As always, Week 2 closes with Monday Night Football. However, this weekend will end with a rare two-game slate. To kick things off, the Buccaneers will visit the Texans. Later, division rivals will meet in Sin City when the Raiders host the Chargers.
In both of these primetime showdowns, victory might come down to which lesser-known names make a big impact. Here are two value plays to consider in all DFS contests before the start of Monday’s MNF contests.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.5M Monday Special [$500K to 1st] (Mon)
WR Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders vs. LAC ($3,400)
There’s a non-zero chance Brock Bowers (knee) doesn’t suit up on Monday. That could leave a major hole in Las Vegas’ passing game. Even if the tight end is active, the Raiders need more than just him and Jakobi Myers ($4,900). If anyone else on the Silver and Black can put up points, it’s Tre Tucker. The speedster hauled in two catches for 54 yards and a touchdown against New England last week.
Despite Tucker’s status as Las Vegas’ no. 2 wideout, he’s still cheaper than several of his teammates. Granted, relying on a deep threat is a risky proposition in fantasy football. Still, his skill set meshes well with quarterback Geno Smith ($5,300). The former Seahawks QB ranks tenth in football with 7.5 yards per pass attempt since 2023. As far as end of lineup picks go, the third-year pro is worth consideration on Monday.
TE Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans vs. TB ($3,200)
A much-hyped Texans offense struggled in Week 1. Quarterback C.J. Stroud ($5,500) looked uncomfortable all afternoon vs. the Rams, and Houston scored just nine points. With respect to Tampa Bay, I’m willing to bet we see an improved passing game at home on Monday. Wide receiver Nico Collins ($7,300) is an obvious pick to ramp up his production. However, it’s a mystery as to which other pass catchers will produce. Christian Kirk (hamstring) has already been ruled out. The rest of Houston’s wideout corps are primarily unproven rookies.
A name that flies under the radar when discussing the Texans is Dalton Schultz. Since his days with the Cowboys, the 29-year-old has been a reliable safety valve. Last week, he caught just three passes for 28 yards. Still, no Houston pass catchers had much success vs. Los Angeles. Monday could be an opportunity for Schultz to deliver a quality stat line. In 2024, the Buccaneers surrendered the second-most receiving yards (1,114) and fifth-most receptions (102) to opposing tight ends. At a cost of just $3,200, Schultz is a low-risk, high-reward play.
