Fantasy
9/18/22
13 min read
Josh Larky's Week 2 Fantasy Rankings
Below, you'll find my Week 2 fantasy rankings for PPR/Half-PPR leagues. Included are my Top-32 QB Rankings, Top-43 RB Rankings, Top-55 WR Rankings and Top-24 TE Rankings for Week 2.
For each player, you can view their ranking, matchup and implied team total, according to Vegas. For example, the Chargers and Chiefs Vegas game total was 54.5 points, with the Chiefs favored by four (29.25 points implied for the Chiefs, 25.25 points implied for the Chargers). Seeing the implied point totals can help you understand which games are projected to be the highest scoring.
Top-32 QB Rankings
Rank | Name | Pos | Team | Opp | Team Total |
1 | Josh Allen | QB | BUF | TEN | 29.75 |
2 | Patrick Mahomes | QB | KC | LAC | 29.25 |
3 | Jalen Hurts | QB | PHI | MIN | 27 |
4 | Lamar Jackson | QB | BAL | MIA | 24 |
5 | Justin Herbert | QB | LAC | KC | 25.25 |
6 | Kyler Murray | QB | ARI | LV | 23 |
7 | Matthew Stafford | QB | LA | ATL | 29 |
8 | Russell Wilson | QB | DEN | HOU | 27.5 |
9 | Tom Brady | QB | TB | NO | 23.5 |
10 | Derek Carr | QB | LV | ARI | 29 |
11 | Joe Burrow | QB | CIN | DAL | 25.5 |
12 | Kirk Cousins | QB | MIN | PHI | 24.5 |
13 | Carson Wentz | QB | WAS | DET | 23.5 |
14 | Trey Lance | QB | SF | SEA | 25.75 |
15 | Marcus Mariota | QB | ATL | LA | 18.5 |
16 | Aaron Rodgers | QB | GB | CHI | 26.5 |
17 | Daniel Jones | QB | NYG | CAR | 22.75 |
18 | Jared Goff | QB | DET | WAS | 26 |
19 | Justin Fields | QB | CHI | GB | 16.5 |
20 | Trevor Lawrence | QB | JAX | IND | 21.5 |
21 | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | MIA | BAL | 20.5 |
22 | Matt Ryan | QB | IND | JAX | 25.5 |
23 | Ryan Tannehill | QB | TEN | BUF | 19.75 |
24 | Jameis Winston | QB | NO | TB | 20.5 |
25 | Davis Mills | QB | HOU | DEN | 17.5 |
26 | Geno Smith | QB | SEA | SF | 16.75 |
27 | Mitchell Trubisky | QB | PIT | NE | 19.5 |
28 | Baker Mayfield | QB | CAR | NYG | 20.25 |
29 | Mac Jones | QB | NE | PIT | 21 |
30 | Joe Flacco | QB | NYJ | CLE | 23 |
31 | Jacoby Brissett | QB | CLE | NYJ | 17 |
32 | Cooper Rush | QB | DAL | CIN | 17.5 |
- There is a large tier drop after the Top-6 QBs this week.
- Derek Carr has a phenomenal matchup this week against the Cardinals' atrocious secondary and is a priority start in 1QB leagues.
- Carson Wentz is a worthy streamer for Week 2, coming off a promising Week 1 performance where he threw for more than 300 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Lions' defense was eviscerated by the Eagles in Week 1, and I expect this game to hit the over.
- Do not drop Trey Lance. He ran 13 times in Week 1, and if you have him on your team, I'd recommend starting him. I don't want to dismiss Week 1 entirely, but the playing conditions were brutal and Fields and Lance combined for only 21 total completions in that game. Also, if George Kittle is back (Kittle is unlikely to play), that's further help for Lance. Even though he's my QB14 for Week 2, he's still a QB1 rest of the season for his upside. Exercise patience.
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Top-43 RB Rankings
Rank | Name | Pos | Team | Opp | Team Total |
1 | Jonathan Taylor | RB | IND | JAX | 25.50 |
2 | Christian McCaffrey | RB | CAR | NYG | 20.25 |
3 | Saquon Barkley | RB | NYG | CAR | 22.75 |
4 | Leonard Fournette | RB | TB | NO | 23.50 |
5 | Dalvin Cook | RB | MIN | PHI | 24.50 |
6 | Joe Mixon | RB | CIN | DAL | 25.50 |
7 | James Conner | RB | ARI | LV | 23.00 |
8 | Nick Chubb | RB | CLE | NYJ | 17.00 |
9 | Austin Ekeler | RB | LAC | KC | 25.25 |
10 | Derrick Henry | RB | TEN | BUF | 19.75 |
11 | Antonio Gibson | RB | WAS | DET | 23.50 |
12 | D'Andre Swift | RB | DET | WAS | 26.00 |
13 | Darrell Henderson | RB | LA | ATL | 29.00 |
14 | Cordarrelle Patterson | RB | ATL | LA | 18.50 |
15 | Javonte Williams | RB | DEN | HOU | 27.50 |
16 | Aaron Jones | RB | GB | CHI | 26.50 |
17 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | RB | KC | LAC | 29.25 |
18 | AJ Dillon | RB | GB | CHI | 26.50 |
19 | Najee Harris | RB | PIT | NE | 19.50 |
20 | Jeff Wilson | RB | SF | SEA | 25.75 |
21 | Kareem Hunt | RB | CLE | NYJ | 17.00 |
22 | Miles Sanders | RB | PHI | MIN | 27.00 |
23 | Josh Jacobs | RB | LV | ARI | 29.00 |
24 | Mark Ingram | RB | NO | TB | 20.50 |
25 | Rex Burkhead | RB | HOU | DEN | 17.50 |
26 | Travis Etienne | RB | JAX | IND | 21.50 |
27 | Michael Carter | RB | NYJ | CLE | 23.00 |
28 | Rhamondre Stevenson | RB | NE | PIT | 21.00 |
29 | Ezekiel Elliott | RB | DAL | CIN | 17.50 |
30 | Kenyan Drake | RB | BAL | MIA | 24.00 |
31 | James Robinson | RB | JAX | IND | 21.50 |
32 | Rashaad Penny | RB | SEA | SF | 16.75 |
33 | David Montgomery | RB | CHI | GB | 16.50 |
34 | Chase Edmonds | RB | MIA | BAL | 20.50 |
35 | Breece Hall | RB | NYJ | CLE | 23.00 |
36 | Devin Singletary | RB | BUF | TEN | 29.75 |
37 | Jamaal Williams | RB | DET | WAS | 26.00 |
38 | Zack Moss | RB | BUF | TEN | 29.75 |
39 | Melvin Gordon | RB | DEN | HOU | 27.50 |
40 | Kenneth Gainwell | RB | PHI | MIN | 27.00 |
41 | Damien Harris | RB | NE | PIT | 21.00 |
42 | Tony Pollard | RB | DAL | CIN | 17.50 |
43 | Jerick McKinnon | RB | KC | LAC | 29.25 |
- I feel very good about the Top-6 RBs this week. The Bengals line hampered Joe Mixon, and he won't get 36 opportunities in Week 2 like last week. The Cardinals' offense has more holes than a leaky boat (OLine, WR talent, play-calling), and this could affect James Conner, even though he's a bell cow. Nick Chubb doesn't catch passes. Derrick Henry is going to suffer due to the Titans' lackluster offense.
- While AJ Dillon had a better role than Aaron Jones, Jones did run more routes and has the track record of explosive plays and fantasy production. If Week 2 is similar to Week 1, I'll flip them heading into Week 3.
- Najee Harris has no business suiting up for Week 2 after re-injuring his foot (Lisfranc). He is adamant about suiting up in Week 2, but my ranking reflects my skepticism regarding his effectiveness.
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- Alvin Kamara is dealing with a rib injury and is not expected to play. Plus, the Buccaneers are a difficult matchup. Consider me concerned.
- The 49ers will likely lean on the run game, with Lance looking uncomfortable in Week 1. Wilson had four games above 20 fantasy points in 2020 and scored in two of his three starts in 2021. No other SF RB touched the ball after Elijah Mitchell went down in Week 1.
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- Rex Burkhead out-snapped Dameon Pierce 49 to 19. Burkhead out-carried him 14 to 11. Burkhead ran 25 routes to Pierce's five and out-targeted him eight to one. Burkhead is a pure volume play, after showcasing one of the best roles among any RB in fantasy football.
- I am not pushing the panic button on Travis Etienne, yet. He was targeted (and overthrown) in the end zone, and dropped another red zone pass. His three red zone targets tied with Javonte Williams for first among RBs in Week 1. He averaged nearly 12 yards per carry and earned 4 targets on 22 routes. This was also his first NFL game action, ever. I'm trusting the talent here.
- Both Michael Carter and Breece Hall had substantial roles in Week 1. It feels strange to rank two RBs from a terrible offense in the Top-34, but the usage was there. Ten carries and 9 targets for Carter, 6 carries and 10 targets for Hall.
- Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard are in a world of trouble. Their rankings reflect my stance that neither has any upside for Week 2. The Bengals contained Najee Harris in Week 1, and Cooper Rush is one of the worst backup QBs in the entire NFL.
- I'm starting Rhamondre Stevenson on multiple fantasy teams this week with Ty Montgomery now on IR. Damien Harris has no history of pass-catching in the NFL, and I'd rather be a week ahead on someone with Rhamondre's well-rounded profile.
Top-55 WR Rankings
Rank | Name | Pos | Team | Opp | Team Total |
1 | Cooper Kupp | WR | LA | ATL | 29.00 |
2 | Davante Adams | WR | LV | ARI | 29.00 |
3 | Justin Jefferson | WR | MIN | PHI | 24.50 |
4 | Ja'Marr Chase | WR | CIN | DAL | 25.50 |
5 | Stefon Diggs | WR | BUF | TEN | 29.75 |
6 | A.J. Brown | WR | PHI | MIN | 27.00 |
7 | Tyreek Hill | WR | MIA | BAL | 20.50 |
8 | Mike Williams | WR | LAC | KC | 25.25 |
9 | Mike Evans | WR | TB | NO | 23.50 |
10 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | WR | DET | WAS | 26.00 |
11 | Tee Higgins | WR | CIN | DAL | 25.50 |
12 | Deebo Samuel | WR | SF | SEA | 25.75 |
13 | Courtland Sutton | WR | DEN | HOU | 27.50 |
14 | Marquise Brown | WR | ARI | LV | 23.00 |
15 | Diontae Johnson | WR | PIT | NE | 19.50 |
16 | Christian Kirk | WR | JAX | IND | 21.50 |
17 | Brandin Cooks | WR | HOU | DEN | 17.50 |
18 | Jerry Jeudy | WR | DEN | HOU | 27.50 |
19 | Terry McLaurin | WR | WAS | DET | 23.50 |
20 | Jaylen Waddle | WR | MIA | BAL | 20.50 |
21 | Gabe Davis | WR | BUF | TEN | 29.75 |
22 | D.J. Moore | WR | CAR | NYG | 20.25 |
23 | Elijah Moore | WR | NYJ | CLE | 23.00 |
24 | Michael Thomas | WR | NO | TB | 20.50 |
25 | JuJu Smith-Schuster | WR | KC | LAC | 29.25 |
26 | Allen Robinson | WR | LA | ATL | 29.00 |
27 | CeeDee Lamb | WR | DAL | CIN | 17.50 |
28 | Adam Thielen | WR | MIN | PHI | 24.50 |
29 | Hunter Renfrow | WR | LV | ARI | 29.00 |
30 | DK Metcalf | WR | SEA | SF | 16.75 |
31 | Russell Gage | WR | TB | NO | 23.50 |
32 | Jarvis Landry | WR | NO | TB | 20.50 |
33 | Tyler Boyd | WR | CIN | DAL | 25.50 |
34 | Rashod Bateman | WR | BAL | MIA | 24.00 |
35 | Darnell Mooney | WR | CHI | GB | 16.50 |
36 | Allen Lazard | WR | GB | CHI | 26.50 |
37 | Josh Palmer | WR | LAC | KC | 25.25 |
38 | Curtis Samuel | WR | WAS | DET | 23.50 |
39 | Drake London | WR | ATL | LA | 18.50 |
40 | Devonta Smith | WR | PHI | MIN | 27.00 |
41 | Tyler Lockett | WR | SEA | SF | 16.75 |
42 | Amari Cooper | WR | CLE | NYJ | 17.00 |
43 | Brandon Aiyuk | WR | SF | SEA | 25.75 |
44 | Jahan Dotson | WR | WAS | DET | 23.50 |
45 | Robbie Anderson | WR | CAR | NYG | 20.25 |
46 | Greg Dortch | WR | ARI | LV | 23.00 |
47 | D.J. Chark | WR | DET | WAS | 26.00 |
48 | Parris Campbell | WR | IND | JAX | 25.50 |
49 | Garrett Wilson | WR | NYJ | CLE | 23.00 |
50 | Donovan Peoples-Jones | WR | CLE | NYJ | 17.00 |
51 | Zay Jones | WR | JAX | IND | 21.50 |
52 | Marquez Valdes-Scantling | WR | KC | LAC | 29.25 |
53 | Chris Olave | WR | NO | TB | 20.50 |
54 | Jakobi Meyers | WR | NE | PIT | 21.00 |
55 | Chase Claypool | WR | PIT | NE | 19.50 |
- The Top-7 WRs this week are in their own, elite tier. I loved the Week 1 usage from all of them, and trust each individual talent.
- Amon-Ra is undeniable at this point, with at least 10 targets each of his past six games (averaging more than 11 per game during this stretch). He is a WR1 until this trend changes.
- Deebo Samuel is impossibly tough to rank. Eight targets and 8 carries in Week 1, but Lance looked awful and the weather was a major factor. My ranking for him will probably make me look silly, but I'm not sure in which direction.
- Christian Kirk was a 20% or higher target share WR his first two years before DeAndre Hopkins came to Arizona. Twelve targets and a 6-117-0 stat line in Week 1, and I'm a believer in the 2022 breakout.
- Terry McLaurin is at risk of tumbling down the rankings, but Wentz's strong performance in Week 1 is helping him. The target competition of Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson likely means McLaurin's target share will fall from prior season levels, but this offense looked good in Week 1, and McLaurin is still probably the best WR on this team.
- Gabe Davis is a difficult player to rank. The fantasy points were there in Week 1, and Josh Allen looks like an MVP candidate once again. But, his target total (5) was far behind Stefon Diggs (9), and his busted play TD catch should not be expected on a weekly basis. Additionally, he's listed as questionable this week and plays on Monday Night Football. He's a risky play, and if you don't have the stomach to wait until MNF (or don't have a backup plan), I'd recommend dropping down as far as Drake London at WR39.
- Michael Thomas is back, with a 25% target share in Week 1. After two years of limited game action, a strong performance in Week 1 helps me confidently rank Thomas many spots higher than last week.
- Allen Robinson is not dead yet. He was on the field for nearly every snap, and the Rams' offense looked poor overall against the Bills. This is a get-right matchup against a leaky Atlanta defense, and the Rams' 29-point implied team total is the third highest in Week 2.
- I want no part of CeeDee Lamb this week. Eleven targets in Week 1 were great to see, but the offensive line looked overwhelmed at times, and now Dak Prescott is out for the next two months. Expect frequent double teams and continued efficiency struggles from Lamb, given the QB situation and the lack of any other viable WRs to keep defenses honest.
- Hunter Renfrow has a date with the Arizona secondary, he is a strong start this week after the Chiefs moved the ball downfield at will against ARI in Week 1. WR31 in my Week 2 fantasy rankings may prove to be too conservative given the matchup and his Week 1 role.
- With Julio Jones just ruled OUT, Russell Gage is a strong start, as the clear-cut WR2 for the Buccaneers.
- Curtis Samuel takes a large leap in the rankings heading into Week 2, after an 11-target performance. The worrisome stat to keep in mind - and why he isn't further up my rankings - was his 14 total air yards. Without downfield targets, and with some expectation that McLaurin emerges as the team's overall target leader, tread carefully with Samuel, despite an incredible Week 1.
- Devonta Smith will likely be inconsistent all season with the arrival of A.J. Brown, and Jalen Hurts' deficiencies as a passer. Still, though, I'll be starting him in deeper 12-team leagues in Week 2. The routes were there, and he still received 4 targets in Week 1.
- Dotson should be prioritized on waivers ahead of Samuel and is my pick when evaluating the two for the rest of the season. However, for Week 2, I still lean towards Samuel, the veteran. Dotson is still a fine Week 2 start in deeper 12-team leagues.
- Robbie Anderson is the third option (behind Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore) in a bad offense. His Week 1 performance is likely his 2022 ceiling, and I'd exercise caution with him. We have a long track record of knowing who he is for real-life and fantasy football.
- Donovan Peoples-Jones had a different role in Week 1 than in 2021. His depth of target was halved, and the target share skyrocketed. He's an interesting player to monitor, but this Cleveland passing offense will force him to thread the needle to be consistently fantasy relevant.
Top-24 TE Rankings
Rank | Name | Pos | Team | Opp | Team Total |
1 | Travis Kelce | TE | KC | LAC | 29.25 |
2 | Darren Waller | TE | LV | ARI | 29.00 |
3 | Mark Andrews | TE | BAL | MIA | 24.00 |
4 | Kyle Pitts | TE | ATL | LA | 18.50 |
5 | Dalton Schultz | TE | DAL | CIN | 17.50 |
6 | Gerald Everett | TE | LAC | KC | 25.25 |
7 | Zach Ertz | TE | ARI | LV | 23.00 |
8 | Dallas Goedert | TE | PHI | MIN | 27.00 |
9 | T.J. Hockenson | TE | DET | WAS | 26.00 |
10 | Tyler Higbee | TE | LA | ATL | 29.00 |
11 | Albert Okwuegbunam | TE | DEN | HOU | 27.50 |
12 | Pat Freiermuth | TE | PIT | NE | 19.50 |
13 | Dawson Knox | TE | BUF | TEN | 29.75 |
14 | Logan Thomas | TE | WAS | DET | 23.50 |
15 | Taysom Hill | TE | NO | TB | 20.50 |
16 | Cole Kmet | TE | CHI | GB | 16.5 |
17 | Robert Tonyan | TE | GB | CHI | 26.50 |
18 | David Njoku | TE | CLE | NYJ | 17.00 |
19 | Hayden Hurst | TE | CIN | DAL | 25.50 |
20 | Evan Engram | TE | JAX | IND | 21.50 |
21 | Tyler Conklin | TE | NYJ | CLE | 23.00 |
22 | Hunter Henry | TE | NE | PIT | 21.00 |
23 | Juwan Johnson | TE | NO | TB | 20.50 |
24 | Kylen Granson | TE | IND | JAX | 25.50 |
- Travis Kelce is in his own tier, by a lot.
- Darren Waller, Mark Andrews and Kyle Pitts can be grouped together as Tier 2. I am not confidently starting any TE after the Top-4.
- George Kittle didn't practice on Wednesday due to a groin injury. If you have Kittle on your team, prepare for him to miss Week 2.
- Gerald Everett had a strong Week 1 performance, with 4 targets, going 3-54-1 on the day. Two of his four targets came in the red zone, too. With Keenan Allen out for Week 2, Everett did see an uptick in volume. He's worth starting as long as Allen misses time.
- Tyler Higbee had 11 targets in Week 1 and deserves the boost in the rankings that I gave him. But, I highly doubt Robinson will garner two targets on a weekly basis.
- Albert Okwuegbunam ran about 75% of possible routes and brought in 5 of 6 targets for 33 yards. One of his targets was in the red zone. I have him at TE12 this week, so you should start him in 12-team leagues for Week 2.
These Week 2 Fantasy Rankings will be updated throughout the week. Make sure to check this post each day this week as the news hits.