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 Week 2 rankings.
Start
Carson Palmer, QB, Cardinals
at Colts
A hideous start for Palmer saw him throw three interceptions to just one touchdown against the Detroit Lions. David Johnson's injury drastically takes away from the upside of the Cardinals' offense as a whole, but Palmer will need to throw all game long for the Cardinals to move the chains. He'll take advantage of a Colts' defense recently lit up by Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff.
Fearless prediction: 363 yards passing, 4 TDs
Other QBs to start
- Eli Manning vs. Lions
- Jay Cutler at Chargers
DeAndre Washington, RB, Raiders
vs. Jets
Washington received just four carries in Week 1 while working behind Marshawn Lynch, and caught both of his targeted passes, adding 18 receiving yards to a paltry four rushing yards. He's in line for more work with a projected blowout victory against the Jets allowing the Raiders to rest Lynch late in the game. Buffalo Bills backup running back Mike Tolbert had 12 carries against the Jets last week.
Fearless prediction: 64 yards rushing, 28 yards receiving, TD
Other RBs to start
- LeGarrette Blount at Chiefs
- Jacquizz Rodgers vs. Bears
- Thomas Rawls vs. 49ers
Cooper Kupp, WR, Rams
vs. Redskins
Kupp caught four balls in Week 1 for an average of 19 yards per reception, while sharing the team lead of six targets. He'll face a Redskins' defense that allowed 7.9 yards per attempt - the eighth-highest rate in the league - to the Eagles and quarterback Carson Wentz in the season opener.
Fearless prediction: 91 yards receiving, 2 TDs
Other WRs to start
- Allen Hurns vs. Titans
- Jaron Brown at Colts
- Eric Decker at Jaguars
Eric Ebron, TE, Lions
at Giants
Ebron was exceptionally quiet in the season opener, catching two of three targets for a meager nine yards. He did receive seven targets in last season's game against the Giants, and the Lions should follow the template laid out by the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. Tight end Jason Witten was targeted nine times, finishing with 59 yards and a touchdown.
Fearless prediction: 80 yards receiving, TD
Other TEs to start
- Jesse James vs. Vikings
- Will Tye at Raiders
Sit
Kirk Cousins, QB, Redskins
at Rams
Cousins completed just 23 of 40 passes in Week 1, and he'll continue to be inefficient until opposing defenses are forced to respect the Redskins' run game. Cousins is no doubt a major improvement over Scott Tolzien and Jacoby Brissett, but the Rams held the Indianapolis Colts duo to 179 passing yards in Week 1, forcing two interceptions and a fumble from Tolzien.
Other QBs to sit
- Alex Smith vs. Eagles
- Dak Prescott at Broncos
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers
vs. Bills
The Panthers leaned heavily on the veteran Stewart in their Week 1 blowout victory over the San Francisco 49ers, feeding him 18 carries with two targets. Rookie Christian McCaffrey, meanwhile, ran the ball 13 times and received seven targets while catching five. Stewart has a very loose grip on the lead role with an average of just 3.6 yards per carry and little involvement in the passing game.
Other RBs to sit
- Paul Perkins vs. Lions
- Ameer Abdullah at Giants
- C.J. Anderson vs. Cowboys
Golden Tate, WR, Lions
at Giants
Tate was the Lions' target leader in Week 1, hauling in 10 of his 12 intended passes. While he also led the team with 107 receiving yards, he averaged just 10.7 yards per reception. Rookie Kenny Golladay was the recipient of two touchdown passes, proving to be the primary red-zone threat in the Lions' offense. Tate will see less and less work as the rookie takes over the offense.
Other WRs to sit
- Randall Cobb at Falcons
- Jarvis Landry at Chargers
- Emmanuel Sanders vs. Cowboys
Zach Ertz, TE, Eagles
at Chiefs
Ertz caught all eight of his targets for a total of 93 yards in Week 1. While his usage is a very promising sign, his perfect catch rate is certainly unsustainable. The Chiefs were able to hold New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski to just 33 yards on six targets last week.
Other TEs to sit
- Coby Fleener vs. Patriots
- Jordan Reed at Rams
Stash
Andre Ellington, RB, Cardinals
Kerwynn Williams will start Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts, and he may even have a measure of success against the Colts' inept defense. Ellington is a far superior option in the passing game, a role David Johnson was used in heavily during close games. Give Ellington a long look whenever the Cardinals are expected to be underdogs.
Marlon Mack, RB, Colts
Mack and Frank Gore each ran the ball 10 times in the Colts' season opener. While Gore gained 18 more yards than the rookie, it was Mack who managed to find the end zone in the blowout loss. Things will change when Andrew Luck returns from injury, but Mack's passing-game prowess could sway the timeshare in his favor.
Quit
Kenny Britt, WR, Browns
Britt saw just three targets in his Browns debut, fewer looks than he saw in any game with the Los Angeles Rams last season. Corey Coleman was the clear focal point of the Browns' passing game in Week 1, while tight end Seth DeValve also saw significant usage. Rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer won't be able to support multiple fantasy-relevant pass catchers.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Saints
Peterson was outsnapped by both Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara in Week 1, with Ingram receiving most of the ground work while Kamara was used for the passing game. Both players offer more in their respective roles than Peterson, who gained just 18 yards on six carries against his former team. The Saints will trail often with a porous defense, presenting unenviable game scripts for a No. 3 running back.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)