RealTime DFS Strategy: Week 2
Fri Sep 16 2:14pm ET
By MIKE BARNER
Contributing Writer
Week 1 brought plenty of unexpected outcomes. Among the surprising upsets was the Giants defeating the Titans, and the Seahawks knocking off the Broncos in Russell Wilson’s homecoming to Seattle. With bye weeks yet to come into play, we still have a myriad of options to choose from in DFS for Week 2. Let’s get to the task at hand and highlight some players to consider for your entries, and some to possibly avoid.
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr, LV vs. ARI ($6,200): Carr had his ups and down against the Chargers last week. On the bright side, he threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns. The problem was, he was picked off three times. This is a great spot for him to bounce back, though. The Cardinals do not have a ton of talent at cornerback, and it showed in Week 1 when Patrick Mahomes threw for 360 yards and five touchdowns against them.
Baker Mayfield, CAR at NYG ($5,300): Just when it looked like the Panthers were going to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, the Browns dealt them a loss with Cade York making a 58-yard field goal in the final seconds. Mayfield struggled in his first game as a Panther, throwing for 235 yards, one touchdown and one interception. As disappointing as he was, he might actually be worth taking a chance on in tournament play. First and foremost, he has a cheap salary. Second, the Giants are thin at cornerback, and will be even more so this week with Aaron Robinson (appendix) out.
Player to Avoid
Tua Tagovailoa, MIA at BAL ($5,600): The Dolphins didn’t need Tagovailoa to do much in their win over the Patriots. Their defense dominated, and the team had built up a 17-0 lead at the half. His final stat line was a modest one, with 270 passing yards and a touchdown. This will be a more difficult task against the Ravens, which means Tagovailoa might be asked to throw more. Adding Tyreek Hill helps, but Tagovailoa had at least two touchdown passes in a game only five times all last season. It might be better to take a wait-and-see approach on how their offense looks against a strong defense.
Running Backs
Saquon Barkley, NYG vs. CAR ($7,300): All offseason, Barkley was making quotes to the media that made it sound like he was on a mission to come roaring back this season. He did just that in Week 1, posting 194 total yards and a touchdown. He racked up 164 yards on the ground, and was targeted seven times in the game. Daniel Jones again struggled, so look for the Giants to put the ball in the hands of Barkley against a Panthers team that allowed 217 yards and a touchdown on the ground to the Browns last week.
Antonio Gibson, WAS at DET ($6,200): While the Commanders may have had plans to involve Brian Robinson (knee) more in the backfield, they have to roll with Gibson right now since Robinson is on the IR. Week 1 brought a modest performance for Gibson on the ground, consisting of 14 carries for 58 yards. He was very active in the passing game, though, catching seven of eight targets for 72 yards. Expect him to be their focal point out of the backfield again, which could lead to success against a Lions team that allowed 216 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns to the Eagles.
Player to Avoid
Alvin Kamara, NO vs. TB ($7,400): This is not about Kamara posting just 46 total yards in Week 1 against the Falcons. There are two reasons to be concerned about him heading into Week 2. First, he is dealing with a rib injury. Second, he has to face a Buccaneers team that has one of the stoutest run defenses in the league. At his hefty salary, he’s too risky for my blood.
Wide Receivers
Davante Adams, LV vs. ARI ($8,600): Talk about a heavy workload. The Raiders made a point to get the ball to Adams in Week 1, giving him 17 targets. That helped him record 10 receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown. Rolling with a Carr-Adams stack is very appealing, especially when you consider that Carr’s salary won’t exactly hinder your budget.
D.J. Chark, DET vs. WAS ($5,100): The Lions brought in Chark to help bolster a wide receiver group that lacked talent last season, outside of Amon-Ra St. Brown. Rookie first-rounder Jameson Williams (knee) is on IR right now, setting up Chark in a significant role. He cashed in during Week 1, catching four of eight targets for 52 yards and a touchdown. It’s not often that you can find a player with his type of expected target share at this cheap of a salary.
Player to Avoid
CeeDee Lamb, DAL vs. CIN ($6,900): Simply put, Week 1 was a disaster for the Cowboys. Not only did they lose to the Buccaneers, but Dak Prescott (hand) was injured in the process. He’s expected to be out for at least four weeks, and could miss as many as eight. In his absence, Cooper Rush will take over at quarterback. With the uncertainty surrounding Rush, Lamb is too much of a risk at his salary.
Tight Ends
Zach Ertz, ARI at LV ($4,500): Despite battling a calf injury during the preseason, Ertz was able to take the field Week 1 against the Chiefs. He wasn’t overly busy, catching two of four targets for 14 yards. However, he did receive two red zone targets, one of which he turned into a touchdown. The Cardinals looking his way when they get in close is nothing new, given that he had nine red zone targets over their final five games last season. In what could be a high-scoring game, Ertz could find himself with another opportunity to score.
Albert Okwuegbunam, DEN vs. HOU ($3,700): It was an odd first half for the Broncos in Week 1 with them barely involving their wide receivers. Even Okwuegbunam, himself, wasn’t all that involved early on. In the end, though, he finished with five catches on six targets for 33 yards. He has the potential to be an important part of the Broncos’ offense, making him a nice tournament play option at such a cheap salary.
Player to Avoid
Mike Gesicki, MIA at BAL ($4,300): Gesicki was barely involved in the Dolphins’ offense last week, catching his only target for one yard. In seasons past, they needed to rely on him more to catch passes because of their lack of talent at wide receiver. That’s no longer the case with Hill and Jaylen Waddle in the fold. His salary has come down a bit compared to last week, but it’s still wise to stay away from Gesicki.
Mike Barner has been covering fantasy sports since 2007. His work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, Yahoo, SportsLine and RotoWire. Mike was also a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Follow Mike on Twitter @rotomikebarner.
- Pro Football Hall of Fame CB Jimmy Johnson dies at 86
- Rams releasing veteran WR Ben Skowronek
- Lions GM: QB Jared Goff 'earned' extension, a high priority
- Giants sign WR Allen Robinson
- NFL to release 2024 schedule on May 15
- Broncos release QB Ben DiNucci
- Chiefs' Rashee Rice suspect in alleged assault in Dallas
- Broncos' 'Orange Crush' DC Joe Collier dies at 91
- Giants add QB Nathan Rourke
- Reinstated S C.J. Moore agrees to deal with Lions
- WR Tyler Boyd to sign 1-year deal with Titans
- Ex-Jags WR Zay Jones visits Cardinals
- Bengals QB Joe Burrow resumes throwing at offseason workouts
- WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling visiting Chargers
- Raiders sign free agent WR Jalen Guyton
- Panthers to sign RB Rashaad Penny
- Pats waive Nathan Rourke, down to four QBs
- RB Duke Johnson retires from NFL after 8 seasons
- Former Bears QB Bob Avellini dies at age 70
- J.J. Watt leaves door open (slightly) for potential return to Texans
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Rankings | Post-NFL Draft Update
The Paur Report
The Houston Texans acquired wide receiver Ben Skowronek from the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, according to sources. The Rams were set to waiver Skowronek, but the Texans swooped in before he hit waivers to get something done to add receiving depth behind Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Robert Woods, Noah Brown, John Metchie III and others. The 26-year-old Skowronek was the Rams' seventh-round pick in 2021 and has mostly been limited to a role on special teams in his three years in the NFL. That will likely continue to be the case with his move to Houston, and he won't be on the fantasy radar at all. In his three years in the NFL in LA, Skowronek only had 58 receptions for 575 yards and one touchdown on 93 targets in 45 games (12 starts).
From RotoBaller
In what is the weakest wide receiving corps the Buffalo Bills have had in several seasons, rookie second-round wideout Keon Coleman should start right away in his first NFL season alongside veteran Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir. Coleman has a lot of potential, but asking a 21-year-old to produce in a way he never has at a higher level of football seems like asking for too much, too soon, according to The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia. Depth is also an issue for this unit, with journeyman veteran Mack Hollins as their top reserve. Coleman has good size at 6-foot-3, 213 pounds, but his lack of production at Florida State made him a polarizing draft prospect. The good news is that he's going to have his opportunities right away, although that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be a starting fantasy option on a weekly basis right away.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox likely knows a reduced role is on the way again for him in 2024, although he is a favorite of quarterback Josh Allen's in the locker room, so it remains to be seen how much he'll be on the sidelines in favor of second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid. Allen may need to rely on Kincaid more to pick up a big amount of slack to keep the offense moving with an unproven receiver unit this year. Buffalo moved away from heavy usage of 12 personnel early in 2023 and mostly settled into 11 personnel. If that's the plan again in 2024, it will be interesting to see how they divvy up the snaps between Kincaid and Knox. Either way, unless Kincaid misses time with an injury, it's going to be hard to justify starting Knox outside of two-TE leagues.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook bounced back from being benched last year and enters his third season in the NFL in 2024 as the unquestioned lead back with a giant gap between him and either Ty Johnson or rookie Ray Davis. Cook should continue to push toward some of the heaviest involvement the Bills have seen in recent years out of their top back. Johnson's game is similar to Cook's, so he'll likely have a game-day role when Cook needs a breather. The Bills are hoping Davis can add power and short-yardage ability, something the team has been wanting to add for years to the backfield. The 24-year-old Cook had a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2023 but added just two rushing TDs. What Cook lacks in scoring opportunities, he could make up for with his pass-catching abilities and sheer volume in 2024.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Zac Jackson writes that the Cleveland Browns believe wide receiver Cedric Tillman can make a second-year leap in 2024. Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore figure to start in most three-receiver sets this year, but Tillman should have an opportunity for a bigger role as the No. 4 as the season progresses. The 24-year-old third-round pick last year out of Tennessee caught 21 of his 44 targets for 224 yards and no touchdowns in 14 games (three starts) in 2023 in his rookie season. Behind Tillman, David Bell, rookie Jamari Thrash, James Proche II, Jaelon Darden and Michael Woods II will have to battle for playing time in training camp this summer. Tillman won't be worth drafting in standard-sized leagues this fall, but he could become intriguing as a waiver-wire pickup if one of the three starters goes down with injury at any point.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Rams released wide receiver Ben Skowronek on Thursday, according to a source. The former seventh-round pick in 2021 out of Notre Dame had emerged into a team captain last year but also had a career-low eight receptions on 12 targets for 66 yards and his first career touchdown in 17 regular-season games (zero starts). The 26-year-old has mostly contributed on special teams in his three-year NFL career and will likely continue to do so wherever he winds up next. In his three years in LA, Skowronek caught 58 of his 93 targets for 575 receiving yards and just one touchdown in 45 games played (12 starts). He'll be off the fantasy radar wherever he lands next.
From RotoBaller
There's a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Cleveland Browns' backfield heading into this summer with running back Nick Chubb (knee) months away from having a timetable to return. Nyheim Hines (knee) is also recovering from a torn ACL as well. D'Onta Foreman figures to operate as the team's short-yardage back, while Jerome Ford could go anywhere from first in line to a specialized role while mostly helping in the passing game. Pierre Strong Jr. and John Kelly Jr. round out the RB room. The Browns have nice depth at the position, but the pecking order and specific roles are to be determined based on Chubb's availability and effectiveness. Foreman's fantasy value will hinge on Chubb as well, but in a best-case scenario if Chubb isn't ready for the start of the season, he'll be a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex.
From RotoBaller
The New York Giants signed free-agent wide receiver Allen Robinson on Thursday, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The move to acquire a cheap veteran makes sense considering the weak group of pass-catchers on New York's roster, but Robinson has looked like a shell of his former self over the last three seasons. After two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020, Robinson has totaled just 1,029 yards and four touchdowns over the last three campaigns. He tallied 280 yards and no touchdowns with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023. Although he could provide value as an experienced leader in the locker room, it'd be surprising if he made an impact in fantasy football. Rookie first-round pick Malik Nabers is expected to be the No. 1 wide receiver for Daniel Jones right away, while Jalin Hyatt, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayon with compete for looks behind him.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Titans have signed wide receiver Tyler Boyd. Dynasty Analysis: Amazingly, Boyd has already spend eight years in the league (all with the Bengals). Over the span of his career, he's posted 513 catches for exactly 6,000 yards with 31 touchdowns. The Titans were steadfast in their approach to improve their offense and have now added Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley and Boyd to a new-look team. The move will certainly have fantasy implications, most notably pushing Treylon Burks down one more spot in the pecking order. Boyd remains a low-ceiling player to have on a dynasty roster but he could have real short-term value should an injury (or a suspension) occur with Hopkins or Ridley.
Dynasty | The Carolina Panthers are signing running back Rashaad Penny. Dynasty Analysis: Penny is going to compete with rookie Jonathon Brooks, Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and Raheem Blackshear for a roster spot this Summer as nothing here should be looked at as guaranteed. Penny has had his moments in the league, including a stretch in Seattle where he was the best fantasy football player in the world for about a month. Unfortunately, injuries have always held him back and he wasn't really even able to sniff the field last year in Philadelphia. Penny's value has dropped all the way down to "watch list," but he'd certainly be roster worthy should he make the team this Fall.
Free-agent WR Allen Robinson (Steelers) agreed to an undisclosed deal with the New York Giants Thursday, May 9.
From TheHuddle
Free-agent WR Zay Jones (Jaguars) is scheduled to visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, May 9, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
From TheHuddle
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold could be named the team's Week 1 starter over first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. As Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com writes, "It's only a matter of time before McCarthy becomes the Vikings' starting quarterback [...] but it is not likely to happen as quickly as some fans might hope, and if anything, the Vikings are poised to err on the side of methodical caution." Such a scenario could see Minnesota let Darnold, whom they signed this past offseason when Kirk Cousins left for Atlanta, start a few games before transitioning to McCarthy. Darnold has struggled to support major fantasy production from his playmakers at previous stops, including the Jets and Panthers, so fantasy managers might want to temper expectations with players like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson to start the year. Darnold himself falls to the low-end QB3 tier in fantasy football drafts.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft can elevate the offense to the next level, according to tight ends coach John Dunn. "I think in terms of the creativity, it's limitless," Dunn told the media on Wednesday. Musgrave and Kraft were both members of the 2023 draft class and impressed in their own roles throughout last season. Musgrave was the Packers' top tight end for their first 10 games before a lacerated kidney caused him to miss six weeks. With Musgrave sidelined, Kraft emerged as one of Jordan Love's favorite targets, averaging four catches and 47 yards per game. When Musgrave returned in Week 18, he caught one pass for 11 yards while Kraft tallied three receptions for 31 yards. Long story short, Green Bay feels confident that it has two talented, young, impactful playmakers at the tight end position and is prepared to utilize them both in creative ways throughout the 2024 season. Until we get more clarity on their respective roles, they both rank as fringe top-24 options at the tight end position in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs believes he has a chip on his shoulder, according to running backs coach Ben Sirmans. "I think he's coming in with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder because we all have something to prove," Sirmans told the media on Wednesday. "I think he wants to prove we made the right decision in investing in him." Jacobs doesn't necessarily have a whole lot more to prove after tallying 3,154 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns over his final two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. However, his signing with Green Bay did surprise many NFL fans, so perhaps he feels a little extra motivation to silence the critics and make sure he lives up to every penny of his four-year, $48 million deal. The Packers parted ways with fellow veteran Aaron Jones this offseason and (barring any unforeseen additions) will enter 2024 with a backfield headlined by Jacobs, AJ Dillon, and rookie MarShawn Lloyd. Given his track record as an every-down back in Vegas, Jacobs easily has the most fantasy appeal of the bunch, ranking as a low-end RB1 heading into drafts.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent wide receiver Zay Jones will visit with the Kansas City Chiefs next, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Jones, who was cut loose by the Jacksonville Jaguars recently, has already visited with the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, and Dallas Cowboys. All of those teams have varying levels of need for a new wide receiver, but Kansas City could be the most appealing for Jones given that they are competitive year in and year out, offer the opportunity to catch passes from an elite quarterback, and currently have a significant void near the top of their depth chart. It's no secret that second-year receiver Rashee Rice could be facing a lengthy suspension for a pair of off-the-field issues this offseason. Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy would benefit from playing alongside someone like Jones, especially if Rice does end up missing time. Such a dynamic would give Brown, Worthy, and Jones plenty of opportunities to carve out meaningful volume, though Brown would likely have first dibs on the No. 1 receiver role. Therefore, any free-agent deal for Jones would likely keep him off the fantasy radar in a typical 12-team league, at least for the time being.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills WR Curtis Samuel could be used out of the backfield this season by offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who utilized Samuel as a runner while the two were with the Carolina Panthers.
Fantasy Spin: Samuel saw a career-high 41 carries and ran for 200 yards in 2020 with Brady running the offense in Carolina. Samuel should already have a chance to carve out a solid role in the passing game thanks to Buffalo's overhauled receiving corps, and a few carries a game would only boost his value. He has upside as a flex option.
From TheHuddle
Cleveland Browns RB Nyheim Hines (knee) said he should be 'good to go' for the start of training camp.
From TheHuddle
Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) said that he expects to be ready to go for training camp in late July despite having surgery to fix a torn left ACL last August. As long as Hines doesn't have any setbacks with his surgically repaired knee, he will be in the mix for snaps on third downs, especially with Nick Chubb coming off a devastating knee injury of his own last year. The 27-year-old Hines will have a low floor and ceiling, though, in PPR fantasy leagues with Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman also competing for backfield touches in Cleveland. The former fourth-round selection by the Indianapolis Colts in 2018 out of North Carolina State has a total of 240 receptions (309 targets) for 1,778 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his five NFL campaigns. Hines hasn't appeared in an NFL game since 2022.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton is not participating in the voluntary workouts this offseason.
Fantasy Spin: The Broncos have said they will not be trading Sutton, so he will be the main receiver for the team in 2024. He should see a good amount of targets each game and can be a No. 3 or No. 4 receiver in fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
