Find success in Week 2 with these start/sit decisions for the Offensive side of the ball!
Week 1 of the NFL was wild! It’s never a dull moment in the NFL and week 1 was no exception. There were surprise inactive players announced, head-scratching dud performances (looking at you Brandon Aiyuk!), and two games that went into overtime! Enter the week 2 start/sit article!
After digesting all the results from week 1 we move on to week 2. For this season-long start/sit series we will continue to use the “Trust, If You Must, and Bust” system; below is a reminder of what that means for your lineup setting needs.
The “Trust, If You Must, and Bust” System:
“Trust” = Strong start, a player who should be started in all formats!
“If You Must” = Weak start, a player who is good enough to be a starter, but faces a tough matchup or holds an unclear opportunity in a good offense. Some caution should be used while the risk is recognized, as this is often league format dependent.
If you play in a shallow league, I would lean towards benching this player if you have a decent replacement option. In a deep league, I would lean towards starting, since the options may be more scarce. Either way, expectations should be managed.
“Bust” = Keep on your bench, at least for now. These players should be avoided since stronger options at the relative position should be considered first. These are players who fit into one of the following categories:
- A player in a tough matchup or currently holds ambiguous weekly opportunities in the offense.
- A strong bench stash for season-long purposes but currently in a “wait and see” period. Wait and see if their role expands for starter caliber consideration. For example, this type of player may be a strong backup RB behind a stud in an elite offense or could be in line for a big workload if the starter misses time.
- Currently lacking a clear offensive opportunity in either a projected good or bad offense
- Is too volatile on a week-to-week basis. There is no need to play boom or bust type players if you can help it.
Weekly Start/Sit Decision Reminders
Be sure to always be mindful of weekly injury reports and gameday inactive announcements as this could pivot a weak starter into a strong starter!
Week 1 brought some stunning inactives including; RBs Trey Sermon and Zack Moss who were both healthy scratches. Another inactive from the later afternoon set of games was WR Odell Beckham Jr; be sure to always have a backup plan for mid afternoon, Sunday and Monday night game players who hold the Questionable tag throughout the week!
Finally, be sure to always leave the FLEX spot(s) free of Thursday night players!
The Week 2 Slate:
Thursday Night Football
New York Giant at Washington Football Team
Giants
If You Must – QB Daniel Jones, RB Saquon Barkley, WR Kenny Golladay, WR Sterling Shepard
Football Team
Trust – RB Antonio Gibson, WR Terry McLaurin, TE Logan Thomas
If You Must – QB Taylor Heinicke
Sunday Early Afternoon Slate
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles
49ers
Trust – TE George Kittle, WR Deebo Samuel
If You Must – RB Elijah Mitchell, QB Jimmy Garoppolo
Bust – WR Brandon Aiyuk, RB Trey Sermon
Eagles
Trust – QB Jalen Hurts, RB Miles Sanders, WR DeVonta Smith, TE Dallas Goedert
If You Must – WR Jalen Reagor
Bust – TE Zach Ertz
Cincinnati Bengals at Chicago Bears
Bengals
Trust – QB Joe Burrow, RB Joe Mixon, WR Tee Higgins, WR Ja’Marr Chase
If You Must – WR Tyler Boyd
Bears
Trust – RB David Montgomery, WR Allen Robinson
If You Must – WR Darnell Mooney, TE Cole Kmet
Bust – QB Andy Dalton
Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns
Texans
Trust – WR Brandin Cooks
If You Must – RB Mark Ingram, QB Tyrod Taylor
Bust – RB David Johnson, RB Phillip Lindsay
Browns
Trust – RB Nick Chubb, RB Kareem Hunt, WR Jarvis Landry
If You Must – QB Baker Mayfield, TE Austin Hooper
Los Angeles Rams at Indianapolis Colts
Rams
Trust – QB Matthew Stafford, WR Cooper Kupp, WR Robert Woods, RB Darrell Henderson, TE Tyler Higbee
Bust – RB Sony Michel
Colts
Trust – RB Jonathan Taylor
If You Must – QB Carson Wentz, WR Michael Pittman, RB Nyheim Hines
Bust – WR Parris Campbell, WR Zach Pascal
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
Bills
Trust – QB Josh Allen, WR Stefon Diggs
If You Must – RB Devin Singletary, WR Cole Beasley, WR Gabriel Davis, WR Emmanuel Sanders
Bust – TE Dawson Knox, RB Zack Moss
Dolphins
If You Must – QB Tua Tagovailoa, RB Myles Gaskin, WR Jaylen Waddle, WR DeVante Parker, TE Mike Gesicki
New England Patriots at New York Jets
Patriots
Trust – RB Damien Harris
If You Must – QB Mac Jones, RB James White, WR Jakobi Meyers, TE Jonnu Smith
Bust – TE Hunter Henry, WR Nelson Agholor
Jets
Trust – WR Corey Davis
Bust – QB Zach Wilson, RB Michael Carter, RB Tevin Coleman, RB Ty Johnson, WR Elijah Moore
Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers
Raiders
Trust – TE Darren Waller
If You Must – QB Derek Carr, RB Kenyan Drake
Bust – WR Bryan Edwards, WR Henry Ruggs, WR Hunter Renfrow
Steelers
Trust – QB Ben Roethlisberger, RB Najee Harris, WR Diontae Johnson, WR Chase Claypool, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
Bust – TE Eric Ebron, TE Pat Freiermuth
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
Saints
Trust – RB Alvin Kamara
If You Must – QB Jameis Winston
Bust – TE Juwan Johnson, WR Marquez Callaway, RB Tony Jones, WR Deonte Harris, TE Adam Trautman
Panthers
Trust – RB Christian McCaffrey, WR D.J. Moore, WR Robby Anderson
If You Must – QB Sam Darnold
Bust – WR Terrace Marshall
Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars
Broncos
Trust – RB Melvin Gordon, WR Courtland Sutton, TE Noah Fant
If You Must – QB Teddy Bridgewater, RB Javonte Williams
Bust – WR KJ Hamler, WR Tim Patrick
Jaguars
Trust – RB James Robinson
If You Must – QB Trevor Lawrence, WR DJ Chark, WR Laviska Shenault, WR Marvin Jones
Sunday Mid Afternoon Slate
Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals
Vikings
Trust – QB Kirk Cousins, RB Dalvin Cook, WR Justin Jefferson, WR Adam Thielen
If You Must – WR K.J. Osborn, TE Tyler Conklin
Cardinals
Trust – QB Kyler Murray, WR DeAndre Hopkins, RB Chase Edmonds
If You Must – RB James Conner, WR Christian Kirk, WR Rondale Moore
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Falcons
Trust – WR Calvin Ridley, TE Kyle Pitts
If You Must – QB Matt Ryan, RB Mike Davis, TE Hayden Hurst
Bust – WR Russell Gage, RB Cordarrelle Patterson
Buccaneers
Trust – QB Tom Brady, WR Mike Evans, WR Chris Godwin, WR Antonio Brown
If You Must – TE Rob Gronkowski
Bust – RB Ronald Jones, RB Leonard Fournette
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers
Cowboys
Trust – QB Dak Prescott, RB Ezekiel Elliott, WR Amari Cooper, WR CeeDee Lamb
If You Must – RB Tony Pollard, WR Cedrick Wilson
Bust – TE Blake Jarwin, TE Dalton Schultz
Chargers
Trust – QB Justin Herbert, RB Austin Ekeler, WR Keenan Allen, WR Mike Williams
If You Must – TE Jared Cook
Bust – RB Justin Jackson, RB Larry Rountree
Tennessee Titans at Seattle Seahawks
Titans
Trust – QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Derrick Henry, WR A.J. Brown
If You Must – WR Julio Jones
Seahawks
Trust – QB Russell Wilson, WR D.K. Metcalf, WR Tyler Lockett, RB Chris Carson
If You Must – TE Gerald Everett
Sunday Night Football
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
Chiefs
Trust – QB Patrick Mahomes, WR Tyreek Hill, TE Travis Kelce
If You Must – RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Ravens
Trust – QB Lamar Jackson, RB Ty’Son Williams, TE Mark Andrews
If You Must – WR Marquise Brown, WR Sammy Watkins
Bust – RB Latavius Murray
Monday Night Football
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Lions
Trust – RB D’Andre Swift, TE T.J. Hockenson
If You Must – RB Jamaal Williams
Bust – Lions WRs, QB Jared Goff
Packers
Trust – QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Davante Adams, RB Aaron Jones, TE Robert Tonyan
If You Must – RB AJ Dillon
Bust – WRs not named Davante Adams
Good luck and enjoy the games!
