Fantasy Football Week 2: Last-Minute Advice for Setting Your Roster

Do you wear a groove into the floor from all the fantasy football-induced pacing? Does lineup stress hit harder than when your phone battery is low? We are here to help. 

Each weekend we'll be posting last-minute fantasy football updates and advice with an eye on the most influential scenarios across the league. While the weather for this week appears ideal across the league, we'll eventually address how we might approach inclement situations in coming weeks. 

Are late-week injuries to Alshon Jeffery—as reported by ESPN.com's Jeff Dickerson—and LeSean McCoy—as reported by ESPN.com's Mike Rodak—throwing off your plans for Week 2 glory?

Will Adrian Peterson and Calvin Johnson emerge as amazing buy-low values after what could be quiet weekends once again for these legendary performers? 

If Vegas favors a team in a game with a relatively low projected point total, should we factor that into how we select streaming D/ST commodities? 

Is Justin Forsett due to be the top fantasy tailback given a friendly setup in Oakland on Sunday? 

Will I beat my brother in our longtime fantasy league, or will I have to stare at my lineup in shame on Sunday night? 

Join us as we attempt to answer some of these crucial questions and address common concerns for Week 2. As always, please feel free to share your thoughts on Week 2 or even just to post your lineup questions in the comments section.

Game-Time Decisions: Can We Trust LeSean McCoy and Alshon Jeffery?

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

It's been a rough season so far for top fantasy receivers. Jordy Nelson and Kelvin Benjamin were off the market before the season even started, while Dez Bryant's prolonged absence is a glaring loss for his investors. We haven't even witnessed the wave of running back ailments sure to come.

As is the case nearly every weekend of NFL action, how do we deal with the biggest injury situations during this second week of fantasy football competition? 

Should Fantasy Owners and the Bears Sit Alshon Jeffery This Sunday?

After Alshon Jeffery dealt with a lingering calf injury entering the campaign, an in-practice setback has his investors questioning whether to deploy the red-zone maven. Jeffery leads all players in targets inside the 10-yard line since 2013.

While I've previously preached patience with top fantasy investments, often choosing to play my star players if they're active, I'm siding with Rotoworld's Evan Silva on this one in hoping the Bears choose to rest Jeffery to get him "right" for the long haul.

With the Arizona Cardinals' cover corner Patrick Peterson fresh off a successful showdown in shutting down the New Orleans Saints' Brandin Cooks, having Jeffery forgo this unfavorable matchup wouldn't be the worst thing for his long-term fantasy outlook.

I suggest having alternative options ready. While this might only appeal to points-per-reception formats (don't laugh), Cole Beasley makes for an interesting target hog who is widely available in most leagues.

For those seeking some security in daily cash games, the target bar for tight end, Martellus Bennett, is assuredly high this week against an Arizona defense that has struggled to stop opposing tight ends.

Assuming "Shady" McCoy Starts, Should Fantasy Owners Start Him? 

ESPN.com's Mike Rodak expects LeSean McCoy to be a game-time decision given hamstring tightness incurred in practice this week. Given how freely DeAngelo Williams ran on the New England Patriots to open the season, I'm deploying McCoy if he's active. ESPN's Dianna Marie Russini reports the Pitt product will be busy Sunday despite the injury concerns. 

The only insurance plan McCoy investors can really consider is rostering Karlos Williams in case McCoy is surprisingly inactive. While this reeks of a narrative-driven angle, the Bills paid McCoy to consume a volume of work. If he's active, I'm playing him against a soft interior front seven. 

Is Mike Evans Finally Ready to Run Wild for Fantasy Investors?

ESPN.com's Pat Yasinkas reports Mike Evans is optimistic about making his season debut in the Superdome Sunday. While some may run from this Bucs offense, I'm bullish on Evans' chances for a big outing given what will be a pass-driven game script, because Tampa Bay is a massive underdog and facing a generous secondary. 

The St. Louis Shuffle: Which Rams' Running Back Do We Trust for Week 2? 

The answer to the above question might just be no one, as ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner reports both Todd Gurley and Tre Mason are listed as questionable for Sunday's road game versus the Redskins.

I wish that at Bleacher Report we had a secret fantasy football cave with direct lines to the real intentions of coaching staffs across the league. Sadly, we do not, and with such murky information and general mystery surrounding what could be a three-headed backfield versus a somewhat stingy fantasy defense to opposing ground games, I'm avoiding this situation. I suggest you do the same.

Canvassing the rest of the league, it's becoming clear that T.Y. Hilton, as reported by ESPN.com's Mike Wells, is highly questionable to be available for Monday Night Football. Given the timing, unless you have shares of Donte Moncrief, prepare as if Hilton isn't available.

The Titans' Delanie Walker practiced in full Friday as he deals with a hand injury, according to ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky. He deemed Walker "iffy" to play, but the tight end should be in fantasy lineups if the Titans make him active (the position is simply so shallow, although I wouldn't blame you for using Eric Ebron in a pinch).

Justin Forsett and Mike Evans Will Surprise with Wondrous Week 2 Results

Gail Burton/Associated Press

Bold fantasy predictions are like when I end up in the sand in golf: There's a high chance it goes poorly, but it's always fun to expect an unexpectedly great shot. With that in mind, here are some daring declarations for Week 2. 

Justin Forsett Will Be the Top Fantasy Running Back

Even as Marshawn Lynch faces that brie-soft Packers' rush defense Sunday night, I'm predicting the Ravens running back to claim the fantasy crown for Week 2 at the position. 

Let's consider a few things I uncovered for ESPN.com this week: 

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Since the start of last season, the Oakland Raiders have allowed the fourth-highest yards per reception to opposing running backs (9.53) and the second-most receiving scores to the position. On the ground, the Raiders have surrendered the sixth-most rushing yards per game, while allowing the second-most rushing scores to backs since the start of last season.

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With such savory matchup metrics on the table and the Ravens' propensity to force turnovers and sacks on defense, elements align well for Forsett to go off in Oakland this weekend. 

Mike Evans Will Post Top-Three Fantasy Production at the Position

Evans had the 11th-most fantasy points among wideouts using ESPN standard scoring last season during his age-21 season. This achievement makes this call possibly less than bold (which is the working name for my imaginary punk band).

Yet in coming off a lingering hamstring issue that saw him sit in Week 1, Evans' optimism for playing this week, as reported by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinkas, suggests we'll likely see him active in the Superdome Sunday to face a generous Saints pass defense.

As heavy underdogs, the Bucs could have a game script that trends quite pass-heavy, which offers Evans a good deal of garbage-time appeal on the way to the week's biggest box score at the position.

Add Brandon Coleman and Lance Dunbar Before Your League Notices

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Earlier this week I offered the names of some widely available assets to consider adding before rosters lock Sunday. Time travel hasn't yet been mastered, but you can do your best to stay ahead of your league by adding these promising prospects. 

On the doorstep of Week 2, don't waste roster spots on multiple defenses or having backup, low-ceiling signal-callers. Instead, play the proactive part and pursue some of the widely available (free in at least half of ESPN leagues) names below. 

Brandon Coleman is Still Available in Over 60 Percent of ESPN Leagues

If you prefer your wide receivers be tall and proficient in the red zone, the Saints' Brandon Coleman might be your guy. While I've endorsed him multiple times to date, he's still rostered in less than 40 percent of ESPN leagues despite having out-snapped Marques Colston in Week 1 while claiming the Saints' highest reception-per-route rate among the team's receivers.

As massive home favorites, getting cheap shares of the Saints offense for this inviting meeting with a reeling Bucs secondary appears wise, especially for those waiting on T.Y. Hilton or Alshon Jeffery.

Can Cole Beasley Become Wes Welker Light While Lance Dunbar Impersonates Shane Vereen in South Philly on Sunday? 

There is a major target void to consume in Dallas with Dez Bryant's injury, and I'm pretty high on Beasley and Dunbar earning worthy shares of the leftovers.

Beasley is miniature by any standard relative to receivers across the league, but his target share could be sizable given how efficient he's proved to be since the start of last season. He claims the league's third-highest reception rate for active players since the start of 2014 while also registering a respectable 11.44 average yards per reception over that span. He's ideally suited for deeper PPR scenarios, and I'm considering Beasley a flex in such formats.

As for Dunbar, he's similarly set up to inherent high-percentage targets, as Tony Romo leads all quarterbacks in completion percentage to backs since the start of the 2013 season. For those fearing confusing shares of the St. Louis Rams' backfield, for example, Dunbar could be the safe and steady play in PPR formats this week.

Still Streaming at Tight End? Consider Eric Ebron and Ladarius Green This Week

In predicting the top waiver adds after Week 2, I tabbed Ladarius Green as a valuable addition for not only those waiting on Antonio Gates to return, but now possibly for Delanie Walker investors or those managers seeking streaming options. Here's the nut graph of my Green pitch: 

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Green scored the second-most fantasy points of his career in Week 1, hauling in five of his six targets for 74 yards and a score. With Gates' amazing red-zone share—Gates is fifth in the NFL in targets inside the 10 since 2013—available for consumption for the time being, Green should be starting in all fantasy formats at such a shallow and fickle tight end position. 

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Ebron is another name I've endorsed at this shallow and fickle position. After an uninspiring rookie effort, it's possible he could be a post-hype value going forward: 

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In what will eventually prove to be a far higher volume passing game than what we saw in Week 1 (Lions had the ball for just over 21 minutes in the loss), Ebron's potential for a fifth of the team's targets could produce top-12 fantasy numbers at the position at the best price tag in fantasy: free.

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Let Vegas Help Decide Your Fantasy Football Defense for Week 2

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Last week I shared how to leverage Vegas lines and point totals in deciding between streaming D/ST options. The foundation of the idea has us favoring favorites in games with point totals under 46.5. 

As I wrote last week, "The average point total out of Vegas last season was 46.3 points per game. Using 46.5 as a benchmark for this strategic angle, I studied the results of fantasy defenses when favored in games with points totals under 46.5."

The results showed favorites in games below this threshold found themselves top 10 in ESPN fantasy leagues 49 percent of the time. A simple breakdown of the quadrants for this concept can be found below: 

• Favorites in games with a point total under 46.5: In the top 10 of fantasy D/ST units 49 percent.
• Favorites in games with a point total over 46.5: 38 percent top-10 rate. 
• Underdogs in games with a point total under 46.5: 29 percent top-10 rate. 
• Underdogs in games over a point total over 46.5: 21 percent top-10 rate. 

The suggested takeaway would be that we should use this tool not to exactly identify which streaming D/ST asset to deploy, but rather as a tool to eliminate teams from consideration. As previously noted, "If Vegas has a team getting points, it's not as likely that they'll get you a strong sum of D/ST fantasy points."

Teams the Vegas D/ST Principle Likes This Week

The Titans are favored by two on the road in Cleveland. I generally want my streaming D/ST commodities to be at home, but facing Johnny Manziel is simply too appetizing. The dessert is on our side here, as the low point total (41.5) projects the Browns to score fewer than 20 points. Back to Manziel, of the 56 NFL QBs with at least 30 pass attempts since the start of last season, his 20.8 QBR ranks 53rd, as does his lowly 52.5 completion percentage.

Available in over 75 percent of ESPN leagues, the Titans make for better D/ST play than groups such as the Jets (84 percent owned), the Eagles (46 percent) and Cardinals (73 percent). 

In any formats where we can find the Panthers still available, they are not only home favorites facing a green quarterback in the Houston Texans' Ryan Mallett but they host the week's lowest point total, as well. Even with Luke Kuechly likely sitting this game out due to injury, as ESPN.com's Dave Newton reports, this ripe matchup should be pursued in all leagues.

Will Adrian Peterson and Calvin Johnson Be Buy-Low Bargains After Week 2?

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

No matter what your conservative side says, it's never too early to hit the trade market. This rings especially true if you are bullishly buying up undervalued and distressed fantasy assets. 

Could Adrian Peterson and Calvin Johnson become the ideal buy-low candidates after Week 2? A few key matchup elements suggest this might be the case. 

Peterson faces a Detroit Lions defense that has has allowed just 3.19 yards per carry to backs since the start of last season, the stingiest allowance rate in the league. As you might guess, the Lions allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to backs in 2014. If Peterson has another ineffective and inefficient outing, I'd immediately start trade conversations with his owner. 

Similarly, the Vikings were stingy to fantasy receivers last season, suggesting Megatron's investors feel like they drafted a Decepticon. If emerging shutdown corner Xavier Rhodes shadows Johnson, as ESPN.com's Ben Goessling reports is a possibility, we could find two of the game's biggest names leave Week 2 with deflated pricing. 

For investors in Peterson and Johnson, hold tight—better weeks will come even if this divisional showdown subdues the fantasy fun. Personally, I'm readying bids for both in my 14 or so redraft leagues.

Fantasy info courtesy of ESPN.com, and stats via my own research unless otherwise noted. Odds courtesy of Odds Shark.