Week 2 Fantasy Football Lineup Advice: Must-Starts at EVERY Position (Ep. 2201)
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
18 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Sep 18, 2026
Published
Fri, September 18, 2026
7
Player insights
7
Players mentioned
Topics
Baker MayfieldBrenton StrangeChigoziem OkonkwoJadarian PriceMatthew GoldenParker WashingtonStefon Diggs
Player analysis
Player insights
Baker Mayfield
PositiveProjection3:56
Derek Brown projects Baker Mayfield as a QB1 for Week 2 against the Browns, citing high motivation against his former team and strong Week 1 efficiency metrics, including the third-highest passing success rate and catchable target rate, despite three fumbles.
Insight pageBrenton Strange
PositiveSleeper23:48
Derek Brown identifies Brenton Strange as a top-tier streaming option for tight end-needy teams, noting his history of success against Denver (TE9 finish last year) and the likelihood of increased targets if Brian Thomas Jr. is shadowed by Pat Surtain.
Insight pageChigoziem Okonkwo
NegativeInjury19:14
Derek Brown notes that Chigoziem Okonkwo is unlikely to play in Week 2 due to an injury sustained in Week 1, with the 'Are They Playing' tool currently projecting only a 53% chance of participation.
Insight pageJadarian Price
PositiveBreakout8:37
Derek Brown highlights Jadarian Price as a strong start despite his current ECR outside the top 24, noting his explosive Week 1 metrics (20% explosive run rate, 20% missed tackle rate) and a favorable matchup against an Arizona defense that struggled with missed tackles and yards after contact.
Insight pageMatthew Golden
PositiveBreakout20:41
Derek Brown is high on Matthew Golden for Week 2, citing his 26% target share in Week 1 and his historical efficiency against two-high safety coverage, which the Jets utilize frequently.
Insight pageParker Washington
NegativeSleeper15:18
Derek Brown recommends Parker Washington as a DFS and betting target for Week 2, as the Jaguars will likely look to avoid Denver's strong outside corners, Pat Surtain and Riley Moss, funneling targets to the slot.
Insight pageStefon Diggs
PositiveValue17:21
Derek Brown argues Stefan Diggs is undervalued as a WR17 in ECR, citing his 26% target share and 2.2 yards per route run in Week 1, and a favorable matchup against a Dallas secondary that struggled against slot receivers.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human. Learn more at staples.com.
0:03What, the last 72 hours crafting this week's Primer article live at FantasyPros.com?
0:08He's downtown, Derek Brown. D-Bro, how are the hands feeling after another 10k words this week?
0:13Have you put those biggies on ice yet? 10k?
0:15But you need to bump, those are starter numbers.
0:18Those are... Oh no! ...redimentary numbers there, Seth. 20k, baby!
0:21Oh my goodness! 15 to 20k every single week, man.
0:24Don't lowball me like that, man. Put respect. Oh man.
0:28No, but I'm doing good, man. Out of the Primer Cave, we were like an oil machine.
0:33I was just going through games, dude. So Wednesday when I got to it, wasn't that like crazy of a lift?
0:39Yeah. Got it live, been live on the site since early Thursday morning.
0:44I will, again, every single week this is a living, breathing document.
0:47So there are a lot of... After one game of football in the season, Seth, a lot of injury issues that I
0:54will be updating when we get to Friday, like practice reports and the Friday nights are always like my big update time.
1:01Okay. So look for the tweet, look for the updates.
1:04Definitely check back to the article on Saturday mornings because Friday night is when the real work gets put in too.
1:11That's why I love you, Derek, because most people are out, you know, having date night with the wife or out on the town.
1:18Not I. D-Bro is locked in getting those Primer updates for you.
1:22Not for 18 weeks, dude, not I. Yes, absolutely.
1:25We need to just like send you like a Friday night care package, you know, maybe, you know, a little ice bucket
1:32for the hands, maybe a little, you know, the things that go underneath your eyes and make the eye bags go away.
1:39I can write with like one of those red light masks.
1:42Yes, yes. I think that would be... It'll look like the man in the iron mask.
1:47Yeah. Yes, I love it. I love it. As noted on today's program, folks, we have our must start players for each
1:54position, quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end.
1:57And before we get there, just wanted to give a big shout out to everyone tuning in either on the FantasyPros YouTube channel or the audio feed.
2:05We see you. We appreciate you. And we're trying to get to 300,000 subscribers by the end of this football season.
2:12We can only get there with your help. So please give this video a thumbs up if you enjoy this type of content.
2:19And don't forget to subscribe to the channel if you're new.
2:22And maybe if you do, we'll get a care package out to Derek sometime for a Friday night.
2:28A spectacular. Derek, let's go ahead though and jump right in to the quarterback position where you have a little revenge on your mind.
2:36Hey, I woke up feeling dangerous. And I think Baker Mayfield is going to do the same in week two, baby.
2:42He's got it. Baker is going to be absolutely motivated to crush his former team with the way that the tenure ended in Cleveland.
2:50And I don't want to walk too far down narrative street, but outside of the three fumbles, which capsized the bucks in
2:57week one for Baker Mayfield, he was actually really good man on a per drop back basis.
3:02Third highest passing success rate and catchable target rate.
3:05Who knew when Baker Mayfield is healthy, he looks like a good quarterback and the Browns were terrible in week one as a passing defense.
3:13Like they give the third most yards per attempt, highest pass rating, highest passing success rate.
3:18Yes, Trevor Lawrence and the Jags are really good, but this bucks team could put some points on the board this week.
3:24And I think Mayfield could be a QB one.
3:27Yeah, he's someone that I think, you know, the fancy output does not really justify how good he was last week.
3:3423 of 28, 216 passing yards. He lost. He basically had a negative eight point play when he was going to get
3:41a rushing touchdown, fumbled it going across the goal line.
3:44And so realistically, I think Baker Mayfield is set up for a good point.
3:48We saw him scramble around five for 30. He looked healthy for once, which was really great to see a Mecca Buka finding him early.
3:56Chris Godwin on the check downs looking for Teddy Hurst deep.
3:59So yeah, I don't hate that play at all.
4:02Baker Mayfield certainly intriguing this week against the Cleveland Browns.
4:05I just got off the show with Andrew Erickson.
4:08He's laying the seven and a half. I think I'm going to tease that down to six and a half.
4:15But yeah, let's just keep laying. I'll lay it.
4:17I think I think the bucks are going to hand it to him this week.
4:22Another bad game from Sean Watson. Let's go. Is there any more motivation you need than having the opposing quarterback being the
4:29guy that was traded for for three first round picks paid the most money in NFL history guaranteed?
4:35And you got shipped off to Carolina because of that.
4:38I mean, come on, man. And they crushed him during he played hurt his final season there.
4:43And they absolutely just just crushed him for it.
4:46But it made it seem like he was a garbage quarterback to cast off not worth it.
4:51And he's like probably looking in the mirror like and I did all of this for what?
4:56Okay, I'm about to show y'all. Yeah, you know, it'd be crazy if this game was in Cleveland and like the crowd chanted Baker.
5:04Oh, dude, then just you know what I mean?
5:07It would happen. It would happen. It would. Yeah.
5:10Well, Derek, let's go to the NFC for your first running back play where you've got your eyes on a young gun out there.
5:17Yeah, man. Just give the freaking ball to Jadarian Price Seattle.
5:21It doesn't have to be more difficult than that.
5:23But I think like with this week, he's outside the top 20 top 24 running backs right now in ECR.
5:30I think this could be a big game for Jadarian Price.
5:33And what we saw out of his limited workload in week one was he was that explosive player.
5:39Seattle thought they were drafting had a 20 percent explosive run rate 20 percent missed tackle rate 2.9 yards up to contact per attempt.
5:46All of those are really strong metrics. And then you also put this up against an Arizona run defense that quietly give
5:53it the third most yards up to contact per attempt.
5:56Third highest missed tackle rate in week one. Like I know it wasn't a great game from the Chargers offense, but this Arizona defense is not amazing.
6:05Seattle should just feed Price this week. And I think that happens.
6:08And I think he's gonna have a really good game.
6:12Yeah, I mean last week the Seattle Seahawks were in a pretty negative game script for almost the entirety of it.
6:18Like they lost right off the rip Sam Darnold there in a 10-0 hole going early in that third quarter.
6:24And then it was really playing catch up and shout to Drew Locke for really getting it done out there.
6:31And you know, I thought Jadarian Price looked explosive.
6:34Did he not look like Kenneth Walker? Like, dude, he looks so good.
6:38I mean, that was the other thing. We all could see it at home.
6:42We so you know the coaches could see it the difference between when he takes a carry and when George Helani takes a carry.
6:49Everybody's just staring at their TV saying why why why why are we why are we doing this again?
6:55Why are we doing this at all? Like did no, no, just give the ball to Price more more please.
7:02I do have a soft spot for Helani cash me a huge like I think it was like a five unit ticket.
7:09I had him on him in the Super Bowl to get a couple rushing attempts, but he's not the best running back by any means.
7:16But you think maybe we also see a bounce back performance for one base all to and out there in the mile high city this week.
7:25So speaking of Kenneth Walker, he's going against the defense that Kenneth Walker just made him look like it.
7:31Oh, yeah, like ran all over them and now the Broncos get to face another explosive runner.
7:36I mean, basial to I know the stat line wasn't amazing.
7:39But again, you go to the deeper analytics week one 20% explosive run rate 33% missed tackle rate.
7:45So again, we're talking about a similar archetype to a Kenneth Walker that can create yards on his own create big plays
7:52break tackles and quietly that well not so quietly Denver's run defense in week one Seth 10th highest explosive run rate.
7:58They give the highest yards for per contact per attempt of any defense and the highest missed tackle rate of any defense of week one.
8:06I'm not saying the Broncos are going to wake up and they're automatically a horrible defense.
8:11But if you look at the archetype of runner that basial tootin is yeah, and what they did in week one against
8:18also we have to talk about a degraded Casey offensive line.
8:22Yeah, I think basial tootin can have a wonderful game.
8:25And again, if you want to stay away from what this Denver Broncos defense does the best in their secondary and their
8:32past events, you give the freaking ball to basial tootin.
8:35And you want to talk about positive game script as well, Seth.
8:38But if Bo Nix and company look like the offense they were in week one, tell me how the Jags don't roll in this game.
8:46And it's just more carries and more production for basial tootin.
8:50I do hope that Sean Payton is patient with Davis Webb on the sticks.
8:54I will say that said, though, I don't know.
8:57Sean Payton this week, I think is the time to keep fading them right and keep playing players against them because, you know, Davis.
9:04I think Davis Webb is going to be eventually one of the better play callers in the league, but I think it's
9:11going to take some time for him to get there.
9:14And so I just think it's a great spot for tootin.
9:18Searod, let's get them ripping on the ground. And like, no one needs to hear to start Parker Washington, but I think
9:25you play him in DFS this week. I think you play him in the betting markets, too, because they got to avoid
9:32Pat Sertan and Riley Moss on the outside. And we're going to get to another Jag here in a little bit of why I believe that.
9:40Yes, I'm with you. I'm with you. Okay. All right.
9:43Well, I like to hear that. Excited to hear more Jaguars lore coming from Derek Brown.
9:48But first, I did want to remind everyone that if you want a chance to win the ultimate symbol of fantasy glory,
9:55the fantasy football championship belt, courtesy of our good friends over a trophy smack, the number one destination for epic fantasy football hardware, then this is your moment.
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10:33Smack and Flex on your entire league. Derek, let's go to the wide receiver position.
10:37Who do you have for us this week? Oh, baby.
10:41Stefan Diggs. I think this game is going to be just points scored galore.
10:45And Stefan Diggs showed in week one that he's still not washed.
10:49He's still really good at football. Wide receiver 17, so him being outside the top 20, top 30 guys in ECR right
10:56now is kind of crazy to me. For a player that had a 26% target share, 26% first read share on a per-route basis, 2.2 yards per-route run.
11:04He got a red zone target, a deep target.
11:07So all of the usage was there in week one for Stefan Diggs to keep the train running in week two.
11:14And the Dallas secondary looked hopeless, man. They get the seventh most fantasy points per target to slot receivers in week one.
11:21I don't know how that changes after just one game.
11:24So Stefan Diggs, get him in lineups. Is there a chance that we look back at the end of the season and
11:31Stefan Diggs was actually the better commanders wide receiver to draft there?
11:34That caused, yeah. Because it feels like with how sketchy that line can be sometimes in Washington, having the checkdown option of
11:41Diggs feels very friendly to Jaden Daniels. And we saw it last week, too, with also Antonio Williams, right?
11:47Getting those checkdowns, getting that inside look. And Chiga Kwankwo, I don't know if you've had any practice reports on him this week.
11:54I doubt he plays. He left that game banged up, which stinks because I got a season-long ticket on him.
12:01I need him to reach 500 receiving yards. I'm going to be down a couple units there.
12:06But, yeah, I think Stefan Diggs, there's a shot that, you know, at the end of the day, he was the Washington
12:13commander you wanted on your fantasy team. And that starts here and continues here in Dallas in week number two.
12:19And just shout out for the Are They Playing tool, Chiga Kwankwo, right now.
12:24And this will be updated again as we get more practice reports.
12:27This tool becomes even more accurate, again, throughout the week.
12:30Right now, only a 53% chance to play. So I doubt he plays.
12:34Okay. Also, you have another younger player who we start to see some signs of life from in week one.
12:41Yeah, man. Matthew Golden. I wasn't a big believer this offseason.
12:44I was like, okay, I got to see it.
12:47But did we see it in week one? Absolutely, man.
12:50Guy got a 26% target share, 30.3% first read share.
12:53You look at the coverage matchup this week, and I think that's really what makes me lean in the direction of Matthew Golden.
13:00Okay. Looking at the Jets, they ran too high on 59% of their defensive snaps.
13:05Why does this matter? Because Matthew Golden, towards the end of the season, was one of their go-to options against too high coverage.
13:12And the splits with him versus single high, like we're talking about a 14% versus a 21% target per route run rate.
13:1921% versus too high. His yards per route run last year went from 1.34 to 1.6.
13:24So 1.6 isn't like an amazing metric, but it shows you the disparity of he's backup level to, okay, he's solid.
13:31And then taking a step in this passing game, and this year, I think Golden has a really, really strong game in week two.
13:38I think one of the things going in your direction that I might have not said a week ago, I think this
13:45Jets offense might be more competent than I thought.
13:48They might push the Packers in this one. They're only three and a half point underdogs, the Jets are.
13:54So, you know, I think, you know, I like Kenyon Sadiq this week.
13:58He's one of my favorite sleeper starts. I think he could be out there, you know, moving this Jets offense along with
14:05Brees Hall, Garrett Wilson kind of doing that dirty work.
14:08So don't hate to play there about Matthew Golden at all.
14:12I think he's had a really, really strong week one.
14:15Excited to see he can continue to stack impressive performances after impressive performances.
14:19Derek, let's go to the tight end position. Back down to the Mile High City where we got the boys from Duval County making a trek out there.
14:28Brenton Strange, baby. If you're hurting in tight end, like you got Bowers issues, you got other injury issues, you got guys
14:34that are just giving you goose eggs in week one.
14:38Or you got Kyle Pitts. You need to pick up Brenton Strange, and I think he's going to have a very productive week.
14:45Again, we want to talk about what are the areas of this Denver Broncos past defense that you want to stay away from?
14:52Okay, really the strength of it is their corners.
14:55Patrick Sertain, who will be shadowing Brian Thomas Jr., assuming that he is playing this week.
15:00If he isn't playing, then it's Jacoby Myers that's getting shut down.
15:04More targets are going to go in the direction of Parker Washington and Brenton Strange, and we've already seen this play out, Seth.
15:11They played last year, man. In week one, Brenton Strange got a 13% target share last year against this defense.
15:17Brenton Strange had a 19.4% target share, a 19% first reach share.
15:21In that game, he was the tight end nine for the week.
15:24So I think when we're looking at staying away from the Broncos' strengths, targets going in the direction of the better matchup
15:31to a hyper-efficient player, because Brenton Strange didn't get the target volume last year.
15:36Dude, he was top 12, top 15 in every pro-rout metric that I care about.
15:40If he gets the targets, he's going to produce again this week.
15:44And for a player that right now, oh, let me go look in ECR.
15:49He is tight end 18? No. Behind Dalton Schultz?
15:51Brenton Strange. Behind Jake Ferguson? Brenton Strange. Behind Kyle Pitts?
15:55Give me Brenton Strange. Behind Michael Mayer? Give me Brenton Strange.
15:58Harold Fannin? Give me Brenton Strange. Yeah. Yeah, that's a good point.
16:02I got a bench fan in a couple leagues, and there are some spots where I am tight end needy, and Strange
16:09is certainly on that short list of options. Really available in a ton of leagues right now.
16:14Coming in right now, ECR tight end 18. So yeah, I just think it's a great value for a guy who went
16:21up against the Broncos last year, five for 39 and a touchdown, and Parker Washington for good measures, just for your argument,
16:28six for 145 and one in that game. So I expect big days from both the former Penn State Nittany line, actually
16:35two former Penn State Nittany lines out there in Parker Washington and Brenton Strange.
16:39Man, I love it. The Jaguars is placating to your heart.
16:42I love it. And to your point, though, Brenton Strange, per Fantasy Pros, is only rostered in 26% of his leagues.
16:49He's out there in a lot of them. Yeah, I love it, man.
16:53I like the Jaguars to go over 21.5 points this week.
16:57That's one of my favorite gambles this week as well.
17:00So Derek Brown, great stuff for you, man. Get those fingers on some ice after 20K words this week once again.
17:06That's going to do it for us on this episode of the Fantasy Pros Fantasy Football Podcast.
17:12Comment down below your favorite Week 2 must-start players, and while you're here, make sure you're smashing that like button and subscribing to the channel if you're new.
17:20For Derek Brown, I'm Seth Wolcott. Take care, y'all.
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