Updated

Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 17

Dave Richard Publishes Week 2 Top 150 Fantasy Football Rankings and Start-Sit Calls

Updated

Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 17

Dave Richard Publishes Week 2 Top 150 Fantasy Football Rankings and Start-Sit Calls

Q: With star players sidelined and backup quarterbacks stepping up, which overlooked bench warmer will unexpectedly dominate Week 2 matchups?

Michael Mayer looks like the best bet to turn from bench piece into a Week 2 difference-maker. The case is unusually strong. With Brock Bowers expected to miss at least another game, Mayer steps into a much larger role in the Raiders-Chargers matchup. Multiple fantasy previews flag him as one of the few playable names in that game, and the added reporting goes further, calling him a strong TE streamer and even a low-end TE1 because of the target vacuum Bowers leaves behind. One projection source noted Mayer handled a 24% target share in games without Bowers last year, which is starter-level volume for a tight end. The broader Week 2 landscape also helps Mayer stand out. Several backup or fill-in quarterbacks are stepping into difficult spots — Tyler Shough against Baltimore, Carson Wentz only as a deep-league option, Drew Lock in a conservative Seattle setup — and many passing attacks are being downgraded because of pressure, injuries or coverage concerns. By contrast, Mayer’s opportunity is being created by a direct absence in his own offense, not just speculative game script. If you want a deeper sleeper beyond Mayer, Jalen Coker is the wide receiver name to watch. He is still available in many leagues, just posted an 8-catch, 138-yard, 2-touchdown opener, and remains playable against Atlanta if healthy. But among true overlooked bench warmers with the clearest path to unexpectedly dominating Week 2, Mayer has the cleanest evidence-backed runway.

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 17

Week 2 rankings from Dave Richard center on matchup-based lineup decisions, arguing fantasy managers should lean on opponent tendencies and usage rather than draft position.
Top calls include sitting Jared Goff on a short week at Buffalo, downgrading C.J. Stroud and Patrick Mahomes, and elevating options such as Dalton Kincaid, Jalen Coker and Caleb Douglas.
Richard also flags several matchup-driven concerns: Denver's offense after Bo Nix faced 51.5% pressure, Detroit's line injuries against Buffalo, and Minnesota's blitz history against Caleb Williams.
Across the slate, the guide sorts players into must-start, start, flex and sit tiers for every game, with the Top 150 accompanied by position-specific rankings at QB, RB, WR, TE, K and DST.