Fantasy Football: Best matchups for Week Two
By Carl Daley
The second week of the NFL regular season is sure to deliver some impressive fantasy football performances. Here are the players with the best matchups.
The fantasy football world is getting ready for what should be an epic close to Week Two. There is a lot of competitive football about to be played and only a few “safe” matchups to start without worry. Here are some of the best matchups in fantasy football for Week Two.
Mike Evans/DeSean Jackson vs Chicago Bears: The Bears actually do an excellent job at stopping opposing number one wide receivers but Evans is not your typical wide receiver.
He is a matchup nightmare and Jameis Winston’s favorite target, and while a lot of attention will be paid to him, he should find room in the end zone and get his first touchdown of the season.
START OR SIT?: Fantasy Pros Start or Sit Assistant Tool
Jackson, on the other hand, should have a great day converting some big plays but it is hard to imagine him being the first option in the red zone. He should have a pretty decent game (5 catches for 70-84 yards) but will be the smallest option in the passing game around the goal line.
Cam Newton vs the Buffalo Bills: Newton has been waiting for a nice matchup to really show off his healthy offensive weapons and this could be the matchup they are waiting for.
The Bills are not that imposing when it comes to their pass rush or their secondary so this could also be a big game for wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. If Newton is near the end zone he is likely handing the ball off to running back Jonathan Stewart. Newton should have a little over 20 fantasy points.
Arizona Cardinals running backs vs Indianapolis Colts: Kerwynn Williams and Andre Ellington are solid flex starts this week as they face the very ineffective Indianapolis Colts defense.
The Colts have no consistency on either side of the ball so this should be a one-sided affair. Which Cardinals running back actually breaks out and gets the most carries is simply conjecture at this point but it should play out with Williams getting early down/goal line work and Ellington being subbed in on passing downs.
Drew Brees vs Tom Brady: This is a fantastic matchup pretty much for everyone involved but especially those involved in the passing game. Brees is historically great when up against stiff competition from a high-powered offense.
This should be a high-scoring affair with a ton of touchdowns and passing yards to go around. Brady did seem a bit off in his last contest but until we see that same struggling performance again, bet on number 12. Both quarterbacks should have a fantastic afternoon but I believe Brees will come away with the higher point totals.
Chris Hogan/Brandin Cooks at New Orleans Saints: The primary wide receivers for the New England Patriots are a much safer bet than those in New Orleans. The Saints wide receivers are young, inexperienced, and will make it hard to predict who will come away with more fantasy points.
The Patriots have mainly three go-to players available, tight end Rob Gronkowski who got a bit banged up last week, Cooks who is the clear number one receiving option, and Hogan who has done a little bit of everything.
The Saints defense is not scary at all and should provide ample opportunities for Tom Brady to connect with his top targets. I love both players as starters as Cooks could be looking at a revenge game against the Saints and Hogan could see more carries in the run game.
All Oakland Raiders: If you have anything Raiders this week you cannot go wrong, from their tight end, Jared Cook to their kicker, Giorgio Tavecchio, the Raiders should be moving the ball and scoring with ease.
More from Dallas Cowboys
- Why the Dallas Cowboys wisely decided against signing Dalvin Cook
- West coast, Texas coast, burnt toast: Cowboys don’t need more runs
- Brandin Cooks will change the way defenses play the Dallas Cowboys
- Why the Dallas Cowboys defensive X-Factor is EDGE Sam Williams
- Dallas Cowboys: 3 head coach options if McCarthy fails in 2023
Why? Because they face the New York Jets who have been horrendous in all phases of football. If the game gets out of hand Tavecchio could end up scoring the remaining points late into the contest.
The Jets will do everything they can to stop Amari Cooper but it should not matter that much. The best receiving play this week should be Michael Crabtree as he will go up against second or third tier cornerbacks.
Star running back Marshawn Lynch should have a major impact on this contest as he looks to get his first touchdown of 2017.