Week 2 Starts

Here are 5 guys with the best fantasy matchups this week and why they need to start … in two minutes or less.

RB: Travis Etienne (JAX) @ CIN

Etienne just ripped off 143 rushing yards on only 16 carries in Week 1, proving he’s still the engine of this Jaguars backfield despite all the offseason noise. But this week gets even better: the Bengals always start slow (as they did in Week 1), and their offensive line is a mess, forcing them into pass-heavy scripts. So now that Tank Bigsby is out of the picture, Etienne’s locked-in workload and explosive efficiency make him one of the strongest starts on the slate.

WR: Emeka Egbuka (TB) @ HOU

Egbuka wasted no time proving he belongs, turning six Week 1 targets into 67 yards and two touchdowns while locking in a 19% target share, second on the team to Mike Evans. Tampa Bay’s offense does lean run-heavy at times, but Egbuka’s versatility across alignments keeps him heavily involved. And while Houston upgraded its scheme, their offensive line is a bottom-tier liability that just surrendered constant pressure, meaning the Texans’ offense may sputter and give Tampa extra possessions. So Egbuka’s trusted role and matchup against a team that didn’t sustain drives last week make him a confident start in Week 2.

WR: Ricky Pearsall (SF) @ NO

Ricky Pearsall just went off for 108 yards in Week 1, proving he’s not just a depth piece but a real weapon in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. But this wasn’t a fluke—he was already commanding targets before George Kittle and Jauan Jennings left with injuries, and now his role looks locked in at least early in the season. So against the Saints, even with San Francisco’s tendency to lean run-heavy, Pearsall’s big-play ability and the NFL’s easiest passing schedule on his side make him a strong start in Week 2. 

TE: Tucker Kraft (GB) vs. WAS

Even though his box score line was modest in Week 1, Kraft led the Packers in routes and played 92% of the snaps, showing he’s clearly locked in as their TE1. But the matchup works here too. Washington plays at one of the fastest paces in football, which means extra snaps and scoring chances for Green Bay’s offense. So with Kraft’s every-down role already secure and a likely uptempo game script boosting volume, he’s set up as one of the better fringe tight end plays this week.

QB: Dak Prescott (DAL) vs. NYG

Dak is coming off a seemingly tough week. But the real story was drops and missed chances from his receivers, not poor play. Now he faces a Giants defense that just gave up 21 points while failing to slow down Washington’s passing attack. Plus they still field a below-average line that can be pressured. So with Lamb and Pickens at his disposal in one of the NFL’s fastest-paced, pass-centric systems, Prescott is positioned for a strong rebound and should be confidently locked into lineups.

So that’s the list. 5 absolute must-starts in fantasy football Week 2… as promised, in 2 minutes or less.

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See you tomorrow,

-Joe