Week 2 Fantasy Football 2025 Big Board
Week 1 of the fantasy season brought plenty of surprises and a few performances that stuck to the script.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua were drafted as elite fantasy options. All three delivered in a big way in the season opener.
But the top five at those positions also included Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones, Dallas Cowboys RB Javonte Williams and Los Angeles Chargers WR Quentin Johnston.
Needless to say, those performances weren't exactly what most fantasy managers predicted.
After one week, every fantasy team seems to be either an undefeated juggernaut or searching for answers.
Whether you're hoping to rebound from a loss or keep your hot streak alive, we've got you covered with position-by-position PPR rankings, breakout and bust candidates, sleeper picks, and top overall flex options.
Quarterbacks
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Week 1 was great if fantasy managers started Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills or Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens under center. After all, 41-40 shootouts tend to make for solid stat lines.
It was also a good week for fantasy managers who started Daniel Jones of the Indianapolis Colts or Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers, although that required either remarkable foresight or a stroke of luck.
While Jones and Rodgers are likely to regress in coming weeks, expect quarterbacks like Joe Burrow and Dak Prescott to bounce back from slow starts.
Every year, the challenge for Week 2 is to avoid overreacting to Week 1 results—while still giving them the consideration they deserve.
Week 2 Quarterback Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 2
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (vs. WAS) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]
Love's numbers against the Lions weren't great, but they didn't need to be in a game the Packers controlled throughout. He'll have to take to the air more Thursday night in what could be a high-scoring affair with the Commanders
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at HOU) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,500]
Mayfield started slow against the Atlanta Falcons last week, but a strong second half salvaged a top-12 fantasy finish for the week. Look for bigger and better things from last year's fantasy QB3 against the Texans on Monday night.
Players to Avoid in Week 2
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,200]
There's always a chance Mahomes will put the Chiefs on his back, especially at Arrowhead. But Kansas City will be without Rashee Rice and probably Xavier Worthy Sunday, and the last time Mahomes faced the Eagles did not turn out well for him.
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (at DET) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,400]
Williams looked good in his 2025 debut, right up until he didn't. In the second half of Monday night's loss, the 2024 version of the Bears QB reappeared—a player with little touch on his passes who missed wide-open receivers.
Week 2 Sleeper
Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns (at BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,000]
It takes a hearty soul to trot out Joe Flacco as a fantasy starter. But the Ravens were 31st against the pass in 2024, got roasted by Josh Allen in Week 1, and the Browns will be playing catch-up in Week 2.
Running Backs
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The biggest surprise of Week 1 at running back came in Jacksonville, where one of the most muddied backfields in the league cleared up in a hurry.
Not only did Travis Etienne Jr. start at running back for the Jaguars and dominate the backfield touches, but he also gashed the Carolina Panthers for 143 yards on just 16 carries and topped 150 total yards.
Meanwhile, Tank Bigsby, who entered Week 1 with higher expectations from some analysts, was a non-factor and has since been traded to the Eagles.
Week 2 Running Back Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 2
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals (vs. CAR) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,600]
Last year, no team in the NFL allowed more rushing yards per game than the 179.8 the Panthers gave up. If last week's loss to Jacksonville is any indication, that run defense is no better in 2025.
TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots (at MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,500]
Henderson's 11 touches for 51 yards last week against the Las Vegas Raiders was a relatively quiet NFL debut. But he'll find the end zone in Week 2 against a Miami team that appears in shambles after being blown out in Indianapolis.
Players to Avoid in Week 2
Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns (at BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,200]
Sampson was used much more than Jerome Ford in Week 1, and Quinshon Judkins is going to take some time to get up to speed. But no team in the league was harder to run on last year than the Ravens, and Baltimore is seething after a gut-wrenching Week 1 loss in Buffalo.
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks (at PIT) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]
Walker was out-carried by Zach Charbonnet 12-10 last week against the San Francisco 49ers. The latter gained more yards per carry and scored Seattle's only touchdown. We're about a week away from Charbonnet being ranked higher.
Week 2 Sleeper
Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (vs. CAR) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,600]
If this feels like it's piling on a terrible Carolina run defense, it's because it is. Benson had nine touches for 75 yards last week against the Saints, and the Redbirds should pound away on the ground Sunday.
Wide Receivers
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There is no shortage of high-end wide receivers fantasy managers are worried about one week into the 2025 campaign.
Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions, Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals, Terry McLaurin of the Washington Commanders and A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles all finished outside the top 45 in PPR points among wideouts last week.
Many managers are panicking, but most of these receivers will bounce back. However, there is justified concern for Ja'Marr Chase, not because of his talent, but due to the Bengals' struggles on defense, which limit offensive opportunities.
Chase will still get his, but justifying his No. 1 overall ADP over the summer could be another story.
Week 2 Wide Receiver Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 2
Deebo Samuel, Washington Commanders (at GB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]
The Commanders made Samuel a big part of the offense in his first game with the team: 10 targets, 96 total yards and a touchdown on an end-around. He'll keep that momentum rolling in a shootout Thursday in Green Bay.
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (vs. CHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,700]
Detroit's high-octane offense was stuck in neutral last week against the Packers, but a Lions team desperate to avoid an 0-2 start will get it going Sunday. Expect Williams to get behind the Bears secondary for a long score in Week 2.
Players to Avoid in Week 2
Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,200]
Hunter had an OK NFL debut, with six catches on eight targets for 33 yards. But 5.5 yards per reception doesn't generate a ton of excitement in fantasy, and the Jaguars will probably look to get Brian Thomas Jr. more involved this week.
Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers (at ARI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,400]
The good news is McMillan wasted no time establishing himself as Carolina's No. 1 receiver. The bad news is he is the No. 1 receiver for a Panthers team quarterbacked by Bryce Young.
Week 2 Sleeper
Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots (at MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,500]
Boutte was Drake Maye's top target against the Raiders, catching six passes on eight targets for 103 yards. Dating back to last season, it's the third time in Boutte's last four games that he has had at least 90 receiving yards.
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Tight Ends
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The tight end position already wasn't especially deep. Now, one week into the 2025 season, a pair of weekly starters are already banged-up, including this year's No. 1 player at the position.
Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders had a day against the New England Patriots, catching five passes for 103 yards. But he left the game in the second half with a knee injury, casting some doubt over his Week 2 availability.
Evan Engram, one of the top value picks, is already battling the durability issues that troubled managers entering the season. He didn't make it through Week 1 before suffering a calf injury.
Week 2 Tight End Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 2
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,000]
Is Kelce the dominant fantasy force he once was? No. But after he slobberknocked wide receiver Xavier Worthy and dislocated his shoulder, the Chiefs star should see a heavy target share in Sunday's Super Bowl rematch. That's one way to up your role in the passing game.
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,600]
Strange started the 2025 season hauling in four passes for 59 yards against the Carolina Panthers. Now he gets a leaky Bengals defense that led the league in PPR points allowed to tight ends last year.
Players to Avoid in Week 2
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (vs. NYG) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,800]
Between the injuries and the lack of depth among tight ends in 2025, most fantasy managers will have little choice but to start Ferguson this week. But the Giants were last in PPR points given up to TEs in 2024.
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns (at BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,400]
That Njoku had just three catches for 37 yards in Week 1 was bad enough for fantasy managers. But the real kicker was that while he was doing that, rookie Harold Fannin Jr. was piling up seven catches for 63 yards on nine targets.
Week 2 Sleeper
Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns (at BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,100]
Fannin didn't just have more targets than Njoku against the Bengals, he had more targets than any player on the Cleveland Browns team.
Defenses and Kickers
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Team defenses are inherently unpredictable, especially early in the season. There are a ton of moving pieces from year to year, whether it's personnel turnover, coaching changes or new schemes.
While it isn't surprising the Broncos led all defenses in Week 1, their matchup was among the most favorable.
The Colts, Titans, Bears, and Jaguars also posted top-five finishes despite little preseason hype, and these results may not be sustainable.
In short, Week 1 often brings unusual outcomes.
Week 2 Defense Rankings
Week 2 Kicker Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 2
Arizona Cardinals Defense (vs. CAR) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,400]
The Cardinals were something of a fantasy letdown a week ago against the New Orleans Saints. But they draw another dream matchup, after the Jaguars finished in the top five in Week 1 playing the Carolina Panthers.
Cam Little, Jacksonville Jaguars (at CIN)
If last week's defensive dud was any indication, the Jaguars won't hurt for scoring opportunities Sunday in Cincinnati. Plus, there's the whole 70-yard field goal in the preseason thing.
Players to Avoid in Week 2
Green Bay Packers Defense (vs. WAS) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,900]
The Packers had one of the better defensive performances of Week 1 from an NFL perspective. But it isn't going to be easy to stifle another potent offense in Jayden Daniels and the Commanders.
Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. PHI)
Butker is usually a solid fantasy option, but the Chiefs need touchdowns Sunday—not field goals. And the Eagles were last in the NFC in fantasy points allowed to kickers in 2024.
Week 2 Sleeper
New England Patriots Defense (at MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,800]
The Patriots weren't great defensively in Week 1, when Geno Smith lit up the New England secondary for 362 passing yards. But the Dolphins didn't look like they could light a candle with a flamethrower last week against the Colts.
Overall Rankings
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These overall player rankings can be of assistance in making flex lineup decisions. Please note there are no quarterbacks included—fantasy managers in superflex formats with a viable QB2 should flex that signal-caller.
Don't get too freaked out if your fantasy team only scored 80 points and got boatraced in Week 1. The first week of games includes more crapshoots than usual as teams knock off the rust from a long offseason. Some semblance of order should be restored in Week 2.
Stick to your guns and start the players you drafted as starters.
Week 2 Overall Rankings
Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.
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