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5 breakout fantasy football stars to pick up for Week 2

By Mike Phillips

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 12: Elijah Mitchell #25 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball against the Detroit Lions during the second quarter at Ford Field on September 12, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 12: Elijah Mitchell #25 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball against the Detroit Lions during the second quarter at Ford Field on September 12, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 12: Sam Darnold #14 of the Carolina Panthers looks to pass during the game against the New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2021, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 12: Sam Darnold #14 of the Carolina Panthers looks to pass during the game against the New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2021, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /

4. Top fantasy football pickups for Week 2 – Panthers QB Sam Darnold

It turns out getting away from the New York Jets immensely helps your fantasy value. Sam Darnold certainly is a prime example of that after a strong Week 1 showing against his old team where he threw for 279 yards in a 19-14 win.

The Panthers put the ball in the hands of Darnold early and he looked very good, completing 24-of-35 passes, with the highlight being a 57-yard touchdown pass to Robby Anderson to help the teammates burn their former employer. Darnold also added a rushing score, taking one to the house untouched to put up a solid fantasy day.

The presence of talent like Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore and Anderson is a vast upgrade to what he had to work with in New York. There were a few missed opportunities for Darnold as well, including a wide-open touchdown to Dan Arnold that he airmailed, but he flashed enough ability to justify a pickup as a matchup play on quarterback-needy rosters.

Darnold, who is rostered in just 15 percent of Yahoo leagues, gets a tricky home matchup with the Saints next week but enticing dates with Houston, Dallas and Philadelphia follow in Weeks 3-5. It may not be wise to start Darnold next week but he could put up big numbers for your fantasy team very soon.

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