Week 2 was an absolute nightmare. If you came out of it alive and cashing on DraftKings, consider yourself a fantasy football connoisseur (not really, I’d prefer if you just called yourself lucky, actually). Here’s to hoping Week 3 in the NFL is a bit more calm and we can actually focus on the fantasy performances of the players, not the injuries.
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Quarterback
Stud
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions, $6,800 – Murray has been fantastic through the first two weeks of the season. Even with averaging 258 passing yards, the majority of his production has been coming on the ground. Murray has run the ball 21 times for a total of 158 yards and three touchdowns. What’s even more impressive is that this has come against two good defensive lines in the Washington Football Team and the 49ers. With no pass rush to speak of for the Lions, Murray should have a clean pocket to work with, which has seen him post a 75% completion rate and 6.9 YPA this season.
Other Option – Russell Wilson ($7,300)
Value
Justin Herbert, Los Angels Chargers vs. Carolina Panthers, $5,900 – In the ongoing saga of Tyrod Taylor and his punctured lung, Hebert will once again draw the start for the Chargers. It was only a one-game sample but he looked excellent against the Chiefs in Week 2. He completed 22 of his 33 pass attempts for 311 yards and 9.4 YPA. He was under pressure on 34% of his dropbacks and still was 7-for-9 for 120 yards with a 77.8% completion rate. Believe me, he’s not going to face much of a pass rush against the Panthers, who have zero sacks and one quarterback hit. Against this bad secondary, Herbert should shine again.
Other Option – Joe Burrow ($6,200)
Running Back
Stud
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings vs. Tennessee Titans, $7,600 – The Vikings, and more importantly Kirk Cousins ($5,500), are coming off a putrid performance against the Colts. Cook was the lone bright spot in that game and here’s hoping they continue to feed him the ball and stop letting Cousins throw. The Titans present a very good matchup for Cook, as the Titans are allowing an average of 29.5 DKFP, 105 rushing yards and 34.5 receiving yards thus far to the RB position. Cook has been extremely efficient on the ground thus far, averaging 4.3 YPC and 2.4 yards after contact. In what is projected to be a close game according to DraftKings Sportsbook, Cook should have plenty of opportunities both on the ground and through the air.
Other Options – Ezekiel Elliott ($8,300), Jonathan Taylor ($7,000)
Value
D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals, $5,000 – Swift has been getting the majority of his work through the air, as evidenced by only eight carries and 10 targets through the first two weeks. With the Lions expected to be playing behind in this game against the Cardinals as underdogs, the game-script should set up well for Swift. Adrian Peterson ($4,500) leads the team in carries and has three targets while Kerryon Johnson ($4,200) has only one target and 15 carries. While I’m usually not crazy about taking a back in a committee, the Cardinals have already allowed 10 receptions for an average of 15.9 and two touchdowns to opposing backs through the air.
Other Options – Kenyan Drake ($6,000), Rex Burkhead ($4,000; if James White ($4,500) is out)
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Wide Receiver
Stud
DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions, $7,900 – Hopkins, along with Murray, is likely going to be the chalk QB-WR stack on this slate. Hopkins has already seen an absurd 25 targets on the season, which accounts for 32% of Murray’s pass attempts. Hopkins has lined up on the left side on 73% of his snaps, meaning he’ll mostly see Lions CB Amani Oruwariye in coverage. Since last season, Oruwariye has been targeted against 29 times and has allowed 23 receptions for an average of 12.3 YPR and has been scored on three times. It’s going to be extremely difficult to stop Hopkins in this matchup and thus, it’ll be a tough fade even with the expected ownership.
Other Options – Mike Evans ($6,800), Tyler Lockett ($6,400)
Value
Dionte Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Houston Texans, $5,400 – Sure, Johnson saw his salary increase by $900 last week, but he still feels too cheap for someone who has two less targets than Hopkins on the season. In fact, his 23 targets puts him third in the league. Now, in Week 3, he’ll draw a matchup against the Texans’ secondary that’s allowed the Ravens and Chiefs receivers make 28 catches for 282 yards and two touchdowns on 36 targets. Johnson will likely draw shadow coverage from Bradley Roby, who has allowed eight of the nine targets thrown in his direction to be caught but for only an average of 6.6 yards. I’m not too worried about that small YPR thus far, as he allowed 12.7, 14.9 and 12.5 the last three seasons.
Other Options – DeSean Jackson ($5,200), Curtis Samuel ($4,000)
Tight End
Stud
Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bengals, $5,100 – While Ertz hasn’t exactly been racking up yards with only 60 on eight catches, he’s seen two straight weeks with seven targets. Now, he arguably draws his best matchup to date this season against a Bengals team that’s allowed nine catches on 16 targets for 119 yards to tight ends against the Chargers and Browns. I would imagine if people are paying up at tight end, they’ll be flocking toward Tyler Higbee ($5,900) and Darren Waller ($5,700), which is totally fine. However, tight end will be a pay down spot for me to be able to afford some of the more expensive pieces in other positions.
Other Options – Tyler Higbee ($5,900), Hayden Hurst ($4,700)
Value
Drew Sample, Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles, $3,500 – Sample will be your popular pay down spot now that C.J. Uzomah is out for the season. Sample was getting a ton of Joe Burrow’s ($6,200) attention in Week 2, as Sample received a massive nine targets in which he made seven catches for 45 yards. To further pump up Sample’s upside, four of those targets came in the red zone, which currently leads the team. Tyler Boyd ($5,900) and A.J. Green ($6,000) both received two in that game. To this point, the Eagles have been the worst team defensively against the tight end position, allowing an average of 16.6 DKFP with nine receptions for 91 yards and FOUR touchdowns scored.
Other Option – Irv Smith Jr. ($2,800)
Defense/Special Teams
Stud
Pittsburgh Steelers DST vs. Houston Texans, $4,000 – Boasting the best pass rush thus far in the early season, it’s hard not to want to use the Steelers against the Texans. Deshaun Watson ($6,500) has picked up right where he left off last season and has taken eight sacks through the first two weeks. He’s been pressured on 37% of his drop backs and has just a 33.3% completion rate and 3.5 YPA in that scenario. Meanwhile, the Steelers have already racked up 10 sacks and 16 QB hits. This is going to be a long afternoon for Watson.
Other Option – Buffalo Bills ($3,400)
Value
Los Angeles Rams DST at Buffalo Bills, $3,000 – We all know that Josh Allen ($6,900) has had a fantastic start to 2020. He hasn’t thrown an interception, he’s been elusive on the ground and has completed 70.4% of his pass attempts. This has also come against the Jets and Dolphins, so I’m curious to see how he’ll do against a team like the Rams and specifically Aaron Donald. The Rams’ pass rush hasn’t been stellar to this point but this could be a potential spot for them to make some noise. Allen has been under pressure on 31% of his dropbacks thus far but this is his toughest team to face yet.
Other Option – Chicago Bears ($2,900)
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is steveazors) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
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