The Pittsburgh Steelers put on a defensive clinic in their season opener and appear primed for another dominant showing against the Denver Broncos in Week 2. Denver's offense managed just 16 points in Week 1 and turned the ball over three times. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix struggled in his debut, and Pittsburgh's relentless pass rush led by T.J. Watt is sure to make it difficult for the rookie to improve on Sunday. Even if the Steelers' defense fails to record prolific counting stats, fantasy managers should feel safe deploying it in what is projected to be a very low-scoring affair. Pittsburgh's DST can be locked in starting lineups of all shapes and sizes this week.

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Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back) is anticipated to play against the Chargers on Sunday. The 2021 No. 83 overall pick has battled hamstring and back issues for a while, keeping him off the field for the Week 1 loss to the New Orleans Saints. As a result, Ja'Tavion Sanders got more involved, although the rookie finished with only one grab for four yards. While Tremble's expected return for Week 2 is good news for the Panthers offense, he has an uphill battle before fantasy managers can consider him a starting option in any format.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will try to pick up a second-straight win in a Week 2 matchup versus the Vikings in Minnesota on Sunday. He'll be going up against a defense that was almost exactly league-average in 2023 for fantasy points per game allowed to opposing quarterbacks, but who held Purdy to 272 yards, two interceptions, and one touchdown last year (albeit without stud tackle Trent Williams and receiver Deebo Samuel). The Vikings made mostly minor changes to their defensive personnel in the offseason, most notably losing standout edge rusher Danielle Hunter and replacing him with first-round pick Dallas Turner. In their opener last week, the Vikings made New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones look horrible but how much credit goes to the defense versus Jones' ineptitude is debatable. Last week, Purdy was solid but rather unhelpful for fantasy managers in a home victory over the New York Jets, with 231 yards passing, 11 yards rushing, and no touchdowns or picks. At any rate, he'll have his whole complement of receivers in this one -- save for running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) -- so Purdy should be in for a decent day, especially with wideout Brandon Aiyuk getting another week of practice under his belt. Look for Purdy to find the end zone in Week 2, as he sits on the fantasy QB1/2 border.

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Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell was incredible in Week 1 and will hope to have another busy outing against the Denver Broncos. Pittsburgh's offense did not show enough last week to be trusted to move the ball consistently, but it may not matter if the defense continues to generate turnovers that give the Steelers great field position. It's important to note that Sunday's contest has been given the lowest projected point total of the week, so the chances of an offensive outpouring are extremely slim. Fantasy managers rolling with Boswell will be chasing a similar game script to what they saw last week, and they could very well get it in this matchup. The 33-year-old can be viewed as a low-end starting option in Week 2.

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New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau (concussion) will play on Sunday versus the Dallas Cowboys. The veteran caught all four targets for 43 yards and a touchdown in the Week 1 massacre of the Carolina Panthers before exiting the game in the fourth quarter. While he practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday, he logged full sessions on Thursday and Friday. Without question, his availability is good news for New Orleans. Unfortunately, the Saints have a difficult matchup on the horizon against a talented Cowboys defense. Fantasy managers in all formats should keep Moreau out of the starting lineup.

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth was somewhat quiet to start the 2024 campaign but will be looking to build chemistry with quarterback Justin Fields in a Week 2 bout with the Denver Broncos. This is the perfect matchup for Freiermuth to take advantage of as the Broncos surrendered the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends last season. Furthermore, lockdown cornerback Patrick Surtain II will likely be assigned to receiver George Pickens for most of the contest, which could result in additional opportunities for Freiermuth. Pickens and Freiermuth were the only two Steelers to earn more than two targets in Week 1. Pittsburgh's offense is difficult to get excited about, but fantasy managers should be intrigued by Freiermuth as a low-end TE1 on Sunday.

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens operated as the favorite weapon of quarterback Justin Fields last week and will hope to find continued success against the Denver Broncos in Week 2. Unfortunately for the Steelers and fantasy managers alike, Pickens will likely be shadowed by All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Surtain, the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history, held Seahawks wideout DK Metcalf to just 29 yards on three receptions in Week 1. Pickens should still earn a respectable target share given Pittsburgh's lack of proven commodities at receiver, but fantasy managers must keep their expectations in check heading into Sunday's contest. The 23-year-old should be viewed as a WR3 or flex option this week.

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren saw only four opportunities last week but will hope to be more involved against the Denver Broncos in Week 2. Although Warren practiced in full leading up to Pittsburgh's season opener, it's fair to wonder if the team planned to limit his usage in his first game action since returning from a hamstring injury. If the 25-year-old gets additional work on Sunday, he could post solid numbers against a Denver defense that has struggled to stop the run since the beginning of the 2023 campaign. His pass-catching skillset gives him some appeal in PPR formats, but fantasy managers should not consider Warren as anything more than a low-end flex option until they see him split touches more evenly with running mate Najee Harris.

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris dominated touches out of the backfield in Week 1 and should be primed for another heavy workload against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The Broncos surrendered the third-most fantasy points to running backs in 2023 and the fourth-most to the position just last week. Because Pittsburgh has very few proven weapons in the passing game, it makes sense for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to lean on the run, especially in this matchup. Jaylen Warren is likely to be given more opportunities as he continues to work his way back from injury, but Harris can be counted on as a volume-based RB2 with some touchdown upside against Denver.

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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk is better left on benches for Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns. Kirk struggled in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins, as did the entire offense, producing just one catch for 30 yards. A dud like that will make it hard for fantasy managers to feel good inserting the Jaguars receiver into lineups, even as a flex. Kirk did tie for the team lead in targets with four, but needs to show more efficiency with his opportunities to be considered a reliable fantasy asset. It's too early to consider dropping the 27-year-old, as the Jaguars wide receiver room has no clear top option, but more underwhelming performances could leave fantasy managers with no choice. A good game against the Browns could boost Kirk back to being the top fantasy receiver on the Jaguars, but for now, he is best left out of starting lineups.

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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is an okay flex play in Week 2 given his big play ability. However, the Cleveland Browns are a tough matchup for passing offenses going back to last year and held Dak Prescott to just 179 passing yards in Week 1. BTJ put up four catches, 47 yards, and a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins last week, making the most of his four targets. That tied for the team lead with Evan Engram and Christian Kirk, but all three trailed Gabe Davis in receiving yards, who had 62. Trevor Lawrence only managed 162 passing yards in Week 1, meaning there is plenty of room for improvement for the offense as a whole. The rookie receiver seems like the top fantasy receiver for the Jaguars for now, but that could easily change after this week. Fantasy managers who are looking for upside are fine to put BTJ in their flex spot, but don't be surprised if he struggles given the tough matchup and the natural volatility of rookie receivers.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is set to make a second consecutive start in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos. Fields was not asked to do much in last week's season opener but looked solid, completing nearly 74% of his passes. Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith finished as the QB7 in Week 1 against the Broncos, who were decimated by Fields in 2023. The former Bear posted arguably the best passing performance of his NFL career when he faced Denver last season, throwing for 335 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. That said, Sunday's contest is projected to be incredibly low-scoring, so fantasy managers would be wise to temper their expectations for Fields and Pittsburgh's offense. Although his rushing ability puts him on the map as a streaming candidate in any format, Fields should be considered a high-end QB2 this week.

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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed Friday that wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has begun working out again. It's excellent news for the rookie -- who traveled with the team to Minnesota -- as he can now shift his focus to returning to the field for his NFL debut. "He started working out again," said Shanahan. "I think it was a weight room workout yesterday. He's back to conditioning, getting back into football shape, and getting back to healthy." Pearsall is just 13 days removed from narrowly escaping with his life after he was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery. The bullet exited his back, near his armpit -- miraculously missing bones and vital organs alike. The former first-round pick will presumably need time to get back up to speed, considering that he saw no preseason action due to a shoulder subluxation that has nagged him since the spring. San Francisco will square off against the Vikings this Sunday in their first road matchup of the season.

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New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein was quiet in a Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, attempting just one extra point in the Monday night game. He will look to get it going in Week 2's road matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee's defense was generous to fantasy kickers in 2023, allowing the most fantasy points per game to the position. That trend continued in Week 1 this season as they gave up three field goals to Cairo Santos, including a 50-yarder. Thanks to his plus matchup, Zuerlein can be trusted as a top-10 fantasy kicker against the Titans.

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Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin surprisingly out-touched Javonte Williams 15 to nine in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but his 15 touches (10 carries, five receptions), only led to 28 total yards in a day where the Denver offense was stuck in the mud under rookie quarterback Bo Nix in his first career start. McLaughlin also played only 35% of the offensive snaps. The Broncos could look to stick with the running game longer in a Week 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which would favor both McLaughlin and Williams, but it sets up as another difficult day for the Broncos' offense after the Steelers D shut down the Falcons in Week 1. While McLaughlin isn't a recommended fantasy starter this weekend, his touch total in the season opener bodes well for his continued involvement in what looked more like a committee to begin the year.

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The New York Jets defense struggled to slow down the San Francisco 49ers in their Week 1 loss, coughing up 32 points while notching three sacks. They should play better in a Week 2 road matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee turned the ball over three times while allowing Will Levis to get sacked three times in a Week 1 loss to the Chicago Bears. The Jets have talented players throughout their defense and should have a productive fantasy day against Tennessee in Week 2. Treat them as a top-10 option on Sunday.

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Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker hasn't put up the big fantasy numbers that managers have grown accustomed to in recent seasons. Especially when it comes to 50-yard field goals, Tucker has missed five of his last six dating back to the 2023 season. The Ravens offense should be able to move the ball against the Raiders and Tucker returns to home field where he's made 88.8% of his field goals throughout his career. He should see plenty of opportunities for both field goals and extra points in this contest. The worry about Tucker falling from fantasy grace shouldn't kick in unless he strings together multiple bust weeks in a row. So, for now, managers can consider him a mid-to-high-level kicking option in Week 2.

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Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams had a pretty lackluster showing in the season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks, playing just over half the offensive snaps while carrying the ball eight times for 23 yards (2.9 yards per carry) and catching one of his two targets for no gain. Williams was out-touched by backup Jaleel McLaughlin 15-9, which was perhaps most concerning, on a day in which the Broncos couldn't really get anything going on offense in a hostile environment with rookie quarterback Bo Nix making his NFL debut. McLaughlin really did nothing to stand out, either, and Williams should be Denver's primary back heading into Week 2 against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers. The 24-year-old Williams faces a below-average matchup and should be considered a low-upside RB3/flex in another tough matchup in which Denver's offense could struggle to move the ball consistently.

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New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard turned in one of the more unexpected fantasy outings in Week 1, catching six passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Lazard will look for an encore performance in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans on the road. The Titans represent a plus matchup for Lazard as they allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers in 2023. It is unclear whether Lazard will remain a major piece of the Jets passing offense moving forward but he was a favorite target of Aaron Rodgers a few years back when both played for the Green Bay Packers. That puts Lazard on the map as a solid flex option heading into Week 2.

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The Baltimore Ravens defense/special teams went from taking on one of the best offenses in the league to one in the lower half. Against Patrick Mahomes and company, they produced two sacks and an interception while giving up 353 total yards (only 72 on the ground). The Las Vegas Raiders could only muster 10 points against the Los Angeles Chargers and the Ravens' pass-rush gets a matchup with Gardner Minshew II. Combine that with a knack for creating turnovers with two of the best at their respective positions in Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton, and you get a recipe for a big defensive outing. The Ravens should be a top-10 option in Week 2, especially at home.

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