Fantasy Football: Week 2 Wide Receiver Rankings

MIAMI, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- If you drafted a wide receiver [or wide receivers] early, Week 2 could be your chance to dominate.

Obviously you are starting top-tier selections, but this is the week where those elite guys can carry your team.

That's good news for those fantasy football team owners who are staring at a possible 0-2 start and better news for those lucky enough to pick up a Week 1 win. With the exception of Keenan Allen, most of the elite players at the position are relatively healthy after the opening weekend.

Still, there are a few gems available off of the waiver wire and players facing juicy match ups that you should be aware of. Don't be afraid to go with some of them in the flex position over unexciting running back options.

To make those choices easier, I have ranked my top 50 wide receivers for Week 2 below.

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. You can find other Week 2 positional rankings in the links following this article.

TOP SHELF

You aren't sitting New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., Cincinnati Bengals' A.J. Green, or New Orleans Saints' Brandin Cooks, but get your popcorn ready for the show in Week 2. Beckham faces the Saints, who allowed 15 receptions for 243 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. The Saints are now already without one of its top cornerbacks after allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers last season. Green should be a lock for 100 yards and don't be surprised to see him score for the Bengals. The Steelers allowed 19 receptions for 220 yards against the Washington Redskins last week. Pittsburgh allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers in 2015. Cooks should undoubtedly ball out against the Giants in what is primed for a shootout. Don't expect another 98-yard touchdown reception from Drew Brees, but Cooks will see an abundance of looks from the noted gunslinger. Cooks should end up as a top-5 wide receiver in Week 2.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Buffalo Bills' Sammy Watkins might be ailing from a foot injury but don't expect him to stay quiet for two consecutive weeks. Tyrod Taylor's top target should improve on his Week 1 stat line against what looked like a beatable Darrelle Revis in Week 1. You probably drafted Dallas Cowboys' Dez Bryant in an early round and likely don't have a better option. But don't feel worried about starting Bryant in Week 2. He is facing off against a Washington team that allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the position last season. Washington allowed 16 receptions for 241 yards and three touchdowns to Pittsburgh's wide receivers in Week 1. Miami Dolphins' Jarvis Landry should be relieved not to have to face off against the Seattle Seahawks again in Week 2. He is welcomed by the New England Patriots. Although any trip to Foxborough isn't easy, expect Landry to get off to a good start this week against a defense, which allowed the second-most yards to wide receivers in 2015. The Patriots were able to hold Arizona Cardinals wide receivers to 14 receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2, but don't expect a home-run-hit game plan from Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, allowing for plenty of underneath production.

LONGSHOTS

Expect another big week from Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz. Cruz and Eli Manning rekindled its once productive relationship in Week 1's bout against Dallas. With Manning expected to be hot again this week, expect Cruz to be the biggest benefactor of Beckham Jr.'s shadow coverage against that porous Saints secondary. Can Saints wide receiver Willie Snead outdo his Week 1 explosion? It's possible. The Saints and Giants shootout should see Brees topping 300 passing yards, meaning enough for Cooks and Snead to get going again. Atlanta Falcons' Mohamed Sanu faces the same Raiders defense that Cooks and Snead torched in Week 2. Don't expect a huge turnaround from Oakland, which will likely see plenty of pass attempts from Matt Ryan, due to Atlanta's so-far-stagnant running game. The Raiders allowed 21 receptions for 373 yards and three touchdowns to Saints wide receivers last week. Arizona Cardinals' John Brown should return to form in a Week 2 match up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers allowed the 11th most fantasy points per game to wide receivers in 2015 and 10 receptions for 146 yards and two scores to the position in Week 1. Expect Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer to redeem himself after a quiet opening contest against the New England Patriots.