The following is an excerpt from the latest edition of Yahoo’s fantasy football newsletter, Get to the Points! If you like what you see, you can subscribe for free here.
Start-sit decisions in can be vexing for even the best of fantasy football managers. Here’s our Week 2 traffic light report to help you make some of those seam calls.
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Green Light
Detroit Offense vs. Bears: The Lions were a no-show in Green Bay last week, but perhaps that was more about the Packers defense being great than Detroit’s offense being broken. The Lions can get back to business at home and on the fast track against a Chicago team that’s working on a short week.
QB Dak Prescott vs. Giants: He had the worst possible runout last week — drops, a weather delay, even a Philly ejection that led to more Dallas running. Prescott can make it up to you against the Giants, a team he’s beaten 13 times in a row.
WR DeVonta Smith at Kansas City: He’s faced Kansas City four times (twice in the Super Bowl) and has a sturdy 24-390-1 line to show for it. Philadelphia remains a run-first offense, but I didn’t adjust my Smith view even after a quiet opening night.
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TE Brenton Strange at Cincinnati: He was good-not-great against Carolina in the opener, though a 4-59-0 line marked his territory as Jacksonville’s No. 3 downfield target. Now Strange gets to attack a Cincinnati defense that’s notorious for giving away tight end production. Strange is a reasonable consideration for George Kittle, Dallas Goedert and Brock Bowers managers.
WR Kayshon Boutte at Miami: We need to monitor his shoulder injury, but if Boutte is a go, he has WR3 potential. He’s racked up 95, 117 and 103 yards receiving in three of his last four starts, and was New England’s busiest target last week (snaps, routes, targets).
Yellow Light
WR Ricky Pearsall at New Orleans: It stings to lose QB Brock Purdy, but Mac Jones could be one of the top-five backup quarterbacks in the league. Jones kept Brian Thomas Jr. afloat last year, and he can do the same for Pearsall.
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RB Jaylen Warren vs. Seattle: It was pesky to see Kenneth Gainwell play so much last week, but Warren’s production was considerably better. Can we trust OC Arthur Smith to deploy rational coaching?
WR Hollywood Brown vs. Philadelphia: He was a short-yardage PPR monster last week after Xavier Worthy got hurt, a case of breaking glass in case of emergency. Brown can hold onto much of that work, but he’s never been a touchdown-equity guy. Brown is someone to consider, but not a must-start by any means.
WR Keon Coleman at NY Jets: I don’t want to throw cold water on Coleman’s 8-112-1 breakout, but keep in mind Buffalo was trailing most of Sunday night. Game flow is less likely to be favorable here, and Coleman also might have to deal with star CB Sauce Gardner.
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Red Light
QB J.J. McCarthy vs. Atlanta: He had one amazing quarter in Chicago, after three horrible ones. Score one for resilience, and score one for Kevin O’Connell, too. But note McCarthy attempted just 20 passes despite trailing most of the opener — the Vikings will try to keep McCarthy in hitter’s counts as he learns the NFL. Volume might not be friendly here.
RB Kenneth Walker at Pittsburgh: He was out-touched and outplayed by Zach Charbonnet last week, especially notable since both backs are looking to impress a new offensive coordinator. Walker won’t get kicked to the curb, but this is a hot-hand committee right now.
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WR Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Denver: The Indianapolis opener was three hours of joy — seven straight scoring drives! — but the good vibes could silence immediately against the NFL’s best defense. I’m bullish on the Colts long-term, but not in this spot.
