Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em: Broncos QB Russell Wilson headlines players to avoid in Week 2

Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season was a strange one for fantasy football. We saw multiple high-profile names become non-factors while some unexpected players shined. The upcoming matchups pale in comparison to last week, which could make setting lineups more challenging. 

With that, here's what to do about some players who you may be on the fence about plugging into your starting lineup for Week 2. 

Quarterbacks 

Start: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

49ers at Rams | 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday

One of the most inspiring success stories from last season, Purdy didn't look like someone who underwent elbow surgery in March during San Francisco's 30-7 rout of Pittsburgh. Purdy threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns while gaining 20 yards on the ground. Had the Steelers put up a better fight, he likely would've exceeded his QB10 finish. Even so, Purdy is proving himself to be as consistent as they come and should be in for another solid performance in this divisional clash with the Rams. 

As Pro Football Network's Derek Tate notes, Purdy has yet to finish outside the top 15 among quarterbacks since becoming San Francisco's starter, largely due to the fact that he hasn't thrown fewer than two touchdowns in each outing. Los Angeles' defense fared well against Geno Smith, though Seattle's weapons don't exactly stack up to San Francisco's. Expect Purdy's impressive streak to continue. 

Honorable mentions: Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts; Jared Goff, Detroit Lions; Daniel Jones, New York Giants

Sit: Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos

Commanders at Broncos | 4:25 p.m. Sunday

Although Wilson finished as a top-12 quarterback last week and should have his top weapon, Jerry Jeudy, back in the lineup, it's generally best to avoid starting players in games with a projected point total of 39.  Despite his solid effort, "Mr. Unlimited" only threw for 117 yards against a weak Raiders secondary and is now facing a Washington defense that gives most quarterbacks trouble.

The Commanders allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards in 2022 (3,252) and started this season off by only giving up 132 yards to Cardinals QB Josh Dobbs. Additionally, the imposing pass rush, which collected three sacks last week, should be even stronger on Sunday as former No. 2 pick Chase Young is expected to make his season debut.

Honorable mentions: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams; Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys; Sam Howell, Washington Commanders

Running backs

Start: Jamaal Williams, New Orleans Saints

Saints at Panthers | 7:15 p.m. Monday

Taking on a defense that gave up 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the season opener, Williams is set up to have a much different outcome than he did in his first game with the Saints. Williams rushed 18 times for only 45 yards against Tennessee and added two catches for seven yards.

If you're rostering Williams, it's likely to maximize his value while Alvin Kamara is suspended. Kamara is only out for two more games, and given the volume Williams received along with the advantageous matchup, it's now or never to get him in the lineup. 

Honorable mentions: AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers; Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts

Sit: Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

Browns at Steelers | 8:15 p.m. Monday

It's only Week 2, but there's every reason to panic about Harris' outlook this season. A second-round pick in most drafts, Harris was just as inefficient as last season during Pittsburgh's embarrassing loss to San Francisco and only raked up 33 total yards on eight touches. To make matters worse, Harris barely out-snapped and had as many touches as backup Jaylen Warren. 

Cleveland has actually been a favorable matchup in the past for Harris, with the 25-year-old averaging 103.8 yards and a touchdown across four career games. Nevertheless, considering Harris is essentially splitting snaps with Warren, it's unlikely he can continue that kind of success. 

Honorable mentions: Dalvin Cook, New York Jets; Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears; Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens

Wide receivers

Start: DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans 

Chargers at Titans | 1 p.m. ET Sunday

As much as quarterback Ryan Tannehill's putrid Week 1 performance leaves little optimism about Tennessee's receiving corps, Hopkins proved he's still the same target hog we're accustomed to seeing during his Titans debut. Keep an eye on Hopkins' situation -- he's been held out of Wednesday's and Thursday's practices with an ankle injury -- but if he's good to go Sunday, don't hesitate to put him in your lineup.

The 31-year-old finished as WR26 in PPR scoring formats last week, hauling in seven of 13 targets for 65 yards. On Sunday, Hopkins faces a Chargers defense that allowed the most fantasy points to the wide receiver position in Week 1 (57.2). With Los Angeles having a potent passing attack and being listed as a three-point favorite, the Titans will have to air the ball out, putting Hopkins in line to see another high volume of targets.

Honorable mentions: George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers; Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars; DJ Moore, Chicago Bears

Sit: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams 

49ers at Rams | 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday

Following a historic NFL debut where he saw 15 targets and recorded 10 receptions for 119 yards in place of Cooper Kupp, Nacua became the most sought-after waiver wire pickup this week. The volume is promising and Nacua has plenty of value going forward. However, now that most fantasy managers have spent a considerable amount of FAAB on the rookie, would anyone be surprised if he underwhelms against one of the league's top defenses?

San Francisco's defense was sharp in its season opener, holding Pittsburgh to just seven points, and though it won't be playing an inexperienced quarterback, Stafford struggled twice against this unit last season. Stafford threw just one touchdown in those games, finishing as the QB29 and QB17, respectively, which will cap Nacua's ceiling. While he may be a necessary start if you're desperate for wide receiver help, teams with adequate depth should leave Nacua on the bench this week.

Honorable mentions: Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders; Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks 

Tight Ends

Start: Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars

Chiefs at Jaguars | 1 p.m. ET Sunday

The tight end position was a dumpster fire in fantasy football last week, though Engram was solid, scoring 9.9 PPR points, and he's well-positioned to flourish against the Chiefs. Sunday’s matchup has the highest projected point total for the Week 2 slate (51). Per OddsChecker, the Jaguars are a 3.5-point underdog, which sets up a positive game script for Engram, who ran the third-most routes for the team in their win over Indianapolis (31), to have a significant impact.  

Honorable mentions: Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals; Hunter Henry, New England Patriots; Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

Sit: Hayden Hurst, Carolina Panthers

Saints at Panthers | 7:15 p.m. Monday

The free agent acquisition made quite an impression in his Panthers debut, emerging as rookie quarterback Bryce Young's No. 1 receiving option. Hurst earned a team-high seven targets, catching five of them for 41 yards and a touchdown, making him the TE2 on the week. 

Regardless of whether Young continues to lean on Hurst, New Orleans is an extremely difficult matchup for tight ends. The Saints allowed the second-fewest points per game to the position last season (3.8) and didn't give up a single point to Tennessee's tight ends last week. 

Honorable mentions: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears; Irv Smith Jr., Cincinnati Bengals; Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons