Start vs. Sit: Players to Start, Players to Bench Week 2

We have one week of college football in the book. Well, two weeks if we count Week 0. Trying to assess how to approach the information we have for fantasy purposes can be tricky. There's obviously a part of me that says, "One game is such a small sample size we can't take much from it." However, what kind of sample size was last season really? And with how much turnover there is in college football how much can the previous season really mean? In essence, I'll take a bit from last week, a bit from history, and bring you some players to start, and some to sit, for Week 2.

AAC

START

Jaylon Robinson, WR, UCF vs. Bethune-Cookman

Robinson was quite good in 2020, catching 55 passes for 979 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games. The move from Josh Huepel to Gus Malzahn seemingly hasn't mattered. In UCF's season opener against Boise State he had six catches for 140 yards and a score. If he can do that against the Broncos, imagine what he could do against FCS squad Bethune-Cookman.

SIT

Holton Ahlers, QB, East Carolina vs. South Carolina

Ahlers looked solid in Week 1, though his issues with interceptions showed up again. He threw nine picks in eight games last year and already has a pick this season. South Carolina opened its season against Eastern Illinois. Winning 46-0 against an FCS team only means so much. Nevertheless, the Gamecocks are an SEC team and they handled their business in their opener. That's enough to give me pause.

ACC

START

Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina vs. Georgia State

Did you see that the Tar Heels lost 17-10 to the Hokies and get worried about their offense? That's fair, but it's only one game. I'm not too worried. Also, if you didn't look deeper into the numbers beyond the box score you might not know that Downs had nine catches for 132 yards and a score. Georgia State finished 114th in passing yards allowed per game last season. North Carolina – and Downs – should be just fine.

SIT

D'Eriq King, QB, Miami vs. Appalachian State

I recommended sitting King in Week 1. That probably didn't ruffle many feathers. The Hurricanes were playing Alabama, and indeed King was held to 179 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. I'm doubling down in Week 2, though. Appalachian State finished eighth in passing yards allowed per contest in 2020. The Mountaineers handled their business against East Carolina in their opener. King should perform better than he did against the Tide, but don't expect a huge increase.

Big 12

START

Skylar Thompson, QB, Kansas State vs. Southern Illinois

Are you willing to trust in a quarterback who mostly gets it done on the ground? That's Thompson. He only threw for 144 yards against Stanford last week but he rushed for two touchdowns. In 2019 he threw for 12 touchdowns but rushed for 11 more. Thompson is facing an FCS team this week, so if there is ever a week that I am going to take a shot on him it's this one.

SIT

Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State vs. Iowa

It's bold, I know. Most weeks, you would never consider benching Hall. This week, though, there are still tons of teams playing FCS cupcakes. Hall, meanwhile, is facing a defense that ranked ninth in rushing yards allowed per game in 2020. The Hawkeyes made life miserable for the Hoosiers in Week 1. You may not be able to truly justify benching Hall, and I can understand that. In that case, I would at least temper expectations. This could be his worst week of the season.

Big Ten

START

Kenneth Walker, RB, MSU vs. Youngstown State

I'm all aboard the Walker train. I figured the fact he scored 13 rushing touchdowns in seven games for Wake Forest in 2020 he could not pull that off again. Then he rushed for four touchdowns in the 2021 season opener against Northwestern. His numbers in Week 1 were attention-grabbing. Now he gets to face Youngstown State? He likely won't be as productive as in Week 1, but I expect more big things from the running back.

SIT

Cade McNamara, QB, Michigan vs. Washington

The Huskies were upset by Montana in Week 1, but that was more about the offense than the defense. Washington's defense also ranked 10th in passing yards allowed per game in 2020. McNamara was impressive and efficient against Western Michigan, but this is a step up, and now unfortunately Ronnie Bell is not around to help out either.

Conference USA

START

Frank Harris, QB, UTSA vs. Lamar

Illinois is not exactly a world beater defensively, but if you are a quarterback for a Conference USA team and you go on the road to a Big Ten school and perform well, you've got a lot going in your favor. Indeed, last week Harris threw for 280 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 33 yards and a touchdown. Harris really showed that he's a threat with his legs in 2020 as he rushed for 528 yards and nine scores. If he can handle Illinois on the road, he can handle Lamar at home.

SIT

Jarrin Pierce, WR, MTSU at Virginia Tech

Pierce was expected to step up and become the top receiver for the Blue Raiders in 2021. Last season he had 59 catches for 584 yards in nine games, and MTSU got a quarterback upgrade this offseason in transfer Bailey Hockman. Well in Week 1 against Monmouth he only had 38 yards on four catches while other receivers around him excelled. It's only one game, but I'm definitely not enthused as he heads into a matchup with a Virginia Tech defense that kept Sam Howell in check.

MAC

START

La'Darius Jefferson, RB, Western Michigan vs. Illinois State

I expect a nice bounce-back for the Broncos' offense after their trip to Michigan. There, Jefferson was held to 38 yards on 10 carries, though he did score a touchdown. In 2020, though, the back averaged over 100 yards per game and scored five times in six games. I feel like Illinois State is going to feel the wrath of a frustrated Western Michigan offense, Jefferson included.

SIT

Yo'Heinz Tyler, WR, Ball State at Penn State

Big things were expected from Tyler after he notched 607 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games in 2020. In the season opener against Western Illinois, he was held to four catches for 32 yards in spite of the fact he was targeted eight times. Some are pointing the finger at quarterback Drew Plitt, but whatever the reason things are going to be way harder on the road against Penn State.

Mountain West

START

Carson Strong, QB, Nevada vs. Idaho State

Strong went 22-for-39 for 312 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in Week 1. That's a step down from last season when he completed 70.1 percent of his passes with 27 touchdowns and four interceptions. I am leaning more toward having faith in the numbers from last season, especially since in Week 1 Nevada was on the road against Cal. Idaho State will be an easier road to hoe.

SIT

Charles Williams, RB, UNLV at Arizona State

Williams decided to return for one more season in 2021 after his senior year was hindered in 2020. He's trying to hearken back to 2019 when he rushed for 1,257 yards and 11 touchdowns. While he was firing on all cylinders shouldering the load against Eastern Washington last week, visiting Arizona State is a different story.

Pac-12

START

Rachaad White, RB, Arizona State vs. UNLV

I just mentioned this matchup, and now it's time to flip things around. After all, UNLV allowed 255 yards per game on the ground last season. Arizona State barely got to play in 2020, but White still managed 420 rushing yards and 151 passing yards in four games. While White only carried the ball seven times against Southern Utah last week, he still netted 52 yards and two touchdowns.

SIT

CJ Verdell, RB, Oregon at Ohio State

Ohio State did struggle to keep Mohamed Ibrahim in check last week, but in 2020 the Buckeyes finished fifth in rushing yards allowed per contest. I think they will be just fine. That was the season opener and it was on the road. Now the Buckeyes have a game on the books and will be at home. That doesn't bode well for Verdell.

SEC

START

Dontario Drummond, WR, Ole Miss vs. Austin Peay

Drummond was a big-play receiver in limited action in 2020. While he only had 25 catches they went for 417 yards and seven touchdowns. In Week 1, Drummond exploded for nine catches for 177 yards and a score. He wasn't expected to be on top of the depth chart this year, but in truth, a few guys were vying to fill Elijah Moore's shoes. Maybe it will be Drummond. He's definitely off to the best start.

SIT

Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri at Kentucky

Badie exploded in Week 1 against Central Michigan, rushing for 203 yards, netting 40 yards receiving, and scoring two touchdowns. On the other hand, he's in his fourth college season, has never rushed for more than 457 yards in a campaign, and never had more than eight total touchdowns in a year as well. Kentucky was just above average against the run in 2020, but in Week 1 it held Louisiana-Monroe to 17 yards total on the ground. I imagine Badie is in for a reality check in Week 2.

Sun Belt

START

Corey Rucker, WR, Arkansas State vs. Memphis

Rucker managed 138 yards and three touchdowns on nine catches against Central Arkansas in the opener. Considering that he had five touchdowns on 16 catches in 2020, apparently the guy has a nose for the end zone. Memphis really struggled to stop the pass last season. The Tigers were one of seven FBS teams to allow more than 300 passing yards per game.

SIT

Chase Brice, QB, Appalachian State at Miami

Bryce Young tore up Miami's defense last week. Something tells me Young is more talented than Brice, though. Sure, Brice used to be at Clemson. He also couldn't maintain the starting job there and transferred to Duke. At Duke, he threw 10 touchdowns against 15 picks. Brice is a passable passer for the Sun Belt, but he's not a high-level quarterback.