Phinsider Week 2 Fantasy Football Rankings

Week 1 has come and gone with many surprises both in the real and fantasy football world. Unfortunately, injuries have already begun to strike at many of the league’s key players, causing a shake up in this week’s Phinsider Fantasy Football Rankings.

Each week, I’ll be giving an updated look at where the top players at each fantasy position stand, with matchups and injury concerns taken into account as well. For the sake of continuity, I’ll only be using standard scoring when constructing the rankings, so take that into account while setting your lineups.

Quarterback

1. Aaron Rodgers - @ Atl
2. Matt Ryan - vs GB
3. Tom Brady - @ NO
4. Drew Brees - vs NE
5. Derek Carr - vs NYJ
6. Russell Wilson - vs SF
7. Ben Roethlisburger - vs Min
8. Marcus Mariota - @ Jax
9. Kirk Cousins - @ LAR
10. Jameis Winston - vs Chi
11. Alex Smith - vs Phi
12. Cam Newton - vs Buf
13. Philip Rivers - vs Mia
14. Carson Wentz - @ KC
15. Carson Palmer - @ Ind
16. Sam Bradford - @ Pit
17. Joe Flacco - vs Cle
18. Matthew Stafford - @ NYG
19. Dak Prescott - @ Den
20. Eli Manning - vs Det

The quarterback position held plenty of shockers for the fantasy community in Week 1, as sure fire successes like Ben Roethlisberger in Cleveland and Cam Newton in San Francisco wound up being relative disappointments. Then came surprising stars like Alex Smith in New England and Philip Rivers’ wild (almost) comeback in Denver. I wouldn’t count on Smith giving you top weekly performances on a consistent basis, but his stellar play in Foxborough gives him a slight boost for the time being. Dak Prescott is a name I’d avoid this week. Playing in the Mile High City against the No Fly Zone has often proved to be a difficult task for young passers.

Running Back

1. Le’Veon Bell - vs Min
2. Jay Ajayi - @ LAC
3. Ezekiel Elliot - @ Den
4. Melvin Gordon - vs Mia
5. LeSean McCoy - @ Car
6. Kareem Hunt - vs Phi
7. Devonta Freeman - vs GB
8. Dalvin Cook - @ Pit
9. DeMarco Murray - @ Jax
10. Ty Montgomery - @ Atl
11. Jordan Howard - @ TB
12. Marshawn Lynch - vs NYJ
13. Todd Gurley - vs Was
14. Leonard Fournette - vs Ten
15. Carlos Hyde - @ Sea
16. Christian McCaffrey - vs Buf
17. Lamar Miller - @ Cin
18. Terrance West - vs Cle
19. C.J. Anderson - vs Dal
20. Mike Gillislee - vs NO

The running back position takes an immediate hit to start the season with David Johnson’s devastating wrist injury. Not only does it hurt many in the fantasy community who drafted the superstar with the number one or two overall draft pick, but it also puts a damper on the entire Arizona offense.

Johnson’s injury aside, I’m still giving Le’Veon Bell the benefit of the doubt in this week’s rankings. Despite his horrid start in Cleveland, the swiss army knife back should still shoulder a huge load in Pittsburgh’s offense for the rest of the season. Jay Ajayi gets to make his debut this week in LA and is in line to see 20+ carries, while guys like Terrance West and Mike Gillislee jump onto this week’s list with favorable matchups following solid performances in their respective games last week.

Wide Receiver

1. Julio Jones - vs GB
2. Antonio Brown - vs Min
3. Mike Evans - vs Chi
4. Odell Beckham Jr. - vs Det
5. Jordy Nelson - @ Atl
6. Brandin Cooks - @ NO
7. Michael Thomas - vs NE
8. Doug Baldwin - vs SF
9. A.J. Green - vs Hou
10. Amari Cooper - vs NYJ
11. Dez Bryant - @ Den
12. DeAndre Hopkins - @ Cin
13. Tyreek Hill - vs Phi
14. Michael Crabtree - vs NYJ
15. Terrelle Pryor - @ LAR
16. Stefon Diggs - @ Pit
17. Kennan Allen - vs Mia
18. Demaryius Thomas - vs Dal
19. Larry Fitzgerald - @ Ind
20. Alshon Jeffery - @ KC

The wide receiver position will definitely see a boost this week with Mike Evans coming off of his unexpected bye week, while another star could be joining him if Odell Beckham Jr. returns to the New York Giant’s lineup after missing Week 1 with an ankle injury.

Tyreek Hill’s explosive performance along with Alex Smith’s stellar play in New England gives the speedy receiver a jump in the rankings, while Brandin Cooks owners should be excited to see Tom Brady’s new weapon go head-to-head with his former team that has historically lacked a formidable pass defense. Owners of either member of Oakland’s top tier pass catching duo should also be on the lookout for a productive match against the Jets’ lowly secondary.

Tight End

1. Rob Gronkowski - @ NO
2. Travis Kelce - vs Phi
3. Greg Olsen - vs Buf
4. Jimmy Graham - vs SF
5. Zach Ertz - @ KC
6. Kyle Rudolph - @ Pit
7. Jordan Reed - @ LAR
8. Tyler Eifert - vs Hou
9. Delanie Walker - @ Jax
10. Coby Fleener - vs NE
11. Jason Witten - @ Den
12. Jared Cook - vs NYJ
13. Martellus Bennett - @ Atl
14. Austin Hooper - vs GB
15. Eric Ebron - @ NYG
16. Jesse James - vs Min
17. Charles Clay - @ Car
18. Jack Doyle - vs Ari
19. Antonio Gates - vs Mia
20. Cameron Brate - vs Chi

The top four tight ends stay put on this week’s list despite all four putting up lackluster production in their respective games. Facing favorable matchups in Week 2, all four are good bounce back candidates.

Zach Ertz is quickly establishing himself as one of fantasy’s premier tight ends. After a strong finish to 2016, Ertz has settled in as one of Carson Wentz’s favorite targets and is likely to see high end volume on a weekly basis.

Jordan Reed’s toe injury could become a concern moving forward, but I’m not quite ready to move him far down the list just yet. Jared Cook and Jesse James are names to keep an eye on if you’re in need of tight ends to stream this week.

Defense/Special Teams

1. Seattle - vs SF
2. Arizona - @ Ind
3. Houston - @ Cin
4. Baltimore - vs Cle
5. Denver - vs Dal
6. Kansas City - vs Phi
7. Los Angeles (Rams) - vs Was
8. Carolina - vs Buf
9. Jacksonville - vs Ten
10. Cincinnati - vs Hou
11. Oakland - vs NYJ
12. New York (Giants) - vs Det
13. New England - @ NO
14. Minnesota - @ Pit
15. Philadelphia - @ KC
16. Pittsburgh - vs Min
17. Tampa Bay - vs Chi
18. Los Angeles (Chargers) - vs Mia
19. Miami - @ LAC
20. Detroit - @ NYG

Houston will look to bounce back from an awful showing against Jacksonville last week while Baltimore appears ready to impose its dominant defense against a lackluster Cleveland offense. Cincinnati and Oakland are good streaming options for Week 2 with juicy matchups against Houston and the Jets respectively. Going forward, you should notice a pattern as the Josh McCown-led Jets consistently make defenses look strong this season.

Kickers

1. Justin Tucker - vs Cle
2. Giorgio Tavecchio - vs NYJ
3. Stephen Gostkowski - @ NO
4. Will Lutz - vs NE
5. Matt Bryant - vs GB
6. Mason Crosby - @ Atl
7. Dan Bailey - @ Den
8. Graham Gano - vs Buf
9. Blair Walsh - vs SF
10. Chris Boswell - vs Min
11. Cairo Santos - vs Phi
12. Brandon McManus - vs Dal
13. Dustin Hopkins - @ LAR
14. Greg Zuerlein vs Was
15. Matt Prater - @ NYG
16. Phil Dawson - @ Ind
17. Ryan Succop - @ Jax
18. Adam Vinatieri - vs Ari
19. Kai Forbath - @ Pit
20. Jason Myers - vs Ten

Italian Raiders kicker Giorgio Tavecchio shocked the kicking world with a stellar performance against Tennessee last week and is again a top tier option when the Jets come to town for Week 2. He’s a great option to pick up if you need to replace injured Eagles kicker Caleb Sturgis. Remember, choosing a kicker is all about finding the most talented leg on a high scoring offense playing a poor defense.