Flex On Fire: 7 must-starts for Week 2 fantasy football

Before looking ahead to the guys I think you need in your lineups for Week 2, a quick recap on what happened on opening weekend for my must starts. It wasn’t the best of starts, with a lack of targets hampering the production of the majority of my guys. Eric Ebron and Tarik Cohen saw just two targets each, with James White seeing just three as the Patriots controlled their match up against the Dolphins from start to finish. Henry Ruggs looked exciting in his first start, with the highlight a 45 yard reception, but exited in the first half with a knee injury and didn’t see a further target after he returned to the game after half time. DeSean Jackson was most the disappointing of my must starts for sure, as he spent most of the first half on the sideline, before ultimately only reeling in two catches from seven targets. At least Jimmy Garoppolo did get you an above average score, putting up 19.26 points in the 49ers’ defeat to the Cardinals.

Onto Week 2, and here are the guys you should target to get you that second week win.

Scott Miller, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers

With Mike Evans clearly on a pitch count in Week 1, Miller stepped into Tom Brady’s classic Welker/Edelman role, seeing six targets for 73 yards in the season opened. Even if Evans is back to full health, with Chris Godwin missing the start of the week in the concussion protocol, Miller could see an even bigger uptick in targets facing the porous Panthers defense, which gave up three passing touchdowns in Week 1 to the Raiders. There were also just two targets to running backs in Week 1 for the Bucs, which also bodes well for Miller’s production moving forward in the short passing game.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions

I admit I was dubious before the start of the season when Aaron Rodgers was talking up MVS, but if Week 1 is an indicator of future production, Green Bay may have found the foil for Davante Adams. Valdes-Scantling saw six targets in the shootout with the Vikings, catching four balls for 96 yards and a touchdown, and this week faces a Lions defense that allowed the fifth most fantasy points to receivers in Week 1. Allen Lazard is also pushing for WR2 touches, but MVS has the edge on the big play ability and the higher ceiling in this divisional match up.

Jared Cook, TE, New Orleans Saints @ Las Vegas Raiders

Cook goes into the Week 2 match up against the Raiders having seen the second most targets behind Alvin Kamara in the Week 1 victory over the Buccaneers, catching five of seven passes for 80 yards. With Michael Thomas out with a high ankle sprain, this opens up even more opportunity for Cook and he should see double digit targets against him former team. Cook was drafted as a top-12 tight end in fantasy this year so is a likely starter if you have him, but if you have options at the tight position, get him in your lineup this week.

J.K. Dobbins, RB, Baltimore Ravens @ Houston Texans

Rookie must start of the week goes to Dobbins who flashed in Week 1 with his two goal-line touchdowns. The rest of his production wasn’t up too much with just 22 yards coming from his seven carries. The goal line work is a good sign though and facing a Texans’ defense that allowed 166 rushing yards in Week 1, we could see a Dobbins breakout if he can continue to push for more touches in a crowded backfield.

Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers vs Denver Broncos

Johnson led the Steelers in targets in Week 1 and though it didn’t lead to huge production (six catches for 57 yards), I’m banking on the upside if he continues to vibe with Ben Roethlisberger. He did show up on the injury report this week, missing practice Wednesday with a toe injury, but given that was just 48 hours after the Steelers’ Week 1 win, I’m not getting too worried about him missing time. The Broncos will be missing their top cornerback in A.J. Bouye, which bodes well for a good day for Johnson and the rest of the Steelers’ receiving corps in their home opener.

Nyheim Hines, RB, Indianapolis Colts vs Minnesota Vikings

All aboard the Hines hype train. I have Hines stashed in so many leagues and he was high on my sleeper list for 2020. He just needed to catch a break to be fantasy relevant. Well Week 1 opened that door with Marlon Mack’s season-ending achilles injury and he clearly has the Austin Ekeler role with Philip Rivers in the Colts’ offense. Hines had 15 total touches in Week 1, including a team-high eight catches, notching 73 total yards and a touchdown for 27.3 PPR points. Even with Jonathan Taylor likely to see the bulk of the ground work, I think we’re going to see a 12 to 15 point floor from Hines with RB1 upside if he can put the ball in paint. He’s off my bench and in my starting lineups against the Vikings this week.

Anthony Miller, WR, Chicago Bears vs New York Giants

Miller gets the nod from me this week as he proved a match up winner for me last week as a late substitute for Kenny Golladay in one league. Four catches for 76 yards and what was ultimately the game-winning touchdown, Miller has solid WR2 potential every week, even with Mitchell Trubisky under center. The Bears host the Giants in Week 2, and they gave up the third most fantasy points to receivers in Week 1, something that I can see being a trend all season long.