FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast: Week 2 Quarterback and Tight End Rankings – Studs, Sleepers, and Must-Starts (Ep. 1701)

Date: September 11, 2025
Hosts: Chris Welsh, Pat Fitzmorris, Andrew Erickson

Episode Overview

This episode of the FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast focuses on Week 2 quarterback and tight end rankings. Chris Welsh is joined by Pat Fitzmorris and Andrew Erickson—both among the top 15 rankers after Week 1—to break down top plays, fade-worthy options, and under-the-radar suggestions at QB and TE. They share actionable insights, reactions to Week 1 surprises, and weigh in on emerging sleepers while injecting their signature wit and candor to help listeners get an edge for their lineups.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Strategy for Week 2: How to Dominate at QB and TE

• Matchups and Mobility:
  • “We're going to look for matchups. We're going to try to take advantage of that.”—Pat Fitzmorris (01:14)
  • Trusting mobile quarterbacks and not overvaluing poor matchups (Andrew Erickson, 01:31)

2. Quarterback Rankings & Debates

Top 12 QBs for Week 2 (02:56)

1. Josh Allen
2. Lamar Jackson
3. Jalen Hurts
4. Joe Burrow
5. Jayden Daniels
6. Justin Herbert
7. Justin Fields
8. Kyler Murray
9. Patrick Mahomes
10. Drake Maye
11. Baker Mayfield
12. Dak Prescott

Justin Fields: Rebound Candidate (03:56)

• Erickson: “Yes, yes, full, full go with Fields. And I just feel so stupid for just way overvaluing the matchup last year or last week…” (03:56)
• Welsh: Shared regrets for benching Fields everywhere in Week 1 (04:24)
• Fitzmorris: “I've got him QB7 this week, so I'm bullish in the short term…that running ability does lift the floor.” (04:59)

Dak Prescott: Differing Levels of Faith (05:22)

• Fitzmorris: Not sold, ranking Dak at QB15. Criticizes lackluster numbers, questions upside vs. tough Giants defense (05:47)
• Erickson: More optimistic, ranking QB12; credits improved play and preparation time; thinks last week was misleading due to dropped passes (06:44)
  • “He played excellent against the Eagles and I think that builds on it.” (07:40)

Jordan Love: Wildly Opposed Views (08:08)

• Erickson: Bold stance with Love at QB9. Sees upside vs. Commanders, unimpressed by the Commanders D so far (08:28)
  • “I just like the Packers offensive score. I'm not afraid of the commander's defense...” (08:41)
• Fitzmorris: Much less confident (QB18), wary of banged-up O-line, receiver injuries, and potential for run-heavy game scripts. (09:37)
  • “Their defense looked amazing...if the packers do end up having an elite defense, like they're going to have a lot of run friendly game scripts this season...Jordan Love only threw 22 passes.” (09:54)

Jared Goff: Both Bullish (13:26)

• Welsh: Both rank higher than consensus (ECR 18), with Fitzmorris QB14 and Erickson QB13.
• Fitzmorris: Sees a “bounce back week coming for Goff…against the Bears, who are likely to be without their best cornerback, Jalen Johnson.” (13:49)
• Erickson: Points to favorable game script, home “Coors Field” narrative, and possible shootout vs. improving Bears offense. (14:28)
  • “Jared Goff, indoor cat. This is his setting where he can thrive the most.” (14:44)

Bo Nix: Sleeper Both Agree On (15:44)

• Erickson: “Bonix, look, he's not perfect, but he also offers a lot as a rusher and that just gives him a floor.” (16:39)
• Fitzmorris: “Opening day jitters, whatever it might have been for Bonix, I don't think we should overreact to a bad game.” (16:44)

3. Tight End Rankings, Injury Fallout & Waiver Gems

Top 12 TEs for Week 2 (17:11):

1. Trey McBride
2. Sam LaPorta
3. Tyler Warren
4. Travis Kelce
5. Brock Bowers
6. Tucker Kraft
7. T.J. Hockenson
8. Mark Andrews
9. David Njoku
10. Kyle Pitts
11. Dallas Goedert
12. Jake Ferguson

Tyler Warren: Week 2 TE3 (17:52)

• Fitzmorris: All in—“Warren is a stud from the get go...we're going to see Warren continue to be a factor every week. Like, he is just a horse.” (17:52)
• Erickson: “Yep, it took all one week for him to be elite tight end.” (18:16)

Kyle Pitts: Is This the Year? (18:22)

• Fitzmorris: Positive outlook (TE8), citing 7 catches for 59 yards on 8 targets in the opener and possible expanded role due to injuries at WR. (19:15)
• Erickson: Cautious optimism, ranked TE12. Acknowledges improved usage but “if Kyle Pitts can't out-target Casey Washington, Ray Ray McLeod, then what are we doing here? ...I still think there might be that sprinkle of frustration.” (20:01)

Waiver Watch: Harold Fannin (21:36)

• Erickson: Notices upside as a stash, but not quite startable—“even if you added Harold Fan in this week, I don't necessarily think that he has to be jammed into your starting lineup...I do kind of want to see it one more week.” (21:36)
  • Surmises possible future value if David Njoku gets traded. (22:17)
• Fitzmorris: “I do think Fan is going to be a factor consistently. But the parallel with the Isaiah Likely thing I can't get past..." (23:31)
  • Warns not to overreact given that he feasted against a particularly bad Bengals TE defense in 2024.

Deep TE Streamers (25:10)

• Fitzmorris: Suggests Jonnu Smith as a deep play—“probably the Steelers tight end to have ... their tight ends are playable.” (25:21)
• Erickson: Likes Juwan Johnson (Saints): “Eleven targets last week, eight cats for 76 yards. He played 99% of the snaps. That alone makes him a viable streaming tight end.” (25:50)
  • Sees positive usage trends with OC Kellen Moore and QB Spencer Rattler.
  • “I just loved how Johnson was used as a slot receiver in Kellen Moore's offense.” (26:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fields’ Week 1 Panic:

  • "One of the dumbest things I did in week one is that right there. I benched him everywhere in week one. Buried him in my ranks. What are you doing? So stupid of me. Idiotic.” —Chris Welsh (04:24)

• On Dak Prescott:

  • "I think Dak can be a top 15 quarterback ... if he got dropped after week one ... I think that he is definitely on the radar." —Andrew Erickson (07:58)

• On Jordan Love debate:

  • "Self hating Packers fan." —Chris Welsh (08:38)

• On Goff's home advantage:

  • “Jared Goff, indoor cat. This is his setting where he can thrive the most.” —Andrew Erickson (14:44)

• On Tyler Warren’s breakout:

  • "Warren is a stud from the get go ... we're going to see Warren continue to be a factor, like, every week. He had a rushing attempt in week one. Like he is just a horse.” —Pat Fitzmorris (17:52)

• On Kyle Pitts frustration:

  • "If Kyle Pitts can't out-target Casey Washington, Ray Ray McLeod, then what are we doing here? Like, come on. Like, he has to step up here.” —Andrew Erickson (20:01)

• On Harold Fannin's Outlook:

  • "We probably should have paid more off season attention to a guy who as a junior at Bowling Green led FBS as a tight end with 117 catches and 1,555 receiving yards.” —Pat Fitzmorris (23:31)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• QB Rankings Overview: 02:56
• Justin Fields debate: 03:56
• Dak Prescott spectrum: 05:22
• Jordan Love debate: 08:08
• Jared Goff optimism: 13:26
• Bo Nix sleeper case: 15:44
• TE Rankings & Tyler Warren: 17:11–18:21
• Kyle Pitts analysis: 18:22–20:51
• Harold Fannin waiver breakdown: 21:36–23:31
• Deep TE streamers: 25:10

Tone and Style

The conversation is casual and analytic, with a mix of playful self-deprecation (especially about Week 1 mistakes), practical lineup advice, and deep dives into narrative and stat-driven arguments. Both hosts are transparent about hits and misses and aren’t afraid to change their evaluation based on new trends, matchups, and injury news.

Conclusion

This episode provides a comprehensive and lively breakdown of the key QBs and TEs for Week 2, with actionable recommendations, sharp debates, and deep-cut sleeper calls. Whether you’re trying to rebound from a rocky start or keep your edge in the league, the hosts offer both laughs and the latest insights to help you win in Week 2.