Well, how was that for Week 1?! This past week surely had its ups and downs, from smashing Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts, to James Robinson and Raheem Mostert letting us down — don’t even get me started on the Brandon Aiyuk fiasco. However, we’re back for Week 2 and there’s plenty of great options I love on the board here.
So, let’s get started and continue to print out that money.
QUARTERBACKS
- Russell Wilson ($7,500)
- Russ balled out in Week 1 against the Colts, and you can see why with that elite receiver duo he’s got in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. This week he faces a Titans defense that was just shredded by Kyler Murray and the Cardinals. While Murray is very good, Wilson is way more polished and should thrive in his home opener. New offensive system, same old Russ. It’s also the second-highest projected scoring game on the slate.
- Tom Brady ($6,900)
- The man in the highest projected scoring slate this week, Tom Brady still looks like an MVP QB surrounded by elite weapons. He surgically picked apart Dallas last week, and now gets an absolute layup against the miserable Falcons. This will be no contest and Brady will have his way with this defense as he did in the second half of that infamous Super Bowl comeback. The only concern is they go up so much they start running the clock out.
- Jalen Hurts ($6,500)
- We all knew Jalen Hurts can get things done with his legs, but his passing looks to have taken another step this year as he’s rounding into a very solid QB. While the 49ers may present a tough challenge, Hurts’ ceiling and upside are unlimited thanks to the Konami Code. He’ll always be in consideration for me especially around this price.
- Teddy Bridgewater ($5,400)
- Yes, he just lost his top target in Jerry Jeudy last week, but Bridgewater is in a very good spot this week against a terrible Jaguars defense that couldn’t stop Tyrod Taylor and the Texans. Teddy still has plenty of talent around him, and he has some rushing upside to cap it off. He may not air it out consistently, but the Jags are just that bad.
Other intriguing QB salaries: Kyler Murray $8,200 (vs Vikings), Justin Herbert $6,800 (vs Cowboys), Kirk Cousins $6,200 (vs Cardinals), Baker Mayfield $6,000 (vs Texans), Tyrod Taylor $5,500 (vs Browns)
RUNNING BACKS
- Christian McCaffrey ($9,900)
- CMC failed to surpass 100 yards rushing or score a touchdown last week and still put up 27.7 DK points. That’s insane.
- Nick Chubb ($7,800)
- While I don’t love his lack of usage in the passing game, this is basically betting on the Browns to roll through their matchup with the Texans, play with the lead, and just pound the rock with Chubb instead of having to air it out against Mahomes and KC. If only Kareem Hunt could just go away.
- Najee Harris ($6,300)
- This guy played 100%(!) of the Steelers snaps last week. Crazy numbers there, despite the lackluster performance in the box score. Buffalo is a solid defense, but now at home against a weaker Raiders defense seems much better for Harris’ potential. It’s hard to ignore a guy who was built up so much in preseason and then starts the year playing every snap. No vultures to worry about at the moment.
- Ezekiel Elliott ($6,200)
- Poor Zeke was the culprit of a textbook funnel defense versus the Bucs. They shut down the run game entirely and forced Dallas to air it out all game long. Now Zeke and the Cowboys should have much better luck against the Chargers, who are still good in their own right. This price though is likely a career-low for Elliott and he’s in a prime bounce-back spot this week especially with the return of All-Pro guard, Zack Martin.
- Chase Edmonds ($4,900)
- I was curious about how Edmonds and the Cardinals’ RBs would fare this season and I like what I saw from Edmonds to start the year. Twelve carries and four catches in Week 1 are great numbers for a guy who will be featured in a prolific offense. Edmonds is clearly taking a stronghold of the RB1A spot in Arizona.
Other intriguing RB salaries: Dalvin Cook $9,100 (vs Cardinals), Joe Mixon $7,000 (vs Bears), Chris Carson $6,100 (vs Titans), David Montgomery $6,100 (vs Bengals), Melvin Gordon $5,900 (vs Jaguars), Eli Mitchell $5,000 (vs Eagles), Nyheim Hines $4,700 (vs Rams)
WIDE RECEIVERS
- DK Metcalf ($7,600)
- Last week was a quiet week by Metcalf’s standards going for 4-60-1 and 16 DK points while we watched Lockett explode. I’m expecting the water to find its level here where it’s Metcalf who will now go off against the Titans defense that struggled against the Cardinals’ receivers the week prior. Metcalf has added incentive facing his former Ole Miss teammate, AJ Brown, in some friendly competition.
- Keenan Allen ($7,000)
- The true target hog himself, Allen lines up very nicely this week against a struggling Dallas defense. Allen’s 13 targets last week were among the tops in the league and there’s nobody in the Cowboys’ secondary really capable of slowing him down. Herbert and Allen should have themselves a nice week here.
- Cooper Kupp ($6,000)
- I really like what I saw from Matthew Stafford in his first start for the Rams and like the future outlook for Cooper Kupp even more. Kupp was the clear 1A in LA and should see plenty of targets in weeks to come. Facing the Colts this week, I’d expect Kupp to have similar success as Lockett and Metcalf did last week in a high-scoring affair. This price feels far too cheap for a target hog.
- DJ Chark ($5,600)
- Would you believe me if I told you Chark had the second-most Air Yards last week? Because he was. He had a whopping 12 targets, but could only reel in three of those for 86 yards and a score. He still finished with 17.6 DK points, but just think of how much more he could have had with those nine missed targets. This Jags offense will be behind and throwing a lot so Chark’s future looks bright.
- Ja’Marr Chase ($5,000)
- I guess Ja’Marr Chase has no problem seeing and catching the football now. This dude is simply too talented to fail, as he’s one of the highest-graded receiver prospects ever. He’s hunting Justin Jefferson’s rookie receiving records and has basically supplanted Higgins and Boyd as the WR1 in Cincinnati. Now he gets a bad Bears defense to torch so fire up Chase once again who’s being priced as a low-end WR2.
- Jaylen Waddle ($4,500)
- This dude has some serious speed. While Tua hasn’t connected with Waddle on a long ball, the rookie can be a serious YAC monster in space. He scored the go-ahead touchdown at the goal line last week by beating the opposing corner underneath before diving for the pylon. His former college teammate should realize getting this guy the ball more is a good thing, in what should be a tough matchup with the Bills.
Other intriguing WR salaries: De’Andre Hopkins $8,000 (vs Vikings), Justin Jefferson $7,400 (vs Cardinals), Amari Cooper $6,800 (vs Chargers), Diontae Johnson $6,400 (vs Raiders), DeVonta Smith $5,400 (vs 49ers), Jalen Reagor $4,100 (vs 49ers), Anthony Schwartz $3,300 (vs Texans)
TIGHT ENDS
- Darren Waller ($7,600)
- Nineteen targets is stupid high for a pass catcher, but Jon Gruden loves Darren Waller and if I were Derek Carr, I’d love him too. It felt like every pass went his way on MNF and he rewarded us with 29.5 DK points. He’s entered Travis Kelce Tier 1 status.
- Rob Gronkowski ($4,700)
- The Wolf has Gronk ranked TE5 on his Rest of Season Fantasy Rankings based on how good he looked last Thursday night. Gronkowski looked quicker and more like the old Gronk that he has in recent years. Gronkowski will be a top red-zone target for Brady and the Bucs.
- Noah Fant ($4,200)
- Last week, Fant went for six catches and 62 yards on eight targets versus the Giants. Solid numbers (12.2 DK pts), but now Fant is looking at a bump in volume due to the Jeudy injury. Increased volume and a prime matchup with the Jags, what more could you ask for (aside from Waller’s target numbers) here?
Other intriguing TE salaries: Tyler Higbee $4,100 (vs Colts), Cole Kmet $3,700 (vs Bengals), Tyler Conklin $3,200 (vs Cardinals)
DST
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($4,100)
- The Tampa Bay front seven looks very dangerous, and the Atlanta Falcons looked AWFUL against the Eagles. If you can’t score against the Eagles defense at home Week 1, how will you fare in Tampa? Matt Ryan is in trouble, expect a lot of sacks here.
- Pittsburgh Steelers ($3,000)
- The Steelers pulled off a surprising win against Buffalo thanks to their elite defense. Despite the Raiders MNF win, I’m still not entirely sold on them or their offense, especially if Pittsburgh is somehow able to limit Waller’s production.
Other intriguing DST salaries: Philadelphia Eagles $2,400 (vs 49ers)
Do you have any early leans? Questions about which guy you should go with this week? Want to yell at me for missing an obvious play? Sound off below or hit me up on Twitter where you can follow for daily news or advice on players.