’t overlook Johnson.
- Greg Dortch, WR, ARI — Kyler Murray loves him some Dortch. Even with a Marvin Harrison Jr. rebound, Dortch is still in play.
- NOTES: Since the start of last season, Matthew Stafford has attempted fewer than 30 passes just three times (Weeks 6-8 vs ARI, PIT, DAL)… Over the past five years, just eight receivers have posted 75+ yards in their first game, and just seven had a TmTGT% over 14.0% — don’t hate on Harrison yet.
Steelers at Broncos, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Pass — With Justin Fields at quarterback, it’s start Najee Harris and George Pickens — the end.
- Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, DEN — Even without his seeing a higher Touch% than Javonte Williams in Week 1, the Broncos duo is in play as RB3/Flex options with passing game upside.
- NOTES: Week 1 was the 17th time Justin Fields has rushed for 50+ yards (29 games)… Devaughn Vele may make me look foolish, but I’m not buying the third (actual fourth behind Greg Dulcich) option in Route% (just 59.2). I don’t think the Steelers are going to sit back and let Bo Nix pepper them underneath all game.
Bengals at Chiefs, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Andrei Iosivas, WR, CIN — This is hoping for a Tee Higgins return because Iosivas is a bit miscast as the No. 2 option, and if Higgins returns, he could be on a count in a potential shootout.
- Xavier Worthy, WR, KC — We did last week, so we have to again. Unlike Jameson Williams above, I’m putting Worthy here because I’d still risk him in deep league even if Marquise Brown is back.
- NOTES: Zack Moss not only handled 64.7% of the RB touches, he saw 100% of the third-down ones… Going back to Week 16 of 2022, the Chiefs have only allowed four quarterbacks to throw for 2+ touchdowns — the same number of zero-TD games.
Bears at Texans, Sunday, 8 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Keenan Allen, WR, CHI — Rome Odunze has an MCL sprain and Allen led with a 37.9 TmTGT% and 42.3 TGT% on routes.
- None — You’re playing them all. Everyone is a stud… okay, not Dalton Schultz.
- NOTES: D’Andre Swift was the clear lead, though there were only 14 touches for the running backs, but mysteriously Khalil Herbert had 100% of the third-down touches… Tank Dell is going to be more boom/bust this year as the No. 3, but Stefon Diggs might also be a good sell-high given his 1.50 AirYD/TGT and 0.97 YPRR.
Falcons at Eagles, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS
- Tyler Allgeier, RB, ATL — We loved seeing Bijan Robinson’s Week 1 workload, but Kirk Cousins isn’t comfortable dropping back, and if the Falcons have hope, they likely will lean on both running backs.
- Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI — Because he’s not A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith or Saquon Barkley… and people need tight ends.
- NOTES: If you haven’t seen, the Falcons were in shotgun or pistol 96% of the time, never ran from shotgun, but ran 81% in pistol. This goes back to Cousins’ inability to drop back and the Allgeier play… Week 1 was Barkley’s second career three-touchdown game and first since Week 11 of his rookie season (2018). It was also his eighth game of 30+ PPR points.
FUN WITH RANKS
Best Mega Man Stage Songs/Music
You know the series is one of my favorites, and Mega Man 2 is in my Top 10 of games. Part of the greatest is the amazing stage songs. Here are my MM1 (Mega Man 1s… like RB1s… whatever, I tried) picks. Plus, a Top 5 of non-true-stage music since Wily Stage 1-2 contends for the top spot, no question.
- Flash Man
- Wood Man
- Quick Man
- Snake Man
- Metal Man
- Skull Man
- Crash Man
- Flame Man
- Top Man
- Solar Man
- Bubble Man
- Shade Man
Honorable Mentions of sorts
- Wily Stage 1-2 (MM2)
- Cossack Stage 3-4 (MM4)
- Wily Stage 3-4 (MM3)
- Mega Man 2 Boss Battles
- Mega Man 3 Opening Theme
WEEK 2 FANTASY FOOTBALL PROJECTIONS
🚨 HEADS UP 🚨 These can differ from my rankings, and MY RANKS are the order I’d start players outside of added context, such as, “Need highest upside, even if risky.” Also, based on 4-point TDs for QB, 6-point rest, and Half-PPR
Download Link Added Thursday
WEEK 2 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS
🚨 HEADS UP 🚨
- There is no perfect widget out there, sadly, still. I know many view this on your phone, but 1) use the rankings widget on a PC/laptop/etc. if possible or 2) open in your phone’s browser, especially for Android users, to get the scrolling to properly work.
- ECR = “Expert” Consensus Ranking (which isn’t updated by everyone consistently, so take with a grain of salt).
- Updated regularly, so check up to lineups locking.
(Top photo of Bakey Mayfield, Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)
