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FFL: Week 2 | NFL: Week 2

WR Strength of Schedule

Fri May 31 10:52am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Lamb could top last season


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the receiver position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to receivers last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the receivers with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the receivers that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  WR SOS  
1. Denver Broncos 531.34
2. Los Angeles Chargers 536.08
3. Miami Dolphins 537.31
4. Kansas City Chiefs 549.96
5. Las Vegas Raiders 552.89
6. Pittsburgh Steelers 554.85
7. New England Patriots 555.93
8. Buffalo Bills 556.13
9. Houston Texans 561.75
10. San Francisco 49ers 565.73
11. New Orleans Saints 566.06
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 566.19
13. Cincinnati Bengals 566.32
14. Jacksonville Jaguars 570.07
15. Baltimore Ravens 571.77
16. Seattle Seahawks 573.41
17. Minnesota Vikings 573.91
18. Philadelphia Eagles 574.46
19. Carolina Panthers 575.49
20. Los Angeles Rams 575.79
21. Washington Commanders 575.91
22. Detroit Lions 576.36
23. Atlanta Falcons 577.76
24. New York Jets 577.99
25. Tennessee Titans 578.06
26. Indianapolis Colts 578.18
27. Cleveland Browns 583.5
28. Arizona Cardinals 586.09
29. New York Giants 586.93
30. Chicago Bears 601.21
31. Dallas Cowboys 608.4
32. Green Bay Packers 610.22

 

The Packers have the easiest fantasy schedule for receivers. Jayden Reed and Christian Watson could be setup for career best seasons with this schedule. These are guys you can get a little later come draft day and mid-round options that could be difference makers for fantasy owners.

CeeDee Lamb is considered the No. 1 overall fantasy receiver for many and his schedule helps make that claim even stronger. Lamb has the second most favorable schedule for receivers. Lamb was huge last year and could improve on that even more, especially since the Cowboys could struggle to run the ball with their current options.

The Bears, Giants and Cardinals also round out the top-five most favorable receiver schedules. Chicago has a great trio of receivers with D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze.  These guys could produce big as long as rookie Caleb Williams gets the job done at quarterback in year one. Moore has more to compete with for targets this year, but you still have to like his chances for a big season in year two with the Bears.

The Giants and Cardinals both have some question marks at receiver, but a couple rookies lead the way for both teams. Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison could have big rookie seasons with their new teams. These guys both have a chance to lead all rookie fantasy receivers in scoring.

On the opposite side of things, the Broncos have the most challenging schedule for receivers. The Broncos have all sorts of questions at receiver outside of Courtland Sutton. This is a unit of receivers you just might want to avoid come draft day. This schedule won’t make anything easier for this group.

The Chargers are a similar team to the Broncos, having openings and questions at receiver. So once again, it might be best to let someone else put Chargers receivers on their roster. Plus, the Chargers could be a lot more run heavy with a new coach running the show. The tough schedule and new offense make taking any Chargers receiver a bit of a risk.

There are two really good offenses on the list that have tough schedules for receivers. Both the Dolphins and Chiefs have a top-five least favorable schedule for receivers. The Dolphins have one of the best receiver duos in football, so it is tough to fade them because of this schedule. Both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle should be able to produce big numbers once again in this offense.

The Chiefs are a little more concerning. This offense is a little matchup proof, but don’t have that elite receiver on their roster. Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown lead the way. Brown hasn’t been great in recent seasons and Rice is facing a suspension. These guys will carry some risk come draft day, especially after seeing this schedule.

Davante Adams is usually another star receiver that is matchup proof, but you have to wonder a little this year. He has some question marks at quarterback, which could hurt his production when you pair it with this schedule. Adams is dealing with the fifth toughest fantasy schedule for receivers.

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy receivers. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the receivers with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big money contests.

  WR PLAYOFF SOS  
1. Los Angeles Rams 501.93
2. Jacksonville Jaguars 515.53
3. Kansas City Chiefs 519.43
4. New York Giants 521.63
5. Miami Dolphins 532.77
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 534.53
7. Houston Texans 538
8. Buffalo Bills 540.87
9. Las Vegas Raiders 541.9
10. Carolina Panthers 549.33
11. Cincinnati Bengals 552.17
12. Detroit Lions 553.73
13. Arizona Cardinals 555.27
14. Cleveland Browns 555.4
15. Minnesota Vikings 560.93
16. New England Patriots 573.03
17. Los Angeles Chargers 573.1
18. Tennessee Titans 575.17
19. Baltimore Ravens 581.27
20. Seattle Seahawks 585.08
21. New York Jets 585.5
22. Denver Broncos 587.2
23. Pittsburgh Steelers 587.8
24. Philadelphia Eagles 589.73
25. Green Bay Packers 590.85
26. Washington Commanders 591.57
27. New Orleans Saints 604.13
28. Dallas Cowboys 609.73
29. Indianapolis Colts 614
30. San Francisco 49ers 641.53
31. Atlanta Falcons 644.93
32. Chicago Bears 647.98

 

The Bears and Cowboys are the teams that make both the top five easiest receiver schedules for both the regular season and playoffs. Chicago has the easiest for the entire playoffs. Once again, their top trio of receivers are looking pretty good come draft day.

Lamb continues to make his case to be the first receiver selected come draft day. He could have a monster season and finish strong as well with the fifth easiest schedule for the playoffs. Lamb might be the most surefire first-round pick come draft day.

The Falcons, 49ers and Colts also have a top-five favorable playoff schedule for receivers. Atlanta receivers were looking up to begin with, getting a legit quarterback throwing them passes this year. And this schedule makes their options look even better, especially Drake London. He could have a breakout season.

San Francisco has great options at receiver in Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. They are pretty safe picks come draft day. And they get a very favorable playoff schedule that could make them even more appealing to fantasy owners. These guys both have really solid floors come draft day in this offense.

Michael Pittman keeps getting it done as the No. 1 option for the Colts. If Anthony Richardson can become that true No. 1 at quarterback for Indy, Pittman would look even better. Pittman has produced in recent year despite having some quarterback issues. His game could go to a higher level this year if Richardson breaks out. Pittman could be a league winner if everything breaks his way in 2024.

The Chiefs and Dolphins are two of the best offenses in football but also the only two teams to make the top five most unfavorable receiver schedules for both the regular season and playoffs. This is a tad concerning for both teams, Again, it is tough to bet against Hill, but maybe you drop him down your rankings just few spots behind the other elite guys because of this. You hate to use an early round pick on a receiver to see him maybe not produce what he should come playoff time.

And as mentioned with the Chiefs, their top two receivers already face a few question marks, so maybe their tough schedules make them players to let someone else draft. Both Brown and Rice could be a little erratic.

The Rams actually have the toughest playoff schedule for receivers. They are another team with two of the best receivers in football. It is tough to bet against either Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp, but the playoff schedule is a little scary, especially for Kupp. He seems to be trending down at this stage of his career.

The Jaguars and Giants are the two other teams with a top-five unfavorable fantasy schedule for the playoffs. The Jags have Christian Kirk and Gabriel Davis as their top two receivers. Kirk is normally pretty steady but Davis can be boom or bust. Seeing his playoff schedule should bump him down a few spots in your rankings. It could be more of the same for Davis with his new team.

And the Giants are an outlier here, having an easy schedule for receivers during the regular season but the fourth toughest for the playoffs. This makes it tough come draft day. Their receivers could be good values for the regular season but disappoint when it counts. You do have to just make the playoffs, though, so we aren’t sure we shy away from Giant receivers just because of their tough playoff schedule. You still might be able to get good value with their options that help you win during the season.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 2

Player Notes
Diontae Johnson Sep 15 1:30am ET
Diontae Johnson

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson was quiet in his Panthers debut, catching two of his six targets for 19 yards in the team's blowout loss. Johnson was a frequently targeted receiver of QB Bryce Young, but was eventually pulled from the game in the second half due to the blowout. The Panthers gear up for a Week 2 clash against the Chargers defense, a unit that kept Davante Adams and other Raider pass-catchers relatively quiet in their Week 1 matchup. That being said, with a favorable game script for Johnson and a healthy dose of potential targets, he is a viable option for fantasy managers this week. Fantasy managers can look to Johnson as a WR3, with the hopes that he is able to convert his opportunities at a higher rate than last week.

From RotoBaller

Russell Wilson Sep 15 12:20am ET
Russell Wilson

Not much was expected of the Denver Broncos defense/special teams coming into 2024, but they're suddenly on the streaming radar in fantasy ahead of their Week 2 matchup against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers. In the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Denver's D had an interception, fumble recovery and two safeties. They have a chance for a second strong game against Steelers QB Justin Fields, who didn't commit any turnovers against Atlanta in Week 1, but he also threw for just 156 yards in his Pittsburgh debut. Fields entered the season as the expected backup to Russell Wilson (calf) but has been forced into action due to Wilson's injury. Stopping the run will be key for the Broncos to slow down what is considered a weak Steelers offense. Fields averages the second-most rush yards per game by a QB in NFL history, and Najee Harris has the most touches of any player over the last four seasons.

From RotoBaller

Chuba Hubbard Sep 15 12:20am ET
Chuba Hubbard

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard was a bust in Week 1, running the ball six times for just 14 yards in the team's blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints. He now gears up for a Week 2 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, a team that did a decent job of defending the run in Week 1 when they played the Raiders. The Panthers also enter Sunday's contest as underdogs, indicating there might not be a favorable game script for Hubbard and the Panthers run game. On top of that, Hubbard saw a significant split in touches with RB Miles Sanders, as Sanders ran the ball five times in last week's matchup. While Sunday's matchup will likely not be as big of a one-sided affair as last week, it's hard to start Hubbard with a ton of confidence as we have yet to see the Panthers get it going on the ground. That being said, fantasy managers in deeper leagues can look to him as an RB3 option in the hopes that he finds the endzone in Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Graham Gano Sep 15 12:10am ET
Graham Gano

New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (groin) was added to the injury report heading into Sunday's matchup against the Commanders. However, he doesn't carry a game status, meaning he's expected to see the field in Week 2. The 37-year-old is coming off a rough season. But in the Week 1 loss to the Vikings, he made both kicks, including a 50-yard attempt. With questions surrounding the potency of the Giants offense, Gano may be needed more than ever, giving him a higher upside than most others at the position, even with his current ailment.

From RotoBaller

Wil Lutz Sep 15 12:10am ET
Wil Lutz

Even though Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz had a surprisingly decent Week 1 performance fantasy-wise, you really shouldn't be very interested in using him as a sleeper kicker in Week 2 against a swarming Pittsburgh Steelers defense. Lutz went 3-for-3 on his field goals and also made his only extra-point attempt in the season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks in which he benefitted from some good starting positions for a Denver offense that just couldn't get much going in rookie quarterback Bo Nix's NFL debut. The 30-year-old veteran was a Pro Bowler in 2019 with the Saints and has made 85.3% of his 232 field goals attempted in 115 games, so he's been pretty reliable when called upon. However, Denver's offense with a rookie QB at the helm isn't expected to provide Lutz with another kicking opportunities to make him a worthwhile streamer on a weekly basis.

From RotoBaller

Adonai Mitchell Sep 15 12:00am ET
Adonai Mitchell

Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell grabbed just one target for two yards in his career debut in Week 1, but the box score didn't tell the full story. Mitchell saw five targets with 82 air yards, just missing on a few deep passes from QB Anthony Richardson. The rookie saw elite separation on many of his routes, quickly becoming a preferred target in the offense. That being said, Mitchell does not come into Week 2's matchup against the Green Bay Packers with a safe floor, as shown in his Week 1 performance. Fantasy managers in need of an upside play can look to Mitchell in a WR3/Flex spot and hope that he is on the receiving end of a few deep balls from Richardson.

From RotoBaller

Greg Dulcich Sep 15 12:00am ET
Greg Dulcich

Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich did not enter the 2024 season on the fantasy radar after playing in only two games in 2023 due to injury. Dulcich didn't do anything to excite fantasy managers looking for a waiver-wire pickup in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, either, catching two of his three targets for only 12 receiving yards. The 24-year-old UCLA product showed some promise in his rookie season in 2022 but also missed time with injuries. He has developed an injury-prone label and remains off the fantasy radar for the moment in most leagues in a Broncos offense that was hesitant to push the ball down the field with rookie quarterback Bo Nix in the season opener. Dulcich could see a few more targets in Week 2 against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that allowed a TD to Kyle Pitts in Week 1 with rookie receiver Devaughn Vele (rib) out, but Ducich is a TE3 in fantasy until further notice.

From RotoBaller

Michael Pittman Jr. Sep 14 11:40pm ET
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. didn't pop on the stat sheet in Week 1, grabbing four catches for 31 yards in the team's loss to the Houston Texans. The good news was that Pittman was the most targeted pass-catcher, totaling eight targets in the contest. The Colts now gear up for a matchup with the Green Bay Packers, who allowed both WRs AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith to have productive showings in Week 1. Pittman's ceiling does remain limited as Indy doesn't implement a high-volume passing game, with the majority of QB Anthony Richardson's production coming on 60+ touchdown passes. While Pittman can be on the receiving end of one of those, he doesn't provide an incredibly safe floor. That being said, fantasy managers can look to target Pittman was a WR2/3 option and hope to see an increase in Indy's passing attack from last week.

From RotoBaller

Jamaal Williams Sep 14 11:30pm ET
Jamaal Williams

New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams is projected to be an RB3 at best in Week 2 when the Saints square off against the Dallas Cowboys on the road. Williams rushed 11 times for 38 yards and one touchdown in the team's 47-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers, with an additional 13 yards through the air on one catch and one target. New Orleans will get a far more challenging matchup this week against Dallas, but he can be safely left on benches as he backs up Alvin Kamara in the contest. The 29-year-old got extended run in the rout this past weekend, but with a formidable Dallas defense on deck, he can be relegated to the bottom of lineups. Despite his fantasy output in Week 1, confidence in Williams will go no further than a touchdown-dependent alternative unless Kamara is forced to miss time. In addition to the Saints' incumbent starter, Williams will also compete with tight end Taysom Hill for carries. Hill took five rushes for 35 yards in New Orleans' Week 1 win.

From RotoBaller

Justice Hill Sep 14 11:10pm ET
Justice Hill

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill can be left out of fantasy managers' lineups for the team's Week 2 home matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Hill took just one carry for three yards in Baltimore's Week 1 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also added 52 yards on six catches and eight targets. The fifth-year RB was heavily involved in the Ravens' passing game while tying for second in the team lead in targets and with the third-most receptions and yards. He was clearly the first up in passing situations for the Ravens, but will be challenging to project for such a role weekly. With backfield mate Derrick Henry to take most of the early-down work -- and project for most of the goal-line carries, too -- the 26-year-old RB will be a volatile, game-script-dependent play. He'll be tough to trust in Baltimore's home opener this Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Sep 14 10:50pm ET
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase stated he has no plans to negotiate a long-term deal with the team this season. The news comes after Chase felt slighted when the Bengals did not sign him to an extension this offseason after they told him repeatedly they would do so. The 24-year-old participated in 84% of Cincinnati's snaps this past weekend in their shocking 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots, catching all six of his targets for 62 yards. The LSU product was featured on the Bengals' injury report in Week 1 during his partial holdout. However, he seems to be putting negotiations behind him for the remainder of the season. The former Tiger has reportedly taken out a $50 million insurance policy on himself ahead of the rest of the 2024 season. He was solid last week, and Chase can be trusted as a WR1 moving forward as Cincinnati's offense attempts to get back on track after a so-so Week 1 performance.

From RotoBaller

Darnell Mooney Sep 14 10:30pm ET
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney is a potential WR4 play when the team squares off against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. Mooney registered a snap on 53 plays for the Falcons in their Week 1 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, reeling in 1-of-3 targets for 15 yards. He tied for third on the team with three targets and matched wide receiver Drake London's receiving total of 15 yards. This is likely one of the few times the 26-year-old ties Atlanta's WR1 in total yardage and targets. However, he'll be an imminent threat for a deep ball or two when the Falcons take on the Eagles on MNF. He's a nice flier in an Atlanta offense that projects to pick it up over the next few weeks, with Kirk Cousins working his way back to full health after a 2023 Achilles injury. For now, though, Mooney can be avoided until his production ticks up and the Falcons get on track.

From RotoBaller

Ray-Ray McCloud Sep 14 10:10pm ET
Ray-Ray McCloud

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III is an intriguing option ahead of the team's Week 2 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. McCloud hauled in 4-of-7 targets for 56 yards in last Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, with an additional 56 yards on two kickoff returns. The 27-year-old wideout played the fourth-fewest snaps of any Falcons skill player in Week 1 while recording a target on an impressive 46.7% of his routes. He also registered an other-worldly 3.47 yards per route run. It will be tough to trust him moving forward with Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson to compete with for targets. However, McCloud will be a player to monitor in the coming weeks. His work in the return game and high YPRR make him an exciting player to watch. Aside from the Falcons' superstars, there isn't much regarding depth aside from wide receiver Darnell Mooney.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan Taylor Sep 14 10:00pm ET
Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor underwhelmed fantasy managers last week, totaling just 48 yards on 16 carries with no action in the receiving game. He was able to find the endzone, which helped boost his fantasy performance. Although inefficient, he received every running back carry, which should come as encouraging news to fantasy managers. He now gears up for a Week 2 matchup with the Green Bay Packers, a team that allowed RB Saquon Barkley to total three touchdowns in the two teams Week 1 matchup. On top of that, the Colts are favorites in Sunday's matchup with the likely absence of Jordan Love (knee), creating a favorable game script for Taylor. Fantasy managers in all formats can consider Taylor a strong RB1 option in Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Richardson Sep 14 9:50pm ET
Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson impressed in Week 1, totaling three touchdowns with just nine total completions. Despite his low passing volume, Richardson remains a strong fantasy quarterback with his rushing upside, shown last week with his six attempts for 56 yards and accounting for one of his touchdowns. He now gears up for a Week 2 clash with the Green Bay Packers, a team that allowed 34 points last week to the Eagles as well as 270+ passing yards and two touchdowns to QB Jalen Hurts. As will be the case for most of this season, Richardson makes for a strong start and should be prioritized in almost all/leagues and formats.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Mason Sep 14 9:43pm ET
Jordan Mason

Dynasty | 49ers running back Jordan Mason will presumably be the team's starter while Christian McCaffrey recovers from his Achilles injury. Dynasty Analysis: And just like that, we could have a league-winning dynasty asset come out of nowhere. Mason was huge for the 49ers last week, rushing for 147 yards and will now likely be asked to be the workhorse for one of the league's friendliest offenses. While expecting McCaffrey-like numbers from him would be foolish, it's not unrealistic to expect him to post RB1/2 numbers each week until CMC returns.

Younghoe Koo Sep 14 8:30pm ET
Younghoe Koo

Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo managed only one extra point and one field goal attempt in the team's Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This week, Koo plays on Monday Night football outdoors against the Philadelphia Eagles, who could be out in front in this one often, potentially taking Koo out of the game script early, just like the Niners took Greg Zuerlein out of last week's Monday night matchup. Many kickers have a much more positive outlook this week. It's best to leave Koo on the waiver wire for another week, as he is currently 16th among all kickers in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Sep 14 8:30pm ET
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts will be looking for more volume in Week 2 heading into Monday Night's football game versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Although he did find the end zone on broken coverage in Week 1, the volume was not what fantasy managers were hoping for with new quarterback Kirk Cousins under center. Pitts only saw three targets and caught all three for 26 yards beyond the lone touchdown. If the Falcons can make the adjustments they need in Week 2, Pitts remains a crucial weapon in this offense and should muster up more than the three targets he received in Week 1's underwhelming performance by Kirk Cousins and the rest of Atlanta's offense. His versatility between lining up as a tight end and as a wide receiver should make it difficult for the Eagles secondary to cover him. Despite the lack of targets in Week 1, Pitts remains a must-start and is currently TE6 in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Sep 14 8:20pm ET
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons third-year wide receiver Drake London will look to bounce back in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles after a brutal Week 1 performance. Fantasy managers hoped for a step forward in production with newly signed quarterback Kirk Cousins. Still, London could only muster up three targets against a defense more known to be vulnerable through the air than the ground attack. Ray-Ray McCloud III ended up being the Falcons' No. 1 receiver in Week 1, but don't expect that trend to continue. The former USC Trojan is the No. 1 receiver for this team, and you can expect him to receive more than three targets in a game so that the Falcons could be down early and often. The Eagles allowed 260 passing yards and two receiving touchdowns, along with multiple big plays from the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, making London a prime candidate to have a solid bounce-back game in Week 2

From RotoBaller

Kirk Cousins Sep 14 8:10pm ET
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins had an underwhelming debut for his new team in Week 1. He has an equally tough, if not more challenging, matchup this Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. It's not necessarily due to the Eagles' defense, who allowed 280 yards passing to Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers the week prior, but because of the high expectations and the pressure to perform to a much higher standard than his Week 1 showing. The Falcons could be down early and often, providing value for fantasy managers this week. Still, it is not wise to start Kirk Cousins in any lineups in any 10 or 12-team leagues until we see the camaraderie and potential this team could truly have. Cousins is mainly an option in superflex or 2QB leagues, ranking 21st among all quarterbacks in the latest RotoBaller Week 2 rankings.

From RotoBaller