X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Bold Predictions for Week 2

Last week, I posted a tweet on my account (@RotoSurgeon) that received a solid response so why not keep it going in a long-form fashion. They weren't all right but who doesn't like a good bold prediction? This week's edition is much more informative with some semblance of backing. Enjoy!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Jonathan Taylor finishes as RB1 overall and hits 200+ total yards

The Rams' defense is still great as a whole given that pass defense is most of what matters but they are seemingly weak against the rush. They were third in rush defense DVOA last season but 17th the year before and it's looking like this season might be reminiscent of 2019.

Offseason losses like Michael Brockers and John Johnson III certainly hurt in the run defense aspect, especially since they were not replaced by free agent/trade additions. David Montgomery in the mediocre Bears offense just carved them up last week with 108 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown.

Jonathan Taylor and the Colts' offense will force the issue on the ground to keep Aaron Donald away from Carson Wentz as well as keeping passes away from Jalen Ramsey's general direction. Taylor only played 55% of the snaps last week versus the Seahawks but that was in a 12 point loss and he still managed to touch the ball 23 times while leading the team in rush yards, receiving yards, and receptions. The Rams are favored by merely 3.5 points heading into Lucas Oil Stadium which makes me feel like it's a trap game that will expose them on the ground.

 

The Steelers' top-three receivers and Najee Harris all find the endzone

The Steelers have their home opener against the dreadful Raiders tomorrow and Ben Roethlisberger is probably pissed after last week's win. Big Ben comes off as a stat-padder who cares about his legacy. Although this is not quantifiable, you can imagine that no QB is happy seeing 188 passing yards and a 56% completion percentage.

The Raiders' secondary provides an opportunity to course-correct and even though historical stats don't predict future stats, Ben's had QUITE the career at home vs away--his splits are absurd.

Home: 65% comp, 226 TD / 90 INT, 7.92 Y/A

Away: 63.8% comp, 171 TD / 111 INT, 7.47 Y/A

Fire up Big Ben as the Steelers' implied total is 27.5 and trust all his receivers to eat. He will make sure to spread the love and make sure his rookie RB who played 100% of the snaps last week is taken care of.

 

Tyler Boyd leads Bengals WRs in scoring

Boyd was third in the target totem pole last weekend and seemed like a forgotten man as Tee Higgins and rookie Ja'Marr Chase ate but he is someone who will benefit from a tougher pass-rushing matchup. Joe Burrow looked great but the Minnesota defense did not. The Bears' defense is much stronger across the board despite not having LB Danny Trevathan and a weaker secondary than last season. Khalil Mack is still Khalil Mack and will cause havoc against an improved Bengals OL that is just fine at best.

Bengals' WR aDOT in Week 1:

Tyler Boyd - 6.5

Tee Higgins - 8.2

Ja'Marr Chase - 17

Tyler Boyd will be force-fed as Joe Burrow's troubles pile on with defenders in his face and a lesser ability to escape pressure.

 

Andy Dalton gets "revenge" and posts three TD with 300+ yards

This is more of a gut call than anything else. Everyone's talking down on the Bears for still starting Andy Dalton while keeping Justin Fields down but this week might be the game he shows up, particularly against his old squad in the Bengals. Chicago is playing at home after getting embarrassed in primetime and the Bengals are coming off an impressive win versus the Vikings. Chicago is favored by two points and that is ticked down from 3.5 earlier in the week.

The Bengals' defense looks better but still lacks a top corner after losing Will Jackson III this offseason. This will make for nice matchups all day for the Bears' WR1 Allen Robinson II. Darnell Mooney also received a ton of hype which was unfulfilled last week. This should all get made up for as Dalton and Coach Nagy look to prove a point.

 

Aaron Rodgers shuts everyone up and Green Bay wins by three scores

Less of a gut call on this one and more of a certainty. The Packers are favored by 11.5 points and that may be too low considering how ugly last week's matchup versus New Orleans was. The Saints molly whopped the Packers 38-3 and made Rodgers look so bad that Jordan Love subbed in. This week, in a divisional matchup versus one of the worst teams in the league, Rodgers will have a field day and put Detroit in a blender.

Detroit doesn't have a single CB that can match up with WR1 Davante Adams nor do they have a defense capable of slowing down the combo of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. Don't let a matchup against one of the league's best defenses fool you into thinking otherwise.

Rodgers might get benched in the fourth quarter again this week but for a different reason than last week. As much as Big Ben cares about his stats, Rodgers cares about the outside noise. He appears on Pat McAfee's Tuesday show almost weekly and knows all the narratives well and good. He embraces the noise and will be out for blood.

 

Trey Sermon out-scores and out-snaps Elijah Mitchell

Everyone and their mother added Elijah Mitchell this week after his breakout performance against the Lions to the tune of 19 carries, 104 yards, and a score. Nothing against him or that performance but the only reason that opportunity arose was due to Raheem Mostert's mid-game injury and the fact that third-round pick Trey Sermon was a healthy scratch.

Sermon reportedly "improved" in practice this week (whatever that means) and will be active which will make for an interesting split between him, Mitchell, and forgotten RB JaMycal Hasty. Sermon is the best prospect of the bunch and should have his fair share of opportunities even if Mitchell starts. Mitchell was great last week, but to some, left a ton of yards on the field and if he struggles can be usurped.

Tough to start any RB against an Eagles defense that looks better than last year but maybe that's a mirage due to the Falcons' egregious offense. Even if neither of the two primary RBs goes off, Sermon should still outdo Mitchell assuming that he gets targeted to boost those fantasy points (Mitchell had 0 targets in Week 1).

 

Taysom Hill snipes Jameis Winston's red zone TDs and outscores him in fantasy

Jameis Winston was truly fantastic in his Saints debut. Whatever they did to "fix" him, whether that be LASIK eye surgery or a mechanical change, it seems to have worked. New Orleans embarrassed the Packers as mentioned earlier and Winston threw five touchdowns with only 148 passing yards, an insane stat. He also rushed for 37 yards on six carries.

The Saints will continue to start Winston as long as he does not regress to Tampa Winston who threw as many picks as touchdowns but also will continue to incorporate Taysom Hill in short-yardage packages. Hill was not needed much in a 35-point victory but in a divisional matchup against Carolina, his skillset may be crucial as Carolina preps for Winston's arm.

The Panthers' defense looks significantly improved after adding Round 1 CB Jaycee Horn and free agent OLB Haason Reddick but they are still weak on the ground. Winston could struggle in what should be a close game and if he is looking shaky, Hill can take over, particularly in the red zone for those goal-line carries that he will convert to touchdowns.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

NASCAR40 mins ago

Bubba Wallace Wrecked at Las Vegas, but Showed Promising Speed
Alex Bowman42 mins ago

Recovered From Loose Wheel to Finish Seventh
Austin Cindric43 mins ago

Won Stage 1, but Loose Wheel Foiled Victory Bid
William Byron45 mins ago

Lost Las Vegas Race on Strategy, but Still Expanded Points Lead
Ryan Preece46 mins ago

Earned Best Career Non-Drafting Oval Finish at Las Vegas
Mookie Betts6 hours ago

Won't Play In Tokyo Series Against Cubs
Tee Higgins6 hours ago

Becomes Highest-Paid WR2 In NFL History
Ja'Marr Chase6 hours ago

Bengals Make Ja'Marr Chase The Highest-Paid Non-QB In NFL History
Brandin Podziemski6 hours ago

On Track To Return Tuesday
Christian Braun6 hours ago

Tagged As Probable On Injury Report
Aaron Gordon7 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Monday
Jamal Murray7 hours ago

Iffy For Monday
Nikola Jokić7 hours ago

Nikola Jokic May Sit Out Meeting With Warriors
Quinten Post7 hours ago

Uncertain For Monday
Stephen Curry7 hours ago

Questionable To Play On Monday
Vince Williams Jr.8 hours ago

Returning On Monday
Coby White9 hours ago

Tagged As Probable For Monday
Josh Giddey9 hours ago

Doubtful For Monday
Gary Trent Jr.9 hours ago

Cleared For Sunday
Scotty Pippen Jr.9 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Monday
Ja Morant9 hours ago

Won't Play Monday
Aaron Nesmith9 hours ago

Questionable Versus Minnesota
Tyrese Haliburton9 hours ago

On The Injury Report For Monday Night
Michael Tonkin9 hours ago

Will Open Season On Injured List
Aaron Wiggins10 hours ago

Returns To Action Against Bucks
Michel Otañez10 hours ago

Michel Otanez Shut Down From Throwing
Myles Turner10 hours ago

Questionable Against Minnesota
Kyle Kuzma10 hours ago

Ready To Play Sunday
Pascal Siakam10 hours ago

Won't Play On Monday
Damian Lillard10 hours ago

Good To Go Sunday
Giannis Antetokounmpo10 hours ago

Available Against OKC
Brandon Marsh10 hours ago

Exits Early Sunday
Royce Lewis10 hours ago

Expected To Begin 2025 On Injured List
Miami Dolphins10 hours ago

Ryan Stonehouse Signs With Dolphins
Sam Darnold10 hours ago

Could Opt Out After One Season
Mark Andrews10 hours ago

Unlikely To Be Cut
Igor Shesterkin11 hours ago

Remains In Rangers Crease Sunday
John Gibson12 hours ago

Still Out On Sunday
Nick Bjugstad12 hours ago

Returns For Utah Sunday
Filip Chytil12 hours ago

Questionable For Sunday
Jiri Kulich12 hours ago

In Concussion Protocol
Adam Pelech12 hours ago

Out On Sunday
Zach Hyman12 hours ago

A Game-Time Call Sunday
Bailey Falter12 hours ago

Ready To Go For Monday
Yu Darvish12 hours ago

Dealing With Fatigue
Clarke Schmidt13 hours ago

Won't Start On Monday
Mark Leiter Jr.13 hours ago

Should Be Ready For Opening Day
David Bednar13 hours ago

Not Officially Named Closer
Yoán Moncada13 hours ago

Yoan Moncada Could Land On Injured List
Atlanta Falcons13 hours ago

Keith Taylor Signs With Falcons
Atlanta Falcons14 hours ago

Storm Norton Back With Atlanta
Ronnie Rivers14 hours ago

Re-Ups With Rams
Mason Adams15 hours ago

Diagnosed With Flexor Strain
Joey Gallo15 hours ago

White Sox Release Joey Gallo
Sean Burke15 hours ago

Named Opening Day Starter
Jung Hoo Lee15 hours ago

Expected To Remain Sidelined For A Few Days
Max Kepler15 hours ago

Exits Early On Sunday After Collision
Eiberson Castellano15 hours ago

Could Win Bullpen Job
Kyle Freeland15 hours ago

Rockies Name Kyle Freeland Their Starter For Opening Day
Royce Lewis16 hours ago

Exits Early On Sunday
Ramón Urías16 hours ago

Ramon Urias Expected To Return On Thursday
Emmanuel Rivera16 hours ago

Dealing With Sore Shoulder
New York Jets17 hours ago

Derrick Nnadi Signing With Jets
Washington Commanders17 hours ago

Eddie Goldman Joins Commanders On One-Year Deal
Cooper Rush17 hours ago

Agrees On Two-Year Deal With Ravens
Baltimore Ravens20 hours ago

Ben Cleveland Remaining With Ravens
Seattle Seahawks20 hours ago

Shemar Jean-Charles Signing With Seahawks
Velus Jones Jr.20 hours ago

Signs With Saints
Christopher Bell21 hours ago

Quest For Four Wins In A Row Just Got More Difficult
Kyle Larson21 hours ago

Should Contend For Another Win At Las Vegas
Ryan Blaney21 hours ago

Once Again The Chalk DFS Pick At Las Vegas
Ross Chastain21 hours ago

Fastest In Practice At Las Vegas
Chris Buescher21 hours ago

Has Sneaky Upside This Weekend
Quinton Byfield22 hours ago

Scores In Sixth Straight Contest
Chase Elliott22 hours ago

May Be A Sneaky DFS Option For Las Vegas Lineups
Artemi Panarin22 hours ago

Extends Point Streak To Eight Games
Pyotr Kochetkov22 hours ago

Shuts The Door On Flyers On Saturday
William Byron22 hours ago

Expect William Byron To Compete For The Win At Las Vegas
Tyler Reddick22 hours ago

Is One Of The Top DFS Options For Las Vegas
Anthony Cirelli22 hours ago

Strikes Twice On Saturday
Denny Hamlin22 hours ago

Could Denny Hamlin Be A Quality Driver For DFS At Las Vegas?
Alex Ovechkin22 hours ago

Scores Goal, Adds Assist In Victory
Connor Dewar22 hours ago

Scores Twice On Saturday
NASCAR22 hours ago

Bubba Wallace Could Be A Solid DFS Option For Las Vegas
Brad Keselowski23 hours ago

Qualifies Deep In The Field For Las Vegas
Erik Jones23 hours ago

Is Erik Jones Worth Rostering At Las Vegas This Week?
Daniel Suarez23 hours ago

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Daniel Suarez At Las Vegas?
Carson Hocevar23 hours ago

Showcases Speed And Can Be Worth Rostering At Las Vegas
Ryan Preece23 hours ago

Is Ryan Preece A DFS Fade For Las Vegas Lineups?
Joey Logano1 day ago

Likely To Lead At Las Vegas, But Will He Lead Enough For DFS Consideration?
Jordan Mason1 day ago

Vikings Acquire Jordan Mason From 49ers, Sign Him To Two-Year Deal
Dee Eskridge1 day ago

Sticking With Dolphins
JuJu Smith-Schuster1 day ago

Returning To Chiefs
Tennessee Titans1 day ago

Chidobe Awuzie Released By Titans
Parris Campbell1 day ago

Headed To Dallas
Jiri Kulich1 day ago

Sustains An Upper-Body Injury Saturday
Tyler Myers1 day ago

Set To Return Against Blackhawks
Nikita Kucherov1 day ago

Good To Go Against Bruins
Yegor Chinakhov1 day ago

Rejoins Blue Jackets Lineup Saturday
Joel Armia1 day ago

Expected To Return On Saturday
Brady Tkachuk1 day ago

Available Saturday
Adam Fox1 day ago

Ready To Rejoin Rangers Lineup
Philadelphia Eagles2 days ago

Patrick Johnson Rejoins Philadelphia
Los Angeles Rams2 days ago

Larrell Murchison Back With The Rams
Eeli Tolvanen2 days ago

Scores Twice In Victory
Roman Dolidze3 days ago

Set For A Rematch
Marvin Vettori3 days ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Chidi Njokuani3 days ago

Looks For His Third Win In A Row
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos3 days ago

Looks For His 12th UFC Win
Kurt Holobaugh3 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 104
Alexander Hernandez3 days ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Cody Gibson3 days ago

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Da'Mon Blackshear3 days ago

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 104
Brendson Ribeiro3 days ago

Searching For Second UFC Win On Saturday
Diyar Nurgozhay3 days ago

Set To Make His UFC Debut
MMA3 days ago

Seung Woo Choi In Dire Need Of Victory
Kevin Vallejos3 days ago

Makes Debut At UFC Vegas 104
Jacob Bridgeman5 days ago

Use Caution For Jacob Bridgeman At TPC Sawgrass
Nicolai Hojgaard5 days ago

Looks To Stay Consistent Heading Into PLAYERS Championship
Karl Vilips5 days ago

Makes PLAYERS Championship Debut After First PGA Tour Win
Taylor Pendrith5 days ago

A Sneaky Play At TPC Sawgrass
Sahith Theegala5 days ago

Out Of Form Ahead Of The PLAYERS Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick5 days ago

A Shaky Play Heading Into PLAYERS
Scottie Scheffler5 days ago

Eyeing Three-Peat At TPC Sawgrass
Aldrich Potgieter5 days ago

A Risky Play At TPC Sawgrass
Si Woo Kim5 days ago

Looks To Keep Building Momentum At The PLAYERS
Denny McCarthy5 days ago

Looks To Continue Solid Play At TPC Sawgrass
Collin Morikawa5 days ago

Poised For Another Strong Performance At TPC Sawgrass
Robert MacIntyre5 days ago

A Risky Play With Upside At The PLAYERS Championship
Jordan Spieth5 days ago

Looking To Change Fortunes At TPC Sawgrass
Cameron Young5 days ago

Avoid Cameron Young At The PLAYERS Championship
Michael Kim5 days ago

Continues Incredible Form Ahead Of The PLAYERS Championship
Justin Thomas5 days ago

Looking For More Magic At TPC Sawgrass
Xander Schauffele5 days ago

Continues Competitive Return At The Players Championship
Rory McIlroy5 days ago

Looks To Reverse Recent History At TPC Sawgrass
PGA5 days ago

Victor Hovland Looking To Find Form At The PLAYERS Championship
Brian Harman5 days ago

A Sleeper Pick At The PLAYERS Championship
Min Woo Lee5 days ago

A Hard Name To Trust At The Players Championship
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Albert Haynesworth - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Worst NFL Free Agent Signings Of All Time

With the free agency period for the 2025 NFL season now underway, many big-name players will find new homes as teams compete to sign anyone and everyone they think they need to help their squad. While many signings end up being good moves, or at least help their teams fill holes at certain positions on […]


Cole Kmet - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL injury News

Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets and Avoids: Tight Ends to Buy or Sell (2025)

It's tough to find good tight ends in dynasty fantasy football. Unfortunately, it's also very easy to be stuck with one that sticks around in the doldrums of low production. Such is the case for many TEs, and even those who have good seasons here and there often lack consistency year over year. It's not […]


D'Andre Swift - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injuries

Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets and Avoids: Running Backs to Buy or Sell (2025)

Running back volume and production is highly mercurial in the NFL. It can thus be difficult to know when to trade away and when to trade for tailbacks. There is constant competition for roles in certain backfields, and red-herring situations are abound due to injuries and plain luck. While some RBs are certainly safe in […]


Josh Downs - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News Updates

2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Third-Year Breakouts

Patience can be tough, especially in fantasy football. We want instant production from rookies, but these players often take a while to get going. These youngsters need to adjust to the speed of the NFL and learn from their early struggles to break out fully. The third year in the NFL is oftentimes when things […]


Justin Fields - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

NFL Free Agency Winners and Losers - Fantasy Football Outlooks from Florio

Free Agency is the most fun week of the NFL offseason. Even when it is not the strongest class, there is never a shortage of excitement. Players changing teams at a rapid rate. It is a week filled with hope that your favorite team will add stars and that those under-the-radar players you love will […]


Josh Downs - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News Updates

Josh Downs Fantasy Football Dynasty Outlook (2025)

The 2025 NFL Draft is quickly approaching. For the last few months, dynasty fantasy football gamers have been meticulously studying the incoming rookie class to gain any edge they can on their league mates. While we should be anxiously awaiting our rookie drafts, we must also take time and analyze how veteran players are valued […]


Tyron Smith Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

New York Jets and former long-time Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyron Smith was one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL for an extended period of time. He's made five All-Pro teams, two with the first team and two with the second team, been selected to eight Pro Bowls, and earned a spot on […]


Bills Defense - Von Miller IDP Rankings, D/ST Streamers, Fantasy Football Team Defense

Von Miller Top Landing Spots: 2025 NFL Free Agency Outlook

Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller, one of the greatest pass-rushers in NFL history, was released by his team on March 9, 2025. He had signed a six-year, $120 million deal with the team in 2022, but the soon-to-be 36-year-old wasn't able to make it to the end of that contract, so he's now looking for […]


Aaron Jones - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Staying Put - Impact Players Re-signed: Aaron Jones, Zach Ertz, Jaylen Warren, more

NFL free agency is a frenzy. As football fans, we love to see the movement around the league. It allows us to dream about the possibility of our team signing a fresh player who could make a serious impact. However, one cannot overlook the impact of re-signing significant contributors. While it is not as exciting […]


Tucker Kraft - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends To Buy in 2025

My friend Josh used to make me listen to the Bring Me The Horizon song "Diamonds Aren't Forever," which begins with the line "We will never sleep, cause sleep is for the weak." That sentiment rings true in fantasy football dynasty leagues as well. You can't get complacent. You can't stop thinking about how to […]


Zay Flowers - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Dynasty Fantasy Football WR Buy or Sell: Zay Flowers, Rashee Rice, and Jordan Addison (2025)

The 2024 NFL Draft class had seven first-round wide receivers. Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze were selected in the top 10. Meanwhile, Brian Thomas Jr., Xavier Worthy, Ricky Pearsall, and Xavier Legette were Day 1 selections. More importantly, Nabers and Thomas finished their rookie seasons as top-7 wide receivers in half-point PPR […]


Courtland Sutton - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Sleepers, Draft Targets: Early 2025 Analysis

One of the biggest factors in winning fantasy football teams is finding middle-to-late-round sleepers. With wide receivers typically carrying the most drafted players of any position, it makes sense that taking multiple stabs at the position in search of hitting multiple-round values is the way to set yourself apart in drafts. For 2025, the draft […]


Caleb Williams - Fantasy Football Rankings, QB, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

2025 NFL Free Agency Frenzy: Biggest Winners and Disappointments at Every Fantasy Football Position

NFL franchises will have an opportunity to reshape their rosters before the draft. Fantasy managers will have a chance to read the tea leaves and make measured strikes against their fantasy football opposition ahead of rookie drafts. Savvy managers will use this period to try to get the best return on some previous investments, as […]