Giana Pacinell provides QB streaming options, 2-QB plays, and overall QB rankings and for Week 2 of the 2019 fantasy football season.

It was the week that won (come for the fantasy football content, stay for the puns). Week 1 delivered exciting matchups that had us questioning how we ever survived the offseason. 

There was the good —  

• Patrick Mahomes picked up right where he left off, going 8 of 9 for 219 yards and two touchdowns in the first thirteen minutes of the season.
• Dak Prescott (QB2) and Lamar Jackson (QB1) each delivered a perfect passer rating – marking the first time in 100 seasons that two quarterbacks did it on the same Sunday. Jackson also became the youngest to do it, with five TD passes against the Dolphins.

The bad —

• With heightened optimism and offseason hype surrounding the Browns to start the season, Baker Mayfield failed to come close to meeting expectations. He threw three interceptions (one pick-six) with five sacks and a safety.
• In another future-of-the-franchise misstep, Mitchell Trubisky appeared reckless and uncomfortable completing just 58 percent of his passes, despite only turning the ball over once in the nauseating 10-3 loss to the Packers.

And the injured — 

• Nick Foles (placed on IR/to return)broke his left clavicle on his first TD pass of his Jacksonville career, a 35-yarder to DJ Clark. Gardner Minshew would replace Foles and began his career with 13 consecutive completions, finishing the game with a 275-2-1 stat line.

As for my picks, I promised a shootout in Buffalo but didn’t expect it would be the Jets defense that went toe-to-toe with Josh Allen. Allen fumbled the ball twice while tossing two interceptions, one a pick-six, but he still managed to put up 17 fantasy points with the help of his legs. He capped the performance with a game-winning TD drive to come back from a 16-point deficit.

Then there was Jameis Winston, who handed the ball to the 49ers three times, versus Jimmy Garoppolo, who returned the favor with his own pick-six. You’ll get a compensatory pick for those two. You can say I dropped the ball as well Week 1.

Week 2 Quarterback Rankings

2-QB Pick of the Week – Derek Carr vs Chiefs

Ownership (Yahoo): 29%
Ownership (ESPN): 29.6%
GLSP: 14.2

Never did I think an Antonio Brown-less Derek Carr would end up in this article, especially the second week of the season. Yet, here we are. Carr surprised everyone on Monday, going 5-for-5 on the opening drive of the season and finishing the drive with an eight-yard TD to Tyrell Williams. Carr ended the day 22-of-26 with 259 yards and a score in the win against the Broncos.

Moving forward to Week 2, I see loads of garbage time in Carr’s future as the Raiders return home to face the Chiefs. If the Raiders are chasing points like last season – where Carr had 286 yards and three TDs – he could pull off another QB1 performance. Carr’s supporting cast isn’t the same without Antonio Brown (see here for offensive holes), but after seeing what Gardner Minshew can look against the Chiefs secondary, this matchup makes Carr a suitable spot starter in 2QB and superflex leagues.

Favorite Streamer – Marcus Mariota vs Colts

Ownership (Yahoo): 8%
Ownership (ESPN): 6.2%
GLSP: 13.4

Marcus Mariota began Week 1 the same way he played through 2018 – defeated and banged up. Luckily for the Titans, he responded in the second half with three TDs, notching a total 248 passing and 24 rushing yards for the day and earning a 133.3 passer rating. While it’s hard to get excited over one half of football, the evident resurgence to the offense, thanks to new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, is something to write home about. Mariota wasn’t the only Titan to have a good day. Derrick Henry put up 159 total yards and two scores due to Smith’s pass calls setting up the run. 

Don’t forget Mariota if you’re looking for a streamer this week. The Titans will face off in their home opener against the Colts, who allowed Philip Rivers to have 333 passing yards and three TDs in Week 1. Prioritize Mariota over Carr if you’re looking for a long-term solution; the Titans strength of schedule is primed for the postseason.

Bounceback Candidate – Ben Roethlisberger vs Seahawks

Ownership (Yahoo): 85%
Ownership (ESPN): 89%
GLSP: 15.7

Ben Roethlisberger did nothing to ease the concerns of fans in the post-Antonio Brown era during the season opener against the Patriots. Averaging just 5.9 yards per pass, Roethlisberger couldn’t manage a single score and threw one INT in the 33-3 loss. Fantasy owners shouldn’t be too quick to throw in the (terrible) towel, as Roethlisberger should have better luck at home against a Seahawks defense that allowed Andy Dalton to throw for 418 yards and two TDs last week.

Last season, Roethlisberger finished outside the top-12 QBs just five times and threw for over 5,000 passing yards. Don’t let a poor performance against the Patriots encourage you to abandon ship. Look for Big Ben to make a Big Comeback in Week 2.

Strength of Schedule Streaming App – Week 2

Check out the Strength of Schedule Streaming tool for more options and the opportunity to look for multi-week plays. This is Week 2.

Note: Rankings based on GSLP, FPPG, and matchup. 

View the Game Level Similarity Projections (PPR, Half PPR and Standard) in Dave Caban’s Week 2 GLSP article. 

Image Credit: Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire. Pictured: Derek Carr.