Week 2 Fantasy Football Rankings, Box Score Projections for Players with Top Matchups

Week 2 got underway with Thursday night's battle between the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills. Heading into the bulk of the schedule, some managers may already be scrambling to cover ground.

Fortunately, some matchups are primed to provide catch-up opportunities. We'll review Week 1 results and project player roles to identify them.

Here, you'll find updated point-per-reception (PPR) rankings for each key position, along with projections for the matchups we love the most.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

Baker Mayfield

Rankings

1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
2. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
3. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
4. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
5. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
6. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
8. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
9. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
10. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Matchup to Love: Baker Mayfield vs. Cleveland Browns

Baker Mayfield had a fumbling problem against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 that severely limited his fantasy production. Assuming he exercises better ball security in Week 2, he should be one of the top fantasy plays of the week.

Mayfield and the Bucs will be eager to put their Week 1 loss behind them, and the visiting Cleveland Browns are the QB's former team. Mayfield often finds reasons to play with a chip on his shoulder, but in this case, he's truly getting a revenge-game opportunity.

Back in 2022, the Browns jettisoned Mayfield in order to make their ill-fated trade for Deshaun Watson. Expect Mayfield to remind Cleveland what it gave up on early and often in this matchup.

And the Browns are unlikely to do much to limit him. They surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing QBs in Week 1.

Box Score Projection: 336 passing yards, 3 TDs, 42 rushing yards

Running Back

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

Kenneth Walker III

Rankings

1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
2. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
3. Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs
4. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
5. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
6. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
7. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
8. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys
9. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
10. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
11. Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
12. D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears
13. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
14. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. Breece Hall, New York Jets

Matchup to Love: Kenneth Walker III vs. Indianapolis Colts

Even with a healthy Patrick Mahomes in the lineup, the Kansas City Chiefs leaned heavily on new running back Kenneth Walker III in Week 1. The former Seattle Seahawks standout went off against the Denver Broncos, recording one of the top fantasy performances at any position in the opening slate.

Walker racked up 173 rushing yards, three receptions, 18 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.

While Walker may not be as productive in Week 2, he's a high-floor play against an Indianapolis Colts defense that often looked lost in Week 1. Facing bruising back Derrick Henry certainly had something to do with it, but the Colts surrendered the third-most fantasy points to opposing RBs.

Expect Kansas City to lean on Walker once again in its second prime-time matchup of the season.

Box Score Projection: 124 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 22 receiving yards, 1 TD

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Stacy Bengs

Justin Jefferson

Rankings

1. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
3. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
4. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
5. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
6. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
7. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
8. George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
9. Malik Nabers, New York Giants
10. Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers
11. Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
12. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
13. Mike Evans, San Francisco 49ers
14. Nico Collins, Houston Texans
15. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
16. Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
17. Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars
18. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
19. Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers
20. Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears

Matchup to Love: Justin Jefferson at Chicago Bears

It appears that the Minnesota Vikings will roll with quarterback Carson Wentz in Week 2. He played most of Week 1 after starter Kyler Murray exited with a concussion, and while he didn't produce an eye-popping stat line, he did show strong chemistry with star receiver Justin Jefferson.

Jefferson finished Week 1 with eight catches, 92 yards, and two touchdowns.

The Chicago Bears, meanwhile, won a Week 1 shootout in which defense appeared optional. The Bears did force enough turnovers to eventually pull away for a 59-37 victory. However, they also surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing WRs.

This should be another back-and-forth offensive game. Expect Jefferson to play a massive role in it.

Box Score Projection: 9 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TDs

Tight End

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Harold Fannin Jr.

Rankings

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
2. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
3. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
4. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
5. Isaiah Likely, New York Giants
6. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
7. Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns
8. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
9. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
10. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Matchup to Love: Harold Fannin Jr. at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Browns are likely to spend the entirety of Week 2 playing from behind. Unfortunately, their crop of wide receivers is likely to struggle against a Bucs' defense that held Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in check last week.

Chase and Higgins combined for just five catches and 71 yards.

The Bengals, though, poked holes in Tampa's defense with tight end Mike Gesicki, who finished with five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. Expect Cleveland to try a similar approach by targeting Harold Fannin Jr. early and often.

Don't expect Fannin to be quite as productive as Gesicki because Deshaun Watson isn't nearly as efficient as Joe Burrow. However, a high target share should give him a strong PPR floor.

Box Score Projection: 6 receptions, 76 yards

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros