NFL Analysts Flag Baker Mayfield, Mark Andrews as Week 2 Starts, Bench Malik Willis
Updated
Updated · NBC Sports · Sep 18
NFL Analysts Flag Baker Mayfield, Mark Andrews as Week 2 Starts, Bench Malik Willis
3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Sep 18
Summary
Week 2 recommendations lean on Week 1 usage and efficiency, with Baker Mayfield, Chuba Hubbard, Emeka Egbuka and Mark Andrews highlighted as strong fantasy starts.
Mayfield’s case rests on underlying metrics despite Tampa Bay’s opener flop—he ranked seventh in success rate, third in CPOE and sixth in EPA per non-turnover play before three lost fumbles sank the game.
Volume and role drive other start calls: Hubbard handled 53% of Panthers carries and the only goal-line rush, Aaron Jones steps into a bigger workload after Jordan Mason hit injured reserve, and Andrews could absorb targets with Zay Flowers nursing a hamstring injury.
The clearest sits are tied to weak quarterback play or empty usage, with Malik Willis facing a 15.75-point implied team total against San Francisco and Daniel Jones drawing a Chiefs defense that generated top-four pressure rates in Week 1.
Receivers and tight ends with misleading Week 1 box scores also land on benches, including Antonio Williams and Dontayvion Wicks, whose limited route shares and target volume suggest their early production may not hold in Week 2.