Scott Engel of RotoExperts.com has more than 20 years of experience in the Fantasy industry and is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association’s Hall of Fame. This is his seventh season providing Fantasy Football coverage and advice on Seahawks.com.
You have to make sure you do not overreact too much to the events of Week 1. In the second week of games, you may see rebound performances from some of your higher draft choices who did not deliver as expected in the opener. At the same time, some players who defied statistical expectations may regress to their previous standards. Keep the faith in proven performers and those you drafted high who have helped you win before. Don’t overanalyze matchups either. You should not bench Tom Brady against Jacksonville. Superstars like him and Russell Wilson have earned such labels in Fantasy Football because they can deliver at least respectable totals in any Fantasy matchup.
Running Backs To Start
Jay Ajayi vs. Tampa Bay: He rushed for two touchdowns in the season opener and should see his workload expand this week. The Eagles have some injury issues to deal with in the passing game and will use Ajayi to take pressure off the QB and also control time of possession against a Buccaneers offense that looked very explosive last week. The Tampa Bay defense did allow 33 points on NFL.com to the New Orleans RBs last week, most of it to Alvin Kamara, of course.
Alfred Morris vs. Detroit: Pushed into a starting role for the 49ers, Morris has experience playing in a Kyle Shanahan system, and should fare better this week after a very daunting matchup vs. Minnesota in the opener. The Lions allowed 30.80 Fantasy Points to the Jets RBs on Monday night, and the 49ers offense should move the ball much more smoothly in their first home game of the year. Morris will have some chances to finish off drives with TD runs near the goal line while also posting quality rushing numbers.
Royce Freeman vs. Oakland: He was regarded as one of the best rookies in this year’s RB class, and should have some opportunities to score against Oakland this week. The Raiders defense is looking like a highly vulnerable unit right now in all facets. Freeman will be viable as a RB2 in both standard and PPR formats as he gets into the end zone at least once, and possibly twice.
Chris Thompson vs. Indianapolis: He is the most dangerous pass-catching RB in the league once he threatens to get past the second level of an opposing defense. Thompson totaled 128 yards and a TD in Week 1 and is going to overwhelm the Colts defense, which allowed 65 receiving yards to Bengals RBs last week and is set to surrender more vs. Washington’s speedy receiving threat out of the backfield. Thompson is a must-start PPR play.
Wide Receivers To Start
Brandon Marshall vs. Chicago: Throughout the preseason and in the first week, Seahawks fans have watched this impressive veteran prove he is not quite done yet. Russell Wilson likes to pass downfield and now has a very sizable target for such throws. Marshall is also an apparent threat to score near the goal line. He will play a more significant role in the Seahawks passing game, and for the second consecutive week, he will face one of his former teams. Players often have fun facing their old ballclubs and Marshall would enjoy finding the end zone for the second consecutive game to open the season.
Jamison Crowder vs. Indianapolis: If you are feeling a distinct Washington flavor here this week, it’s because the Colts defense is a fine matchup. It is soon going to become very apparent that Alex Smith to Crowder will become a featured connection for the Redskins. Crowder runs good routes and gets open in the middle of the field frequently, and will suit a high percentage passer like Smith very well.
Mike Williams vs. Buffalo: The second-year wide receiver is healthy now, and caught five passes for 81 yards in the season opener vs. Kansas City. He is going to quickly emerge as the clear No. 2 target for Philip Rivers opposite Keenan Allen. Williams is also going to make his mark as a consistent goal-line area pass-catching playmaker this year. The Bills allowed 31.70 Fantasy Points to WRs in Week 1, sixth-most on NFL.com.
Kenny Stills vs. New York Jets: Known in the past as a big-play artist, Stills is starting to show he can be an even more dependable pass-catcher as he has claimed the No. 1 WR job for the Dolphins. The Jets allowed 31.30 Fantasy Points to Detroit WRs in Week 1, while Stills totaled 106 receiving yards and two scores in an opening week win vs. Tennessee, which does have a very respectable secondary.
Quarterbacks To Start
Ben Roethlisberger vs. Kansas City: The Steelers-Chiefs matchup is shaping up to be one of the top possible shootouts vs. Week 2. It is going to be very difficult for the highly vulnerable Kansas City secondary to contain the likes of Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster. The Chiefs allowed an AFC high 28.96 Fantasy Points to an opposing QB in Week 1. Roethlisberger has 300-yard, three-TD Fantasy upside this week.
Philip Rivers vs. Buffalo: The most underrated QB in Fantasy Football just keeps cruising along. Rivers scored 28.96 Fantasy Points in the season opener, third-most on NFL.com at his position. The Bills allowed 28.34 Fantasy Points to the position in Week 1, second-most in the AFC. Rivers is one of the safest plays in Fantasy Football, even while traveling across the country this week.
Tight Ends, Defenses and Kickers
Ricky Seals-Jones is a good option to start vs. the Rams if you need TE help this week . … Jared Cook should continue to build on his Week 1 momentum as he faces Denver. … Houston should display its better form on defense vs. Tennessee, and the Jets defense will perform well vs. Miami after a fine showing in the opener. … Brandon McManus should be in for a good outing vs. Denver.
Seahawks Fantasy Focus
Russell Wilson is my top-rated QB in my Week 2 lineup rankings on RotoExperts.com. … The Bears allowed 341 passing yards and three TD passes in Week 1. Tyler Lockett again deserves consideration as a WR3 play in larger leagues. Continue to monitor Jaron Brown, as he could start to make more significant contributions this week. If you added Will Dissly off waivers he could soon push for your Fantasy starting lineup with another quality outing. Chris Carson deserves flex consideration as the Seahawks offense should earn scoring chances within the 10-yard line for him.
For more Week 2 advice and tips from Scott Engel and the RotoExperts team, get the Xclusive Edge Fantasy Football Package on RotoExperts.com. Use promocode “seahawks” at checkout for a special discount.
Eye On The Hawks: Seahawks at Broncos
Team photographer Rod Mar shares exclusive images from the Seahawks' Week 1 road trip against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium.
On Saturday afternoon, offensive lineman Jordan Roos headed to the buses to start the road trip to Denver for the regular season opener.
Wide receiver Brandon Marshall walks across the tarmac after the team landed in Denver.
On Sunday morning quarterback Russell Wilson gave a wave as he boarded the team bus to head to Broncos Stadium at Mile High for the season opener.
On the field, rookie linebacker Shaquem Griffin acknowledges fans during early warmups.
Safety Earl Thomas warms up on the field prior to the game.
Seahawks legend and NFL Hall-of-Fame member Walter Jones signs autographs for fans before kickoff.
12s were plentiful in Denver for the season opener.
Seahawks defensive lineman Frank Clark warms up before the game.
Even Broncos fans were cheering for new Seahawks linebacker Shaquem Griffin in his first NFL regular season game.
Rookie tight end Will Dissly stretches with the team during pregame warmups.
Shaquem Griffin pauses on his way to the locker room to greet his parents on the sideline.
Shaquill Griffin greets his parents on the way back to the locker room after pregame warmups.
In the locker room, the Seahawks gathered for a prayer before taking the field.
Defensive captain Bobby Wagner talks to his teammates in the final moments before leaving the locker room for kickoff.
Quarterback Russell Wilson leads the Seahawks onto the field during pregame introductions.
Head coach Pete Carroll pauses to remove his discarded gum from the bottom of Russell Wilson's cleats in a lighthearted moment before the national anthem.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson shakes hands with local first responders who held the flag for the playing of the national anthem.
Russell Wilson and fellow Seahawks captains, Bobby Wagner, Sebastian Janikowski and Neiko Thorpe went to midfield for the pregame coin toss.
Seahawks defenders including Barkevious Mingo, Quinton Jefferson, Jarran Reed and Tom Johnson wait for the Broncos to come to the line of scrimmage.
Seahawks safety Earl Thomas defends a pass intended for Denver's Demaryius Thomas in the first quarter.
Tedric Thompson deflects a punt by Denver's Marquette King in the first quarter.
Seahawks rookie punter Michael Dickson punts in the first quarter.
Seahawks safety Earl Thomas returns an interception off of Denver quarterback Case Keenum in the first quarter.
Seahawks tight end Will Dissly scores on a 15-yard pass reception from Russell Wilson to give Seattle a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Seahawks tight end Will Dissly celebrates his first career touchdown with teammates Duane Brown and Ethan Pocic.
Seahawks defensive lineman Jarran Reed holds up the football after emerging from the pile with it. Officials ruled the play not a fumble and Denver kept possession.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll threw his red challenge flag after Jarran Reed appeared to recover a Denver fumble, but officials ruled he threw the flag too later.
Seahawks returner Tyler Lockett speeds up the right sideline on a kickoff return.
Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin walks off the field after suffering an injury during the first half. He would not return.
Seahawks running back Chris Carson leapt over Denver's Bradley Roby, who looked back with his mouth agape as Carson went on to a 24-yard gain.
Seahawks tight end Will Dissly leaves Denver's Justin Simmons in his wake on another long catch and run in the first half.
Seahawks fan and loyal 12 Deb Hindman made the trip from Seattle to attend the season opener.
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner takes down Denver's Emmanuel Sanders as Seattle teammates Earl Thomas and Justin Coleman close in.
Head coach Pete Carroll watches the action just before halftime.
Seahawks safety Bradley McDougald returns to the sidelines with his teammates after an interception in the second quarter.
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer gives instructions during halftime.
In the third quarter, safety Bradley McDougald brings down Denver's Emmanuel Sanders.
Safety Bradley McDougald returns his second interception of the afternoon accompanied by teammates including Earl Thomas, Quinton Jefferson and Tre Flowers.
Seahawks tight end Will Dissly can't quite haul in a pass at the goal line in the third quarter.
Seahawks receiver Brandon Marshall falls into the end zone with a touchdown reception in the third quarter.
Seahawks receiver Brandon Marshall is congratulated after his touchdown reception in the third quarter.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett catches a 51-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson in the fourth quarter to give Seattle a 24-20 lead.
Seattle's Tyler Lockett gives the ball to lucky Seahawks fans seated near the field after his touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks linebacker Austin Calitro and cornerback Tre Flowers combine to tackle Denver's Royce Freeman in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll walks off the field following a 27-24 loss to the Broncos in Denver.
In the visiting locker room, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll talks to his team after the loss in Denver.
Safety Bradley McDougald walks across the tarmac towards the waiting team buses upon landing in Seattle early Monday morning.
