Fantasy Football Matchups to Exploit: Sleeper starts for Week 2 James KohSeptember 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM 0 The further we get away from draft day, the more seasoned fantasy football managers lean into matchups to dictate lineup decisions.
- - Fantasy Football Matchups to Exploit: Sleeper starts for Week 2
James KohSeptember 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM
0
The further we get away from draft day, the more seasoned fantasy football managers lean into matchups to dictate lineup decisions.
But let's be real, there's a lot of data out there! Let the 'ole Sleeper King hook you up with your weekly cheat sheet.
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There's a ton of data-driven goodness in here, so let's get to it — good luck!
Sleepers Starts at Each PositionJ.J. McCarthy, QB, Vikings vs. ATL -
The first three quarters were rough for the second-year rookie but McCarthy turned it around in a big way in the fourth quarter vs. the Bears in Week 1. He had three total touchdowns versus a pretty good Chicago defense.
Atlanta gave up the fourth-most fantasy points to QBs last year and just allowed three touchdowns to Baker Mayfield last week.
Also, keep this at the front of your mind: The Falcons gave up 39 rush yards to Baker while the mobile McCarthy ran for 25 yards in his debut; this is not insignificant for fantasy purposes.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars @ CIN -
I'm so torn on Lawrence right now. After hyping him all offseason, he came out and laid an egg in Week 1. Stats aside, his accuracy was a huge problem, missing Brian Thomas Jr. on a number of throws that could have resulted in chunky gains. It almost seemed like he was pressing and it's fair to wonder if the pressure to finally succeed is weighing on him.
That being said, most of the hand-wringing came after the nearly 90-minute game delay. Maybe it's just copium but I want to give Lawrence another week before banishing him to the waiver wire.
The Bengals were bad defensively last year and they just let 40-year-old Joe Flacco throw for nearly 300 yards.
Plus, the boys in the desert have this as the highest-scoring contest of the week with a point total of 48.5. This would hint at a possible aerial show from both teams if we're lucky.
Drake Maye, QB, Patriots @ MIA -
Everything is off about this Dolphins team. The offense is busted, which is not helping what could be one of the five worst defenses in the NFL. Remember, the team traded away Jalen Ramsey and, until we see otherwise, I would consider all passing assets going up against Miami as sleepers/must-starts.
CJ Stroud, QB, Texans vs. TB -
The Bucs gave up the third-most fantasy points to QBs last year and just gave up nearly 300 yards and two total touchdowns to Michael Penix Jr. last week.
Javonte Williams, RB, Cowboys vs. NYG -
The Giants were soft versus the run last year and it appears they haven't improved much in that regard this year. After giving up the fifth-most rushing yards to running backs last year, the Commanders RBs combined for 133 rush yards in Week 1 versus the Giants, all while averaging a sturdy 6.65 yards per carry.
Considering Williams had an absurd 80% snap share last week, expect him to dominate backfield touches again.
George Pickens, WR, Cowboys vs. NYG -
After a disappointing 30-yard opener, expect a bounce-back for Pickens this week.
The Giants gave up the third-most fantasy points on deep passes in 2024. They were dead last in completion percentage and yards per target allowed on pass attempts of 20+ air yards last year. This bodes EXTREMELY well for Pickens.
Obviously, Dak Prescott is a strong start/sleeper as well.
Olamide Zaccheaus, WR, Bears @ DET -
🚨DEEP SLEEPER🚨
This will sting for all the Luther Burden III bros out there but, working as the Bears' primary slot receiver, Zaccheaus outsnapped the rookie 28 to 17 and overall ran 14 more routes than Burden in Week 1.
The Lions allowed literally the most fantasy points to WRs in the slot last year and just gave up 45 yards and a TD to Packers WR Jayden Reed when he was lined up inside in Week 1.
Hunter Renfrow, WR, Panthers @ ARI -
🚨DEEP SLEEPER🚨
In his first game action since the Reagan Administration, the crafty slot man in Renfrow didn't look bad at all. He played a solid 64% of the snaps and took home six targets. Granted, it only amounted to two catches and 11 yards but I don't think Bryce Young is going to play that poorly again. That hour-long weather delay seemed to send both the Panthers and Jags into the doldrums.
The Cards allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to receivers in the slot last year. Let's see if Renfrow starts to shake off a few more cobwebs. It's not out of bounds to see him garner 6-8 targets again which could result in 50-60 yards and a double-digit PPR performance.
Brenton Strange, TE, Jaguars @ CIN -
A solid, if unspectacular, Week 1, The Doctor posted a 4/4/59 line. Not bad for a guy who was a draft-day afterthought.
This week, he takes on a Bengals team that was dead-last in fantasy points allowed to TE last year and last week gave up a combined 20.3 fantasy points to David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr.
Now let's just hope Hunter Long doesn't vulture a damn TD again.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Texans vs. TB -
They are quite literally running out of bodies in Houston, as Cade Stover is the latest Texans TE to hit injured reserve, joining fellow tight ends Brevin Jordan and Irv Smith Jr.
Tampa Bay gave up the sixth-most fantasy points to TE last year and just gave up a solid game to the Falcons' Kyle Pitts Sr. (8/7/59 slash line).
Harrison Bryant is a "Sleeper King special" you should keep on your radar. He's a good pass catcher and may play a role depending on how much the team sticks to running 2-TE sets.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Browns @ BAL -
The Ravens are great defensively overall but for some reason, they don't defend tight ends quite as well. The team gave up the third-most fantasy points in 2024 and they allowed a nice 14.8 PPR game to Bills TE Dalton Kincaid last week.
While David Njoku is the nominal starter, there's no question Fannin has the goods. The rookie from Bowling Green led the Browns in targets last week with nine looks.
Week 2 Matchups to FadePatrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs vs. PHI -
We will assume Jalen Carter will keep his loogies to himself in this game, meaning he can go back to being a game wrecker in this Super Bowl rematch. That is bad news for Mahomes, who is working with a wide receiver corps that is in desperate need of an upgrade, even if a banged-up Xavier Worthy ends up playing.
The Eagles gave up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to QBs last year and just limited Prescott to ZERO touchdowns and a paltry 188 yards passing in Week 1.
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Falcons @ MIN -
I would avoid chasing the points in this matchup. Brian Flores has been putting young quarterbacks in mental pretzels for years now; the Vikes gave up the third-fewest fantasy points to the position in 2024.
I would not be shocked to see a multi-turnover game from Penix this week.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Chiefs vs. PHI -
At this point, you really can't play Pacheco. He doesn't look like the same player after the injury and he's locked in a three-man rotation.
Pacheco only played 48.3% of the snaps, Kareem Hunt 39.7%, while intriguing rookie Brashard Smith took home 13.8% of the snaps.
The Eagles allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to the position last year. You can ignore the Javonte Williams results, considering superstar Jalen Carter was kicked out of the game.
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Colts vs. DEN -
With Patrick Surtain II roaming around out there, the floor is terrifyingly low for Pittman this week.
It's possible Pittman gets there on sheer volume; he did see eight targets last week, but it's a dicey proposition. Remember, we just saw Calvin Ridley Jr. get checked last week (four receptions, 27 yards on eight targets).
Keon Coleman, WR, Bills @ NYJ -
I would not chase the points with Coleman. Last year, the Jets allowed the fewest fantasy points to outside receivers and they're again off to a strong start this year.
DK Metcalf did alright in fantasy (four receptions, 83 yards), whereas Calvin Austin III and Ben Skowronek caught touchdowns while lined up in the slot.
Plus, with the Bills a 6.5-point favorite, they won't have to be chasing points like they were in the fourth quarter against Baltimore.
One caveat: Sauce Gardner picked up a groin injury Thursday. If he's out, that opens up more opportunities for Coleman. Keep an eye on that injury report.
Source: "AOL Sports"
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