Fantasy Football Week 2: Latest Stat Predictions for the Top 50 Players

While Week 1 is always a mixed bag in fantasy football, it is important not to overreact heading into Week 2.

There were certainly a number of surprise performances, including players like Allen Hurns and Derek Anderson. However, that does not mean you should immediately plug them into your lineup and expect a similar showing.

At the same time, do not give up on a top pick after one bad showing.

Find the best matchups, but remember to use your studs. Here are predictions for what to expect from the top 50 players in Week 2.

Rank	Pos. Rank	Player	Team	Opp.	Pass Yards	Rush Yards	Receiving Yards	TDs	Fantasy Pts
1	QB1	Peyton Manning	DEN	KC	361	0	0	3	26
2	QB2	Drew Brees	NO	CLE	327	4	0	3	25
3	QB3	Aaron Rodgers	GB	NYJ	294	12	0	3	24
4	QB4	Andrew Luck	IND	PHI	328	23	0	2	23
5	RB1	Adrian Peterson	MIN	NE	0	97	15	2	22
6	QB5	Matthew Stafford	DET	CAR	307	7	0	2	20
7	RB2	Matt Forte	CHI	SF	0	82	66	1	20
8	QB6	Colin Kaepernick	SF	CHI	231	21	0	2	19
9	QB7	Andy Dalton	CIN	ATL	286	2	0	2	19
10	WR1	Demaryius Thomas	DEN	KC	0	0	132	1	19
11	QB8	Nick Foles	PHI	IND	279	0	0	2	19
12	QB9	Jake Locker	TEN	DAL	312	13	0	2	19
13	RB3	LeSean McCoy	PHI	IND	0	106	21	1	18
14	QB10	Jay Cutler	CHI	SF	310	0	0	2	18
15	QB11	Tom Brady	NE	MIN	223	0	0	2	18
16	WR2	Calvin Johnson	DET	CAR	0	0	116	1	17
17	TE1	Jimmy Graham	NO	CLE	0	0	113	1	17
18	QB12	Russell Wilson	SEA	SD	206	17	0	2	17
19	RB4	DeMarco Murray	DAL	TEN	102	14	0	1	17
20	QB13	Tony Romo	DAL	TEN	331	6	0	2	17
21	WR3	Antonio Brown	PIT	BAL	0	8	109	1	16
22	RB5	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	SD	0	103	7	1	16
23	RB6	Knowshon Moreno	MIA	BUF	0	94	13	1	16
24	QB14	Ryan Fitzpatrick	HOU	OAK	318	7	0	1	16
25	TE2	Julius Thomas	DEN	KC	0	101	0	1	16
26	WR4	Brandon Marshall	CHI	SF	0	0	97	1	15
27	WR5	Julio Jones	ATL	CIN	0	0	95	1	15
28	QB15	Alex Smith	KC	DEN	262	12	0	2	15
29	WR6	A.J. Green	CIN	ATL	0	0	91	1	15
30	RB7	Giovani Bernard	CIN	ATL	0	92	64	0	15
31	QB16	Matt Ryan	ATL	CIN	289	0	0	2	15
32	RB8	Arian Foster	HOU	OAK	0	88	12	1	15
33	WR7	Alshon Jeffery	CHI	SF	0	22	73	1	15
34	RB9	Le'Veon Bell	PIT	BAL	0	93	51	0	14
35	WR8	Jordy Nelson	GB	NYJ	0	0	85	1	14
36	RB10	Frank Gore	SF	CHI	0	81	7	1	14
37	QB17	Ryan Tannehill	MIA	BUF	212	8	0	2	14
38	RB11	Shane Vereen	NE	MIN	0	64	80	0	14
39	WR8	Vincent Jackson	TB	STL	0	0	84	1	14
40	WR9	Randall Cobb	GB	NYJ	0	0	81	1	14
41	TE3	Rob Gronkowski	NE	MIN	0	0	78	1	13
42	QB18	Chad Henne	JAX	WAS	278	0	0	1	13
43	WR10	Dez Bryant	DAL	TEN	0	0	74	1	13
44	RB12	Joique Bell	DET	CAR	0	33	45	1	13
45	RB13	C.J. Spiller	BUF	MIA	0	76	62	0	13
46	WR11	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	IND	0	0	65	1	12
47	QB19	Philip Rivers	SD	SEA	207	0	0	1	12
48	RB14	Toby Gerhart	JAX	WAS	0	62	8	1	12
49	WR12	Cordarrelle Patterson	MIN	NE	0	21	46	1	12
50	RB15	Jamaal Charles	KC	DEN	0	52	71	0	12

Quarterbacks

David Goldman/Associated Press

Even though Drew Brees only threw one touchdown pass last week, he and Peyton Manning will remain the top options virtually every week regardless of matchup. Aaron Rodgers can also expect a bounce-back performance after struggling against the Seattle Seahawks.

If you are looking for a sleeper start, it might be a good idea to start streaming quarterbacks who are facing the Dallas Cowboys. The unit was awful last season and is not any better this year, as Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com points out:

Jake Locker gets the honor of facing this defense after a solid two-touchdown performance the last time out.

On the other hand, fantasy owners might want to stay away from some of the veteran quarterbacks who struggled in Week 1. Tom Brady, Eli Manning and Tony Romo failed to help their teams in real life and are difficult to trust in fantasy at this point of the year.

It should also go without saying, but anyone against the Seahawks defense is a tough play, and Philip Rivers gets that role this weekend.

Running Backs

L.G. Patterson/Associated Press

After the Miami Dolphins rushed for 191 yards against the New England Patriots, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork admitted there was a big problem, via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com:

"

We have to go back to the drawing board, that's what it's all about. It starts with us up front. Any time someone gets almost 200 yards on you, it's a problem up front. We'll figure it out. We'll get better. I have all the confidence in the world that we will. 

"

With the next game coming against Adrian Peterson, it is hard to imagine the team fixing the problems any time soon.

Meanwhile, top players from Week 1 like Knowshon Moreno, DeMarco Murray and Le'Veon Bell should be able to keep things up in reasonable matchups this week.

Ryan Mathews, Eddie Lacy and possibly even Reggie Bush could be moved out of lineups with difficult defensive lines staring at them in Week 2. 

Wide Receivers

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Although Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery each picked up injuries in their first game, they should still be in fantasy lineups as long as they are active. You also should not worry about facing the San Francisco 49ers right now with major injuries in the secondary, as Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News details:

The rest of the top receivers should also have strong games. Demaryius Thomas and Calvin Johnson are matchup-proof, while Antonio Brown should sneak some big plays behind the Baltimore Ravens defense.

Fantasy owners should also expect strong performances from the Green Bay duo of Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb.

One notable player to be cautious of is Larry Fitzgerald after catching just one pass against the San Diego Chargers. With Michael Floyd and even John Brown becoming big parts of the offense, this might be a risky start, even against the New York Giants.

Tight Ends

The best tight ends this week will be the best tight ends going into almost every week. Jimmy Graham, Julius Thomas and Rob Gronkowski are the most consistent players when healthy and should expect to get into the end zone at least once every time out.

Beyond this group, Dennis Pitta and Greg Olsen are two players who have proven to be top options in the current system and should be able to get big points every week.

Fans hoping for a big showing out of Ladarius Green might have to keep him on the bench for the early part of the season after the talented player only managed two catches in his first game.  

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