Fantasy Football Matchups We Love: The Fantasy Matchmaker Week 2

Week 1 is in the books and it is time to look ahead to Week 2 matchups. Whether you won or lost your fantasy matchup in Week 1, it is a long season and there is much work to be done.

Week 1 provided some interesting football. Tight ends were practically invisible and quarterback passing was down. It did give us our first look at the potential of defenses to contain opposing players. While not all the information is concrete, it is better than relying on 2023 data. However, we cannot overreact to Week 1 performances.

Week 2 features a handful of excellent matchups for certain players. Without further ado, let's dive into the matchups we love and hate in Week 2.

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Week 2: Fantasy Football Quarterback Matchups We Love

Jayden Daniels - Washington Commanders
Opponent: NYG
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 18th

Well, the New York Giants may be who we thought they were. This team did not show up in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings and could be in for a long road ahead.

While Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold did not light up the scoreboard, he did put up a respectable 208 passing yards and two touchdowns. Frankly, the Vikings left the Giants in the dust from the onset of the game and did not have to take to the air much in Week 1.

Jayden Daniels is coming off an excellent fantasy debut that saw him rush for two scores. He faced a solid Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense in Week 1 that limited his passing upside. However, his rushing baseline is going to carry him to more solid outings.

Daniels should be able to fall into a better rhythm in a game that projects to have a neutral or positive game script for the Commanders. While Daniels may not put up 28.16 points again in Week 2, he should be an excellent start for fantasy.

Jayden Daniels will be special. Not because he was solid today and didn’t throw any interceptions. Not because he lead the team in rushing yards with 2 TDs in his debut. But because when he scored down 17 in the 4th, he didn’t celebrate. He only wants and cares about winning. pic.twitter.com/bRaDumCXU9

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 9, 2024

Anthony Richardson - Indianapolis Colts
Opponent: at GB
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 23rd

Despite shaky decision-making, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was able to throw for 278 yards and two touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1. Hurts threw two bad interceptions that dragged down his total fantasy points on the day.

Anthony Richardson is coming off a game in which he went 9-of-19 for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Richardson added 56 yards and a touchdown with his legs. It appears as though the Colts would like to air the ball out deep downfield. Richardson will have a chance to do so in Week 2.

Richardson's accuracy issues are real. He consistently missed routine throws on Sunday. However, he was able to hit on his deep throws and his rushing upside is almost unmatched.

We have now seen Richardson in three full games in his career. That may be a small sample size but he is averaging 26.02 points in those games. The guy is a walking 20-point fantasy machine.

The Packers find themselves without Jordan Love for at least a few weeks. With either Sean Clifford or Malik Willis likely to run the offense, the Colts could have some short fields, adding to Richardson's upside. Start him with confidence in Week 2.

Still not over how insane this throw from Anthony Richardson was pic.twitter.com/tWAPva7FOw https://t.co/s72KdFt4NE

— PFF (@PFF) September 8, 2024

Week 2: Fantasy Football Quarterback Matchups to Avoid

Trevor Lawrence - Jacksonville Jaguars
Opponent: CLE
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 14th

Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense were rolling in the first half of their Week 1 game against the Miami Dolphins. They led the Dolphins 17-7 but were shut out in the second half and went on the lose the game.

Lawrence only managed 162 passing yards and a touchdown in Week 1. That is not going to get any better in Week 2 against a Browns team that just held Dak Prescott to 179 passing yards.

Hopefully, you are not in a position where you need to start Lawrence, but if you have him, then this is not the week to deploy the fourth-year QB.

Week 2: Fantasy Football Running Back Matchups We Love

Derrick Henry - Baltimore Ravens
Opponent: LV
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 22nd

Week 2 feels like the week the Ravens will unleash Derrick Henry. The Ravens found themselves in a negative game script in Week 1 against the Chiefs. As such, they relied far more on Justice Hill than Henry. Do not expect that to be the case in Week 2.

The Raiders offense looks about as good (or bad) as we expected it to. The defense? Well, it just got gashed for 176 rushing yards against the Chargers. Do you think King Henry is not ready to lay the hammer down on the Raiders?

Expect Henry's carry count to approach 20 in this game. He should also have plenty of opportunities to score in the red zone or at the goal line. Fire Henry up as a high-end RB2 or low-end RB1 in Week 2.

Isiah Pacheco - Kansas City Chiefs
Opponent: CIN
2023 Opponent Rank vs. RB: 19th

Despite playing a porous New England Patriots O-line in Week 1, the Cincinnati Bengals front seven could not hold up. Rhamondre Stevenson ran wild en route to 120 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs happen to have one of the best O-lines in football, which could spell trouble for the Bengals.

Isiah Pacheco did not have a stellar Week 1 but there is reason for optimism. He saw an 80% snap share and had 18 opportunities against the Ravens.

There are two ways to look at Pacheco's Week 2 outlook: 1) he continues his role as a workhorse back against a Bengals defense that could end up being soft against the run or 2) the Bengals bounce back as a team and make this game competitive, giving Pacheco plenty of opportunities to make an impact in the passing game.

Either way, Pacheco has a lot of upside in Week 2 and should have more touchdown opportunities ahead.

Isiah Pacheco running for 3 yards: pic.twitter.com/kKikpXDuNc

— Joshy B From The Pack (@joshysweatpants) September 6, 2024

Week 2: Fantasy Football Running Back Matchups to Avoid

Aaron Jones - Minnesota Vikings
Opponent: SF
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 14th

Aaron Jones had an excellent Week 1 performance on his way to 18.9 points in fantasy. However, he averaged an unsustainable 6.7 yards per carry against a Giants team that never got off the bus.

The 49ers are coming to town in Week 2 and present a whole other animal. The Vikings will be tested for the first time in 2024 when Sam Darnold and Co. match up against one of the best defenses in football.

The Vikings project to be in a negative game script for much of this game. That could give Jones plenty of opportunities in the passing game. However, Jones' scoring opportunities may be tough to come by in Week 2. Fade him against the 49ers.

Week 2: Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Matchups We Love

Mike Evans/Chris Godwin - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Opponent: at DET
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 32nd

Let's run it back with these two excellent Buccaneers wide receivers in Week 2. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were targeted early and often against the Commanders in Week 1 by Baker Mayfield. Mayfield himself was nearly flawless as he threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns.

The Buccaneers do not have such an easy foe in Week 2. They will need to throw the ball often to keep up with a stellar Lions offense. However, the Lions secondary just gave up 317 yards and a touchdown to Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in Week 1.

It would appear that the Rams' new additions on defense may not have fully gelled quite yet. If this pass defense is set to struggle again in 2024, then this could be another big game for the Buccaneers receivers.

Cooper Kupp - Los Angeles Rams
Opponent: at ARI
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 23rd

The Rams just lost Puka Nacua to IR for at least four weeks, which means that Cooper Kupp is in store for a massive workload. The Cardinals did not get torched by any one Bills wide receiver in Week 1. However, the Bills do not have anyone of Kupp's caliber.

As expected, the Cardinals offense should be good enough to keep up in games. As such, the Rams should have to continue to throw throughout this game if they expect to stay ahead. Kupp is going to be a busy man on Sunday and should be treated as a WR1.

Cooper Kupp looking at everyone who said he was washed pic.twitter.com/ssQy5aeGZX

— Justin (@Justin_14P) September 9, 2024

Week 2: Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Matchups to Avoid

George Pickens - Pittsburgh Steelers
Opponent: at DEN
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 12th

George Pickens seems in line to draw a shadow from excellent cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Surtain just limited standout Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf to three receptions for 29 yards. The Steelers do not have a lot of weapons outside of Pickens, which should allow the Broncos to key on him.

Pickens had a nice outing in Week 1 but Surtain is likely going to frustrate him and fantasy managers in Week 2. The good news is that Pickens may have been your flex pick to begin with. It should not be hard to find a better option in Week 2.

Week 2: Fantasy Football Tight End Matchups We Love

Pat Freiermuth - Pittsburgh Steelers
Opponent: at DEN
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 7th

If George Pickens is going to be blanketed by Patrick Surtain II, then Freiermuth could find himself getting lost down the middle of the field.

This is likely going to be an ugly and low-scoring game. However, do not be surprised if Freiermuth comes out of this one with five or more receptions.

The Broncos defense did not face a tough tight-end matchup in Week 1. However, they were notoriously bad against the position in 2023. Freiermuth is a legitimate streaming candidate in Week 2.

Week 2: Fantasy Football Tight End Matchups to Avoid

Tyler Conklin - New York Jets
Opponent: at TEN
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 6th

Tyler Conklin was a non-factor in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. He played 90% of the offensive snaps, yet Aaron Rodgers hardly looked his way. Conklin is a good player in what should be a good offense but this was a discouraging outing.

To make matters worse, the Titans appear poised to be at the top of the league again in defending the tight-end position. If you had to stream Conklin in Week 1, then look elsewhere in Week 2.

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