Slate Breaker: FD NFL DFS Week 2

Quarterbacks

Play of the Day: Josh Allen, BUF (vs LV)

After a heartbreaking start to the season, the Bills will be looking to make a statement win. In order for those plans to come into fruition, Josh Allen will be given every opportunity to tear up this weak Raider defense. The Raiders did do a solid job bottling up Russell Wilson a week ago, but this is still a below average unit that allowed the 5th most fantasy points to QBs a year ago, so an angry Allen should feast.

Obvious Plays: Patrick Mahomes, KC (@ JAC)

Solid Plays: Joe Burrow, CIN (vs BAL); Daniel Jones, NYG (@ ARI); Jared Goff, DET (vs SEA)

Joe Burrow and Daniel Jones are looking to bounce back after poor Week 1 performances. Daniel Jones gets a soft landing spot taking on the Cardinals who gave up on the season before it began, with only Budda Baker to worry about on the Cardinal defense, Jones should be able to rack up big plays at will on Sunday. Joe Burrow has a tougher task taking on the Ravens, but he has a history of showing out against the Ravens and with a chip on his shoulder after a miserable Week 1 Burrow will be bringing his A game which will lead to big points for Burrow and the Bengals offense. Mathew Stafford diced apart this Seahawk defense a week ago so Jared Goff should have absolutely no trouble.

Other Plays: Trevor Lawrence, JAC (vs KC); Lamar Jackson; BAL (@ CIN); Geno Smith, SEA (@ DET)

Fade of the Day: Dak Prescott, DAL (vs NYJ)

This Jets defense is just tough. They did not take it easy on a single play last week against the Bills leading to a subpar performance for one of the league's top offenses. Dak and the Cowboys offense does not compare to the Bills group so I expect them to struggle even more and with Dak having no real rushing baseline, he is not worth having in your lineup.

Other Fades: Justin Fields, CHI (@ TB); Jordan Love, GB (@ ATL); Russell Wilson, DEN (vs WAS)

Bust Alert: Justin Herbert, LAC (@ TEN)

The Titans pass defense is one of the league's worst so Herbert looks like a great pick on paper. The issue is that the Titans may give up a lot of yards but they do not give up a lot of TDs. As the third highest priced QB on the slate, he will need multiple scores to be worth a spot in your lineup and that is a tough ask against this Titan defense. Herbert will end up posting a respectable line, but there are far more valuable players to put into your all important QB slot.

Running Backs

Play of the Day: Derrick Henry, TEN (vs LAC)

The Chargers defense was horrible against the run a year ago, they did improve the front seven a bit over the offseason but this is still Derrick Henry we are talking about. Derrick Henry is the top rushing back in the league and given Ryan Tannehill's struggles in Week 1, Henry will be given as many carries as he can handle in order to keep this team competitive. This could be one of those blow up Henry games that he is known for so get this guy in your lineup.

Obvious Plays: Saquon Barkley, NYG (@ ARI); CMC, SF (@ LAR); Austin Ekeler, LAC (@ TEN)

Solid Plays: Bijan Robinson, ATL (vs GB); James Cook, BUF (vs LV); Rachaad White, TB (vs CHI)

Bijan Robinson could not have had a better debut, showing poise as both a rusher and a receiver. He had a great game even while being eased into the offense so you can expect even more work for Robinson in a Week 2 matchup against a weaker Packer run defense. James Cook was THE guy in this Bills backfield in Week 1 handling 80% of the RB carries so with a plus matchup against the Raiders, Cook should be in your lineups. This is a make or break game for Rachaad White. He was an obvious workhorse for the Buccaneers but he was wildly inefficient. The Bears are horrible against the run so if White can a worthwhile fantasy RB this will be the game he proves it. The jury is still out of White but he is worth the risk with such high usage against a horrible Bears run defense.

Other Plays: Travis Etienne Jr., JAC (vs KC); Jahmyr Gibbs, DET (vs SEA); Kenneth Walker, SEA (@ DET), Joshua Kelley, LAC (@ TEN)

Fade of the Day: Tony Pollard, DAL (vs NYJ)

Just like Prescott, Pollard is in a tough matchup against these same Jets. Piling up extra yards against the rugged defensive front will be hard for the small framed Pollard so he will need two or three big plays in order to be worth his lofty price, so he could still end up with a good day, but he just does not seem to be worth the risk.

Other Fades: Tyler Allgeier, ATL (vs GB); Dalvin Cook, NYJ (@ DAL)

Bust Alert: Joe Mixon, CIN (vs BAL)

Mixon has never had great success against the Ravens averaging just 56 rushing yards in 11 career games. The Ravens have continually been one the better run defenses in the league making them a fantasy nightmare for running backs. The Ravens allowed the 6 fewest fantasy points to RBs over the 2022 season and started the 2023 season on the same foot allowing just 53 rushing yards to Texans RBs.

Wide Receivers

Play of the Day: Calvin Ridley, JAC (vs KC)

Calvin Ridley returned after more than a year layoff and looked like he was in midseason form. He was clearly the Jaguars top target, securing 8 of 11 targets for 101 yards and a TD. He should continue his strong comeback performance against the Chiefs who were top 10 in fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. The Jaguars will be reliant on their passing game in order to keep up with the Chiefs, giving Ridley all the work he can handle.

Obvious Plays: Ja'Marr Chase, CIN (vs BAL); Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (vs SEA); Stefon Diggs, BUF (vs LV)

Solid Plays: Keenan Allen, LAC (@ TEN); Nico Collins, HOU (vs IND)

The Titans are just bad against the pass which was again exposed in Week 1 when the Titans gave up 60+ yards to three different Saint receivers. Keenan Allen has the most consistent role out of the Chargers receivers so he should be locked into a busy Sunday, but any of the Chargers receivers could end up with a crazy stat line against the porous Titan secondary. CJ Stroud looked like he was actually able to throw some good balls so in an easier Week 2 matchup he could be primed to post a big yardage total and it is Nico Collins who would benefit the most from such a game with him quickly reaffirming his role as the top target on the offense catching 6 of 11 targets for 80 yards, all team highs, against a tougher Raven secondary.

Other Plays: Michael Pittman, IND (@ HOU); Jahan Dotson, WAS (@ DEN)

Fade of the Day: Garrett Wilson, NYJ (@ DAL)

There is no easy way to say this, Zach Wilson is really going to hurt Garrett. Garrett Wilson did have a productive year last year but most of that production came with a QB other than Wilson. In Garrett's 9 games with Zach at QB, Garrett only topped 100 yards once and only topped 41 yards two other times. Until I see Zach Wilson has made major strides as a passer, I cannot pay up for Garrett Wilson.

Other Fades: Courtland Sutton, DEN (vs WAS); DJ Moore, CHI (@ TB)

Bust Alert: CeeDee Lamb, DAL (vs NYJ)

The league should be on notice after Week 1, the Jets are THE defense to watch out for. They have playmakers on all three levels, but there is no bigger playmaker on this team than Sauce Gardner. Unfortunately for Lamb it will be Gardner who will be lining up across from him for most of the game. This is not a complete death sentence for CeeDee's fantasy production as the Bills were able to get creative with Stefon Diggs a week ago in order to get Sauce Gardner away from him, so look for the Cowboys to do the same with Lamb, but expectations should be managed because this is Lamb's toughest matchup of the year.

Tight Ends

Play of the Day: Darren Waller, NYG (@ ARI)

In what was a skeleton of the Giants' real offense, Waller was the clear first read on most Giants passing plays confirming all the training camp buzz surrounding the team's utilization of Darren Waller. If Waller is truly the team's top target, this will be the week to prove it as he gets a Cardinals defense that is notoriously bad against the tight end. With Waller's talent and usage, he has the potential to be the top scoring tight end on this slate.

Obvious Play: Travis Kelce, KC (@ JAC)

Solid Plays: Zach Ertz, ARI (vs NYG); Cole Kmet, CHI (@ TB)

Ertz and Kmet are in very similar situations. They both are on a bad team with a QB that struggles to pass the ball, but with all that negative, they both are still targets monsters. Ertz had 10 targets and Kmet had 7 in Week 1 so while they may not have the highest ceiling, with both's price hanging right around $5,000, their usage alone makes them worthy plays at their low price.

Other Plays: Even Engram, JAC (vs KC); Sam Laporta, DET (vs SEA), Chig Okonkwo, TEN (vs LAC)

Fade of the Day: George Kittle, SF (@ LAR)

After having tremendous success against the Rams to start his career, the Rams have seemed to figure Kittle out allowing an average of just 31 receiving yards to the tight end over their last four matchups. The usage also does not seem to be something Kittle can count on regularly. With Brandon Aiyuk looking like he has made the jump to WR1, Kittle seems to be a tertiary option in the offense at best.

Other Fades: Kyle Pitts, ATL (vs GB); Gerald Everett, LAC (@ TEN)

Bust Alert: Mark Andrews, BAL (@ CIN)

Andrews is still limited and until he is fully practicing and is flying around like his normal old self, I am not willing to risk playing up because for how good Andrews can be he also does not have a reliable floor to fall back on which a dangerous proposition for the second highest priced Tight End who is dealing with an injury.

Defense

Play of the Day: Dallas Cowboys vs NYJ

This is going to be an absolutely grueling game for both offenses in a matchup of top 5 defenses. The Jets defense will have a strong day but they have a much tougher matchup against the Cowboys offense. The Cowboy defense on the other hand will only have to deal with Zach Wilson and after absolutely shutting down Daniel Jones and the Giant offense, the Cowboys should have absolutely no issues dealing with this Jets offense.

Other Plays: New York Giants @ ARI; Denver Broncos vs WAS; Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs CHI

Dream Team

QB: Josh Allen, BUF (vs LV)

RB1: Derrick Henry, TEN (vs LAC)

RB2: Jahmyr Gibbs, DET (vs SEA)

WR1: Stefon Diggs, BUF (vs LV)

WR2: Nico Collins, HOU (vs IND)

WR3: Jahan Dotson, WAS (@ DEN)

TE: Cole Kmet, CHI (@ TB)

FLEX: Kenneth Walker III, SEA (@ DET)

D/ST: Cowboys vs NYJ

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