RealTime DFS Strategy: Week 2
Fri Sep 12 8:22am ET
By MIKE BARNER
Contributing Writer
We have some star-studded matchups coming our way for Week 2. In addition to the Lions hosting the Bears, we’ll get a Super Bowl rematch with the Chiefs hosting the Eagles. As you prepare your DFS lineups, here are some players to target, as well as a few to potentially avoid.
Quarterbacks
Kyler Murray ARI vs. CAR ($6,400): Murray only threw for 163 yards in Week 1 against the Saints, but he finished with two touchdown passes. He also ran seven times for 38 yards. Up next is a stellar home matchup against the Panthers, who gave up 26 points Sunday after allowing 31.4 points per game last season. When Murray faced them in Week 16 last year, he had 202 passing yards, 63 rushing yards and two total touchdowns.
C.J. Stroud, HOU vs. TB ($5,500): Stroud might not be a popular DFS play after his performance in Week 1. He threw for just 188 yards, did not record a touchdown and posted one interception. His average target depth of 8.0 yards was on par with his average of 8.2 yards from last season, when he was a significant disappointment. However, a matchup against the Buccaneers makes him at least worth considering. They allowed the fourth-most passing yards in Week 1, which comes on the heels of them allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game in the league last season.
Player to Avoid
Patrick Mahomes, KC vs. PHI ($6,200): Mahomes only had an average target depth of 6.3 yards last season. That mark was 6.9 yards against the Chargers last week, which left him to throw for 258 yards and one touchdown. He also chipped in 57 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. The problem is, Rashee Rice is still serving his suspension, and now Xavier Worthy is battling a shoulder injury. Even if Worthy plays this week, he might be limited. A lack of weapons could limit Mahomes’ upside versus the defending champs.
Running Backs
Breece Hall, NYJ vs. BUF ($6,200): Braelon Allen didn’t cut into Allen’s workload in a significant way against the Steelers last week. Hall finished with 19 carries, compared to six for Allen. Hall was also more explosive, averaging 5.6 yards per carry and having a broken tackle rate of 21.1%. The Bills allowed Derrick Henry to rush for 169 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries last week. Hall could approach 20 carries again, leaving him with plenty of upside.
Travis Etienne Jr., JAX at CIN ($5,700): Etienne ran all over the Panthers last week, turning 16 carries into 143 yards. In a vote of confidence for him, the Jaguars then traded Tank Bigsby to the Eagles this week. Behind Etienne on the depth chart now are two rookies who were selected in the fourth and seventh rounds of the 2025 Draft. Volume alone makes Etienne worth considering in DFS.
Player to Avoid
Ashton Jeanty, LV vs. LAC ($7,000): Jeanty immediately took on a leading role, rushing 19 times against the Patriots in Week 1. He did find his way into the end zone, but he ran for a total of only 38 yards. Week 2 brings a difficult matchup against the Chargers, who limited Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt to 41 rushing yards in Week 1. Last year, the Chargers allowed just seven rushing touchdowns. There will be plenty of weeks to feel good about rolling with Jeanty, but this isn’t one of them.
Wide Receivers
Nico Collins, HOU vs. TB ($7,300): With the Texans’ offense playing poorly in Week 1, Collins caught only three passes for 25 yards. The more concerning stat was his five targets. Last season, he averaged 8.3 targets per game. Expect the Texans to look his way more often in this favorable matchup, especially with Christian Kirk (hamstring) in jeopardy of being out again.
Cedric Tillman, CLE at BAL ($4,300): The Browns attempted 45 passes last week. They still have issues at running back, and they could fall into a big hole early against the vastly superior Ravens. That should lead them to throw the ball a lot again Sunday. After posting five catches for 52 yards and a touchdown on eight targets last week, Tillman has the potential to provide significant value in DFS.
Player to Avoid
Mike Evans, TB at HOU ($6,800): There are no shortage of amazing stats for Evans. The most incredible of them all is him posting at least 1,000 receiving yards in all 11 seasons of his career. As good as he has been, this is one of the toughest matchups that he will face all season. Last season, the Texans allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards per game in the league. They have one of the top cornerbacks in the league in Derek Stingley, who should spend a lot of time covering Evans.
Tight Ends
Trey McBride, ARI vs. CAR ($6,000): It’s not difficult to make a case for deploying McBride in DFS on any given week. He was targeted nine times in Week 1, finishing with six receptions for 61 yards. After having a 28.0% target share last season, he had a 31.0% target share last week. A hefty workload against one of the worst defenses in the league could lead to DFS gold for McBride.
Brenton Strange, JAX at CIN ($3,600): The Jaguars used tight end Evan Engram as an important part of their offense during his tenure with the franchise. With him no longer in town, Strange has a chance to step into a fantasy-relevant role. He was targeted four times in Week 1 against the Panthers, catching each of them for a total of 59 yards. What’s really encouraging was his average depth of target of 8.3 yards, which was up from 6.5 last year. If he keeps this up, he likely won’t be available at such a cheap salary for much longer.
Player to Avoid
Mark Andrews, BAL vs. CLE ($4,700): Isaiah Likely (foot) did not play against the Bills, which should have been good news for Andrews. However, he received just one target in the game. Andrews was very touchdown dependent last season, with 11 of his 55 receptions going for scores. The Browns are not a difficult matchup, but if Andrews doesn’t record a touchdown in the matchup, it might be difficult for him to be worth his salary.
Mike Barner has been covering fantasy sports since 2007. His work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, Yahoo, SportsLine and RotoWire. Mike was also a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Follow Mike on Twitter @rotomikebarner.
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The Paur Report
Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (hamstring) was limited in Wednesday's practice ahead of Week 3's home matchup against the Raiders. This seems to be a new injury for McNichols, and the severity is unknown at the moment. McNichols is set to step into a larger role in Washington's backfield as their primary third-down and pass-down back with Austin Ekeler out for the season. McNichols is a highly trusted veteran in pass protection, and he showed some ability to be versatile last season, gaining tough yardage as a runner and catching some passes as a receiver. His most important skill is pass protection, which will keep him on the field a lot. That makes him worth considering as an option to pick up off the waiver wire to see how the Washington backfield shakes out.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel saw his first game action in the NFL in their 41-17 Week 2 blowout at the Ravens. He completed all three of his passes for 19 yards and a touchdown. With the offense scuffling with Joe Flacco as the starter, discussions about a quarterback replacement are starting to pop up in Cleveland, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Fowler says that Cleveland's situation "bears monitoring" in response to the question of which quarterback is most in danger of being benched. While Flacco is safe for now, he compared the situation to Jacoby Brissett with the Patriots last season. Drake Maye's first NFL start came at home against the Texans in Week 6 of last season, for reference. Gabriel has operated as the No. 2 quarterback all summer and has been praised for his mobility, quick release, and overall grasp of the offense. It will likely only be a matter of weeks before Gabriel slides in as the starter in Cleveland. He makes for an intriguing upside swing to stash in redraft superflex leagues and deeper formats.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin (knee) returning in Week 4 'feels like a real possibility,' sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
Fantasy Spin: Godwin hasn't officially been ruled out for Week 3, but it sounds like Week 4 is a more realistic possbility for his return. Even when he does return, it could take Godwin a few games to find his rhythm, and he will also have to compete with Emeka Egbuka for targets. Godwin is worth stashing, but he doesn't need to be starting until he proves it on the field.
From TheHuddle
New York Jets wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. Reynolds hasn't been on the practice field since last Thursday due to a shoulder issue. He sat out last week's game and is in danger of missing the Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His absence should result in a higher workload for Allen Lazard. However, there's really no viable receiving options on this team outside of Garrett Wilson. The Jets are going to be without Justin Fields (concussion), so Tyrod Taylor should be under center. Even if Reynolds plays, fantasy managers can find a better streaming option for Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram (back) was held out of Wednesday's practice session. Engram was dealing with a calf issue last week, but still managed to play in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. However, fantasy managers might not have noticed he played considering he only hauled in one catch for 12 yards during that contest. The veteran tight end has a total of four catches through the first two weeks. His decrease in usage should be more of a concern than this back injury. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday for another update on his status. If he sits, Adam Trautman would see an increased role for the Week 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Engram should be rostered in most formats, but is tough to trust after two straight duds.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) was spotted doing some running on the side during Wednesday's practice. It sounds like Aiyuk is continuing to make progress, but is still going to be sidelined for a few weeks. He's currently on the physically unable to perform list through Week 4. There haven't been many updates on his status lately. The assumption is that Aiyuk should be ready to play around Week 5 or 6, but there should be a better timetable closer to that date. Aiyuk should be stashed in most 12-team formats as he'll likely be a focal point of the offense once he's ready to play.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice session. Mooney missed most of training camp and Week 1 due to a shoulder issue. He made his season debut last week, but was mostly quiet on the field. He hauled in two of his four targets for 20 yards in the victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The fact he was a limited participant on Wednesday could be the Falcons being cautious. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday to see if his status changes at all ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The veteran wideout should be rostered in most 12-team formats despite a slow start.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten (shoulder) was limited during Wednesday's practice session. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried as Tuten still has plenty of time to get ready before the Week 3 matchup against the Houston Texans. Without Tank Bigsby in the picture, Tuten was able to make a big splash last week. He rushed eight times for 42 yards while adding two receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Sadly, Tuten is going to have his value limited as the backup to Travis Etienne Jr. right now. Despite that, Tuten should continue to see his role rise if he plays well. He should be rostered in most 12-team formats at the moment even as the backup.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason is expected to be the main focus in the running game over the next few games. Recently, head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed confidence that Mason has bellcow potential. They expect Mason to handle a significant rushing workload while Aaron Jones (hamstring) is sidelined. The Vikings believe Mason is a multi-faceted player that can do just about anything on the football field. So far this season, Mason has rushed 24 times for 98 yards over the first two games of the season. There's not much competition behind Mason in the backfield right now. He should see all the carries he can handle, which should at least offer RB2 value for their upcoming matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said that second-year wide receiver Troy Franklin is "starting to develop into the player everyone knows he can become." Franklin, who was teammates with Nix at Oregon, had a breakout game in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, catching eight of his nine targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. The 22-year-old wideout currently leads the Broncos in targets (15), catches (12), and receiving yards (133) through the first two games in 2025. Franklin probably won't take over WR1 duties from Courtland Sutton, but a second-year breakout could very well be in the cards for him, especially because of his strong chemistry with Nix. His primary competition for weekly targets will come from Marvin Mims Jr., who is more of a big-play deep threat than one who will be consistently peppered with targets. If you need WR help early on, Franklin is definitely worth a waiver-wire pickup.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams (non-injury) was given the day off for rest and did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Fantasy Spin: Adams has made an immediate impact for the Rams, logging a team-high 21 targets through two games. Perhaps more importantly, both he and Puka Nacua are putting up strong numbers simultaneously, so there is reason to believe that Adams can continue to have success. At the very least, Adams is a WR3 with upside.
From TheHuddle
Denver Broncos rookie second-round running back RJ Harvey is "an important piece of what we're doing," according to head coach Sean Payton. That may be true, and Harvey could see his role grow as the season progresses, but right now, his fantasy value is capped with J.K. Dobbins serving as the RB1 in Denver. Harvey was out-touched 15-6 by Harvey in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and finished with only five carries for eight yards (1.6 yards per tote) while adding one catch for a nice 16-yard gain. In the season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans, the UCF product had six carries for 70 yards and one reception for a loss of a yard. The 24-year-old is slippery with plenty of big-play potential, but right now, he's merely an RB3/flex for fantasy managers with a low floor and ceiling. Harvey and the Broncos also have a difficult upcoming divisional tilt against the 2-0 Los Angeles Chargers on the road this Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams OG Steve Avila (undisclosed), DL Braden Fiske (undisclosed), WR Davante Adams (non-injury) and OT Rob Havenstein (non-injury) did not practice Wednesday, Sept. 17. TE Colby Parkinson (shoulder) was a limited participant.
From TheHuddle
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray didn't exactly ease fantasy managers' concerns regarding second-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. when talking to the media on Wednesday. "There's only one ball. We've been playing this game for a long time. Some days he's gonna get 10, and some days he might get 3. You never know," Murray said when asked if he felt Harrison should have more targets through two weeks. Harrison and Murray supposedly improved their chemistry in the offseason, but through two games, we have yet to see it. The 23-year-old former fourth overall pick is tied for 49th among WRs with 11 targets through two games and has caught seven of them for 98 yards and a touchdown. It might take Harrison a bit more time to reach his true potential, but fantasy managers will be hoping he'll rebound in a divisional matchup this Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (ankle) is dealing with an ankle injury and was listed as a limited participant on the first injury report of Week 3 on Wednesday. It's probably just a bit of rest for the veteran RB early in the week, but it's something worth watching the next few days for fantasy managers. The 27-year-old has been Green Bay's workhorse back through two weeks, as expected, handling 42 carries for 150 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and two touchdowns on the ground, adding one catch for four yards. The Packers will have more than a week of rest going into a Week 3 tilt against the Cleveland Browns, so we'd expect Jacobs to return to practice later this week and play on Sunday. Jacobs should be considered a must-start RB in fantasy if he's active. If he's out or limited, both Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson would likely share backfield touches.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers DE Nick Bosa (non-injury), OT Spencer Burford (knee), DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), WR Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder), FB Kyle Juszczyk (concussion), RB Christian McCaffrey (calf), S Siran Neal (concussion) and OT Trent Williams (knee) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17. QB Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe) was limited during practice, while RB Jordan James (finger) fully participated in practice.
From TheHuddle
The Washington Commanders are expected to "err on the side of caution" with quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) as he battles a knee sprain that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers last Thursday night, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Daniels will not practice this week until at least Friday, and if there is any doubt at all by then, the team is expected to keep him out in Week 3 on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. In a best-case scenario, it seems like Daniels will be questionable this weekend. The Commanders had backup Marcus Mariota meet with the media on Wednesday, an early sign that they are leaning toward starting him under center against the Raiders. Fantasy managers should not plan on having Daniels available in Week 3. If he's out, Washington could lean on the ground game more with rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr., who will be making his 2025 debut after Austin Ekeler's season-ending Achilles injury in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Fantasy Spin: McCaffrey probably will not practice much this season but is on track to play in Week 3. He has been productive in both the running and passing game over the first two weeks and is a must-start option in all fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Kansas City Chiefs DE Mike Danna (quadriceps) and CB Kristian Fulton (ankle) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17. WR Jalen Royals (knee), WR Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and OT Josh Simmons (illness) were limited during practice. WR Hollywood Brown (ankle), DE Ashton Gillotte (elbow), QB Patrick Mahomes (wrist), DE Charles Omenihu (hand), OT Jawaan Taylor (ankle, knee) and LB Drue Tranquill (knee) fully participated in practice.
From TheHuddle
Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (wrist) fully participated in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Fantasy Spin: Mahomes is off to a pretty quiet start to the season with 445 passing yards and two passing touchdowns but has been able to help his fantasy value by rushing for two touchdowns and having at least 55 rushing yards in each of the first two games. He may get one of his receivers back this week and can be a starting option in all fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
