Week 2 of the NFL season has arrived! We now have a small sample size to help determine potential target share, QB-WR rapports and more moving forward. With that in mind, let’s break down my Week 2 start/sit fantasy wide receiver picks.
Check out my full Week 2 start/sit article with picks at each position here!
Start ‘Em: Keon Coleman (Bills) at Jets
Out of all the potential Year 2 receiver breakouts, I must admit that Coleman’s was pretty far down my list. However, the deep ball threat emerged as Josh Allen’s top target pretty definitively in Week 1, and if you’re the reigning MVP’s go-to guy, you have fantasy value.
Coleman hauled in eight of 11 targets against the Ravens for 112 yards and a touchdown. It took him four weeks to hit the eight-reception mark in his rookie campaign. The 22-year-old clearly put in the work this offseason.
It’s still fair to expect Coleman’s fantasy production to be relatively volatile, but he’s primed for another monstrous outing against a Jets secondary that was just torched by Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers. Fire up the Florida State product as a strong WR2.
Sit ‘Em: Michael Pittman Jr. (Colts) vs. Broncos
Michael Pittman Jr., meet Pat Surtain II. If you two aren’t already acquainted, by the end of Sunday’s Broncos-Colts game, you will be. Trust me.
Per Next Gen Stats, Surtain did not allow a catch as the nearest defender on any of his 34 coverage snaps in Week 1. It’s the eighth time in his career the corner has accomplished said feat. He was only targeted once, breaking it up. The man is the reigning NFL DPOY for a reason.
That’s bad news for Pittman, and it gets even worse the further you dive into it. Surtain produced that dominant stat line almost strictly lined up on Calvin Ridley in coverage. 84% of Ridley’s routes, to be precise.
It’s fair to assume that, especially fresh off a strong Week 1 outing, the star CB will be locked in on Pittman Jr. as Daniel Jones’ top target. All signs point to a dud for him against Denver.
Check out my full Week 2 start/sit article with picks at each position here!
Start ‘Em: Deebo Samuel (Commanders) at Packers
As it turns out, serving as a team’s leading receiver while the actual top guy holds out throughout the entire preseason has its benefits. Shocker.
While Terry McLaurin struggled to get anything going, Deebo found consistent success as Jayden Daniels’ go-to target, catching seven of 10 targets for 77 yards, also rushing once for 19 yards and a touchdown.
After an offseason of “washed” accusations for the 29-year-old, Samuel looked like the dynamic playmaker we’re used to seeing on Sundays. The Packers are a tough matchup, but Deebo should remain heavily involved in Washington’s passing attack. He has high-end WR2 upside this week.
Sit ‘Em: Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins) vs. Patriots
The Dolphins weren’t just decimated by Indy in their season opener; they were flat-out embarrassed on both sides of the ball. Tua Tagovailoa looked like a shell of the former signal caller for Miami’s 2023 high-octane passing attack that struck fear in opposing secondaries. The lefty completed just 14 of 23 passes for 114 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
That doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the fantasy outlook of Tagovailoa’s receivers. Waddle was a relative no-show against Indy, catching four of five targets for 30 yards. The Patriots’ secondary didn’t exactly dominate against Geno Smith in their Week 1 loss, but that defensive unit is good enough to give a struggling Dolphins offense problems once again this week.
Start ‘Em: Hollywood Brown (Chiefs) vs. Eagles
The signs were there to predict Hollywood’s Week 1 performance. In Brown’s only two healthy regular-season contests last year, he racked up 15 targets, suggesting Patrick Mahomes held trust in the veteran even if their rapport had not been established.
So, when Xavier Worthy dislocated his shoulder on Kansas City’s first drive of the season, it’s not surprising that Mahomes turned to the 28-year-old route technician. Brown saw a whopping 16 targets against the Chargers, catching 10 of them for 99 yards.
Next up, Hollywood and the Chiefs draw a Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles. While Philly remained elite defensively against the run in Week 1, their secondary was vulnerable, and Dak Prescott took advantage of it. Andy Reid’s squad will have to operate through the air early and often to find success, setting up Brown for another strong fantasy outing.
Those are my start ’em, sit ’em Week 2 fantasy football wide receiver picks! Stay tuned for more fantasy football start/sit advice throughout this week.
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
