Start 'Em, Sit 'Em For Fantasy Football Week 2: Start Harold Fannin, Sit An Elite RB in Indy?!
John Laghezza and Gene Clemons break down their starts and sits for Week 2 of fantasy football, including some bold calls you must have the courage to consider.
In an inference-based game centered around incomplete information, it sure is hard not to overreact to the first data set. I’ve already got some green egg on my face after fading the Jets/Steelers game on Sunday, but luckily, I don’t know the meaning of the word quit. No retreat, and no surrender!
Kidding aside, fantasy really is a marathon and not a sprint. Look no further than Allen Lazard finishing Week 1 as the overall WR3 last year. Be patient, and we'll hope to capture some of that magic with our Week 2 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em with me and Gene Clemons ...
RELATED: Get personalized start/sit advice for any of your leagues with the Xfinity Start/Sit Tool!
Start 'Em In Week 2 Fantasy Football
START Harold Fannin Jr., TE vs. Ravens
LAGHEZZA: Usually the first to push back on the latest flavor of the month, not this time … I’m jumping in ten toes down on rookie TE standout Harold Fannin Jr. Easily among the most undersold units compared to preseason ADP, I’m bullish on Cleveland as a source for valuable secondary fantasy pieces.
Don’t look now, but the Browns appear at very least to be running a competent NFL offense. A low bar, but maybe Keven Stefanski and Joe Flacco’s 83 years of combined life experience represent the answer to short-term fantasy gold. Think about the combination in fantasy terms …
Cleveland runs a ton of plays (71), struggles on the ground (2.0 yards/rush, 26% success), and Flacco’s too long in the tooth to start soaking up any of the rushing TD equity. That formula should equal a metric ton of dropbacks. Meanwhile, Fannin slipped through the draft cracks to lead CLE in target share (21.7%) and receptions (7).
Playing time, box score, and college production aside, Fannin’s versatile usage could be the thing to ping on everyone’s fantasy radar. The third-round rookie served as lead slot receiver, topping all Browns’ pass-catchers in slot targets (6), receptions (4) and yards (47). Plus, Baltimore always pushes opponents to their maximum threshold—another 45-plus dropbacks from Flacco’s in the cards this weekend.
START Elic Ayomanor, WR, TEN vs. Rams
LAGHEZZA: If unrealized opportunities and regression plays are your thing, Titans’ rookie WR Elic Ayomanor firmly belongs on your fantasy squad. No, Week 1’s (2-13-0) box score won’t inspire the game log chasers to break the FAAB bank, but Tennessee faced Denver—cut them some slack. I’m telling you, there’s definitely something here.
Of all 96 pass catchers earning at least four targets, Ayomanor finished top-30 in target per route rate (25.0%) and fifth overall in air yards (133). As the battery with Cam Ward progresses in continuity through progression, there’s a great chance Ayomanor projects as a weekly WR2 here on out, despite a current ~5% rostership rate.
I’m scooping him to start as my FLEX versus the Rams this weekend where possible.
Bold Starts of The Week For Fantasy Football Week 2
Bryce Young, QB, CAR at Cardinals
CLEMONS: I know I just said start Bryce Young. After that week one performance, you might think I've officially lost my mind. Remember that things are rarely as good, or as bad, as they seem. Young had three turnovers in the Panthers' week one loss to Jacksonville, but poor Week 1 performances have plagued Young over his first three seasons in the league. What really matters is how he responds. The Cardinals could be a perfect matchup for Young to get things moving in the right direction.
Last season, while the Cardinals were in a late-season push to make the playoffs, they traveled to Carolina to take on a Panthers team that was left for dead following a 3-11 record heading into Week 16. The Panthers were able to establish a strong rushing attack, which included Young carrying the ball, and he was to be opportunistic in the passing game. Mostly, he took care of the football, and at the end of the game, the Panthers had prevailed 36-30. Young passed for 158 yards and two touchdowns as well as 68 rushing yards and a rushing score. He had one of the best quarterback performances in fantasy that week, and there is no reason why he can't do it again. Everything is set up for him to surprise people once again.
Hunter Henry, TE, NE at Dolphins
The Miami defense was an absolute mess in Week 1. They looked completely disconnected and disjointed. They gave up seven receptions for 76 yards to Tyler Warren, the Colts rookie tight end. Now they play a team built similarly to Indy on offense, the Patriots.
They have an athletic quarterback, explosiveness at running back, a bunch of WR2s and WR3s and a tight end that can be a difficult matchup. That is Hunter Henry.
Henry was targeted eight times against the Raiders and hauled in four passes for 66 yards. If he can earn the same targets in week two against Miami, he could bring in two more passes, and that will push his production into the double digits in half-PPR scoring. The issue with Miami is that their second-level defenders are trying to stop the threat of the run from the quarterback and running back while also being concerned with coverage. Something is going to suffer, and last week it was both. This is not a problem that can be solved in a few days. Henry should be able to put together a quality performance and score five to six points over his projected totals.
Sit 'Em Down In Week 2 Fantasy Football
SIT Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, WAS at Packers (TNF)
LAGHEZZA: Glad the pump’s primed on playing the wet blanket with our favorite new fantasy toys—don’t say I didn’t want you. Sure, anyone who started late-riser Bill Croskey-Merritt slept snugly on Sunday after a (10-84-1) line, good for RB17 on the week.
However, if you combine the limited playing time (29% snaps) with virtual non-existence in the pass game (seven routes, one target), you’re asking for a lot from a player projecting for roughly ten touches.
And this weekend, Washington faces a staunch Packers D that just added Micah Parsons as one of only four teams to hold opponents under four yards per play in Week 1. In time, Croskey-Merritt will have big weeks—just not this one.
SIT DK Metcalf, WR, PIT vs. Seahawks
LAGHEZZA: Boy, what a whiff on last week’s presumed dogfight turned shootout between the Jets and Steelers. So, given the very public and noticeable black eye, am I correcting course to get bullish on Pittsburgh? Not a chance …
DK Metcalf posted a strong game (4-83-0) on elite utilization (97% route participation) and top-notch efficiency (2.52 yards/route) against NYJ—yet I’m still sitting my Steelers. Why? PIT scored the third-most points on the sixth-fewest plays, and that’s not going to repeat.
Speaking of things not happening again, add the Steelers scoring 34 points when Aaron Rodgers posts the second-lowest target depth in the NFL (4.4). Gaining that same 5.0 yards per play will more often than not disappoint for fantasy purposes.
If Aaron Rodgers winds up rushing through progressions, can Metcalf catch enough off-platform throws to matter in fantasy? My bet’s no …
Bold Sits of The Week For Fantasy Football Week 2
Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS at Packers (TNF)
CLEMONS: While Week 1 got off to a great start for the Commanders, it was lackluster for Terry McLaurin and fantasy managers who started him. He only received four targets in the game. He caught two passes for 27 yards. The problem was likely the game script. The Commanders ran the ball at will against the Giants, and the Giants were able to pressure Jayden Daniels, which made him scramble and run a lot. McLaurin did not really factor into the play.
This week, they play Green Bay in what should be a more difficult test, but it will be more difficult for McLaurin as well. Green Bay should be able to apply the same type of pressure as the Giants did, but they have a much better secondary, led by former Giants safety Xavier McKinney. This Green Bay squad was able to shut down the Lions high-powered offense and, more importantly, they held all three of the Lions top receivers in check. Amon-Ra St. Brown had four catches on six targets for 45 yards, Jameson Williams finished with four receptions on five targets for 23 yards, and Kalif Raymond had two receptions on three targets for 16 yards. It could be really scary for Terry on Thursday night! Expect similar production as his week one performance.
Jonathan Taylor, RB, IND vs Denver
CLEMONS: You normally hear us talk about sitting big-time receivers when they play Denver because of “he who will remain nameless,” but this Denver defense is legit, and it is complete. Make no mistake, Denver is not Miami, and they will make Daniel Jones prove he can be Superman against them. Last season, they paid a lot of attention to Anthony Richardson as a runner—they will put that on Jones and see if he can hold up. They will do so by trying to limit the effectiveness of Jonathan Taylor.
Last season, in a 31-13 loss to the Broncos, Taylor was able to run 22 times for 107 yards. Do not discount how much this defense was mad about allowing a 100-yard rusher. They will remember it this season. The key to Taylor’s (and honestly, most successful running backs in the league) is his ability to pop a run for big yardage. Last season, he had a 40-yard run, which really made his day look better statistically. I believe he will score five points below his projected totals in half-PPR leagues.
John's Parting Week 2 Start/Sit Thought: Let’s Go To The Circus
Our start/sit piece wouldn’t be complete without my favorite research tool, updated weekly throughout the season! Simply put, if you want to win weekly fantasy matchups, attach yourself to the highest-scoring games.
When I’m in a pinch, this image is my favorite picture when I don’t have time for a thousand words. If all else fails, identify carnival games and head toward the circus music …
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