As always, Week 1 of the fantasy football season was full of surprises, and the three players we will discuss in this article had some of the more surprising performances. Heading into Week 2, Chris Olave, J.K. Dobbins, and Allen Lazard are popular names for start 'em, sit 'em decisions.
Olave had a rough start to the new campaign, while Dobbins and Lazard had monster opening-week showings that boosted their fantasy value.
Should you start Olave, Dobbins, or Lazard in Week 2? Let's dive in.
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Should I Start Chris Olave for Fantasy Football?
Olave was seldom used in Week 1's rout of Carolina, totaling just two targets on the day. He will likely be more involved this week in what projects as a closer game against Dallas on the road. The Cowboys' pass defense looked strong in Week 1's win over Cleveland, which drops Olave into the low-end WR2 range this week.
The third-year receiver has a low floor, as evidenced by last week's game, and could be sat if you have better options. Game script should allow for more opportunity for the former first-round pick this week.
He is the WR18 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.
Should I Start J.K. Dobbins for Fantasy Football?
Dobbins will look for a repeat performance of his outstanding Week 1 game when the Chargers take on the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. Dobbins played on 58% of the team's offensive snaps in Week 1 and put up 139 yards on 13 touches. He also ran 17 pass routes and most importantly, looked completely healthy after injuries forced him to play in just nine games in the past two seasons combined.
Dobbins put up his gaudy Week 1 numbers against a Raiders defense that was supposed to be strong against the run. In Week 2, he gets to face a Panthers defensive unit that allowed the third-most rushing yards in the season's opening week. Dobbins has RB1 upside this week but is safer as a higher-end RB2.
jk dobbins the man that u are
📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/YZGjq4cXYm
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 8, 2024
He is the RB21 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.
Should I Start Allen Lazard for Fantasy Football?
Lazard turned in one of the more unexpected fantasy outings in Week 1, catching six passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Lazard will look for an encore performance in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans on the road. The Titans represent a plus matchup for Lazard as they allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers in 2023.
It is unclear whether Lazard will remain a major piece of the Jets passing offense moving forward but he was a favorite target of Aaron Rodgers a few years back when both played for the Green Bay Packers. That puts Lazard on the map as a solid flex option heading into Week 2.
Allen Lazard has another touchdown.
📺: #NYJvsSF on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/QaZlXdtwdX— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2024
He is the WR57 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.
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