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Daily Fantasy NFL Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - Week 2 Main Slate 9/17/23
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Quarterbacks
Josh Allen FD 9200 DK 7900
Opponent LV
Proj Points FD - 26.3 DK - 26.3
Josh Allen struggled in Week 1 against the Jets in a game that was wild literally from beginning to end. Concerns about Allen’s weak finish to last season didn’t really dissipate here with the QB going 29/41 for just 236 yards, a touchdown, and three picks. Now, that Jets defense might just be out of this world this season so we can possibly take the performance with a relative grain of salt. Here he’ll face the Raiders in what will be a decidedly softer matchup.
The Bills have the highest implied total on the main slate at 28 and Allen should be in line for a major bounceback here. It’s a bit risky because of the price, but everything else lines up.
Anthony Richardson FD 7500 DK 6300
Opponent HOU
Proj Points FD - 21.84 DK - 21.84
The major concern with Anthony Richardson going into Week 1 was whether the passing could hold up enough to really give him major upside in his first game. Though he was *just* 24/37 for 223 yards, the Colts showed a willingness to let him drop back and that’s a great sign. He also got out and ran 10 times for 40 yards with the latter number seemingly on the low end for this many attempts.
The Texans' defense isn’t good here and Indy is actually -1 road favorites here. The price on Richardson, on DraftKings, is still too low and he offers a fantastic cash game floor.
Running Back
Christian McCaffrey FD 9500 DK 8900
Opponent LAR
Proj Points FD - 22.8 DK - 25.82
Any concern the 49ers would take is easy on CMC or manage the workload for a long season was dispelled in Week 1 when he played 85% of the snap and combined for 27 total touches (22 carries, 5 targets). These were three more than the next-closest guy (Miles Sanders-24).
Now San Fran is -8 road favorites going into Los Angeles to face the Rams. The floor is just so high on CMC here and the opportunity is basically better than anyone else in the league all while being in a high-powered offense. He’s worth the salary in this spot.
Travis Etienne Jr. FD 8200 DK 6900
Opponent KC
Proj Points FD - 17.07 DK - 19.05
Travis Etienne played a whopping 80% of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ snaps in Week 1, confirming that he is in the workhorse back slot for this team going forward. His overall usage was 23 touches (18 carries, 5 targets) and was efficient there, racking up 104 yards and a touchdown.
Now he goes into what could be a shootout against the Chiefs. The 51 over/under is the highest of the slate and with his targets in the passing game, he looks script-independent. That’s a great spot to be for any RB.
Deon Jackson FD 5700 DK 4900
Opponent HOU
Proj Points FD - 14.25 DK - 16.26
Didn’t think we could be rolling with two Colts (and neither are Jonathan Taylor) in Week 2 of the NFL season, but here we are. Life comes at you fast. Deon Jackson played 71% of the Indy snaps in Week 1, carrying the ball 13 times and getting six targets. That’s the good news, the usage was all the way there. The bad news is he turned it into just 28 total yards.
It’s on the severe low end of production even for a dude whose talent is behind others at the position. The price didn’t move much here and I like the opportunity.
Wide Receiver
Stefon Diggs FD 8000 DK 8000
Opponent LV
Proj Points FD - 19.17 DK - 23.41
Even against a stout Jets’ defense in Week 1, Stefan Diggs still showed out seeing 13 targets, finishing with 10 receptions, 102 yards, and a touchdown. If you believe Josh Allen bounces back here then Diggs makes the perfect pairing. The price is up there but his 13 looks ranked 3rd overall in Week 1 behind only Tyreek Hill and Puca Nakua (of course). I’m going with Diggs here in a great matchup and he’s clearly proven himself as one of the elite WR1s in the game.
Calvin Ridley FD 8300 DK 7200
Opponent KC
Proj Points FD - 16.95 DK - 20.87
It took all of one week but it’s already looking like Calvin Ridley is going to win season-long folks a lot if they drafted him. He rocked a 34% target share from Trevor Lawrence and finished with eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. If you think this game against Patrick Mahomes and company turns into a shootout then Ridley is already looking like a tough fade.
Mike Evans FD 7100 DK 6200
Opponent CHI
Proj Points FD - 15.83 DK - 19.03
Can we trust Baker Mayfield and the Buc’s offense? Probably not, but here we are anyway. Evans is in a contract year and has already made his feelings about the situation clear (he isn’t happy). He’s a trade candidate and maybe took that to heart in Week 1, getting 10 targets and turning them into six catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.
He had a 29% target share in the Tampa offense and if he’s Mayfield’s top option then the price is too low here. It’s not crazy exciting, but in the middle tier, he’s a solid option.
Cheaper Options
Puka Nacua FD 5800 DK 4900
Opponent SF
Proj Points FD - 13.05 DK - 16.07
Nico Collins FD 6200 DK 4800
Opponent IND
Proj Points FD - 13.24 DK - 16.15
Guys like Puka Nacua are always the toughest this time of year. Was Week 1 signal or noise for his future production? He tied for the lead in targets (15) and absolutely smashed with Cooper Kupp out of the lineup. Did he catch everyone off guard or is this the real thing? The massive target share is probably too good to pass up just on the speculation.
Meanwhile, Nico Collins saw 11 targets from CJ Stroud in the first week. They were good for six catches and 80 yards. Stroud was *meh* but Houston figures to be playing from behind a lot this season and that should mean good volume for Collins going forward.
Tight End
Zach Ertz FD 4900 DK 3500
Opponent NYG
Proj Points FD - 8.41 DK - 10.78
Ertz had a hilarious line in Week 1. On the positive side, he was clearly Joshua Dobbs’ favorite option, going for 10 targets which represented a 33% target share in the Arizona “offense”. The bad news is that those looks turned into only six catches and 21 total yards. Still, at a tight end position that has a couple of superstars and mostly losers, going for cheap volume is the way to go. Ertz is misplaced on DraftKings.
Logan Thomas FD 4900 DK 3100
Opponent DEN
Proj Points FD - 8.17 DK - 10.37
Speaking of solid target share on the cheap, Logan Thomas was Sam Howell’s favorite option in Week 1. Thomas finished with eight looks and put up four catches for 43 yards. Will it blow your hair back? Of course not. But he’s coming super cheap on both sites and we are just looking to fill out our lineups.
