Week 2 of the NFL season is here, and with it comes another chance to win big money in daily fantasy football as long as you pick the right players for your lineups.
Many contests begin with Thursday’s matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs, although it’s hard to find value with both defenses currently playing better than the offenses. It might be better to avoid this game altogether and wait for better opportunities on Sunday and Monday.
With that in mind, here is a look at the top options you should target as well as a breakdown of some value picks to round out your team.
Value Picks
Tyrod Taylor, QB, Buffalo Bills ($6,200)
With a great defense and a Pro Bowl running back, the Buffalo Bills only need Tyrod Taylor to be a game manager. It turns out he is capable of much more than that.
Taylor had a 123.8 quarterback rating while throwing for 195 yards and adding another 41 yards on the ground against the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was one of many impressed by the play of the former Baltimore Ravens backup:
With a favorable matchup against a relatively weak New England Patriots secondary, Taylor has a chance to put together another strong performance.
Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco 49ers ($5,100)
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Carlos Hyde as the most common selection this week. Many watched the second-year player dominate the Minnesota Vikings on national television to the tune of 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
To make things even better, the prices for Week 2 were set Monday morning before this explosion occurred. This kept Hyde at a reasonable price despite everyone knowing the player’s true upside.
The obvious play is the right one in this case, though, as Hyde should once again be able to rack up tons of yardage against a weak Pittsburgh Steelers run defense.
Chris Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals ($3,800)
While Chris Johnson’s 10 carries for 37 yards weren’t much to write home about, he will have an opportunity for more production with the injury to Andre Ellington. Head coach Bruce Arians made it clear Johnson will get the majority of touches if the starter cannot play in Week 2.
“I thought Chris looked good,” Arians said, via Bob McManaman and Kent Somers of AZ Central. “He’ll get more touches and we will feel very confident if he is our lead dog.”
Rookie David Johnson might have more upside down the line, but Chris Johnson is the one who will get the immediate chance to shine. In an offense that can really move the ball, this could be a good bet for a cheap price.
Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami Dolphins ($5,900)
It’s tough to count on punt return touchdowns every week, but it’s the consistency in the offense that makes Jarvis Landry such a good selection.
The wideout showed his ability as an elite possession receiver last year, averaging 6.8 catches in the final eight games and never falling below five receptions. This continued into Week 1, where Landry finished with eight catches on 12 targets.
With DraftKings scoring giving one point for every reception, Landry is one of the safest picks on the board.
Cole Beasley, WR, Dallas Cowboys ($3,300)
Many will flock to Terrance Williams with Dez Bryant out with a foot injury, but don’t overlook Cole Beasley in points-per-reception contests.
Although the most notable play for Beasley in Week 1 came on a fumble, he also showed his quickness to pick up extra yards at times to help his final line of four catches for 49 yards. Quarterback Tony Romo trusts him as a reliable target out of the slot, and he could get even more touches with Bryant out.
The upside isn’t too great, but at this price, you can get enough fantasy points to justify spending big in other areas.
Jordan Reed, TE, Washington Redskins ($3,700)
Chris Wesseling of NFL.com reminds us why daily fantasy football is sometimes better than a full-season league:
You can pick Jordan Reed in Week 2 without worrying about whether he will be able to perform for the rest of the year. The fact is, even with a tough matchup, Reed has a chance to really shine thanks to his rapport with quarterback Kirk Cousins, who targeted him 11 times in Week 1.
With the goal once again being players who will get a lot of opportunities, Reed certainly fits the bill.
Note: All prices and fantasy score info courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.
DraftKings is giving away over $10 million in Week 2 of the NFL season. Use this knowledge to help you win some of that cash. The biggest first-place prize ever at $2 million will be awarded. Play now for free at DraftKings.com.
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