The Texans have a ton of firepower and protect the QB well. They will be taking on a heavy blitz Viking team, and I think QB CJ Stroud will handle it well. He will find receivers down the field, and I like WR Nico Collins as the first option, as he has back-to-back 100-yard games. He has distanced himself as the number one receiver. WR Stefon Diggs is making his return to Minnesota and could get fed, but I prefer a cheaper option, WR Tank Dell. Running backs Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce have not practiced and are most likely out. If that happens, then RB Cam Akers becomes close to a must-play at his price. Expect the Texans to score close to 30 points and are a viable stack option.
The Vikings are also a viable stack. The offensive line keeps QB Sam Darnold upright, and he has been making teams pay. WR Justin Jefferson is battling a quad bruise, but he says that he is going to play, and I love him in this matchup. He should have a 100-yard game, especially if WR Jordan Addison does not play. Many fantasy players are turning to WR Jalen Nailor, but he doesn’t get enough volume. He wasn’t covered on his two TD catches this season, but maybe the volume will pick up. RB Aaron Jones has been limited in practice and expects to play. He doesn’t get a full complement of carries because of RB Ty Chandler, but he can add 5 catches. I think he scores a TD and has an outside chance at a 20-point game. Look for the Vikings to score in the upper 20s, making Darnold and Jefferson solid stack options.
QB Jordan Love has been limited in practice and could be back. If he plays, then I have an interest in receivers Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks. I think they are better than both Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. If Love does not play, then I am out on the entire passing game. I have no faith in QB Malik Willis; this Titan defense is better than the Colt defense he played last week. RB Josh Jacobs is a pass for me in DFS, no matter who the quarterback is. Last week, he rushed for 151 yards but added nothing in the receiving game and didn’t score. What if he rushes for 90 yards and 1 score? It will not be enough to take down a tournament.
As for Tennessee, it is RB Tony Pollard and that is it. RB Tyjae Spears has been limited in practice and could miss this game. I expect a full workload for Pollard, and he should get 20-plus touches vs. a weak Packer run defense. I am passing on receivers Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins as QB Will Levis hasn’t been very good. Plus, Ridley should see plenty of CB Jaire Alexander and Hopkins appears to be declining.
I would consider WR Malik Nabers because he is special. You can’t ignore the 10 catches on 18 targets he received last week, and the Giants only had the ball for a little over 22 minutes. I know the Browns are a much better defense than the Commanders, but volume alone makes him a play. The rest of the offense is a pass.
This would be a good spot for RB Jerome Ford, but he lost a ton of volume to RB D’Onta Foreman last week. Was this just an anomaly or a trend? I want no part of this split backfield. The Giants pass defense is awful but can you trust QB Deshaun Watson? I think you can play a Browns stack in a milli-maker-type contest because the Giant defense is that bad. WR Amari Cooper only has 5 catches on 17 targets this season but could explode any game now. WR Jerry Jeudy is also sneaky at a low price.
The Bears offense is plain anemic. QB Caleb Williams is struggling, and you can see the frustration in his receivers’ faces. I don’t think there is anyone from the passing game that can stand out. RB D’Andre Swift should be fed over and over vs. a very bad Colt run defense. Swift’s price is appealing, but can he score a touchdown to reach 20 points?
Colt’s QB Anthony Richardson has struggled as well, and their best receiver, Michael Pittman, is almost unplayable in seasonal leagues let alone DFS. This week the matchups do not get easier vs. a tough Bear defense. If you play Richardson, then you are hoping for 70 yards on the ground and a rushing TD. RB Jonathan Taylor should see 20-plus touches every week but hasn’t had more than 16 which is inexcusable.
I don’t know what to think of the Eagles. They should be 2-0, but their offense is just so-so without WR AJ Brown, who will miss this Sunday. I am starting to like RB Saquon Barkley more and more. We don’t know how good the Saints run defense is. They have jumped out to leads against two teams who can’t run the ball and had to pass the entire second half. The Eagles have a top offensive line, and the Saints aging defensive line could be in shock that they must play against a good unit. DeVonta Smith is an option, but I think we can find better plays on the slate. Passing on all other receiving options.
The Saints have been firing on all cylinders, and their offense has won people a ton of money. They face an Eagle defense that has trouble stopping both the pass and run. All members of the Saints are viable. QB Derek Carr’s price on DraftKings is criminal at $5,800; he will be highly owned. WR Rashid Shaheed has been catching long TDs, but I would prefer WR Chris Olave this week. RB Alvin Kamara is also seeing a ton of volume and should score 20 fantasy points here. The only way I see the Saints failing is if the Eagles control the entire clock.
I hate to pass on a game because, in the NFL, anything can happen. The total here is 36, and I would give the Steelers defense a look. Outside of that, I have no confidence that either team can score more than 15 points.
Bo Nix showed improvement last week against the Steelers defense, but I can’t find a way to play him. His weapons are very underwhelming. WR Courtland Sutton, their best receiver lets you down often. Let’s see how TE Greg Dulcich does in this one and see if we see a spark to use him later this season. RB Javonte Williams must score to be of any value. It could happen here but there are just better plays on the slate.
This would be a great spot for RB Rachaad White, but he has been dealing with a groin injury. It’s said not to be serious, but one tweak and he is out of the game. Backup running back Bucky Irving has had enough touches here to make me back off White, regardless. Once again, the player of interest is WR Chris Godwin. They move him around, and he is difficult to cover and is racking up huge numbers. WR Mike Evans will have his hands full with outstanding QB Patrick Surtain, making him a pass for me. There are going to be some good matchups for him coming up. QB Baker Mayfield is also going to be a pass. Denver’s pass defense isn’t that bad, and I don’t think Baker can put up 300 yards and 3 touchdowns to take down a tournament. I have endorsed TE Cade Otton for him to make 1 lousy catch on the season. Yet he is always a sneaky play if you play a ton of lineups.
Carolina turns to QB Andy Dalton. Can he make this offense viable? Mostly WR Diontae Johnson? The Raiders defense is better than you think, but I think this is the time to play Johnson in some capacity. WR Adam Thielen is a desperation play, but I could see a few targets coming his way. RB Chub Hubbard doesn’t interest me at all. He won’t score enough to take down a tournament.
It is no secret that the Panthers run defense is the worst in the league. RB Zamir White is in a good spot, but I don’t see the explosion. Maybe that’s because he had a bad matchup last week. TE Brock Bowers is outstanding and should be strongly considered. He looks like this year’s Sam LaPorta. He won’t be at this price much longer. WR Davante Adams is coming off a great second half in Baltimore, and maybe that will lead to a bright season. WR Jakobi Meyers is extremely sneaky because a good game is coming. Why not this weekend?
Skyler Thompson becomes the Dolphins starting QB this week, which kills the value of receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The platforms have them priced as if Tua were playing. RB De’Von Achane should still be solid as I think Thompson will gladly dump it off to him at least 6 times. TE Jonnu Smith is definitely in play. He had a lot of action once Thompson was in the game plus Hill and Waddle will still open it up for him.
Miami has a solid pass defense, but one of the Seahawk receivers should have a good game. I like Jaxson Smith-Njigba to continue on from his huge game last week. WR DK Metcalf should see a lot of CB Jalen Ramsey, making JSN a top target for QB Geno Smith. WR Tyler Lockett should play but is limited in practice. RB Zach Charbonnet is one of my top-five running back targets for DFS. He can do it all and adds to the passing game. RB James Cook exploded against these Dolphins last week.
The game I like the most to doubles stack. If they are breathing and on the field, then they are playable. I do like WR Jameson Williams a bit better at his price over WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, but both are in play as ARSB is back to a full participant in practice. TE Sam LaPorta has yet to make a splash this season, but it’s just a matter of time. His price point may be a bit too high. RB Jahmyr Gibbs is in line to also have a huge game. I like him a lot more than RB David Montgomery because of his explosiveness and his ability to catch passes. QB Jarred Goff is cheap enough and has the ability to throw for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns.
QB Kyler Murray is also in line for a big game. He does what he always does when healthy; he runs around and creates big plays. Last week, those plays went mostly to WR Marvin Harrison Jr., but the Lions don’t get beat over the top; they get beat underneath, mainly in the slot. WR Greg Dortch is in a great spot, and hopefully, he will take advantage of his opportunity. TE Trey McBride is another great stack option, as he is a big athletic target. WR Michael Wilson would be a deep dive to win the milli-maker. RB James Conner is the odd man out. The Lions play the run very well, and Conner’s price keeps creeping up. He is excellent in the passing game, but he needs a ton of volume to make up for the lack of rushing yards.
The Ravens are 0-2, and it’s time for QB Lamar Jackson to get back to doing what he did in week 1. Rush for over 100 yards and create big plays down the field. Lamar hasn’t broken the slate yet, but it could be this Sunday. WR Zay Flowers, TE Mark Andrews, and TE Isiah Likely are good stack options. I like Flowers the best as he leads the team in targets with 21. The tight ends get a bit trickier, but I have a feeling that it is more of a Likely week. I think they will need athleticism downfield. Andrews will have some catches, but will he score near the goal line? I think it is also acceptable to play Lamar naked without the stack. I’m out on RB Derrick Henry, he doesn’t catch any passes and would need to score two touchdowns to be in the winning lineup. I have Lamar scoring, so I don’t think that will happen.
I think it is safe to pass on the Dallas running game and place all our focus on the passing game. QB Dak Prescott is playable, as we saw QB Garner Minshew light up the Raven secondary last week. WR CeeDee Lamb should see most of the targets and is a great stack option. WR Brandin Cooks could be viable if you want a more unique lineup. When you play Cooks, there is a lot of hoping. The Ravens have given up big plays to tight ends. TE Jake Ferguson has been limited, but he is a great option if he plays. If unable, then Luke Schoonmaker is a great punt play at his price. He had 6 catches for 43 yards and would be in a winning lineup if he could produce those numbers with a touchdown.
The 49ers are a bit banged up right now, but that leaves us with some great DFS opportunities. Let’s start with RB Jordan Mason. He should be in line for 100 yards and a touchdown vs. a Rams defense that has been leaky vs. the run. Detroit and Arizona were both able to run down their throats, and I don’t see why the 49ers won’t here. Plus, I have the 49ers winning big, meaning the game script will be in Mason’s favor. WR Brandon Aiyuk may receive a ton of catches, as he should be the most targeted receiver. WR Jauan Jennings will be out there for almost all the snaps and is dirt cheap. TE George Kittle has missed some practice with a hamstring injury but would be a great play on Sunday.
