Fantasy Football Start Sit Week 2: Studs, Duds and Sleepers include Joe Burrow in a risky spot

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It's still early enough in the fantasy football season that no one should be panicking. I understand your frustration if you lost a tight Week 1 because of someone's kicker dropping a gajillion points out of nowhere, but it's important to keep perspective. Hey, that happens.

There's a long, arduous road ahead, and dwelling on one week of bad luck and misguided lineup decisions would be malpractice. Let's get up off the mat, folks.

If you won in Week 1 -- congratulations. Don't let it get to your head.

In this week's studs, duds, and sleepers, I'm wondering about Joe Burrow's viability on the road in Kansas City if Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins aren't themselves. I also think Jordan Mason is the early story of the season if he's going to continue filling in for Christian McCaffrey. Oh, and at the risk of embarrassment, I have a kind of wild call on a much-maligned quarterback that I actually really like this Sunday.

Let's dive in, dearest readers, and keep this fantasy train rolling right along.

Studs

Los Angeles Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins (at Carolina Panthers)

To start the season, Dobbins ran roughshod on Antonio Pierce's physical Las Vegas Raiders defense. The man amassed 135 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries. Now imagine what will happen against the woeful Panthers and their defense that allowed almost 200 team rushing yards in Week 1 without any resistance. Dobbins is a must-start without hesitation for me.

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (vs. Los Angeles Rams)

Murray wasn't perfect in his 2024 debut, having missed Marvin Harrison Jr. with the game on the line. But he proved otherwise mostly unstoppable, showing off a lot of dual-threat flashes that helped him play at a Pro Bowl level from 2020 to 2021. I love Murray to continue building on that quality momentum against the Rams, who got bullied by the Detroit Lions when it mattered most last Sunday night.

San Francisco 49ers RB Jordan Mason (at Minnesota Vikings)

Don't let the bizarre injury reporting situation that is unfortunately clouding Mason's first career NFL start fool you. If Christian McCaffrey is indeed still nursing a touchy calf injury, then the 49ers will likely not risk his health this early in the season. That makes Mason a must-play against anyone because Kyle Shanahan simply just understands how to utilize each of his player's best strengths.

Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle (vs. Buffalo Bills, Thursday Night Football)

Waddle gets highlighted here over Tyreek Hill because I just assume most people keep Hill in their starting lineup no matter what. I like Waddle this week because the Buffalo defense is porous and probably can't handle covering more than one dynamic receiving option. That sets the table for a huge evening from Waddle in a pivotal early-season AFC East matchup.

Duds

Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow (at Kansas City Chiefs)

I know Burrow elevates his game for the Chiefs like no one else. And I know this is probably the NFL's most competitive rivalry. But woof, I can't say I'm confident in the slow-starting Bengals and Burrow bringing their best against an elite defense. Ja'Marr Chase is still working his way back into game shape, while Tee Higgins' hamstring injury seems like it's gonna linger.

Playing well on the road in Kansas City is challenging enough before factoring Cincinnati's tricky receiver situation into the equation.

Chicago Bears TE Cole Kmet (at Houston Texans, Sunday Night Football)

A red-zone favorite for the Bears and fantasy managers in recent years, Kmet started 2024 with a thud. And that's not just because Caleb Williams looked like a rookie. The veteran tight end was also out-snapped by free agent acquisition Gerald Everett by a 60 to 48 percent ratio (they did share the field aplenty). This paints the picture of the Bears still trying to figure out how to properly use their talented tight-end duo. I don't think that trial and error plays into Kmet's favor.

Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold (vs. San Francisco 49ers)

Everyone loves Sam Darnold when he's dicing up the second-worst team in pro football. As they should! Just a word of caution: the hapless New York Giants are not the defending NFC champion 49ers. Here comes an inevitable wake-up call for Minnesota and its journeyman quarterback.

Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf (at New England Patriots)

Perhaps no receiver has a tougher opening 2024 slate than Metcalf. In Week 1, he had the pleasure of trying to beat the All-Pro-caliber Patrick Surtain II. That ... did not go well. In Week 2, Metcalf gets the dynamic Christian Gonzalez on his plate, a guy who made Ja'Marr Chase work for everything in a meager performance. If the Seahawks beat the Patriots, it almost certainly won't be because of a remarkable Metcalf outing.

Sleepers

Tennessee Titans defense/special teams (vs. New York Jets)

Hoo baby. An immobile Aaron Rodgers with less juice trying to escape a Tennessee pass-rush featuring planet-destroyers Jeffery Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat? Uh, congratulations to anyone with the Titans defense this week. It's a supremely underrated unit, and your faith in it should pay off.

New York Giants QB Daniel Jones (at Washington Commanders)

OK, first of all, please stop laughing. I'm trying to help you!

Anyway, fun fact: Daniel Jones has a cumulative passer rating of 98, and has thrown 10 total touchdowns to just three interceptions against the Commanders during his career. No one else, not even the two other teams in the NFC East, has given Jones this much leeway. Meanwhile, the Commanders' defense hasn't really stopped a quarterback since ... Week 9 of last year against Mac Jones (no longer a starter).

You might think Jones is an unplayable NFL albatross. You're correct, except against the Commanders.

Indianapolis Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. (at Green Bay Packers)

As the Colts' classic possession receiver, Pittman was an afterthought in Indy's Week 1 defeat. This will not be the case against a Packers defense that proved to be susceptible to chunk plays on its opening night in Brazil. Factor in a likely struggling Green Bay offense without Jordan Love, and there should be no shortage of the Anthony Richardson-Pittman connection this weekend.

Los Angeles Chargers WR Ladd McConkey (at Carolina Panthers)

Is McConkey a glorified slot receiver who is in likely too big of a role for the Chargers to be a contender this year? Probably. But does Justin Herbert force-feeding the reliable playmaker many targets make him quite valuable from a fantasy perspective, especially against the NFL's worst team?

You betcha!

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Fantasy Football Start Sit Week 2: Studs, Duds and Sleepers include Joe Burrow in a risky spot