10 D/ST sleepers to target for fantasy football in Week 2
6. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks held the Indianapolis Colts to 16 points in Week 1, with three sacks and a fumble recovery. If they can contain the running game again in Week 2 (3.8 yards per carry allowed in Week 1), another good showing is on the docket.
The engine to the Tennessee Titans’ offense is Derrick Henry. The Arizona Cardinals rendered him ineffective in Week 1 (17 carries for 58 yards), and as a result, Tennessee abandoned the play-action game. The Cardinals sacked Ryan Tannehill six times (five by Chandler Jones), and allowed 13 points in the game.
Per @PFF data, Ryan Tannehill's play-action rate on Sunday was 11.6%. In 2020, it was 36.4%, the highest in the league among relevant quarterbacks.
— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) September 14, 2021
Seattle’s offense should move the ball nicely against Tennessee’s defense on Sunday, pushing the Titans into a pass-heavy game script. In Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus, the Seahawks had five different players register three or more pressures.
The Seahawks had 5 different players with 3+ pressures 👀
— PFF (@PFF) September 15, 2021
@PFF_Mike on the Seahawks DLine performance 🔥 pic.twitter.com/RXSvpIOuTB
The Seahawks may allow some points to the Titans on Sunday when it’s all said and done. But they are lined up to put pressure on Tannehill without regard to play-action effect, with a chunk of sacks to come as the 12th Man ramps things up.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs’ defense tightened up as Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns went along, allowing just seven second-half points. Week 2 will be another challenge, but it’s not the fantasy death knell you might think.
The Baltimore Ravens scored 27 points in Week 1. But the Raiders were able to pressure Lamar Jackson, and they forced two fumbles from him when he became a runner. In last year’s matchup, Jackson had less than 100 passing yards (97) and he needed a 30-yard run to get to 83 yards on the ground on nine attempts. The Chiefs sacked him four times in the game.
The Ravens are reportedly preparing to be without left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) on Sunday. So a line reshuffling is coming, as the Chiefs are set to get Frank Clark back this week. That’s not ideal.
The Ravens are preparing to be without All Pro LT Ronnie Stanley this week and possibly far longer ad he undergoes more medical testing. Villanueva slides back to LT, his natural spot, with Patrick Makari next up to RT. OL was already under fire before this setback
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) September 16, 2021
After the aforementioned loss last year, Jackson called the Chiefs the Ravens “kryptonite”. Kansas City’s defense clearly is not afraid of Jackson, with an offense that can put him and Baltimore’s offense into an uncomfortable comeback mode. I’m putting the Chiefs’ defense on a double-digit fantasy outing in Week 2.