NBA Postseason Best Bets (5/17)
Alex Christenson
Week 2 of the 2021 NFL football season is days away, and it’s time to fine-tune your fantasy lineups. This includes hunting for solid flex players and sleepers that can pop off and help you win the game.
Each week during the NFL season, this article will highlight some deep sleepers for you to consider when setting lineups. You’ll never see Tier 1 players mentioned in this article, as I’ll look to unearth legitimate deep sleepers — players either low-owned or rarely started.
Here are some of the deep sleepers you should keep an eye on for Week 2.
Week 2 QB sleepers
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals/Bears game has a modest over/under of 45.5, but the chances of a Joe Burrow breakout shouldn’t be written off. Burrow was an efficient 20-of-27 for 261 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs last week in his return from injury. This week he draws the Bears defense that was demolished by Matthew Stafford for 321 yards and 3 TDs for a QB rating of 156.1. With the talented group of pass-catchers in Cincy, the Beas defense may be sliced up once again.
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins takes a spot in this article for the second week in a row. He threw for 351 yards and 2 TDs last week and gets an even better matchup in Week 2 against the Cardinals, one of the league’s most explosive, fastest-pace offenses (33% no-huddle rate last year, first in the NFL). The game has an over/under above 51 and has potential shootout written all over it. Cousins has averaged nearly 21 fantasy PPG when playing in games with totals above 50, per our FTN Fantasy splits tool.
Deeper sleeper QBs
Week 2 RB sleepers
Kenyan Drake, Las Vegas Raiders
Kenyan Drake was abysmal rushing against the Ravens in Week 1, gaining only 11 yards on 6 attempts, but he was great through the air as Derek Carr’s preferred backfield option. He tallied a 5-59-0 receiving line on 5 targets. The Raiders are big 5.5-point underdogs, which sets up for another Drake receiving game. In PPR leagues, he’s worth a look in the flex spot.
Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles
Kenneth Gainwell has an excellent first game as a rookie, earning 12 opportunities (9 rushes and 3 targets) for 43 total yards and a TD. He scored a second TD, but it was called back by a penalty. He’s a solid change-of-pace back behind Miles Sanders (15 attempts and 5 targets). Gainwell appears to already be in a role to similar to Jamaal Williams behind Aaron Jones in recent years.
Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ronald Jones hit the doghouse early in Week 1 but has already been named the team’s starter for Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons. Leonard Fournette will still play a significant role, but with the Bucs as huge 12.5-point favorites, this sets up to be a friendly game environment for Jones and the rushing attack.
Deeper sleeper RBs
Latavius Murray
James Conner
Carlos Hyde
Week 2 WR sleepers
Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos
Tim Patrick is likely the biggest beneficiary of Jerry Jeudy’s unfortunate injury. He snagged 4 catches for 39 yards and a TD while playing third wheel most of Week 1, but he’ll step into the team’s No. 2 role without much question this week. The Jaguars were destroyed by the Houston Texans last week, coughing up 37 points and respectable receiving lines to Brandin Cooks (5-132-0), Pharaoh Brown (4-67-0) and Danny Amendola (5-34-1).
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
Jaylen Waddle was excellent last week, posting a 4-61-1 line in his debut. Despite the solid game, some may look to fade him in Week 2 with the return of Will Fuller. But Fuller and Waddle play very different roles, with Fuller playing outside 75% of the time and Waddle playing slot 75% of the time. The two can co-exist as Waddle works closer to the line of scrimmage and the mid-field while Fuller goes deep. Trust the talent here, and the fact the Dolphins will likely be playing catchup to the high-scoring Bills offense.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers
We highlighted Marquez Valdes-Scantling in our article on using the NFL splits tool for Week 2, and we noted that he saw a healthy 8 targets despite the overall dud. The big-play threat may have a bigger role in Green Bay this year after solid camp reports and a good showing in Week 1. He’s a fine flex play for those that like to add one boom-or-bust option to their lineups.
Deeper sleeper WRs
Jakobi Meyers
Marquez Callaway
Rondale Moore
Will Fuller
Week 2 TE sleepers
Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys
Dalton Schultz caught 6 of 6 targets for 45 yards in Week 1’s passing bonanza, and he’s set up for another solid role in Week 2 against the Chargers in a game with a week-high 55-point over/under. If you’re streaming TEs this season, put Schultz on your radar this week.
Jared Cook, Los Angeles Chargers
Jared Cook is the other TE in the should-be high-scoring Cowboys/Chargers game. Cook dropped a 5-56-0 line on 8 targets in Week 1 in a game that only produced 36 points. If the Cowboys-Chargers game is as fast-paced as we expect it to be, Cook has a great chance to put up starter-worthy numbers.
