Cracking DraftKings Week 2

Favorite Fantasy Game Environments

• Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars - Over/Under 51.5
• Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions - Over/Under 47.5
• Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals - Over/Under 46.5
• San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams - Over/Under 45

Favorite Additional Fantasy Spots

• Bills at home vs. Raiders - Implied Team Total 28.3
• Giants on the road against Cardinals - Implied Team Total 22.8
• Chargers on the road against Titans - Implied Team Total 24.3
• Cowboys at home vs. Jets - Implied Team Total 24
• Buccaneers at home vs. Bears - Implied Team Total 21.5

CASH GAMES

Quarterbacks

Despite missing his weapons for a large portion of the season and working with an offensive coordinator that had him throwing underneath way too often, Herbert still ranked fifth in passing yards per game (279) and tenth in pass touchdowns per game (1.5) last year. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are healthy for now (knock on wood) and Herbert gets to take aim against a Titans defense that ranked 27th in Dropback Expected Points Added (EPA) Allowed last season.

Ben Johnson is one of the best offensive coordinators in the NFL. In his first year in the role in 2022, Johnson helped the Lions offense rank sixth in EPA/Play and tenth in Success Rate and Jared Goff rank tenth in passing yards per game (261) and seventh in pass touchdowns per game (1.7). Goff gets to play at home this week in the second highest Over/Under (47.5) on the main slate against a Seahawks defense that ranked 25th in EPA/Play Allowed and 23rd in Dropback EPA Allowed last year.

Geno Smith was a revelation last year, leading a Seahawks offense that shockingly ranked sixth in Pass Rate Over Expected (PROE) while ranking 12th in passing yards per game (252) and sixth in pass touchdowns per game (1.8). He's playing in the second-highest Over/Under (47.5) on the main slate against a Lions defense that ranked 29th in EPA/Play Allowed, 26th in Dropback EPA Allowed, and 28th in Success Rate last year. But it is important to note the Lions defense improved over the offseason and Smith might be without both his starting left and right tackles in this one.

Running Backs

Christian McCaffrey is playing in the right offense and has the ideal talent profile to go nuclear in any given week in DraftKings' full PPR scoring format. McCaffrey ranked fifth in opportunities per game (20.7) and third in total yards per game (110.6) last year and he leads the NFL in opportunities (27) after Week 1. He has an awesome matchup against a Rams defense that ranked 26th in EPA Allowed, 20th in Rush EPA Allowed, and 25th in Success Rate last season.

James Cook might be blocked at the goal line by Damien Harris and Latavius Murray played in the two-minute drill over him in Week 1. Still, he's a dual-threat and he saw 18 opportunities in Week 1. The Bills are 9.5-point home favorites against a bad Raiders defense that ranked 30th in EPA/Play Allowed, 15th in Rush EPA Allowed, and 28th in Success Rate last year.

David Montgomery's 21 opportunities in Week 1 were the seventh most in the league. Jahmyr Gibbs' role in the offense will continue to grow but Montgomery isn't going anywhere. He's perfect for the Lions' offensive identity as a tough between-the-tackles runner and reliable pass blocker. His role allows the Lions to utilize Jared Goff's greatest strength, which is utilizing play action. Montgomery is just $5,800 in a great fantasy game against a Seahawks defense that ranked 25th in EPA/Play Allowed and 26th in Rush EPA Allowed last season.

Josh Jacobs ranked second in the NFL in opportunities per game (23.8) in 2022 and his extremely high utilization continued in Week 1 as Jacobs' 22 opportunities were the fourth most. With Jakobi Meyers out with a concussion, Jacobs could see more passing game involvement this week. Volume is king in cash and Jacobs is currently one of the poster boys for this.

Travis Etienne's usage was very exciting in Week 1. His 23 opportunities ranked third most and his five catches were two more than he had in any game last season. Etienne is very talented and there will be plenty of fantasy points to go around in the highest Over/Under (51.5) of the week.

Tennessee's defense ranked first in Rush EPA Allowed last year so this isn't an ideal matchup but at just $5,000, Joshua Kelley comes with guaranteed volume with Austin Ekeler listed as doubtful. Kelly had an impressive 2023 debut rushing 16 times for 91 yards and 1 touchdown.

Wide Receivers

Calvin Ridley is unequivocally back after catching 8 of 11 targets for 101 yards and 1 touchdown in his 2023 debut. He now gets to play in the highest Over/Under (51.5) of the week. His talent will be on full display once again.

DK Metcalf is in a favorable spot here playing in the second highest Over/Under (47.5) on the main slate against a Lions defense that ranked 29th in EPA/Play Allowed, 26th in Dropback EPA Allowed, and 28th in Success Rate last year.

Keenan Allen was injured in Week 1 last season and didn't return to full health and a full-time role until Week 11. From then on, he went scorched earth on the NFL, reminding everyone he's still an alpha-dominating target hog. Over that eight-game span, Allen averaged 10.4 targets (sixth most if over the full season), 7.5 receptions (second most if over the full season), 84.4 receiving yards (eighth most if over the full season), and 0.5 touchdowns. And even when including the two games Allen played minimally due to injury (and week 18), he still finished the season ranked as the WR12 in PPR fantasy points per game. He now gets to take aim against a Titans defense that will be without CB Kristian Fulton and S Amani Hooker and that ranked 27th in Dropback Expected Points Added (EPA) Allowed last season. Plus, there are more targets to go around with Austin Ekeler listed as doubtful.

This is a really solid price tag ($5,600) for a player of Deebo Samuel's caliber in an awesome matchup against a Rams defense that ranked 26th in EPA Allowed, 28th in Dropback EPA Allowed, and 25th in Success Rate last season.

Zay Jones played 18 more snaps, ran 8 more routes, and saw 4 more targets than Christian Kirk in Week 1. Kirk is still going to be highly involved and we'll probably start to see that play out in Week 2 but a $4,700 price tag for a starting wide receiver catching passes from Trevor Lawrence playing in the highest Over/Under (51.5) of the week is a very solid cash game option.

Zay Flowers looked awesome in Week 1. He put his extreme talent on display while seeing an insane 45% target share. Mark Andrews will return eventually and Rashod Bateman's playing time should rise as the season goes on but there is no denying it was a very bullish NFL debut for Flowers. Priced at just $5,000, Flowers will be needed in a competitive AFC North matchup against the Bengals.

Nico Collins' 11 targets ranked tied for the sixth most in Week 1. He's at home and priced at just $4,800 against an average Colts defense.

Tight Ends

Luke Musgrave played on 75% of the offensive snaps and led the Packers in routes run in his NFL debut. He'll be needed in this one with both Christian Watson and Aaron Jones listed as questionable.

Adam Trautman played on 72% of the offensive snaps and caught all five of his targets for 34 yards in Week 1. He'll continue to operate as the clear-cut TE1 with Greg Dulcich out due to injury.

Jake Ferguson had a 29% target share in Week 1 and Brandin Cooks is a game-time decision.

Team Defenses

The Cowboys defense looked unstoppable last week and now they get Zach Wilson at home. The Jets have a lowly 14.5 Implied Team Total.

The Bears are not a good defense but they're a salary saver in cash at just $2,800. This game has just a 40.5 Over/Total and Baker Mayfield has been known to take sacks and turn the ball over.

GPPs

Quarterbacks