As always, Start 'Em, Sit 'Em is geared toward helping fantasy managers make difficult roster decisions. You won't see "start Jahmyr Gibbs" here. Instead, I'm exploring the players closer to the perceived fringe and aiming to optimize your lineup for a win each week. Importantly, the new "Start of the Week" and "Sit of the Week" are the calls I have deemed the most notable in each category, not necessarily the most essential players to start or sit.
Also, you'll see quite a few references in this year's column to NFL Pro, spotlighting insights provided through Next Gen Stats data dashboards, matchup evaluations, All-22 film and the uniquely trained Fantasy AI Assistant. You can get access to all of those tools yourself with an NFL+ Premium subscription!
P.S. Feel free to follow me on X (@MattOkada) or Instagram (@mattokadaNFL) and hit me with your questions, congratulations or complaints throughout the year.
Start 'Em
Start of the Week
I'm advising you to start McConkey, despite his 6.5 points in Week 2, because of the outlook against the Bills. The two WR1s to face Buffalo so far -- Houston's Nico Collins and Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown -- totaled 23 targets, 16 catches, 217 yards, three touchdowns and 56.4 fantasy points. As long as he's healthy entering Week 3, McConkey will have a high-volume opportunity in a prospectively high-scoring game. I sense production more in line with his Week 1 effort (19.2 fantasy points) than his underwhelming output this past Sunday.
Notable starts
London should be too good for this column, but after consecutive single-digit fantasy outings, he's "earned" a mention here. This Thursday, Michael Penix Jr. is returning to Atlanta's starting lineup -- which should help London's prospects -- and Green Bay's defense has been beatable. Bounceback incoming.
I should not have to write Washington's name in this column, but he was started in just 44.6% of ESPN leagues last week. Focus up! Washington is elite -- legitimately top 10 at the position -- and should start in 100% of leagues moving forward.
Like Parker Washington, Watson was started in fewer than 60% of ESPN leagues last week despite scoring 32.7 fantasy points in the season opener. He saw 11 targets in Week 2 and takes a 32.7% air-yards share into a decent matchup with Atlanta.
Two weeks, two straight games with eight catches on nine targets for Coker. Only four wide receivers have more receiving yards (204) or more fantasy points (48.4) than the big-bodied Panther. He must be started, regardless of matchup.
Sit 'Em
Sit of the Week
Despite running the most routes among Bears wide receivers through two games, Odunze has just five catches on seven targets. And while his average of 19 yards per reception is impressively high, Odunze's not seeing the target rate we expect from WR1s ... or WR2s ... or WR3s. To make matters worse, Caleb Williams just suffered a hamstring injury. And to make worse matters even worse, the Eagles have been extremely tough against outside wide receivers. This could be the Luther Burden III breakout game, but Odunze should NOT crack starting lineups in Week 3.
Notable sits
Williams' 8.5 fantasy points in Week 1 were excusable on the merits of his nine targets … but 5.3 points and four targets in Week 2? That's tougher to stomach. Now, Jamo faces the Jets, who have yet to surrender 60 receiving yards to a single wideout.
Despite seeing 19 targets through two games, DK has just eight catches for 67 yards and no scores. That's unacceptable inefficiency. Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers are struggling individually and they're on completely different pages. This highly paid wideout should be benched until further notice.
After two duds from McLaurin to open the season, I'd be worried about starting the wideout against Seattle, even with Jayden Daniels at QB. With Marcus Mariota under center in Daniels' absence, and the Seahawks' corners coming to town, McLaurin should be nowhere near starting lineups.
While Sutton's not yet droppable, merely on the merits of route participation and name value, he has been awful through two weeks. Five catches, 36 yards, no touchdowns. I have absolutely no interest in playing him against the Rams' corners, and neither should you.
