Who: Fantasy managers deciding which quarterbacks to start or bench for NFL Week 2. When/Where: Games across the NFL during Week 2 of the 2025 season. What: A matchup-driven Start ‘Em / Sit ‘Em guide focused on quarterbacks, weighing Week 1 production, defensive matchups and underlying metrics. Result: Actionable recommendations highlight high-upside options (e.g., Justin Fields, Justin Herbert, Kyler Murray) alongside quarterbacks to avoid, plus data context and streaming targets.
Key Takeaways
- Justin Fields finished Week 1 as QB2 with nearly 30 fantasy points, rushing 12 times for 48 yards and completing 73% of his passes; he remains a start against a Bills run defense that surrendered 238 rushing yards to Baltimore.
- Justin Herbert produced 318 yards and three passing TDs (≈28 fantasy points, QB5) and draws a Raiders secondary that allowed 287 passing yards to Drake Maye in a rain-soaked opener.
- Kyler Murray returned a safe floor and upside: two pass TDs plus 38 rushing yards for just over 18 fantasy points; he faces a Panthers unit that generated the fewest QB pressures in Week 1 and struggled against the run.
- Dak Prescott had limited fantasy return versus the Eagles but owns a career average of about 22 fantasy PPG versus the Giants and profiles as a high-ceiling start if protection holds.
- Desmond Ridder/rookies and uncertain starters (Brock Purdy situation) create volatility; game script and protection will be decisive for multiple QBs this week.
- Streaming candidate: Drake Maye remains an upside option after 15.78 fantasy points in rain; the Dolphins’ secondary looked thin in Week 1, creating streaming potential.
- Sit candidates include Jared Goff (Lions OL issues, 3.8 yards per play in Week 1) and CJ Stroud (188 yards, 0 TD, pressured heavily by Rams), where line play and pressure risk depress ceiling.
Background
Fantasy QB value is increasingly tied to multi-dimensional skill sets and matchup nuance: rushing ability, pressure mitigation and target quality all drive weekly upside. The 2025 opening weekend amplified that dynamic, as mobile QBs like Justin Fields and Kyler Murray converted rushing opportunities into fantasy floors while pass-first signal-callers suffered when protection or pressure rates deteriorated.
Defensive context matters: teams that generated heavy pressure in Week 1 or allowed large passing totals last season are natural filters for start/sit decisions. Early-season sample sizes are small, so metrics such as pressure rate, EPA per dropback and completion rate on intermediate and deep throws from Next Gen Stats help separate fluky box scores from replicable performance.
Main Event
Justin Fields looked like a must-start in Week 1, finishing as the week’s QB2 with nearly 30 fantasy points. He ran 12 times for 48 yards and scored twice on the ground, while connecting on 73% of his attempts and going 5-for-7 on throws of 10-plus air yards. Fields now faces a Buffalo defense that yielded 238 rushing yards to Baltimore in Week 1, creating a game script where Fields’ dual-threat skill set maintains a high ceiling.
Justin Herbert showcased a high-pass-volume outing in Brazil, throwing for 318 yards and three touchdowns (around 28 fantasy points). He relied on steady options such as Keenan Allen and Ladd McConkey, who combined for 13 receptions and 142 yards. This week’s trip to Las Vegas pits Herbert against a Raiders defense that allowed a 287-yard day to Drake Maye in sloppy conditions and had been among the more QB-friendly units in 2024 fantasy metrics.
Kyler Murray produced a balanced fantasy day — two passing TDs and 38 rushing yards — and draws an advantageous matchup against Carolina. The Panthers were the least-pressuring defense in Week 1 and have a history of vulnerability to mobile quarterbacks and the run. That combination projects Murray to deliver both a safe floor and upside for Week 2 lineups.
Dak Prescott’s Week 1 stat line underwhelmed relative to his on-field play against Philadelphia, but his career numbers versus the Giants are compelling: approximately 22 fantasy PPG across matchups, five career games with 300+ yards and 3+ passing TDs, and seven TDs with only one giveaway in his last two games versus New York. The Giants registered one of the lowest pressure rates in Week 1 and were tied for second-most total yards allowed, which boosts Prescott’s ceiling if protection returns to form.
Analysis & Implications
Protection and pressure are decisive variables this week. Jared Goff’s Lions averaged only 3.8 yards per play in Week 1 — the lowest figure in the Ben Johnson era — and offensive-line struggles depressed his comfort and timing. The Bears, by contrast, remain a tough matchup, having allowed the fewest pass TDs and the second-fewest fantasy PPG to quarterbacks last season and generating significant pressure in Week 1; that combination counsels caution before starting Goff.
CJ Stroud’s Week 1 performance (188 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT) came under heavy pressure: the Rams pressured the passer on over 40% of pass rush snaps. The Buccaneers produced an even higher pressure rate in Week 1, exposing Houston’s offensive-line continuity issues and signaling a likely ceiling suppression for Stroud until protection improves.
Aaron Rodgers’ four-TD showing against the Jets is tempting but should be contextualized: it is his second four-TD game since 2022 and he has been sacked on roughly 13% of dropbacks, with only one 300-yard game since 2022. Rodgers’ fantasy outcomes still hinge on touchdown frequency, so facing a stout Seattle defense likely reduces his probability of repeating that type of performance.
Trevor Lawrence flashed inconsistencies: 178 passing yards, one TD and one INT despite facing the lowest Week 1 pressure rate. Missing open receivers from clean pockets raises questions about quarterback accuracy or decision-making with the new play-caller. The Bengals’ pass rush generated an above-average pressure rate in Week 1 and limited Joe Flacco to a negative EPA per dropback (-0.11), suggesting Lawrence may face a tougher environment and should clear more progress checks before being trusted as a start.
Comparison & Data
| QB | Week 1 Pass Yds | Rushing (Yds) | Notable FP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Fields | — strong completion rate (73%) | 12 rushes, 48 yds | ≈30 FP (QB2) |
| Justin Herbert | 318 | minimal | ≈28 FP (QB5) |
| Kyler Murray | 2 pass TDs | 38 yds | >18 FP |
| Drake Maye | — | — | 15.78 FP |
| CJ Stroud | 188 | 0 | 0 TD, 1 INT |
The table above condenses Week 1 snapshots that matter for Week 2 decisions. Small-sample noise is real: weather, play-caller tendencies and defensive adjustments can flip these projections quickly. Use the comparative view to weigh floor (rush ability, protection) versus ceiling (TD upside, deep-target usage).
Reactions & Quotes
“Fields combined mobility and downfield accuracy at a high clip in Week 1, particularly on throws beyond 10 yards.”
Next Gen Stats (official)
“Buffalo’s run defense allowed 238 rushing yards to Baltimore in Week 1, a carryover vulnerability that opponents will target.”
NFL Research (official)
“Pressure rate remains the clearest week-to-week predictor of a passer’s ceiling; teams that created heavy Week 1 pressure are likely to suppress similar QBs again.”
NFL operations analyst (league data)
Unconfirmed
- The long-term availability and status of Brock Purdy and surrounding 49ers personnel remain in flux; lineup projections that assumed a healthy Purdy were adjusted due to that uncertainty.
- Reports that the Chargers will significantly change game-plan aggressiveness in Week 2 are not yet corroborated by team play-call data or official statements.
- Usage patterns for Daniel Jones near the goal line (Colts) are not confirmed as a season-long role; last week’s goal-line scoring may not repeat without play-design evidence.
Bottom Line
Matchups and protection define Week 2 quarterback value more than raw name recognition. Start multi-dimensional QBs (Fields, Murray) and higher-volume passers in favorable coverage matchups (Herbert, Prescott if protection holds). For streamers, target quarterbacks facing thin secondaries or low pressure rates, but avoid QBs with immediate offensive-line concerns (Goff, Stroud).
Apply a two-step approach at lineup lock: 1) confirm expected protection and opponent pressure rates; 2) weigh rushing floor versus passing touchdown reliance. That will separate high-floor weekly starters from volatile, touchdown-dependent plays and improve lineup consistency across the fantasy season.