Fantasy Football Week 2: Top Sleepers Worth Starting to Bolster Lineups

Just like NFL teams that lost in Week 1, fantasy football owners who suffered defeat in their opening matchups are already getting antsy. Nobody wants to fall into an early hole they might not be able to get out of before the playoff chase begins.

So the mad dash to the waiver wire begins. Making good moves during the course of a season is crucial to success. That's especially important in the early going when pecking orders become more clear and players with fantasy value emerge.

With that in mind, let's check out a sleeper at every position for Week 2. It's followed by a breakdown of some of the top options fantasy football owners should consider to fill a potential hole in their starting lineup.

Week 2 Fantasy Football Sleepers

Breakdown of Top Options

Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Rivers was a regular fantasy starter as recently as two seasons ago. After struggling last year, his value took a major hit and he didn't even get drafted in many leagues. A strong performance in the season opener has brought him back on the radar.

The Chargers quarterback threw four touchdowns against the Houston Texans en route to a 22-point fantasy outing. That put him ahead of high draft picks like Drew Brees and Matt Ryan. He won't finish ahead of those two over the entire season, but it shows he can still produce at a high level.

Next up he gets to face a Philadelphia Eagles defense that gave up nearly 330 passing yards to Robert Griffin III, who was clearly at less than full strength. With the Eagles offense moving at a quick pace, Rivers will get extra drives and put up solid numbers again.

Bilal Powell, New York Jets

Powell is an example of a pecking order coming into focus. Before Week 1, it appeared the Jets were going to rely on Chris Ivory to carry the load. That wasn't the case. Powell received two more carries and also was more active in the passing game.

With rookie Geno Smith under center, the Jets have to rely on the rushing attack regardless of its effectiveness. It should lead to more opportunities for Powell, and any running back who gets regular touches possesses fantasy value.

The Jets face off with the division rival New England Patriots in Week 2. They gave up 136 yards on the ground to the Buffalo Bills last week. Add in the fact New York doesn't want this game to become a high-scoring affair, and Powell becomes a sneaky fantasy option.

Kenbrell Thompkins, New England Patriots

Don't give up on Thompkins yet. A lot of players generate hype during the preseason and fantasy owners are quick to let them go if they don't produce right away during the regular season. In many cases, that's warranted, but the Patriots wide receiver is worth waiting on.

On the surface, he had a mundane opener. He caught just four passes for 42 yards and didn't find the end zone. But there's another number to consider: 14 targets. It shows Tom Brady was looking his way often, but the connection just wasn't there in Week 1.

The Patriots lack other options, which means Thompkins should continue to see the field and over time that chemistry with Brady will develop. Signs of progress should already be evident in Week 2 when they face the Jets.