FantasyPros Week 2 Lineup Advice: Starts, Sleepers, Sits, Player Debates, & TD Calls

The Herd with Colin Cowherd | FantasyPros Ep. 1703 (Sept 13, 2025)
Hosts: Ryan Warmly, Pat Fitzmaurice, Jake Ciely
Main Theme:
A data-driven, rapid-fire episode to help fantasy managers optimize Week 2 NFL lineups, with expert debate on trending waiver adds, start/sit dilemmas, player outlooks, and touchdown predictions.

Week 1 Takeaways & Reaction

Timestamp: 01:00–03:00

• Injuries & Storylines: Not many injuries, but Brock Purdy expected to miss about a month. The week was unpredictable; for example, Steelers-Jets shattered the Vegas point total.
  • Memorable moment: “Don’t overreact. It’s week one! Relax.” — Jake (01:44)
• Draft Regrets & Reactions: Jake reflects on pulling back from Kenneth Walker hype, dropping him to RB18, and urges context before criticism:
  • Quote: “I feel the pain of having them as my anchor RB… but also come for me within the right time is all I’m saying.” — Jake (01:44)

Popular Waiver Adds: Start or Sit?

Timestamp: 04:10–12:57

Quentin Johnston (LAC, WR)

• Jake: Start only if you need to swing for upside, not a must-play. Points out encouraging red zone usage, but Keenan Allen hasn’t gone away.
  • Quote: “Keenan Allen would be the floor, Quentin Johnston would be the upside.” (06:12)
• Fitz: Has Johnston at WR44; agrees with Jake on role/floor; big play threat but not yet a locked-in starter.

Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE, TE)

• Fitz: Start if replacing studs like Kittle, Goddard (injured/questionable), but not ahead of safer/larger snap-share TEs (e.g., Kraft, Warren).
• Jake: Nearly identical ranking (TE16). Compares to Isaiah Likely: exciting, athletic, but hard to trust consistently in two-TE offenses.
  • Quote: “Fannin and Likely are a good parallel… with high ceilings but hard to get value from both.” (08:14)

Kayshon Boutte (NE, WR)

• Jake: Add and stash, not a start. New England WR rotation and Diggs’ likely future snap increase muddy outlook.
  • “Does the volume carry over? …I would just be a little bit cautious.” (09:51)
• Fitz: “Nice depth piece, but no, not this week.” Injuries not widespread enough to justify starting.

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (KC, WR)

• Jake: Has him mid-WR3 (WR31); high-volume role keeps him afloat but needs massive target counts due to low aDOT.
• Fitz: Agrees with Jake, Hollywood is a start unless Xavier Worthy returns suddenly.

Plant Your Flag Players (High-Conviction Starts)

Timestamp: 12:57–16:44

Jameson Williams (DET, WR)

• Fitz: “Do not be discouraged by his four catches for 23 yards last week… this is a get-right spot for Detroit against Chicago.” (13:12)
• Jake: Agrees—bounce-back, home dome, Bears defense weakened. Cites Jared Goff’s “overblown” outdoor struggles (14:00).

Jordan Mason (GB, RB)

• Jake: Noted clear split with Aaron Jones, but Mason’s 16 touches vs. Jones’ 8 in Week 1 is promising.
  • “If Jordan Mason has another 15–20 touches, put him in your Week 2 lineup.” (15:06)
• Fitz: Slightly cautious, Atlanta’s sneaky-good run D; still has Mason RB31. Not a slam dunk, but flexible.

Start/Sit Player Debates (Major Dilemmas)

Timestamp: 19:55–46:44

RB: Travis Etienne vs. Breece Hall

• Jake: Favors Hall (RB20), slightly more trust in receiving volume and role as “real No. 2” in Jets’ offense.
  • Quote: “The passing game upside is better for Breece Hall than it is for ETN.” (21:44)
• Fitz: Slight ETN edge (RB15), but no strong conviction; feels both are solid starts. ETN’s snap share likely to tick up with Bigsby gone.

Rest of Season Outlook?

• Both experts move ETN and Hall up after Week 1, but not drastically—each believes confirmation was needed.

RB: Kenneth Walker vs. Javonte Williams

• Jake: Cautious on Walker after low Week 1 usage and Charbonnet’s goal line snaps. Rides with Javonte for volume and matchup.
  • Quote: “Maybe he [Walker] is still being worked back in… but I’m concerned.” (26:44)
• Fitz: Remains bullish on Walker, believes Week 1 was injury management; notes Walker’s elite opportunity-per-snap.
  • Quote: “I’m not that worried… I think the Seahawks are just being a little cautious here.” (28:44)

WR: Tyreek Hill vs. Ricky Pearsall

• Fitz: Favors Tyreek despite Miami’s woes; target and air-yard share strong, Tua due for bounce-back.
  • Memorable: “I don’t think Tua is terrible… I’m still starting Tyreek.” (33:46)
• Jake: Leans Pearsall—trusts Shanahan’s system and Mac Jones to produce a top-20 PPR WR. Down on McDaniel’s Miami adjustments.
  • Quote: “When you take shots at your quarterback, you’re in panic mode… so I am going Ricky Pearsall.” (34:04)

WR: Marquise Brown vs. Rome Odunze

• Jake: Prefers Rome Odunze’s ceiling, worried Hollywood needs 10+ targets against Eagles, sees only a “floor” play.
• Fitz: Hollywood’s huge target share makes him slightly safer, but worries about durability; skeptical of Bears’ offense this week.

Rapid-Fire Start/Sit Decisions

Timestamp: 39:02–55:15

• Isaiah Pacheco vs. Zach Charbonnet (RB):

  • Fitz: Pacheco—believes snap split will even back towards Walker, KC should run to protect Mahomes.
  • Jake: Slightly prefers SEA RBs over Pacheco if game scripts go badly for KC.

• Cedric Tillman vs. Chris Olave (WR):

  • Jake: Roll with Tillman; trusts Flacco volume and Browns’ usage
  • Fitz: Sticks with Olave’s elite metrics despite bad offense.

• David Montgomery vs. Emeka Egbuka (Flex):

  • Fitz: Montgomery—Detroit will steamroll Bears, big rushing day.
  • Jake: If you want ceiling, Egbuka; for floor, Montgomery.

• DK Metcalf vs. TreVeyon Henderson (Flex):

  • Fitz: Metcalf—workload trumps Henderson’s “35% snapshare” risk.
  • Jake: Slight lean Henderson, mainly due to optimism on MIA defense yielding big days to RBs.

• Dillon Sampson vs. Jaylen Waddle (Flex):

  • Jake: Sampson (loves pass-catching role). “I’m going to ride Dillon Sampson until the wheels fall off.” (48:08)
  • Fitz: Waddle based on home splits, matchup history, and faith in Miami offense rebounding.

• RJ Harvey vs. Michael Pittman (Flex):

  • Both slightly prefer Harvey, trusting increased touches and playmaking.

• Patrick Mahomes vs. Drake May (QB):

  • Fitz: Mahomes—slightly safer even with poor KC supporting cast.
  • Jake: May for dual-threat upside.

• TJ Hockenson vs. Kyle Pitts (TE):

  • Both: Pitts gets the nod for increased necessity in ATL passing game, especially with potential WR injuries.
    • Quote: “Pitts is probably more essential to his team’s passing game right now.” — Fitz (54:55)

Touchdown Calls!

Timestamp: 55:15–57:19

• Ryan (RB): Chase Brown (“Feels like he’ll score almost every week.”)
• Jake (WR): George Pickens (“…can take control of that Cowboys secondary.”)
• Fitz (TE): Brenton Strange (“Bengals D really gives it up to tight ends.”)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Jake’s Draft Pain: “Please come for me if you drafted [Walker] early August. I suffered the same pain.”
• Fitz on Big-Play Potential: On Quentin Johnston: “He’s just a freight train with the ball in his hands—if he’s learned to catch, this is Happy Gilmore learning how to putt.”
• Running Back Panic Meter: Surge of questions on Kenneth Walker—most discussed post-Week 1 player per Fitz.
• QB Panic in Miami: “When you take shots at your quarterback, you’re in panic mode.” — Jake
• On Fantasy Football Trends: Several reminders not to overreact to single-week sample sizes.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:00: Week 1 takeaways, injuries, and surprises
• 04:10: Waiver adds start/sit (Johnston, Fannin, Boutte, Hollywood)
• 12:57: Plant Your Flag segment
• 19:55: In-depth start/sit debates (RB/WR)
• 39:02: Rapid-fire start/sit at every position
• 55:15: Touchdown Calls
• 56:13: TD contest explanations and picks

Tone & Style

Spirited, fast-moving, and unsparingly honest, with playful jabs, humility about past predictions, and lots of actionable specifics. The hosts combine deep metrics with football “vibes,” making the episode accessible for diehards and casuals alike.

For more, visit: fantasypros.com/rankings

This summary is for fantasy managers seeking actionable Week 2 lineup advice, clear answers to tough start/sit decisions, insights on trending players, and some good natured banter to boot!