QBs to Start in Week 2
Chargers’ Philip Rivers (vs. Bills): Here’s a guy who made the list for me last week as well. Philip Rivers delivered with 29 fantasy points in Week 1 against the Chiefs. This made him the third highest scoring QB in Week 1. With another weak matchup in Week 2, I love Rivers this week as well.
Rivers faces the Buffalo Bills, who allowed 26.6 points to QBs in Week 1, against the Baltimore Ravens. Look for Rivers to continue his fantasy success from last week.
Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger (vs. Chiefs): Ben Roethlisberger struggled mightily in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns. Big Ben would finish the game with four interceptions, two fumbles and just nine fantasy points. That would put him as the 23rd highest-scoring QB in Week 1.
So why would you play him this week?
First, he’s at home where he usually is very good. Second, he faces a Chiefs defense that allowed 28 points in Week 1. Roethlisberger should be in for a bounce-back week.
Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes (vs. Steelers): On the other side, facing Big Ben is Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes looked very good in his NFL debut in Week 1. Against the Chargers, Mahomes threw for four touchdowns and no interceptions. He did enough to solidify himself as the fourth-highest scoring QB in fantasy last week. This week, he faces the Steelers, who allowed 23.6 fantasy points in Week 1 against a mobile QB.
We could see a shootout in Pittsburgh, allowing Mahomes to repeat his Week 1 success.
Under-the-Radar QBs in Week 2
Browns’ Tyrod Taylor (vs. Saints): Tyrod Taylor, had a solid first week in fantasy terms. Against the Steelers, Taylor scored 23.6 points which was helped by a rushing touchdown. Taylor was the sixth-highest scoring QB in Week 1. This week he faces a Saints defense that allowed 42.3 fantasy football points to Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Yes, that guy.
Give me some of Taylor this week while the Saints try to figure out their defense.
Ravens’ Joe Flacco (vs. Bengals): Joe Flacco looked very good in Week 1 against the Bills. Flacco had 21.7 fantasy points in Week 1, leaving him as the seventh-highest scoring QB in Week 1. He did this against a pitiful Bills defense. This week he faces a Cincinnati Bengals defense that allowed 19.5 points to the Indianapolis Colts’ Andrew Luck.
I’ll take a chance on Flacco this week to perform well again on Thursday Night Football.
QBs to Sit in Week 2
Bengals’ Andy Dalton (vs. Ravens): Andy Dalton had a decent week in Week 1 against the Colts. Dalton put up 16.5 fantasy points, making him the 16th highest-scoring QB in Week 1. That was with a very favorable matchup against a terrible Colts defense. This week, he faces a tough Ravens defense that feasted on the Bills, allowing just 2.6 points to their QBs. I’d avoid Dalton on a short week against a stingy defense.
Titans’ Marcus Mariota (vs. Texans): If Marcus Mariota does indeed play this week, I’d sit him.
Even before his elbow injury this past week, Mariota struggled a bit against the Miami Dolphins. He threw two interceptions before getting hurt. This week, he faces a Houston Texans team that has a decent pass rush and talented players on defense. I’m absolutely avoiding Mariota this week.