Week 1 sure seemed crazy between injuries and players we thought would produce crapping out completely (See Rodgers, Aaron). Even with the insanity it sure feels good to be back, doesn’t it? How does this work? Typically, I am not going to tell you to play anyone that is blatantly obvious here. I may have to add a place where there are guys you should be playing whether I have them in here or not. If you have Patrick Mahomes, play him (unless I have him as a Heart Breaker). Christian McCaffrey? Yes, you probably want him in your lineup as well, without me having to tell you to plug him in. There will be many times I will have a big name as a Heart Breaker for DFS. It doesn’t mean they suck, it means that week there is better value elsewhere.
Here is a brief definition of each of my terms for anyone that might be new:
💰 Money Maker – This player will perform better than expectations
💔 Heart Breaker – This player will perform lower than expectations
💰 Money Makers
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts
Hurts was amazing against Atlanta in week 1. He ran for 62 yards on 7 carries. He threw for another 264 yards and 3 touchdowns. In Week 2, Hurts gets the Niners team that gave up 338 yards and 3 TDs to Jared Goff.
$6,500 on DraftKings
$7,800 on Fanduel
Jalen Hurts has 25 or more points in 3 out of his 5 games started as an NFL quarterback.
He got yanked from the Washington game.
His rushing floor makes him a borderline elite option and he should be considered as such, not inferior.
— Sam Wagman (@swagman95) September 13, 2021
Tom Brady
I know this one is obvious. He destroyed the Cowboys defense to the tune of 374 yards and 4 touchdowns. But Tommy Boy now gets the Falcons who were utterly destroyed by the above-mentioned Hurts. If you are looking to pay up and stack in DFS, the Bucs (and Tom Brady) are a good place to start.
$6,900 on DraftKings
$8,200 on Fanduel
Tyrod Taylor
Who threw for 291 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Jaguars in Week 1? Who ran for 40 yards on 4 carries? Tygod is back! The Browns were torched by the Chiefs last week and, although it is the Chiefs, this game may have more scoring than we would have originally thought. I know it was the Jaguars, but the Texans moved the ball surprisingly well.
$5,500 on DraftKings
$6,800 on Fanduel
Other Quarterbacks for Week 2
Justin Herbert
$6,700 on DraftKings
$7,600 on Fanduel
Teddy Bridgewater
$5,400 on DraftKings
$7,000 on Fanduel
Running Backs
Melvin Gordon
People thought he was washed but Gordon had 101 yards, a touchdown as well as 3 receptions for 17 yards against the Giants. In Week 2, MG3 gets to play against a Jaguars team that was scorched 120 yards and 2 touchdowns by the Texans three-headed running back committee.
$5,900 on DraftKings
$5,900 on Fanduel
Melvin Gordon hitting Next Gen Stats hard Week 1:
#1 Fastest ball carrier (21.52 mph)
#1 Rushing yards over expected (64 yard rush)
#7 Longest plays (70 yard rushing TD) pic.twitter.com/0QcFPicjXs— Nick Skrip (@P2WFantasy) September 14, 2021
Najee Harris
Only 1 running back was in on 100% of his team’s snaps during the first week and that was Najee. Unfortunately, Harris disappointed with only 49 total yards against the Bills. The rookie RB gets an opportunity for redemption against the Raiders, who gave up a total of 122 total yards and 2 touchdowns to the Ravens running backs. Expect the rookie to rebound in Week 2.
$6,300 on DraftKings
$6,100 on Fanduel
Kenneth Gainwell
I could say “Eagles running backs” as I like Miles Sanders here this week too. The Niners gave up two top 4 running back scores in the opening week while Gainwell scored on the ground in his debut. Looks for the Eagles to utilize Gainwell in the passing game and him to breakout in Week 2.
$4,000 on DraftKings
$5,000 on Fanduel
Other Running Backs for Week 2
Derrick Henry
$8,300 on DraftKings
$8,000 on Fanduel
Nyheim Hines
$4,700 on DraftKings
$5,100 on Fanduel
Ronald Jones
$4,800 on DraftKings
$5,300 on Fanduel
Wide Receivers
Keenan Allen and Mike Williams
Yes to both, if you want to stack. The Chargers play the Cowboys who were just scorched by the Bucs passing game. LA’s receiving pair saw 49% percent target share in Week 1 from Herbert. Allen and Williams combined for 17 receptions, 182 yards, and a touchdown. The sky is the limit this week as the Cowboys gave up 279 yards and 3 touchdowns to wide receivers in Week 1.
Keenan Allen
$7,000 on DraftKings
$7,400 on Fanduel
Mike Williams
$6,100 on DraftKings
$5,500 on Fanduel
The Chargers lass attack looked pretty funneled today
– Keenan Allen: 13 targets, 9 catches, 100 yards
– Mike Williams: 12 targets, 8 rec, 82 yds, TDJared Cook (8 targets) was the only other player with more than 5
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 12, 2021
Ja’Marr Chase
In his first game as a rookie, Chase led the Bengals with 5 receptions, 101 yards, and a TD. For an encore, Chase and the Bengals play a Chicago Bears team that gave up 215 yards and 3 touchdowns to the Rams wide receivers. Chase will feast.
$5,000 on DraftKings
$5,500 on Fanduel
Jarvis Landry
Landry led the Browns wide receivers in targets, receptions, and yards with a line of 5/5/71 as Odell Beckham missed another game. The going gets easier this week against a Texans team that gave up 213 yards and 2 touchdowns to Jaguars wide receivers in Week 1. Landry and the Browns passing game should look good.
$6,300 on DraftKings
$6,800 on Fanduel
Other Wide Receivers for Week 2
Tyler Lockett
$7,200 on DraftKings
$7,200 on Fanduel
Brandin Cooks
$5,900 on DraftKings
$6,600 on Fanduel
Tim Patrick
$4,600 on DraftKings
$5,400 on Fanduel
Tight Ends
Jared Cook
I guess I’m pretty high on the Chargers passing game this week. Cook saw 8 targets to which he turned into 5 receptions for 56 yards to open the year. Not only were the Cowboys gashed by Tampa Bay’s wide receivers, Dallas gave up the most fantasy points to tight ends in Week 1. Rob Gronkowski scorched the Cowboys with 8 receptions for 90 yards and 2 TDs. This is the week to play Cook in DFS and redraft.
$3,900 on DraftKings
$5,400 on Fanduel
Rob Gronkowski
Gronk looked like the Gronk of old in Week 1 (see above) and the Falcons just gave up 76 yards and a touchdown to the Eagles tight ends. This was the 6th most fantasy points given up to the position. It’s pretty easy to pick up what I am putting down. Gronk will smash again.
$4,700 on DraftKings
$5,800 on Fanduel
Dallas Goedert
In Week 1, Goedert had 15% target share which got him 4 receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown. In Week 2, Goedert gets to go up against a Niners defense that got torched in week one by TJ Hockenson. Both Goedert and Ertz will have value this week for the Eagles.
$4,600 on DraftKings
$5,800 on Fanduel
Other Tight Ends for Week 2
Austin Hooper
$3,800 on DraftKings
$5,200 on Fanduel
Darren Waller
$7,600 on DraftKings
$7,000 on Fanduel
Zach Ertz
$3,700 on DraftKings
$4,900 on Fanduel
💔 Heart Breakers
Quarterbacks
Sam Darold
Darnold gets the Saints defense in Week 2. This is the same Saints defense that held Aaron Rodgers to 133 yards 2 interceptions and 1 sack in a stunning Week 1 win. I think we can all agree that Darnold is not Rodgers. Unless you have to start him, I would avoid Darnold.
Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy looked pretty good in Week 1, he threw for 314 yards and a TD. But this week, Jimmy gets to play against an Eagles team that made matt Ryan look horrible. They held Ryan to 164 yards and no touchdowns. It doesn’t look good for Jimmy in Week 2.
Dak Prescott
Obviously, I don’t expect him to suck. The Chargers only gave up 1 touchdown and 135 yards to the WFT in week 1. Dak will clearly do better than that. He may even produce well. If you have him in season-long you are playing him, but in DFS avoid. Too much chalk here for me.
Running Backs
Myles Gaskin
The stout Bills defense held Najee Harris to 45 yards in Week 1 even though Harris played every snap. Gaskin’s production was so-so in Week 1 against a tough Patriots defense and the Bills are tougher against the run. Gaskin is a no-go in DFS and if you have better options in season-long I would utilize them this week.
James Robinson
You can throw Carlos Hyde here too. There will not be a bounceback for Robinson in week 2. The Broncos held Saquan Barkley to a total of 27 yards on 11 touches in Week 1. I don’t know how much else I have to say here. Don’t play him anywhere.
Mark Ingram
Ingram will be a popular add on the waiver wire this week. He produced well in Week 1, with 85 yards and a touchdown. In Week 2, he gets a Browns defense that held Clyde Edwards-Helaire to a total of 72 yards. That doesn’t sound too bad but CEH has the Chiefs backfield all to himself whereas Ingram is in a three-headed committee. Yuck, yuck, and more yuck here for Week 2.
Wide Receivers
Deebo Samuel
Deebo was amazing in the season opener. But in Week 2, he is up against a defense that held Calvin Ridley to 51 yards. For DFS, don’t bother with Deebo in Week 2. If you have him in season-long you are probably playing him.
Zach Pascal
Another guy people will be added off of waivers after his wonderful Week 1 performance. You know who is really good against defending wide receivers? The Rams are. The Rams gave up a total of 116 yards to the position in Week 1. The Colts will attack this offense with their running backs and not with Pascal.
Corey Davis
Another player that was great in Week 1. Davis had 97 yards and 2 touchdowns in Week 1. The Patriots are a little tougher on pass defense than the Panthers, by a little I mean a lot better. Davis is someone who will break some hearts in week 2.
Tight Ends
Mike Gesicki
Only 2 targets in week 1 for ZERO receptions and ZERO yards. He is up against the Bills in Week 2 and although he can’t perform worse I wouldn’t expect much.
Jonnu Smith
Smith had a decent week 1 with 5 receptions on 5 targets for 42 yards. The Jets only gave up 17 yards to the position in week 1. While Smith is a lot better than Ian Thomas this doesn’t mean he will have a huge day in Week 2. You know the story in season-long you are probably playing him but in DFS stay away.
