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The top daily fantasy football lineup picks for DraftKings in Week 2 of 2019. Joe Nicely's NFL DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
What's up RotoBallers and football fans? I hope you were able to Break The Slate last week! We had some nice plays highlighted in this article, with guys like Christian McCaffery, Chris Carson, Mark Ingram, and John Brown hopefully helping you to bring in some nice DFS profits to start the season!
These DraftKings lineup recommendations are based on matchups, projected ownership, overall upside/talent levels, opportunity, and other factors such as Vegas odds, home field advantage, and more. There are quite a few great value plays available, so read on to find out which players are the best for Week 2.
Good luck with your DraftKings DFS lineups, lets Break The Slate together!
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DraftKings DFS Quarterbacks - Week 2 Picks
Lamar Jackson - ARI @ BAL ($6,700)
Ok...so you're telling me that Lamar Jackson can throw the ball too? The second-year QB SHREDDED Miami in the season opener, completing 17 of 20 pass attempts for 324 yards and 5 TDS. Sure, the Dolphins are a dumpster fire, but I don't know that Arizona's depleted secondary is much better. The Cards are fresh off off a Week 1 performance in which they relinquished 385 yards and 3 TDs through the air to Matt Stafford and might be shaping up to be a pass-funnel defense (AZ held Detroit's running game in check, allowing just 3.2 YPC). Time will tell if Week 1 was an outlier game for Jackson - as the Ravens truly do want to run the ball - but if he can post 36.6 DK points while only rushing for six yards, Jackson certainly has my attention.
Dak Prescott - DAL @ WAS ($6,300)
Like the aforementioned Lamar Jackson, we know that Dak Prescott has running ability (second in QB rushing TDs in 2018), but the Cowboys' signal caller showed off his throwing prowess in Week 1. Prescott lit the Giants up for 405 yards and 4 TDs on 32 pass attempts. He looked extremely comfortable in first-year OC Kellen Moore's revamped Dallas offense and was especially impressive on throws off of play action. There's no doubt that this offense runs through Ezekiel Elliott, but it's likely that the Cowboys will continue 'easing him in' over the next couple of weeks while allowing Prescott to capitalize on the 'threat of Zeke'. This week, Dak gets a Washington Redskins secondary that looked sluggish and often discombobulated in their opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 'Skins allowed 313 yards and 3 TDs through the air to Philly's Carson Wentz last week and I look for Moore to continue unleashing Dak and the 'Boys passing attack in this one.
DraftKings DFS Running Backs - Week 2 Picks
Alvin Kamara - NO @ LAR ($8,200)
Sometimes it's easy to get 'too cute' when constructing DFS rosters and we can often outthink ourselves by the time Sunday rolls around. Don't overthink this one...Alvin Kamara is a great player in a great spot this week. Kamara looked more electric as each quarter passed in the Saints' season opener against Houston, finishing with 97 yards on the ground and seven catches for 72 yards. The former Tennessee Vol easily outpaced new Saints RB Latavius Murray, with 50 offensive snaps to Murray's 18. This Rams Defense was dead last in the NFL in yards allowed per carry in 2018, and - true to form - was destroyed by Carolina's Christian McCaffery in the season opener. Take advantage of these situations when they present themselves...AK is set to have a big game this week.
Kerryon Johnson - LAC @ DET ($5,700)
At the risk of not taking my own advice that's listed above, I'm willing to get a little frisky here and bet on a player that disappointed last week. Detroit's Kerryon Johnson seemed primed for a big role when the Lions released veteran RB Theo Riddick. Unfortunately, the Lions then signed human-bowling-ball C.J. Anderson. Johnson still received the majority of the snaps in Week 1 (48 vs Anderson's 24), but failed to get much going against the Cardinals. He might find things a bit easier this week in a bounce-back spot against a Chargers Defense that is down several key players and was just destroyed by Marlon Mack in their opener. L.A. allowed a MASSIVE 6.4 yards per carry to the Colts last week and this game carries an attractive O/U (47.5) and tight spread, which is the type of game environment that should benefit Kerryon, as he'll handle the vast majority of any passing-down work. He's a large-field GPP pivot that will come with reduced ownership after last week's dud.
Josh Jacobs - KC @ OAK ($4,700)
You won't sneak up on anyone with Josh Jacobs this week, as I expect him to be one of the most popular running backs on the slate. The rookie garnered a huge chunk of Oakland's carries Monday night, taking 23 of the Raiders' 26 handoffs against Denver. His passing-down role is much less defined, which is slightly concerning as the Raiders host Kansas City for a game in which they will most likely be trailing for a large portion of the game. The name of this article aside, due to his ownership and questions surrounding his role in the passing game, I don't know that Jacobs is a 'break the slate' type play, but he's a very affordable option that's going up against a beatable KC defense.
DraftKings DFS Wide Receivers - Week 2 Picks
Michael Gallup - DAL @ WAS ($5,600)
As is my habit, I'm willing to eschew the higher-priced wide receivers for the most part this week in favor of some low-priced, high-upside plays at this volatile position (If you are spending up, Keenan Allen is due for a huge workload and is my favorite high-priced WR). My first target is the Cowboys' young wideout Michael Gallup. I'm drawn to Gallup's price - which I feel is a great value - as well as his explosive talent and role in this seemingly re-energized Dallas offense. Gallup has been hyped up for some time now and he looked every bit the part against the Giants in Week 1, catching all seven balls thrown his way for 158 yards. He's set to square off against a 'Skins secondary that looked very slow-footed and unorganized against Philly last week. Washington was torched by speedster DeSean Jackson and the Eagles receiving corps, allowing 214 yards and 3 TDs to wide receivers in Week 1. Gallup has explosive talent and should continue to be a big part of the Dallas offense. He can be stacked with Dak Prescott for those of you that want a lot of exposure to this matchup.
Tyrell Williams - KC @ OAK ($4,400)
I'm sure you'll notice that there are several Raiders highlighted in this week's article and we have another one here at the WR spot with Tyrell Williams. Oakland looked surprisingly competent in their opener against what was 'supposed to be' a tough Denver defense. Williams torched the Broncos for 105 yards and a TD on six catches, while being targeted on seven of Derek Carr's 26 pass attempts. He's hugely underpriced at $4.4k and draws a juicy matchup against a KC secondary that was torched in the opener by guys named Conley and Chark. The Raiders will be forced to stay aggressive throughout in this one and Williams will be the first option on the majority of Carr's downfield throws.
Terry McLaurin - DAL @ WAS ($3,800)
We've already talked about a couple of Dallas Cowboys in this week's article. Terry McLaurin is my favorite piece on the Washington side of the ball and is a nice option if you need to save salary or are looking to stack this game. We heard rumblings out of the 'Skins camp about how impressive McLaurin had been and the young speedster didn't disappoint in Week 1, going for 125 yards and a TD on five catches. He was encouragingly on the field for 62 snaps (92% of Washington's offensive plays), garnered seven targets, and gobbled up a huge percentage of air yards. His matchup is brutal, as the Cowboys are very strong at defending the deep ball, but his price makes him a great (boom or bust) option when constructing Milly Maker lineups.
DraftKings DFS Tight Ends - Week 2 Picks
Darren Waller - KC @ OAK ($3,300)
Oh how I love savin' me some money at the TE spot, and as a bonus, this one doesn't even feel like a dart throw. Oakland's Darren Waller filled the departed Jared Cook's shoes very admirably in Week 1. Waller was on the field for 100% (!) of Oakland's offensive snaps against the Broncos (running routes on 80% of them) and reeled in seven of eight targets for 70 yards Monday night. He's an athletic freak (6'6" with a 4.46 40 at the 2015 Combine) that will finally get a chance to stay on the field for the short-handed Raiders. This Oakland offense is shaping up to be an extremely 'usage concentrated' unit, with RB Josh Jacobs, WR Tyrell Williams, and Waller set to be the main cogs on this attack (and they're all in this week's article). The matchup and expected game environment is good, with Waller drawing a matchup against a soft KC defense in a game in which the Raiders offense will be forced to remain aggressive throughout the day.
T.J. Hockenson - LAC @ DET ($3,000)
I understand if you want to call this selection point chasing, but I also don't care. Detroit's rookie TE T.J. Hockenson is uber talented and ready to shatter the myth that it takes tight ends at least a year to get acclimated to the NFL. He smashed the Cardinals in Week 1, reeling in six of nine targets for 131 yards and a TD. I don't expect him to replicate that outing this week, but he does have tournament-winning upside for a tiny $3k price tag. The rookie was on the field for 72% of Detroit's offensive snaps and ran pass routes on 90% of those. The bottom line is that the Detroit Lions selected this guy eighth overall in the draft...they are going to use him. This game has a tight spread and an O/U of 47.5. He also gets a Chargers defense that will be without Derwin James.
DraftKings DFS Defenses - Week 2 Picks
Chicago Bears - CHI @ DEN ($3,900)
Paying up for the Baltimore Ravens D/ST worked well for me last week and I'm willing to take the same type of 'set it and forget it' approach with the Bears stout defense in Week 2. There was some concern that the Bears may regress with the departure of Vic Fangio Denver, but Chicago and new DC Chuck Pagano answered the bell against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, allowing just 10 points while supplying relentless pressure (that resulted in five sacks) and smothering run defense. Joe Flacco is no Rodgers and the Bears shouldn't have any trouble wreaking havoc on the statue-esque Flacco.
Houston Texans - JAX @ HOU ($2,800)
Yeah, Gardner Minshew seems like a cool guy and makes for a great story, but I like this J.J. Watt-led Texans unit against the rookie that will be making his first NFL start on the road. The Jags will try to lean on Leonard Fournette in this one, but a rugged Houston unit that was second in the league in yards allowed per carry last season, will make that gameplan difficult to execute. Maybe Minshew can keep this thing going another week, but I look for reality (and multiple turnovers) to set in Sunday.
