Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 2
SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting and the potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut. For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our weekly rankings.
Start
Jake Locker, QB, Titans
vs. Cowboys
You'll see a lot of the Cowboys' opponents in the start section of this column this season. That defense is bad. Locker, on the other hand, looked really good in Week 1. Truthfully, he looked like an emerging fantasy force last season before getting hurt. He makes an ideal start for quarterback streamers this week.
Fearless prediction: 218 yards passing, 2 TDs, 45 yards rushing, TD
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Dolphins
at Bills
Moreno proved in Week 1 that offseason storylines (he reportedly showed up to workouts out of shape and then promptly underwent surgery, plus he was widely criticized for being a product of the Broncos offensive system) often mean nothing. Moreno was a force, rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown. He's the same player he was a year ago and the Dolphins offense could be good enough to give him 75 or 80 per cent of the fantasy value he had with the Broncos. If so, he's an every-week starter.
Fearless prediction: 89 yards rushing, 2 TDs
Justin Hunter, WR, Titans
vs. Cowboys
Hunter didn't score in Week 1, nor did he even start for the Titans (Kendall Wright and Nate Washington did), but he played 52 snaps and was his team's most targeted receiver. Expect a major breakout performance against a brutal Cowboys defense.
Fearless prediction: 101 yards receiving, TD
Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers
vs. Lions
Cam Newton is expected to play and that should only mean good things for Olsen. Even with Derek Anderson behind center, Olsen went off for 83 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. He and rookie Kelvin Benjamin aren't just the focus of the Panthers' passing game - they're the entire passing game.
Fearless prediction: 91 yards, TD
Sit
Jay Cutler, QB, Bears
at 49ers
After offseason talk of how Cutler is buying in to head coach Marc Trestman's scheme and set to explode back to fantasy dominance thanks to the top-tier weapons at his disposal, Cutler looked like the same old guy in Week 1. He threw off his back foot and generally didn't appear to be in complete command of his natural talents. Even worse, both Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery picked up leg injuries (both are reportedly minor). Against a 49ers defense that forced the Cowboys into four turnovers, Cutler is too risky to start.
Trent Richardson, RB, Colts
vs. Eagles
If you still have Richardson in your starting lineup, that needs to change. He's still the same running back who looked like he was running in mud last season, and now the Colts are showing signs that they're ready to move on with Ahmad Bradshaw as their new starter. A waiver wire pickup is a better bet to score a touchdown this week than Richardson is. He's rapidly moving toward "quit" status.
Allen Hurns, WR, Jaguars
at Redskins
Hurns was electric in his pro debut, catching four passes for 110 yards and scoring touchdowns on each of his first two NFL receptions. He's a great player to stash on your bench, but we need to see him produce strong numbers for a second consecutive week before we can deem him worthy of a starting spot.
Ladarius Green, TE, Chargers
vs. Seahawks
A recommended sit for a second straight week, we still can't trust that Green will get the workload to make him a viable fantasy starter. Antonio Gates looks like he still has a lot more left in the tank than fantasy prognosticators predicted. A Green breakout could be coming, but don't expect it to happen vs. the Seahawks' staunch defense.
Stash
Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB, Ravens
Bernard Pierce has dropped the ball (literally) in his chance to run away with the Ravens' starting job. Justin Forsett probably doesn't have a body that can't hold up to heavy carries. Rookie Taliferro does, theoretically – if he gets a chance.
Quit
Tavon Austin, WR, Rams
Even if Austin was a good receiver (which he's not), and even if he was a major part of the Rams' plans on offense (which he's not), he would still be a shaky fantasy play because he doesn't project as a high-volume receiver or a touchdown-scorer. Don't waste a roster spot.
Danny Amendola, WR, Patriots
The Patriots only need one possession slot guy and Amendola doesn't do a single thing better than Julian Edelman. Drop him for a stash with higher upside.