Welcome to the Week 2 Fantasy Football Playbook! Keep in mind, we've got a Monday night doubleheader this week with Titans-Bills on ESPN/ESPN2 at 7:15 and Vikings-Eagles at 8:30 on ABC/ESPN+.
This will be your game-by-game guide to the week's slate of NFL games, featuring score projections, over/unders, win probabilities and, of course, easily digestible fantasy advice for both season-long and DFS leagues. This guide should help you with all sorts of decision-making, including sit/start decisions, last-minute waiver adds and lineup choices.
The advice is centered on 12-team PPR leagues with relatively standard scoring and lineup settings (1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 Flex, 1 K, 1 D/ST), although I'll often mention "shallow" or "deep" leagues for some starters. The charts show all players who have been projected for at least 6.0 fantasy points this week, as well as all D/STs. "Matchup" is automatically determined using a proprietary metric that factors in both raw and volume-adjusted fantasy points allowed to each position by the opposing defense this season.
(Editor's note: Projections and rankings will align almost perfectly, but sometimes when a projection is close, a player might be ranked slightly higher or lower because of other factors, including upside or risk. This column is subject to possible updates during the weekend, although at the very minimum, rankings will be updated on the site and projections will always be updated inside the game leading up to kickoff.)
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Miami Dolphins @ Baltimore Ravens
Lineup locks: Lamar Jackson, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Mark Andrews
Tua Tagovailoa won't be a streaming option this week on the road against a good Ravens defense, especially after he was held off the scoresheet as a rusher in Week 1.
Chase Edmonds played on a healthy 64% of the Week 1 snaps and handled 12 of the team's 18 RB carries, as well as four targets. He's in the RB2 mix. If J.K. Dobbins returns this week, he's likely to share the backfield with Kenyan Drake, who handled 11 carries and one target on 58% of the snaps in Week 1. Neither would be a recommended flex. If Dobbins remains out, Drake will be a flex option.
Rashod Bateman was held to two catches on five targets in Week 1, but he caught a long touchdown and was an every-down player. He's best viewed as a flex against potential Xavien Howard shadow coverage.
Mike Gesicki is currently not on the fantasy radar after seeing just one target on 14 routes in the opener.
Over/Under: 46.8 (7th highest in Week 2)
Win Prob: Ravens 62% (9th highest in Week 2)
New York Jets @ Cleveland Browns
Lineup locks: Nick Chubb
Michael Carter soaked up 10 carries and nine targets while playing on 59% of the Jets' snaps in Week 1. He's the 1A back in New York for now, ahead of rookie Breece Hall (six carries and 10 targets on 45% of the snaps). Both will see a big dip in targets moving forward, but Carter is nonetheless a viable RB2 this week, whereas Hall is a shaky flex.
Kareem Hunt out-snapped Chubb and scored a pair of touchdowns on 15 touches in Week 1. He'll remain a featured player and is in the RB2 discussion.
Elijah Moore was fifth on the Jets in targets in Week 1, but he was easily first among the team's receivers in snaps (70 out of 79) and routes (55 out of 62). He remains in the WR3 mix.
Amari Cooper's first game with Jacoby Brissett went poorly (17 yards on six targets), and he has fallen to fringe flex territory. Secondary receivers Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis and Donovan Peoples-Jones are best left on benches, even after productive season debuts.
Over/Under: 41.1 (16th highest)
Win Prob: Browns 63% (8th highest)
Washington Commanders @ Detroit Lions
Lineup locks: D'Andre Swift, Antonio Gibson, Terry McLaurin, Amon-Ra St. Brown, T.J. Hockenson
Carson Wentz has entered the streaming discussion after throwing for 313 yards and four touchdowns in an impressive Week 1 showing by the Washington offense. He has another plus matchup this week with Detroit on the docket.
Jamaal Williams scored two touchdowns in Week 1 yet still wasn't a top-15 fantasy scorer at the position, which tells you what you need to know about his stand-alone value. Williams belongs on benches, just like J.D. McKissic, who will be more appealing when Washington is an underdog.
Curtis Samuel soaked up four carries and 11 targets in Week 1, which helped him to a top-15 fantasy outing. Meanwhile, McLaurin scored on one of four targets, rookie Jahan Dotson scored twice in his NFL debut and Logan Thomas handled six targets. There are suddenly a lot of mouths to feed in Washington, which could prove frustrating in fantasy. For now, Samuel is in the WR3 mix, Dotson should remain on benches and Thomas has found his way back to the TE1 discussion.
With eight targets, DJ Chark trailed only St. Brown among Detroit players. He'll be in the WR3/flex mix at least until Jameson Williams returns.
Over/Under: 51 (3rd highest)
Win Prob: Commanders 61% (10th highest)
Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Lineup locks: Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr.
Matt Ryan has a good matchup this week, but he was 19th in Week 1 scoring, despite attempting 50 passes. He's tough to justify as a streamer except in deep leagues. The same goes for Trevor Lawrence, although he was a few close calls away from a huge fantasy showing in the opener.
The Week 1 usage of James Robinson (11 carries and two targets on 31 snaps) and Travis Etienne Jr. (four carries and four targets on 31 snaps) had a very "2021 Melvin Gordon III/Javonte Williams" feel to it and could limit the upside of both all season. Especially in a tough matchup, both are best viewed as a flex plays.
Christian Kirk is nearing lineup-lock status after an impressive Week 1 in which he posted 117 yards on 12 targets. He's a fringe WR2 and the only remaining pass-catcher from this game who belongs in lineups.
Over/Under: 46.3 (9th highest)
Win Prob: Colts 65% (7th highest)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints
Lineup locks: Tom Brady, Leonard Fournette, Mike Evans
Brady has posted 20-plus fantasy points in three straight trips to New Orleans and remains a lineup lock, even against a very good defense.
Julio Jones had two carries and was targeted five times while running 22 of a possible 29 routes in Week 1. With Chris Godwin out, he is Tampa Bay's No. 2 wide receiver and thus squarely in the WR3 mix. Russell Gage was held to two targets in Week 1, but has deep-league flex appeal until Godwin returns.
Michael Thomas was targeted eight times and scored two touchdowns in Week 1, but he was held to 86 yards on 11 targets in three games against the Buccaneers in 2020 when shadowed by Carlton Davis III. He can expect the same coverage this week, so we're downgrading him. We have to proceed with caution on Jarvis Landry with Chris Olave looming, but the veteran slot man saw nine targets in Week 1 and is a viable flex.
Over/Under: 47.8 (6th highest)
Win Prob: Buccaneers 60% (11th highest)
Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants
Lineup locks: Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, DJ Moore
Robbie Anderson exploded for a 5-102-1 receiving line on a team-high eight targets in Week 1. That's enough to place him on the flex radar, but we should expect more passing-game work for both McCaffrey (five targets) and Moore (six) moving forward.
Sterling Shepard produced 71 yards and a score on 41 snaps in his return from a torn Achilles and has seen six-plus targets in 38 of his last 46 games tracing back to Week 1 of 2018. Shepard may prove to be a sneaky-great post-Week 1 waiver add and is closing in on flex value. Kadarius Toney is not on the flex radar after playing on only seven snaps in Week 1.
Over/Under: 43.8 (13th highest)
Win Prob: Panthers 52% (15th highest)
New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Lineup locks: Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson, Pat Freiermuth
The Patriots utilized their usual RB-by-committee strategy in Week 1, with Damien Harris (21 snaps, nine carries, three targets), Rhamondre Stevenson (14 snaps, eight carries, two targets) and Ty Montgomery (19 snaps, two carries, four targets) all being involved. Montgomery has now been placed on IR, however, which opens the door for both Harris and Stevenson to take on more passing-down work. (Rookie Pierre Strong Jr. could also be involved). That said, both Harris and Stevenson should still remain limited to flex consideration.
Chase Claypool handled a Deebo Samuel-like six carries and seven targets in Week 1. That's a role that will keep him in the weekly WR3 mix.
Jakobi Meyers' six-target Week 1 means he's now seen at least six passes sent his way in 17 of his last 21 outings. He's a PPR flex option. DeVante Parker played all 54 offensive snaps in his Patriots debut, but shadow coverage from Miami's Howard contributed to just a two-target showing. He's a deep-league flex.
Over/Under: 43 (15th highest)
Win Prob: Patriots 57% (13th highest)
Atlanta Falcons @ Los Angeles Rams
Lineup locks: Darrell Henderson Jr., Cooper Kupp, Kyle Pitts
Matthew Stafford had a rough Week 1 against an elite Buffalo defense, but he remains in the back-end QB1 mix -- especially against a shaky Atlanta defense.
Henderson may be a surprise lineup lock, but the man played on 54 out of a possible 66 snaps in Week 1. That 82% snap share was third-highest among all RBs and allowed him to reach 73 yards on 18 touches. Henderson was producing strong RB2 numbers as the Rams' lead back in the first half of 2021 and his current role suggests we should expect the same in Week 2 (and perhaps beyond). Cam Akers, by the way, was shockingly limited to a mere three carries on 12 snaps in Week 1 and is no more than a bench stash.
Damien Williams appeared to be primed for a big Week 1 workload, but the veteran left because of injury after only 10 snaps. Instead, Cordarrelle Patterson stepped into 22 carries and five targets on 45 snaps. Patterson is a fringe RB2 flex this week, but more of a lineup lock if Williams is out. Williams is a bench hold for now.
Drake London played on 52 out of 71 snaps and turned seven targets into 74 yards in his pro debut. He's an immediate WR3, as expected. Allen Robinson II was shut down in his Rams debut (12 yards on two targets) and has a tough matchup this week, but his hefty playing time (46 out of 49 snaps) keeps him in the WR3 discussion.
Tyler Higbee's 11 targets in the opener were his most since 2019, but he has now seen eight-plus looks in three straight games, as well as five-plus in eight straight. He's a fringe TE1.
Over/Under: 45.3 (11th highest)
Win Prob: Rams 88% (Highest)
Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers
Lineup locks: Deebo Samuel, DK Metcalf, George Kittle
Trey Lance had an ugly fantasy showing in Week 1, but weather conditions in Chicago were obviously a major factor. He still added 54 yards on 13 carries, and his legs will keep him in the streaming discussion. Expect a better day against Seattle's suspect defense in Week 2.
Rashaad Penny played on 68% of the snaps and handled 12 carries and three targets in Week 1. With rookie Kenneth Walker III back this week, however, Penny's usage could decrease a bit -- which is a concern since he's already limited as a receiver. Consider Penny to be a flex and leave Walker on your bench for now.
Elijah Mitchell was placed on IR, which vaults Jeff Wilson Jr. to lead-back duties. Wilson played on 57% of the snaps in Week 1 and totaled nine carries and two targets, whereas Jordan Mason (the only other active tailback) played on zero snaps. Wilson was the lead back for four games when Mitchell was out in 2021. In those games, he posted a 67-261-2 rushing and a 6-29-0 receiving line. Wilson figures to defer some work to Mason, rookie Tyrion Davis-Price and FB Kyle Juszczyk, but he'll be a viable flex (if not RB2) for as long as Mitchell is out.
Tyler Lockett and Brandon Aiyuk were full-time players in Week 1, but neither cleared four targets or 40 yards. Both are fringe flex options in deeper leagues.
Over/Under: 43.2 (14th highest)
Win Prob: 49ers 74% (5th highest)
Cincinnati Bengals @ Dallas Cowboys
Lineup locks: Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, CeeDee Lamb, Dalton Schultz
Ezekiel Elliott handled 10 carries and two targets on 37 snaps, compared to six carries and two targets on 35 snaps for Tony Pollard in Week 1. Both backs take a hit with Dak Prescott sidelined, especially against a good Bengals defense. Elliott will see enough work to remain in the RB2 mix, but Pollard still shouldn't be in lineups.
Tyler Boyd should only be in lineups if Higgins (concussion) is ruled out, as five of his seven Week 1 targets came after Higgins' departure.
If he's surprisingly back this week, Michael Gallup (ACL) will be too risky to play in his season debut, especially with Prescott out.
Hayden Hurst saw eight targets (a 15% share) in Week 1, though he was limited to only 46 yards on those plays. He's best viewed as a good TE2.
Over/Under: 45.3 (10th highest)
Win Prob: Bengals 72% (6th highest)
Houston Texans @ Denver Broncos
Lineup locks: Russell Wilson, Javonte Williams, Brandin Cooks
Rex Burkhead dominated the Houston backfield in Week 1, handling 14 carries and eight targets on 49 snaps. Dameon Pierce racked up 11 carries and one target on only 19 snaps. Pierce's role will grow but, as things stand, Burkhead is the better flex option and Pierce needs to be on benches.
In Denver, Gordon played on 26 snaps (compared to 37 for Williams), but he did beat out the youngster in carries (12-7). Gordon, who was targeted twice, saw enough work to keep him in the flex discussion.
Courtland Sutton (a 4-72-0 receiving line) and Jerry Jeudy (4-102-1) were both productive on seven targets in Week 1 and are trending toward lineup-lock status. As such, Wilson's top targets are both in the WR2 mix.
Albert Okwuegbunam handled a respectable 14% target share and ran 33 of a possible 45 routes in Week 1. That's enough of a role to allow for fringe-TE1 numbers.
Over/Under: 46.5 (8th highest)
Win Prob: Broncos 81% (3rd highest)
Arizona Cardinals @ Las Vegas Raiders
Lineup locks: Kyler Murray, James Conner, Davante Adams, Marquise Brown, Darren Waller, Zach Ertz
Derek Carr is on the streaming radar against an Arizona defense that got crushed by Patrick Mahomes and Co. in Week 1, but Carr remains limited by his lack of rushing production. He threw for 295 yards in Week 1, but was 22nd in QB scoring thanks to zero rushing yards and three interceptions.
Josh Jacobs (33 snaps, 10 carries, one target) and Brandon Bolden (16 snaps, three carries, two targets) handled most of the Raiders' backfield work in Week 1, with Ameer Abdullah (one target on seven snaps) and Zamir White (zero) both being nonfactors. Jacobs' ceiling remains low, but his role as lead rusher keeps him in the RB2 mix.
Hunter Renfrow was held to only 21 yards in Week 1, but he ran 37 out of 43 possible routes and was targeted six times. Better days are ahead. He remains a WR3.
Rondale Moore missed Week 1 with an injury, and his replacement, Greg Dortch, paced Arizona with nine targets. If he's back, Moore will be a flex option. If not, Dortch would be a sneaky flex in deep PPR formats.
Over/Under: 52.5 (2nd highest)
Win Prob: Raiders 56% (14th highest)
Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers
Lineup locks: Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones
Justin Fields isn't yet a viable streaming option, but he threw for two touchdowns and carried the ball 11 times in the ugly Chicago weather on Sunday, so keep an eye on his progress.
David Montgomery struggled in Week 1, but he was easily Chicago's lead back, handling 17 carries and four targets on 37 snaps (66%). He remains an RB2. Khalil Herbert (nine carries and one target on 16 snaps) is the backup and should be limited to benches.
AJ Dillon racked up 10 carries and hit a career high with seven targets, but note that he trailed Jones in both snaps (37-31) and routes (27-17). Jones remains the top fantasy option for now, whereas Dillon is a fringe RB2.
In 17 games last season, Darnell Mooney averaged 8.2 targets and never fell below four in any single outing, so his two-target effort in Week 1 was surely due to the monsoon-like conditions. He ran a route on 95% of the team's passing plays and remains a WR3.
Allen Lazard missed Week 1, but consider him to be a flex option if he's back this week. If he's out, no Packers wide receiver can be trusted. Not one of them cleared five targets in the opener.
Cole Kmet was limited to a single target and just 13 out of a possible 22 routes in Week 1. He'll be better in clear conditions, but he's best used as a TE2 for now (as is Robert Tonyan).
Over/Under: 45.1 (12th highest)
Win Prob: Packers 82% (2nd highest)
Tennessee Titans @ Buffalo Bills
Lineup locks: Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, Stefon Diggs
Devin Singletary (eight carries, two targets on 34 snaps) was Buffalo's lead back in the opener, but he wasn't as far ahead of Zack Moss (six carries, six targets on 22 snaps) as expected. Even with rookie James Cook (three snaps) being a non-factor, Singletary is best viewed as a flex. Moss can be left on benches for now.
Gabe Davis is arguably a lineup lock after he ran a route on all 38 of Buffalo's passing plays in Week 1 while compiling a 4-88-1 receiving line. More targets would be nice (he had five), but the explosive plays aren't going anywhere. He's a WR2. Isaiah McKenzie has value as Buffalo's top slot receiver, but he's sharing some of the role with Jamison Crowder, which limited him to three targets and 25 snaps in Week 1. McKenzie belongs on benches.
Robert Woods drew the Adoree' Jackson shadow in Week 1 and was limited to one 13-yard catch on two targets. He ran 26 out of a possible 35 routes (most among Titans WRs), however, which suggests better days are ahead. He's a flex option. Keep rookie Treylon Burks (five targets on 22 snaps) stashed on your bench for now.
Over/Under: 49.6 (4th highest)
Win Prob: Bills 80% (4th highest)
Minnesota Vikings @ Philadelphia Eagles
Lineup locks: Jalen Hurts, Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, Dallas Goedert
Miles Sanders impressed with 105 yards and a score on 15 touches in Week 1. He played on 49% of the Eagles' snaps -- a number that would have been higher if the Eagles weren't protecting a lead. Note that he was limited to just three snaps in the third quarter while the Eagles were up big, but then reclaimed lead-back duties in the fourth after Detroit caught up. Sanders' ceiling is limited, but he's a viable RB2 against Minnesota.
Adam Thielen was limited to four targets in Week 1, but he ran all 33 pass routes, same as Jefferson. The Eagles have a tough secondary, but Thielen's role and TD prowess keep him in the WR3 mix. Similar to Thielen, DeVonta Smith wasn't targeted much (three times), but was on the field a ton, running 42 out of 43 possible routes in Week 1. Smith remains a flex option.
Over/Under: 49.5 (5th highest)
Win Prob: Eagles 57% (12th highest)
Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Lineup locks: Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, Mike Williams, Travis Kelce
Clyde Edwards-Helaire's Week 1 usage (7 carries, 3 targets on just 24 out of a possible 66 snaps) may seem concerning, but he would have played substantially more if not for Kansas City's blowout win. He played on 24 snaps in the first three quarters (the same amount as Jerick McKinnon and 20 more than Isiah Pacheco) before sitting out the entire fourth quarter. "CEH" played well (74 yards and 2 TDs on 10 touches) and remains a fringe RB2. McKinnon should be on benches for now, but he'll have standalone value if he keeps sharing work with Edwards-Helaire.
With Keenan Allen out, Williams is a lineup lock and Joshua Palmer leaps into the flex discussion. Palmer had a quiet Week 1 (no Chargers receiver had more than four targets), but he played on 25 more snaps than any other Los Angeles wide receiver not named Williams.
JuJu Smith-Schuster was Kansas City's top wide receiver in his team debut, racking up 79 yards on eight targets. He's a WR2 with big upside. Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Mecole Hardman were the team's clear No. 2-3 receivers and are on the flex radar.
Top Chargers TE Gerald Everett is a deep-league streaming option this week with Allen out.
Over/Under: 54.8 (Highest)
Win probability: Chiefs 51% (16th highest)