Welcome to the best place on the internet to receive “pretend” sports advice.
If the fantasy football bug hasn’t quite bitten you yet, don’t worry; it’s only a matter of time. The fact that you’re even here reading this right now says that there’s at least some curiosity brewing! Hopefully, last week’s article provided you with the insight necessary to feel ready to dive into this new venture with confidence. Now? It’s time to do it all over again.
But if this is your first visit, here’s the lowdown: Each week, we’ll talk through the five most important things to be aware of for the NFL week ahead and how it matters for fantasy football in a straightforward, teachable way. Our goal is for you to elevate from beginner status to being a top-notch team manager who can win a championship.
Fantasy Points is the right place to be if you want to sharpen your skills — the accounting department, frat house, or whatever other group of pals that makes up this league won’t know what hit ‘em. This is what you need to know heading into Week 2 of the 2025 fantasy season:
Thing #1: Don’t “Chase Box Scores”
Last week, we talked about why it’s important to take mental notes about what you see on TV or on the NFL RedZone feed. How often different players are handed the ball, or are out there running routes and being thrown to, are the top actions to be aware of. That’s where the points are comin’ from, baby!
But this week is a different ballgame. Sure, Week 1 gave us a general idea of what certain teams might do throughout the season, but no results should be taken as gospel. For instance, Kansas City Chiefs wideout Hollywood Brown seeing sixteen targets against the Los Angeles Chargers? Yeah, cool, but probably not happening again. That’s an outlier total.
It’s great that surprises happen; breakouts make this game fun. A one-week sample is still too short to base conclusions on, though. The players you didn’t know the names of till last Sunday shouldn’t distract you from starting the ones you built your team around initially. Don’t get too carried away throwing the new guy from the waiver wire into the lineup out of excitement.
Thing #2: Just Start Your Studs
Carrying the baton from the last thought, Week 2 is not the time to start questioning the first couple or three players you drafted for the roster. Our projections reflect that. Sorry if they flopped last week, but be patient.
Philadelphia Eagles receiver A.J. Brown won’t be held to one catch in most games; neither will Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Strange outcomes will happen. Remember, managers wouldn’t have been drafting these players so early if these results were normal.
The phrase “start your studs” comes from a place of experience. More often than not, the top scorers on a winning fantasy team are the cornerstone picks from the initial draft. Stick by them lineup heroes and dance with who brung ya, pardner.
Thing #3: Follow Team Injury Reports
Obviously, injuries happen in football. It’s a contact sport, and that’s not news to anyone. But it’s time the unencumbered begin learning the importance of NFL injury reports and how those work. It’s not too tricky, and it’s vital knowledge for folks with players who got hurt last week.
Assuming a game is played on a Sunday, both teams will start their official practice week on Wednesday. The following days typically carry greater levels of importance for participation, as that’s when more opponent-specific game plans are worked on, with the end coming on Friday.
The participation of players deemed injured throughout this three-day window must be reported by all 32 NFL teams on a scale of DNP (did not practice), LP (limited practice), and FP (full practice). These designations are meant to represent the health status of the individual.
Is reporting always reliable? No, unfortunately. There’s a certain degree of being plugged into the news cycle involved with getting the best insight possible. Luckily, every injury report is easy to find. Fantasy Points keeps track of it all on this page. Keep that bookmarked. All health statuses will be updated on the site as soon as information is available.
Thing #4: Poke Around In The League Chat
Y’know what? Not everything about this game is based around the numbers and what happens on the field of play. The people you’re competing against are just as much a puzzle to solve as the sport itself in many ways.
In a sense, every member of a league is playing poker with one another. What players are going to make it into your opponent’s lineup this week? Who’s out there lurking on the waiver wire ready to pounce on that rookie who surprisingly got dropped? Bring it up in the chat.
Most groups have some means of communicating. Whether it’s a text thread, a group on X, or simply the host platform’s message board, there’s a way to get a conversation going. Pick the brains of the folks involved. Ask them how they felt about Week 1. Gathering intel is easy to do through simple chit-chat! Knowing what everyone’s thinking will be beneficial.
Thing #5: This Is Just The Beginning
Mid-September is still early yet, and don’t forget that. Even if you get enough dirt on your competition and feel like pouncing on a trade opportunity, it’s better to stay chill — well, unless someone is offering an unbelievable discount on a top-tier name out of nowhere.
Generally, however, it’s good to lean back and take it slow. Once is a fluke, twice is a coincidence, and three times is a pattern. Let’s see what happens before we get aggro. No need to get cocky now. Best of luck in Week 2.
