Sample sizes are about to go from small to slightly-less-small. Schematic anomalies might become patterns of behavior, for better or worse. And, always, the injury reaper with his scythe raised high, the primetime moonlight glancing off the blade. As an aggregate repository of players, the fantasy football pool limps into Week 2, a bit—no? Injuries are the stories of the 49ers (again! Sorry; I’m sick of it.). Austin Ekeler tore his Achilles clean in a blowout, and Jacory/Bill Croskey-Merritt season awaits us in Week 3. Are the Packers this good? I digress. As ever, we remain on the panhandling beat for stashes, dart throws, breakouts, and, probably most importantly, running back sleepers.
The refrain remains the same—All I want is for you to be better than your friends. You’re going to be surrounded by them on Sunday, probably. How sweet would it be if you could be sure you’ve checked every box possible that might guarantee you a resounding victory this week? Some kick-your-feet-up insights? I’ve got some. And I know my audience. The smoke-break audience. The quick-scan-of-the-phone-on-the-way-to-the-fridge audience. The I-ain’t-reading-all-that-but-good-luck folk. I’m a man of the people.
And so: the Five Lists of Five series. Think of these as byte-sized, two-minutes-to-yourself lists to scan during your weekend as you foam at the mouth for any competitive fantasy edge. As much relevant analysis as I can fit into, like, ~250 words per player.
Below: Top five smash starts for fantasy football Week 2. Must-starters based on matchup and sky-high ceiling. Rolling with a little bit of a different approach this week, too, as I polish this new column.
Here are the other offerings from my 2025 Fantasy Football Five Lists of Five: Week 2 edition:
- Top five must-start players for Week 2 of 2025 fantasy football
- Top five breakout running backs for Week 2 of 2025 fantasy football
- Top five breakout wide receivers for 2025 fantasy football Week 2
- Top five players to stash for Week 2 of 2025 fantasy football
Follow my handle @dansby_edits for all of my fantasy football content—as well as plenty of NFL and College Football betting goodies—all season long.
Top five WR/CB matchups to target in 2025 fantasy football Week 2
George Pickens vs Deonte Banks (NYG at DAL)
Dallas carries a 25.5-point implied total, supporting steady drive volume and red-zone trips. New York’s pass defense just allowed the 11th-highest yards per attempt, 12th-highest passer rating, and the fifth-highest CPOE in Week 1 while generating the eigth-lowest pressure rate. That combo inflates in-breaking route success and back-shoulder efficiency when the quarterback throws on time. The Giants also played 64.9% single-high last week, which invites Dallas to isolate the X and hammer slant/go and deep curls. Pickens thrives on vertical stems and late hands; press-bail turns into free access on stops, and off-man becomes slant leverage. Reduced splits and motion create inside access before the snap, then Dallas layers double-moves once safeties squeeze.
If New York rotates help to Pickens’ side, choice and glance punish the vacated windows. If they don’t, the back-shoulder portfolio remains live in the low red. I expect Dallas to test Banks early, force physical snaps, then return to isolation on third downs. The environment and coverage rules keep Pickens’ efficiency buoyant even if raw volume sits modest. I project 7–10 targets, 4–6 receptions, 70–95 yards, serious paydirt potential, with one additional high-leverage end-zone look or DPI.
Amon-Ra St. Brown vs Kyler Gordon (slot, CHI at DET)
Let’s settle the nerves of Lions fans and heavy fantasy investors in this offense. Here at DraftKings, we’ve got Detroit returning home with a 27.5-point implied total, signaling drive volume and red-zone chances. They’re going to score. That’s the first part of the good news.
The second? Chicago’s pass defense gave up the fourth-highest CPOE and 12th-highest yards per attempt in Week 1 with the fourth-lowest pressure rate. That’s a perfect environment for first-read crossers, pivots, and returns to the slot. Detroit’s line stumbled in Week 1, but timing improves drastically at home, feeding St. Brown’s chain-moving diet. Expect choice routes and motion to isolate Gordon and force conflict with linebackers.
I project 11–14 targets, 9–11 receptions, 95–120 yards, and, like Pickens above, a good shot at paydirt. Detroit will hammer RPO glance and choice from 3×1, stretching landmarks and isolating Gordon inside. Ben Johnson tags return routes after motion; those convert third downs when leverage tilts inside. If Chicago spins late, Detroit screens into the blitz and reloads St. Brown’s YAC. Sustained route density plus clean pockets turns into a surgical, high-floor performance.
Jakobi Meyers vs Deane Leonard (LAC at LV)
Meyers might be a repeat Five-List-of-Fiver until folks catch up that he might be Geno’s dream binky. He logged 10 targets in Week 1 and has, across 13 games without Davante Adams in Vegas, averaged 8.6 targets, 6.2 catches, 74.7 yards with a 26.3% target share. Las Vegas also ranked high in PROE and leaned into horizontal-breaking routes last week—perfect for attacking CB2 leverage. Stacks and motion create free access; Geno’s rhythm throws reward Meyers’ footwork on curls and digs. The Patriots defense didn’t exactly stress Geno in the pocket in Week 1, but there was some clear chemistry between these two on in-breaking routes on a few meaningful, sustained LV drives in Foxboro. I don’t see that changing too much against the Chargers, unless Meyers gets doubled on all his routes. That’s not DC Jesse Minter’s bag, though. He’s a coverage-disguise guru as opposed to an obdurate double-teamer.
If Brock Bowers sits or is limited, target density climbs further. I project 9–12 targets, 7–9 receptions, 75–95 yards, and less touchdown potential than the above two wideouts, but still some. Vegas will call reduced splits and stacks to force off leverage, gifting free access on digs and curls. Geno’s quick trigger pairs with Meyers’ footwork for high-percentage completions underneath. If Los Angeles rotates help, screens and glance punish overplays and restore isolation. This is bankable, Adams-esque volume channeled directly into PPR scoring just in time for a Monday Night Miracle.
Jaylen Waddle vs Jonathan Jones (MIA at NE)
I’m unleashing Waddle against Jones’ man rules and a defense bleeding efficiency. In the first three quarters of Week 1, Waddle logged a 76.2% route share, 16.7% target share, 23.1% first-read share, 1.3 aDOT, and 3.6% air-yard share. That’s short-area usage that scales beautifully when the volume rises. New England just surrendered the second-highest yards per attempt, tenth-highest passer rating, and fifth-highest CPOE, with only mid-tier pressure. Miami’s fast motion and switch releases erase jams, create free access, and hand him inside leverage.
So long as he’s legitimately healthy, I expect Waddle to run 33–38 routes with 85–90% participation and earn 8–11 targets as the baseline. He should see three to four quick-game touches through jets and screens to turbocharge YAC and rhythm. I’m also forecasting two to three deep-over looks between 12 and 20 yards. Third-down usage stays sticky at three to four targets, where his pacing punishes off leverage. Tyreek’s gravity widens the glance and dig windows; Waddle slices through the void and accelerates past pursuit. If New England compresses the middle, Miami flares him outside and resets leverage. If they widen with two-high, the dig reopens between linebackers and the rotating safety. Tempo multiplies communication strain and gifts him freebies after motion. I’m projecting two to three red-zone targets and one end-zone shot. Similar to above projections: 6–8 receptions, 85–110 yards, middling touchdown chances, with one additional high-leverage look via DPI or end-zone target.
Davante Adams vs Roger McCreary (slot, LAR at TEN)
According to PFF, Los Angeles carries a 71% win probability with a 45.6 total, which supports sustained script and repeated red-zone exposure. McVay’s spacing and condensed splits manufacture clean stems for Adams, then layer doubles once Tennessee squeezes. Motion frees releases and creates inside leverage on returns and glance. Puka Nacua’s vertical stress widens the curl and dig windows; Adams sits, secures, and punishes late hands. Stafford’s timing with Adams tightens in clean pockets and accelerates third-down conversion rates. When Tennessee rotates late, the choice and drift concepts flood McCreary’s landmarks and force conflict with inside help. I expect Adams to toggle between slot and reduced splits to hunt matchups all game.
I’m projecting 10–12 targets, 7–9 receptions, 90–110 yards, and probably the most touchdown upside on this board, with one or two additional high-leverage end-zone looks. If Tennessee rolls help, Los Angeles answers with quick screens and now routes to reset rhythm and reload Adams’ volume. If they hold single-high, the slant/go and back-shoulder portfolio stays live outside the numbers. The environment, leverage tools, and concentration of first reads all point to premium, high-percentage volume that compounds across four quarters.
