Guillotine Leagues™️ Cheat Sheet For Week 2: Javonte Williams & Kyren Williams More Than Floor Plays?

It may be Week 2 of the NFL season and you've survived the first chop, but it's hard to feel very good about an overall roster when it's this early in the season. Yes, players exploding like Caleb Williams or Derrick Henry in Week 1 would be great, but it's the players who don't bust and just have average or better games who help us live another week.

Kendall Valenzuela, Pete Overzet and Matthew Freedman cut it up a little in the latest Guillotine Leagues™️ Cheat Sheet roundtable session.

Week 2 Guillotine Leagues™️ Cheat Sheet

Who do you like as a strong "RB floor play" in Week 2?

Freedman: Kyren Williams vs. Giants

Williams wasn't great in Week 1 (65 yards, 1 TD), but he also wasn't terrible, and given how bad the Rams offense was overall (7 points), his 14-point fantasy performance was notable. Plus, he was still the clear No. 1 RB on the team (72 Utilization Score, per our Fantasy Life Utilization Report), and now he's an indoor home favorite with a three-day rest advantage against an East Coast team traveling across the country for a non-divisional primetime game way out of its typical 1 p.m. ET play window. The only guy in the league with 1,300+ yards and 13+ TDs in each of the past three seasons, Williams should get his production in this spot. Last year, the Giants were No. 32 in defensive rush EPA (0.109) and defensive rush DVOA (10.9%).

Via my Week 2 RB Favorites

Kendall: Bucky Irving vs. Browns

There was always a question in the back of my mind this offseason: Did everyone overcorrect when it came to Bucky Irving and his role in 2026? Yes, Kenneth Gainwell moved into town, but if the Week 1 Utilization tells us anything, it's that for right now we can trust Irving in our lineups. Irving saw a career-high 26% target share and also ran eight more routes than Gainwell last weekend. Now we are going to continue to pick on the Cleveland Browns, and Irving is in a great spot for Guillotine Leagues.

Pete: Javonte Williams vs. Commanders

Javonte dominated the backfield touches for the Cowboys in Week 1 (75% of the rush attempts, 16% of the targets, 90 Utilization score). Now he gets a juicy matchup vs. a weak Washington defense. Outside of Bijan Robinson, I'm not sure anyone has a higher floor this week at RB.

Who do you like as a strong "WR floor play" in Week 2?

Freedman: Christian Watson at Jets

Entering the season, Watson had never had even 700 scrimmage yards in any given year (largely on account of his 20 missed games across four campaigns), but his playmaking ability was unquestioned (10.0 yards per target, 11.4 for 2024-25), and it was certainly on display in Week 1 (No. 2 WR with 29.7 fantasy points, 6-147-2 receiving, eight targets). For Week 2, the Packers are unfortunately playing their second straight game on the road, where QB Jordan Love has tended to underwhelm (11-17-1 ATS, -24.1% ROI, per Action Network), but at least HC Matt LaFleur crushes in Week 2 (7-0 ATS, 93.0% ROI), and the Jets could be without EDGE Joseph Ossai (foot) and FS Minkah Fitzpatrick (groin). Watson's stock is on the rise. Last year the Jets were No. 32 in defensive dropback EPA (0.291) and pass DVOA (45.3%).

Via my Week 2 WR Favorites

Kendall: George Pickens vs. Commanders

This game has a high total and looks like a fantastic bounceback spot for this Cowboys team and George Pickens. In Week 1, it was a super-disappointing outing for Pickens—he scored only 5.8 fantasy points, but led the team with an 89% route participation rate. According to ESPN, the Commanders ranked 30th in fantasy points allowed on vertical passes in Week 1. Sign me up for a big game from all the Cowboys.

Pete: Mike Evans vs. the Dolphins

The Niners have the highest implied team total on the slate and Evans is going to be the focal point of the pass game. He led the team in routes (72%), targets (21%), and Air Yards (36%) in Week 1 and is always a solid bet for a TD. With how many other top WRs are banged up, Evans stands out as both a high floor and high ceiling play.

Which "stud" are you considering benching in Week 2?

Freedman: Drake Maye (Patriots) vs. Steelers

Maye has a four-day rest-and-preparation advantage, but he was dreadful in the season opener (1.9 AY/A), No. 1 WR A.J. Brown (ankle, IR) is out, and playmaking No. 2 RB TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) is uncertain after missing Week 1. The Pats do have a boosted home-field advantage against the Steelers, who are outside division and on turf (vs. grass), but I still have an abundance of respect for their defense, led by EDGE T.J. Watt, DT Cameron Heyward and S/CB Jalen Ramsey. Entering the season, I had the Patriots projected with the No. 7 offense, but this week the Pats are only No. 13 in implied team total (24 points).

Via my Week 2 QB Fades

Kendall: Cam Skattebo vs. Rams

Don't laugh! Cam Skattebo is definitely a stud in fantasy! Anyway, this Rams team is back in the U.S. and looking for revenge after their dud game in Australia. They have ample rest and are coming off a game in which they held Christian McCaffrey to 13.8 fantasy points on 15 touches. It was reported after the game that McCaffrey was dealing with cramps, but this is also the squad that was the seventh-best schedule-adjusted defense against RBs last season. Skattebo also didn't get much of the passing work in Week 1, as Devin Singletary handled 50% of the routes and had a 14% target share. This is a tough matchup for my Sun Devil this week.

Pete: Drake London vs. Panthers

The role is obviously great for London (96% of the routes), but the QB play was a disaster for London. If Cooper Rush gets another start, I don't know how you can feel comfortable starting London. I'd certainly play someone like Jalen Coker or Matthew Golden over him.

Who's the one guy who might not have a solid floor but who makes you say, "Screw it, I'm starting him anyway"?

Freedman: Jacoby Brissett (Cardinals) vs. Seahawks

A consummate journeyman, Brissett is on his sixth team since 2020 and will probably be just a bridge to a 2027 rookie, but last year for the Cardinals he averaged 280.5 yards passing in his 12 starts (albeit with a 1-11 record), and in Week 1 he picked up where he left off with a legitimately great performance (277 yards, 1 TD, 73.0% completion rate, 8.0 AY/A) in a 26-14 road win. The Seahawks last year were No. 1 in defensive pass DVOA (-20.2%), but in his one 2025 game against them he still did his thing (258 yards, 2 TDs, 4-31-0 rushing), and they could be without SS Nick Emmanwori (ankle) and FS Ty Okada (hamstring), both of whom missed Week 1. If you're desperate, you could maybe get away with starting Brissett in Guillotine Leagues^TM this week.

Via my Week 2 QB Favorites

Kendall: Caleb Douglas vs. 49ers

There were some bright spots for the Dolphins last week and one of them was rookie Caleb Douglas. He had 14.4 fantasy points and led the team in route participation (86%) and target share (24%). It's scary to start any Dolphins not named De'Von Achane, but Douglas might be someone I'm willing to roll the dice on simply because of all these wide receiver injuries across the NFL right now.

Pete: George Kittle vs. Dolphins.

He's clearly getting eased back in and yet it's hard to ignore this matchup. Not only is he coming off 10 days' rest, but the team will be without Jake Tonges (IR) as well. Kittle, I bet we see his routes jump from 47% up into the 60-70% range and he easily clears 12+ PPR points.

Which player do you think will have the highest "chop rate" in Week 2?

Freedman: Ja'Marr Chase at Texans

I spent most of the offseason talking about how Chase was one of my 2026 fantasy favorites and should be the No. 1 overall fantasy pick … and then in Week 1 I listed him as a fantasy fade. For at least one game, I was correct (2.2 fantasy points, 2-12-0 receiving on four targets, 35 Utilization Score, per our Fantasy Life Utilization Report). And I hate to say it, but I'm fading him one more game, even though there's a lot to like about Chase's situational spot: For his career, QB Joe Burrow has been awesome outside division (39-16-1 ATS, 35.2% ROI), on the road (30-14 ATS, 30.7% ROI) and indoors (6-1 ATS, 62.5% ROI, per Action Network). The problem, though, is that this week the Bengals face the Texans, who are playing their second straight home game to open the year. It could be one more week before Chase looks like himself. Last year, the Texans were No. 1 in defensive dropback EPA (-0.126).

Via my Week 2 WR Fades

Kendall: Jeremiyah Love vs. Seahawks

It's a tough matchup for Love going up against this Seattle Seahawks defense. Last week against the Patriots, Seattle gave up only 2.6 yards per carry on 25 planned rush plays. I am trying to avoid him if I can.

Pete: Nico Collins (Texans) vs. Bengals

Nico hurt his hamstring in practice on Wednesday and if we are reading the tea leaves, I think he's legitimately doubtful for this game. That will be a tough pill to swallow for managers who took him in Round 2.