Week 1 is a liar. It always is. You spent all summer obsessing over ADP, only to watch a random rookie tight end or a third-string running back blow up your seasonal projections. Now, looking at the fantasy week 2 rankings, you’re probably wondering if you should panic.
Honestly? Maybe a little.
The 2025 season opened with some absolute chaos. We saw the New York Giants' quarterback situation look like a vintage Peyton Manning performance (unexpectedly), while elite anchors like Jahmyr Gibbs and Ja'Marr Chase left managers staring at the ceiling at 2:00 AM. If you’re sitting at 0-1, don't tilt. Week 2 is where the actual trends start to separate themselves from the "one-week wonder" noise.
The Quarterback Tier Shift: It's Jayden's World
If you didn't buy into the Jayden Daniels hype during the draft, it's officially time to pay the "I told you so" tax. He went into Week 1 and put up 22.1 fantasy points against the Giants. For Week 2, he’s heading into Lambeau Field. Usually, that’s a nightmare. But the Packers just got done giving up a massive chunk of points to a Detroit offense that looked far from perfect. Daniels is a locked-in top-5 play in most fantasy week 2 rankings because of that rushing floor.
It’s basically a cheat code.
👉 See also: Calendario de la H: Todo lo que debes saber sobre cuando juega honduras 2025 y el camino al Mundial
Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes is currently the "fade of the week" for several advanced models, including the simulations over at SportsLine. He had a decent Week 1 with 315 total yards, but the matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles is a different beast entirely. We’re seeing a Super Bowl 59 rematch here, and Philly's secondary is looking for blood.
Who to actually trust behind center:
- Justin Fields: He absolutely cooked the Steelers for 31.5 points. Now he gets a Buffalo defense that let Lamar Jackson run wild. Start him.
- Jared Goff: Detroit’s home opener is a "get right" game. He’s historically been a monster in the dome, and the Bears are currently dealing with a banged-up secondary (Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are both questionable).
- Mac Jones: Yeah, I said it. With Brock Purdy out with a toe/shoulder issue, Mac is stepping into a Kyle Shanahan offense. It's the ultimate "system" play against a New Orleans defense that might be overconfident.
Running Backs: Volume vs. Efficiency
The biggest news of the week isn't a performance; it's a trade. The Jacksonville Jaguars shipping Tank Bigsby to the Eagles has effectively handed the keys to the kingdom back to Travis Etienne Jr. If you were worried about a committee, stop. He’s a must-start RB1 against a Cincinnati defense that consistently struggles to stop the run early in the season.
Then there's the Breece Hall situation.
Last week, everyone was terrified of the Pittsburgh matchup. He still averaged 5.6 yards per rush. This week? He gets the Buffalo Bills. Derrick Henry just bullied that same Bills defense for a massive stat line. If Hall is on your roster, he is your RB1, no questions asked.
✨ Don't miss: Caitlin Clark GPA Iowa: The Truth About Her Tippie College Grades
Don't overthink it.
We’re also seeing a huge shift in Cleveland. With Quinshon Judkins dealing with some "issues" (though he did return to a full practice on Thursday), Dylan Sampson has emerged as a PPR goldmine. He’s taking the passing-down work, which is exactly what you want for a flex spot when the team is likely to be trailing.
Wide Receivers: The Target Share Gospel
If you’re looking at fantasy week 2 rankings and seeing Puka Nacua at the top, it’s because Davante Adams exists. Wait, that sounds backward. In Adams' Rams debut, he commanded eight targets. He's an every-snap player again. Puka is still the alpha, but Adams is the only other person Matthew Stafford is looking at.
It’s 2021 all over again in Los Angeles.
🔗 Read more: Barry Sanders Shoes Nike: What Most People Get Wrong
The "Don't Bench" List
- Brian Thomas Jr.: The Jags rookie is the real deal. He’s facing a Bengals secondary that was just roasted by deep shots.
- Malik Nabers: He’s dealing with a minor back issue, but he practiced fully on Thursday. Dallas is a tough matchup, but the volume is undeniable.
- Ladd McConkey: The Chargers offense is surprisingly pass-heavy under Herbert this year. McConkey is the primary beneficiary.
On the flip side, be careful with the New England guys. TreVeyon Henderson is flashy, but he only played 35% of the snaps. Rhamondre Stevenson is losing his grip on that backfield faster than anyone expected. If you have a better option, use it.
Tight Ends: A Total Wasteland
If you have Trey McBride or Brock Bowers, you’re fine. Bowers is dealing with a knee tweak, but he told reporters he’s good to go. You can’t bench a guy who earns that many targets in his debut.
The real shocker? Dalton Kincaid.
He had a great fantasy score in Week 1, but if you look at the tape, he only ran routes on 55% of Josh Allen’s dropbacks. That is terrifying. He’s a part-time player being ranked like a superstar. If you have someone like Dallas Goedert or even Juwan Johnson, you might actually consider the pivot.
Strategy for the Waiver Wire
The fantasy week 2 rankings are only half the battle. You need to be aggressive with the wire before the Sunday kickoff.
- Priority 1: Harold Fannin. The rookie out of Bowling Green (Cleveland Browns) saw 9 targets. In this economy, a tight end with 9 targets is basically Travis Kelce.
- Priority 2: Isaac TeSlaa. The Lions want him more involved, and with the Bears coming to town, he could be a sneaky DFS play or a deep-league flex.
- Priority 3: Jauan Jennings. He’s questionable with a shoulder injury, but if he plays, he’s the WR2 in San Francisco with Deebo Samuel likely moving around the formation to cover for the lack of a traditional run game.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Lineup:
- Check the 49ers injury report one last time before the 1:00 PM ET window. If Mac Jones is starting and Jennings is out, George Kittle’s absence (he's on IR) leaves a massive vacuum for Ricky Pearsall.
- Monitor the Giants-Cowboys weather. It’s a divisional game in Dallas, but if there's any shift in the "turf" conditions, it affects the speed-based receivers like Nabers more than the bruisers.
- Don't chase Week 1 points from guys like Daniel Jones (Colts) or Bo Nix unless you are in a 2-QB league. The defensive matchups for both are significantly harder this week.
- Move Travis Etienne Jr. into your RB1 slot if you were holding out. The Bigsby trade is a definitive signal from the Jacksonville coaching staff.