Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Fantasy Football Week 2: Wide Receivers - Fades, Sleepers, Matchups, DFS Bargains

We are here to help if you can't decide on a WR3 or flex option in Week 2 of the 2021 NFL season

UPDATED: September 17, 2021

Start ‘Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey, Davante Adams, or Travis Kelce. Instead, I'll look at the players you have the most questions about to help you set the most effective starting lineup possible. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2021 NFL season.

Week 2 Start ‘Em: Wide Receivers

Start of the Week

Ja’Marr Chase at Bears (1 p.m. ET, FOX): Drops, what drops? Last week, Chase put his critics in the closet, posting five catches for 101 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. The Bears have struggled against wideouts in their last nine games dating back to last season, allowing 16 touchdowns and nearly 40 fantasy points per game. Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd should all be considered for fantasy managers.

Week 2 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em

• QUARTERBACKS
• RUNNING BACKS
• WIDE RECEIVERS
• TIGHT ENDS
• KICKERS
• TEAM DEFENSES

Start ‘Em

Antonio Brown vs. Falcons (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX): Brown was the third Tampa Bay wideout picked in fantasy drafts, but he led the trio in points in the opener. I expect all three, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Brown, to be solid options this week when the Bucs host the Falcons. Their defense has surrendered the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers since Week 9 2020, including 41.3 points to the Eagles last weekend.

Deebo Samuel at Eagles (1 p.m. ET, FOX): Most fantasy managers thought it would be Brandon Aiyuk, not Samuel, who would be the Niners top wideout last weekend. That didn't happen, as it was Samuel who led the team in snaps, targets and fantasy points at the position. Whether Aiyuk is still at less than 100 percent or in coach Kyle Shanahan's doghouse, Samuel now seems to be a much safer option in fantasy leagues.

Courtland Sutton at Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, CBS): The Broncos have lost Jerry Jeudy for several weeks, which will leave more opportunities for Sutton. He was targeted just three times in the opener, but Sutton also led all Broncos wideouts in snaps played. I like him as a WR3/FLEX this week, as Denver faces a Jaguars defense that has given up 13 touchdowns and an average of 38.4 points to wideouts in their last 10 games.

Chase Claypool vs. Raiders (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Claypool was targeted just five times in the Steelers opener, but the matchup in Buffalo was a difficult one. That is not the case this week, as the Raiders visit Heinz Field. In their last 10 games, their defense has given up 12 touchdowns and an average of nearly 40 fantasy points to opposing wideouts. Diontae Johnson, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Claypool are all good options.

More Starts

• Mike Williams vs. Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Jarvis Landry vs. Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Brandin Cooks at Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Bargains

• Courtland Sutton at Jaguars (DraftKings: $5,200)
• Ja'Marr Chase at Bears (DraftKings: $5,000)
• Marquez Callaway at Panthers (DraftKings: $4,200)

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Week 2 Sit ‘Em: Wide Receivers

Sit of the Week

Robby Anderson vs. Saints (1 p.m. ET, FOX): Anderson opened the season on a decent note, scoring 12.7 points in a win over the Jets. He had just one catch on three targets, however, and the matchup was favorable. That’s not the case this week, as he will face a Saints defense that has allowed just six touchdowns to wideouts in their last 10 games. Anderson has also averaged just 9.8 points in three games against them.

Sit ‘Em

Julio Jones at Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Fantasy managers will likely find it tough to sit Jones, so consider this a warning. He did next to nothing in his first game with the Titans, as their offense looked terrible in its first game without OC Arthur Smith. The Seahawks have also allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to enemy wide receivers over their last 10 games, so the matchup isn't as favorable as you think.

Corey Davis vs. Patriots (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Davis could be tough to sit after his two-touchdown performance last week, but this week's matchup against the Patriots is a tough one. Their defense will look to pressure rookie Zach Wilson, who could be running for his life without LT Mekhi Becton. The Jets will also have Jamison Crowder and Keelan Cole back this week, which splits the target pie into more pieces.

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Marquise Brown vs. Chiefs (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Brown had himself a solid game on Monday night, scoring a touchdown and 19.4 fantasy points in a bananas win over the Ravens. However, I wouldn't chase the points as a tough matchup against the Chiefs is next on the slate. Their defense has allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers in their last nine games, not to mention the fourth-fewest yards per game.

Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Rams (1 p.m. ET, FOX): Pittman was a popular streamer last week, but he failed to make an impact with just three catches on four targets in a loss to the Seahawks. As the Rams and CB Jalen Ramsey come to town, he'll have an even tougher matchup next on the slate. Since Week 9 2020, Los Angeles has allowed just three touchdowns and the second-fewest fantasy points to enemy wide receivers.

More Sits

• Brandon Aiyuk at Eagles (1 p.m. ET, FOX)
• D.J. Chark vs. Broncos (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Jalen Reagor vs. 49ers (1 p.m. ET, FOX)

DFS Fades

• Julio Jones at Seahawks (DraftKings: $6,300)
• Robby Anderson vs. Saints (DraftKings: $5,800)
• D.J. Chark vs. Broncos (DraftKings: $5,600)

Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for your late-breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business!

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