Bench
Justice Hansen, QB-Arkansas State at Alabama
Hansen opened the 2018 season by throwing six touchdowns against Southeast Missouri State, but there is no mistaking the Red Wolves opponent this week. The senior quarterback may be able to engineer some scoring drives in Tuscaloosa, but he’s not worth the risk.
David Pindell, QB-UConn at Boise State
Pindell threw for 266 yards and ran for 157 yards, while totaling two touchdowns, in UConn’s 56-17 loss at home to Central Florida in Week 1. This week, the Huskies travel across the country to face another top G5 team, Boise State. Last year, the Broncos held six of their eight home opponents to 14 or fewer points.
Ty Gangi, QB-Nevada at Vanderbilt
Last week, Ty Gangi threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns in Nevada’s 72-19 win over Portland State. This week, the competition gets much tougher, as the Wolf Pack travel to Vanderbilt and face a Commodores defense that only allowed 178 passing yards to Middle Tennessee in their season opener.
Izzy Matthews, RB-Colorado State vs Arkansas
Matthews and the Rams’ running game have yet to get going in 2018. In Colorado State’s first two games, Matthews totaled 93 rushing yards on 30 carries, an average of only 3.1 yards per attempt. This week, Marvin Kinsley and Rashaad Boddie return from suspension, so don’t be surprised if Matthews’ touches go down against Arkansas.
Jason Huntley, RB-New Mexico State at Utah State
In two games this year, Huntley has 28 rushing yards on 13 carries, a 2.2 average. He does have eight receptions for 36 yards receiving, but his total offensive output is a major concern if fantasy owners still have him on their roster. In no way should Huntley be among your starters in New Mexico State’s Week 2 matchup at Utah State.
Stephen Carr, RB-USC at Stanford
In USC’s Week 1 matchup against UNLV, Carr split carries with Aca’Cedric Ware and Vavae Malepeai. In fact, he was the only one of the trio not to score a touchdown. The sophomore back is worth keeping on your roster, but fantasy owners should have him on the bench in this week’s game at Stanford.
D’Wayne Eskridge, Western Michigan at Michigan
Eskridge’s fantasy owners will certainly want to get him in their starting lineups after his breakout performance against Syracuse in Week 1 (8 rec., 240 yards, 2 TD). However, a Week 2 game at Michigan drastically hurts Eskridge’s chances for an encore performance, especially with the Wolverines coming off season-opening loss at Notre Dame.
Start
Jafar Armstrong, RB-Notre Dame vs Ball State
Armstrong didn’t exactly roll up the rushing yards last week against Michigan, but he did carry the ball 15 times and found the end zone twice. If the sophomore gets 15 carries this week against Ball State, he could give his fantasy owners a 100-yard rushing performance.
Artavis Pierce, RB-Oregon State vs Southern Utah
In last week’s 77-31 loss at Ohio State, Pierce totaled over 200 yards of offense and scored two rushing touchdowns. Expect the Beavers offense to feature Pierce in their Week 2 matchup at home against FCS opponent Southern Utah.
Chris Warren, RB-Cincinnati at Miami (OH)
After traveling to UCLA last week, the Bearcats won’t have to leave the state for their Week 2 road game at Miami (OH). In Cincinnati’s win over the Bruins, Warren carried the ball 35 times for 142 yards and three touchdowns, and even led the team in receiving with three receptions for 29 yards. Expect the sophomore back to continue his hot start against a Redhawks defense that gave up 35 points at home to Marshall last week.
Taivon Jacobs, WR-Marland at Bowling Green
Not only was Jacobs the team’s leading receiver last week against Texas, but he also had six rushing attempts for 23 yards. Expect the field to open up a bit more for the Maryland offense in Week 2, as they travel to Bowling Green and face a Falcons defense that gave up 58 points at Oregon last week.
Anthony Ratliff-Williams, North Carolina at East Carolina
UNC quarterback Nathan Elliott had accuracy issues last week at Cal, completing only 15-of-35 passes and throwing four interceptions. Ratliff-Williams was still able to rack up 62 receiving yards and catch a touchdown pass. Expect things to get a little easier for the Tar Heels offense in Week 2 against an ECU team that lost to N.C. A&T in their season opener.
Quez Watkins, WR-Southern Miss vs UL Monroe
Watkins was simply a playmaker in the Golden Eagles’ 55-7 win over Jackson State in Week 1. The sophomore receiver caught eight passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns, while adding an 81-yard punt return touchdown to his totals. This week, Southern Miss will host a UL Monroe team that gave up 31 points to SE Louisiana in Week 1, so expect another big game from the USM offense.
Want more?
If you want to know what Joe is looking for in Week 2, check out this week’s YouTube show