Cracking DraftKings Week 2

Favorite Games

• Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas Raiders - Over/Under 51.5
• Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions - Over/Under 48.5
• Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars - Over/Under 45

Favorite Additional Spots

• Broncos at home vs. the Texans - Implied Team Total 27.75
• Rams at home vs. the Falcons - Implied Team Total 28.25
• Bengals on the road against the Cowboys - Implied Team Total 24.5
• Browns at home vs. the Jets - Implied Team Total 23
• 49ers at home vs. the Seahawks - Implied Team Total 25
• Giants at home vs. the Panthers - Implied Team Total 22.75

CASH GAMES

Quarterbacks

Lamar Jackson got off to a nice start throwing for three touchdowns against the lowly Jets. He'll now play at home against a decent Dolphins defense. The matchup isn't ideal yet with superstars like Patrick Mahomes II, Justin Herbert, and Josh Allen not on the main slate, Jackson is the face of the cash game quarterback in Week 2. J.K. Dobbins' lack of health means the offense should once again revolve around Jackson's arm and of course, he offers upside as a rusher as well.

Kyler Murray struggled in Week1 with limited weapons and although those weapons will remain lackluster on Sunday, Murray has a good matchup on tap against a Raiders defense that ranked 21st in Pass Overall Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) last year. The Cardinals' offense is exciting from a macro level as they ranked fourth in Pass Rate Over Expected (PROE) and ninth in Early Down Pass Frequency (EDPF) a season ago and Murray offers upside with his rushing ability.

Trey Lance didn't look good last week but I'm hesitant to pile on considering the game was played in a downpour. The 49ers are at home against a Seahawks' defense that ranked 21st in Overall DVOA and 26th in Pass DVOA this week, Lance is priced at only $5,700, and we love to see he ran 13 times for 54 yards in Week 1. That rushing floor is awesome to have for the quarterback in a Kyle Shanahan-led offense.

Trevor Lawrence had a decent 2021 debut throwing for 275 yards and 1 touchdown, which would've been 2 passing touchdowns had Travis Etienne not dropped a walk-in touchdown. He gets to play at home this week in a competitive division game where his team's fortune will surely be put on his shoulders against a Colts defense that ranked middle of the pack (17th) in Pass DVOA a season ago. There's a lot to like here for a talented player priced at only $5,300.

I'm on team Carson Wentz is not a good quarterback but that certainly didn't look good in Week 1 as Wentz threw for 313 yards and 4 touchdowns against the Jaguars. Granted it was the Jaguars but Wentz has another awesome matchup on tap in Week 2 against a Lions defense that ranked 29th in Overall DVOA and 27th in Pass DVOA last season. All of a sudden, the Commanders' weapons look solid with Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, a healthy Curtis Samuel, Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic, and Logan Thomas.

Running Backs

Jonathan Taylor led the NFL in total opportunities (carries + targets) in Week 1 with 38. He ran 30 routes compared to Nyheim Hines' 18 routes and saw seven targets. That usage makes him the favorite to be the most valuable player in all of fantasy football for the second year in a row and look who is on tap for Week 2...the Jaguars. Jacksonville's defense ranked 31st in Overall DVOA and 18th in Run DVOA last season. Giddy up.

Saquon Barkley is all the way back baby. Let's go! Barkley ranked tied for fourth in total opportunities (25) in Week 1. We know about his pass-catching ability but the most encouraging part of his performance last Sunday was his 164 rushing yards on 18 carries. If Brian Daboll can unlock the Giants' running game for the first time in years, Barkley's ceiling is as high as anyone in fantasy land. And he gets to attack an average Panthers defense at home in Week 2.

Christian McCaffrey's 2022 debut wasn't ideal as he saw only 14 total opportunities, which is not the elite volume we've come to expect when McCaffrey is healthy and on the field. Still, Mccaffrey's usage in a one-week sample isn't a data point to overreact to. Better days are ahead and those fun days could begin in Week 2 as McCaffrey gets to attack a Giants defense that ranked dead last in Run DVOA in 2021.

DAndre Swift is dealing with an ankle injury but reports are Swift will play in Week 2. Despite the injury and possibility of playing at less than 100%, Swift still needs to be considered in all DFS formats. Detroit has one of the best offensive lines in football and Swift took advantage in Week 1, rushing for 144 yards on 15 carries against a solid Philadelphia front seven. Swift now gets to play at home in one of the most fantasy fantasy-friendly games on the main slate against a Commanders defense that ranked 27th in Overall DVOA a season ago.

There were reports this offseason Sean McVay wanted to switch his philosophy to more of a running back split, but it didn't play out that way in Week 1. Darrell Henderson played on 82% of the offensive snaps and saw 18 total opportunities. Even if Cam Akers is more involved this week, Henderson should still see a decent amount of work at home against a Falcons defense that ranked 30th in Overall DVOA and 29th in Run DVOA last season. And if Henderson dominates the workload again like he did last week, his upside is through the roof.

Cordarrelle Patterson was awesome last year but faded as the season went on, just like the Falcons did. It's a new year and, at least for now, Atlanta has aspirations of being a competitive team. With that in mind, Patterson's workload as a dual threat should remain high. Patterson saw the third most opportunities (27) in the league in Week 1 and will be needed on Sunday if the Falcons hope to compete with the Rams. Locking in a guaranteed workload like this at only $6,000 is a no-brainer in cash.

Wide Receivers

Davante Adams led the league in targets (17) in Week 1, catching 10 passes for 141 yards and 1 touchdown. He's still elite even without Aaron Rodgers and now gets to attack one of the worst secondaries in football at home in the highest Over/Under (51.5) contest of the entire week.

JaMarr Chase was second in targets (16) in Week 1 just behind Davante Adams and the angry Joe Burrow narrative is alive and well this week after the loss to division rival Pittsburgh in Week 1. Chase is elite and matchup proof and should receive numerous chances to attack a Cowboys defense that will be at a disadvantage thanks to Cooper Rush putting them in poor situations by struggling to move the ball on offense.

Cooper Kupp followed up his insane 2021 season with 13 catches on 15 targets for 128 yards and a touchdown in the opener. Literally, the only thing causing pause from Kupp being a lock is his price compared to other wide receivers since his matchup is incredible at home against a Falcons defense that ranked 30th in Overall DVOA and 29th in Pass DVOA last season.

The Dolphins surprisingly led the entire league in PROE in Week 1, helping Tyreek Hill rank tied for sixth in targets (12). Hill now gets to attack a banged-up Baltimore secondary. Kyle Fuller is out for the year, Marlon Humphrey didn't practice on Friday, Brandon Stephens is unlikely to play, and Marcus Peters remains out as he recovers from an ACL tear. With these injuries in mind, expect Miami to remain pass-heavy on Sunday.

It turns out Amon-Ra St. Brown is pretty good and not just a product of everyone else around him in the offense getting injured last year. I'm being sarcastic as I was all aboard the St. Brown train prior to the season but on a serious note, earning targets is a skill and that's simply what St. Brown does. St. Brown ranked tied for sixth in targets (12) in Week 1, catching 8 of them for 64 yards and 1 touchdown. His play style meshes perfectly with Jared Goff's strengths and this week, St. Brown gets to attack a Commanders defense that ranked 27th in Overall DVOA and 28th in Pass DVOA a season ago.

Jerry Jeudy's $5,600 price tag is extremely affordable, putting him in play in all DFS formats. Jeudy played on 89% of the offensive snaps and ran 41 routes compared to Courtland Sutton's 44 routes last week. Each player saw seven targets but it was Jeudy that went over 100 yards and scored a touchdown. Tim Patrick is out for the season and K.J. Hamler simply isn't back to 100% health yet after his 2021 season-ending injuries. Jeudy will continue to be a full-time player paired with Russell Wilson. And he has a great matchup this week at home against a Texans defense that ranked 23rd in Overall DVOA and 22nd in Pass DVOA last year.

Christian Kirk played on 91% of the offensive snaps, ran 42 pass routes which tied for the team lead with Zay Jones, and ranked tied for sixth in targets (12) in Week 1. That's a pretty solid debut for Kirk in Jacksonville. Paired with Trevor Lawrence, expect Kirk to continue producing all season long. Kirk will be needed in this divisional clash with the Colts against their defense that ranked middle of the pack (17th) in Pass DVOA a season ago.

Jahan Dotson is certainly not a cash lock since he's tied to the unreliable Carson Wentz. However, priced at only $4,200, Dotson's Week 1 usage is being slept on by DraftKings. Dotson played on 88% of the offensive snaps and ran 40 pass routes, only two fewer than Terry McLaurin. And Dotson once again has a favorable matchup to look forward to against a Lions defense that ranked 29th in Overall DVOA and 27th in Pass DVOA last season. Plus, this game has the third highest Over/Under (48.5) of the week.

Tight Ends

This Dolphins at Ravens game has a chance to be more pass-heavy than most realize. The Dolphins surprisingly led the entire league in PROE in Week 1 and the Ravens ranked seventh. It certainly makes sense from Baltimore's perspective as their running game is a complete mess until J.K. Dobbins returns to reliability. Look for the game plan to be putting the ball in Lamar Jackson's hands for the second week in a row and that bodes very well for Mark Andrews. Andrews ran 32 pass routes last week, seven more than anyone else on the team.

This Commanders at Lions game will be fun for fantasy with two competent offenses attacking two poor defenses. The 48.5 Over/Under is tied for the third highest of the entire week and T.J. Hockenson gets to play at home against a Commanders defense that ranked 27th in Overall DVOA and 28th in Pass DVOA a season ago. Hockenson saw seven targets in Week 1 as well.

Zach Ertz reportedly is healthier than he was a week ago and now gets to play in the game with the highest Over/Under (51.5) of the week against a Raiders defense that ranked 21st in Pass DVOA last year. He'll also benefit from DeAndre Hopkins' suspension and the absences of both Rondale Moore and Andy Isabella.

If looking to save some salary in cash, you could do worse than Hayden Hurst. Prices at only $3,600, Hurst ran 52 pass routes last week, only one fewer than Tyler Boyd.

Team Defenses