Quarterback Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 2

Need help setting up your fantasy football lineups? Start 'Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups for any given week for fantasy football leagues. I won't go into the elite players like Josh Allen or Jalen Hurts because you already know you have to start them! Instead, I'll examine other quarterbacks who could exceed or fail to meet expectations based on their weekly opponent…like Baker Mayfield in Week 1!

To make your final lineup decision, be sure to check out my fantasy player rankings, updated daily! Also, be sure to subscribe to Fantasy Dirt with Lindsay Rhodes and me as we analyze all things fantasy football five days a week!

And when you're done with the quarterbacks, be sure to check out my start and sit recommendations for the other positions: RBs | WRs | TEs | K & D/STs

1. Josh Allen at the Dolphins (Thursday)
2. Jalen Hurts vs. Falcons (Monday)
3. Lamar Jackson vs Raiders
4. Anthony Richardson with the Packers
5. Patrick Mahomes vs Bengals
6. Dak Prescott vs. Saints
7. Jayden Daniels vs Giants
8. CJ Stroud vs Bears
9. Kyler Murray vs Rams
10. Tua Tagovailoa vs. Bills (Thurs.)

The full Week 2 quarterback rankings can be found here.

Start of the week

Dak Prescott vs. Saints (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Dak Prescott got his points last week (and he did), but his 11.5 points against the Cleveland Browns left fantasy managers wanting more. I expect you'll get even more from him in the Dallas Cowboys' home game against the New Orleans Saints. Last season, Prescott averaged nearly 25 fantasy points per game in Jerry World. Vegas has 45 total, so I'd expect plenty of scoring in Dallas in this NFC battle.

Start it

CJ Stroud vs. Bears (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): CJ Stroud is coming off a solid game against the Indianapolis Colts, scoring 18.7 fantasy points with an Expected Points Added (EPA) of +6.8. This week he faces the Chicago Bears, who allowed home team quarterbacks more than 20 points per game last year. Stroud was also a star at NRG Stadium, averaging 21.8 points per game as a rookie. Vegas has 45.5 points total and I expect the Houston Texans to score a lot of those points.

Kyler Murray vs. Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): Kyler Murray's 14.2 fantasy points in the opening game weren't what managers were hoping for, but I think he'll rebound at home against the Los Angeles Rams. In 2023, their defense allowed home quarterbacks an average of more than 19 fantasy points per game. Murray has also been successful against this NFC West opponent, as he has beaten the Rams by at least 17 points in two of their last three meetings.

Jayden Daniels vs. Giants (1:00 p.m. ET, Fox): Jayden Daniels was fantastic in his NFL debut in fantasy leagues, rushing for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns and finishing with 28.2 points. He's a solid option again this week as the rookie faces a New York Giants defense that allowed quarterbacks an average of more than 20 fantasy points per game on the road last season. Until further notice (or unless you have enough reserves), Daniels will have to be in the starting lineup.

Matthew Stafford at Cardinals (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): Matthew Stafford threw for 317 yards in last week's loss to the Detroit Lions but only managed 14.7 fantasy points. I expect him to be better in Week 2, as the veteran has a road game against the Arizona Cardinals. In the last eight home games, Arizona's defense has allowed opposing quarterbacks an average of 21.1 points per game. In a game with a 49.5 point total, I expect Stafford to be successful.

QBs with good matchups

• Brock Purdy on Vikings (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Justin Herbert at Panthers (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Kirk Cousins ​​at Eagles (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Sit of the week

Joe Burrow at Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): I'm not saying Burrow needs to be benched this week, but I think there's reason to be concerned. He's averaging a mediocre 14.6 fantasy points in his last six games, including an 8.1-point flop in a shocking Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots. The Kansas City Chiefs have also allowed an average of just 181.4 passing yards in their last 10 home games, so Burrow's opponent is not an attractive one. Beware of Joe Cool this week.

sit down

Aaron Rodgers at Titans (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS): Aaron Rodgers returned to action on Monday night, and it was anything but spectacular. In fact, he was limited to 1 touchdown and just 8.6 fantasy points. He's now averaging 13 points in his last 19 regular-season games. That's not good. Next up is a road game against the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed visiting quarterbacks to average fewer than 15 fantasy points per game since 2023.

Deshaun Watson at Jaguars (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS): Deshaun Watson was awful against Dallas, throwing for 169 yards, scoring just 10.7 points, and ranking fourth-to-last in EPA among all quarterbacks. Unless you're in a super-flex league, I'd keep Watson on the bench when the Browns face the Jacksonville Jaguars. In their last nine home games, their defense has allowed an average of fewer than 16 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Beware of Watson.

Derek Carr on Cowboys (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Derek Carr was one of the best fantasy quarterbacks in Week 1, throwing three touchdown passes and scoring 21.3 points. I wouldn't chase that performance, though, as Carr faces a much tougher opponent next in Dallas. In their last eight home games, the Cowboys defense has given up just eight touchdown passes and an average of 13.2 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Geno Smith at Patriots (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Geno Smith finished among the top 12 quarterbacks in Week 1, scoring 17.8 fantasy points. Still, I wouldn't play him this week if he goes to New England. The Patriots defense, which held Burrow to single-digit points last week, has limited opposing quarterbacks to an average of just 13 points in their last nine games at Gillette Stadium. The total is also just 38, so don't expect a lot of points.

QBs with bad matchups

• Caleb Williams at the Texans (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
• Sam Darnold vs. 49ers (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Gardner Minshew at Ravens (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS)

Now that you're ready for this position, make sure you know the best starting and sitting picks for the other positions as well: