FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: Week 2 Lineup Advice: Starts, Sleepers, Sits, Player Debates, and TD Calls (Ep. 1703)
Date: September 12, 2025
Host: Ryan Warmly with Pat Fitzmaurice (Fitz) and Jake Seeley

Overview

This episode dives deep into Week 2 start/sit decisions, popular waiver wire adds, player debates at key positions, rest-of-season value shifts, and those all-important “plant your flag” calls. The show runs matchup-centric analysis, debates risers and fallers after a wild Week 1, and wraps with touchdown predictions. The tone is sharp but chill, with the usual banter and expert insight from three voices at the top of the fantasy football game.

Early Week 1 Reactions

Unpredictable Week 1

• Fitz: "It was kind of a mixed bag, of course, in week one. Luckily not too many injuries. Although... Brock Purdy is going to miss maybe a month or so." [01:12]
• Jake: "It's one week. Relax. Don't overreact... You can come for me, but also come for me within the right time is all I'm saying." [01:44]

Key Advice:

• Don't overreact to one week.
• Injuries and roles are still settling.
• Let new information—like changes in who starts or who got cut—guide expectations.

Waiver Adds: Start or Sit?

Quentin Johnston (WR, LAC)

• Jake: "I'm starting him if I need to shoot for ceiling... The good news, the end zone and red zone targets were going to Quentin Johnston. We know the big playability. I'm definitely buying in, but still no more as a wide receiver four." [05:03]
• Fitz: "I've got him ranked wide receiver 44... in a league where you have to start three receivers or... three flex guys, like, I think you’re probably starting him." [06:29]

Harold Fannin Jr. (TE, CLE)

• Fitz: "Probably a start for a lot... replacing either George Kittle or Evan Engram... but some of his Week 1 success may have been opponent related." [07:26]
• Jake: "I do have Fannin over Goddard because he's banged up. I have him over Evan Engram... But... I would play Joanne Johnson over him... the ceiling's there." [08:16]
• Both see Fannin as a viable, but not locked-in, start.

Kayshon Boutte (WR, NE)

• Jake: "Grab and wait in my opinion... Does the volume carry over? If you want to play him, I'm not going to hate you for it. I would just be a little cautious..." [09:53]
• Fitz: "I think I'm sitting him this week. Nice depth piece for sure. But... I don't think you're starting Boutte this week." [11:05]

Marquise "Hollywood" Brown (WR, KC)

• Jake: "I have him right at [WR] 31. The matchup's a little bit concerning, but... the volume is going to offset it. We're going to need 10 targets... but that’s okay." [11:41]
• Fitz: Fully agrees: "So I think you are starting Hollywood." [12:37]

Plant Your Flag Players

Fitz: Jameson Williams (WR, DET)

• "Do not be discouraged by his four catches for 23 yards last week... I think JMO goes off this week against a Bears defense likely to be without its best cornerback, Jalen Johnson." [13:15]
• Jake: Agrees—great bounce-back spot; Ford Field boosts offense. [14:00]

Jake: Jordan Mason (RB, GB)

• "If they're going to roll out... the Harris/Jalen Warren Steelers backfield... you can start Jordan Mason in a game that we actually expect them to contend, if not with the lead... If Mason has another 15-20 touches, put him in your Week 2 lineup." [15:08]
• Fitz is slightly lower, citing Falcons' run defense but agrees on borderline RB2/FLEX. [16:14]

Player Debates

Running Back: Travis Etienne vs. Breece Hall

• Jake: "I want to start both... but I will go Hall with the slight edge... I trust Hall a little bit more... the real number two [Jets’ receiver] is Breece Hall."
• Fitz: "ETN ranked one spot higher [RB15], but don't have a real strong feeling... feel slightly more confident in the size of ETN’s role." [23:11]
• Rest-of-season outlook: Both are moving up a tier, especially Etienne after Tank Bigsby’s trade. [24:53]

Kenneth Walker (SEA) vs. Javonte Williams (NYG)

• Jake: "Javonte Williams falls into... volume. As long as he's healthy it's a volume play and especially against the Giants... I just have concerns with Walker—Charbonnet got the goal line touches and they kind of used Walker as the pass-down back..." [26:49]
• Fitz: "Not that worried about the Seahawks usage Week 1—Walker was dealing with the foot injury and missed August time... I'm still bullish..." [29:46]
• Fitz prefers Walker, Jake prefers Williams due to usage trends.

Wide Receiver Debates

Tyreek Hill (MIA) vs. Ricky Pearsall (SF)

• Fitz: "I would play Tyreek... he had a 27.8% target share... All really encouraging numbers. I don't think Tua is terrible... Dolphins are back at home." [33:16]
• Jake: "I think it could be [a lost season for Miami]... What did Mike McDaniel do this offseason? ... I'm going Ricky Pearsall." [35:06]

Marquise Brown (KC) vs. Rome Odunze (CHI)

• Jake: "Odunze: I feel like that's all it is against the floor and... going against the Eagles... The Lions are concerning enough but against the Packers... I'd play Odunze. Caveat: if you don't like the floor, the lower floor is clearly with Odunze." [38:00]
• Fitz: "Floor is safer with Hollywood... but don't know how long he'll hold up... I don't really want to start any Bears [like Odunze] this week." [39:11]

Rapid Fire Start/Sit Decisions

Isaiah Pacheco (KC) vs. Zach Charbonnet (SEA)

• Fitz: "Pacheco... dominated early down snaps... looks like his 2023 self." [40:21]
• Jake: "I have legit concerns... if you told me this game was competitive from the jump... otherwise, I'd go both Seahawks RBs over Pacheco." [41:22]

Cedric Tillman (CLE) vs. Chris Olave (NO)

• Jake: "Tillman over Olave this week... Of the two offenses, I trust more in Joe Flacco." [42:44]
• Fitz: "Olave... he had 13 targets last week... he's just in a different class than Cedric Tillman." [44:35]

David Montgomery (DET) vs. Emeka Egbuka (TB)

• Fitz: "Monty here. Lions are going to crush Bears; Detroit running game big day." [45:16]
• Jake: "If you need a higher ceiling, Egbuka, even in a tougher matchup." [45:25]
• Egbuka: Rest-of-season, a "sell high" candidate. Wide receiver 27/outer WR2-3 range.

DK Metcalf (SEA) vs. TreVeyon Henderson (NE)

• Fitz: "Metcalf... not playing a guy with 35% snap share [Henderson] over an alpha receiver." [47:16]
• Jake: "I have Henderson barely in front of Metcalf... If you are correct [about snapshare], something's wrong with McDaniels and Vrabel." [48:17]

Dillon Sampson (CLE) vs. Jaylen Waddle (MIA)

• Jake: "Sampson. Going to ride him until the wheels fall off." [49:11]
• Fitz: "Waddle. Miami offense won't be as bad... Last time vs NE: 8 catches, 144 yards, and TD." [49:44]

Michael Pittman (IND) vs. RJ Harvey (DEN)

• Fitz: "RJ Harvey... we saw the big play potential. I don't want to play any WR vs Broncos unless it's a star." [52:12]
• Jake: "We barely agree—Harvey... Sean Payton knows to get the best out of his running backs and he'll give more touches to Harvey." [52:46]

QB & TE Start/Sit

Patrick Mahomes (KC) vs. Drake Maye (NE)

• Fitz: "Mahomes ranked one spot higher... still a great QB, rushing upside. Maye might have a big game, but Mahomes is safer." [53:51]
• Jake: "We disagree again... ceiling is with Maye, very close." [54:32]

TE: T.J. Hockenson vs. Kyle Pitts

• Jake: "Why not go after Kyle Pitts? He played power forward... If London or Mooney is out, Pitts is in play." [55:04]
• Fitz: "Pitts is probably more essential to his team’s passing game, especially if Darnell Mooney is out again." [55:58]

Touchdown Calls (TD Predictions)

[57:03]

• Worm: "I'm going with Chase Brown. I kind of think he's just gonna score a touchdown almost every week." [57:10]
• Jake: "Going a little deeper... George Pickens to do it against the Giants. 100 and a touchdown potential." [57:15]
• Fitz: "Tall order... Brenton Strange. Four catches for 59 yards last week, and I think he has another good game vs the Bengals defense that really gives it up to tight ends." [58:07]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Fitz on Quentin Johnston learning to catch: "This is like Happy Gilmore learning how to putt." [06:38]
• Jake on Miami Dolphins: "What the hell did Mike McDaniel do since last January?" [35:06]
• Fitz on Alave: "Olave’s yards per route run for his career is right up there with Jamar Chase and CD Lamb." [44:35]

Important Timestamps

• Week 1 reactions: 01:12-03:09
• Waiver starts/sits: 05:03-12:59
• Plant your flag picks: 13:15-16:47
• Start/sit RB debates: 21:24-31:38
• WR debates: 32:40-40:04
• Rapid fire decisions (including FLEX/QB/TE): 40:21-56:18
• Touchdown predictions: 57:03-58:21

TL;DR Takeaways

• Week 1 is notoriously weird. Don’t hit the panic button; let trends shake out.
• Waiver adds like Quentin Johnston and Harold Fannin Jr. should be started if you’re chasing upside or addressing injuries, but don’t force them in unless you must.
• Key risers after Week 1: ETN (lead Jags back), Breece Hall (full PPR monster), Jameson Williams (bounce-back candidate).
• Major concern: Is Kenneth Walker losing his grip on RB1 duties? Jake is skeptical; Fitz is optimistic.
• QB/TE debates are closely ranked with a lean to proven vets (Mahomes, Pitts in a new role).
• Sit Kayshon Boutte and consider holding off on other hype waivers unless your roster needs help.
• Hollywood Brown is volume-safe; ceiling plays like Rome Odunze require risk tolerance.
• Don’t overreact—but don’t ignore new usage data, either.
• TD calls: Chase Brown, George Pickens, Brenton Strange.

This episode is loaded with actionable advice, strong start/sit stances, and solid statistical context for tough lineup calls. Whether you’re working waivers or sweating your RB2 slot, you'll find trustworthy guidance here.