Week 2 is where fantasy managers have to resist the urge to overreact. One game can reveal a usage trend, but it can also create a mirage, and this week’s must-sit decisions are all about separating the two. After a Week 1 that produced explosive performances from Derrick Henry, Jahmyr Gibbs and D’Andre Swift, the challenge is identifying which stars face legitimate matchup or workload concerns. These aren’t players you’re giving up on—they’re players whose Week 2 circumstances make the risk harder to justify when better options are available.
BRYCE YOUNG
Bryce Young is coming off a huge Week 1, throwing for 361 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while averaging 9.8 yards per attempt. Those numbers make him an enticing option heading into Week 2, but this is exactly where fantasy managers need to exercise some caution. Young’s performance was impressive, but expecting another 300-plus-yard, three-touchdown game is a major ask, especially with a significantly tougher matchup on deck.
The biggest reason to keep Young on your bench is the Atlanta defense. The Falcons allowed the ninth-lowest yards per attempt, fifth-lowest passing success rate and eighth-lowest passer rating in Week 1, while also generating pressure with Za’Darius Smith recording two sacks. Carolina also ranked fifth in passing rate last week, meaning Young benefited from plenty of opportunity. Against an Atlanta defense that showed it can limit passing efficiency, that same volume may not translate into another big fantasy outing.
Young has certainly had success against Atlanta before, including a 448-yard, three-touchdown performance in his most recent meeting with the Falcons. But that history shouldn’t outweigh the current matchup. After one of the best games of his career, Week 2 sets up as a potential regression spot, and fantasy managers should resist chasing last week’s production. Young is a must-sit for me this week—if you have a reasonable alternative, keep him on the bench and let someone else take the risk.
DK METCALF
DK Metcalf is a tempting bounce-back candidate after seeing 10 targets in Week 1, but the production simply wasn’t there. Metcalf caught just four passes for 40 yards, finishing with only eight fantasy points despite commanding a 24.4% target share and 39.1% first-read share. The volume is encouraging, but it also shows how difficult it can be for Metcalf to turn opportunities into fantasy production when the coverage is tight. Now he gets a Patriots defense that presents an even tougher matchup, making him a risky option for Week 2.
The biggest concern is Christian Gonzalez. In Week 1, Gonzalez allowed just one catch for five yards on 16 routes when he was the nearest defender, while also recording a pass breakup. The Patriots also played single-high coverage on 55.6% of their defensive snaps, which could make it harder for Metcalf to consistently find the deep-ball opportunities that fuel his fantasy ceiling. After struggling to turn 10 targets into meaningful production last week, Metcalf could face another uphill battle against a Patriots secondary that has the personnel to make life difficult for him.
There is a reason to be cautious rather than completely write Metcalf off. He has historically averaged 84.3 receiving yards with three touchdowns in three career games against New England, although his most recent meeting produced just three catches for 32 yards. Still, the combination of his inefficient Week 1, a difficult matchup and the possibility of Gonzalez limiting his opportunities makes Metcalf a player I would must-sit in Week 2. The target volume is promising, but fantasy managers should look for a safer option this week rather than betting on Metcalf to suddenly turn those opportunities into a big game.
D’ANDRE SWIFT
D’Andre Swift is another player who looks like an obvious start after a monster Week 1, but I’d be careful about chasing that production against Minnesota. Swift exploded for 124 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just 18 carries against Carolina, adding 10 receiving yards. That worked out to an incredible 6.9 yards per carry, but three touchdowns are difficult to repeat, and his receiving involvement was minimal with only one catch on one target.
The matchup also gives us reason to pump the brakes. Minnesota held Green Bay to just 66 rushing yards on 21 carries, an impressive 3.1 yards per carry, and did not allow a rushing touchdown in Week 1. The Vikings were also extremely aggressive, blitzing on 78.3% of defensive plays and generating pressure on 50% of dropbacks. That type of defensive approach can make it difficult for a running game to consistently get established.
The biggest reason Swift is a must-sit for me is that his Week 1 fantasy explosion was heavily dependent on touchdowns and efficiency. Three rushing scores turned 18 carries into a massive fantasy performance, but expecting another three-touchdown outing against a defense that just held Green Bay to 3.1 yards per carry is unrealistic. Minnesota’s defense has already shown it can limit the run, and if Swift doesn’t find the end zone, his limited receiving workload could leave him with a much lower fantasy floor. After scoring 31.4 fantasy points in Week 1, Swift is exactly the kind of player fantasy managers could overvalue this week—I’d leave him on the bench if you have another reliable RB option.
TEE HIGGINS
Tee Higgins is a player I’d be looking to sit in Week 2, even though the Texans gave up plenty of production through the air in Week 1. Higgins caught just 3 of 6 targets for 59 yards against Tampa Bay, finishing as the WR41. His 17.1% target share and 18.5% first-read share are respectable, but he didn’t receive a single red-zone target. That leaves Higgins needing big plays or a touchdown to reach the kind of fantasy ceiling managers are hoping for.
The matchup against Houston is also more difficult than the Week 1 numbers suggest. The Texans allowed the second-most fantasy points per target and fourth-most yards per target to perimeter receivers in Week 1, but Houston was one of the better defenses against perimeter wideouts in 2025, allowing the sixth-fewest yards per target and seventh-fewest fantasy points per target. Houston has also recorded at least one sack in 23 straight games. That pressure becomes even more important with Joe Burrow dealing with back tightness. Burrow was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday before returning as a full participant Friday, and while he is expected to play, the injury introduces another variable into Cincinnati’s passing game.
That combination makes Higgins a must-sit for me in Week 2. The talent is obvious, and Burrow is expected to play, so there is always a chance Higgins breaks off a big play. But after only six targets and zero red-zone looks in Week 1, adding a difficult defensive matchup and uncertainty surrounding his quarterback makes him too risky to trust if you have another reliable option. Don’t chase the name or the potential—this is a week to keep Higgins on the bench and wait for a better spot.
The biggest takeaway heading into Week 2 is simple: don’t let draft capital make your lineup decisions for you. A player’s name can’t score fantasy points, and Week 1 usage, matchup quality and offensive context all matter when deciding who deserves a starting spot. For example, DK Metcalf saw 10 targets in Week 1 but turned them into just four catches for 40 yards, while Malik Willis now faces a San Francisco defense that held the Rams to seven points. The goal isn’t to predict every bust—it’s to identify the spots where the range of outcomes is working against you. In Week 2, calculated aggression beats blind loyalty.
