Fantasy Football 2022: Must-Starts and Sleepers for Week 2
Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season had a little bit of everything – upsets, injuries, surprises, and expectations met.
Fantasy football managers have tweaked rosters in an attempt to take advantage of the most recent developments for Week 2.
There are still decisions to be made following Thursday night’s Chiefs-Chargers game, during which the usual suspects – Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert – were their usual selves. But Chargers wideout Mike Williams returned from a three-point Week 1 bust with eight catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Williams rewarded fantasy owners who stuck with him for Week 2, but who else is a must-start this week?
QB: Carson Wentz should get a nod
The Commanders gambled in the offseason that Carson Wentz could be their answer at quarterback.
He delivered in Week 1 with 313 yards and four touchdown passes in a win over Jacksonville, scoring 27.7 fantasy points. He’s the No. 4-ranked quarterback in fantasy heading into Week 2 in ESPN leagues and has a favorable matchup against Detroit.
Wentz was among the most added players this past week and is now rostered in over half of ESPN leagues figures to start in about a third of those with the expectation of another QB1 performance against the Lions.
WR: Tyler Boyd could have an expanded role
If Tee Higgins (concussion) cannot play Sunday against the Cowboys, the steady Tyler Boyd will become Joe Burrow’s No. 2 receiver by default.
Boyd finished with 13.3 PPR fantasy points in Week 1’s overtime loss to the Steelers, which included a touchdown. If not playing third fiddle to Higgins and Chase, Boyd could put up bigger fantasy numbers.
With the Cowboys’ offense in flux due to the injury to QB Dak Prescott, the Bengals could get more opportunities on offense and more chances for Burrow, Boyd, Joe Mixon, and Ja’Marr Chase, making Boyd a WR3 or flex option.
RB: Miles Sanders rediscovered in the Eagles’ backfield
Eagles RB Miles Sanders was shut out of the end zone in 2021 but wasted no time finding it in last week’s win over Detroit. Sanders averaged 7.4 yards per carry (13-96) and ended up with 18.5 PPR fantasy points.
The downside for Sanders fantasy managers is the fact that RBs Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott and QB Jalen Hurts can all snag goal-line carries. Still, in what is expected to be a shootout with the Vikings, there should be enough touches to go around for Sanders to have another productive day at RB2 or flex.
TE: It’s way too early to give up on Kyle Pitts
Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts was underwhelming in Week 1 with just 3.9 PPR fantasy points in a loss to the Saints. The run-centric Falcons and QB Marcus Mariota have to integrate Pitts into the game plan if they have any chance at success this week against the Super Bowl champion Rams – and this season.
The volume is there – Pitts was on the field for 63 snaps, and he ran 29 routes. He just needs the ball for the Falcons and for fantasy managers. Arthur Smith, are you listening?
Sleeper: Nyheim Hines will reward versus the Jaguars
Colts RB Nyhiem Hines is more than just a backup to spell Jonathan Taylor this season with the Colts, who are using him more as a complement to the league’s top running back rather than an understudy.
Hines is filling the exact same role as Curtis Samuel is in Washington – a do-it-all skill player who works out of the slot and the backfield. Samuel scored 19.2 PPR fantasy points in a Week 1 win over Jacksonville.
There’s no reason to believe that Hines can’t make a similar impact as the Colts take on the Jaguars this week.
Hines scored 11.2 fantasy points in a tie with the Texans, and he should make a strong flex play this week.
Stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference
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