Week 2 Fantasy Football Projections

Every week of the NFL season, EA SPORTS runs Madden NFL 19 game simulations of each matchup to try and help predict the outcome. This year, we’re going to analyze some of the statistical information the game simulations give back to us and determine how realistic they are, to try and help fantasy football fans make lineup decisions. As you’ll discover below, some of these projections end up being spot on, and some, well, not so much. Either way, we’re here to have fun so try to remember that before you get triggered by a crazy stat line. Let’s do this.

QB – Cam Newton at Atlanta Falcons

Madden 19 Projection for Week 2

Fantasy Points: 28.8
Comp-Att: 21-33
Pass Yds: 337
Pass TDs: 3
Rush Att: 3
Ru Yds: 33
INTs: 0

This passing projection feels generous considering that Cam Newton has thrown for over 330 yards in a regular season game only twice dating back to the start of the 2016 season, and he just lost one of his most reliable targets, starting TE Greg Olsen, to an ankle injury. Newton is a mobile quarterback who averaged 8.6 rush attempts per game in 2017 and is coming off a Week 1 in which he led Carolina with 13 rushes for 58 yards and a score. So, Madden’s projection of three rushes for 33 yards on the ground feels low. If there’s a player who could help Newton’s passing stats, it’s going to be HB Christian McCaffrey. The Falcons defense has historically had trouble limiting pass-catching running backs and McCaffrey is one of the best at his craft in the NFL. 

HB – Todd Gurley vs. Arizona Cardinals

Madden 19 Projection for Week 2

Fantasy Points: 28.8
Rush Att: 24
Rush Yds: 122
Rush TDs: 2
Rec: 4
Rec Yds: 46
Rec TDs: 0

Todd Gurley could put up this stat line in his sleep. The rush attempt workload seems steep as Gurley’s posted greater than 24 carries in a regular season game only a handful of times. But he’s more than capable of averaging five yards per attempt in the high-powered Rams offense. A big part of what keeps Gurley among the top fantasy backs in the league is his usage as a pass-catcher, especially in PPR formats. He averaged four receptions per game last year and logged three more last week, including a touchdown catch in a blowout against the Oakland Raiders. The Rams should have no trouble dismantling an Arizona Cardinals team that allowed the most scrimmage yards to running backs in Week 1. 

WR – Jarvis Landry at New Orleans Saints

Madden 19 Projection for Week 2

Fantasy Points: 16.8
Rec: 5
Rec Yds: 108
Rec TDs: 1

Tack on a couple more receptions, and this is exactly the kind of receiver you have with Jarvis Landry. He was peppered with a team-lead 15 targets last week, hauling in seven receptions for 106 yards. It looks like Madden 19 is predicting more of the same this week, but a touchdown would be nice for fantasy football owners, and that’s not out of the question in what should be a high-scoring affair against the New Orleans Saints. Landry owns the third-best hands among WRs in Madden 19 with a ridiculous 97 Catch rating, so fire him up in fantasy football lineups and watch the points roll in against a Saints defense that was torched by the Buccaneers last week.

TE – Zach Ertz at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Madden 19 Projection for Week 2

Fantasy Points: 23.5
Rec: 12
Rec Yds: 115
Rec TDs: 2 

Considering that Zach Ertz has recorded 12 or more receptions only three times in his five-year NFL career, his Week 2 Madden 19 projection is rather lavish. There’s no denying that Ertz is one of the top TE’s in Madden and in fantasy football, but with backup QB Nick Foles at the helm for the Eagles until Carson Wentz is fully healthy, expectations for Philadelphia’s passing game should be tempered. Consider this projection Ertz’s fantasy ceiling for Week 2.

DEF – Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings

Madden 19 Projection for Week 2

Sacks: 5
Forced Fumbles: 1
Points Allowed: 2

The Vikings offense was firing on all cylinders last week as the unit put up 24 points against the San Francisco 49ers. In Week 2, the Vikings hit the road to take on a Green Bay Packers defense that surrendered 23 points to the Bears last Sunday. So despite the results of the Madden 19 Week 2 simulation, it’s unlikely the Packers D allows just two points to a Minnesota offense that’s loaded with weapons like Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook, and Kyle Rudolph.

–Matt Franciscovich (Follow Matt on Twitter @MattFranchise)

Madden NFL 19 is now available on Xbox One, PlayStation, and PC. Stay in the conversation by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and EA Forums. Sign up for the Newsletter today to receive updates on Madden, and other EA news, products, and events, all season long.