Week 2: The Perfect NFL DFS Lineup
Welcome to the Week 2 Perfect DFS lineup! Last week wasn’t exactly perfect (I’m looking at you, Justin Fields and Cole Kmet), but we at least had some nice hits with Justin Jefferson, A.J. Dillon, and Jonathan Taylor. Live and learn. Get better from week-to-week. It’s all we can do, my friends.
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In the space that follows, I’m going to take a look at a few of the players that are standing out to me as cash plays and gpp plays while giving you a high-priced and lower-priced option for each. I’m going to use FanDuel pricing as a reference point, but there’s a good chance these players are also good values on the myriad of other DFS sites that are out there.
Quarterback
Cash Games
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens ($8,200 on FanDuel)
In full disclosure, I won’t be paying up for Lamar this weekend. However, he looked great last week and still provides the rushing upside we all know he brings to the table. Kyler Murray is another solid option if you’re paying up, but I just don’t see the need to pay the extra $300 to get him into your lineup.
Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders ($7,300 on FanDuel)
Carr didn’t have the greatest Week 1, but he’s still playing in a high-powered offense and is playing against a much worse defense in the Cardinals. I’d love to find a cheaper option for you all, but I’m not sure I feel all that comfortable with any of the cheaper players who are out there.
GPP
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals ($7,900 on FanDuel)
Burrow likely won’t be on a ton of rosters after a four-interception game, but he provides just as much upside as any quarterback on the slate. While the Bengals might be without Tee Higgins this week, Burrow still has plenty of weapons and a 300-plus yard day with three-plus touchdowns is always a possibility. Take a look at stacking him with Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd.
[lastten="Joe Burrow"]
Carson Wentz, Washington Commanders ($7,400 on FanDuel)
I’ll never be a Carson Wentz believer, but he looked pretty darn good last week and has some actual weapons at his disposal this season. If you’re feeling frisky, stacking Wentz with Terry McLaurin and Curits Samuel (or Jahan Dotson) might be a savvy move this week.
[projection="Carson Wentz"]
Running Back
Cash Games
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants ($8,800 on FanDuel)
You can get the best running back on the slate (maybe) at the third-highest salary?! Sign me up! While Jonathan Taylor and Christin McCaffrey are always a threat to go off, Saquon Barkley looks to be back. And he presents a fantastic value at a $1,200 discount from Taylor.
[projection="Saquon Barkley"]
Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders ($7,400 on FanDuel)
I’m admittedly having a tough time finding running backs I feel good about this week. And I would’ve called you crazy if you told me four weeks ago that I’d feel good about Antonio Gibson in Week 2. But here we are. Gibson looked great last week, has a nice matchup this week, and is really the only good option the Commanders have to run the ball.
GPP
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals ($8,300 on FanDuel)
With all the attention focused on Saquon Barkley this week, I think Joe Mixon is going to float under the radar. He got FED last week with 27 carries and nine targets, and gets a better matchup against the Cowboys. Did I just talk myself into using Joe Mixon as a cash game option? Very possible.
Rex Burkhead, Houston Texans ($5,800 on FanDuel)
We’re a little off the beaten path here, but we’re in the GPP section for a reason. Between his 14 carries and eight targets, Burkhead touched the ball 19 times last week and looks to get similar usage as long as he’s healthy as the Texans are unlikely to be leading the Broncos much this weekend.
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Wide Receiver
Cash Games
Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders ($8,800 on FanDuel)
This is way more than I usually like to pay for a receiver, but Adams saw a whopping 17 targets against the Chargers last week. And the crazy part is that there’s a good chance he’ll see a similar amount of targets again this week (and maybe every week). I know I’m being a tad hyperbolic there, but Adams is going to be the straw that stirs the drink for Vegas and he’s more or less guaranteed double-digit targets every week as long as he’s healthy.
[Career="Davante Adams"]
Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals ($5,500 on FanDuel)
Who?! Yeah, I know. I didn’t know much about him until recently either. But Dortch saw nine targets last week as he manned the slot for the Cardinals and looks to see similar usage again this week as Rondale Moore has already been declared out. I’m not sure I’d bet my mortgage on him, but he’s cheap enough that even a downtick in targets shouldn’t hurt us too much.
GPP
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers ($7,100 on FanDuel)
There are a lot of risks with Johnson (well, mostly just one: his below-average quarterback), but there’s a lot to like here too. Johnson saw 12 targets last week and gets to play a bad Patriots defense this week. Without a lockdown corner on the Patriots roster, Johnson should be able to get free this weekend.
Ashton Dulin, Indianapolis Colts ($5,200 on FanDuel)
Another “who?!” player, Dulin saw six targets for the Colts last week and might see even more if Michael Pittman sits this weekend. If Pittman plays, I’d pivot to someone like Zay Jones or D.J. Chark for a few hundred dollars more. But Dulin is a sneaky play if Pittman is unable to suit up.
Tight End
Cash Games
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens ($7,400 on FanDuel)
Again, I’ll be honest and tell you I’m not going to pay up for Andrews. But if you’re dead-set on paying up for a tight end, Andrews has to be your guy. Sure, he’s the most expensive option at the position. But he’s also probably the only tight end in this range who has double-digit target upside.
[Career="Mark Andrews"]
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers ($5,400 on FanDuel)
I was a little worried about Freiermuth with the quarterback change in Pittsburgh over the offseason, but the swap to Mitchell Trubisky didn’t seem to matter last week. Freiermuth saw 10 targets against the Bengals and, while he probably won’t see similar volume this week, he gets to play the aforementioned (mediocre) Patriots defense.
GPP
T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions ($5,400 on FanDuel)
Hockenson might be destined to be one of those guys we want to be elite but just isn’t. That said, he’s cheap enough this week that he’s interesting in GPPs after seeing seven targets last week. I think I’d reserve him for stacks where you’re trying to get unique and use Jared Goff with D.J. Chark or Amon-Ra St. Brown (I’d vote Chark), but he’s still worth a look nonetheless.
Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos ($5,100 on FanDuel)
Albert O. had a weird offseason where he was a fantasy darling before training camp and then was persona non-grata come the start of the season, but he had a decent Week 1 during which he caught five balls for 33 yards on six targets. While that’s not exactly GPP-winning stuff, the six targets are promising enough for a potential stack with Russell Wilson paired with either Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy (I’d vote Sutton).
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Defense
Cash Games
Pittsburgh Steelers ($5,000 on FanDuel)
The Patriots offense is bad (I’m allowed to say that as a Patriots fan who consumes all content Patriots), and the Steelers get to benefit from that this week. That said, this is way too much money to spend on a defense for me so you won’t find them in my FanDuel lineups (even though they’re the best scoring option on the slate).
Jacksonville Jaguars ($3,000 on FanDuel)
This isn’t really a vote of confidence in the Jaguars defense, but they looked marginally better last week and they’re the cheapest option on the slate. On top of that, the Colts aren’t exactly a high-powered offense (especially if Pittman sits), so I’ll happily take the risk and use my savings on elite options at other positions.
GPP
New York Giants ($4,100 on FanDuel)
The Giants defense looked much much better last week than they did last year, and they get to face Baker Mayfield and his turnover-prone ways. And they’re at home! I doubt many people will be champing at the bit to roster the Giants this week, so they’re a good way to differentiate ourselves in GPPS.
Seattle Seahawks ($3,100 on FanDuel)
Do you believe in Trey Lance? If your answer is no, this is the play for you! I actually think Kyle Shanahan will find a way to score some points at home against a division rival, but as the second-cheapest option on the slate, the Seahawks could be a great GPP play.
The Perfect Lineup
I'll leave the GPP lineups up to you all, but here's a cash game lineup I'll be playing on FanDuel this weekend:
- Quarterback: Derek Carr ($7,300)
- Running Back: Saquon Barkley ($8,800)
- Running Back: Joe Mixon ($8,300)
- Wide Receiver: Tyreek Hill ($8,000)
- Wide Receiver: D.J. Moore ($6,200)
- Wide Receiver: Greg Dortch ($5,500)
- Flex: Antonio Gibson ($7,400)
- Tight End: Pat Freiermuth ($5,400)
- Defense: Jacksonville Jaguars ($3,000)
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