Start ‘Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2023 NFL season.
Fabs’ Top 10 Quarterbacks
1. Jalen Hurts vs. Vikings (Thur.)
2. Patrick Mahomes at Jaguars
3. Josh Allen vs. Raiders
4. Joe Burrow vs. Ravens
5. Justin Herbert at Titans
6. Trevor Lawrence vs. Chiefs
7. Lamar Jackson at Bengals
8. Justin Fields at Buccaneers
9. Jared Goff vs. Seahawks
10. Tua Tagovailoa at Patriots
Week 2 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES
Week 2 Start ’Em: Quarterbacks
Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
Start of the Week
Trevor Lawrence vs. Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Lawrence opened the season on a good note, throwing for 241 and two touchdowns. Next up is a home date against the Chiefs in a game that opened with a 51-point total. The Chiefs’ defense has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks in their last 18 games, including nine who have scored 19-plus points, so Lawrence is in a good position.
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Start ’Em
Jared Goff vs. Seahawks (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Goff didn’t put up a great stat line in the opening win over the Chiefs, but he’s a different quarterback at home. In nine games at Ford Field last season, Goff averaged 21.4 fantasy points. That included throwing 23 touchdowns versus a mere three interceptions. Seattle just gave up 334 yards to Matthew Stafford, so Goff should be in starting lineups.
Daniel Jones at Cardinals (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): Jones and New York’s offense were awful last week, as the Cowboys defense dominated them in every possible way. The good news is that this week’s matchup in Arizona is far less daunting. In fact, the Cardinals’ defense has surrendered 19 or more fantasy points to quarterbacks nine times since last season. I’d consider Jones a high-end QB2 option.
Jordan Love at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Love was better than advertised last week, throwing for three touchdowns while scoring 23 fantasy points in a win over the Bears. What’s more impressive is that he did it without Christian Watson. He’s in the starting conversation this week against the Falcons, who allowed 11.9% more points to quarterbacks based on 2022 schedule adjusted points.
Mac Jones vs. Dolphins (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): This could be a case of chasing the points, as Jones went for 24.1 in last week’s loss to the Eagles. However, it’s also tough to ignore the fact that the Dolphins, Jones’s opponent this week, have allowed the second-most points to quarterbacks since last year. This is more of a super flex start, but Jones is on the radar as a starter for fantasy fans.
More Starts
Geno Smith at Lions (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Brock Purdy at Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox)
Derek Carr at Panthers (Mon. 7:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
DFS Bargains (DraftKings)
Jared Goff vs. Seahawks ($6,200)
Geno Smith at Lions ($5,900)
Jordan Love at Falcons ($5,500)
Week 2 Sit ’Em: Quarterbacks
Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports
Sit of the Week
Dak Prescott vs. Jets (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Prescott scored an awful 6.3 points in last week’s win over the Giants, and I’m not expecting big things when he faces the other New York team, the Jets. Their defense picked off Josh Allen three times and held him to a mere nine points on Monday night, and they’ve surrendered a mere 16 scoring strikes in the last 18 games. Keep Dak on the sidelines.
Sit ’Em
Anthony Richardson at Texans (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Richardson exceeded fantasy expectations last week in his first NFL start, scoring 20.9 points. This weekend’s matchup against the Texans is difficult, though (no, really), as their defense has allowed the fewest points to quarterbacks since the start of last season. That includes holding Lamar Jackson to a 6.6-point stinker last week.
Matthew Stafford vs. 49ers (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): The Rams are coming off what was a surprising win in Seattle, but it didn’t equate to a big line from Stafford (334 yards, no touchdowns, 14.5 points). Next up is a home date against the 49ers, who put a major beat down on Kenny Pickett and the Steelers last week. Since 2022, their defense has allowed the fourth-fewest points to quarterbacks.
Jimmy Garoppolo at Bills (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Garoppolo posted two touchdowns and 15.1 fantasy points in last week’s win over the Broncos, and that could be his ceiling this week when the Raiders travel to Buffalo. The Bills are tough on enemy quarterbacks, allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to the position since last season. Unless you’re in a super flex league, Garoppolo is a sit ’em.
Sam Howell at Broncos (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Howell put up a respectable 15.2 points in his first start of the season, but that was against the Cardinals and their less than stellar defense. This week, he’ll have a much tougher task against the Broncos. Their defense has allowed fewer than 14 points per game to opposing quarterbacks since last season, so Howell could struggle to produce.
