Fantasy Football: 5 Potential Sleepers For Week 2 Of 2016 NFL Season

Identifying sleepers is paramount in fantasy football, as the stars produce similar statistics every week. That means it’s the guys who fill out your roster who ultimately decide if you will struggle, or bask in victorious glory in any given week.

Heading into Week 2 of the 2016 NFL season, a number of players that aren’t on the majority of fantasy football players’ radar will go on to have excellent games, but they can be hard to find at times with hundreds of offensive players to analyze.

After researching matchups and the NFL injury report, these five players stood out as potential sleepers for Week 2 fantasy football.

Victor Cruz – WR – New York Giants

After missing most of the 2014 season, and all of the 2015 campaign, Victor Cruz made his triumphant return and played in an NFL game for the first time in nearly two years for the New York Giants in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Many fantasy football experts understandably refrained from hyping Cruz up this summer, as there was simply no telling what he would be able to accomplish after missing so much time.

To the absolute delight of Giants fans, media, players, and front office folk alike, Victor let the NFL know he is back with four receptions, 31 yards, a touchdown and a long-awaited salsa dance in New York’s opener.

In Week 2, the Giants host the New Orleans Saints in what Las Vegas projects to be the highest-scoring game of the week (O/U 52.5 points). New Orleans’ defense was lit up for 35 points by the Oakland Raiders in Week 1 and appears to be no better than it was last year when it ranked near the bottom of the NFL.

Thus, Cruz is primed for a big performance, and could provide tremendous value for you on the waiver wire or in daily fantasy football leagues.

Tyrell Williams – WR – San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers were dealt a devastating blow in Week 1 against Kansas City, as they lost No. 1 wide receiver Keenan Allen for the season as the result of a torn ACL. Philip Rivers wasted no time in calling on the next guy up, as he targeted Tyrell Williams five times.

Williams stepped up, tallying two receptions for 71 yards. Tyrell projects to be involved early and often in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who bring a young defense to San Diego after a tough loss of their own to the Green Bay Packers.

Williams plays the slot, so he might not have the touchdown upside as teammate Dontrelle Inman, who is also a potential fantasy football sleeper this week. However, Tyrell will likely receive more targets.

Philip Rivers on Tyrell Williams: "We need him to catch a bunch of balls this year — a bunch of balls and have some huge days and big gains"

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) September 14, 2016

In a solid matchup against Jacksonville, Williams could easily finish with six to eight receptions and 75-85 yards, especially in DraftKings’ one-point PPR (points per reception) leagues.

Brent Celek – TE – Philadelphia Eagles

Earlier in the week, Tim McManus of ESPN suggested the rib injury Philadelphia Eagles TE Zach Ertz suffered in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns will likely keep him out one week at a minimum.

The tight end position is important to Philadelphia’s offense with rookie quarterback Carson Wentz starting, as it provides him a security blanket over the middle.

Need a TE? Brent Celek will step in for an injured Zach Ertz. He has averaged 4.1-57-.22 in nine games with 5+ targets over the L3 years.

— John Paulsen (@4for4_John) September 14, 2016

In Week 2, the Eagles travel to take on the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. The Bears ranked a middle-of-the-road 17th against tight ends last season, according to Pro Football Reference, and weren’t really tested in Week 1 as the Houston Texans featured a relative unknown in C.J. Fiedorowicz.

Wentz targeted the aforementioned Ertz seven times in Week 1, so it’s fair to assume Celek will receive plenty of chances to produce as a fantasy football sleeper against Chicago.

Jay Ajayi/Damien Williams – RB – Miami Dolphins

To the surprise of absolutely no one, Mike Florio of NBC Sports reported on Wednesday Miami Dolphins starting RB Arian Foster missed practice with a hamstring injury. Foster has missed a ton of time in his career, thus many fantasy football owners are holding their breath in hopes that won’t be the case once again.

Adam Gase: It's a new day for Jay Ajayi https://t.co/7wp7XJ2i62

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 12, 2016

Over the summer, Jay Ajayi was thought to be the next man up for the Dolphins if anything were to happen to Foster during the season. However, the Dolphins left Ajayi at home when they traveled to take on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1 due to a schism that developed between Jay and the powers that be in Miami over the signing of Arian.

Over the past few days, numerous outlets reported Ajayi was slated to get a second chance in Week 2, even prior to the Foster news. However, if he were to start and subsequently struggle against the New England Patriots on Sunday, it’s fair to assume Damien Williams would step in and take his place.

Monitor this situation and act accordingly, as a potential sleeper could easily materialize if Foster is unable to play.

Joe Flacco – QB – Baltimore Ravens

This shouldn’t be a hard sell. The Baltimore Ravens take on the lowly Cleveland Browns in Week 2 in a matchup that’s conducive to fantasy gold.

Our Fantasy Tip of the Week presented by @kfc – Start Joe Flacco vs. the Browns pic.twitter.com/nWrx7dNtjG

— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) September 14, 2016

Expect Flacco and company to put up a ton of points through the air in the first half and do a plethora of running in the second as they coast to a blowout victory.

[Featured Image by Patrick Smith/Getty Images]