Fantasy Focus Football – Week 2 Starts or Sits!

Hosts: Field Yates, Stephania Bell, Mike Clay, Daniel Dopp
Date: September 12, 2025

Episode Overview

This packed Friday episode centers on weekly strategy for fantasy managers heading into NFL Week 2. The hosts dive into Thursday Night Football takeaways, break down shifting player values from injuries, debate lineup confidence for tricky offenses and committees, and deliver their favorite “start of the week” picks. The conversational, spirited tone features expert stat breakdowns, occasional friendly ribbing, and a heavy dose of honest, actionable advice.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Thursday Night Football Recap: Packers Dominate

• Packers 27, Commanders 18: The crew analyze fantasy impacts, noting the score was misleadingly close due to garbage time.
  • Jaden Reed: Sidelined with a broken collarbone (out 6-8 weeks). Next man up: Savion Williams.
  • Austin Ekeler: Lost to an Achilles injury; likely out for the season.
  • Notable quote:
    "Unfortunately we lost Austin Eckler to an Achilles injury. Appears he's probably going to be done for the season." – Daniel (02:46)

Matthew Golden Frustration (03:43–06:13)

• Golden continues to lead in routes and snaps but is used primarily as a decoy.
  • Zero catches this week despite promising offseason narrative.
  • “They did take a couple shots. We could be having a different conversation today ... but he’s just not part of this offense.” – Mike (04:57)
  • Not startable in any league; safe to drop in 10-team formats, deep stash only in larger leagues.

Jordan Love’s Emergence

• Love’s play elevating conversation (292 yards, 2 TDs).
  • “Maybe Jordan Love might just go and win NFL MVP … he is playing at a very, very high level" – Field (07:05)
  • Love: Solid QB8–12 range; tough Week 3 matchup against Browns.
• Pass-catchers: Only Tucker Kraft (TE) reliably worth playing.
  • Kraft: 6 catches, 124 yards, 1 TD; compared to “baby George Kittle.”
  • “This guy is baby George Kittle … an intriguing top 10-ish tight end.” – Field (08:28)

Commanders’ Outlook

• Jaquori Cross-Merritt (RB): Elevated to borderline RB2/3 with Ekeler out, but expect a committee with Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez.
  • Efficiency tied to passing-game role: “He has to do more in passing situations because he had no catches. Again, that’s two weeks in a row with no catches.” – Mike (12:12)
• Packers Defense: Emerging as a set-and-forget fantasy D/ST.
• Receiver concerns: Terry McLaurin sub-10 points two weeks running; buy-low candidate. Debo Samuel solid top-30 WR. “By the dip”—show patience.

2. Rookie Wide Receivers: Stock Watch (15:06–18:47)

Field’s Rankings for Week 2:

• Tetairoa McMillan (WR21): Panthers’ clear WR1, juicy matchup.
• Emeka Egbuka (WR24): Monitor Chris Godwin’s Bucs return for impact on target share.
• Travis Hunter (WR26): Playing more on defense this week—watch for snap count; could decrease offensive volume.

“I have hedged a tiny bit in my Travis Hunter ranking because I believe more defense means less offense.” – Field (16:27)

Travis Hunter Note:

• Primarily a slot receiver—could mean more targets but fewer big plays.
• “Huge target share” (18:27).

3. Browns Offense: Too Many Cooks? (21:12–24:16)

• Five possible fantasy options: Dylan Sampson (RB), Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman (WRs), David Njoku, Harold Fannin (TE).
  • Jeudy: Must-start. Tillman: deep-league flex. Fannin: promising but likely a streamer, not a weekly play.
• Njoku: Preferred tight end.
  • “Fannin is … more as Isaiah Likely than I do a guy that's actually going to be a weekly starter.” – Mike (23:24)

Running Game Clarification

• Jerome Ford may be sneaky—out-snapped Sampson last week.
• Injury Watch: Dallas Goedert (“expect to be without”), Brock Bowers (“just make sure you have an insurance option”).

4. Running Back Committees and Start/Sit Debates (25:03–32:00)

• Vikings Backfield: Aaron Jones vs. Jordan Mason. Jones has slight edge for PPR due to passing-game work; both low-end RB2/flex, with Mason more likely for goal-line work.
  • “Neither one of these guys had a touch inside the 10-yard line…if one of them did, it probably would be Jordan Mason as the goal line guy.” – Daniel (26:49)
• Committee Clarity (Rapid Fire):
  • Seahawks: Nay on starting either RB.
  • Chiefs: Nay.
  • Patriots: Only Jalen Henderson as a desperation flex.
  • Giants: Yes, Tyron Tracy a borderline RB2/flex.
  • Steelers: Jalen Warren a flex option.
  • Texans: Avoid.

5. New Orleans Saints: Who Can You Trust? (32:00–34:44)

• Alvin Kamara: Obvious start.
• WRs (Olave, Shahid): Flex range at best; poor QB play limits upside.
• Juwan Johnson (TE): Has trended up (“12+ fantasy points in three straight with Rattler”). Tight end volatility remains.

6. Patrick Mahomes: Still Top 10 Without Reliable WRs? (34:45–38:14)

• Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and Rashee Rice (likely out) sap pass-catching. In week one, Mahomes’ fantasy value buoyed by career-high rushing output.
  • “He scored 11.7 fantasy points via the run. That was the second most … if he had an average rushing day, he would’ve been QB15.” – Daniel (35:56)
• Eagles are a favorable matchup for passing. Hosts debate if Mahomes’ rushing is sustainable—Field thinks QB6, Daniel says QB9 (“better chance to be outside top 10 than inside”).

Board Bet:
“I say Patrick Mahomes is inside the top 10 of quarterbacks in Week 2.” – Field (38:12)
“I say Patrick Mahomes is outside the top 10 at quarterbacks in Week 2.” – Daniel
“Mike says he is exactly QB10.” – Mike

7. QBs Who Changed Teams: Start/Sit (40:00–42:33)

• Justin Fields: Clear start, consensus top-seven fantasy QB (“Fields was spinning that thing too, as well. He was throwing the ball very, very well.” – Field)
• Aaron Rodgers: Sit. Capped upside, not running, little fantasy appeal—move on in 1QB leagues.

8. San Francisco 49ers Without Purdy & Kittle (42:33–44:49)

• Ricky Pearsall: Lineup lock, albeit with some downgrade to WR3/flex.
• Juwan Jennings: Monitor injury status, deep league flex only.
• Streaming TE: Jake Tonjas not recommended.

9. Marvin Harrison Jr.: Volume Concerns (44:36–47:17)

• Five catches, 61 yards, TD—only six targets.
  • “21% target share is not going to cut it for Marvin Harrison Jr. to get to his ceiling. So we need that to pick up.” – Mike (46:41)
  • If volume stays low, could slide from WR1 to “DeVonta Smith”/“Zay Flowers” tier.

10. Bullish vs. Bearish: Hot Player Debates (47:31–55:10)

Derrick Henry (vs. Browns)

• Field (RB3), Daniel (RB4): bullish on upside.
• Mike (RB7): "Somewhat boom-bust … 18 points is my projection, but he was under that 9/17 games last season."

Tetairoa McMillan

• Mike (WR29): Down on him vs. improved Cardinals D.
• Field/Daniel (WR21-20): More optimistic matchup view.

Kyle Pitts

• Field (TE10), Daniel (11): See streamer value.
• Mike (TE16): Recurring boom/bust. “Every time you trust Kyle Pitts, he goes 3 for 19.”

Starts of the Week Picks (56:12–61:18)

See timestamps for each pick.

• Mike Clay:

  • QB: Drake May vs. Miami
  • RB: Jalen Warren vs. Seattle
  • WR: Zay Flowers vs. Cleveland
  • TE: David Njoku vs. Baltimore

• Field Yates:

  • QB: Drake May (matchup, possible breakout week)
  • RB: Javonte Williams (workhorse for Dallas)
  • WR: Keenan Allen (safe target share)
  • TE: Kyle Pitts

• Daniel Dopp:

  • QB: Justin Herbert (Raiders matchup)
  • RB: David Montgomery (vs. Bears; projects for volume/TD)
  • WR: Ricky Pearsall (SF, due to injuries)
  • TE: Juwan Johnson (volume play)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Packers D/ST: “Every year we have massive turnover with fantasy defenses ... this could be the Packers year.” – Mike (13:07)
• On Fantasy Managers: “Listen, Daniel, you stood by the Lions through some of the crappiest decades, not years, decades imaginable ..." – Field (02:33)
• On Board Bet Culture: “I don’t want to do three board bets back to back to back… Monopoly quarter?” – Field (50:43-50:55)
• On Kyle Pitts Trust Issues: “Every time you trust Kyle Pitts, he goes 3 for 19.” – Field (54:21)
• On Bullish vs. Bearish Segment: "Mike, you’re going to play the Buzz Killington role here..." – Daniel (47:31)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Packers/Commanders Recap & Injuries: 02:46–08:10
• Matthew Golden Usage Debate: 03:43–06:41
• Tucker Kraft Hype: 08:25–09:35
• Commanders RB Backfield: 10:41–12:56
• Packers D/ST Value: 13:07–13:28
• Start/Sit Committee RBs: 25:25–32:00
• Browns Pass Catchers Crunch: 21:12–24:16
• Saints Pass Catchers: 32:00–34:44
• Mahomes Start/Sit Board Bet: 34:45–38:14
• Fields vs. Rodgers: 40:00–42:33
• 49ers Post-Injuries: 42:33–44:49
• Harrison Jr. Volume: 44:36–47:17
• Bullish/Bearish Segment: 47:31–55:10
• Starts of the Week: 56:12–61:18

Summary for Fantasy Managers (Actionable Advice)

• Packers: Jordan Love is a strong QB1/2; start Tucker Kraft. Hold/drop Golden, bench all WRs.
• RB Watch: Jaquori Cross-Merritt jumps, but beware committee risks. David Montgomery and Jalen Warren are preferred RB2 plays this week.
• WR Stock Up: Ted McMillan (start), Emeka Egbuka (borderline), Travis Hunter (borderline if role reduced).
• TE Streamers: Juwan Johnson, Tucker Kraft, Kyle Pitts (if desperate).
• QBs: Mahomes is still top 10 (pending WR health, sustain rushing upside?). Justin Fields a must start. Bench Aaron Rodgers.
• Bullish/Bearish Calls: Don’t overreact to one week. Monitor role/target share for rookie WRs/RBs. Be wary of crowded committees.
• Defenses: Packers and Browns both emerging as set-and-forget options.

Notable Board Bets

• Patrick Mahomes: Top 10 fantasy QB or not? (38:12)
• Derrick Henry, Tetairoa McMillan, Kyle Pitts: Ongoing bullish vs. bearish internal “bets.”

Fantasy Focus Football returns Sunday morning with lineup advice. Don’t forget: be patient, keep perspective, and—good luck in Week 2!