By: John Welch
The opening week of the 2022 NFL season left many fantasy football managers disappointed. While several players such as Justin Jefferson (39.4 Fantasy Points) and Saquon Barkley (33.4 Fantasy Points) had tremendous weeks, many people’s “sleeper” draft picks did little to nothing on the field. If you’re looking to dominate your matchup, here’s who you should start, as well as who you should sit for week 2.
Minnesota hit the road for a primetime business trip in Philadelphia on Monday night in a very competitive matchup between the two NFC contenders.
At the helm is veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins who will look to prove the doubters wrong and show that the Vikings are a legitimate threat to the throne in the NFC north. Fantasy football expert and TikTok content creator, Nate LaJoie,
“I think that Kirk will have a field day on play action,” said fantasy football expert and TikTok content creator, Nate Lajoie. “Philly gave up 35 points to Detroit last week, and there’s good reason to believe that Minnesota could score a ton of points, too.”
Cousins slightly outscored his projection of 16.66 points in week one with 19.08. During primetime, Cousins’ favorite target Justin Jefferson will look to top his monster performance from week one, which makes Cousins a viable fantasy quarterback for this week.
There are only a few backup running backs in the league that can be viable starters for your fantasy squad this season. That short list includes Green Bay Packer’s running back A.J. Dillon.
The loss of star wideout Davante Adams is already being felt in Green Bay after an embarrassing week one performance from the Packers receiving core. Aaron Rodgers was visibly frustrated last week after a drop from rookie wide receiver Christian Watson, in what would have been a 75-yard touchdown.
“I’m starting Dillon in all of my leagues this week,” said fantasy football manager and Packers superfan Evan Demas.
Until the Packers get their receiving problems under control, look for them to heavily incorporate Aaron Jones as well as A.J. Dillon into the receiving game. Dillon nearly doubled Jones in fantasy output last week, scoring 20.1 points. With his target share only increasing, expect Dillon to remain a viable starter going forward.
Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins recently entered concussion protocol after exiting Sunday’s contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although this loss hurts Cincinnati, it will open up an opportunity for Tyler Boyd to fill his shoes.
“I have high hopes for Boyd until [Tee Higgins] returns from injury,” said LaJoie, “Cincinnati loves to push the ball downfield to Ja’marr Chase, which I think will open up Boyd for the same intermediate targets in which Higgins would’ve garnered.”
Boyd had an impressive showing in week one, tallying 13.3 fantasy points, a majority of which were scored after Higgins went down. This trend pushes Boyd towards the role of a viable flex option for week 2.
Another player who should thrive due to an injury is Los Angeles Chargers tight-end Gerald Everett. Keenan Allen exited Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, in what is a huge loss for the Chargers who have a short week. They will face their division rival, the Kansas City Chiefs, on Thursday night during primetime.
“Everett has always been an underrated player in my opinion,” said LaJoie. “Now that he is back in an elite offense, I think that his stock is going to soar in the next few weeks. With Keenan Allen out, I think that automatically makes Everett Justin Herbert’s number-two target right behind Mike Williams.”
Everett tallied 14.4 points against the Raiders, and with Allen out, his target share will only increase.
Moving onto the sits for this week, the list starts with a surprising name.
The consensus G.O.A.T. Tom Brady and the Buccaneers travel to New Orleans for a matchup with the Saints. Brady has had trouble figuring out his division rival since relocating to Tampa.
“[Brady] has always had certain teams that have given him issues for some reason or another,” said LaJoie. “The Saints have seemingly become that team for Brady.”
With a disappointing fantasy performance in Tampa’s opener in Dallas last Sunday (10.38 FPTS), don’t expect the G.O.A.T. to bounce back so soon.
The next player on this list won’t come as a surprise to most, especially those who had their hearts shattered by him in week one. Cam Akers put up a whopping 0-points in his opener against the Bills during the NFL kickoff last Thursday.
“I have a very hard time believing that Akers was able to make his way out of Sean McVay’s doghouse within the past week. Akers lack of touches in week 1 was startling, and I think the trend will continue this week,” said LaJoie.
Akers was touted as a possible league winner in fantasy football this year as he returned from an injury that sidelined him for the majority of the Ram’s Super Bowl run last season. In many leagues, he was drafted as early as the fourth round and was expected to put up big numbers. However, in his opener against the Bills, Cam Akers’s owners were sorely mistaken.
Instead, try grabbing his teammate Darrel Williams who cemented himself as the team’s clear RB1 last week.
A hard matchup for rookie wide receiver Drake London against the previously mentioned Los Angeles Rams should put him on your bench for week two.
An impressive fantasy showing in week one doesn’t automatically make London a starter just yet. He will be lined up across an angry Jalen Ramsey, who was burned badly last week by Bills WR Stefon Diggs.
Don’t expect London to receive many targets this week as Atlanta will look to utilize tight-end Kyle Pitts in the passing game much more.
Lastly, make sure to bench Bears tight-end Cole Kmet this week. Kmet saw just one target last week and like Akers, laid a goose egg.
“I can’t believe I started Akers and Kmet last week,” said fantasy football manager Charlie Morton, “I won’t be making that mistake again.”
“I think it’ll be touchdown dependent,” said LaJoie, “Green Bay usually plays tight ends very well, and after a rough showing in week one, I think that the Packers defense will be out for blood.”
In a tough primetime matchup against their division rival Green Bay Packers, Kmet needs to prove himself before being slotted in your tight-end spot.