Thursday Night Football in Week 2 brings us a fun fantasy matchup between the Washington Commanders and the Green Bay Packers, and with it come plenty of tough sit/start decisions.
From breakout rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, to the ultimate TE streamer Zach Ertz, to Green Bay’s receiver rotation led by Jayden Reed, there are key players on both sides of the ball who could swing fantasy lineups this week. With injuries piling up and bye weeks still a few weeks away, managers need every edge they can get, especially in primetime matchups where fantasy points feel even more magnified.
Here, we’ll break down the fantasy football outlooks for Croskey-Merritt, Ertz, and Reed heading into Week 2. Should you roll with the rookie RB against Green Bay’s stout front seven? Can old man Ertz keep delivering in the red zone for Jayden Daniels? And is Reed really the only Packers receiver worth trusting?
Let’s dive into the fantasy football sit/start decisions that could make or break your Thursday night.
FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 2 START OR SIT: TNF COMMANDERS VS PACKERS
SHOULD YOU START JACORY CROSKEY-MERRITT VS PACKERS?
Bill Croskey-Merritt’s debut was everything Washington fans and fantasy managers could’ve hoped for, as the rookie turned 10 carries into 82 yards and a touchdown while leading the Commanders’ backfield in Week 1. Bill looked explosive, ripping off a 42-yard run and averaging a gaudy 8.2 yards per carry, but it’s worth noting that Austin Ekeler handled the passing-down work and the majority of the snaps.
Now comes a tougher test: a short-week trip to Lambeau against a Green Bay defense that just suffocated Detroit’s run game, holding the likes of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to only 46 rushing yards (2.1 YPC). While JCM’s season-long outlook remains promising, this feels like a week to temper expectations and leave him on the bench unless you’re desperate. If Bill can hold onto the lead role and start mixing in more passing-game work, the rookie’s stock could really take off. Think of this matchup as more of a speed bump than a red flag for his long-term upside.
JCM checks in at RB28 on The Wolf’s Week 2 Rankings.
SHOULD YOU START ZACH ERTZ VS PACKERS?
If you’re scrambling for a tight end (sorry, George Kittle owners) in Week 2, Zach Ertz is a sneaky-good streamer who’s still available in nearly half of Yahoo leagues (55% rostered). The 34-year-old veteran picked up right where he left off last season, hauling in three of five targets for 26 yards and a touchdown in Washington’s win over the Giants, giving him seven scores in his last eight games dating back to 2024. He’s clearly still a favorite red-zone option for Jayden Daniels, and that role carries weight in Kliff Kingsbury’s explosive offense.
Green Bay just got burned by Sam LaPorta for six receptions for 79 yards, and since last year, Ertz has been a target hog near the goal line, with the third-most inside-the-10 targets in the league. If you’re thin at tight end, Ertz makes for a strong plug-and-play option this week.
The tight end ranks TE8 (+6 vs ECR) on The Wolf’s Week 2 Rankings.
SHOULD YOU START JAYDEN REED VS COMMANDERS?
The Packers’ wide receiver room is basically fantasy Spin the Bottle, but if you’re taking a shot in Week 2, Jayden Reed is the guy to roll with. Per our guys at Fantasy Points, Reed led Green Bay in first-read target share (28.6%) in Week 1, catching a team-leading three of five targets for 40 yards and a touchdown while looking surprisingly sharp despite playing through a foot injury.
He practiced in a limited fashion this week, which is encouraging, and his role as Jordan Love’s most trusted option makes him the only semi-reliable Packers wideout for now. That said, Green Bay’s balanced offense and constant WR rotation cap his weekly ceiling, so consider Reed more of a FLEX play than a locked-in starter against Washington’s defense.
Jayden Reed lands at WR40 (+7 vs ECR) on The Wolf’s Week 2 Ranks.
