Start/Sit for Week 2

Ed. Note: This column was authored by HMF Guest Columnist Dan Mattox

Every week I strive to bring you solid, no-nonsense advice on who to start and sit outside of the obvious choices. Everyone should be adhering to the “start your studs” school of thought, but sometimes you have to go a bit deeper. After all, we get injuries, bye weeks, and sometimes have “studs” that aren’t working out. That’s where I come in. This is a difficult segment to hit on, so with that in mind I will do a quick weekly review of my hits and misses. 

HITS

QB Daniel Jones - Not an overwhelming week, but delivered good numbers against a very good Steeler defense.

RB Peyton Barber - Yep, I hate this too. However, Barber led the team in carries and lumbered for two touchdowns. 

WR Will Fuller/Allen Lazard - Fuller put up good garbage time yardage and Lazard found the end zone.

QB Tyrod Taylor - Yep. He is what I thought he was. 

RB Devin Singletary - An absolute non-factor.

RB Nick Chubb - Out-snapped by Kareem Hunt. Ouch.

WR A.J. Green - Sure he got robbed of a touchdown to win the game, but I’m taking this as a hit.

MISSES

WR Adam Thielen - Maybe I was feeling myself too much on this one. Thielen is good. My bad.

RB Jordan Howard - Yeah he scored, but my oh my what a dumpster fire in Miami’s backfield.

QB Tom Brady - Sure, he put up some points, and he had a dope tan running out of the tunnel, but he played like one of the old men trolling Clearwater Beach. MISS.

Week One was confusing and unpredictable. Will we have any clarity going forward? Will Week Two start to separate the suspects from the prospects? Oh the intrigue! Stay tuned, because I’m about to offer some clarity.

STARTS

Quarterbacks

Joe Burrow: Cincinnati @ Cleveland. Burrow showed flashes Sunday. He also showed happy feet and bad decision-making. All that notwithstanding, Burrow flipped a switch on the last drive. The Cleveland secondary is a MASH unit, and I believe Zac Taylor and the gang will attack the leaky Browns defense on the way to Joe Exotic’s first 300-yard game.

Ryan Fitzpatrick: Buffalo @ Miami. How many times have we written off Fitzy only for him to come back and drop 375/4 on someone? Yea, more than a couple. I know the Bills have a very good back end, but Fitzpatrick will bounce back with 300 and at least 2. 

Carson Wentz: St. Louis @ Philadelphia. Literally all of the industry experts have Wentz as a sit. I call shenanigans. Yes, I know the Rams just locked down Dak Prescott. Yes, I know the offensive line is on life support. And yes, I know the skill positions are badly banged up. I also know Doug Pederson is a great coach, they have two great tight ends, and Jalen Reagor and DeSean Jackson are healthy. Look for Pederson to move Wentz around, keep the defense off balance and use the weapons he has much more efficiently this week. 

Running Backs

Benny Snell: Denver @ Pittsburgh. James Conner tweaked his ankle in the first quarter, and while it looked like he could return, Mike Tomlin rolled with Snell, and he delivered big. There’s a changing of the bell cow in Pittsburgh. Get in on Benny before its too late.

Sony Michel: New England @ Seattle. Michel looked old and slow Week One. I don’t expect him to look any different in Week Two, but also don’t expect Cam Newton to get 15 carries every week. That means until Damien Harris returns from IR, Sony is going to get carries. 

Len Fournette: Carolina @ Tampa Bay. Sure, I fully expect this to be mentioned next week amongst my misses, but its not like RoJo set the field on fire last week, right? I expect Fournette to lead that backfield in carries against the ‘Hawks. He’s not going to be a top ten back, but I expect a score and 75 yards minimum.

Wide Receivers

Brandin Cooks: Baltimore @ Houston. The Ravens secondary is banged up and Texans are going to have to throw. A lot. Expect Watson to feed Cooks this week.

Emmanuel Sanders: New Orleans @ Las Vegas. Mike Thomas has a high ankle sprain and the second best WR left on this team is Trequan Smith. Sign me up for double digit targets for Sanders.

Anthony Miller: Chicago v. NY Giants. Miller was Pro Football Focus’ number two rated receiver in Week One. That means something. The 25-year-old Memphis product is finally living up to his potential.

Tight Ends

OJ Howard: Carolina @ Tampa Bay. Brady has unlocked the cheat code on the former first rounder. Howard torches the Panthers for 100 and a tiddy.

Eric Ebron: Denver @ Pittsburgh. Ben loves a big tight end, and pass catchers! He will find Ebron at home versus the Broncos.

SITS

Quarterbacks

Mitch Trubisky: NY Giants @ Chicago.  Spare me the stirring comeback story. The Lions had all three of their top corners out before Mitch went off. Prior to that he was hot garbage. The stench lingers against the Giants. 

Teddy Bridgewater: Carolina @ Tampa Bay.  Here I go again, right? Doubting Teddy Bridgewater somehow feels right. The Bucs are going to score early and often, forcing Teddy Bear to air it out. Prove me wrong, Mr. Bridgewater. 

Russell Wilson: New England @ Seattle. The Patriots offense doesn’t possess the firepower of the Falcons, thus not needing Russ to “cook.” I expect a return to ground and pound, and pound some more.  

Running Backs

James Robinson: Jacksonville @ Tennessee. Facing a stout Titan defense, expect the Jags to change the game plan and go more aerial, involving Chris Thompson more than Robinson.

Miles Sanders: LA Rams @ Philadelphia. First game back from a soft tissue injury coupled with a very stout Ram defense? I’ll pass, thanks. 

Melvin Gordon: Pittsburgh @ Denver. I’ll just ask.… did you see the Steelers’ run defense Monday night? Gordon will not tally 75 yards total. Fade him now.

Wide Receivers

Henry Ruggs: New Orleans @ Las Vegas. I love Ruggs and think he will have a huge career, but coming off a slight knee tweak its hard to recommend him this week. He spent last week moving from the slot to the outside and back. If that trend continues this week that means he will spend 50% of his snaps across from Marshon Lattimore. I’ll pass this week.

D.J. Moore: Carolina @ Tampa Bay. This game has the look of a shootout, but I’m leaning more Robby Anderson. Moore will find his place with Bridgewater in this offense, but its not in a game where they are behind and needing to stretch the field.

Sammy Watkins: Kansas City @ LA Chargers. So everyone remembers getting burned by Watkins last year, right? Huge week one, hid in the weeds the rest of the season? Is anyone ready to be fooled again? No thank you very much. I’m going to need to see him produce at a reasonable clip until at least Halloween.

Tight Ends

Rob Gronkowski: Carolina @ Tampa Bay. I know, this makes me sad as well. One of the most fun dudes to play the game the last decade is barely hanging on. Kindly sit him in favor of Howard.

Hunter Henry: Kansas City @ Los Angeles Chargers. I fully expect the Chiefs to jump out early on the Bolts. Henry’s looks will be mitigated by the need to push the ball downfield. Look elsewhere this week.

There you have it! As always, do your research, listen to your gut and enjoy Week Two!