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Week 2 Quarterback Preview: Finding a Brock Purdy Replacement

Top Fantasy QBs for Week 2

Let's review the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 2 QB Rankings.

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson, Ravens

Week 1 showcased why Lamar Jackson was a top-4 signal caller in every draft. Jackson fared well against Cleveland last season, averaging 253 passing yards, tossing 2 TDs in each game, and chipping in another 54.5 yards on the ground. Baltimore is projected to score a league-high 28.5 points this week, setting up Jackson for another elite fantasy performance. 

Joe Flacco, Browns

Flacco was passable in Week 1, throwing for 290 yards, a TD, and 2 INTs  --- neither of which was his fault. This week, Flacco faces a Baltimore pass defense that just got worked over by Josh Allen. Flacco isn't near Allen's caliber, but he's got some Superflex value in a game where he should throw 40-plus passes. 

Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow, Bengals

Burrow’s Bengals predictably started slow in a Week 1 matchup with Cleveland. In fact, Burrow’s 113 yards marked his fewest since Week 1 of 2023 (also at Cleveland). We’re expecting a rebound with the Bengals returning home to face a Jacksonville team that could push this game into a shootout.

Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars

Lawrence witnessed a few drops in Week 1, but he still posted a solid 78.8% adjusted completion rate. Perhaps most importantly, we saw Travis Hunter play close to a full-time role on offense (as expected). Week 2 brings up a potential shootout against a young and unproven Bengals unit.

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott, Cowboys

Prescott disappointed with 7.8 fantasy points in Week 1, but he had a solid first outing against a tough Eagles defense. The TDs going to Javonte Williams didn’t help his stat line, but Prescott should find the end zone against a Giants team that carries question marks in the secondary. He is a low-end QB1 this week. 

Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions

Jared Goff, Lions

Goff struggled vs. Green Bay in Week 1. Now, though, he gets a Bears matchup that afforded him 5 TD passes across two meetings last year. This year's Chicago D stifled J.J. McCarthy through three quarters in Week 1 but then allowed a big comeback in the QB's first start. That whole package isn't enough to push the limited Goff into our top 12, but you could do worse if you're shopping in this range.

New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins

Drake Maye, Patriots

Maye tied for the league lead in dropbacks in the opener. But he wasn’t very efficient, notching only 6.2 yards per attempt. That efficiency should tick up this week against a dysfunctional Miami defense that’s particularly thin in the secondary. (Last week, they surrendered the QB2 week to Daniel Jones.) Maye’s rushing upside further fuels some top-10 appeal.

Buffalo Bills at New York Jets

Josh Allen, Bills

Allen comes off a monster Week 1 to face a familiar opponent in the Jets. The Bills swept this series last year, with Allen accounting for 3 total TDs in both contests. Aaron Glenn's defense just gave up 4 TDS to Aaron Rodgers, and Allen posted his own 4-TD game versus Glenn's defense (the Lions) last season. It all points to another dominant outing for Allen -- but don't be surprised if his passing yards are down slightly. 

Justin Fields, Jets

Fields' debut against his former team was terrific, resulting in a QB3 finish for the week. In Week 2, he once again projects to be a top-10 option facing a Buffalo defense that just allowed to pass for 209 yards and 2 TDs and run for another 70 yards and a third score.

Los Angeles Rams at Tennessee Titans

Matthew Stafford, Rams

Stafford's fantasy numbers didn't win any matchups last week. But Pro Football Focus handed him the best passing grade of any Week 1 QB. Week 2 presents a comfier matchup with an unproven Tennessee defense. That doesn't make Stafford a strong bet for meaningful fantasy production. But there's upside for a second QB spot.

Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals

Kyler Murray, Cardinals

Murray was just ok as a passer in Week 1. He completed 72% of his throws with two TDs but averaged only 5.6 yards per attempt. He ran seven times for 38 yards, though. And three of those runs were designed. Murray will deliver in fantasy if that usage sticks. He gets an excellent Week 2 matchup against a Panthers defense that looks like one of the worst in the league. The Cardinals' 25-point implied total is tied for sixth-highest on the week.

Bryce Young, Panthers

Young was bad in Week 1, completing just 51% of his passes at 4.4 yards per attempt against a beatable Jacksonville defense. We'll need to see a better outing from him before recommending him as a starter, even in superflex leagues. Carolina's 18.5-point implied total is fourth-lowest on the week.

Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts

Bo Nix, Broncos

Denver got the win in Week 1, but Nix struggled. He accumulated just 176 passing yards (4.3 yards per attempt) and tossed a pair of INTs. But Week 2 presents a solid rebound opportunity for Nix and the Broncos' offense. His rushing upside and improved supporting cast keep Nix in the QB1 conversation against Indianapolis. 

Daniel Jones, Colts

Jones was a revelation last week, throwing for 272 yards and a TD and chipping in 2 rushing scores against the hapless Dolphins. Things won't be as easy in Week 2, taking on a stout Denver Broncos' defense. Jones' rushing ability gives him a decent floor, but he's more of a QB2 in Superflex leagues this week in a matchup where the Colts are projected to score the sixth-fewest points. 

Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs

Jalen Hurts, Eagles

Hurts delivered a strong QB10 score for Week 1 even while throwing for just 152 yards. A 14-62-2 rushing line will do that, and most of Hurts' rushing yardage came via scrambles. His last meeting with the Chiefs found Hurts completing 77.3% of his passes at 10.0 yards per attempt and leaving the Super Bowl early because his team was blowing K.C. out.

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

Mahomes' upside took another hit with Xavier Worthy's Week 1 shoulder injury. The WR returned to practice Thursday but would likely be limited even if he can play. Mahomes gets an Eagles defense that didn't allow much to Dak Prescott in Week 1, but much of that limitation came thanks to Dallas drops and the Cowboys TDs coming on the ground. Dak Prescott actually earned PFF's top passing grade of Week 1. So this should be an OK spot if Mahomes is your guy.

Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings

Michael Penix, Falcons

The good news is that Penix should have Drake London (shoulder) and Darnell Mooney (shoulder) in the lineup for Week 2. The bad news: Penix will face an aggressive, Brian Flores-led defense. Atlanta will also remain without RT Kaleb McGary. 

J.J. McCarthy, Vikings

McCarthy overcame a slow start to post 143 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 pick-six in his NFL debut. He added 25 yards and 1 TD as a runner. Nothing is threatening about the Falcons matchup, but a low-volume approach seems likely again this week, especially with Jordan Addison out. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans

Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers

Mayfield tossed three TDs against the Falcons in Week 1 and secured a QB11 finish. He appeared to pick up where last season ended in terms of passing, with rookie WR Emeka Egbuka being a prime target. He faces a tougher match-up against the Texans in Week 2, and still only had 167 yards passing in Week 1. Stick with Mayfield as a high-end QB2 this week. 

C.J. Stroud, Texans

The Texans' atrocious O-line hindered Stroud’s passing in Week 1, though he did have 32 yards rushing. Finishing as QB26 with only 188 yards and no TDs, Stroud could be in for a long season again. The Bucs should present an easier match-up, so he should be a QB2 this week.

Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders

Justin Herbert, Chargers

Herbert played as well as any QB in the league in Week 1. And the Chargers went pass-heavy, ranking fourth in neutral pass rate and first in pass rate over expected. The result was a big 318-3-0 passing line. We'll see if that play-calling sticks going forward, but Herbert finds an excellent Week 2 matchup against a shaky Raiders secondary. The Chargers' 25-point implied total is tied for sixth-highest on the week.

Geno Smith, Raiders

Smith and OC Chip Kelly's passing game looked good in the opener, producing 362 yards and a score. Even more interesting is that the Raiders ranked first in neutral pass rate and fourth in pass rate over expected. We'll see if that sticks, but Smith is already looking like a very intriguing QB2. Of course, his Week 2 fantasy outlook would take a significant hit if TE Brock Bowers' knee injury keeps him out.

Next Up

Best Week 2 Moves From Our Experts: Don't Overreact... Yet

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Kevin English, Senior Analyst

Kevin brings 15+ years of experience as a fantasy analyst and mid-stakes competitor across various formats (redraft, best ball, dynasty, DFS). He finished 1st in FantasyPros Draft Accuracy competition in 2024. Kevin's work has been featured in The Mercury News, NBC Sports/Rotoworld, and FantasyPros.