10 D/ST sleepers to target for fantasy football in Week 2

4. New Orleans Saints

Even if the Packers “lacked energy” in Week 1, and their offense controlled the ball (particularly in the first half), holding Aaron Rodgers and company to three points is a heady accomplishment for the Saints’ defense. Things will naturally be easier in Week 2.

Sam Darnold was solid in his Panthers’ debut last week, and he has some nice weapons around him. But he still has his Jets’ history to shake, and it will take more than one solid game to put it to bed.

New Orleans will be without top cornerback Marshon Lattimore (thumb surgery) on Sunday. But they’re still in a favorable position for Week 2.

3. Carolina Panthers

Yes, I’m going to the other side of the same game. the Panthers mostly delivered for fantasy owners who believed in Week 1, sacking Zach Wilson six times and holding the Jets to 14 points. More than one takeaway would have been nice, but let’s not nitpick too much.

Jameis Winston was efficient in Week 1, with five touchdown passes on just 20 attempts while throwing for 148 yards. He did not turn the ball over. But as NFL.com’s Adam Rank tongue-in-cheekily said this week, Winston threw an interception that was overturned and just because it didn’t count doesn’t mean no one saw it.

Winston has to prove his turnover-prone ways are behind him. The Panthers will bank on some natural regression from last week, and if they can pressure him into some takeaway opportunities the fantasy upside is there.