🏈 Week 2 Fantasy Mega-Preview

On to Week 2! This article will provide insights into key start/sit decisions, key situations to watch, DFS insights, and my FAVORITE UPSET. Let's get it!

Author

Andrew Sampogna
September 12, 2025

Start 'Em Up: Week 2 Starts and Sleepers

Quarterbacks

Start: Dak Prescott (vs. Giants) was a few drops away from a massive performance in Week 1. He was on point, and he is now facing the Giants, a team he has scored 20 or more fantasy points in six of his last 10 games against. Three of those games were 33 or more fantasy points. This Giants team is no threat to Dak, making him a safe play at home.

Start: Justin Herbert (vs. Raiders) looked like an MVP candidate in Week 1 against the Chiefs. The Raiders’ defense is worse than the Chiefs’, and if you have Herbert on your roster, you need to start him. This matchup has the second-highest over/under of the week, and it is a spot conducive to Herbert being successful.

Sleeper: J.J. McCarthy (vs. Falcons) came alive in the second half of Week 1. He showcased his rushing prowess during the game, scoring a touchdown on a read option play. His matchup this week is high octane, and he is someone worth strong consideration in fantasy leagues after a strong 23 fantasy point performance.

Running Backs

Start: TreVeyon Henderson (vs. Dolphins) did not have a massive performance in Week 1. But he caught six passes, and is now facing a Dolphins team that looks utterly lost. He is someone you drafted to play, and Week 2 is a week to play him.

Start: Javonte Williams (vs. Giants) has an incredible opportunity to score multiple touchdowns against the G-Men. The Giants could not tackle a paper bag in Week 1, and we are not anticipating that to change in Week 2. Javonte Williams is a must-start after an encouraging first week.

Sleeper: Dylan Sampson (vs. Ravens) scored 17.5 PPR points in Week 1, largely because of his effective work in the pass game. We are expecting more pass-catching work in Week 2. The Ravens are likely, and expected, to dominate this contest, which provokes confidence in our projections team that Sampson will see a similar workload through the air as the Browns are playing catch-up. We are also not anticipating Quinshon Judkins to have much, if any, impact this week.

Wide Receivers

Start: Keenan Allen (vs. Raiders) looked like he still has lots in the tank in Week 1. He saw 10 targets, recording seven receptions and a touchdown against Kansas City. We have him projected well in Week 2.

Start: Brian Thomas Jr. (vs. Bengals) may seem like an obvious player to start, but lots of fantasy managers may be in panic mode after Week 1. He has a juicy matchup with Cincinnati, and he is one of our favorite wide receivers of the entire week.

Sleeper: Kayshon Boutte (vs. Dolphins) has recorded 16 or more PPR points in three of his last four games with Drake Maye, and he started strong in Week 1, recording over 100 receiving yards. He was limited in practice Wednesday, but he finished the Week 1 contest. We are not overly worried about his current injury status. He has a good matchup against an inept Dolphins secondary.

Tight Ends

Start: Juwan Johnson (vs. 49ers) finished as the TE1 in fantasy in Week 1, recording 11 targets, eight receptions, and 76 yards. He almost had a game-tying touchdown at the end of the game, had he not dropped it. This week, he is someone we recommend starting. He is a tight end you picked up on waivers to play now, and we are encouraging you to do so against the 49ers as a top-12 option.

Sleeper: David Njoku (vs. Ravens) is an unconventional "sleeper" because he has a history of performing well. But with how well Harold Fannin Jr. played in Week 1, Njoku has fallen under the radar, and even been dropped in some leagues. Facing Baltimore, we are anticipating the Browns being very pass-heavy. In his most recent matchup against Baltimore, Njoku recorded 17 PPR points. Do not be afraid to play David Njoku in Week 2.

Things to Watch Closely for Fantasy in Week 2

  • Will Mark Andrews have another terrible outing?

  • Does Isaac TeSlaa get more involved this week?

  • 49ers fantasy assets without George Kittle or Brock Purdy

  • Will all the wide receivers in the Bengals vs. Jaguars game bounce back?

  • The target distribution for Buffalo (again)

  • Can Justin Fields and Aaron Rodgers pick up where they left off in Week 2?

  • Hollywood Brown as the top wide receiver in Kansas City

  • Can Travis Etienne Jr. repeat his Week 1 performance?

  • Kyle Pitts in Week 2 (dare I say he is on the brink of consistency?)

  • Is Kayshon Boutte the WR1 in New England?

DFS Favorites

These are some of the players Walter recommends prioritizing in your FanDuel and DraftKings lineups.

Brenton Strange, FD price: $5,100 DK Price: $3,600, has a fantastic ROI after an encouraging Week 1. He is taking on the Bengals, a team that was just gashed by rookie Harold Fannin Jr.

Garrett Wilson, FD Price: $7,300 DK Price: $6,500, is an underpriced stud play against the Bills. Buffalo was just destroyed by Zay Flowers, and their defense did not look impressive whatsoever. Wilson torched the Steelers, and he is someone to prioritize in DFS lineups.

Trevor Lawrence, FD Price: $7,000 DK Price: $5,600, is in a fun spot against the Bengals. This matchup has the highest over/under of the week, and TLaw has a very solid ROI. He is stackable with any of the weapons in this matchup.

The Cowboys Defense, FD Price: $3,400 DK Price: $3,000, are a defense to prioritize against the Giants. The New York offense looked abysmal, and the Cowboys are likely to force turnovers in this spot.

My Favorite Upset Pick of Week 2

Buccaneers to beat the Texans on the road.

Odds: +115

Spread: Hou -2.5

Reasoning: The Bucs are pretty clearly the better team in this matchup, yet Houston is favored. This game is in a dome, and that bodes well for the entire Tampa roster. The Tampa Bay defense is solid, and they have the opportunity to perform similarly as the Rams did against the Texans in Week 1.