AJ Dillon or Jamaal Williams Start Em Sit Em: Exploring Week 2 Fantasy Outlook for RBs

AJ Dillon and Jamaal Williams offer great value as fantasy football running backs. Dillon may start in Week 2 due to Aaron Jones' injury. Williams also has potential against weak run defenses.

AJ Dillon and Jamaal Williams may not be the first names that come to mind when you think of fantasy football running backs, but they shouldn't be overlooked. As part of the Green Bay Packers backfield, Dillon had a solid season last year with 770 yards and seven touchdowns, while Williams led the league in rushing touchdowns with 17 and gained 1,066 rushing yards.

In Week 1 of the 2023 season, both players had modest performances. So, the question arises: which of the two should you start for your Week 2 roster?

Let's start with AJ Dillon. His Week 1 stats weren't impressive, with only 19 rushing yards and 17 receiving yards. However, there's a chance he could see increased usage in Week 2 due to Aaron Jones' hamstring injury. Jones has barely practiced this week, which opens the door for Dillon to take over as the starting running back. Additionally, if Christian Watson is also out, Dillon may see more targets from quarterback Jordan Love.

The Packers will be facing the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2, a team that struggled with rushing defense last year, finishing 23rd in rushing yards allowed per game. In Week 1, the Falcons gave up 154 rushing yards, the sixth-worst in the league. With Atlanta's weakness in defending the run, Dillon could have a field day running past their defenders.

On the other hand, Jamaal Williams had a similar performance in Week 1, gaining only 45 rushing yards and seven receiving yards. However, he is expected to continue getting the majority of carries until Alvin Kamara returns. Williams did struggle against the strong Tennessee Titans run defense last week, but he has a favorable matchup in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers, who allowed 130 rushing yards in Week 1, the seventh-worst in the league.

Considering the matchups, both Dillon and Williams have the potential to excel in Week 2. Sportskeeda's Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer suggests that Williams may have a slight edge, projected to score 9.8 fantasy points compared to Dillon's 9.6. However, these projections are close, and both players could exceed expectations due to their opponents' weak run defenses.

In conclusion, whether you choose AJ Dillon or Jamaal Williams for your Week 2 roster, you can't go wrong. Both have favorable matchups and the potential to put up solid numbers as RB2 or flex options. Keep in mind that Sportskeeda's Start/Sit Optimizer gives Williams a slight edge, but ultimately, the decision may come down to personal preference and your team's specific needs.

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