Fantasy Football Week 2 Rankings: Latest Position-by-Position Rundown

The opening weekend of the 2024 NFL season provided managers a look at some of the dynamic, explosive offensive weapons that will dominate the discussion in fantasy football. The stars shined, but so did several under-the-radar players who commanded attention for their breakout performances.

With several injuries to key players, including Jordan Love, Puka Nacua, and Christian McCaffrey, managers may be scrambling to find replacements while putting others in the best position to earn them a Week 2 victory.

Ahead of the second Sunday of this young season, find out which player from each position ranks where and which sleeper is worth a look with this fantasy preview.

Quarterbacks

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 8: Derek Carr #4 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at the Caesars Superdome on September 8, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images)

The Week 2 quarterback rankings are as follows:

1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens vs. Las Vegas Raiders
2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals
3. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals
4. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers
5. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons
6. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears
7. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers at Carolina Panthers
9. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings
10. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants

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Sleeper: Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys defense smothered the Browns in Week 1, shutting down the offense for the majority of the season opener and looking like a squad capable of carrying Dallas to the Super Bowl it has long chased since the mid-1990s.

The New Orleans Saints, however, are not the Browns.

Derek Carr and Co. embarrassed a bad Carolina Panthers defense last Sunday, hanging 47 on them en route to the biggest one-sided victory of the week. Carr, in particular, impressed under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, going 19-23 for 200 yards and three touchdowns, including a 59-yarder to Rashid Shaheed.

He finished sixth among quarterbacks for the week with 21.3 points.

The Cowboys defense is for better and worse, an aggressive squad. They will get their sacks and compile interceptions, but there are also many opportunities for opposing offenses to exploit that aggression to the tune of big plays and touchdowns.

If the Saints' pass protection holds up against Micah Parsons and the Dallas pass rush, Carr has the potential for a big day.

Managers who had Jordan Love as their starter should consider picking up Carr from the waiver wire and starting him Sunday. The veteran and former MVP candidate with the Raiders is available in 83 percent of Yahoo and 96 percent of ESPN leagues.

Running Backs

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TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 8: Brian Robinson Jr. #8 of the Washington Commanders carries the ball during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on September 8, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

The Week 2 running back rankings are as follows:

1. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons
2. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers
3. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals
4. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens vs. Las Vegas Raiders
5. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles
6. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7. Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals
   
8. Breece Hall, New York Jets at Tennessee Titans
9. Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars
10. Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings

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Sleeper: Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants

The Washington Commanders back tallied 89 total yards in Week 1 against Tampa Bay, with one rushing touchdown to boot. Sunday, he squares off with a New York Giants defense that, "allowed the seventh-highest explosive run rate, the fourth-highest missed tackle rate, and the sixth-highest yards after contact per attempt in Week 1," per Derek Brown of FantasyPros.

Robinson is not going to run over anyone and dominate the game, but he will have the opportunity to influence it, both on the ground and out of the backfield. The third-year man has four career 100-yard games against the Giants and in their last meeting, tallied 162 total yards.

Though he shares touches with Austin Eekeler, Robinson will have an opportunity to make his presence felt and is as much a threat to score through the air as he is on the ground.

Grab him from the 10 percent of Yahoo leagues and nine percent of ESPN leagues in which he is still available and reap the rewards.

Wide Receivers

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DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 08: Jameson Williams #9 of the Detroit Lions celebrates his 52-yard touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in the third quarter at Ford Field on September 08, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The Week 2 wide receiver rankings are as follows:

1. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals
2. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons
3. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
4. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers
5. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets at Tennessee Titans
6. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7. Nico Collins, Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears
8. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs
9. Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals
10. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions

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Sleeper: Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jameson Williams finally had that coming-out performance against the Rams that fans and fantasy managers have waited for last week, catching five balls for 121 yards and a touchdown en route to a 19.4-point performance.

He finished the week as the third-best fantasy option at his position.

Against a suspect Tampa Bay secondary, he will have a chance to replicate that performance. The Bucs gave up 32.78 points to opposing wide receivers on average a season ago.

The squad faired better against Washington, whose rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels showed out but failed to find his stud receivers down the field for big gains. Jared Goff will not have that problem.

If the Buccaneers can limit Amon-Ra St. Brown's touches this week, Goff will look for Williams and the wideout could very well have another dominant fantasy performance.

Tight Ends

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DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 08: Colby Parkinson #86 of the Los Angeles Rams runs after the catch against the Detroit Lions during the first half at Ford Field on September 08, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

The Week 2 tight end rankings are as follows:

1. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings
3. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams
   
4. Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens vs. Las Vegas Raiders
5. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals
6. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders at Baltimore Ravens
   
7. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns
8. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. Las Vegas Raiders
9. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles
10. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos

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Sleeper: Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals

In his first game as a starter for the Rams, against Detroit, Parkinson caught four balls for 47 yards. While those numbers will not jump off the stat sheet at fantasy managers, the injury to Puka Nacua certainly will.

The second-year wideout was placed on the IR this week with a knee injury and will miss at least four games. That creates a scenario where Matthew Stafford will have to look elsewhere for a compliment to Cooper Kupp. Demarcus Robinson and rookie Jordan Whittington are talented enough to be that complimentary player, but do not count Parkinson out.

At six-foot-seven-inches, the 25-year-old can high-point the ball and go get it, out-jumping defenders. Do not be surprised, against a suspect Arizona Cardinals defense, if Stafford throws it up for Parkinson to grab.

If that is the case and Stafford does look his way more in Week 2 than the prior Sunday, Parkinson should improve on his seventh-place finish among tight ends.

Defense/Special Teams and Kickers

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KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 05: Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 5, 2024 in Kansas City, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

The Week 2 defense/special team rankings are as follows:

1. New York Jets (at Tennessee Titans)
2. Baltimore Ravens (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (at Denver Broncos)
4. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Carolina Panthers)
5. Cleveland Browns (at Jacksonville Jaguars)
6. Dallas Cowboys (vs. New Orleans Saints)
7. San Francisco 49ers (at Minnesota Vikings)
8. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
9. Chicago Bears (at Houston Texas)
10. Detroit Lions (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

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The Week 2 kicker rankings are as follows:

1. Ka'imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears
2. Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals
3. Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons
4. Jake Moody, San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings
5. Jason Sanders, Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
6. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens vs. Las Vegas Raiders
7. Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles
8. Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers at Carolina Panthers
9. Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins
10. Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints

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All stats via FantasyPros unless otherwise noted