Fantasy Football: Week 2 Quarterback Rankings

MIAMI, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Believe it or not, it's too early to panic about your fantasy football team. Yes, a Week 2 win would largely improve your confidence and playoff hopes heading into Week 3. But even going 0-2 isn't the end of your fantasy football season.

To get back on track or continue your winning ways, you will need great decision-making, good match ups, and a little luck for a Week 2 victory. To start out your weekly research, here are my top-20 options at quarterback for Week 2.

You can also view our top waiver-wire pickups for Week 2 and find out how to replace San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen.

TOP SHELF

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is looking to devour the San Francisco 49ers defense this weekend. Newton is coming off of two consecutive losses to the Denver Broncos heading into the home contest. Look for the All-World talent to gobble up rushing yards and toss multiple touchdowns in a very lopsided affair. Last week agains the Broncos, Newton finished as a top-10 fantasy quarterback, throwing a touchdown, and an interception, while rushing for another score. Don't expect the 49ers' stingy defensive effort of allowing 130 passing yards and zero touchdowns against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1, to repeat itself.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is primed for a huge day this week when he faces the New Orleans Saints. The Saints, who were already one of the league's worst defenses, will now be without top cornerback Delvin Breaux for six weeks. Manning is locked and loaded and could even put up the best numbers for any quarterback this weekend with targets like Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz, and Sterling Shepard.

In other obvious starts, look for Arizona Cardinals' Carson Palmer, Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers, and the Saints' Drew Brees to dominate defenses in Week 2.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Oakland Raiders's Derek Carr continues to ride his hot hand into a Week 2 match up against the Atlanta Falcons. This contest has all the makings of a shootout. Look for Carr to fire off another top-10 performance and be a must start for your fantasy team. Baltimore Ravens' Joe Flacco finds himself facing off against the Cleveland Browns, at home, this weekend. Flacco should have a plethora of passing attempts, meaning plenty of chances for big numbers. The Browns allowed the third-most passing touchdowns to quarterbacks in 2015.

LONGSHOTS

Indianapolis Colts' Andrew Luck is facing a very tough match up against the Denver Broncos, but he could be a sneaky play. Luck will likely have to keep the Colts in the game singlehandedly. With such a high draft position, you likely don't have a better option than Luck as your starter. Last season, when Luck had back-to-back match ups against the Panthers and Broncos, he completed 44-of-83 pass attempts, for 483 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. He rushed for 69 yards and another touchdown.

San Diego Chargers' Philip Rivers might have lost his best receiving option in Allen, but don't expect the veteran to give up quite yet. With burner Travis Benjamin now in the fold, and two able pass-catching backs, expect Rivers to still put up big numbers against a beatable Jacksonville Jaguars secondary. Rodgers had 199 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Jaguars last weekend in Jacksonville. He also scored a rushing touchdown in that game.