The 2026 NFL season is off to a wild start – and fantasy football managers are already dealing with the first wave of injuries.
Week 1 brought plenty of fantasy fireworks, but it also left several key players dealing with ailments that could impact lineups heading into Week 2.
Baltimore Ravens wideout Zay Flowers suffered a hamstring injury in the team's Week 1 win and has missed the first two practices of the week, putting his availability in question for Sunday's matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Houston Texans star Nico Collins is also dealing with a hamstring injury after a strong Week 1 performance, while Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason has landed on injured reserve.
And those are just a few of the injury situations fantasy
managers need to monitor. With Week 2 here, the early-season data is starting to take shape – but it's still important not to overreact to one game, especially when injuries can quickly change a player's role and a team's offensive approach.
As for the rest? USA TODAY Sports has you covered with comprehensive start 'em, sit 'em advice to help you navigate your Week 2 fantasy football lineups.
Fantasy football Week 2 start 'em, sit em: QBs
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (at Houston Texans)
I know, I know – listing Burrow as a start is stating the obvious. The 29-year-old was an early-round fantasy pick – making it unlikely many fantasy football managers will consider sitting him at this early stage in the season – but at least some may hesitate upon seeing he is slated for a date with a well-regarded Texans defense.
That said, the Texans just let Josh Allen throw for 334 yards and two touchdowns against it and rack up the second-most fantasy points by a quarterback in Week 1. Houston might be better in Week 2, but its performance against Buffalo showcased there are some holes in the secondary that Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Mike Gesicki should be able to exploit.
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Cleveland Browns)
Revenge is going to be on Mayfield's mind as he faces the Browns, who selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, for the first time since 2022. Mayfield notched 235 yards, two total touchdowns (one passing and one rushing) and an interception in his first outing against Cleveland, but he will hoping to do better with a strong supporting cast in Tampa Bay.
The Browns just allowed Trevor Lawrence to throw for 245 yards and four touchdowns against them in Week 1, as their defense seemed to be missing Myles Garrett and Jim Schwartz significantly. Mayfield could exploit Cleveland's weaknesses and enjoy similar success to Lawrence, provided the Oklahoma product can clean up the fumbling issues that plagued him in Week 1 against the Bengals.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Miami Dolphins)
The Dolphins just let Kirk Cousins throw for three touchdowns against them. Purdy just threw for three touchdowns against a much better-regarded Rams defense in Week 1, so it's reasonable to expect a similar – if not, better – output from him against Miami.
The lone concern with Purdy is that the 49ers will be jumping back to West Coast time after playing their season-opener in Australia. Against a better team, that might have been a concern, but even a fatigued Purdy should be able to do damage against the Dolphins.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Washington Commanders)
The Cowboys proved in Week 1 that their defense remains a weakness, as the unit allowed the Giants to rack up 28 points and 394 yards against them.
Why does that matter for Prescott? As long as Dallas' defense is leaky, the veteran quarterback should have the passing volume needed to be a quality start. That will give him a chance to post a solid outing against a Commanders defense that surrendered 203 passing yards and three touchdowns to Jalen Hurts last week.
Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 2 QBs
Drake Maye, New England Patriots (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)
Maye did not look good in the Patriots' 13-10 Week 1 loss to the Seahawks, and things might only get harder for him moving forward. His top receiver, A.J. Brown, was placed on IR because of a high-ankle sprain, so Maye will lack a true, No. 1 receiver to target heavily.
It doesn't help Maye's cause that the Steelers allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to the quarterback position in Week 1. Granted, they played Cooper Rush and the Atlanta Falcons, so it wasn't exactly a tough test, but the T.J. Watt-led unit could still provide Maye with a difficult test.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (vs. New York Giants)
Stafford had a rough go against the 49ers in Week 1 in Australia. Now, he will look to bounce back after flying halfway around the world and will get a tougher-than-expected matchup against the Giants.
The issue with Stafford facing the Giants isn't necessarily their defense. It's that New York's offense is built to dominate time of possession and limit the amount of possessions their opponents. That could result in Stafford getting fewer scoring opportunities than his managers would expect.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)
Nix did not look good in the Broncos' resounding Week 1 loss to the Chiefs. Perhaps he will bounce back against a Jaguars defense that just allowed Deshaun Watson to run for 38 yards against it, but it's probably better to wait to start the third-year quarterback until Denver's offense irons out its kinks under first-time play-caller Davis Webb.
Fantasy football start 'em: Week 2 RBs
Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings at Bears
Jordan Mason has been placed on injured reserve, paving the way for Jones to take full advantage. He is a capable runner and receiver, making him a dual-threat option for the Minnesota offense. With no clear backup to siphon away meaningful playing time, the 31-year-old should be plenty involved for Kevin O'Connell against the Bears.
And it's an inviting matchup for Jones' first game as the clear RB1. Chicago allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs in Week 1, even in a game that mostly featured production through the air. Chuba Hubbard totaled two touchdowns in the opener for Carolina and Jones is seemingly game script proof in this one. For a game that is slated to feature plenty of offense, you'll definitely want the veteran in your lineup.
David Montgomery, Houston Texans vs. Bengals
Montgomery delivered in a big way for fantasy managers last week, scoring three touchdowns in his Texans debut. There's no reason to believe that he can't produce at a high level again in Week 2. Despite fumbling issues for the Buccaneers in Week 1, Bucky Irving still delivered a great fantasy performance vs. Cincinnati with 93 total yards and a touchdown despite Tampa trailing all afternoon.
The Texans will be eager for their defense to get on track against the Bengals, meaning we should anticipate a closer score. If he turns in another big game, Montgomery would be close to graduating into must-start territory. That is especially true for a player who even flashed some receiving upside in Week 1.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders at Cowboys
The Cowboys could've replaced their defenders with folding chairs in Week 1 and it would've had the same impact at a fraction of the cost. Nonexistent to the point where they couldn't even stop the same play multiple times on one drive, Dallas somehow looked worse than it did in 2025. That's hard to do, which brings us to Croskey-Merritt.
He had 63 rushing yards and a touchdown against a solid Philadelphia defensive line. More importantly, he had 16 carries. The man they call "Bill" will get even more running lanes in Dallas, especially after injuries piled up on defense against the Giants.
Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 2 RBs
Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars at Broncos
The Broncos shocked the football world in Kansas City – and not in a good way. Andy Reid essentially announced, with his play-calling, that he was going to run it with Kenneth Walker all night long and Denver still couldn't stop it. It turned out to be a debut to remember for Walker with 173 rushing yards and one touchdown. So shouldn't you trust Tuten in Week 2?
Well, not exactly. All of Jacksonville's production came from the right arm of Trevor Lawrence, despite a blowout victory for Liam Coen's team. Tuten did lead the backfield with 15 carries, but he was a non-factor in the passing game and couldn't get into the end zone. At the very least, Denver will try to avoid that type of embarrassment on the ground again. Steer clear of Tuten this week.
MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers at Jets
Lloyd stepped in as the replacement for Josh Jacobs, but his production came nowhere near what the veteran would've provided. The 25-year-old finished with 13 carries for just 37 yards. That is just 2.8 yards per carry, for those keeping score at home. With concerns along the offensive line, Lloyd has no clear path to produce at a high level.
Couple all of that with the threat of a running back by committee and it's even harder to trust Lloyd against a Jets defense that allowed just 47 rushing yards in Week 1 – even if it was only against the Titans.
Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans vs. Eagles
Speaking of the Titans, yikes. We don't envy the position that team has put you in during the young season. Pollard was a nonfactor against the Jets, finishing with just 35 yards on the ground. Perhaps even more concerning, he couldn't even produce as a receiver in a trailing game script.
The Eagles defense represents a step up in class and there is absolutely no reason to believe the results will be any better. And since nothing ever happens when the Titans have the ball, we can't expect Pollard to magically produce out of nowhere.
Fantasy football start 'em: Week 2 wide receivers
Stefon Diggs, Washington Commanders (at Dallas Cowboys)
Diggs is the new No. 1 wide receiver in Washington until proven otherwise. The veteran Commanders newcomer had nine targets in Week 1 against the Eagles – more than twice as many as anyone else – and tallied 55 yards and a touchdown on four catches. Diggs finished as a top-20 wide receiver in all scoring formats to start the season, and that was against a solid Philadelphia defense.
Dallas, despite all of its loud commitments to improving that side of the ball this offseason, does not have a solid defense. The Giants methodically picked apart the Cowboys during the first "Sunday Night Football" game of the year, and their passing defense looked particularly weak with blown coverages galore. New York's top target that night was Malik Nabers, who finished with six catches on nine targets for 69 yards in his first game back from a torn ACL. Diggs will have a chance to feast in Dallas when he plays his second game for the Commanders in Week 2.
Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers (at Atlanta Falcons)
Coker was the No. 1 fantasy wide receiver in the NFL last week and is still only listed as starting in 36% of Sleeper redraft leagues. He's also a potential waiver wire pickup with availability in 35% of the same league sample. Even though Coker's production in Week 1 came against a Bears defense that had trouble stopping anything, there were plenty of positive signs for future production.
For one, Coker was the most targeted Panthers pass-catcher in Week 1 – ahead of even Tetairoa McMillan. For another, he finished 15th among all wideouts in Week 1 with 3.45 yards per route run and was tied for second in caught first downs among receivers (6). Sure, the Falcons' defense had good dropback EPA and success rate allowed numbers in Week 1, but that was against the Steelers, who have an aging quarterback and a relatively old group of pass-catchers. Coker may not have quite as big a day as he had in Week 1, but he's definitely worth starting. For those shying away from Coker because of his apparent injury, the wideout said himself he didn't expect to miss any time after rolling his ankle.
Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 2 wide receivers
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (at Kansas City Chiefs)
The Colts paid big money to keep Pierce in Indianapolis for four more years, and his first game on his new contract was a bit of a letdown. Coming back from ankle surgery in the offseason then a heel injury leading into Week 1, Pierce was the Colts' leading receiver by yards but still only caught four passes for 61 yards. That wasn't enough to finish higher than WR34 in half-PPR and PPR formats, and WR35 in standard scoring.
That was against the Ravens, a team that struggled to stop opposing passers last year. This week, Pierce, quarterback Daniel Jones and the Colts have to play a Chiefs team that boasts a dominant defense, particularly against passers. Kansas City allowed the fewest passing yards in Week 1 against a Broncos team that ran the ball on just under 32% of plays – fourth-fewest in the league last week. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will be prioritizing shutting down Pierce in Week 2, making this a really bad matchup for the already banged-up Colts wideout.
Carnell Tate, Tennesse Titans (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
Few top receivers had worse Week 1 outings than Tate, the No. 4 overall pick out of Ohio State. His quarterback, Cam Ward, struggled heavily against the Jets defense despite the unit missing safety Minkah Fitzpatrick after an early groin injury. Though Tate was tied for the most targets for a Tennessee pass-catcher and finished with the most yards, he still only caught four passes for 38 yards.
All due respect to the Jets, that much struggle against Gang Green is a bad sign for a quarterback-wide receiver tandem about to face a formidable Eagles defense schemed by Vic Fangio. Philadelphia got a win in Week 1 by shutting down Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, limiting him to 164 yards on 34 pass attempts. Ward is still developing and is a more limited passer, and Tate's production projects to be even worse than its already low Week 1 baseline.
Luther Burden, Chicago Bears (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
So much for all of that offseason hype? Despite the Bears putting together 552 total yards on offense and scoring 59 points against the Panthers in Week 1, Burden was limited to five catches on five targets for 63 yards. Instead of Burden, newcomer Kalif Raymond was the shining star of Chicago's passing game in its first matchup of the year with his eight catches on nine targets for 84 yards.
Pro Football Focus had Burden with the most snaps on passing plays and most routes run of Bears receivers, but his teammate Rome Odunze should see his involvement increase after he was limited in Week 1 with a calf issue. Burden's matchup against the Vikings, a team with a stellar defense led by DC Brian Flores, does not do him any additional favors. Burden's breakout may be coming this year, but it's unlikely to happen in this Week 2 matchup.
Fantasy football start 'em: Week 2 TEs
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. Saints
The 31-year-old is back in weekly start territory when the Ravens host the New Orleans Saints in their home opener. Baltimore’s passing game could funnel more opportunities his way with Zay Flowers dealing with a hamstring injury after exploding for 150 yards and a touchdown before leaving Week 1, while rookie Ja’Kobi Lane suffered a fractured wrist. That leaves Lamar Jackson with fewer established weapons, and Andrews remains one of his most trusted targets. Andrews had a 17.6% target share in the first half with Flowers on the field but that jumped to 42.9% in the second half after Flowers exited.
He also led Ravens tight ends with 49 snaps and caught four passes on six targets (which tied a team-high) in Week 1. Detroit’s Sam LaPorta caught six passes for 57 yards against New Orleans in Week 1. Jackson looked comfortable operating Declan Doyle’s offense, making Andrews an intriguing Week 2 play and bounce-back candidate this season.
Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears vs. Vikings
The Bears battle the Vikings in their 2026 home opener in Week 2 and don't expect Loveland to be a non-factor like he was in Week 1. The former first-rounder had zero catches on two targets in the Bears Week 1 blowout over the Carolina Panthers.
Chicago's offense passed the eye test in Week 1, and head coach Ben Johnson has said he wants to make history. Caleb Williams can continue to target his wide receivers Rome Odunze, Luther Burden and Kalif Raymond along with veteran tight end Cole Kmet but the upside is too immense for the 22 year-old.
Chicago traded DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills and Loveland finished his rookie campaign strong with 25 targets across Chicago's two playoff games. In his last 12 games combined, he caught 59 passes for 790 yards and six TDs. Those stats reaffirm why we're not panicking, and neither should you. He ran 34 of a possible 38 routes in Week 1 so expect those to formulate into fantasy points moving forward.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots vs. Steelers
The veteran in New England is stepping back into a familiar role after A.J. Brown suffered a high ankle sprain. Brown was placed on injured reserve, meaning he’ll miss at least four games. Henry had a 17% target share and 74% route share last season. The Patriots offense struggled to put long drives together in Week 1, but should have better success against the Pittsburgh Steelers defense at home.
There's little target competition outside of 32-year-old Mack Hollins and free-agent acquisition Romeo Doubs who struggled in the opener. Henry lit up Pittsburgh last season to the tune of eight receptions on 11 targets for 90 receiving yards and two touchdowns. In fact, he's had multiple touchdowns in 3 of 4 career matchups against the Steelers. Expect Drake Maye to bounce back and lean on his security blanket.
Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 2 TEs
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars at Broncos
Trevor Lawrence and Strange connected on two of three targets for 23 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. Jacksonville's next matchup comes on the road at Mile High against the Denver Broncos.
Denver allowed Travis Kelce to break loose for a 59-yard catch in Week 1, but take that mistake away and the future Hall of Famer would have finished with a measly two-catch, 12-yard day. Lawrence has plenty of mouths to feed with a trio of wide receivers in Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and Brian Thomas Jr., which pushes Strange further down the pecking order. The Broncos defense will likely come into their home opener looking to right the ship after a poor Week 1 performance.
Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals at Texans
One of the most popular waiver wire recommendations for Week 2 is a recommended sit. Unfortunately for managers who roster someone like Bowers and hoped to find gold in Gesicki this week, it's a poor matchup.
The Cincinnati Bengals hit the road to face the Houston Texans, who were the NFL's No. 1 defense in 2025. In Week 1, Kincaid made his mark against Houston, but don't expect that trend to continue. With Azeez Al-Shaair patrolling the middle of the field, it's difficult for most tight ends to have big days against this Texans defense.
Week 1 was an outlier for Gesicki, who failed to reach double-digit fantasy points in all but two games last season. After Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins' slow start last week, Joe Burrow will likely get them more involved in Week 2. You don't have to leave Gesicki on waivers, but you should make arrangements to keep him out of lineups this week.
Fantasy football start 'em: Week 2 defense/special teams
Philadelphia Eagles (at Tennessee Titans)
Cam Ward didn’t turn the ball over in Week 1, which could be problematic from a fantasy football standpoint. However, he could feel the need to force it in Week 2 as the Titans try to put together something that resembles an NFL offense.
One way or another, the Jets defense was living in the Tennessee backfield throughout Week 1 and Ward was running for his life. The second-year quarterback was slippery in the pocket, but the Eagles will present an even bigger challenge. This could be a big number from Vic Fangio’s unit.
Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Indianapolis Colts)
The Chiefs smothered the Broncos offense last week. Denver couldn’t run the ball, couldn’t throw the ball and, essentially, couldn’t have the ball. It was an old-fashioned beatdown in Kansas City, reminding NFL fans of who the Chiefs are.
You could point to the new play-caller in Davis Webb for Denver, but this is still a much more talented unit than the one going into Arrowhead in Week 2. Daniel Jones seems to have lost some of the magic and Jonathan Taylor can’t do it all alone. Steve Spagnuolo should be salivating at this matchup.
New England Patriots (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)
Flip the script. That is the goal for the Patriots in Week 2 after laying an egg against the Seahawks on opening night. New England had no business losing that game after Drew Lock entered for the injured Sam Darnold, but Mike Vrabel’s team found a way anyway. It wasn’t the defense’s fault, however.
Despite some horrendous offense, the Patriots still held the Seahawks to just 13 points and we should expect more of the same against the Steelers. Aaron Rodgers isn’t a threat to run and DK Metcalf will have to deal with Christian Gonzalez – and we know how that typically goes. With Rodgers averaging just 5.5 yards per attempt in Week 1, New England can crowd the line of scrimmage without much fear of being beat over the top.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Cleveland Browns)
The Bucs just gave up 33 points to the Bengals in Week 1, mostly because their offense produced more turnovers than your favorite bakery. It just so happens that Baker Mayfield was a key reason for that, losing three fumbles in the contest all by himself. One of Tampa's four turnovers did result in a touchdown, so we can't blame the defense for that.
Luckily for the Bucs, Week 2 is much easier against a lifeless Browns team. If a Deshaun Watson-led offense puts together a solid showing and ruins the day for this fantasy defense, we'll just have to tip our cap. Don't bet on that happening though.
Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 2 D/STs
Houston Texans (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)
It was a week to forget for one of the NFL's best defenses. Houston gave up 36 points and recorded just two sacks against Buffalo in Week 1, and they failed to force a turnover. You can easily dismiss the performance since the Bills were on the opposite sideline, but the Texans' Week 2 opponent is no cupcake.
The Bengals scored 33 points in the opener and that was without Ja'Marr Chase making an impact. While there's a good chance that the Texans were the first defense off the board in your draft, we can't in good faith recommend starting them. If there's a better matchup available, don't hesitate to take it.
Green Bay Packers (at New York Jets)
Life without Micah Parsons hasn't been kind to the Packers. They are now on a five-game losing streak without the star defender, which is actually six if you include the game when he got hurt. Green Bay is in danger of stretching that streak to seven in the Meadowlands, where it will take on a frisky Jets team that is riding high after Week 1.
With some rain in the forecast, that bodes well for the Jets. They can lean on a solid offensive line and another run-heavy game script against a Packers team that just gave up a pair of rushing scores in the opener. And who could possibly forget the 22 unanswered points that the Vikings scored in the fourth quarter? Don't be surprised if that hangs over Matt LaFleur's group in Week 2.
Seattle Seahawks (at Arizona Cardinals)
Speaking of teams that deserve a little more credit, how about the Cardinals? No one gave them a chance to win in Week 1. Not only did they win, but they also did it in dominant fashion against the Super Bowl-contending Chargers. Now for an encore, Arizona only has to match up against the defending Super Bowl champions.
However, let's not forget that Lock is the starter and that increases the potential for turnovers from the Seahawks offense. Turnovers lead to short fields, short fields lead to points, points lead to fantasy defense sadness. Yet that isn't the Cardinals' only chance in Week 2, considering Mike LaFleur has put together a competent offense. This could be a letdown spot for the Seahawks after celebrating the Super Bowl win and losing Darnold all in one night. This will be their first test without him for an entire game, against a divisional opponent. Seattle's defense can ride the bench this week.
Los Angeles Rams (vs. New York Giants)
Myles Garrett was invisible in Week 1. He will miss Week 2 after knee surgery. Garrett might not be the only star in this loaded L.A. defense, but he is certainly the biggest one. The Giants won't have to deal with the pass-rusher, which only helps their chances.
John Harbaugh's team proved to be a physical, pesky group in Week 1. Between Jaxson Dart's legs and Cam Skattebo's tough running style, these aren't the Giants of old. After playing in Australia last week, the Giants are one of those teams that Sean McVay's sleepy bunch won't want to see. This game could be closer than expected and that won't bode well for the Rams' D/ST unit.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Your guide to every position for Week 2
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