Honestly, Week 1 is a total trap. You probably spent all Monday night staring at your roster, wondering why your first-round pick put up a dud while some random waiver wire guy had the game of his life. It’s tempting to blow your entire FAAB budget or trade away your stars because you're panicked about a 0-1 start. But listen, the real money is made in the week 2 fantasy football rankings 2025 adjustments where we separate the actual breakouts from the one-hit wonders.
This year is already looking weird. We saw Josh Allen go absolutely nuclear with 394 passing yards and four total touchdowns against the Ravens, which basically confirms he’s the QB1 until further notice. But then you have guys like Joe Burrow dealing with turf toe and Jordan Love looking like an MVP while his receiving corps disintegrates around him. It's a lot to process.
The Quarterback Tier: Mobility vs. The Pocket
If you’ve got Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson, you aren't reading this for advice; you're just here to gloat. Lamar's four-touchdown performance against Cleveland showed that the Ravens' offense hasn't lost its step. For everyone else, the rankings are a bit of a mess.
Drake Maye actually looked competent for the Patriots. That's a sentence I didn't think I'd write so soon. He’s going up against a Dolphins defense in Week 2 that just got shredded by the Patriots' own offense in their opener. If you’re in a SuperFlex league, Maye is moving up the board fast.
On the flip side, what are we doing with Jayden Daniels? He had over 200 yards passing and two scores, but he didn't run. At all. Seven attempts for almost no yards is terrifying for a guy whose fantasy floor is built on his legs. He’s got a knee sprain that clearly hampered him. Going into Week 2 against Green Bay—who just shut down the Commanders—he’s a "sit" for me if you have a safer veteran like Matthew Stafford.
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Running Backs: The Bell Cow is Dying
The days of having five "must-start" RBs are kinda over. Look at the Jaguars. Everyone thought Tank Bigsby was going to eat into the workload, but Travis Etienne Jr. just reminded everyone why he’s the man, racking up 143 yards. He’s a top-5 play for Week 2 against a Bengals defense that looked soft against the run.
- Derrick Henry (BAL): He had 169 yards. Yes, he fumbled, but he's the engine of that team.
- Saquon Barkley (PHI): The Eagles are going to ride him until the wheels fall off.
- Josh Jacobs (GB): 10 straight games with a TD? You don't bench that.
- Jahmyr Gibbs (DET): He's sharing with Montgomery, but his efficiency is sky-high.
I'm actually worried about Christian McCaffrey. The "load management" talk is real. He’s still the RB1 when he plays, but with Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall stepping up in the 49ers' passing game with Kittle out, CMC might not get those 10 targets a game we’re used to.
Wide Receiver Rankings: The New Guard
Puka Nacua is a monster. 130 yards on 11 targets while getting stitches in the middle of the game? That’s legendary. He’s the clear WR1 in these week 2 fantasy football rankings 2025. Even with Davante Adams commanding double-digit targets in his Rams debut, Puka is the engine.
Why Emeka Egbuka is the Real Deal
Most people are calling Egbuka’s two-TD debut a fluke. It’s not. With Chris Godwin out until Week 5, Baker Mayfield has zeroed in on Egbuka as the primary red-zone threat alongside Mike Evans. He’s a locked-in WR2 with WR1 upside against Houston’s secondary, which showed some cracks last week.
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We need to talk about Malik Nabers too. The Giants are a mess, sure. Russell Wilson looks like he’s "cooked," as the kids say. But Nabers had 167 yards and two scores. The volume is undeniable. If you’re playing the Cowboys in Week 2, you might be scared of the matchup, but you can’t bench 15 targets. You just can't.
Tight End Chaos: Streaming or Screaming?
If you lost George Kittle to that hamstring injury, I’m sorry. Hamstrings are the worst. They linger. You need a backup, and you need one now.
Brock Bowers is the obvious answer if he’s somehow available, but he’s dealing with a knee tweak. He says he’s fine, and honestly, even a 75% Bowers is better than most of the wasteland at this position.
- Trey McBride: 31% target share. That's elite.
- Tyler Warren: The Colts finally found a guy. He’s the Week 2 "must-add" if you’re desperate.
- Hunter Henry: Safe floor, but he won't win you the week.
Kyle Pitts actually caught 7 passes. I know, I know—we’ve been burned before. But with Michael Penix under center and Drake London banged up, Pitts might finally be the player we drafted three years ago.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Week 2
The biggest mistake is the "revenge" play. People think "Oh, this guy sucked last week, he’s due for a big one." Football doesn't work like that. If a player’s snap count was under 40%, they aren't "due"—they're a backup.
Watch the injuries closely. Xavier Worthy is likely out for a month with that shoulder dislocation. This makes Hollywood Brown a massive "buy low" candidate before his price skyrockets. Also, keep an eye on the Bengals' backfield. Chase Brown had 18 touches and zero competition. If Browning is starting for an injured Burrow, they are going to run the ball 35 times.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Roster
- Check the Waiver Wire for Ricky Pearsall: With Kittle out, he’s the clear secondary target in San Francisco. He had over 100 yards in relief last week.
- Sell High on Deebo Samuel: He scored on a reverse to save his day, but his targets are trending down.
- Don't Drop Terry McLaurin Yet: The Commanders' offense was stagnant because of Jayden Daniels' injury. If Daniels sits and a vet starts, McLaurin’s value actually goes up.
- Prioritize Romeo Doubs: If you're in a PPR league, he's the only healthy reliable set of hands in Green Bay right now.
Get your lineups set before the Thursday night game between Washington and Green Bay. That's going to be a defensive battle, so maybe temper expectations for your skill players in that one. Focus on the high-total games like Eagles-Chiefs for your big-point potential.