Having beaten what might be two of the league's worst teams (the New York Giants and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) in Week 1, the Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers are both 1-0. However, some might argue that they each have yet to prove themselves. The two play each other at 1 p.m. ET Sunday in North Carolina looking to prove something, with some fantasy names to consider:
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 2: Lions vs. Panthers
The Lions and Panthers both enter Sunday’s game at 1-0, but there are plenty of question marks for each offense. What does that mean for fantasy football in Week 2?
Streeter Lecka
Lions
Start in every league: Matthew Stafford, Reggie Bush, Joique Bell, Calvin Johnson
Start if you're desperate: Golden Tate, Nate Freese, Defense/special teams
Bench: Eric Ebron, Brandon Pettigrew, Joseph Fauria
It’s weird to recommend this many offensive players going against a defense like Carolina’s, but Stafford is an obvious starting quarterback against any team. And, while neither is a superstar, both Bush and Bell are flex plays at least, and might be RB2’s. ... And, of course, Johnson is an obvious play.
Tate’s potential is lower in this matchup, and in this offense, so he’s likely a bench play. ... Freese put up eight fantasy points in Week 1, but he did miss a field goal attempt. ... If you’re starting the Lions defense, it’s because you are down on the Carolina offense, not because you’re high on Detroit.
The tight-end grouping of the Lions -- Ebron, Pettigrew and Fauria -- are back-end tight ends. If there was only one of them he might have value, but the three of them together just means no single one stands out.
Panthers
Start in every league: Greg Olsen, Defense/special teams
Start if you're desperate: Cam Newton, DeAngelo Williams, Kelvin Benjamin, Graham Gano
The same is always true of Olsen -- he doesn’t have crazy upside, but his floor is among the highest at the tight end position. ... Even against a good Detroit offense, the Panthers defense is a must-start option.
If we knew he was fully healthy, Newton would be a definite start. As it is, he’s on the fringes, but hard to count on. ... Williams’ injury concerns are worrying, but he’s still his team’s top rushing option. ... Benjamin looked really good in his NFL debut; if he keeps that up, he could rise into obvious start territory. ... Gano ought to at least have field goal opportunities.
If Williams were to be sidelined then maybe Stewart would offer some value, but unless and until that happens you can’t use him. ... Tolbert will score some touchdowns, but guessing when they will come is a fool’s errand. ... Cotchery didn’t do much in his Carolina debut.
