Week 2 marks the advent of season-long fantasy managers evaluating juicy matchups to possibly exploit. This, of course, is instead of simply rolling with your studs no matter your player’s opponent. However, if you’ve got A.J. Brown going against Sauce Gardner, you may have doubts about whether or not Brown could perform to his highest level, given the difficult matchup.
Every Friday, I’m going to be pumping out streamer columns for all relevant positions for most fantasy leagues: QB, RB, WR, and TE. And we’re looking for for the aforementioned matchups with juice. The ones that feel ripe for fantasy production from under-the-radar, one-hit wonders.
Keep an eye every Friday and Saturday for these pieces; follow me @dansby_edits for stat-and-streamer-related threads all throughout the week.
It’s only Week 2, so we’re keeping these lists short today. Let’s take a look at two wide receivers you might consider starting if you’re in a, say, Hollywood Brown situation.
You can also consider these as dart-throw options for all the fantastic DFS contests on DraftKings.
Top WR Streamers for Week 2
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (11.8% owned; at Green Bay Packers)
I can’t even believe Alec Pierce is only 12% owned. We really have gotten skeptical of big games, haven’t we? Especially from unproven quarterbacks and former WR3s.
I wrote a piece on the most impressive and potentially-material NFL Next Gen Stats earlier this week in my NFL Next Gen Stats: Highlighting key stats from Week 1. Here’s what I had to say of his 60-yard touchdown catch and 57-yard post route catch from Anthony Richardson:
Anthony Richardson 60-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pierce
Most impressive stat: 21.21 mph. That’s what Alec Pierce topped out at after the inward cut on this post route. To put it into perspective, we all thought Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy’s jet sweep speed on Thursday was game-breaking. He topped out at 18.45 mph, almost 3 mph slower than Pierce.
Tyreek Hill’s career-long 80-yard touchdown catch from Tua only saw Tyreek top out at 20.42mph.
Honorable mention: The pass traveled 65.3 yards through the air. That’s the third-longest in the NFL Next Gen Stats era. Wild.
Anthony Richardson 57-yard pass to Alec Pierce
Most impressive stat: 20.21 mph. That’s what Alec Pierce topped out at after the inward cut on this post route.
Outlook:
Richardson has found his new explosive threat. Pierce might be the ship most raised by Richardson’s rising tide. Pick him up on waivers, and monitor his receiving yards line on DraftKings Sportsbook for this Sunday.
I was so surprised Pierce went unnoticed on waivers this week that I was able to grab him myself in my hometown legacy league. I think he has a chance to be a big-play threat for your FLEX every week.
As for Week 2? Expect Jaire Alexander to shade toward Michael Pittman, who, for now, remains the alpha receiver in this offense. Pierce might slip over the top once or twice against the Packers. We know Richardson’ll be looking for him.
He’s a WR3 no more. Not this week, nor for the rest of the season.
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, New York Giants (15.6% rostered; at Washington Commanders)
I’m writing this after the news that stud rookie WR Malik Nabers will play Sunday, so you know I actually like Wan’Dale as a streamer in Week 2. I like him, also, as a stash going forward.
The Giants have a really great chance to get their passing offense back on track against a Commanders secondary that was absolutely B52-bombed by the Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We all have our legitimate doubts about Daniel Jones right now, but he’s supported volume-heavy wideouts in earlier years. Think about Sterling Shepard back when he was in New York (and whenever he was healthy).
I think it’s possible Jones is missing Barkley a bit out of the backfield, and is looking a bit more for a possession-receiver threat. Wan’Dale is his guy. Nabers will stretch the offense and make spectacular plays.
But I’m burying the lede: he had twelve targets in Week 1, and he’s less than 20% owned. What gives?
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and customer (my username is thegreatdansby9) 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 do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and cannot access any non-public information.
