If you’re in search of some DFS picks for the Week 2 matchup on Thursday Night Football between the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles… Then you’ve come to the right place.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the best DFS plays from this prime-time showdown.
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Vikings vs. Eagles Top TNF DFS Picks on DraftKings
Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles ($17,100) – Captain
Fantasy managers who invested second or third-round draft capital on Jalen Hurts likely came away a little underwhelmed with his 170 passing yards, 37 rushing yards, one passing touchdown, and a lost fumble performance against the New England Patriots to start the season. But I would like to suggest that better days are ahead for the Eagles’ quarterback.
The Vikings’ secondary is still a work in progress and managed to give up 20 points to a Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense that couldn’t run the ball against Minnesota — 33 rushing attempts for 73 yards at 2.2 yards per carry — and even left some points on the board due to some accuracy issues from Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield.
A stingy Pats defense kept the Eagles’ potent offense in check for most of the game, but don’t expect the Vikings to have the same level of success on TNF.
Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings ($12,400)
Justin Jefferson did his usual fantasy-stud thing in Week 1 against the Buccaneers to the tune of nine receptions for 150 yards.
Some might hesitate to think a repeat performance is in store against a stingy Philly defense that gets after the quarterback at an elite level and features a secondary with cornerback Darius Slay.
MORE: Week 2 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet — Analysis for Every Player in Every Game
It’s worth noting that the other starting cornerback, James Bradberry, will be unavailable for this game due to a concussion, which creates a few more opportunities against corners a bit lower on Philadelphia’s depth chart.
The big question is will Vikings QB Kirk Cousins have enough time to push the ball down the field to Jefferson? He’ll certainly be under some pressure, but I do believe Cousins connects with Jefferson for enough big plays to make sure he’s in your DFS lineup for this prime-time slate.
D’Andre Swift, RB, Philadelphia Eagles ($4,000)
There’s no way to sugarcoat this… D’Andre Swift’s 2023 debut was incredibly disappointing. Swift’s two total touches for a grand total of three yards made him a complete non-factor in this backfield to start the season.
Instead, it was Kenneth Gainwell who led the Eagles backfield by a wide margin with 14 carries and four receptions for 74 total yards.
Well, just as it felt like we finally knew who to invest in from this Philly backfield, Gainwell has been ruled out for TNF with a rib injury. That leaves a big opportunity for Swift, Boston Scott, or Rashaad Penny to see an expanded role against Minnesota.
One potential clue we may have got came during a post-game interview with Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni on Sunday, where he talked about Swift’s lack of involvement in the offense.
“I don’t ever want to come out of a game where D’Andre Swift has only two touches either,” Sirianni said after the game.
While I’m intrigued to see how Penny could look in Philly’s offense, Gainwell’s usage in the season opener and Penny’s inactive status don’t bode well for a huge role on Thursday.
MORE: RB Fantasy Injury Report Week 2
With Gainwell unavailable, it’s entirely possible that Scott, a player whom the coaching staff trusts and is familiar with in this offensive system, could be the player with the most snaps.
However, Swift is such a dynamic and efficient player with the ball in his hands that I would prefer his upside in my lineup over Scott.
Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles ($5,800)
The talented Eagles tight end failed to catch a single pass in the Week 1 win over New England. Luckily, Sirianni took note of this in the post-game press conference and could make a more concerted effort to get him involved in the Week 2 game plan.
Dallas Goedert could present some matchup problems for the Vikings linebackers and safeties in coverage.
Philadelphia Eagles Defense ($4,400)
The Eagles’ defense wasn’t quite as stingy in the 2023 season opener against the Pats as many might have expected. Nevertheless, they still managed to hold New England to just 20 points.
Philadelphia generated two sacks and an interception against Mac Jones and will face Cousins on TNF, who hasn’t always been great in prime time.
If the Eagles force the Vikings to be one-dimensional, these pass rushers could make life unpleasant for Cousins in Week 2.