Fantasy Football Quarterback Start/Sit Week 2: Should You Start Dak Prescott, Geno Smith, or Russell Wilson?

After a crazy Week 1 where elite quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow didn't do much fantasy-wise, we have officially entered "should I start or sit him?" headache season. You're obviously not benching any of those guys (more on that below), but there are plenty of other borderline fantasy starters we need to sift through. We've already covered running backs, but let's take a look at the quarterback start/sit situation for Week 2.

The list below is broken into tiers (which as pretty self-explanatory based on the names of them), and you can simply look at the list and make start/sit decisions because it's in order of preference!

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No-Brainer Start 'Em

You drafted these guys as your starter. There's no reason to waffle on them based on matchups or anything like that. We don't even need to talk things through on any of these guys -- let's stop over-thinking things. Here's the order in which I'd start them this week: 

• Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

  • Week 1 was rough on Hurts, but he's still an elite option and has a nice (on paper) matchup against the Vikings.

• Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

  • Week 2 is shaping up to be a shootout against the Jaguars. And Travis Kelce might return too!

• Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

  • Allen looked awful against the Jets, but their defense is close to elite. Better things are on the horizon against the Raiders.

• Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

  • Lamar didn't do much last week, but he didn't have to. Look for him to rebound against the Bengals.

• Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

  • I was high on Lawrence last week, and he rewarded my confidence. He should be able to keep the momentum rolling in what's projected to be a high-scoring affair against the Chiefs.
    
    

• Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

  • I don't love the matchup, but you shouldn't even be thinking about benching Herbert.

• Justin Fields, Chicago Bears

  • Fields was a fantasy monster last season, and there's no reason he can't do it again if he stays healthy. Green Bay is first. 

• Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

  • While Burrow was downright awful against the Browns, he almost always struggles against them and should be able to throw on the Ravens mediocre secondary.

• Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

  • Richardson looked really good in his NFL debut and his rushing ability may quickly keep him in this tier. I love the matchup against the Titans too.

• Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

  • Tua was the best fantasy quarterback last week and deserves to be in this tier until further notice -- regardless of the tough matchup against the Patriots.

Still Start 'Em

These guys are a little more of a borderline decision, but they're worth starting this week. Here's the order in which I'd start them this week: 

• Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

  • Love looked excellent last week (albeit against a bad Bears defense) and may have entered the weekly starter conversation. I feel good about him against the Falcons.

• Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

  • Dak didn't have to do much in the blowout against the Giants and has a REALLY tough matchup against the Jets this week. This decision really depends on your options, but I'm keeping him as a start unless you have one of the players in the above tier.

• Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks

  • Smith struggling in Week 1, but should be able to rebound against the Lions secondary. I'm not panicking yet.

• Jared Goff, Detriot Lions

  • Goff has enjoed a career renaissance in Detroit and should be able to keep the momentum moving against a Seahawks team that gave up a lot of points to the lowly Rams.
    
    

• Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints

  • Week 1 didn't go GREAT for Carr, but he still threw for over 300 yards in a low-scoring affair. Things should get easier against the Panthers. 

• Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

  • Cousins was bad last week, but Mac Jones throw for 300 yards against the Eagles and they're missing some key defensive players. Keep him in there. 

• DeShaun Watson, Cleveland Browns

  • Watson still doesn't look like the Watson we saw pre-suspension, and he has a tough matchup against the Steelers. He's a start, BUT I'd sit him for anyone above him in this article.

• Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

  • I'll never understand how Purdy succeeds, but he keeps doing it. I think he's a borderline top-15 fantasy starter due to the weapons around him, so I'd lean toward starting him against the Rams this week.

Deep League Starts

These guys are basically "sits" in a 12-team league. But they're likely someone you should start in a superflex league or a 16-team league. Here's the order in which I'd start them this week:

• Mac Jones, New England Patriots

  • Jones was the second-best fantasy QB last week and is a viable start in deeper leagues as he looks to keep the momentum going against the Dolphins.

• Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Baker Mayfield is a startable fantasy quarterback again? Didn't see that one coming. He has a decent matchup against the Bears and should be a viable starter in deper leagues this week.

• C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

  • Stroud outplayed fellow rookie Bryce Young last week and has an even better on-paper matchup against the Colts this week. I think he's a viable start unelss you have anyone above him.

• Daniel Jones, New York Giants

  • Was it the Cowboys defense and Micah Parsons that made Jones look so bad last week? Maybe. But I'm also not starting him with any confidence -- even against a bad Cardinals team.

• Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos

  • Wilson threw two touchdown passes last week, but he only threw for 177 yards. He's a borderline start against the Commanders, but I'd only deploy him in deeper leagues.

• Sam Howell, Washington Commanders

  • While Howell looked good last week, the Commanders will likely try to run the ball a lot against the Broncos in a game where the over/under is only 39. I'd find a better option if you can.

Sit 'Em

These guys are "sits" in pretty much any league except a superflex. Here's the order in which I'd start them this week if you absolutely have to:

• Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

  • Young didn't look good in his NFL debut, and things will get harder this week against the Saints. 

• Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Pickett struggled last week and has a tough matchup against a Browns team that held Joe Burrow in check. I'm benching him this week.

• Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

  • Stafford looked good last week, but he's still missing Cooper Kupp and has to face a really good 49ers defense this week.

• Jimmy Garoppolo Las Vegas Raiders 

  • Jimmy G looked halfway decent last week, but things will get harder against a tough Bills defense. Avoid him.

• Joshua Dobbs, Arizona Cardinals

  • Dobbs might be able to put up some fantasy points, but I'd avoid him unless you absolutely have to start him for lack of better options (of which there are many).

• Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons

  • The Falcons looked decent in the win last week, but Ridder wasn't great. I'm sitting him against a good Packers defense. 

• Ryan Tannehill, Tennesee Titans 

  • The Titans just don't throw the ball enough (and Tannehill isn't good enough) for anyone to feel good about starting the veteran.

• Zach Wilson, New York Jets

  • It's Zach Wilson. 'Nuff said.

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