We’ve got 13 games on this main slate. Per DraftKings Sportsbook, six games have spreads of three points or less. The biggest favorite is Green Bay on the road over Cleveland by 8.5 points. Three games have a total of at least 45 points, with DAL/CHI the highest at 50.5 points. The lowest total is the GB/CLE and NO/SEA games at 41.5 points. There are five home dogs.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $3.25M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st].
Quarterback
Stud
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams ($6,800) – With Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Jared Goff, and Lamar Jackson off the main slate, the top of the quarterback pool has been nerfed this week. In addition, Jayden Daniels is injured, while Joe Burrow is out for at least three months. I’m not crazy about any of the quarterbacks up top, but if I had to choose one, it would be Hurts. The lack of passing attempts is always a concern, but it’s all about the rushing for him. The Tush Push is the most unstoppable play in football, and Hurts is always in play to convert multiple for touchdowns. He also scrambles and can still throw for touchdowns, although he has yet to this season. The main reason I like Hurts, though, is that I think Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Davante Adams can apply enough pressure to keep the Eagles offense engaged. His ownership will likely be lower due to the 11.54-FPTS dud he put up last week.
Other Options – Jordan Love ($6,300)
Value
Drake Maye, New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers ($5,300) – In Week 1, Maye went 30-of-46 for 287 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, while rushing four times for 11 yards. That translated to 16.78 FPTS. Not bad. Last week, he only attempted 23 passes but completed 19 for 230 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing 10 times for 31 yards. Sure, the Miami Dolphins possess the worst pass defense in the NFL right now, with a 0.47 EPA per dropback, which is the highest by a wide margin. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers are ranked fifth-worst. Maye should have no problem slicing up this banged-up Steelers secondary, especially with his rushing upside. What makes Maye more interesting is that the Patriots pass defense has posted the third-highest EPA per dropback, so Aaron Rodgers could find success, creating the potential for a back-and-forth game.
Other Options – Dak Prescott ($5,900), Caleb Williams ($5,600), Daniel Jones ($5,400), Aaron Rodgers ($5,200), Geno Smith ($5,200), Mac Jones ($5,000)
Running Back
Stud
Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers ($7,900) – Robinson is one of the best dual-threat running backs in the league. In Week 1, he was bottled up on the ground but caught six of seven targets for 100 yards and a touchdown. Last week, he was dominant on the ground, rushing 22 times for 143 yards and catching three of five targets for 25 yards. The stat line would have been bigger if the Vikings had put up more of a fight. Now he faces a Panthers defense that has allowed 5.2 yards per carry and the seventh-highest EPA per carry. The Falcons are favored by 5.5 points on the road, so the game script should be favorable. The Atlanta defense has also been solid, which could lead to more scoring opportunities for Robinson.
Other Options – Christian McCaffrey ($8,200), Jonathan Taylor ($7,200), Bucky Irving ($7,100), Javonte Williams ($6,100)
Value
Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals ($5,400) – Part of me wants to fade Mason, especially since his ownership will likely be massive. He has never been heavily involved in the passing game, either in the NFL or at Georgia Tech, and Carson Wentz isn’t known for checking down often. Speaking of Wentz, there’s a reason he has been on four different teams in four seasons. He’s not good. That said, Kevin O’Connell got Sam Darnold to stop seeing ghosts and have a career year. Wentz is a veteran, so the team just needs him to be competent. If he is, the volume could be massive for Mason, especially with Aaron Jones out and Zavier Scott next up on the depth chart. Scott went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft and has yet to record any NFL stats.
Other Options – Kenneth Walker III ($5,800) if Zach Charbonnet is out, J. K. Dobbins ($5,700), Jaylen Warren ($5,500), Jacory Croskey-Merritt ($5,500), TreVeyon Henderson ($5,400) if the ownership is low, Rhamondre Stevenson ($5,300), Tyler Allgeier ($4,700)
Wide Receiver
Stud
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks at New Orleans Saints ($6,500) – Smith-Njigba is leading the league with a 44.2 percent target share. Only two other players are above 40 percent: Zay Flowers and Garrett Wilson. JSN has scored 23.4 and 21.3 FPTS in his first two games, even without a touchdown. The Saints pass defense has allowed the eighth-highest completion percentage and the fifth-highest passer rating. They have blitzed only 16.3 percent of the time, the tenth-lowest rate in the league. He may not have the ceiling of Ja’Marr Chase or CeeDee Lamb, but he is $1,500 cheaper than both, and he is due for a touchdown. The matchup is more than manageable.
Other Options – Ja’Marr Chase ($8,100), CeeDee Lamb ($8,000), Puka Nacua ($7,700), A. J. Brown ($6,300), Davante Adams ($6,200), Garrett Wilson ($6,200), Deebo Samuel ($6,100), Tee Higgins ($6,100)
Value
Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers ($4,600) – After leading the team with eight targets in Week 1, Boutte had just one last week. As mentioned in the Maye section, this game could be a back-and-forth battle because both pass defenses have been among the league’s worst through two weeks. Stefon Diggs now leads the Patriots with 12 targets, so maybe ownership shifts his way. Still, I prefer Boutte. He is more explosive, and his average depth of target is 17. The 307 air yards on completions allowed by the Steelers are the sixth-most in the NFL.
Other Options – George Pickens ($5,900), D. K. Metcalf ($5,700), Jakobi Meyers ($5,600), Ricky Pearsall ($5,500), Rome Odunze ($5,300), DeVonta Smith ($5,300), Cooper Kupp ($5,000), Michael Pittman Jr. ($4,900), Darnell Mooney ($4,500), Calvin Austin III ($4,000), Troy Franklin ($4,000), Elic Ayomanor ($3,700)
Tight End
Stud
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders vs. Las Vegas Raiders ($4,200) – Ertz drew five and eight targets in the first two games. His 13 targets are tied for second on the team. He played 90 percent of the snaps at tight end last week. If Jayden Daniels plays, he likely won’t run as much, which could mean more targets for Ertz. If Marcus Mariota starts, short, quick passes to neutralize Maxx Crosby’s pressure could be the focus for Washington. In that case, Deebo Samuel and Ertz would likely benefit the most.
Other Options – Brock Bowers ($6,000), Trey McBride ($5,700)
Value
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks ($3,900) – New Orleans ranks 11th in pass rate at 61.76 percent. Spencer Rattler’s 80 pass attempts are the fourth-most in the league through two weeks. Johnson has seen 11 and nine targets so far, producing 15.6 and 15.9 FPTS. Seattle has allowed the second-most receptions to tight ends this season.
Other Options – Jake Ferguson ($4,000), Hunter Henry ($3,800), Jonnu Smith ($3,600), Chig Okonkwo ($3,400), Pat Freiermuth ($3,100)
Defense/Special Teams
Stud
Seahawks DST vs. New Orleans Saints ($3,600) – The Saints have to travel to Seattle and face the 12th Man. They rank 11th in pass rate, and Rattler is going to huck and chuck all day. The more dropbacks a quarterback takes, the more chances there are for sacks and interceptions. Seattle is tied for third with four takeaways and leads the league with a 38.5 percent pressure rate. They are doing it while blitzing only 10.3 percent of the time. That is a major red flag for Rattler.
Other Options – Packers DST ($3,700), Buccaneers DST ($3,500), Vikings DST ($3,400), Colts DST ($3,300), Falcons DST ($3,200)
Value
Jaguars DST vs. Houston Texans ($2,800) – The offensive line is no bueno in Houston and the 39.1% pressure rate is 10th-highest. Jacksonville is 13th in pressure rate but the 10 quarterback knockdowns are tied for second. The -0.26 EPA per dropback is only bested by the San Francisco 49ers and the five interceptions lead the NFL. The Jaguars have put up 11 and eight FPTS in the first two games of the season.
Other Options – Texans DST ($2,700)
