Washington at Arizona Cardinals
Washington saw a drastic rise in pace in Week 1 from 2019, and I’m willing to try and get ahead of this trend due to the new coaching staff. Their offense was far from efficient as their 3.7 yards per play was dead last in the NFL in Week 1. That said, the volume will be here if this new pace trend continues. Arizona ran at their usual fast pace in Week 1, so we need Washington to continue this trend for this spot to outperform expectations.
We will need some efficiency as well. While the Cardinals have some talented players on the defensive side of the ball, Vance Joseph is a terrible defensive coordinator. I think Scott Turner can get the best of Joseph in this matchup; the players need to execute.
Dwayne Haskins ($5100) once again has the potential to be the best value on the slate. Terry McLaurin ($5900) let me down last week, but led the team in YBC (33) and was second on Washington in targets (7). The player he was second to was tight end Logan Thomas ($3600). Thomas played 74% of the snaps and led the team in targets (8) against Philadelphia. At just $3600, he is one of the best tight end values on the slate.
Christian Kirk ($4300) was a complete bust in Week 1. With only five targets and MINUS three YBC, there isn’t much to get excited about in Week 2. That said, the price is intriguing, and I’m willing to give him another shot in tournaments.
DeAndre Hopkins ($7700) is the big dog, though. I didn’t expect him to dominate the targets (16) and YBC (84) in his debut, but he did. If this target trend continues in Week 2, Hopkins makes a fantastic tournament play at potentially less than 10% ownership. Kenyan Drake ($5900) is intriguing as his price dropped, but he received just 2/7 RB targets in Week 1.
Minnesota Vikings at Indianapolis Colts
This game doesn’t leave a lot to be desired from a pace standpoint, but it’s being played in a dome, and both teams have a team total over 21. With just a three-point spread, there should be plenty of back and forth in this match up.
Despite losing the game last week, the Colts didn’t punt. Considering Aaron Rodgers ($6900) just torched the Vikings in Week 1, Phillip Rivers ($5900) should be able to have success here as well. The Colts passed on 65% of their early down plays in a neutral game script in Week 1, a stark contrast to their 45/55 split in 2019. The Minnesota secondary is inexperienced and bad, which sets up well for Parris Campbell ($4500) and T.Y. Hilton ($5700). Both had nine targets and 53/52 YBC, respectively.
The player I’m most excited to play on the Colts in Jonathan Taylor ($5700). He only had a 35% snap share last week, but that should rise substantially, considering Marlon Mack went down with an injury in Week 1. Nyheim Hines ($5300) is also in play, as he led the Colts backfield in snap% last week. I plan on mixing both into my player pool but want to be heavier on Taylor.
Related l Fantasy Football Week 2 Start/Sit: Is Nyheim Hines trustworthy?
Other than Adam Thielen ($7200), I’m not excited to play anyone else in Minnesota. No one else on the team received more than four targets in Week 1. Irv Smith Jr. ($2900) disappointed in Week 1, but I’m willing to include him in game stacks due to his low price and athleticism. Both he and Kyle Rudolph ($3500) played 60% of the snaps.
As for Dalvin Cook ($7600), you’re banking on efficiency if you play him. He played just 58% of the Vikings snaps and was out targetted by Alexander Mattison ($4300) four to two. That doesn’t mean he can’t have a GPP winning performance; it just means his projected opportunities are less than the RBs he is priced around.
NFL DFS Picks Week 2 l Values at each position
Here are my favorite values and top plays at each position to fill out my roster. I don’t have QBs listed because your QB should be part of your stack.
NFL DFS Running Back Picks
Derrick Henry ($7900)– Henry has destroyed the Jaguars in his career. The RB depth chart in Tennessee is so thin that Henry received 100% of the RB carries and 50% of the RB targets in their Monday night game against the Denver Broncos, even if it was just three. He has a good matchup and should have a positive game script throughout.
Aaron Jones ($7100)– With Clyde Edwards-Helaire ($7400), just $300 more than Jones, and Davante Adams ($8100) being one of the most popular WR plays on the slate; Jones should see depressed ownership. That makes him a fantastic leverage play in tournaments. He played 74% of the snaps, received 16/28 of the RB carries, and 6/11 of the RB targets.
The six targets are essential, as despite leading 29-10 heading into the 4th quarter, the Packers still had eight pass attempts vs. nine rush attempts against Minnesota. He is a six-point favorite, at home with the 4th highest team total of the slate. Jones is a fantastic play this week, and one I plan to be overweight on in the Week 2 NFL DFS slate.
Miles Sanders ($6000)– I’d be a fraud if I didn’t suggest using Sanders in his first game of the year. He should see over 70% of the snaps, 85% of the RB carries, and 70% of the RB targets. The Rams defense isn’t one to fear, despite Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. There could also be some back and forth in this game as both teams have a team total over 21, and it is just a one-point spread.
Ronald Jones ($5200)– I’m not as excited for Jones as the industry seems to be. He dominated the R.B. opportunities in Week 1 for Tampa Bay with 17/22 of the RB carries and 3/5 of the RB targets. However, he played just 47% of the snaps. I’m not sure what to make of it, to be honest. I think they eventually get Leonard Fournette ($4800) more involved as the year goes on. That said, if Jones dominates the opportunities in Week 2 as he did in Week 1, he makes for a fantastic value.
J.K. Dobbins ($5100)– This one is a little loose but provides good leverage off of the other popular RB’s in this range. Despite playing just 39% of the RB snaps, that was the most in the Baltimore backfield. No RB on the Ravens received a target, but Dobbins did convert two of his goal-line opportunities into touchdowns. I would only play Dobbins in a massive tournament. He is too “thin” for smaller field contests.
Related l Week 2 Fantasy Football Notes: Who to watch this weekend
Benny Snell Jr. ($4500)– Snell dominated the RB snaps when James Conner ($6800) left the game against the Giants. He was not active in the passing game but earned nearly all of the RB carries. It is a tougher matchup this time around against Denver, but, at $4500, 80 yards and a touchdown won’t drown you in tournaments.
NFL DFS Wide Receiver Picks
Tyreek Hill ($7400)– The Chiefs stack this week will be as low owned as you’ll ever see it, including Hill. He is the perfect type of player you want to be overweight when he is low-owned and underweight when he’s popular. The Chargers have an outstanding secondary, but that doesn’t matter. This is the best receiver on the best offense playing with arguably the best QB in the game. Make sure you have Hill in your NFL DFS Week 2 portfolio.
Mike Evans ($6400)– If Chris Godwin ($7000) ends up missing the game against the Panthers, Evans becomes a must-play in cash games and “good chalk” to eat in tournaments. Don’t fall for the Scotty Miller ($4100) hype.
Related l Chris Godwin’s fantasy status for Week 2 in doubt?
D.J. Moore ($6300)– Moore let people down with just 9.4 PPR points, but still led the Panthers in targets (9) and YBC (46). He is projected to be owned at less than 10% and makes for a fantastic tournament play in a game where the Panthers will need to throw throughout.
Will Fuller ($6300)– He led the Texans in targets with 10, double that of the next WR Brandin Cooks ($4900). No one wants to go against the Ravens, but the Texans are seven-point underdogs and will need to throw to keep up with Baltimore’s explosive offense. Fuller has the floor/ceiling combo to be viable in all formats and contests.
Kennan Allen ($5700)– With the Chargers expected to be trailing throughout this game, Allen is a candidate to receive 10-plus targets this week. Whether they are “good” targets is up for debate, but the opportunity will be there.
Curtis Samuel ($4700)– Samuel received the same amount of targets Robby Anderson ($5200) did but didn’t have the same type of production.
Parris Campbell ($4500)– I touched on him above, but wanted to reiterate that I like Campbell as an individual value as well.
Diontae Johnson ($4500)– He led the Pittsburgh Steelers in targets (10) and tied for the team lead in snap% among WR’s (85%).
Mike Williams ($4200)– Same story as Allen. He led the Chargers in targets with nine and YBC with 60. He is the more explosive of the two and could be in line for a massive day if he can get behind the Kansas City defense.
Corey Davis ($4000)– With A.J. Brown’s ($6100) game status in doubt, Davis would be the candidate to lead the Titans WR corps in receptions Week 2. I would temper expectations, however, as the Titans could ride Henry to a victory here.
Quintez Cephus ($3800)– Cephus quietly led the Lions in targets with Kenny Golladay missing the game. They should have to throw again in this contest, making Cephus a sneaky value in DFS.
Trent Taylor ($3300)– The connection wasn’t there in Week 1, but Taylor had as many targets as anyone on the 49ers. Brandon Aiyuk ($4300) returning could cut into his opportunities, or it could open things up for Taylor. Either way, he’s a cheap way to get 6-8 targets in your lineup against a putrid secondary.
NFL DFS Tight End Picks
Travis Kelce ($7000)– As I mentioned with Hill, Kelce will be as low-owned as you’ll ever see him. Get some Kelce in your portfolio as most of the field won’t be doing as such.
Dallas Goedert ($5000)– He led the Eagles in targets (nine) and was second in YBC with 49. He also played 79% of the snaps this past Sunday.
Jonnu Smith ($4200)– His seven targets were the 2nd most on the team, and he has the explosion to have a slate breaking game. If you want to leverage off Henry, Smith should be in your Ryan Tannehill ($5900) stacks.
O.J. Howard ($3900)– Howard played 53% of the snaps at TE (most on the team) and commanded the second-most targets on the team with six. The Buccaneers ran the ball on 64% of their early down plays in a neutral script against the New Orleans Saints. I expect that to regress, though having said that, proceed with caution.
NFL DFS DST Picks
49ers ($4000)– The best matchup on the slate. The 49ers should harass Sam Darnold ($5100) all game and force him into plenty of mistakes.
Washington ($3100)– One of the best defensive lines in the league faces another sub-par offensive line this week. Arizona also plays at one of the fastest paces in the league and throws the ball an ample amount of time. There will be plenty of opportunities for sacks and turnovers for Washington.
Buccaneers ($2900)– They’re a big home favorite, possess a good pass rush, and face a subpar offensive line as 9.5 point favorites.
Eagles ($2600)– The Rams still have an average-at-best offensive line, and the Eagles still possess a tremendous defensive line.
Related l NFL Betting Lines 2020: Who should I bet on in Week 2?
Dolphins ($2100)/Jets ($2000)/Chargers ($2000)– I’ll always advocate playing the cheapest defense on the slate. The Dolphins and Jets both play mistake-prone QBs, while the Chargers are far too talented to be $2000, even if they’re going against the Chiefs.