Week 2 Fantasy Football 2025 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em

It's Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season, and that means there are two types of fantasy managers—elated ones riding high at the helm of an undefeated team and despondent ones steering a tomato can on wheels.

Overreacting to Week 1 is an annual rite in fantasy football, and the reality is that in most cases order will eventually be restored to the universe. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is going to be fine. So will Philadelphia Eagles wideout A.J. Brown.

But teams coming off a loss aren't hearing that. They are in a panic. Filled with trepidation. Overflowing with perturbation, even. All they want to know is how to get that first victory of the year. Those happy managers who were victorious want to keep up their momentum. Start a streak. Dominate.

Whether Week 1 was fantastic or disastrous, it's time to shake it off with Week 2 already underway. We're here to help lead your fantasy squad to the winner's circle this week, with some Week 2 starts, sits and sleepers.

Author's Note: "Starts" have a started percentage at NFL.com of less than 60 percent or do not exceed a maximum DFS salary threshold at DraftKings. "Sits" have a started percentage over 70 percent or exceed a minimum salary threshold. "Sleepers" have a started percentage of less than 30 percent or don't exceed an even lower salary threshold.

Quarterbacks

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

Chargers QB Justin Herbert

Start 'Em

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (at LV) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]

Herbert was fantastic in last week's win over the Kansas City Chiefs, throwing for 318 yards and three touchdowns. The Raiders held Drake Maye largely in check in Week 1, but the young secondary in Las Vegas is still a major question mark.

Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons (at MIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]

Penix only threw one touchdown pass last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he flirted with 300 passing yards. This week Penix and the Falcons travel to take on a Vikings team that was 28th in the league in pass defense last season.

Sit 'Em

Patrick Mahomes II, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,200]

Mahomes was solid statistically in Brazil against the Chargers last week. But with Xavier Worthy likely sidelined Mahomes' wide receivers are a mess right now, and the last time Mahomes faced the Eagles he spent most of Super Bowl XLIX looking out his earhole.

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (at IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,100]

This has less to do with Denver's opponent (the Colts were 26th in the league in pass defense in 2024) than it does with Nix's miserable start to the season against the Tennessee Titans—176 passing yards, one touchdown and a pair of interceptions.

Sleeper

Drake Maye, New England Patriots (at MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,200]

Maye's 2025 debut was underwhelming, especially in what appeared to be a favorable fantasy matchup with the Raiders. But the Dolphins made "Danny Dimes" look like a million bucks last week, so a turnaround week should be in the offing.

Running Back

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

Cowboys RB Javonte Williams

Start 'Em

Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,700]

If last week's 143-yard explosion is any indication, Etienne will be an every-week must-start in relatively short order. That was admittedly just one game, but Etienne looked impressive against the Carolina Panthers and draws a Cincinnati Bengals defense that most assuredly did not impress last week in Cleveland.

Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys (vs. NYG) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,800]

Speaking of running backs we didn't expect much from in Week 1, Williams found the end zone twice against the Philadelphia Eagles. Last year the Giants were 27th in the NFL in run defense and allowed the fourth-most PPR points to running backs. Big Blue didn't look a bit better in the season-opener against the Washington Commanders.

Sit 'Em

De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins (vs. NE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,900]

The Patriots got roasted through the air last week, but New England actually did a good job of keeping Ashton Jeanty in check. Achane was about the only thing that went right for the Dolphins last week, so Mike Vrabel will likely focus the defense's attention on containing him and making Tua Tagovailoa beat New England with his arm.

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (vs. DEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,700]

Taylor left last week's blowout win over the Dolphins early, although Colts head coach Shane Steichen told reporters after the game that the 26-year-old is "fine." What isn't fine is this week's matchup with a stout Denver defense that surrendered just 96.4 yards per game on the ground last season.

Sleeper

Nick Chubb, Houston Texans (vs. TB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,000]

The Texans struggled offensively last week, and Chubb managed just 60 yards on the ground. But he averaged a respectable 4.6 yards per carry against the Los Angeles Rams and takes on a Tampa Bay defense that just got gashed for 124 total yards and a touchdown by Atlanta's Bijan Robinson.

Wide Receivers

AP Photo/Doug Benc

Chargers WR Quentin Johnston

Start 'Em

Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns (at BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,300]

Jeudy was OK in Week 1 against the Bengals, catching five passes for 66 yards on eight targets. It's safe to assume that this is a game where the Browns will be playing from behind, and if last week's loss to Buffalo was any indication, the Baltimore pass defense isn't any better than last year's 31st-ranked unit.

Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers (at LV) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,400]

It could well be that Johnston's Week 1 outburst against the Kansas City Chiefs was a Week 1 one-off. But the former first-round pick saw seven targets in the game and scored two touchdowns. This week the Chargers face a Raiders team that (as was mentioned before) has all kinds of questions on the back end of the defense.

Sit 'Em

Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]

Adams was quiet against the Houston Texans, at least relative to teammate Puka Nacua. The Titans might appear an easy matchup for opposing offenses, but Tennessee actually sports a sneaky-good defense—no team in the AFC surrendered fewer passing yards per game last season.

Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins (vs. NE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,400]

Hill's Week 1 numbers weren't terrible given how God-awful the Miami offense looked as a whole against the Colts, and the Patriots struggled defending the pass against the Raiders. But the Dolphins are such a five-alarm dumpster fire that until they show some signs of life no one can really be started in fantasy with any confidence.

Sleeper

Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots (at MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,500]

Boutte's days of relative anonymity are numbered—last week's six grabs for 103 yards marked the third time in his last four games that the third-year pro had at least 90 receiving yards. The top waiver wire darling of Week 2 gets a Miami defense Sunday that allowed scores on every possession to the Colts in the season opener.

Tight Ends

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Ravens TE Mark Andrews

Start 'Em

Hunter Henry, New England (at MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,000]

Henry tied Keyshon Boutte last week for the team lead in targets with eight, catching four passes for 66 yards. The Dolphins ranked just outside the top-10 in PPR points allowed to tight ends last year, and Miami got gashed by Tyler Warren of the Colts in last week's humiliating loss.

Feels like I'm piling on Miami. Oh well.

Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. SEA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,900]

The good news is Smith caught five passes, tied for second on the team in targets last week and found the end zone. The bad news is that he averaged three yards a catch. Still, the targets are a good thing, and last week against the 49ers Seattle gave up a pair of touchdown grabs to tight ends.

Sit 'Em

Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,700]

Andrews was invisible in Week 1, and we have seen this movie before—he was a complete non-factor over the first month of last season as well. It may just be that Lamar Jackson is um, averse to targeting Andrews in Buffalo, but the veteran is awfully hard to trust after one catch for five yards on a single target.

Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions (vs. CHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,800]

Given the injuries that have already hit the tight end position, it's next to impossible to actually sit LaPorta. But the Bears held Minnesota's T.J. Hockenson to three catches for 15 yards on Monday night, and LaPorta averaged less than 25 receiving yards per game in two meetings with the Bears a year ago.

Sleeper

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns (at BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,100]

In his first NFL game against the Bengals last week, Fannin led the Browns in targets (9) and receptions (7), logging 63 yards. It's too early to say that Fannin has surpassed David Njoku as the No. 1 tight end in Cleveland, but it looked like Fannin has surpassed David Njoku as the No. 1 tight end in Cleveland.

Team Defenses

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Rams EDGE Jared Verse

Start 'Em

Arizona Cardinals Defense (vs. CAR) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,400]

The Cardinals didn't have the fantasy success we had hoped in Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints, but the Redbirds get a second bite at the matchup apple this week against the Carolina Panthers. Apparently, Bryce Young is deathly allergic to playing like an NFL quarterback in the month of September.

Los Angeles Rams Defense (at TEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,100]

Unless the Tennessee gameplan involved Cam Ward taking the snap and then running backward until someone caught him, Ward looked an awful lot like a quarterback making his first pro start against the Denver Broncos. It's not going to get easier at home Sunday against the Rams' excellent young front seven.

Sit 'Em

Buffalo Bills Defense (at NYJ) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,300]

The Bills are better defensively than the unit that just got stompled by Derrick Henry and the ravens—he tends to do that to opponents. But the Jets had a lot of success running the ball last week against Pittsburgh, and while Gang Green lost to the Steelers they also put over 30 points on the board.

Philadelphia Eagles Defense (at KC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,000]

The last time the Eagles and Chiefs squared off, Philly's defense completely dominated the Chiefs. But there are multiple changes up front for the Eagles this year, the Chiefs are desperate to avoid an 0-2 start, and this is Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City we're talking about—at home.

Sleeper

New England Patriots Defense (at MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,800]

Did the Patriots look good defensively at home against the Raiders last week? Nope. But they didn't look nearly as bad as the Miami offense did. Mike McDaniel is a couple more bad losses from unemployment. Tua Tagovailoa looks lost. And the Dolphins are a team to target defensively moving forward.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.