NFL Week 2 DFS Breakdown

Top-50 WR Rankings - Week 2

5 Starts & 5 Sits - Week 2 - 2025

Week 3 Fantasy Football Waiver Adds

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Colton Peters
NFL

Week 2 is officially in the books. Half the league is feeling pretty good about their draft, while the other is stuck doomscrolling the “available” section until three in the morning. As always, the week brought its fair share of injury scares and head-scratchers, even for the most seasoned fantasy players. Sitting here on September 16, I’ll give you one reminder: trust your preseason prep. Fantasy football is about sticking to your process and knowing when to pivot—it is not the time to panic after just two weeks.

Let’s start with the injury updates. The big one is Joe Burrow. The Bengals’ star quarterback is expected to miss three months with turf toe that includes torn ligaments. Congrats, Cincinnati ownership—you bought a Ferrari, left the doors unlocked with the keys inside, and then wondered why it got stolen. Burrow is one of my favorite players to root for, but year after year this offensive line remains a disaster.

The Jets cannot catch a break either. Justin Fields entered concussion protocol and will need to clear it before facing an elite Bucs team. On Monday morning, a late report dropped that Jayden Daniels is dealing with a knee sprain, putting his status for this week’s matchup with Vegas in doubt. Keeping with the theme, J.J. McCarthy will miss two to four weeks with a high-ankle sprain. Carson Wentz vs. Jake Browning—here we come!

It wasn’t just quarterbacks, either. Aaron Jones left the Vikings game with a hamstring injury. Coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters on Monday that Jones is still being evaluated, but he is likely to be out this week. If you stashed Jordan Mason, it’s full steam ahead.

For additional potential Week 3 pickups, check out ASL Leonard LaPadula's "Streamers For The Desperate" or ASL's Chris Hexter's "Week 3 Injuries & Opportunities".

Quarterbacks are down, running backs are limping, and your bench could use a hero. Here’s who to grab.


Quarterbacks

Jake Browning (1% Rostered)

If you have Burrow, it’s time to focus on his backup. Browning has proven repeatedly that when he steps in, he can sling the ball effectively. On Sunday, the former Washington Husky completed 22 of 32 passes for 241 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Are those three picks a concern? Not really. The Bengals coaching staff has shown they will continue to air it out. Looking back to the second half of 2023, when it took Browning a couple of weeks to get his feet wet, after Week 12, he only fell out of the top ten scoring quarterbacks once. With Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown all healthy, I expect the Bengals to keep rolling. Do you need to watch every snap? Probably not, unless you want grey hair—but if you need a QB amid this week’s flurry of injuries, Browning will provide solid value until Burrow returns.

Daniel Jones (34% Rostered)

Jones consistently proves that when the system works around him, he is a strong fantasy asset. After posting 30 fantasy points in Week 1, he bounced back with 22 points against what many considered one of the league’s top defenses. Denver’s plan was clearly to contain his legs, but Jones countered by attacking through the air, completing 23 of 34 passes for 316 yards and a touchdown. With Jonathan Taylor performing well and the receiving room continuing to develop, Jones remains a highly valuable fantasy option moving forward.

Mac Jones (5% Rostered)

I’ve fallen down this rabbit hole time and time again, but hear me out—this time will be different. Kyle finally got the player he said he always wanted in Mac Jones, who stepped in for the injured Brock Purdy. The 49ers once again proved that, while it’s nice to have Purdy back, their elite system can work with a variety of quarterbacks. Mac went 26 of 39 for 279 yards and three touchdowns, looking rejuvenated and mobile. His scrambles and ball placement were crisp, and for the first time in the NFL, I saw the version of Jones who lit it up at Alabama. I don’t expect this to stop anytime soon. While others in your league might hesitate, don’t make the same mistake. Alexa, play Return of the Mac.


Running Backs

Bhayshul Tuten (45% Rostered)

The rookie looked absolutely explosive, and the organization clearly believes in him, having moved Tank Bigsby to the Eagles to make room. Watching the film from this game was special—and I don’t say that lightly. His cuts, vision, and ability to break tackles reminded me of watching a rookie Kenneth Walker come into his own. Tuten finished with eight carries for 42 yards on the ground, added another 22 through the air, and found the end zone once. If anything happens to Travis Etienne, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tuten put together a second-half season reminiscent of Jahmyr Gibbs. This is a player you want to grab now. Otherwise, come December, you may be staring across your matchup at him and wondering why you didn’t snatch him up when you had the chance.

Cam Skattebo (59% Rostered)

The New York bruiser is beginning to look like everything that was advertised. He carried the ball 11 times for 45 yards and scored a touchdown. With Tyrone Tracy only getting five carries, we may be witnessing the rookie’s transition right before our eyes. Even if QB Jaxson Dart eventually takes over, this is not a Jalen Hurts situation. On the goal line, the ball will be going to Skattebo. While I don’t believe he is startable yet, he is a strong addition for anyone needing running back depth.

Trey Benson (55% Rostered)

The whispers are getting louder. James Conner looks decent, but aging running backs rarely end well—unless your name is Derrick Henry. Meanwhile, Benson is beginning to show why he was such a highly regarded do-everything back coming out of college. Now that he is healthy, he’s demonstrating the value that made him worth the pick for the Cardinals. While his rushing numbers weren’t eye-popping, with just 3 touches for 14 yards, he did contribute through the air with 4 catches for 40 yards. On top of that, Conner only logged 59 percent of snaps, which suggests that by Week 4, this could easily become a committee backfield. Overall, Benson is the kind of running back you can flex occasionally, and he may also be the highest-end handcuff in the league—a prime early-season value.

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Wide Receivers

Wan’Dale Robinson (27% Rostered)

If Robinson maintains this level of usage—ranking in the top-20 in NFL targets and consistently seeing double-digit looks—he is well-positioned to be a high-end WR2 for the year. In fantasy football, volume is king, and even without massive yardage on every catch, consistent targets translate into steady receptions and point totals weekly. With the Giants likely to pass often, especially if they fall behind in games, Robinson should see a steady flow of red-zone opportunities and intermediate routes. Should he continue averaging nine to ten targets per game, he could easily finish the season with 90 to 100 receptions, 1,200 to 1,300 yards, and eight to ten touchdowns—numbers that fit perfectly into the WR2 range in most fantasy formats. Simply put, his early-season volume suggests he is more than a temporary flex option; he has both the floor and ceiling of a high-end WR2 if the offense keeps feeding him the ball.

Tory Horton (3% Rostered)

Although the stat sheet hasn’t lit up yet, Horton’s targets are steadily building, showing that he is becoming a trusted part of the Seattle offense. Every time I watch him, something new stands out—he is a bulldog: relentless, athletic, and always fighting for extra yards after the catch. While he isn’t quite ready to be a regular starter, he is worth adding in deep leagues. With Cooper Kupp showing signs of slowing down, I can see Horton gradually taking over that outside role by Week 7. If you have an open spot on your bench for the former Colorado State Ram, now is the time to grab him. Competition will likely be minimal, and in FAAB leagues, you might be able to claim him for under one dollar—an absolute steal if you ask me.

Cedric Tillman (39% Rostered)

Two productive fantasy starts in a row for Cedric Tillman show that he deserves attention. In Week 2, he hauled in two catches for 22 yards and a touchdown, adding to his Week 1 scoring. While the numbers aren’t eye-popping, his consistency and usage really stand out. QB Joe Flacco trusts him in key situations, especially near the end zone. With the Browns being, well, the Browns, they will likely be forced to throw the ball, and the upcoming schedule against the Packers and Lions could create even more passing opportunities. Expect Cleveland to play from behind at times, which should give Tillman ample chances to rack up garbage-time touches. Fantasy football doesn’t care about context—just the points. As long as he stays healthy, Tillman is shaping up to be a steady flex option and a reliable contributor across multiple-week matchups.

Tight Ends

Zach Ertz (53% Rostered)

Zach Ertz just does it year after year. This week, I faced some tough decisions between Browns TE David Njoku and Ertz, but ultimately went with Zach. He did not disappoint, finishing with 6 receptions for 64 yards with a touchdown. QB Jayden Daniels clearly relies on the veteran tight end in crunch time. If Ertz continues being targeted eight or more times per game, he could finish as a top-five option by season’s end. Even if Daniels is ruled out, backup Marcus Mariota has a history of looking to the tight end position. Add Ertz wherever you need help and start him with confidence.

Ja’Tavion Sanders (1% Rostered)

For a deeper stash play, I like Sanders, as He hauled in six catches on nine targets in Carolina’s loss. The Panthers are likely to be behind in many games, which should force them to throw frequently. Additionally, against the Cardinals this week, the young tight end played 65 percent of snaps and ran a route on 69 percent of QB Bryce Young’s dropbacks. It will take some courage to insert him in your lineup, but Carolina is entering a stretch with favorable tight end matchups. The defense is weak, and a struggling Young should look to Sanders to regain confidence. He is startable in deeper leagues, but the bigger breakout is likely to come later this year.