Fantasy Football Mailbag: Week 2 Starts/Sits, Early Trade Opportunities

Week 1 officially is in the books, but the agonizing fantasy football decisions have only just begun.

With another full set of games on the docket for Week 2 and several key injuries stirring up the pot, fantasy owners have some important choices to make as they hope to get their campaigns off to a strong start.

We asked our readers to send us their most difficult dilemmas via Twitter, and they certainly were up to the task, so thanks to all who participated. Let’s see if we can tackle the best of the bunch.

I like John Brown in this one. Andre Johnson should have an increased role in the passing game if T.Y. Hilton is inactive Sunday, but that also means he’ll likely see more of top New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis.

The Arizona Cardinals have a cushy matchup against a Chicago Bears defense that allowed three touchdowns last week, so Brown has a very good chance to hit paydirt for the second consecutive week. Go with the little guy.

Good question, SuperPooperScooper.

Both have their pros and cons, but I’ll give the slight edge to Bishop Sankey. Mark Ingram carried the load in both the rushing and passing games for the New Orleans Saints last week, and C.J. Spiller could get a bulk of that action upon his return, especially against a weak Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense.

Yet he’s still an unknown quantity, while Sankey looked solid in his 2015 debut Sunday. The Tennessee Titans face a Cleveland Browns defense that traditionally gives up big numbers in the run game, so it’s reasonable to expect more of the same.

A disclaimer: If you’re in a points-per-reception (PPR) league, go with Spiller. He should get his fair share of receptions.

Hey Justin, feel free to peruse our Week 2 Waiver Wire Pickups for a few options, but the guy I like most is one of Dez Bryant’s Dallas Cowboys teammates: Terrance Williams.

Williams has shown flashes of production in the past but largely has been overshadowed by Byrant. Yet Bryant could miss an extended amount of time, and Williams looks like the primary guy to pick up the slack. If you’re in a deeper league and Williams already is gone, take a look at Cole Beasley, another Cowboys wideout who stands to see more targets in Bryant’s absence.

There’s a lot to like about Stevie Johnson’s San Diego Chargers debut, robotmonkey13, but Joseph Randle still is the better play.

As mentioned above, Bryant’s injury leaves a void in Dallas’ offense, and that won’t just affect the passing game. The Cowboys still have a strong offensive line and should turn to the run game early and often against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that surrendered 105 rushing yards to the Atlanta Falcons’ mediocre attack.

Randle also should continue to enjoy an expanded role in the passing game after racking up 42 receiving yards Sunday.

That’s not a bad dilemma to have, LangoneJoe.

It’s tempting to go with Tom Brady after his huge Week 1, and we are the New England Sports Network, but I think you have to start Russell Wilson. If anyone knows how to slow Brady down, it’s new Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan, whose Jets teams held Brady to fewer than 300 passing yards in their last four meetings.

It should be a high-scoring affair in Green Bay, however, where Wilson and the Seahawks offense will be plenty busy in an NFC Championship Game rematch against the Packers.

That’s a bold move, Ricky. But to be honest: I like it.

One of the best things you can do in a fantasy football trade is sell high, and there’s no better time than now for Peyton Manning. Yes, he had a tough Week 1 matchup in the Baltimore Ravens, but he’s clearly on the decline, and at this point you can find other quarterbacks who will put up similar numbers.

Carlos Hyde, meanwhile, appears to be the new workhorse back in a San Francisco 49ers offense that loves to run the ball. As long as you have another solid option to replace Manning at QB, you’re getting a solid RB2 in Hyde for a relatively low price.

Thumbnail photo via Jake Roth/USA TODAY Sports Images