The primary week of the 2024 NFL season was stuffed with surprises for fantasy soccer, as quite a lot of under-the-radar gamers shined whereas a number of notable names disenchanted.
In gentle of waiver wire pickups RB Jordan Mason and TE Isaiah Possible rising as impactful contributors, many fantasy managers might be inclined to shake up their beginning lineups in Week 2.
It is nonetheless early sufficient within the season that it goes with out saying you must proceed to begin your studs (in addition to Mason and Possible when you claimed them off waivers).
With that in thoughts, this is what to do about a couple of FLEX choices and streaming candidates you can be on the fence about plugging into your lineup in Week 2.
Quarterbacks
Begin: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers at Lions / 1 p.m. ET Sunday
Mayfield torched the lowly Commanders secondary in Tampa Bay’s season opener, throwing for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns, ending because the QB2 overall on the week. Though he in all probability will not have the identical stage of success towards the Lions, Mayfield is well-positioned for an additional sturdy displaying in Week 2.
Except for the truth that Mayfield threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns throughout final season’s divisional-round loss to Detroit, it is attainable this rematch will flip right into a shootout. In accordance with FanDuel Sportsbook, the implied level complete is 51.5, the very best on this week’s slate, making Mayfield a worthwhile streaming candidate.
Different begins: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals; Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Sit: Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Payments at Dolphins / 8:15 p.m. ET Thursday
Regardless that Tagovailoa, final season’s chief in passing yards, has two of the NFL’s high wideouts in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle at his disposal, it is tough to belief him towards the Payments. Sometimes, concentrating on gamers who’re enjoying in projected high-scoring is a sensible transfer in fantasy, however Buffalo has had the Dolphins quarterback’s quantity all through his profession.
As per StatMuse, Tagovailoa is 1-6 as a starter towards Buffalo, throwing for 1,454 yards, six touchdowns and 7 interceptions in these conferences, along with his highest fantasy output being simply 18.2 points.
Different sits: Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints; Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers
Operating backs
Begin: Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders
Giants at Commanders / 1 p.m. ET Sunday
A seven-yard dashing landing helped Robinson salvage an in any other case lackluster outing towards Tampa Bay, because the 2022 third-round choose rushed for 40 yards on 12 carries and caught three passes for 49 yards.
Even so, contemplating Robinson performed 56% of Washington’s offensive snaps, his utilization offers him a comparatively protected ground and respectable upside heading into a good matchup towards the Giants. In Week 1, New York allowed 108 yards dashing yards and one landing to Vikings working backs throughout its blowout loss.
Different begins: David Montgomery, Detroit Lions; Josh Jacobs, Inexperienced Bay Packers
Sit: Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns
Browns at Jaguars / 1 p.m. ET Sunday
Throughout Cleveland’s 33-17 loss to the Cowboys, Ford was productive from a fantasy soccer perspective, dashing for 44 yards and one garbage-time landing whereas catching six of seven targets for 25 yards.
If Browns QB Deshaun Watson’s struggles persist, Ford’s position within the receiving sport makes him an intriguing FLEX possibility. Nonetheless, it might be greatest to depart Ford on the bench this week, much more so when you play in a non-PPR scoring format.
In spite of everything, Jacksonville shut down the Dolphins dashing assault — which produced the sixth-most yards in 2023 (2,308) — in its Week 1 loss, limiting Miami to 81 yards on the bottom.
Different sits: Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings; D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears
Broad Receivers
Begin: Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
Bears at Texans / 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday
QB Caleb Williams’ underwhelming NFL debut (93 passing yards) would not precisely instill confidence about Allen’s fantasy outlook. Nevertheless, regardless of ending with simply 6.9 PPR points towards the Titans, Allen was nearer to having fun with a stable Week 1 outing than his stat line suggests.
Allen earned a team-high 11 targets and dropped a would-be landing throughout Chicago’s 24-17 win over Tennessee this previous Sunday. That sort of goal quantity and alternatives within the pink zone are sufficient to be optimistic about Allen bouncing again in Week 2, particularly if Williams could be extra productive.
To not point out that since rookie wideout Rome Odunze will doubtlessly be out with a knee harm, it is attainable Allen might see an uptick in targets.
Different begins: Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers; Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
Sit: Jayden Reed, Inexperienced Bay Packers
Colts at Packers / 1 p.m. ET Sunday
The best-scoring wideout in Week 1, Reed was sensational in a dropping effort towards Philadelphia, discovering the top zone twice whereas hauling in 4 of his six targets for 138 yards and dashing for 33 yards. Nonetheless, with QB Jordan Love (knee) possible sitting out towards the Colts, Malik Willis is in line to be Inexperienced Bay’s starter, which might be unlucky for Reed and his fellow Packers vast receivers.
In three career starts, the previous third-rounder Willis solely accomplished 51.02% of his passes for 234 yards and three interceptions.
Different sits: Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars; Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans
Tight Ends
Begin: Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Raiders at Ravens / 1 p.m. ET Sunday
After Possible broke out for 111 receiving yards with one landing in Week 1, panic has began to set in for fantasy managers rostering Andrews, who solely had two receptions for 14 yards towards Kansas Metropolis. Whereas issues about Possible slicing into Andrews’ weekly upside are legitimate, there’s cause to consider higher days are forward for the 2018 third-round choose.
Final week, Andrews performed more snaps (59) and ran extra routes (38) than Possible (53 snaps and 35 routes run) did. Moreover, Andrews was double-teamed on a better share of his routes than in any of his video games since 2021, as per Professional Soccer Focus’ Nathan Jahnke.
Count on Andrews to be extra concerned as a pass-catcher in a matchup Baltimore ought to win handily.
Different begins: Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars; Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams
Sit: Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers at Broncos / 4: 25 p.m. ET Sunday
A deep streaming possibility, Freiermuth emerged as an essential piece of latest OC Arthur Smith’s offense in Pittsburgh’s 18-10 road win over Atlanta. The Penn State product completed with the second-most targets (4), receptions (4) and receiving yards (27) on the Steelers.
Whereas it is useful to know that Freiermuth will obtain his share of targets, he gives little upside since Pittsburgh is a low-passing quantity crew that in all probability will not rating many touchdowns Sunday.
Different sits: Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints; Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans
