Fantasy Football Week 2 Rankings: Box Score Projections for Players with Top Matchups
Fantasy Football Week 2 Rankings: Box Score Projections for Players with Top Matchups0 of 4
Colts RB Jonathan TaylorJustin Casterline/Getty Images
Fantasy is often a game of opportunity, and some of the NFL’s biggest stars didn’t get enough of them in Week 1.
Detroit Lions star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, for example, had just six targets, three receptions and 13 yards in his 2024 debut. Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews caught all of his targets, but only had two, which yielded 14 yards.
Many players who underperformed in Week 1 will bounce back, and several more are likely to shine because of their Week 2 opportunities and matchups.
Here, you’ll find a look at some of our favorite plays for the remainder of the week, along with box-score projections for the top matchups.
Rankings and analysis based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.
Quarterback1 of 4
Lions QB Jared GoffBrandon Sloter/Getty Images
1. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
4. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
5. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
6. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
7. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
8. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
9. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
10. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Top Matchup: Jared Goff vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in Week 1. While that has a lot to do with playing a dual-threat signal-caller in Jayden Daniels, Tampa still presents a favorable matchup for Jared Goff.
The Detroit Lions quarterback isn’t likely to rack up many yards on the ground. However, he has a splendid cast of pass-catchers at his disposal, one that includes Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and blossoming playmaker Jameson Williams.
Daniels did a lot of his damage as a runner, but he also completed 17 of 24 pass attempts. A year ago, the Buccaneers ranked 25th in net yards per pass attempts, and that was before they traded standout cornerback Carlton Davis in the offseason.
The Bucs have their own potent passing attack, led by Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and this gives the game some real back-and-forth potential. Expect Detroit to lean heavily on Goff, who had 287 yards and two touchdowns against Tampa the last time these two teams met.
Box Score Projection: 307 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 8 rushing yards
Running Back2 of 4
Colts RB Jonathan TaylorCooper Neill/Getty Images
1. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
2. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
3. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
4. Breece Hall, New York Jets
5. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
6. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
7. Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
8. Joe Mixon, Houston Texans
9. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
10. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
Top Matchup; Jonathan Taylor at Green Bay Packers
No team allowed more fantasy points to opposing running backs in Week 1 than the Green Bay Packers. While Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is unlikely to replicate the three-touchdown performance Saquon Barkley had against Green Bay last Friday, he should be in store for a strong day.
The Packers will be without quarterback Jordan Love, who suffered an MCL sprain in Week 1. With Malik Willis running the Green Bay offense, it’s highly unlikely that the Colts end up facing a large early deficit.
This should allow Indy to lean more heavily on Taylor, who had 48 rushing yards and a touchdown in his opener. The Colts will still use quarterback Anthony Richardson in the running game, but Taylor should get more than the 16 carries he received last week.
Taylor should also log some receptions after not being involved in the passing game (zero targets) last week. The Philadelphia Eagles had success attacking Green Bay with Barkley as a receiver. The Colts should follow suit.
Box Score Projection: 87 rushing yards, 1 TD, 2 receptions, 23 receiving yards
Wide Receiver3 of 4
Buccaneers WR Mike EvansKevin Sabitus/Getty Images
1. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
2. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
3. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
4. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
5. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
6. Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
7. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
8. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
10. Nico Collins, Houston Texans
Top Matchup: Mike Evans at Detroit Lions
We like Goff because Sunday’s Buccaneers-Lions matchup has high-scoring potential. That’s the same reason to love Evans.
Evans was phenomenal against the Washington Commanders in Week 1, finishing with five catches, 61 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The Lions have a rebuilt secondary that should provide more resistance than the Commanders did, but it could still be a big day for Evans.
The 31-year-old has developed some terrific chemistry with Mayfield and will remain his go-to target in clutch situations.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that Mayfield has a “better feel of where to put the football even when [Evans] is covered,” per JoeBucsFan.com.
Expect Mayfield to lean on Evans early and often in an attempt to match points with Detroit, which allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing receivers in Week 1.
Box Score Projection: 8 receptions, 102 yards, 1 TD
Tight End4 of 4
Raiders TE Brock BowersBailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
1. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
4. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
5. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
6. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
7. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
8. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
9. Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
10. Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams
Top Matchup: Brock Bowers at Baltimore Ravens
The Las Vegas Raiders may spend much of Sunday afternoon trying to play catch-up with Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. That’s one reason to like rookie tight end Brock Bowers in Week 2.
Another reason is that Las Vegas made it clear in its opener that it’s going to trust Bowers to be an integral part of the game plan. Bowers was targeted eight times against the Los Angeles Chargers and finished with six catches for 58 yards.
Baltimore, which parted with linebacker Patrick Queen in the offseason, also appears vulnerable in the middle of the defense. The Kansas City Chiefs repeatedly attacked the middle with their tight ends and receiver Rashee Rice and largely kept the Ravens off-balance.
While the Ravens held Travis Kelce to three receptions and 34 receiving yards, they still allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends in Week 1. Using Bowers as a primary receiving threat should be a big part of Las Vegas’ strategy in Week 2.
Box Score Projection: 7 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD
*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros.
