The best part about daily fantasy football is that even after a miserable Week 1, you can still come back with a new team in Week 2. Just make sure you don’t make the same mistakes when creating a lineup.
While there is still a lot of time in the week for injuries and other factors to play out, here is an early look at the best and worst options for Week 2.
Quarterback
For the second game in a row, Andrew Luck is facing a quality defensive line from the AFC East. The New York Jets could cause as many problems as the Buffalo Bills for the entire Indianapolis Colts offense. At the same time, Tom Brady could slow down a bit with his Week 2 matchup against Buffalo.
While both these players are elite at their position, this might be a time to stay away from the higher-priced stars.
Instead, fantasy competitors can turn to Ben Roethlisberger, who will continue to throw a lot with Le’Veon Bell on the sideline. He will go against a remade San Francisco 49ers defense and should have plenty of time to move the ball up and down the field.
Carson Palmer is coming off a great showing in Week 1, tossing three touchdowns with no interceptions and 307 passing yards. There is no reason to believe the Chicago Bears can slow him down in Week 2, especially if his offensive line continues to hold up as it did Sunday.
Finally, the young surprise stars of the first week remain quality value picks in Week 2. Both Tyrod Taylor and Marcus Mariota could be drafted for cheap, and while it’s hard to expect huge performances every game, there are few better deals on the board.
Running Back
The San Diego Chargers defense has its openings on the ground, which could lead to another huge game for Jeremy Hill after scoring two touchdowns in Week 1.
Mark Ingram didn’t get into the end zone and couldn’t find much daylight on the ground, but he came through with 98 receiving yards to prove he can rack up points in many ways. It should be much easier to move the football in Week 2, however, with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Some cheap options also remain, including Chris Ivory after a strong game, but the most interesting sleeper is Dion Lewis, who had one of the more surprising showings in the league’s opening night:
Although LeGarrette Blount is set to return to the Patriots backfield, Lewis should remain a quality third-down back and is still a valuable pick in PPR leagues.
On the other hand, sometimes the matchup simply isn’t there as with Eddie Lacy. Even though the Seahawks struggled at times in Week 1, the defense still doesn’t allow for many rushing lanes. The price just isn’t worth the risk in this one.
Another top player to avoid is LeSean McCoy, who was held to just 41 rushing yards on 2.4 yards per carry in a win. Whether the problem is his hamstring injury or poor offensive line play, it might be best to stay away until he proves himself in the new location.
Receiver
There was bad news for the Dallas Cowboys after Sunday night’s comeback win, via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com:
Terrance Williams becomes an immediate add in regular-season fantasy leagues as well as daily fantasy for a good price. You can also get great value for James Jones, who looked like he never left Green Bay. The former Oakland Raiders and New York Giants receiver returned just last week and caught two touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers in Week 1.
Even a tougher defense like Seattle shouldn’t stop this type of connection.
As far as the top receivers are concerned, you really can’t go wrong with Antonio Brown when you get points per reception. He will be targeted early and often, and should rack up plenty of points. DeAndre Hopkins also appears ready for a huge year regardless of who is at quarterback.
Those looking for a bounce-back performance can possibly find one in Brandin Cooks. He had only four catches in Week 1, but he could star against a Buccaneers defense that allowed 42 points to the Titans.
It might be a bit riskier to bet on Calvin Johnson, who had only four targets for the Lions in a Week 1 loss. Odell Beckham Jr. is also a questionable call until he proves he can handle the extra attention he will now receive from opposing defenses. His five catches for 44 yards weren’t enough to help fantasy teams Sunday.
Injuries also have limited players like T.Y. Hilton and Mike Evans, meaning you should avoid them until more information comes out.
Note: All prices and fantasy score info courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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