Should I Start Jahan Dotson in Week 2? WR Fantasy Football Ranking Analysis

Week 1 is in the books which means we are no longer operating blindly when it comes to fantasy football. There is a limited sample size of NFL action, but with that sample size, we can make important determinations about our fantasy teams going forward.

There was plenty of offseason hype surrounding Jahan Dotson after a successful rookie season. However, the second-year receiver failed to jump off the stat sheet in Week 1’s victory against the Arizona Cardinals. Dotson finished second on the team in targets with seven but put up just five receptions for 40 yards in a balanced offensive attack. Fantasy managers now find themselves questioning if the rookie can produce in a much more difficult Week 2 matchup against the Denver Broncos.

Should I start Jahan Dotson in Week 2? Find your answer below.

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Jahan Dotson Fantasy Outlook

On the surface, Jahan Dotson has a much tougher matchup in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos. However, when you dig into the data a little bit, there is a major opportunity for a big performance.

Last week, the Denver Broncos played man coverage on 28.8% of their defensive snaps, which was the eighth highest in Week 1. Last season, five of Dotson’s seven touchdown receptions came against man coverage. The Broncos have one of the best cornerbacks in the game in Patrick Surtain, but it seems highly likely that Surtain will line up consistently against Terry McLaurin to try and force Sam Howell off of his first read.

That leaves Dotson primarily matched up against Damarri Mathis on the outside. According to FTNFantasy, Mathis allowed 1.07 yards per route covered in Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders and got routinely beaten by Jakobi Meyers (nine receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns). Dotson is more explosive than Meyers and has shown success against man coverage in his young career, putting him in a position to have a massive game if Howell can get the ball to him.

Jahan Dotson Wide Receivers Ranking Analysis

The rankers at Rotoballer agree that Dotson is preferable to Terry McLaurin this week (barely) in their PPR rankings. The second-year wide receiver is currently ranked #54 amongst all players in PPR formats this week.

Just one spot separates Dotson and McLaurin ahead of a matchup against the Denver Broncos. There is some risk in starting Dotson, especially if the Broncos decide to use Surtain to limit Dotson’s big-play ability and allow Terry McLaurin to run routes underneath. However, if the Broncos allow Dotson to run wild, then he can have a massive day running free.

Should I Start Jahan Dotson in Week 2 Fantasy Football?

Fantasy managers who roster Jahan Dotson are primed to have a big matchup in a game that should provide the Commanders a shootout environment. While it is possible that Dotson out-targeted Terry McLaurin in Week 1 thanks to his continued recovery from an ankle injury, we also have to consider that the new offensive coordinator likes scheming up touches for his most explosive weapon.

Time will tell if Sam Howell can support multiple (or one) fantasy receivers. But Dotson in Week 2, Dotson finds himself in an ideal matchup against a team that is going to force Washington to throw the ball. The boom-or-bust nature of his offensive situation makes him a high-end WR3, but there is a legitimate outcome where he can finish as a WR1 due to touchdown upside.

Dotson can be started ahead of players who are seemingly locked into WR1 roles (George Pickens, Drake London, Nico Collins) in Week 2.

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