The time has come to dive into the main slate for Week 2. I’ll be breaking down all thirteen matchups, sharing my thoughts on player prices* and stacking opportunities. As you read, please note that the player names in bold are what I consider my “core” players or guys that I’m sliding into a large percentage of my lineups. Oh, and if you’re new to DFS, you should check out my DFS Tips and Tricks article here.
*All player prices referenced are from FanDuel.
Giants @ Bills (42.5 O/U)
Let’s get a boring matchup out of the way early. Mitchell Trubisky ($7,200) finished with a decent stat line in Week 1 despite playing poorly for most of the game. I’m willing to stack him with Allen Robinson ($7,000) or Anthony Miller ($5,700) in a multi-entry tournament against this poor Giants secondary, but I’m not excited about it. The Bears D/ST ($4,000) are a good option if you can afford them.
For the Giants, you always have to consider Saquon Barkley ($9,000), even in a suboptimal matchup. However, there are other values at RB that I prefer to target this week. If Golden Tate is ruled out, I am intrigued by Darius Slayton ($5,300) as a cheap tournament option with big-play ability.
Rams @ Eagles (46 O/U)
The Eagles gave up 27 points to Washington in Week 1, but they weren’t as bad as the box score seems to indicate. They held Washington to just 239 total yards and only allowed scoring drives when Washington started with great field position. All of this is to say, don’t expect a fireworks display from the Rams offense this week. Robert Woods ($6,700) and Cooper Kupp ($7,200) are fine tournament options, but I’m avoiding the backfield and tight ends.
It’s hard to have a lot of confidence in the Eagles offense after their pitiful showing in Week 1, but I’m interested in Miles Sanders ($6,800) making his season debut, especially with star right tackle Lane Johnson also returning to the lineup. You also have to like DeSean Jackson ($5,500). He underperformed in Week 1 but still got 7 targets, and he can score from anywhere on the field.
Falcons @ Cowboys (54 O/U)
Ezekiel Elliott ($8,600) is a lock in my cash lineups this week. He’s so involved in all phases of the Cowboys offense, and he has a great matchup. In tournaments, I’m happy to stack Dak Prescott ($8,300) with any of his pass-catchers. I especially like Amari Cooper ($7,000), who received 14 targets in Week 1 and notoriously plays better at home. However, you can’t go wrong with Michael Gallup ($6,000) or CeeDee Lamb ($5,200), and those guys might be a little less chalk.
You can also mix-and-match Falcons stacks by pairing Matt Ryan ($7,700) with any of Julio Jones ($8,200), Calvin Ridley ($7,100), Russell Gage ($5,400), or Hayden Hurst ($5,700). I don’t even mind playing Todd Gurley ($7,100) in some lineups. He won’t be highly owned, and he could really pay off for his price if he falls into the endzone a couple times. The possibilities with this game are truly endless.
Panthers @ Buccaneers (47.5 O/U)
The Panthers are expected to trail in this game, which means Christian McCaffrey ($10,500) and DJ Moore ($6,800) should see plenty of volume. McCaffrey always has the potential to break a slate, but the Buccaneers run defense has been stout dating back to 2019 when they held CMC to just 29 total points in two meetings. Fading him in favor of some of the cheaper bell cows makes some sense in large tournaments. I’m not particularly interested in chasing Robby Anderson’s ($5,900) long TD from Week 1.
With Chris Godwin set to miss Week 2, Mike Evans ($7,400) becomes an interesting option. Evans should easily lead the team in targets against one of the league’s worst secondaries, and he always has multiple-TD upside. You should feel confident putting him in your lineup alone or stacking him with Tom Brady ($7,600) and even Scotty Miller ($5,200).
49ers @ Jets (41.5 O/U)
The big news in this one is that Brandon Aiyuk ($4,900) is set to make his NFL debut after missing Week 1 with a hamstring injury. He makes some sense as a flier against this disastrous Jets secondary, especially with Deebo Samuel and George Kittle out. I like Raheem Mostert ($6,500), as well. He should see plenty of work on the ground in a positive game script.
For the Jets, it’s just Chris Herndon ($5,100). Herndon had 7 targets last week, and he could see even more work in Week 2 now that Jamison Crowder has been ruled out.
Broncos @ Steelers (40.5 O/U)
This matchup is shaping up to be slow-paced and ugly. Drew Lock is unlikely to get much going against Pittsburgh’s stout defense, especially if Courtland Sutton is forced to miss another game. And after watching the Steelers hold Evan Engram to just 2 catches for 9 yards in Week 1, it’s hard to trust Noah Fant ($5,300).
With Broncos corner AJ Bouye now on injured reserve, I’m mildly interested in JuJu Smith-Schuster ($7,100), but there’s always the risk that the Steelers jump out to an early lead and can then just feed the ball to James Conner and Benny Snell.
Jaguars @ Titans (44 O/U)
In his last three games against the Jaguars, Derrick Henry ($8,300) has totaled 441 rushing yards and 7 rushing TDs. He’s a great play in cash and tournaments as a home favorite. I’m fading Ryan Tannehill due to the positive game script and the absence of AJ Brown, but Corey Davis ($4,900) and Jonnu Smith ($4,900) are cheap dart throws worth looking at.
Gardner Minshew ($7,000) is a cheap option to build around if you want to fit in multiple top-tier RBs or someone like Davante Adams. He’ll be playing from behind, and he has some rushing upside, as well. You can even stack him with DJ Chark ($6,700) or Laviska Shenault ($4,900).
Lions @ Packers (49.5 O/U)
Against this banged-up Lions secondary, you have to love Davante Adams ($8,600). He saw a whopping 17 targets in Week 1 and should dominate the offense once again. However, I’m not opposed to pivoting off Adams and chasing the big-play ability of Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($5,100). Aaron Jones ($7,700) should also get plenty of run if the Packers can build a lead.
In the absence of Kenny Golladay, I really like TJ Hockenson ($5,600). There should be plenty of pass attempts to go around in a negative game script, so feel free to fire up Marvin Jones ($6,400), as well. Avoid Detroit RBs like the plague.
Bills @ Dolphins (41 O/U)
There isn’t a single Dolphin that I’m interested in this week. DeVante Parker is still banged up, Mike Gesicki has a bad matchup, and no one knows what to do with the backfield. There are lots of better options out there, so let’s move on to the Bills.
Despite my feelings about him as a real-life QB, there’s no denying that Josh Allen ($8,200) is great for fantasy. I’m willing to play him alongside either Stefon Diggs ($6,800) or John Brown ($6,400) in this favorable matchup.
Vikings @ Colts (48.5 O/U)
The Vikings secondary looked absolutely awful in Week 1, so you have to consider TY Hilton ($6,300) and Parris Campbell ($5,300). Both players saw 9 targets in Week 1, though I prefer Campbell as the cheaper and more efficient option. You can also get Jonathan Taylor ($5,800) at a massive discount, stepping in as the Colts starter with Marlon Mack out for the season. Taylor is going to be chalk, but he’s still a great play at that price.
On the other side, I’m expecting Adam Thielen ($7,300) to build on his strong start to the season. He should continue to command a massive target share, at least until another reliable option emerges. I like Dalvin Cook ($8,800) as well, though his lack of receiving work in Week 1 was a little concerning.
Washington @ Cardinals (46.5 O/U)
Logan Thomas ($4,700) is the best value at tight end this week. Thomas played on 74% of Washington’s snaps in Week 1, seeing 8 targets and catching a TD. He could lead the team in targets once again in a great matchup. Terry McLaurin ($6,500) is the only other offensive player I’m really considering for Washington. He led the team in receptions and receiving yards in Week 1, and with 4.3 speed, he’s always a big play waiting to happen. I also like Washington D/ST ($3,900) after seeing their pass rush at work in Week 1.
For Arizona, you have to like DeAndre Hopkins ($8,300) after his 14-catch game in Week 1, especially in this soft matchup. Stacking Hopkins with Kyler Murray ($8,000) makes some sense given Murray’s significant rushing upside (91 yards in Week 1). However, I also like Christian Kirk ($5,700) as a contrarian play. Kirk let fantasy owners down against the 49ers, but he saw a ton of Richard Sherman. He could bounce back in a more favorable environment. Finally, I like Kenyan Drake ($6,600) for cash games. Drake might not have a ton of running room on the ground, but the Cardinals are heavy favorites, and he should get plenty of touches.
Ravens @ Texans (50 O/U)
The Baltimore backfield looks a bit muddled after Week 1, but JK Dobbins ($5,700) is cheap enough to warrant consideration in tournaments. Of course, we’re more interested in Lamar Jackson ($9,500) and his pass-catchers. Marquise Brown ($6,200) is a smash option against this struggling Texans secondary, especially at his incredibly cheap price. Meanwhile, Mark Andrews ($7,500) is a fixture in my cash lineups.
Will Fuller ($6,100) is the only Texan I’m willing to play against this smothering Ravens defense. He’s got a good shot at 10 targets in a very negative game script, and he can always hit the big play.
Chiefs @ Chargers (47.5 O/U)
Clyde Edwards-Helaire ($8,000) is my favorite Chief this week due to the strength of the Chargers secondary. CEH got a ton of goal-line work in Week 1, and his role as a receiver should grow as the season progresses. You can’t go wrong with Patrick Mahomes ($9,000), Tyreek Hill ($8,000), or Travis Kelce ($7,800). Any of those players could finish at the top of their respective positions, it’s just a matter of choosing correctly.
For the Chargers, I’m officially out on Tyrod Taylor and Keenan Allen at his price. However, betting on an Austin Ekeler ($6,900) bounce back makes some sense in what should be a negative game script. After all, he was the only Chargers RB to run a route last week. I also give you permission to throw a dart at Mike Williams ($5,800), who led the team in targets in Week 1.
Thanks for reading this article! Look me up on Twitter at @fantasyfreezer if you’d like to hear more from me. I love answering fantasy questions, discussing trades, and engaging in friendly debates, so be sure to drop in and say hello.
