ESPN Fantasy
Sep 15, 2023, 12:28 PM ET
The ESPN+ Cheat Sheet is your one-stop shop for Week 2 fantasy football advice. We've curated all of our best start/sit advice from this week, including Mike Clay's "Playbook" and "Shadow Report,: Matt Bowen's "Film Room," Tristan H. co*ckcroft's "Matchup Map", Liz Loza's "Facts vs. Feelings" and Eric Karabell's "Fantasy Hot Seat," Don't have time to read it all? That's why cheat sheets were invented in the first place! Catch up to a week's worth of reading in mere minutes, see which players are on the injury report and then set your lineup with confidence.
Lines courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook. Injury aggregation powered by Rotowire.
Green Bay Packers @ Atlanta Falcons -3
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 40 (ninth highest)
FPI favorite: Atlanta Falcons (51.5% chance to win outright)
Green Bay Packers injury watch: RB Aaron Jones: Q; WR Christian Watson: Q
Atlanta Falcons injury watch: none to report
Best of the Week
The Playbook: Mike Clay says Tyler Allgeier and Drake London are no more than flex options in Week 2.
Shadow Report: Mike Clay is downgrading Drake London due to small Week 1 usage and a tough Week 2 matchup.
Las Vegas Raiders @ Buffalo Bills -8
Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 47 (2nd highest)
FPI favorite: Buffalo Bills (71.4% chance to win outright)
Buffalo Bills injury watch: none to report
Best of the Week
Shadow Report: If he is able to suit up, Jakobi Meyers will face a tough matchup, according to Mike Clay.
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals -3.5
Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 45.5 (fifth highest)
FPI favorite: Cincinnati Bengals (51.5% chance to win outright)
Baltimore Ravens injury watch: TE Mark Andrews: Q
Cincinnati Bengals injury watch: RB Chris Evans: Q
Best of the Week
The Playbook: Mike Clay says to avoid the Ravens backfield in Week 2, but gives Justice Hill the best chance to have fantasy value going forward.
Seattle Seahawks @ Detroit Lions -4.5
Ford Field, Detroit
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 47 (2nd highest)
FPI favorite: Detroit Lions (64.7% chance to win outright)
Seattle Seahawks injury watch: none to report
Detroit Lions injury watch: none to report
Best of the Week
Film Room: Matt Bowen thinks Sam LaPorta could "potentially sneak into the TE1 discussion" soon.
The Playbook: Mike Clay considers both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs to be fringe RB2 options in Week 2.
Matchup Map: Tristan H. co*ckcroft expects both Jared Goff and TE Matt LaPorta to be productive in a potential high-scoring game.
Los Angeles Chargers -2.5 @ Tennessee Titans
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 45.5 (fifth highest)
FPI favorite: Los Angeles Chargers (62.8% chance to win outright)
Los Angeles Chargers injury watch: RB Austin Ekeler: O
Tennessee Titans injury watch: WR DeAndre Hopkins: Q
Best of the Week
The Playbook: Mike Clay would consider Joshua Kelley a solid RB2 should Austin Ekeler be ruled out.
Last-minute pickups: Matt Bowen feels Joshua Kelley is a deeper-league streamer even if Ekeler does play on Sunday.
Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2.5
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 41 (eighth highest)
FPI favorite: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (52.1% chance to win outright)
Chicago Bears injury watch: none to report
Tampa Bay Buccaneers injury watch: none to report
Best of the Week
Film Room: Matt Bowen saw enough from Mike Evans last week to consider him a fringe WR2 in this one.
Shadow Report: Mike Clay downgrades DJ Moore and Chase Claypool due to matchups.
The Playbook: Mike Clay likes Khalil Herbert the most in the Bears backfield for Week 2, but thinks Roschon Johnson might be the better fantasy back in the long term.
Facts vs Feelings: Liz Loza points to Rachaad White's Week 1 usage as a reason to continue starting him, despite the weak results. She also expects a bounce-back from Justin Fields and considers him a top-10 QB this week.
Kansas City Chiefs -3.5 @ Jacksonville Jaguars
TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 51 (Highest)
FPI favorite: Kansas City Chiefs (61.3% chance to win outright)
Kansas City Chiefs injury watch: TE Travis Kelce: Q; RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire: Q
Jacksonville Jaguars injury watch: none to report
Best of the Week
The Playbook: Mike Clay declares Isiah Pacheco to be the best Kansas City RB for fantasy and would happily start him as a flex in Week 2.
Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans -1
NRG Stadium, Houston
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 39.5 (10th highest)
FPI favorite: Houston Texans (53% chance to win outright)
Indianapolis Colts injury watch: TE Kylen Granson: Q
Houston Texans injury watch: QB C.J. Stroud: Q
Best of the Week
Film Room: Matt Bowen likes the matchup for Nico Collins and considers him a potential flex play.
Shadow Report: Mike Clay sees an upgrade for Nico Collins and Robert Woods.
Matchup Map: Tristan H. co*ckcroft has confidence in Nico Collins in this matchup, even with rookie QB C.J. Stroud's Week 1 struggles.
The Playbook: Mike Clay loved Anthony Richardson's debut and thinks he's already very much on the QB1 radar.
Facts vs Feelings: Liz Loza likes what she saw out of the Anthony Richardson-to-Michael Pittman Jr. connection enough to make Pittman a top-25 wide receiver this week.
San Francisco 49ers -7 @ Los Angeles Rams
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Sunday 4:05 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 45 (seventh highest)
FPI favorite: San Francisco 49ers (65.5% chance to win outright)
San Francisco 49ers injury watch: none to report
Los Angeles Rams injury watch: WR Puka Nacua: Q; QB Stetson Bennett: O
Best of the Week
The Playbook: Wondering about those breakout Rams wide receivers? Mike Clay thinks Puka Nacua is a legit WR3 but is not as high on Tutu Atwell.
Facts vs Feelings: Liz Loza is out on Cam Akers, pointing to Kyren Williams as a legitimate threat to his production.
Matchup Map: Tristan H. co*ckcroft does not have confidence in a bounce-back week for Tyler Higbee, pointing to Pat Freiermuth's Week 1 struggles against the Niners.
Last-minute pickups: Matt Bowen likes Brock Purdy as a "high-floor play" on Sunday.
New York Giants -4 @ Arizona Cardinals
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Sunday 4:05 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 39.5 (10th highest)
FPI favorite: New York Giants (64.7% chance to win outright)
New York Giants injury watch: WR Wan'Dale Robinson: D
Arizona Cardinals injury watch: none to report
Best of the Week
Shadow Report: Mike Clay sees a boost for Marquise Brown and Michael Wilson on the perimeter, and Rondale Moore in the slot.
Matchup Map: Tristan H. co*ckcroft is starting James Conner after the Giants allowed a pair of rushing touchdowns to Tony Pollard in Week 1.
The Playbook: Mike Clay isn't ready to bury Daniel Jones, who remains a fringe RB1, despite a horrific 2023 debut.
New York Jets @ Dallas Cowboys -8.5
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Sunday 4:25 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 38.5 (13th highest)
FPI favorite: Dallas Cowboys (68% chance to win outright)
New York Jets injury watch: RB Breece Hall: Q
Dallas Cowboys injury watch: WR Brandin Cooks: Q
Best of the Week
Film Room: Matt Bowen still has Garrett Wilson as a "locked-in starter," but considers him more of a mid-tier WR2 this week.
Matchup Map: Tristan H. co*ckcroft is avoiding Dak Prescott due to his matchup with a Jets defense that just frustrated Josh Allen. Nor is he confident in Garrett Wilson due to the matchup and downgrade of quarterback, agreeing with Bowen that he is, at best, as a midrange WR2 this week.
Shadow Report: Mike Clay is downgrading Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard as well as all Cowboys receivers due to the opposing defenses.
The Playbook: Mike Clay admits there's a lot to like in the Jets backfield, but still considers both Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook as no more than flex plays in Week 2.
Facts vs Feelings: Liz Loza sees the Jets continuing to rely on Breece Hall and the ground game after his 147 scrimmage yards in Week 1.
Washington Commanders @ Denver Broncos -3.5
Empower Field at Mile High, Denver
Sunday 4:25 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 38.5 (13th highest)
FPI favorite: Denver Broncos (66.4% chance to win outright)
Washington Commanders injury watch: none to report
Denver Broncos injury watch: none to report
Best of the Week
Shadow Report: Mike Clay upgrades Jahan Dotson due to a good matchup.
The Playbook: Mike Clay says Brian Robinson Jr. gets the fantasy nod, albeit as only a flex for now, over teammate Antonio Gibson.
Fantasy Hot Seat: Eric Karabell points to the Week 1 fumble as a reason to not only downgrade Gibson this week, but potentially have him fall behind rookie Chris Rodriguez Jr. on the Commanders depth chart.
Miami Dolphins -2.5 @ New England Patriots
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Sunday 8:20 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 46.5 (fourth highest)
FPI favorite: Miami Dolphins (61.6% chance to win outright)
Miami Dolphins injury watch: none to report
New England Patriots injury watch: WR DeVante Parker: Q
Best of the Week
The Playbook: Mike Clay expects a "quick return to earth" for Kendrick Bourne, whose Week 1 outing has "outlier" written all over it.
Facts vs. Feelings: Liz Loza sees Hunter Henry building on his Week 1 success due to the Patriots' affinity for TEs and the Dolphins' relative struggles against the position in Week 1.
New Orleans Saints -3 @ Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Monday 7:15 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 39.5 (10th highest)
FPI favorite: New Orleans Saints (61.4% chance to win outright)
New Orleans Saints injury watch: RB Kendre Miller: Q
Carolina Panthers injury watch: WR DJ Chark Jr.: Q
Best of the Week
The Playbook: Mike Clay thinks Rashid Shaheed is a "name to watch" but still likes Michael Thomas better in terms of Week 2 flex consideration.
Facts vs Feelings: Liz Loza sees Rashid Shaheed role as a field-stretching speed threat, making him a candidate for those looking for boom-bust wide receiver types.
Cleveland Browns -2.5 @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
Monday 8:15 PM ET
Over/Under Total: 38.5 (13th highest)
FPI favorite: Cleveland Browns (59.6% chance to win outright)
Cleveland Browns injury watch: WR Amari Cooper: Q
Pittsburgh Steelers injury watch: RB Anthony McFarland Jr.: O; WR Diontae Johnson: O
Best of the Week
The Playbook: Mike Clay downgrades Deshaun Watson to "fringe QB1 territory" for Week 2. If you have other options, use them.
Matchup Map: Tristan H. co*ckcroft recommends against Najee Harris after the Browns silence the Bengals offense in general, and Joe Mixon in particular, in Week 1.
Fantasy Hot Seat: Eric Karabell says it's too early to give up on your Steelers and is looking for 20-plus touches for Najee Harris on "Monday Night Football."
