After a blockbuster first week, the NFL season heads into Week 2. No position will get more scrutiny in fantasy football circles than quarterbacks. Having the right passer in the lineup can jump-start even a mediocre team, while a bad QB can be a dead weight on even the most talented teams. Here’s a rundown on the QBs to play or sit in NFL Week 2, and a brief discussion of why each was chosen for the respective list.
Play Them or Sit Them: NFL QBs for Fantasy Football Week 2
Play Them
Justin Herbert
The Chargers’ passer had an excellent first week, throwing for 318 yards and three scores against the Chiefs. It’s a step back in competition in Week 2, as Herbert and the Chargers will move on to face the Raiders. Some might have thought the Chargers were preparing to push the run, but Jim Harbaugh isn’t afraid to let QB1 air it out. This could be a breakthrough season for Herbert, and he’d be a wise pick to start in Week 2.
Joe Burrow
Burrow had an awful Week 1 in a narrow win over Cleveland, throwing for just 113 yards and one score. Burrow is too good a player to continue down that path. He and the Bengals face Jacksonville in Week 2, and the Jaguars’ defense should get plenty from a Cincinnati offense that will look to be more productive than it was against Cleveland. Don’t let a bad Week 1 scare you off Burrow in Week 2, or you’ll wish you had stuck with him.
Lamar Jackson
The best player in the sport a must-start? Well, yes, that’s pretty much evergreen. Lamar didn’t do anything in Week 1 to change his assessment. He had 209 yards and two scores in the air and 70 yards and another score on the ground. Lamar faces the Browns in Week 2, and while that’s unlikely to be a competitive game and give full stat value, the man is a human highlight film and is a constant threat to break a big play. Good enough.
Sit Them
Jalen Hurts
Hurts didn’t do much in the air, passing for 152 yards and no scores, though he did have 62 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. But he didn’t open up red-hot and will now face the Chiefs in Week 2. Hurts remains one of the best players in the game, but he’s just not an optimal option for a Week 2 start. He’ll start if there’s nobody of sufficient quality available. But it’s not a bad time to give him a week off.
Cam Ward
The Ward hype train got its brakes pumped when everyone learned how awful the Titans’ receivers and offensive line are. Ward’s 42.9% completions were the worst in the NFL, and his 4.0 yards per attempt were the worst among starters. In a keeper league, Ward is probably worth the long-term investment. But as a short-term option, he’s not a good play in Week 2 against the Rams. He won’t be a good option very much in 2025.
Daniel Jones
Don’t let success fool you. Jones had a nice Week 1 with a big victory over the Dolphins. He threw for 272 yards and a score and ran for two more touchdowns. But Jones and the Colts won’t look like that against most teams. Week 2 brings a matchup with the Broncos, and it’s virtually certain that Jones won’t have the kind of success that he did in Week 1 in this week’s matchup. Start him at your own risk.
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