A week late to the action, but I’m back for QB List to share a few Start/Sit suggestions for each week of the fantasy season! With some Week 1 data to reflect on, let’s jump right into who I foresee being in your lineup and who can be left on the bench.
A reminder that I judge my ‘start or sit’ against a full-PPR format.
Start ‘Em
TreVeyon Henderson, RB – New England Patriots
Week 2 Matchup: @ Miami Dolphins
It was the summer of TreVeyon Henderson, with a ton of hype surrounding the rookie out of Ohio State as he looked set to take a stronghold over the NE backfield. In Week 1, he may have only had five carries, rushing for 27 yards, but he did catch all six of his targets for 24 yards. In PPR formats, we take that. We’ll want to see him out-snap Rhamondre Stevenson, who in Week 1’s loss to the Raiders, owned a 64.8 snap percentage compared to Henderson’s 35.2%, per FantasyData.
This week’s matchup in Miami should bode well for Henderson to show out. The Dolphins just allowed Colts’ Jonathan Taylor and rookie DJ Giddens to turn a total of 30 carries into 112 yards on the ground, with Taylor catching all three of his Daniel Jones targets for 27 yards.
Brace for Henderson to be on the RB2 radar with immense upside.
Brenton Strange, TE – Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 2 Matchup: @ Cincinnati Bengals
You may be a sad George Kittle owner, or you may have missed out on Harold Fannin Jr. or Juwan Johnson on the wire. If you find yourself able to grab and start Brenton Strange, this is the week to do so. We just saw Fannin Jr. haul in seven of nine targets for 63 yards against a weak Bengals secondary, who, mind you, allowed the most receptions to opposing tight ends last season. Strange himself caught all four of his targets for 59 yards in Week 1’s win against the Panthers. It’s worth noting that three of those four catches did come on Jacksonville’s opening possession of the game, but nonetheless, he’s essentially the lone option in the Duval TE room, and will remain firm on the TE2 map most weeks.
Jakobi Meyers, WR – Las Vegas Raiders
Week 2 Matchup: vs Los Angeles Chargers (MNF)
A request to be traded be darned. Jakobi Meyers may still want out of Vegas due to contract disputes, but he quickly put that behind him for the time being with his Week 1 performance. Vegas’ new QB Geno Smith targeted Meyers 10 times, and the two connected for eight receptions for 97 yards in the win against New England. In what very well could be a shootout against division-foe Chargers on Monday night, Meyers is a proper WR3 with WR2 upside on volume alone.
Sit ‘Em
Baker Mayfield, QB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 2 Matchup: @ Houston Texans (MNF)
Baker Mayfield found himself on the streaming radar much of the 2024 season. Week 1 of the new campaign may have been a strong fantasy day because of the three passing touchdowns, but he only threw for 167 yards, adding 39 yards on the ground off five carries. The implied game total this week against the Texans is only 42.5 points, which doesn’t offer much fantasy confidence on either side.
The Houston defense just held Matthew Stafford to 245 yards and one passing touchdown, albeit in a 14-9 loss.
Isiah Pacheco, RB – Kansas City Chiefs
Week 2 Matchup: vs Philadelphia Eagles
The Kansas City offense is going through it to start off the 2025 season. Rachee Rice is out of the picture due to a suspension, and Xavier Worthy was on the wrong end of friendly fire by Travis Kelce last week. Fortunately for him and the Chiefs, Worthy won’t need shoulder surgery at this time, but at the time of writing, it’s unclear whether or not he is suiting up this week. In either case, Isiah Pacheco is on the sit list for me in Week 2.
Against the Chargers in Brazil, Pacheco only rushed for 25 yards on five carries, with two receptions off three targets for just three yards. Kareem Hunt remains in the picture, despite Pacheco owning a 50.8% snap share over Hunt’s 37.7% against LAC last week. Ultimately, while the Chiefs’ offense figures itself out and tries to avoid an 0-2 start, which would be their first since 2014, you should subsequently avoid Pacheco in the process.
Kenneth Walker III, RB – Seattle Seahawks
Week 2 Matchup: @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Breece Hall had a nice game on the ground against the Steelers in Week 1, totaling 107 yards off 19 carries. He also had 38 yards through the air on two receptions. That being said, I don’t like the prospect of Kenneth Walker III against that same Pittsburgh defense this week.
Walker laid a stinker against the 49ers, with only 20 rushing yards off 10 attempts, and caught all three of his targets for a measly four yards. Zach Charbonnet – touted as one of the top ‘handcuffs’ to roster – turned his 12 carries into 47 yards and a touchdown. We’ve seen it in the past, but Charbonnet is a thorn in Walker’s side when both are healthy, and at times just looks like the better back. Walker is one to fade despite owning a consensus RB17 ADP in draft circles this summer.
-Matthew Cava (@cavam_ Twitter & Reddit)
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurt_player02 on IG & Threads, @kuwasemiller on Bluesky)