Sep 12, 2025 11:01 PM EDT
Once the must-start players are locked in, fantasy football owners face challenging weekly lineup decisions for the remaining slots, and knowing the best sleeper picks gives you the winning edge. Join us each week of the NFL season as we uncover those hidden gems to help you hoist a fantasy championship trophy!
Quarterback | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Defense/Special Teams
Week 2 Fantasy QB Sleepers
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals: In weekly fantasy leagues, you must take the good with the bad. For a quarterback, that often means accepting turnovers, and we could be seeing that type of day from Lawrence. The Jaguars have enough weapons for the Clemson star to return top-12 quarterback results this week, and it’s entirely possible this one devolves into something resemble a shootout or at least Jacksonville chucking the ball 45-plus times. Volume could be your friend this week, but it will come with a few mistakes.
Week 2 Fantasy RB Sleepers
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles: On paper, Philly is a tough matchup for running backs. DT Jalen Carter being suspended this week flips the script, and we saw Dallas run effectively for fantasy purposes in the opener after he was ejected. Pacheco’s speed means he has a chance to generate meaningful work with limited touches if Philadelphia puts KC into a more pass-happy injury.
Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers: In Week 1, Benson posted nine touches for 75 yards vs. New Orleans, keeping true to the offseason reports that he could see a larger role. The Panthers were atrocious vs. running backs a year ago and it carried into their opener against Jacksonville. If Arizona keeps Bryce Young uncomfortable, we could see a one-sided affair that leads to Benson capitalizing on a positive game script.
Week 2 Fantasy WR Sleepers
Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions: The Lions struggled mightily in Week 1, and both sides of the ball looked completely lost. The benefit of the doubt for Game 2 of a new system for both teams in this equation should go to the offense, especially because its leadership is extremely familiar with Detroit’s personnel. Speaking of which, the Lions’ secondary simply may not have the ability to contain all of Chicago’s weapons. Odunze likely will draw CB D.J. Reed mostly, and while he’s no slouch, all it takes is something like 3-40-1 for a worthwhile flex play.
Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills at New York Jets: The Bills should distribute more passes to the backs, tight ends, and the slot weapons. Insert Shakir. Now, he probably is closer to being a strong play than a true sleeper, but there’s serious upside that casual gamers may not recognize at a glance. The Jets project a sense of strength vs. the pass, and while that isn’t a myth, it can be overblown once you get outside of Sauce Gardner. Despite only six teams having allowed fewer WR catches in Week 1, New York yielded the 10th-most yards to the position and a pair of scores.
Tyquan Thornton, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles: This is more in the spirit of being an actual sleeper … Thornton showed promise in his time with the New England Patriots, and he now has an opportunity go big vs. the Eagles. Philadelphia allowed 130 yards to CeeDee Lamb last week and only 48 yards to the rest of Dallas’ receivers, but the Chiefs must creatively work in more explosive players, like Thornton, after losing Xavier Worthy (shoulder, doubtful) last week.
Week 2 Fantasy TE Sleepers
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Call this one maybe more of a hunch than anything. Not yet sold on the Texans’ front five, this feels like a good opportunity to chance it with Schultz racking up volume, if you’re a desperate PPR owner. It’s a pretty good week for the position, though an injury to George Kittle (hamstring) could cast Schultz into a more appealing light. In 2024, the Bucs permitted the second-most yards and sixth-highest catch tally to tight ends. Last week, Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts snagged seven of eight looks for 59 yards — inline with what this group surrendered the year prior.
Week 2 Fantasy DST Sleepers
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions: It’s a coin flip. Look, Detroit is simply too talented on this side of the ball to not get it together at some point, and it very well could be this week. Be skeptical after how lost the Lions looked vs. Green Bay. Chicago’s new coach, Ben Johnson, knows this team’s offense better than anyone outside of Motown, which is the advantage to exploit here. Furthermore, the Lions’ front line is not in great shape, and Jared Goff could struggle to stay upright.
About the author
Fantasy Sports Managing Editor
Since 2002, Bonini has been a leading fantasy football expert, featured in Sports Weekly, Pro Forecast, Cheat Sheets, and Fantasy Index magazines, with frequent appearances on ESPN Radio, SiriusXM, and various podcasts.