Fantasy Football Week 2: Early Start Em Sit Em Projections for Each Position

Week 1 of fantasy football is in the books, and it was an eye-opening event in the world of fake football as some stars turned out to be duds, while unexpected sleepers exploded onto the scene and left a variety of leagues in disarray.

With Week 2 on the horizon, it is never too early to start examining matchups and setting a lineup based both on Week 1 performances and future projections.

The following start 'em, sit 'em projections will attempt to stray away from the obvious. Clearly guys like Peyton Manning (seven touchdowns) and A.J. Green (two touchdowns) are must-start regardless of the opposition.

Here are some of the names to start thanks to favorable matchups, with a polar opposite player to avoid for good measure.

Enjoy.

Start 'Em QB: Eli Manning, New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos

While big brother had a performance for the ages. little brother Eli Manning solidified himself as an elite fantasy option in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. 

Manning torched the Dallas secondary for 450 yards and two scores. He added three bone-headed interceptions, but the positives far outweigh the negatives here.

Victor Cruz is healthy and a top-five receiver in the league, and Hakeem Nicks looks dominant playing for a new contract. The duo combined for 10 receptions for 232 yards and three touchdowns, while newcomer Brandon Myers caught seven passes for 66 yards and a score.

New York encounters a Denver team in Week 2 that is sure to cause some offensive fireworks. Both Manning brothers are great plays.

Sit 'Em: QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills

Cam Newton completed almost 70 percent of his passes last week in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but he tallied just 125 yards and one touchdown through the air. He was not much better on the ground with 38 yards. 

Things don't get easier for Newton in Week 2 as he must go against a Buffalo Bills defense that gave Tom Brady and the New England Patriots a serious scare last week, limiting the explosive offense to 23 points.

Newton is better off on the bench until he can prove fantasy consistency.

Start 'Em RB: Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers vs. Washington Redskins

Eddie Lacy is the best fantasy rookie back in the NFL this year, and he more than proved that against the NFL's toughest defense in San Francisco last week.

Lacy was only given 14 carries, but he turned the opportunities into 41 yards and a score. The former Crimson Tide star was also a factor in the passing game, reeling in one reception for 31 yards.

Big things are on the horizon for Lacy. He's an every-down and goal-line back for an offense seeking proper balance, and things get much easier in Week 2 against a weaker defense. Expect nothing but top-tier production.

Sit 'Em RB: Steven Jackson, Atlanta Falcons vs. St. Louis Rams

The stat line looks good for seemingly everyone's sleeper running back pick coming into the season. Steven Jackson carried the ball 11 times for 77 yards against New Orleans in Week 1, and also caught five passes for 45 yards.

Look a bit closer—the stats are a fluke. 50 of Jackson's 77 yards came on one carry—meaning he averaged 2.7 yards per carry the rest of the way. That's against a Saints' defense that was the worst statistical unit in NFL history a year ago.

Add in two critical dropped passes, looking gassed by halftime and seeing a lower-than-expected usage, and Jackson should ride the pine against a top-tier St. Louis Rams defense in Week 2.

Start 'Em WR: Victor Cruz, New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos

There's A.J. Green and Calvin Johnson, and then there's Victor Cruz. 

Laugh away, but Cruz is one of the NFL's most consistent producers and appears to only be getting better in what is his third year of significant playing time.

Cruz is a silky-smooth route runner who excels at sneaking past a defense and into the end zone with ease. He had five receptions for 115 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1, putting him on pace for another top-five finish.

Next week Cruz gets to go up against a Denver Broncos defense that surrendered 362 yards passing to Joe Flacco and his limited weapons in Week 1. If for some reason Cruz was not on the fantasy radar entering the year, he should be now.

Sit 'Em WR: Mike Wallace, Miami Dolphins vs. Indianapolis Colts

Big contract, little production.

Who didn't see that coming?

Mike Wallace was only targeted five times in Miami's Week 1 victory over the Cleveland Browns, which further reinforces the offseason reports of his having little chemistry with quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Wallace was paid like a No. 1 receiver, but his one-dimensional game and odd fit in a West Coast scheme equal fantasy disaster each week. Steer clear.

Start 'Em TE: Jared Cook, St. Louis Rams vs. Atlanta Falcons

A tip of the hat to those who saw this coming. 

After averaging just 22 snaps a game in four years with the Tennessee Titans, Jared Cook has found a more suitable offense in St. Louis that not only utilizes him and his freakish athletic gifts properly, but also treats him as the No. 1 option in the passing game.

Cook's coming out party included being the highest-targeted receiver on the team in Week 1, which translated into seven receptions for 141 yards and two scores—which would have been three if he had not allowed the ball to be stripped as he crossed the goal line for his third touchdown.

Not only is Cook a must-start regardless of the matchup, he's arguably the top fantasy tight end around.

Sit 'Em TE: Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons vs. St. Louis Rams

We'll stick with the same Week 2 matchup here between St. Louis and Atlanta, with the disappointing tight end being somewhat of a surprise. 

Veteran Tony Gonzalez is back for one more go at a Super Bowl, but he's going to need to pick up his game for that to happen. In Week 1, he caught just three passes for 36 yards and a score against the aforementioned horrible New Orleans unit.

Now Gonzalez has to deal with a defense that surrendered just 37 yards against tight ends a week ago.

Start 'Em K: Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers vs. Washington Redskins

Mason Crosby has taken a lot of heat in the past, and rightfully so, but the fact remains he plays on one of the NFL's top offenses and has a favorable matchup against the Washington Redskins in Week 2.

It's hard to go wrong with a kicker feeding off an Aaron Rodgers-led offense.

Sit 'Em K: Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts vs. Miami Dolphins

The Indianapolis Colts only mustered 21 points against Oakland's junior varsity defense last week, so Vinatieri is not a good look with a tougher matchup on the slate. Miami has a much better defense than Oakland, and Vinatieri will struggle along with the rest of the offense. 

Start 'Em D/ST: Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings

No Brian Urlacher, no problem for the Chicago Bears thanks to an elite pair of corners.

Last week versus a quality Cincinnati Bengals offense, Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings and a host of others put together a quality outing with two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Adrian Peterson is never a great matchup for the opposing defense, but with Christian Ponder at quarterback, the Bears will be able to force enough turnovers to be a high-scoring unit.

Sit 'Em: D/ST: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Defensive leader Larry Foote is out for the year, and the Pittsburgh defense struggled to slow down a weak Tennessee Titans offense a week ago.

Week 2 presents an unfavorable matchup to boot as Pittsburgh will have issues accounting for A.J. Green and a variety of other weapons on the Cincinnati offense.

Follow B/R's Chris Roling on Twitter for more news and analysis @Chris_Roling