Whether you started your fantasy football season in the win or loss column, you still have a long road ahead before you hoist your league championship trophy.
With the always tricky Week 1 nearly concluded, let’s take a closer look at some players you should consider starting — or sitting — heading into Week 2 of the NFL season.
Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Week 2 of the 2023 NFL Season
Week 1 of the NFL season is always a bit tricky, but my call to start Mike Evans and sit Drake London worked out well, while some of the other plays had mixed results.
Well, with the season openers for teams across the league in the books, it is time to take an early look ahead at some of my favorite start/sit options heading into Week 2.
Start ‘Em
Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks completely laid an egg in every facet of the game in an embarrassing 30-13 home loss at the hands of the Cooper Kupp-less Los Angeles Rams.
Smith really struggled against one of the most inexperienced secondary units, with his most notable play from the season opener coming with some audio from a near-death experience involving Aaron Donald.
Geno Smith yelling "OH MY GOD" as Aaron Donald sprints at him (r @Brook_Weber) pic.twitter.com/Azk1XN9FTn
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) September 10, 2023
While his 112 passing yards to go with one score was a very disappointing performance, he has another favorable matchup this upcoming week against the Detroit Lions secondary, who gave up 226 passing yards — which could have been a lot more if not for multiple drops — to the Travis Kelce-less Kansas City Chiefs.
In what could be a high-scoring game, expect a bounce-back outing from Smith and the rest of the Seahawks offense.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
It was tough sledding on the ground for the Patriots in their Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Fortunately, they are going to see a far more favorable matchup in Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins, who gave up 234 rushing yards to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Although Stevenson struggled to get much going on the ground against the Eagles, he still led the team in carries and receptions. Expect a more efficient day at the office for Stevenson in Week 2.
Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars offense looked the part of an improving unit in their season-opening 31-21 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
One thing worth noting is how the backfield split played out between Etienne and Tank Bigsby.
Well, Week 1 strongly favored Etienne, who saw 23 total touches to Bigsby’s seven. Etienne also won Round 1 in the total yardage department, totaling 104 yards to Bigsby’s 13.
Both found the end zone on the ground, but we can expect that this is Etienne’s backfield to lose heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Chiefs, who gave up 118 rushing yards to the Lions.
David Montgomery, RB, Detroit Lions
Speaking of the Lions, Montgomery saw 21 total touches to Jahmyr Gibbs’ nine in the team’s upset win against the Chiefs to start the 2023 season.
Montgomery also scored the only rushing TD of the contest, collectively giving D’Andre Swift truthers deja vu of their experience with Jamaal Williams constantly vulturing TDs from his more efficient and dynamic backfield counterpart.
I’ll admit, Gibbs looked fantastic with his limited work and should see his role expand as the season progresses. However, if last season taught us anything, as long as Montgomery continues to get this type of work in the backfield, he is a must-start until the usage drastically swings in the other direction.
Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Flowers exploded onto the season in his pro debut, comfortably pacing the other Ravens receivers in targets, receptions, and yards.
You can make an argument that Flowers was the best aspect of the entire Baltimore offense in the season opener.
Flowers looked dynamic when he got the ball in his hands and looked like the featured player in this revamped offensive system.
While some may be skeptical of his Week 1 target share, I would caution sitting a playmaker of his capabilities who looked like the clear-cut WR1 in Baltimore in his first professional game. Flowers looks like the real deal.
DJ Moore, WR, Chicago Bears
Speaking of debuts, the first regular-season appearance for Moore in a Bears uniform wasn’t all that exciting.
His underwhelming stat line of two receptions for 25 yards paralleled the overall struggles of the Bears’ passing attack against the Green Bay Packers.
His next matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be a bit more fantasy-friendly, considering the Bucs gave up 344 yards through the air to Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings last week.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
When people talk about all the weapons on the Niners offense, Aiyuk’s name is generally mentioned after Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Deebo Samuel.
Well, after catching eight passes for 129 yards and two TDs against the Pittsburgh Steelers, perhaps we should be mentioning his name first.
Aiyuk looked every bit the part of a leading wide receiver in an explosive offense during his 2023 season debut.
The Rams’ defense may have slowed down the Seahawks passing attack last week, but the 49ers offense under quarterback Brock Purdy appears to be a well-oiled machine. Expect another big game from Aiyuk in this one.
Luke Musgrave, TE, Green Bay Packers
The Packers passing offense generating three TDs against the Bears without Christian Watson was one of the bigger surprises of the opening week of the NFL season.
And while the rookie tight end didn’t find the end zone in Week 1, he finished second on the team in receptions and receiving yards.
Quite honestly, it could have been a much bigger debut for Musgrave if a couple of throws were just a little better…
Luke Musgrave oh so close to having a massive debut. Sheesh pic.twitter.com/lHg8kHjkrd
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) September 11, 2023
Musgrave will face a Falcons secondary in Week 2 that gave up five receptions for 41 yards and a TD against Hayden Hurst and the Carolina Panthers. Start Musgrave with confidence in Week 2.
Sit ‘Em
Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets
Editor’s Note: This article was published prior to Rodgers’ MNF injury.
Betting against a future Hall of Fame quarterback is not something I particularly enjoy doing, but the matchup against the Dallas Cowboys defense on a short week does give me a bit of hesitation to insert Rodgers into my lineup.
The Cowboys defense was excellent in their season debut against the overmatched New York Giants offense, surrendering zero points and limiting quarterback Daniel Jones to just 104 passing yards while registering two INTs.
Rodgers has the capability to make anyone look stupid for putting him on the sit ’em list, but I would prefer to stay away from the Cowboys defense that looked incredibly formidable in Week 1.
James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
This is nothing personal against Conner, but I still have a hard time trusting any Cardinals skill position player while Joshua Dobbs is starting under center.
Conner was far from awful in his 2023 debut, logging 70 total yards on 19 touches against the Commanders in Week 1. Unfortunately, the offense didn’t generate a rushing or passing score last week and will face a Giants defense that was just humiliated on national television.
I would rather go in other directions at the running back position this week.
Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami Dolphins
Mostert made an appearance on many of my DFS and redraft lineups last week but failed to make a huge impact with his 12 total touches in a high-scoring affair against the Chargers to start the season.
The matchup will not get any easier in Week 2 when the pass-heavy Miami offense will take on a Pats defense that held the potent Eagles rushing attack to just 97 yards on the ground.
I’m fine investing in the Dolphins passing offense but don’t see quite the same upside with their collection of running backs as this backfield continues to get healthier in the coming weeks.
D’Andre Swift, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
This is painful, but Swift’s two total touches for three yards mean you have to get him out of your starting lineup until further notice.
George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers offense got off to a rough start last week. While the matchup against the Niners defense was never ideal, producing just 7 points is never good for the skill position players.
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier against a Browns defense that held Joe Burrow and the potent Bengals passing attack to just 82 yards through the air to go with only 3 points.
Not to mention, the cornerback duo of Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome could give Pickens some extra attention this week if Dionate Johnson is unavailable due to injury.
Pickens is a great talent, but it may be wise to avoid starting him this week.
Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders
It hasn’t been very often that McLaurin has seen legit competition for targets during his time in a Commanders uniform, but Jahan Dotson may challenge for the leading role in this passing attack sooner than many expected.
Dotson hauled in five receptions in comparison to McLaurin’s two, while Curtis Samuel led all Washington pass catchers with 54 yards receiving.
Their matchup against the Broncos in Week 2 means McLaurin could see plenty of cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who did an admirable job holding Davante Adams to just six receptions for 66 yards in the season opener.
Tyler Higbee, TE, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams passing offense turned a lot of heads in Week 1 when not one but two pass catchers topped the 100-yard mark against the Seahawks.
Unfortunately, neither of those players was Higbee. Another unfortunate development is that Higbee’s Week 2 matchup features a Niners defense that held talented Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth to just one catch for three yards.
MORE: PFN’s FREE Fantasy Trade Analyzer
Yes, that one reception was for a touchdown, but the overall efficiency of work simply wasn’t there against a stingy Niners defense.
Higbee should still be involved, but I’d rather go in other directions to avoid this talented group of linebackers and safeties altogether.