Rolling right along as the 2021 NFL season is now in full swing, Week 2 is upon us. Providing no shortage of storylines, in one of the craziest opening Sundays in recent memory, the Houston Texans were able to dispatch the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 37-21 victory. Along with this, the New Orleans Saints kicked off the Jamies Winston era with a bang after handing Aaron Rodgers one of the worst losses of his entire Packers tenure. Back with our weekly sleepers article, we were able to find success a week ago.
Finishing with 22 points after getting off to a slow start on the road in Cincinnatti, Kirk Cousins tossed 351 yards and two scores. Furthermore, Phillip Lindsay racked up eight carries for 25 yards and a rushing score in his team’s victory. Devonta Smith was also able to kickstart his pro career with a bang after hauling in six receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Teddy Bridgewater, Denver Broncos
Showing out in his first start in Denver last Sunday, Teddy Bridgewater helped lead the Broncos to a 27-13 victory over the New York Giants. Completing 28 of 36 passes, he amassed 264 yards through the air while firing two touchdown scores. With a road matchup on the table in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, start him as a QB2 with upside. Miserable at stopping their opponent’s passing attacks a year ago, Urban Meyer’s team allowed over 22 points per game to opposing signal-callers.
Along with this, the group allowed over two passing scores per game. Picking up right where they left off in Week 1, the team surrendered 449 yards to the lowly Texans in a blowout loss. With much better skill players surrounding Bridgewater the Broncos, look for their offense to have another big day.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
Beginning to establish himself as the No. 1 option in the Bears’ tight end room, Cole Kmet logged 51 offensive snaps in the team’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football. Along with this, the 22-year-old was also the ninth highest targeted at his position. Finishing with 4.7 points in standard leagues, he hauled in five passes for 42 yards.
With a home matchup on deck against the Cincinnati Bengals, play the Notre Dame product. Unable to slow down opposing tight ends a year ago, the Bengals allowed the ninth-most completions to the position. Furthermore, Zac Taylor’s group allowed more than 11 fantasy points per game on average. Rostered in just 38 percent of leagues on Yahoo and 24 percent on ESPN, he offers high-end TE2 upside.
Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns
Continuing to play a more significant role in the Browns’ offense in the absence of Odell Beckham Jr, Jarvis Landry hauled in five passes for 71 yards in the team’s narrow Week 1 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. In addition to this, the 28-year-old also added in two rushes for 71 yards. With Beckham Jr already ruled out for their Week 2 matchup with the lowly Houston Texans, start Landry as a Flex option with WR3 upside.
Struggling to slow down opposing wideouts in 2020, the Texans allowed over 2,700 yards against to the position. The group also allowed opposing receivers to haul in 22 touchdown grabs, leading to an average of 26.1 fantasy points per game. Once again, thin in the secondary after allowing number one pick Trevor Lawrence to pass for 332 yards and three scores a week ago; if the Browns offense can get rolling early, look for the former second-round pick to have a big day.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers
On the field for 91 percent of the Steeler’s offensive snaps during their victory over the Buffalo Bills, Juju Smith-Schuster caught four passes for 52 yards. Operating primarily on underneath routes in Matt Canada’s offense, the USC alumn handled the slot duties on 31 of 53 plays. Expected to match up with rookie defensive back Nate Hobbs in Week 2, play him as a low-end WR2/high-end WR3.
Allowing their opponents to gain over 389 yards per game a year ago, the Raiders also let their opponents average over 11 yards per completion. With the Baltimore Ravens already lighting up Gus Bradley’s group after recording 409 total yards on Monday Night Football, look for all three Pittsburgh receivers to hold fantasy relevance in what promises to be another high-scoring affair.
Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts
Surrounded by question marks in the Colts backfield after Marlon Mack returned from his Achilles injury, Nyheim Hines was able to carve out a role in the offense a week ago. Amassing 34 yards on the ground on nine attempts, the 24-year-old also added in six receptions for 48 yards, leading to 8.2 fantasy points. He is likely to remain ahead of Mack as the second running back on the depth chart in Indianapolis this week.
Struggling in spurts against the run in 2020, the Rams conceded nearly 15 points per game to the position. Along with this, they also surrendered 81 receptions. Likely to be a positive game script for the Colts this week if they fall behind to Matthew Stafford and company early, play Hines as an RB3 in PPR leagues.
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