Patrick Surtain II exited Sundays game with a lower leg injury, creating immediate concern for the Broncos defense and fantasy rosters relying on Denver corners. His absence could test the unit as they chase one of the league’s best defenses this season.

With Surtain as the anchor, Denver carries high defensive expectations. If he misses time, the surrounding coverage may have to adjust with more zone looks and depth chart shifts, elevating the fantasy upside of opposing pass catching weapons and nudging Broncos players into riskier matchup territory.

Michael Pittman Jr. faced Surtain when the injury occurred, a reminder that Colts receivers could exploit potential secondary gaps. The coming days will define Surtain roster implications and the broader impact on Broncos pass defense and fantasy planning.

Week 2 WR starts and sits center on Diggs, Pittman, Olave, Evans, and Jeudy, with matchup nuance shaping lineup decisions. Diggs delivered seven targets and six catches in Week 1 and draws a favorable clash versus Miami, while Pittman is usable as a flex despite a tougher test from Denver’s Surtain II. Olave looks set to ride a high target floor in a pass-heavy Saints attack, Evans remains a steady high-floor option, and Jeudy faces a stern Denver slate but can ladder upside in the air game.

Use the Who Should I Start tool to refine rankings and optimize Week 2 lineups, balancing volume against matchup risk. The piece emphasizes looking beyond raw targets, weighing health, and leveraging current form to separate clear starts from flex plays in a pivotal early-season week.

Pittman Jr. delivers as a Week 1 target monster for Indy, catching 6 of 8 for 80 yards and a TD as Daniel Jones piloted the offense to 33 points. That setup gives Pittman a reliable floor as a WR3/Flex in 12+ team leagues, even with a tougher Week 2 date against Denver’s secondary looming. Jones’ accuracy and Pittman’s chemistry keep him in the mix as Indy’s primary aerial option, though the ceiling may dip if Jones edges toward efficiency regression.

Denver’s stop unit in Week 1 stifled the Titans, so the matchup is challenging and caps big-play upside. Still, Pittman’s target share and Jones’s rushing threat provide a solid floor for Week 2. Long-term, Pittman has shown 1,125 yards in 2023 with QBs who can deliver, suggesting continued fantasy relevance even amid evolving Colts dynamics.