Fantasy Football Start Em Sit Em Week 2: Ranking the Best Starters

As you prepare to set your fantasy football lineups for Week 2 of the NFL season, consider these players as the best starters at their respective positions:

Quarterbacks

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers: There's too many weapons at Rodgers' disposal for the Panthers to cover them all. He picks them apart for another big afternoon. 

2. Matthew Stafford, Lions: The Chiefs secondary is still reeling from Ryan Fitzpatrick's four touchdown passes. Now, without Eric Berry, Stafford should have a field day. 

3. Tom Brady, Patriots: Is there anything that needs to be said about Brady that hasn't already? The guy is unbelievable. 

4. Michael Vick, Eagles: Expect a big homecoming from Vick in Atlanta. He'd never admit it, but there's going to be a lot of emotion in his play on Sunday night. 

5. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers: Worried about Roethlisberger's five turnovers to start the season? Don't be. He'll rebound in a big way against the Seahawks. 

Sleeper: Rex Grossman, Redskins: If Cam Newton can carve the Cardinals secondary, why can't Rex?

Running backs

1. Ray Rice, Ravens: He's going to establish himself as the top fantasy back in 2011, mark my words. Rice can do it all. In an improved Ravens' offense, Rice could score 20 total touchdowns.

2. Adrian Peterson, Vikings: Bad Vikings offense, but Peterson is still a bright spot. He'll continue to get the ball in heavy doses. 

3. LeSean McCoy, Eagles: After what Matt Forte did the Falcons last weekend (over 150 total yards, one touchdown), McCoy has to be licking his chops. He's a more explosive player than Forte, too. 

4. Peyton Hillis, Browns: Despite a tough start against the Bengals, Hillis now gets the small Colts defense. They simply can't stop the run to save their lives. He's a solid bet for 100 yards and a couple of scores. 

5. Michael Turner, Falcons: 100 yards on just 10 carries was nice in Week 1, but expect the touches to at least double against the Eagles. Will the production follow suit? Doubtful, but the Eagles did look bad against the run in St. Louis. 

Sleeper: Darren Sproles, Saints: The Bears Cover-2 defense means a ton of dump-offs to backs underneath for Drew Brees and the Saints.

Receivers

1. Calvin Johnson, Lions: If Stafford stays healthy in 2011, Johnson might just go over 15 touchdowns receiving. He's a special player that just needed a quarterback. Against the Chiefs, he should put up big numbers again.  

2. Andre Johnson, Texans: Johnson and the Texans' offense get the Dolphins and their pride-stricken secondary on Sunday. Miami won't be 517-yards bad again, but Johnson should crack 100 yards with a touchdown or two. 

3. Vincent Jackson, Chargers: After a tough Week 1 showing, I like Jackson's matchup against New England. He and Rivers could do some damage against a Pats secondary that lacks the help down field. 

4. Mike Wallace, Steelers: He was the lone bright spot for the Steelers in the team's 35-7 loss to the Ravens, as he went over 100 yards receiving. I think he'll make it two straight weeks against the Seahawks this weekend.

5. Greg Jennings, Packers: Owners always assume Jennings is a risk because of all the Packers' weapons offensively, but he's clearly the best one of the receiving group. The chemistry between him and Rodgers rivals any QB-WR combination in the NFL. Against the Panthers thin secondary, he's a safe bet.

Sleeper: Mario Manningham, Giants: Hakeem Nicks may not play Monday night, making Manningham Eli Manning's likely top target.

Tight ends

1. Jason Witten, Cowboys: All the guy does is produce, week-in and week-out. I like his matchup against some of the 49ers' linebackers this weekend. 

2. Jermichael Finley, Packers: Three catches for 53 yards was a nice jumping off point for Finley, but Sunday will be his coming-out party. Look for Rodgers to target him in the red zone, and the two will get plenty of shots at it against the Panthers defense. 

3. Owen Daniels, Texans: Despite catching just one pass for 12 yards in the opener, Daniels gets the Dolphins defense in Week 2. Maybe you saw what happened for Miami against the Patriots tight ends on Monday?

4. Antonio Gates, Chargers: He dropped a ball that should have been a touchdown against the Vikings, which made his owners cringe. Still, he's a solid option any week, and Anthony Fasano of the Dolphins found success against the Patriots. 

5. Jimmy Graham, Saints: After these next few weeks, Graham will be a certified "Must Start" at tight end. You can just sense how much trust Drew Brees has in him. He could easily catch 10 touchdowns this season, and I think he gets No. 2 of the year against the Bears.

Sleeper: Brandon Pettigrew, Lions: No Eric Berry for the Chiefs to cover him one-on-one. Stafford will exploit that matchup.