Fantasy Football Week 2: Making the Call on Toughest Lineup Decisions

With one week in the books things start to get good for fantasy football owners heading into some tough lineup decisions ahead of Week 2.

Going into opening weekend owners only had last year's results and projections to go by when choosing Carlos Hyde over DeMarco Murray (nice), or say, Adrian Peterson over anyone (ouch).

Now, though, owners have real-world results to go by when making these tough decisions. Whether it's a tough matchup, injuries, putting up a high-upside option against a steady base contributor or something else, the decisions only get tougher from here.

Within, let's take a look at some of the common decisions owners will encounter for Week 2 and come to a consensus.

START Russell Wilson vs. Green Bay Packers

L.G. Patterson/Associated Press

Owners seem to expect big things from Russell Wilson on a week-to-week basis, hence his 99.8 ownership percentage.

Even the Seattle Seahawks' superstar can be a matchup-based play, though, which is why it made sense to avoid him last week in St. Louis. Not only did the Seahawks lose, Wilson posted just 15 points by way of 251 yards with a touchdown and interception.

The airways figure to be cleaner in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers. It's a road contest for Wilson and Co., but the Packers just allowed Jay Cutler to throw for 225 yards and a score with a hobbled Alshon Jeffery. 

Wilson, on the other hand, will continue to get accustomed to life with Jimmy Graham and more of an up-tempo offense. Keep in mind he faced the Packers in Week 1 last year and threw for 191 yards and two scores.

Projected Week 2 stats: 20-of-24, 205 passing yards, 2 touchdowns.

SIT Cam Newton vs. Houston Texans

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

This should be obvious, but Cam Newton still touts an ownership percentage of 88.9.

Newton posted just 12 points in Week 1 against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars, a surprising number considering he attempted 31 passes and rushed 14 times.

On a normal year such usage rates could make an owner's head explode. Instead, Newton threw for just 175 yards and found 35 yards on the ground. His top wideouts are Corey Brown and Tedd Ginn.

Now Newton heads for a date with the J.J. Watt-led Houston Texans. Again, in a normal year it would be worth asking whether Newton could be viable enough for a start. This year, though, a strong Houston secondary can apply the clamps on Newton's targets, allowing the rest of the unit to focus on containing him in the pocket.

Newton's outlook won't be this bleak every week, but this is the perfect storm for a miserable outing.

Projected Week 2 Stats: 17-of-28, 180 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. 10 carries, 40 yards. 

START Ameer Abdullah at Minnesota Vikings

Alex Gallardo/Associated Press

Say hello to one of the year's biggest breakout stars.

Ameer Abdullah, the Detroit Lions' second-round pick this year, exploded onto the scene this past weekend with 50 yards and a score on just seven carries to go along with four catches for 44 yards—good for a smooth 15 points.

Considering the Minnesota Vikings just allowed Hyde to go wild with 26 carries for 168 yards and two scores to lead all fantasy backs, the matchup here looks great.

What may shy owners away is usage. After all, the Lions could have been just working Joique Bell back from injury in a slow manner.

Except it doesn't sound like coach Jim Caldwell will change Abdullah's usage at all, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press:

"

What he did (Sunday) is kind of what we see him doing. He's returning kicks, he's running the ball and he's catching the ball out of the backfield. I'm not certain there's anything more (he can do) than that. He had 199 yards or so of total offense. That's the kind of role that I think you'll see him play, for the most part.

"

The versatile rookie isn't a secret anymore, but that doesn't mean the struggling Vikings will be able to contain him. With similar usage, expect similar production in a favorable matchup.

Projected Week 2 stats: 10 carries for 65 yards and five catches for 35 yards and one touchdown.

SIT Alfred Morris vs. St. Louis Rams

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

There was a time when Washington's Alfred Morris was a plug-and-play option owners didn't have to think about.

Now they don't have a choice.

Morris looked above average last week, rushing 25 times for 121 yards and 12 points against a stingy Miami Dolphins defense. The thing is, the game plan was so streamlined to get Morris touches it borders on ridiculous.

Washington just won't work so hard to get Morris touches every week. He's the workhorse, sure, but a game plan alone won't be able to save him from a defense such as the one fielded by the St. Louis Rams in Week 2.

Owners who happen to follow Marshawn Lynch know the deal—the Rams held Lynch to just 73 yards on 18 attempts last week. It figures to be much of the same for Morris, who also has talented backup Matt Jones breathing down his neck if he begins to falter.

Projected Week 2 stats: 17 carries, 64 yards.

START Bishop Sankey at Cleveland Browns

Scott Audette/Associated Press

It looks like Bishop Sankey might be able to challenge Abdullah in the "breakout star" category.

Sankey looked like a new player in Week 1 with rookie Marcus Mariota under center against Tampa Bay. He ran for 74 yards and a score on 12 touches and brought in two passes for 12 yards and a score, giving him 20 points and the fourth-highest total of the week among backs.

In other words, Sankey just underwent a major transformation away from the rookie who only gained 569 yards and two scores last year on a 3.7 per-carry average.

Now Sankey gets to go against the Cleveland Browns, a defense fresh off allowing New York Jets' back Chris Ivory to rush for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Sankey's rushing touchdown came from one yard out, too, so it's not like the coaching staff intends to spell him all the time in scoring range. 

All things considered, Sankey looks like a must-start option.

Projected Week 2 stats: 15 carries for 89 yards; three receptions, 33 yards and one touchdown. 

SIT Frank Gore vs. New York Jets

AJ Mast/Associated Press

In theory, Frank Gore was the perfect fantasy addition in Indianapolis behind Andrew Luck, hence his 98.4 ownership percentage.

What could go wrong when a workhorse such as Gore, owner of 1,000-yard campaigns in eight of his 10 seasons before 2015, joined a prolific passing attack?

Everything, apparently.

Gore scored just three points in his Colts debut, receiving eight handoffs and turning it into 31 yards. After, he didn't sound too pleased, per the Colts on Twitter: “I feel like you have to run the ball. You have to do both."

There is little doubt Gore's usage will increase in the coming weeks, but Monday Night Football against the New York Jets isn't the best time to bank on a return to form. The Jets just held the Browns to 104 yards and a 3.7 per-carry average in Week 1—58 of those yards came from quarterbacks Johnny Manziel and Josh McCown, the only names to rush for better than four yards per touch.

It's smart to hold onto Gore for when the Colts figure out their problems, but it isn't smart to play him against the Jets.

Projected Week 2 stats: 17 attempts, 65 yards.

START Larry Fitzgerald at Chicago Bears

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Arizona Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald looked like his usual self in Week 1, catching six passes for 87 yards and eight points against New Orleans.

Those aren't world-beating numbers by any means, but things figure to look even better for Fitzgerald in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears—the defense that let Aaron Rodgers throw three scores on just 23 attempts, two of which went to veteran James Jones, who just signed with the team at the start of the month.

In other words, Fitzgerald looks like a lock to once again lead the team in targets. Per Kent Somers of AZ Central Sports, pass-catching back Andre Ellington continues to miss practice, which opens up targets. Michael Floyd continues to practice in full, but a hand injury that kept him limited in Week 1 doesn't sound like the surest thing in the world.

Even at 32, Fitzgerald continues to be the No. 1 option in the desert. It will show in a big way against the struggling Bears.

Projected Week 2 stats: 10 catches, 89 yards and one touchdown.

SIT Sammy Watkins vs. New England Patriots

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

It looks like Buffalo Bills wideout Sammy Watkins might be the biggest loser when it comes to the team starting Tyrod Taylor under center.

Despite a rookie season in which he averaged more than 15 yards per catch with 982 yards and six scores, Watkins caught no passes in his team's Week 1 opener against Indianapolis.

There, Vontae Davis made Watkins a ghost and it's something New England corner Malcolm Butler could also make happen. For his part, Watkins is at least happy the team won, as Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News captured: "Sammy Watkins: 'I had zero catches. And that's the great thing about it, I didn't contribute to the game and we still won.'"

Fantasy owners don't get points for Watkins acting as a high-profile distraction, though, and it's a real concern heading into a battle with the Patriots.

Even if Watkins can find himself open, it's important to remember he resides on an offense with plenty of other weapons now thanks to LeSean McCoy in the backfield and capable targets such as Percy Harvin, Robert Woods and Charles Clay.

Projected Week 2 stats: three receptions, 27 yards.

START Austin Seferian-Jenkins vs. New Orleans Saints

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Thank goodness for rookie quarterbacks, right?

Last week's second-highest scoring tight end (even above breakout star Tyler Eifert, and just four points behind Rob Gronkowski) touts an ownership percentage of 51.6.

This refers to Tampa Bay's Austin Seferian-Jenkins, of course. He only appeared in nine games as a rookie last year, but already looks to play a major role with Jameis Winston under center. His 23-point outburst came via five grabs for 110 yards and two scores.

Owners will want to bet ASJ can keep this thing going against New Orleans. The Buccaneers figure to spend most of the day playing from behind, meaning plenty of chances for the sophomore when his rookie quarterback needs an outlet.

Even better, the Saints just allowed Darren Fells of the Cardinals to score 14 points on four grabs for 82 yards and a score. ASJ looks ready for another major day, as the matchup should squash any concerns about his Week 1 outburst looking like a fluke.

Projected Week 2 stats: eight receptions, 95 yards and one touchdown.

SIT Zach Ertz vs. Dallas Cowboys

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

See how volatile the tight end position can be? 

ASJ has a lower ownership percentage than Zach Ertz of the Philadelphia Eagles, who sits at 80.3.

Yet Ertz went out last week and caught just 3-of-8 targets for 46 yards and four points. On what is supposed to be an explosive Chip Kelly offense with Sam Bradford under center, Ertz turned into just another guy out there.

Granted, Ertz played 52 snaps to just 27 for Brent Celek, but it doesn't really matter if he isn't catching the ball. Dallas might be an iffy matchup, too, considering Ertz has no touchdowns in four career games against the Cowboys—a defense that just held New York Giants tight ends to 54 total yards.

In time, Ertz might break out and be worth a start. At such an up-and-down position with seemingly more options than usual to work with, though, it would be wise for owners to take a wait-and-see approach.

Projected Week 2 stats: four catches, 55 yards. 

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as is points-against info and ownership stats as of September 17. Statistics courtesy of ESPN.com.