Fantasy football Week 2 cheat sheet, PPR rankings, sleepers, injuries to watch

Week 1 is in the books, but fantasy football managers should resist the urge to overreact to everything that happened in the opening week.

One game rarely tells the full story of a fantasy season, and players who disappointed in Week 1 can still be positioned for major seasons. Colston Loveland, for example, finished with zero fantasy points, but that shouldn't erase the expectations surrounding the talented young tight end or the role he is expected to play in Chicago's offense.

At the same time, Week 1 provided valuable clues about workloads, usage, and which players can be trusted moving forward. The challenge is separating meaningful trends from one-week outliers. A disappointing stat line doesn't necessarily mean a player's role has changed,

just as a huge debut doesn't guarantee that production will continue at the same pace.

Injuries add another layer of uncertainty heading into Week 2. Ladd McConkey is dealing with a rib injury after leading the Chargers with 82 receiving yards in their opener. Zay Flowers is day-to-day with a hamstring injury after exploding for 150 yards and a touchdown against Indianapolis. Both situations could significantly impact this week's rankings depending on their practice participation and eventual availability.

With no teams on a bye in Week 2, fantasy managers have plenty of options − but identifying the players you can confidently trust is just as important as finding the latest breakout candidate.

Rankings are based on PPR scoring, the format used by many seasonal and daily fantasy leagues. Players receive one point per reception, one point for every 10 rushing or receiving yards, one point for every 20 passing yards, six points for rushing, receiving and return touchdowns, and four points for passing touchdowns.

Here are our Week 2 fantasy football rankings, with injuries, matchups and expected workloads all factored in.

WEEK 2 FANTASY RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE |K | D/ST

Rankings by Daniel Dobish, TheHuddle.com

(*-check status before kickoff)

Fantasy football Week 2 quarterback rankings

• Sam Darnold (glute) has been ruled out for the Seahawks' Week 2 matchup against the Cardinals. Drew Lock will start.
• Tua Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury in practice last Thursday and missed Week 1. His Week 2 status is up in the air. Cooper Rush would get the nod again.

1. Josh Allen Buf. vs. Det.
2. Lamar Jackson Bal. vs. N.O.
3. Caleb Williams Chi. vs. Min.
4. Joe Burrow Cin. at Hou.
5. Trevor Lawrence Jac. at Den.
6. Jayden Daniels  Was. at Dal.
7. Jalen Hurts Phi. at Ten.
8. Brock Purdy S.F. vs. Mia.
9. Jaxson Dart N.Y.-G at L.A.-R
10. Dak Prescott Dal. vs. Was.
11. Justin Herbert L.A.-C vs. L.V.
12. Jordan Love G.B. at N.Y.-J
13. Drake Maye N.E. vs. Pit.
14. Matthew Stafford L.A.-R vs. N.Y.-G
15. Bo Nix Den. vs. Jac.
16. Baker Mayfield T.B. vs. Cle.
17. Tyler Shough N.O. at Bal.
18. Patrick Mahomes K.C. vs. Ind.
19. Jared Goff Det. at Buf.
20. Daniel Jones Ind. at K.C.
21. Bryce Young Car. at Atl.
22. Jacoby Brissett Ari. vs. Sea.
23. C.J. Stroud Hou. vs. Cin.
24. Malik Willis Mia. at S.F.
25. Kirk Cousins L.V. at L.A.-C
26. *Sam Darnold Sea. at Ari.
27. Carson Wentz Min. at Chi.
28. Cam Ward Ten. vs. Phi.
29. Deshaun Watson Cle. at T.B.
30. Aaron Rodgers Pit. at N.E.
31. Geno Smith N.Y.-J vs. G.B.
32. *Tua Tagovailoa Atl. vs. Car.

Fantasy football Week 2 running back rankings

• Jordan Mason (thumb) is out Week 2 and beyond after suffering a thumb injury in Week 1 that required surgery. He was placed on IR and will miss at least the next four games. Aaron Jones is expected to take on a larger workload.

1. Jahmyr Gibbs Det. at Buf.
2. Derrick Henry Bal. vs. N.O.
3. Ashton Jeanty L.V. at L.A.-C
4. Bijan Robinson Atl. vs. Car.
5. Jonathan Taylor Ind. at K.C.
6. D'Andre Swift Chi. vs. Min.
7. David Montgomery Hou. vs. Cin.
8. Christian McCaffrey S.F. vs. Mia.
9. Kenneth Walker III K.C. vs. Ind.
10. James Cook III Buf. vs. Det.
11. Saquon Barkley Phi. at Ten.
12. Chase Brown Cin. at Hou.
13. Chuba Hubbard Car. at Atl.
14. Breece Hall N.Y.-J vs. G.B.
15. Kyren Williams L.A.-R vs. N.Y.-G
16. Omarion Hampton L.A.-C vs. L.V.
17. Travis Etienne N.O. at Bal.
18. Javonte Williams Dal. vs. Was.
19. Bucky Irving T.B. vs. Cle.
20. Cam Skattebo N.Y.-G at L.A.-R
21. De'Von Achane Mia. at S.F.
22. Rhamondre Stevenson N.E. vs. Pit.
23. Kyle Monangai Chi. vs. Min.
24. Jordan Mason Min. at Chi.
25. Jeremiyah Love Ari. vs. Sea.
26. RJ Harvey Den. vs. Jac.
27. Bhayshul Tuten Jac. at Den.
28. Quinshon Judkins Cle. at T.B.
29. Tony Pollard Ten. vs. Phi.
30. MarShawn Lloyd G.B. at N.Y.-J
31. Jacory Croskey-Merritt Was. at Dal.
32. Jaylen Warren Pit. at N.E.
33. Rachaad White Was. at Dal.
34. Aaron Jones Sr. Min. at Chi.
35. Tyjae Spears Ten. vs. Phi.
36. Kaelon Black S.F. vs. Mia.
37. Rico Dowdle Pit. at N.E.
38. Jadarian Price Sea. at Ari.
39. Tyler Allgeier Atl. vs. Car.
40. J.K. Dobbins Den. vs. Jac.
41. Blake Corum L.A.-R vs. N.Y.-G
42. Woody Marks Hou. vs. Cin.
43. Braelon Allen N.Y.-J vs. G.B.
44. George Holani Sea. at Ari.
45. Kenny Gainwell T.B. vs. Cle.
46. Chris Rodriguez Jr. Jac. at Den.
47. Devin Singletary N.Y.-G at L.A.-R
48. Jonathon Brooks Car. at Atl.
49. Corey Kiner N.E. vs. Pit.
50. Samaje Perine Cin. at Hou.
51. Keaton Mitchell L.A.-C vs. L.V.
52. Justice Hill Bal. vs. N.O.
53. Kaytron Allen Was. at Dal.
54. Sione Vaki Det. at Buf.
55. Raheim Sanders Cle. at T.B.

Fantasy football Week 2 wide receiver rankings

• Zay Flowers (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday; his Week 2 status remains uncertain, despite head coach Jesse Minter saying Flowers is "day-to-day."
• Ladd McConkey (ribs) did not practice in any capacity Wednesday after suffering a rib injury in Week 1. His Week 2 status remains up in the air.
• Omar Cooper Jr. (ankle) has been ruled out and will miss multiple weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 1.

1. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. at Buf.
2. Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. at Hou.
3. CeeDee Lamb, Dal. vs. Was.
4. Puka Nacua, L.A.-R vs. N.Y.-G
5. George Pickens, Dal. vs. Was.
6. *Zay Flowers, Bal. vs. N.O.
7. Justin Jefferson, Min. at Chi.
8. Chris Olave, N.O. at Bal.
9. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea. at Ari.
10. Christian Watson, G.B. at N.Y.-J
11. Nico Collins, Hou. vs. Cin.
12. Drake London, Atl. vs. Car.
13. DeVonta Smith, Phi. at Ten.
14. Jaylen Waddle, Den. vs. Jac.
15. Davante Adams, L.A.-R vs. N.Y.-G
16. Emeka Egbuka, T.B. vs. Cle.
17. Luther Burden III, Chi. vs. Min.
18. Malik Nabers, N.Y.-G at L.A.-R
19. DJ Moore, Buf. vs. Det.
20. Rome Odunze, Chi. vs. Min.
21. Parker Washington, Jac. at Den.
22. *Ladd McConkey, L.A.-C vs. L.V.
23. Garrett Wilson, N.Y.-J vs. G.B.
24. Jameson Williams, Det. at Buf.
25. Tee Higgins, Cin. at Hou.
26. Courtland Sutton, Den. vs. Jac.
27. Mike Evans, S.F. vs. Mia.
28. Devaughn Vele, N.O. at Bal.
29. Deebo Samuel, S.F. vs. Mia.
30. Tetairoa McMillan, Car. at Atl.
31. Stefon Diggs, Was. at Dal.
32. Michael Wilson, Ari. vs. Sea.
33. Jalen Coker, Car. at Atl.
34. Terry McLaurin, Was. at Dal.
35. Michael Pittman Jr., Pit. at N.E.
36. Quentin Johnston, L.A.-C vs. L.V.
37. *Alec Pierce, Ind. at K.C.
38. Wan'Dale Robinson, Ten. vs. Phi.
39. Jayden Reed, G.B. at N.Y.-J
40. Carnell Tate, Ten. vs. Phi.
41. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ari. vs. Sea.
42. Chris Godwin, T.B. vs. Cle.
43. Denzel Boston, Cle. at T.B.
44. Matthew Golden, G.B. at N.Y.-J
45. Josh Downs, Ind. at K.C.
46. Jakobi Meyers, Jac. at Den.
47. Antonio Williams, Was. at Dal.
48. Demarcus Robinson, S.F. vs. Mia.
49. KC Concepcion, Cle. at T.B.
50. Kalif Raymond, Chi. vs. Min.
51. Caleb Douglas, Mia. at S.F.
52. *Brian Thomas Jr., S.F. vs. Mia.
53. *Omar Cooper Jr., N.Y.-J vs. G.B.
54. Josh Palmer, Buf. vs. Det.
55. Kendrick Bourne, Ari. vs. Sea.

Fantasy football Week 2 tight end rankings

• Chig Okonkwo (hamstring) left the Commanders' Week 1 game with hamstring tightness and did not practice Wednesday. His status for Week 2, when Washington plays the Cowboys, is one to monitor.
• Brock Bowers (knee) missed Week 1 after undergoing a meniscus trim and did not practice Wednesday. He is currently not in the rankings, but head coach Klint Kubiak said he hopes the 23-year-old can return to practice Thursday or Friday.

1. Trey McBride, Ari. vs. Sea.
2. Tucker Kraft, G.B. at N.Y.-J
3. Dallas Goedert, Phi. at Ten.
4. Isaiah Likely, N.Y.-G at L.A.-R
5. Dalton Kincaid, Buf. vs. Det.
6. Juwan Johnson, N.O. at Bal.
7. Colston Loveland, Chi. vs. Min.
8. Tyler Warren, Ind. at K.C.
9. Kyle Pitts Sr., Atl. vs. Car.
10. Mark Andrews, Bal. vs. N.O.
11. Travis Kelce, K.C. vs. Ind.
12. Sam LaPorta, Det. at Buf.
13. T.J. Hockenson, Min. at Chi.
14. Jake Ferguson, Dal. vs. Was.
15. Harold Fannin Jr., Cle. at T.B.
16. Evan Engram, Den. vs. Jac.
17. Pat Freiermuth, Pit. at N.E.
18. David Njoku, L.A.-C vs. L.V.
19. Brenton Strange, Jac. at Den.
20. Dalton Schultz, Hou. vs. Cin.
21. Hunter Henry, N.E. vs. Pit.
22. Mike Gesicki, Cin. at Hou.
23. Michael Mayer, L.V. at L.A.-C
24. AJ Barner, Sea. at Ari.
25. Oronde Gadsden II, L.A.-C vs. L.V.
26. Cade Otton, T.B. vs. Cle.
27. Kenyon Sadiq, N.Y.-J vs. G.B.
28. *Chig Okonkwo, Was. at Dal.
29. Darren Waller, Car. at Atl.
30. Darnell Washington, Pit. at N.E.

Fantasy football Week 2 kicker rankings

1. Evan McPherson, Cin. at Hou.
2. Tyler Bass, Buf. vs. Det.
3. Tyler Loop, Bal. vs. N.O.
4. Chase McLaughlin, T.B. vs. Cle.
5. Jake Bates, Det. at Buf.
6. Brandon Aubrey, Dal. vs. Was.
7. Cameron Dicker, L.A.-C vs. L.V.
8. Jake Elliott, Phi. at Ten.
9. Cairo Santos, Chi. vs. Min.
10. Cam Little, Jac. at Den.
11. Harrison Butker, K.C. vs. Ind.
12. Ka'imi Fairbairn, Hou. vs. Cin.
13. Jason Sanders, N.Y.-J vs. G.B.
14. Harrison Mevis, L.A.-R vs. N.Y.-G
15. Eddy Pineiro, S.F. vs. Mia.
16. Jason Myers, Sea. at Ari.
17. Chad Ryland, Ari. vs. Sea.
18. Chris Boswell, Pit. at N.E.
19. Will Reichard, Min. at Chi.
20. Nick Folk, Atl. vs. Car.
21. Wil Lutz, Den. vs. Jac.
22. Matt Gay, L.V. at L.A.-C
23. Ryan Fitzgerald, Car. at Atl.
24. Andy Borregales, N.E. vs. Pit.
25. Riley Patterson, Mia. at S.F.
26. Trey Smack, G.B. at N.Y.-J
27. Joey Slye, Ten. vs. Phi.
28. Daniel Carlson, N.O. at Bal.
29. *Drew Stevens, Was. at Dal.
30. Andre Szmyt, Cle. at T.B.
31. Dominic Zvada, N.Y.-G at L.A.-R

Fantasy football Week 2 defense/special teams rankings

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. CLE
2. Jacksonville Jaguars at DEN
3. Pittsburgh Steelers at N.E
4. Seattle Seahawks at ARI
5. Detroit Lions at BUF
6. San Francisco 49ers vs. MIA
7. Cincinnati Bengals at HOU
8. Denver Broncos vs. JAX
9. New York Jets vs. GB
10. Minnesota Vikings at CHI
11. Houston Texans vs. CIN
12. Chicago Bears vs. MIN
13. Buffalo Bills vs. DET
14. New England Patriots vs. PIT
15. Green Bay Packers at NYJ
16. Arizona Cardinals vs. SEA
17. Indianapolis Colts at KC
18. Kansas City Chiefs vs. IND
19. Baltimore Ravens vs. NO
20. Dallas Cowboys vs. WAS
21. Washington Commanders at DAL
22. Los Angeles Chargers vs. LV
23. Los Angeles Rams vs. NYG
24. New York Giants at LAR
25. Las Vegas Raiders at LAC
26. Cleveland Browns at TB
27. Atlanta Falcons vs. CAR
28. New Orleans Saints at BAL
29. Philadelphia Eagles at TEN
30. Miami Dolphins at SF
31. Tennessee Titans vs. PHI
32. Carolina Panthers at ATL

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Week 2 cheat sheet, PPR rankings, sleepers, injuries to watch

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