Even before the Week 1 schedules were known, people might have figured the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings would enter Week 2 with one team 1-0 and the other 0-1. The only surprise is which is which, as the Patriots suffered a bad loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, while the Vikings rolled over the St. Louis Rams.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 2: Patriots vs. Vikings
The Patriots had a disappointing first week, while the Vikings had the opposite. Can one continue its start, and can the other end its own?
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At 1 p.m. ET Sunday in Minnesota, the Patriots look to avoid going 0-2, while the Vikings try to make a claim on the role of contender. There will be a lot of fantasy names to keep an eye on:
Patriots
Start in every league: Tom Brady, Shane Vereen, Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Stephen Gostkowski, Defense/special teams
Start if you’re desperate: ...
Bench: Stevan Ridley, Danny Amendola
There isn’t much in the way of middle ground for the Patriots. Brady is the closest, whose stock is falling after a rough Week 1, but even he is still in the position’s top 10. ... Vereen is an obvious must-start in PPR leagues, but even in standard, he’s getting enough usage to be a high-end flex play. ... Instead of spreading the ball around among the wide receivers, Edelman was clearly the favorite target in Sunday’s game, and that ought to continue. ... As long as Gronkowski is healthy, you start him. ... As long as Gostkowski is a Patriot, you start him. ... The Patriots’ defense should be a strong unit most of the year.
Ridley got eight carries Sunday, which is nice, but he gained only 21 yards on those carries, which is less nice. He’s not really a part of the team’s game plan right now. ... Anyone who thought a healthy Amendola would be back in the team’s good graces, like I did, had to hate how Week 1 went.
Vikings
Start in every league: Cordarrelle Patterson, Blair Walsh
Start if you're desperate: Greg Jennings, Kyle Rudolph
Bench: Matt Cassel, Matt Asiata, Jerick McKinnon, Defense/special teams
I love Patterson’s big-play ability, but I’m the last holdout on the “he’s a little overrated” train. Yes, you’re starting him if you have him, but those random big plays won’t always be there, and his Week 1 was pedestrian outside of one play. In his favor, though, is the fact that he might get more rushes in Week 2, with Adrian Peterson on the shelf. ... Walsh is still one of the higher-end kickers.
Jennings looked good Sunday, and if he can be a real weapon, the Vikings could have enough of them to be interesting. ... Rudolph wasn’t very active Sunday, but one of his two catches did go for a score. He’s a TE2, but on the high end of that.
Even with all those weapons, you can’t truly consider starting Cassel. ... With Peterson deactivated, Asiata and McKinnon will be on the field, but they aren’t much for fantasy plays. ... And despite putting up 19 fantasy points in Week 1, you also can’t start the Vikings’ defense.
