Sit/Start Week 2: Reviewing All Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, September 20 at 1:00 PM ET

Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

Betting Odds: DAL -4, 52.5 total via Oddsshark

Network: FOX

Atlanta Falcons

Quarterback

Matt Ryan (Start, QB1)

In Week 1, Matt Ryan was heading for a flop before lighting up garbage time to a tune of 68% completion percentage with 450 yards and a 2:1 TD:INT ratio. Yes, he looked good in the 4th quarter, but it truly was a garbage-time passing scenario. This week, however, has a chance to be another shootout if the quarterback on the other side gets it humming as well. With possibly the most loaded receiving group in the league, Ryan is headed for more big weeks than not. Lock him in as a QB1 this week.

Running Back

Todd Gurley (Start, RB2)

Week 1 got off to a hot start for former LA Ram, Todd Gurley. There were questions on workload coming into the season. The Falcons made it a point to go to Gurley early and often in this one, racking up 37 yards and a touchdown on eight carries through the Falcons’ first three drives. They quickly had to abandon the run game as Russell Wilson was red hot against the hapless secondary of Atlanta. The Cowboys defensive line is a force to be reckoned with, so Gurley could find it tough sledding, but should get enough volume to carry RB2 numbers in 12 teamers.

Wide Receivers/Tight End

Julio Jones (Start, WR1), Calvin Ridley (Start, WR2), Russel Gage (Start, WR3/Flex), Hayden Hurst (Start, TE1)

The greatest beneficiaries of the garbage time mode were the pass catchers of the Falcons. Well, almost all of them. Julio Jones racked up 9/157 on 12 targets, Calvin Ridley exploded for 9/130/2 on 12 targets. New waiver wire darling Russell Gage put up 9/114 on 12 targets. All on pace for well over 1,800 yards on the season, the number is sure to go down as the Falcons are hopefully not forcing Matt Ryan to throw 54 times a game. Already expected to be the highest passing volume team in the NFL this season, the Falcons should continue to sling it in Week 2. However, the Cowboys play a more grind it out game, which slows the tempo of the game. You could say that the Seahawks do as well, but I don’t expect the Cowboys to embarrass the Falcons out of the gate as Seattle did. The Week 1 “preseason” games are done, so look for Atlanta to have a more balanced approach this week. Still, Ryan should throw 40+ times, and I expect it is Hayden Hurst, who disappointed last week, to get more targets, lowering the floor of Gage and the TD upside of Ridley. All around, solid plays across the board here until something changes.

Dallas Cowboys

Quarterback

Dak Prescott (Start, QB1)

Week 1 was a disappointment for America’s Team. As a self-professing Cowboys fan, the Mike McCarthy era started about how the Jason Garrett era ended – with a one possession loss. Coming off of last season that saw the Cowboys 1-6 in one possession games, it was more of the same this week, falling to the LA Rams 20-17. While the Rams do boast a decent defense with two of the top players at their positions in the NFL (Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey), but we still expected more from Dak Prescott in his season debut. Dak finished with 266 yards, one touchdown, and no picks. He also added 30 yards on the ground to help boost his score slightly in fantasy leagues. I say we expected more, because the weapons that he has around him are arguably as good as, if not better than, the Falcons which we will get into below. Expect a bounce back week from Dak and everyone on this offense as they face an Atlanta team that just allowed Wilson to complete 31/35 passes for 322 yards and four touchdowns. This is a dream spot for Dak and he is primed for a high-end QB1 week as there are no Jalen Ramsey’s on the field for the Falcons.

Running Backs

Ezekiel Elliott (Start, RB1), Tony Pollard (Sit)

Speaking of great spots, Ezekiel Elliott usually doesn’t find a matchup he doesn’t like. Tatted with the new “Feed Me” ink, Zeke should do just that this week. After going for 127 total yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 against a formidable Rams front line, there should be plenty of holes in this defense, especially if Dak is on. Yes, Chris Carson only ran for 21 yards last week against them, but the Seahawks decided to go full air-raid mode. Look for Dallas to have a very balanced attack. At this point, Tony Pollard is just an insurance piece for Zeke owners.

Wide Receivers/Tight End

Amari Cooper (Start, WR1), Michael Gallup (Start, WR2), CeeDee Lamb (Start, WR3), Dalton Schultz (Sit)

Ah…the matchup that owners are salivating over. After seeing Wilson complete almost all of his passes against the Falcons last week, owners are hoping that it is more of the same from Dak this week. If last week is any indication, there is definitely room for multiple Cowboys receivers to have a safe floor and high ceiling. Dak gave the ball the Amari Cooper often last week, totaling 10 catches for 81 yards. This week should be no different, but with more touchdown upside. The battle between Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb is on for the WR2 spot in Dallas, and it was Lamb coming out ahead 5/59 to Gallup’s 3/50. Yes, Gallup was the victim of a questionable pass interference penalty that would have propped his stats up above Lamb, so for now, I am keeping Gallup ahead in the pecking order. This could change in the coming weeks, but for now, I think they are both a start this week, Lamb just left for WR3 and Flex spots. One of my preseason sleepers, Blake Jarwin suffered a torn ACL and is out for the season. It is yet to be seen where those targets end up, but I would bet on those being absorbed by the receiver group more than someone like Dalton Schultz. He is not a start, or even a pickup, anywhere.

-Matt Dean (@MattDeanQBList on twitter, mdean8 on Reddit)