Fantasy football sits and starts in NFL Week 2

After the Cincinnati Bengals’ Thursday night loss many of you may be turning to your fantasy teams for some comfort. Week 2 is that weird time when fantasy owners have to decide whether a Week 1 performance was a one time thing or the beginning of a trend.

Here are the players you should be starting and sitting in Week 2.

Must starts

Brandin Cooks (Patriots WR): Cooks is making a return to New Orleans, and the Patriots are coming of an embarrassing loss. The Patriots have also had basically a mini bye week since they played on Thursday Night, which means they’ve had plenty of time. Plus the Saints defense is trash.

Marshawn Lynch (Raiders RB): Lynch had an okay debut almost reaching 100 yards, and he received several carries inside the five yard line. The Jets just gave up a 100 yard game to LeSean McCoy. Expect Lynch to finally reach pay dirt.

Great matchups

Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals WR): The Colts are awful all around. Any offensive player going against them should automatically be in your line up. It is that simple. Fitzgerald also happens to be Carson Palmer’s favorite target in an offense that just lost David Johnson for the foreseeable future.

Mike Gillislee (Patriots RB): I remain on the side of putting and Patriots’ running back into your line up is a huge risk, but Gillislee is the clear goal line running back after he scored three touchdowns against the Chiefs. He won’t do much else in the offense though. He ran the ball 15 times for 45 yards otherwise. Against the Saints though he should get a few shots at a touchdown.

Eric Ebron (Lions TE): If your read the post last week I warned against starting Ebron against the Cardinals defense who are know for shutting down tight ends. Ebron gets matched up with a Giants defense that gave up a touchdown to Jason Witten last week, and may be more focused on slowing down Detroit's receivers.

Carson Palmer (Cardinals QB): If you are in need of a quarterback to fill in this week Palmer is your guy. Without Johnson most of the offense may come through the passing game, and the Colts defense won’t be slowing that down anytime soon.

Good but not great matchups

Kerwynn Williams (Cardinals RB): The Colts are probably your best team to get your first start against, but this guy isn’t Johnson. He is going to lose touches in the passing game, and he is still pretty unknown. You start him this week, but don’t be surprised at a modest output.

Adam Thielen (Vikings WR): The Steelers defense played fairly well against the pass last week, but that was the Browns. The Vikings also had an amazing outing, but that was against the Saints. It is hard to tell how good this match up is, but I’d be willing to bet on Thielen this week.

Terrance West (Ravens RB): The Browns defense did a very good job of slowing down Le’Veon Bell in his first game back from his holdout. I still think that had more to do with Bell’s fatigue than the Browns’ defense. West will likely see most of the snaps with Danny Woodhead out for at least eight weeks after being put on IR. He is a good flex option.

Bad Matchups

Le’Veon Bell (Steelers RB): You probably drafted bell with the first or second pick, and after two weeks he will probably have you willing to part ways with him. Don’t do that. This is a very good Vikings defense that doesn’t let anyone run on them. Ride out the storm there is fair weather ahead.

Dez Bryant (Cowboys WR): The Broncos are the worst defense to see your receiver is going against. They have the best corner back tandem in the league and that makes it tough for a guy like Bryant. This is Bryant’s second tough match up in a row after recording two catches for 43 yards last week.

Marcus Mariota (Titans QB): The Titans’ offensive line obviously isn’t as bad as the Texans’, but the Jaguars’ defense is no joke. I wouldn’t expect much from the Titans offense this week.

Just sit them

Bilal Powell (Jets RB): The offseason sleeper for many who proclaimed “someone has to produce for the Jets” isn’t producing for the Jets. New York is a bad bad team, and the Raiders fared surprisingly average on defense after struggling a season ago.

Any Seahawks RB: I get you probably took a ticket in the Seahawks running back by carousel backfield, but that ticket really isn’t worth anything. Seattle’s offensive line is trash, and there are just too many backs with no way of knowing who the guy to have is. Keep your ticket on the bench.

Carlos Hyde (49ers RB): I’m not sure why the 49ers only gave Hyde nine carries in the season opener, but it isn’t a good sign. Not to mention Hyde’s next game is in Seattle. A lot of things are going against Hyde. I’m not sure I’d start him over another viable option this week.