Fantasy football advice, Week 2: Who to start for San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers
Dan Ciarrocchi reviews who needs to be in your fantasy lineup or on the bench for an intriguing NFC showdown.
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Start ‘em
So, Carlos Hyde could be a thing after all this season, couldn’t he? It sure looks like that, after Hyde ran through what was supposed to be a capable Rams front seven. But if the Rams’ front seven was considered capable, the Panthers’ front seven can be considered monstrous. Hyde is a focal point of the offense, but the 49ers could very well play catch up for most of the game, limiting his carries. He’s an RB2/flex for Week 2, but after C.J. Anderson totaled 139 yards against the Panthers in Week 1, Hyde deserves consideration.
Sit ‘em
The pecking order for targets remains murky in San Francisco, and against the Panthers’ stout defense, fantasy owners should take no part in the 49ers’ passing game in Week 2.
Carolina Panthers
Start ‘em
Much of Week 1 was spent eyeing how players who were injured in 2015 looked after a long absence from the field. Kelvin Benjamin was one of them, but didn’t seem to have any lingering effects from an ACL tear during a big performance against a vaunted Denver Broncos defense. Ron Rivera conceded that Benjamin may have played too many snaps, but he is the unquestioned top option for an elite quarterback in Cam Newton. Benjamin is a WR2 for Week 2.
Greg Olsen also can be started at his usual TE1 designation, and Cam Newton is still Cam Newton. Whenever Cam Newton is Cam Newton, he needs to be in lineups. OK? OK.
Start ‘em?
Jonathan Stewart popped up on the injury report with an ankle injury, but appears on track to play in Week 2 after taking the practice field from Wednesday onward. He is an RB2/flex option with a decent floor.
Sit ‘em
Ted Ginn and Devin Funchess don’t have enough involvement in their offense to deserve trust in standard-sized formats.
