Cracking DraftKings Week 2

Photo: USA Today Sports

Favorite Fantasy Game Environments

• Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs - Over/Under 48.5
• Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals - Over/Under 49.5

Favorite Additional Fantasy Spots

• Ravens at home vs. Raiders - Implied Team Total 25.5
• Chargers on road vs. Panthers - Implied Team Total 22.5
• Giants on road vs. Commanders - Implied Team Total 20.5
• Lions at home vs. Buccaneers - Implied Team Total 28.8
• Cowboys at home vs. Saints - Implied Team Total 26
• 49ers on road vs. Vikings - Implied Team Total 25.5

CASH GAMES

Quarterbacks

The Ravens are 9.5-point home favorites and Lamar Jackson has an unimposing matchup against an average Raiders defense. Jackson always offers dual-threat upside and reminded us of that in the opener, carrying 16 times for 122 yards.

Kyler Murray is at home against an average Rams defense, offers dual-threat upside, and is $1,100 cheaper than Lamar Jackson.

Running Backs

J.K. Dobbins was one of the best storylines of Week 1. He turned 10 carries into 135 yards and 1 touchdown and also caught all three of his targets. I don't know how he's doing it but for now, he looks healthy and solid. The Chargers are 6.5-point favorites and Dobbins gets a Panthers defense that ranked 28th in EPA/Play Allowed and dead last in Rush EPA Allowed last season. They lost their best player, defensive lineman Derrick Brown, for the season in Week 1.

Breece Hall saw 22 opportunities in Week 1, which tied for eighth most in the league. He ranked 17th in opportunities per game (17.4) last season while returning from a torn ACL. He's extremely talented, is a dual-threat, and his extreme volume is locked in.

Alvin Kamara ranked fifth in the league in opportunities per game (20.5) and 14th in total yards per game (89.2) last season. His dual-threat ability pairs perfectly with Derek Carr's preference to throw short and intermediate passes, which helped him rack up games of 13 and 12 receptions in 2023. Kamara saw his usual workload, 20 opportunities, in Week 1 to begin this season. He'll be needed as a dual-threat if the Saints hope to keep pace with the Cowboys.

It appears Rachaad White is going to lose some early down work to rookie Bucky Irving this season. But that shouldn't be a problem in this one. White caught all 6 of his targets for 75 yards in Week 1 and his receiving skills will be needed on this one. The Buccaneers are seven-point road underdogs against the Lions. Let's remember White has some room to give up touches. He ranked sixth in opportunities per game (19.9) in 2023.

Jordan Love is officially listed as questionable but we all know he's not going to play. With Malik Willis behind center, look for the Packers offense to ride Josh Jacobs in this matchup. Jacobs is at home and has a solid matchup against a Colts defense that ranked 25th in Rush EPA Allowed last year.

Ken Walker III is doubtful due to an oblique injury, which means Zach Charbonnet projects for a monster workload this week. I was a big fan of his game coming out of college:

Charbonnet has some Nick Chubb to his game, and they have very similar heights and weights, with Charbonnet being 6-foot-0 and 214 pounds. Charbonnet has exciting athleticism for a player as big, physical, and tough as he is. He's decisive as he gets north and south quickly, breaks tackles, and also has the ability to make defenders miss (impressive stutter steps in the open field). Charbonnet produced as a true freshman at Michigan back in 2019, running for 726 yards and 11 touchdowns, but it wasn't until he transferred to UCLA in 2021 that his collegiate career took off. In his junior and senior seasons at UCLA, Charbonnet totaled 2,496 rushing yards, 27 rushing touchdowns, 61 receptions, and 518 receiving yards. Charbonnet doesn't profile as a receiving back, but those 61 catches in two years help his case of being a workhorse/250+ touch player in the NFL, which is absolutely in his range of outcomes.