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Every week, I share some of my favored choices and players to go with when dealing with challenging lineup decisions. These selections are based on my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a discount and get access to my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the 2022 fantasy football season.
We feature players that you should lean to in tough calls, yet guys who may exceed expectations this week are also highlighted, so you can feel even more confident about starting them.
Skill position analysis here is based on my PPR rankings.
Running Backs - Fantasy Football Week 2
Kareem Hunt
Hunt had 70 scrimmage yards and two TDs last week. It was his seventh career game with both rushing and receiving scores, the fourth-most in the NFL since 2017. Hunt has a TD in four of his past five games vs. the AFC East. The Browns will continue to rely on their running backs with Jacoby Brissett at QB.
The Ravens had three TD passes against the Jets in Week 1, but Cleveland should stick to what works best for them against New York. The Browns can establish some respectable offensive balance with their ground game setting up some timely passing strikes. Hunt will contribute significantly as both a runner and receiver.
Cordarrelle Patterson
Can he do it again? Patterson had a career-high 120 rushing yards vs. the Saints last week, posting impressive totals against what is perceived to be one of the better defensive fronts in the league. He had 676 scrimmage yards (75.1 per game) and six TDs (five rushing) in nine road games last season. Those who roster Patterson may still be skeptical about his potential success, as he flamed out in the second half of the 2021 campaign.
Cordarrelle Patterson to the people that thought he was a one-season wonder pic.twitter.com/4Es1mnLDc8
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) September 15, 2022
This week’s matchup against the Rams can prove a lot about Patterson as a runner if he fares well again. He rushed for over 75 yards just twice last season, as much of his better production was based on receptions and combined TDs from scrimmage. Start Patterson as a flex option because he seems to be ready to take on an important offensive role again early in the season. If he produces well as a rusher in Week 2, he will be an every-week starter going forward.
Rashaad Penny
It was a ho-hum opener for Penny, as he rushed for 60 yards on Monday vs. Denver. He had 125+ rushing yards and a rushing TD in two of his final three road games in 2021. The Seattle running game stalled in the second half against the Broncos, and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron will want to get it re-established against the 49ers this week. With Kenneth Walker III expected to make his NFL debut on Sunday, he can attempt to attack a strong San Francisco defensive front with two quality RB options.
When Penny and Walker are both healthy, it’s an optimum scenario for the Seahawks, as both of them have the promise to produce well in any given week. For fantasy purposes though, it will make the Seattle RBs more unpredictable. Since Walker is just getting into the mix now, Penny is the better option for this week, but the presence of the exciting rookie does cap his potential volume.
Walker has recovered from a recent hernia procedure, so he should not be started just yet. But he does cut into Penny’s possible statistical floor and makes him more of a flex play than an RB2 choice this week.
Melvin Gordon
Gordon totaled 72 scrimmage yards (team-high 58 rushing) on Monday at Seattle. He is aiming for his fourth game in a row with 70-plus scrimmage yards. Javonte Williams is a top 10 fantasy RB start this week, as he should continue to catch passes out of the backfield from Russell Wilson, who seems to have developed a newfound willingness to throw to his RBs and TEs more often.
While he did lose a fumble at the goal line last week, Gordon will remain a significant TD threat. He has rushed for 8+ TDs in each of the last six seasons and he will get a few opportunities to finish off scoring drives vs. Houston. The Broncos can likely double their 16-point output (plus a bit extra) from Week 1, and Gordon has the potential to score more than once. He is a viable flex play or a replacement for an injured RB in Week 2.
Wide Receivers - Fantasy Football Week 2
DK Metcalf
The new face of the Seahawks franchise had a team-high seven receptions in Week 1. Metcalf has 458 receiving yards (76.3 per game) and four TDs in six career games vs. the 49ers. Many assumed Metcalf would be boom or bust with Geno Smith at QB, but the Seattle QB was nowhere near as bad as advertised in Week 1 and will continue to find ways to get the ball to his top playmaker.
Metcalf may not be the regular deep weapon he was working with Wilson, but he might see a steady diet of receptions as Smith plays with an emphasis on keeping the chains moving. Metcalf can always take a shorter throw for a larger gain and he will be a frequent TD threat. He is less of a regular upside play in 2022, but Metcalf can be a steady and sometimes outstanding source of fantasy production this season. He can also possibly produce better against the 49ers' secondary after facing a stout Denver pass defense.
Hunter Renfrow
He’s no longer the top WR for the Raiders, and Renfrow had three receptions for 21 yards in the season opener. But this week, we should see the Renfrow who had a TD catch in each of the final home games in 2021. He also has 100-plus receiving yards in his last two matchups with NFC opponents.
.@Lindsay_Rhodes tells you why she believes the #Raiders Hunter Renfrow will have a bounce back in Week 2!
He’s on the RHODES TO REDEMPTION on Fantasy Dirt. #RaiderNation | #JustWinBaby | #SilverandBlack | #FantasyFootball | @Michael_Fabiano pic.twitter.com/GVO7DFF9Sl
— Fantasy Sports Radio (@SiriusXMFantasy) September 14, 2022
The Arizona secondary will be a prime focus for Derek Carr in a much better matchup after he faced the much tougher Chargers pass defense. The Cardinals will be dialed in on Davante Adams, and Renfrow should get open frequently. Expect six-plus catches, a 100-yard day, and a score.
Darnell Mooney
Mooney caught just one pass for eight yards last week and faces a Packers secondary that is looking to rebound after it was torched by Justin Jefferson. In two games vs. Green Bay last season, Mooney had six catches for 64 yards and a TD. Mooney has five-plus receptions for 50-plus yards in three of his past four road games.
The numbers and matchup with a normally formidable secondary seem to indicate that Mooney is not an upside play for Week 2, but he can have a decent floor as the clear No. 1 target for the Bears without much true competition. Those who have tight lineup decisions involving Mooney can lean to him for potentially respectable output, but other guys that are being considered may have more of a statistical ceiling.
Adam Thielen
After catching 24 TD passes in the last two seasons, many fantasy players steered clear of Thielen on draft day, because apparently, the rise of Jefferson is going to render Thielen irrelevant. Also, 32 years old may as well be the new 40 in terms of NFL years for wide receivers to some.
Thielen, however, will show he is not quite done even though he was quiet in the season opener. He caught seven TD passes in seven road games in 2021. The Eagles will be overly concerned with containing Jefferson, and Thielen will demonstrate that he is not "washed" with yet another scoring catch and a respectable amount of receptions.
Quarterbacks And Tight Ends - Fantasy Football Week 2
Trey Lance and Michael Thomas
Lance totaled 218 yards (164 passing, 54 rushing) in Week 1. He passed for 249 yards and two TDs with an interception in his only career home start (10/3/21 vs. Houston). He had 198 yards (157 passing, 41 rushing) and two TDs vs. 0 INTs in his last home meeting with the Seahawks. This is a pivotal week for Lance to prove he can unfurl his upside and lead his team to a key win
If you drafted Lance to start him, then he should be in the lineup. He should at least deliver respectable totals after being held down by the weather conditions last week. We still must give him a chance to show what he is truly capable of.
Carson Wentz
Wentz passed for 313 yards and four TDs vs. two INTs in Week 1, his 22nd-career 300-yard game. He had 11 passing TDs vs. one INT in eight road starts with the Colts in 2021. Wentz has a much deeper receiving crew than he did last year and in any recent season. He is the obvious ideal replacement for Dak Prescott this week in a matchup with Washington, but Wentz should not be started over a more proven and established fantasy producer at QB based on one good performance to open the season and what seems to be a good defensive draw.
Albert Okwuegbunam
Wilson made it a point to get the ball to his TEs early and often last week. Okwuegbunam had five receptions for the third time in his career and nearly found the end zone. He is a good streamer against a Houston defense that allowed O.J. Howard to score twice in Week 1.
Scott Engel's fantasy and betting analysis is also featured at The Game Day.
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