Welcome to Week 2, friends. As always, we’re here to provide you with some fantasy football Quick Grades (or Start/Sit Grades, if you prefer) for the week.

We tapped into our consensus projections and rankings and Derek Brown’s weekly Primer to generate this week’s Quick Grades. See below for the results and accompanying notes.

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Week 2 Quarterback Start/Sit Grades

Jordan Love: Love finished as the QB3 in fantasy as the rest of the position fell apart in Week 1. Love did so on the strength of three passing touchdowns as one of only three quarterbacks to do so. His other deeper metrics are more concerning. Love was 20th in passing grade and 30th in adjusted completion rate despite ranking third-best in yards per attempt. I didn’t anticipate tossing cold water on Packers fans after Week 1, but here we are. The Falcons will be a good litmus test for where he is as a player and passer in Week 2. Atlanta is fresh off dismantling Bryce Young and the Panthers. After Week 1, the Falcons have allowed the third-lowest yards per attempt and fifth-lowest adjusted completion rate. Those numbers could be noisy, but they are impressive nonetheless. Atlanta finishing with the fifth-highest pressure rate last week should frighten Love. The sample size for Love against pressure over the last two seasons is miniscule, but it doesn’t paint a pretty picture. Love has been pressured on ten dropbacks since 2022, completing only 42.8% of his passes with putrid passing grades. Love is an uninspiring QB2 this week.

Desmond Ridder: Ridder picked up right where he left off in 2022 with replaceable quarterback play. Ridder finished Week 1 with the ninth-lowest passing grade. Before every Falcons fan rolls their eyes while thinking of Ridder’s 94.1% adjusted completion rate, understand that he finished with THE lowest aDOT (3.2) of any quarterback in the NFL in Week 1. Ridder was simply tossing checkdowns all day. Despite finishing with the lowest pass attempts for any quarterback (18) starting in Week 1, he ranked seventh in screen passing attempts (five), which accounted for 22.7% of his passing attempts (second-highest). Ridder is a basement-level QB2 in Week 2, facing off against a Packers pass defense that held Justin Fields to 5.8 yards per attempt and a 78.2 passer rating last week.

Jimmy Garoppolo: Garoppolo had a very “Garoppolo-like” Week 1 performance. He had an efficient outing, ranking third in passing grade, sixth in yards per attempt, and eighth in adjusted completion rate with zero turnover-worthy plays. That left him as the QB12 in fantasy for the week, as many heavy hitters had dumpster-fire outings. Buffalo was their usual stout pass defense selves in Week 1 with the caveat that they got to feast on Zach Wilson‘s check-down party all night. Buffalo permitted only 6.3 yards per attempt and a 77.8 passer rating. Last year, they allowed the fifth-lowest yards per attempt and fourth-lowest passer rating. Buffalo rolled out zone coverage in Week 1 on 55-56% of their corner’s snaps. I’ll give the context that, yes, this was on a different team with a MUCH different offensive system, but Garoppolo was seventh in yards per attempt and tenth in passer rating against zone coverage. He also finished 18th in fantasy points per dropback against zone, so don’t expect anything but another game-manager-esque QB2 performance from Garoppolo in Week 2.

Josh Allen: Last week was arguably Allen’s worst performance of his career. Since 2021, it was only his fourth game with a passer rating below 65.0 and the third game of his career with three interceptions. At times, Allen made head-scratching throw after head-scratching throw with only green jerseys around. He looked like a player trying to force a big play when the plan of attack should have been to take what the defense was giving him. In Week 1, Patrick Graham changed the flavor of the defensive ice cream. Last year, this secondary deployed man coverage on 36-41% of their coverage snaps. That plan was tossed in the dumpster so far for 2023, as the Raiders operated in zone coverage on 76% of their snaps in Week 1. In doing so, they held Russell Wilson to 177 passing yards with 5.2 yards per attempt (ninth-lowest), as he also had the third-highest adjusted completion rate for the week. This could be another rough week for Allen against a zone-centric defense. Last year, Allen was 27th in adjusted completion, 16th in passer rating, and 15th in CPOE on deep throws against zone coverage. Allen had a 10:10 passing touchdown to interception ratio against zone (third-most interceptions) in 2022. Allen can overcome any rough passing day with a strong rushing outing for fantasy purposes, so continue to start him as a locked-in strong QB1. Last year, Allen had the fourth-most scrambles and second-most rushing yards against zone coverage among quarterbacks.

Lamar Jackson: Jackson operated at a meh level in Week 1 in a strange offense. Jackson was 16th in passing grade, sixth in yards per attempt, and second in adjusted completion rate. The last two figures sound great, huh? His incredibly high completion rate can be traced to his comical 5.1 aDOT (fifth-lowest). Much of this is related to the Ravens’ psychotic use of the screen game in Week 1. Jackson utilized screens on 26.7% of his dropbacks in Week 1. To put that figure in context, only P.J. Walker (minimum 50 dropbacks) had a screen rate above 16.8% last season. I don’t want to overreact to a one-game sample, but there’s plenty to sift through and wonder why. Jackson remains a QB1 because of his rushing ability, but this is a tough matchup. In his last two games against the Bengals, they have had his number. He completed only 53.9% of his passes with 5.2 yards per attempt. Last season, Cincinnati allowed the tenth-lowest yards per attempt, the lowest passer rating, and the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks.

Joe Burrow: I had to refresh Burrow’s stat page a few times to make sure I was seeing things right. Burrow finished Week 1 with a 45.2 PFF passing grade. You have to go all the way back to his rookie season to find any game (only one) with a lower passing grade. Burrow could only muster 2.6 yards per attempt and a 60.7% adjusted completion rate. To say this level of play is uncharacteristic of Burrow would be an understatement. Baltimore utilized zone on about half of their plays in Week 1. Last year, Burrow was sixth in passer rating and had the most passing touchdowns against zone coverage. He was also seventh in adjusted completion rate against the coverage type but was 23rd in first read rate, so expect him to spread the ball around some this week. Burrow remains a QB1.

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Week 2 Wide Receiver Start/Sit Grades

Zay Flowers: Flowers loudly announced his arrival to the NFL in Week 1. He soaked up an insane 45.5% target share with a 37% TPRR and 2.89 yards per route run. Flowers was the WR16 in Fantasy in Week 1. Flowers led all wide receivers in slot routes as he ran from the inside on 43% of his snaps. This distinction is pivotal for Week 2. Flowers will run about half his routes against Mike Hilton (72% catch rate and 99.3 passer rating allowed in 2022 in slot coverage). Last year, the Bengals allowed the tenth-most slot receiving yards per game despite facing the eighth-fewest slot targets per game. Flowers is a WR2/3.

Odell Beckham Jr.: Beckham Jr. looked about like I expected in Week 1 as a trusted, middling veteran receiving option. He saw a 13.6% target share (39.8% air yard share) with 1.61 yards per route run. Beckham will run about 97% of his routes against Chidobe Awuzie (41.9% catch rate and 58.2 passer rating allowed in 2022) and Cam Taylor-Britt (54.7% catch rate and 88.3 passer rating allowed in 2022). Beckham could see shadow coverage from Awuzie, who didn’t shadow last year but did so six times in 2021, following receivers on 59-78% of their routes. He held four of those six receivers below 50 receiving yards in that sample. Beckham is a WR4/5.

Rashod Bateman: Bateman wasn’t a full-time player in Week 1. While I’m encouraged by his 2.06 yards per route run in the first game, you can’t put him into a lineup yet. He only saw a 13.6% target share and 56.6% route per dropback rate. Bateman is a sit in all formats.

Tee Higgins: Higgins finished with a big fat zero in the box score for Week 1 despite drawing a 25% target share and 59.3% air yard share. Again people. Deep breath. It is one week of football. Higgins remains a WR2, although he likely takes a backseat to Chase in this matchup if the Ravens continue to utilize zone on about 50% of their coverage snaps. Last year, Higgins was a smidge more efficient on a per route basis (1.87 YPRR vs. Chase’s 1.85), but his target share against zone was only 15.6% versus Chase’s 25.8%. Higgins remains a WR2 in this matchup who will run about 88% of his routes against Stephens and Darby.

Tyler Lockett: Lockett is Geno’s guy against pressure and zone coverage. Each of these factors will factor in heavily in this game. Last week, Detroit deployed zone on 68-72% of their corner’s snaps. Last year, Lockett ranked 15th in receiving grade and 18th in yards per route run against zone coverage. Lockett is a WR2 who will run about 63% of his routes against Cameron Sutton (50.7% catch rate and 69.6 passer rating allowed in 2022) and Jerry Jacobs (55.0% catch rate and 74.9 passer rating allowed in 2022).

D.K. Metcalf: Against zone coverage last season, Metcalf equaled Lockett in target share (22%) and TPRR (23%). The big discrepancy came with efficiency (1.78 YPRR vs. 2.30 for Lockett) and the touchdown production. Metcalf did receive eight end zone targets last year against zone to Lockett’s three. The problem is he only converted one into a touchdown. If Seattle can keep Chef Geno upright and clean, Metcalf’s numbers might not look too different from Lockett’s. Metcalf also has sneaky touchdown upside. He remains a WR2 who will run about 67% of his routes against Sutton and Jacobs.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Smith-Njigba is a must-sit until his situation changes. Likely due to his wrist injury, he was only a 62% route per team dropback player in Week 1. Despite a 19.2% target share, he needs more routes and volume per game to be fantasy-viable. He played 81% of his snaps from the slot in Week 1, which could be expected, but his 1.0 aDOT is soul-crushing. With that check-down level depth of target, he needs a ton of volume or gawd-like YAC skills to perform well for fantasy purposes. As he gets healthier, look for his role to evolve, but we sit and wait for now. Smith-Njigba will see Brian Branch (50% catch rate and 56.2 passer rating allowed) in coverage when he’s on the field.

Amon-Ra St. Brown: St. Brown picked up right where he left off to open the 2023 season. In Week 1, he commanded a 25.7% target share with 2.29 yards per route run as the WR11 in fantasy scoring. He played 54% of his snaps from the slot while drawing one of the team’s only two red zone targets. Look for Goff to pepper him with targets against Seattle’s zone looks. Last season, he was tenth in target share, third in TPRR, and 11th in YPRR against zone coverage. St. Brown will face off against Artie Burns (59.8% catch rate and 100.3 passer rating allowed in his career) on about 54% of his routes. St. Brown is a WR1.

Josh Reynolds: Reynolds had a nice Week 1, but this isn’t the matchup to take a dice roll with him. Last year, against zone coverage, he only managed a 9.5% target share, 14% TPRR, and 1.44 YPRR with Detroit. Goff will hone in on Gibbs, St. Brown, and LaPorta in this game. All the other receiving options will likely be left fighting for scraps. Sit Reynolds or leave him on the waiver wire.

Keenan Allen: Allen finished Week 1 with a 27.3% target share, a 41.4% air yard share, and 2.30 yards per route run. Allen garnered a 33.3% first-read share while running 54% of his routes from the slot. He will rip Roger McCreary (68.4% catch rate and 111.6 passer rating allowed in his career) in half in Week 2. Allen is WR1 with top-five upside this week.

Mike Williams: Williams was shaken up in Week 1 and evaluated for a concussion before returning. He had a 62% route run per team dropback rate with a 15.2% target share and 20% TPRR (1.80 YPRR). The beat reports in camp were that Williams could see more slot time this season, which happened in Week 1 (44% slot rate). Williams will have his chances against McCreary as well. When he’s outside, look for him to match up with Elijah Molden (69.1% catch rate and 101.2 passer rating allowed in his career) and Sean Murphy-Bunting. Murphy-Bunting gave up a 60% catch rate and a 94.6 passer rating last year. Williams is a WR2. 

Joshua Palmer: Palmer hype and hope needs to disappear. We know who Palmer is at this point in his career. In Week 1, he had a 65% route run per team dropback rate and could only earn one target. Just one. Count it on one hand. One target. He will be displaced eventually by Quentin Jonston. Sit Palmer. I don’t know why you’d have him on your roster, but that’s a discussion for a different day.

Quentin Johnston: Johnston is a sit-and-hold player. He saw a 40% route run per team dropback rate in Week 1, partially due to Williams getting evaluated for a concussion. Be patient. Don’t drop him. The talent and upside are real.

Week 2 Running Back Start/Sit Grades

Khalil Herbert: This backfield is a mess, but let’s try and make some sense of it. Herbert played 36% of the snaps last week with 12 touches and 64 total yards. He led the trio in rushing attempts but was a distant third in routes and red zone opportunities. Herbert also failed to break any tackles and finished with an ugly 1.56 yards after contact per attempt. Last year, Tampa Bay allowed the ninth-highest explosive run rate and yards after contact per attempt. The Buccaneers also gave up the seventh-highest zone yards per carry. In Week 1, Herbert led the team with a 55% zone run rate. Herbert is a dart throw RB3/flex.

Roschon Johnson: Johnson finished Week 1 with 39% of snaps played with 11 touches, 55 total yards, and a score. He led the backfield in targets, routes, and red zone opportunities. What makes this usage muddy is the blowout nature of the Bears Week 1 game. Can we expect Johnson to lead the team in these categories in Week 2? I’m not sure we can, but I’ll also say this. Johnson has the best complete package of any of these backs. He could continue to earn more playing time, and that could start in Week 2, so I won’t rule it out. There’s a sliver of hope for Herbert on zone runs to have a good outing, but the Buccaneers also improved their run defense last week. They had the fourth-highest stuff rate while giving up the ninth-lowest yards after contact per attempt. Tampa Bay could shut down the backs and force Fields to beat them. Johnson is an RB3/4.

Travis Etienne: Ok, Erickson. You were right. Etienne is the Jaguars’ workhorse. He played 80% of the snaps in Week 1 with 23 touches and 104 total yards as he was the RB6 in fantasy. He had the third-highest route run rate per team drop back behind only Christian McCaffrey with a 15.6% target share. Etienne ranks 14th in yards after contact per attempt and elusive rating. Etienne is an RB1 squaring off against a rush defense that allowed the tenth-lowest explosive run rate and ninth-lowest yards before contact per attempt last year. Etienne can compensate for any lost efficiency on the ground through the air. Kansas City gave up the most receptions and the fourth-most receiving yards to running backs last season.

Zack Moss: With Jackson stinking it up last week and Evan Hull on the IR, this looks like Moss’s backfield for the taking. Last year, in his brief run as the Colts’ starter, he averaged 16.3 touches and 88.3 total yards. In 2022, he was 22nd in yards after contact per attempt, 23rd in breakaway run rate, and fourth in elusive rating (minimum 90 carries). He was a zero in the passing game with 0.40 yards per route run. Last year, Moss was 50/50 with a near-even split of zone and gap runs. In Week 1, Jackson saw 84% of his runs on zone concept plays. While Moss doesn’t likely get that far of a lean with zone runs, I think the shift leans more toward zone runs for him this week. The Texans allowed the seventh-lowest yards per carry to zone runs in Week 1. They also held Baltimore to the 12th-lowest yards before and after contact per attempt. This is all very discouraging for Moss when you also pair it with the fact that Indy’s offensive line did Jackson no favors last week. Indy had the tenth-lowest yards before contact per attempt generated last week. Moss is an RB3.

Cam Akers: Akers played 35% of the snaps in Week 1, with a final stat line of 22 carries for 29 rushing yards. If that isn’t the perfect Matt Asiata stat line, I don’t know what is. That makes me sad, but it’s true. His 1.68 yards after contact per attempt and 38.2 elusive rating are the things of nightmares. Akers is a sit. A must-sit. The 49ers’ run defense is no joke. Aker’s value at this point entirely relies upon his ability in the rushing department. Last year, San Francisco allowed the lowest explosive run rate while having the fifth-highest stuff rate. The 49ers allowed the lowest fantasy points per game to running backs last season.

Kyren Williams: Williams played 65% of the snaps in Week 1 with 15 touches and 52 total yards. He dominated routes and red zone opportunities over Akers. Williams has the fourth-highest route run per team dropback rate of Week 1 behind only Bijan Robinson, Christian McCaffrey, and Travis Etienne. Williams had the 22nd-best missed tackles forced per attempt rate and the 17th-best yards after contact per attempt among 55 qualifying running backs in Week 1. Williams could push for an even higher snap rate this week if the Rams are trailing the entire game. Williams is an RB3 with RB2 upside.

Week 2 Tight End Start/Sit Grades

George Kittle: Despite being less than 100%, Kittle had a 76% route per team dropback rate in Week 1 with a 20.7% target share and 23% TPRR. Last year, with Purdy as the starter, Kittle posted strong numbers against zone coverage (Rams 60-61% zone in Week 1). He had a 22.2% target share, 24% TPRR, and 2.36 YPRR while ranking second on the team in receiving yardage percent and leading the team with an eye-popping 66.7% touchdown percentage. Kittle is a strong TE1 facing off against a Rams defense that allowed the 13th-highest yards per reception and seventh-most receiving touchdowns (tied) last year.

Tyler Higbee: In a smash matchup against Seattle last week, Higbee took a backseat to the Rams’ young wide receivers. Higbee had a 74% route per team dropback rate while only seeing a 7.9% target share and 10% TPRR. Higbee’s route share will remain high all season, and he’ll have TE1 weeks, but this isn’t one of them. The 49ers have been tough on tight ends. Last year, they allowed the 11th-lowest receiving yard, sixth-lowest yards per reception, and eighth-fewest fantasy points to the position. Higbee is a TE2.

Darren Waller: Waller’s Week 1 numbers are noisy. He entered the week nursing a hamstring issue. Then the Giants got blown out impressively by Dallas, so we have no clue if his usage numbers would have been different in a close contest. Waller had a 52% route per team dropback rate with a 16.7% target share and 30.5% air yard share. He was targeted on 22% of his routes with 1.57 YPRR. Outside of the route run number, the rest of his metrics are perfectly fine. He exited Week 1 ranked tenth in receiving grade and sixth in yards per route run. Assuming health isn’t an issue this week, Waller is in a bounce-back smash spot. Arizona allowed the most fantasy points, third-most receiving yards, and the most receiving touchdowns to tight ends last year. In Week 1, they allowed 12.0 yards per reception to tight ends, which would have been the fifth-highest last season.

Zach Ertz: Ertz saw elite volume in Week 1. With a 33.3% target share and 34.8% 1st read share. It’s too bad he’s a shell of his former self at this juncture. He could only churn out 0.75 yards per route run and 21 receiving yards. If he continues to see this crazy volume, he’ll flirt with TE1 numbers weekly, especially in PPR leagues. The Giants could allow him to post a top-12 week. Last year, New York allowed the ninth-most receiving yards and 11th-most fantasy points to tight ends. Ertz is a borderline TE1.

Tyler Conklin: I’ll keep this short and sweet. With Zach Wilson under center, every Jets’ pass catcher not named Garrett Wilson is a must-sit. Dallas held tight ends to the sixth-fewest receiving yards and only one touchdown last season.

Jake Ferguson: After an entire offseason of people talking themselves into “Ferg hype,” Week 1 arrived and smashed all that. Ferguson only saw a 56% team route per dropback rate in Week 1. While he did collect a 24% target share, he did so on an unsustainable 43% TPRR while producing 0.79 yards per route run. Dallas likely doesn’t have to throw much in this game. Ferguson is a TE2 and a must-sit candidate. New York allowed the ninth-highest yards per reception to tight ends last season and the seventh-fewest touchdowns.

Week 2 Defense / Special Teams Start/Sit Grades

Week 2 Kicker Start/Sit Grades