Start or sit Phillip Lindsay in Week 2 fantasy football?

There are quite a few red fags when it comes to determining Phillip Lindsay’s fantasy value for Week 2. First and foremost, the Bears are simply not the team you want facing your running back on any given Sunday afternoon. Chicago was one of nine teams to allow fewer than 4.0 adjusted yards per carry in 2018 and it paired that fact with being the NFC’s highest-ranked run defense according to DVOA. Then, there’s the matter of script. While the Broncos will make their home field debut this weekend, they’re still the underdogs in this contest. On top of that, no game on the slate has a lower implied total than Denver-Chicago, with all expectations pointing towards a low-scoring, defensive battle Vic Fangio’s two most recent employers.

With all that said, I don’t think it’s fair to throw Lindsay out of our collective good graces so quickly. The sophomore running back is coming off a campaign that saw him rush for over 1,000 yards and make his first Pro Bowl. Yes, he underachieved in what initially appeared to be a prime matchup against Oakland on Monday, but he still walked out of that contest with 15 touches and six targets. Plus, unlike last year, with Devontae Booker logging only a single offensive snap in a game the Broncos were immediately trailing, it would appear Denver is rolling with just a two-RB committee. More time on the field is always good news.

Fantasy Impact: Here’s the honest truth when it comes to Lindsay. Unless you were able to strike it big on the waiver wire this week, it’s very likely you don’t have anyone better to toss into your lineup. Though the matchup is exceedingly difficult, running backs with a 15-plus touch floor don’t happen to grow on trees. Its not as if I’m looking to use Lindsay in DFS this Sunday; but the fact remains that’s he’s a Top-30 RB. In anything bigger than a 12-man format, that’s enough to be viable.

Recommendation: Start