Hey, RotoBallers! It's Jon Anderson back for another "primer" for the Sunday NFL slate. I hope this helped last week and will continue to help throughout the year. It should be used as just a way to start the week.

I'm no NFL DFS expert by any means, so I'm trying my best to just stick to the projections here. You will find some plays here that stick out just because of their projection and price, we aren't looking at things in terms of stacks or game theory or anything like that - so just keep all of that in mind.

We are looking at the DraftKings NFL DFS main slate on Sunday, September 25th. This analysis and picks will get stronger as we get deeper into the season as more data and clarity comes to the front. Let's dive into it!

Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 10% off using code BALLER! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!

 

DraftKings NFL DFS Quarterbacks

Josh Allen ($8,200) vs. Dolphins

The Bills find themselves in another high-total game at 53.5 projected points. They are less than a touchdown favorite right now, which is pretty interesting - the field seem to be buying in on the Dolphins a bit. We saw what Miami can do with their reconfigured offense last week, and that all pushes Josh Allen's projection upwards. He is quite expensive, which puts him low on the list in terms of "value", but nobody is touching his raw projection this week.

 

Kirk Cousins ($6,700) vs. Lions

I personally don't think it's a great idea to play pocket passers (in cash games, at least) because of the lack of floor points. That said, Cousins is projecting very well here for about 23.5 points at $6,700. That is the second-best value projection to Justin Herbert, who I am not writing up here because of the questions about his health right now. If Herbert is a full go, he's certainly in play, but right now I'm seeing Cousins as the top guy in projected points-per-dollar.

 

Justin Fields ($5,600) vs. Texans

He is extremely risky given how rarely he actually throws the ball, but he will run, and is sure to score his share of touchdowns with his legs this year. For $5,600, you don't need a ton. A moderate day throwing the ball with the normal rushing usage and some touchdown luck will do just fine for what he costs, but it's probably a little bit too thin for big time cash game players.

 

Other QBs projecting well: Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert

 

DraftKings NFL DFS Running Backs

Leonard Fournette ($6,500) vs. Packers

Scoring no touchdowns through two games is a rarity for Fournette, who gets tons of looks in a high-powered offense. The Bucs are likely to really get it going soon, and that would be huge for Fournette's production. He has carried it more than 20 times in both games this year and has added a couple handfuls of targets, so the floor is quite high and the ceiling is huge if Tom Brady and company really get it cranking in week three.

 

Joe Mixon ($7,600) vs. Jets

The Bengals need a win desperately, and the Jets give them a chance to get that. Mixon is one of the few running backs earning elite usage in the days of the backfield-by-committee, and we can trust that will continue due to what we saw last year. He has run 62 routes in two games in addition to average more than 20 carries per game. A great floor, and a great spot here for Mixon.

 

Cordarrelle Patterson ($5,800) vs. Seahawks

Patterson has had two wildly different games this year, with 25 touches in week one and then just ten in week two. That makes him extremely risky, but his PPR upside is enormous, and this is a good matchup with Seattle. The price is right as well, making Patterson an interesting GPP play.

 

Austin Ekeler ($8,000) vs. Jaguars

No touchdowns yet, but 14 targets through two games adding 28 carries. His usage is so good for fantasy even though he's not on the field a ton (in terms of snap count) and maybe isn't even the primary red zone back this year. Any time you can lock in 5-10 targets from your running back, you're in good shape even at the high price tag. His big play upside is among the game's best as well, so we like Ekeler as an expensive player.

 

Other RBs projecting well: Dalvin Cook, Chase Edmonds, David Montgomery

 

DraftKings NFL DFS Wide Receivers

This is the position we really have to nail in PPR, and we saw that in week one with so many huge scores from the league's best receivers.

Cooper Kupp ($9,900) vs. Cardinals

He has the top WR projection and the highest value mark as well, which to me just makes him a lock-button, or at least as much of a lock-button as a near five-figure player can be. The floor is just so solid and the ceiling so high, you can hardly go wrong even with this exorbitant tag.

 

Justin Jefferson ($9,300) vs. Lions

He's second in both raw projection and value, so you can go down to Jefferson from Kupp here if you can't quite find the $600.

 

Tee Higgins ($6,100) vs. Jets

Lots has been made out of the data coming out when Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase play together. Their usage is very similar, but for whatever reason - Higgins remains quite cheap. He gets open a ton, and Joe Burrow loves to find him. The floor/ceiling is too good to pass up at just $6,100.

 

JuJu Smith-Schuster ($5,500) vs. Colts

The Chiefs aren't in the greatest of spots against a good defense and a slower-paced team, but Juju is too cheap. His usage was great in week one, and we can forgive a bit of what happened in week two given the tough matchup the Chiefs had there. I still think this price will end up in the $6,500-$7,000 range, so it's a pretty big discount here and a great way to get some Chiefs exposure.

 

Russell Gage ($4,700) vs. Packers

There is a big hole being left in the Bucs passing game with Mike Evans suspended, and Gage fills in there nicely. The projections like him a lot, and he provides the salary relief we need.

 

Other WRs projecting well: Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill, Brandin Cooks

 

DraftKings NFL DFS Tight Ends

TJ Hockenson ($4,200) vs. Vikings

It's a good season to punt tight end, I think. Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews are on the board, but not exactly in the greatest matchups. That leaves me wanting one of these cheaper guys. Hockenson is the top projected point-per-dollar guy against the Vikings. His 14 targets are second-most on the team, and it's an offense that should find itself in plenty of shootouts this year.

 

Irv Smith ($3,100) vs. Lions

On the other side of that game is Smith, who can quite often give you nothing, but regularly gets redzone looks, and even one little touchdown here will meet the price requirements.

Dallas Goedert ($4,700) vs. Commanders

The Eagles are flying high, putting up great offensive efficiency numbers. Goedert is a talented pass catcher, and the price still just doesn't seem quite right - and the projections agree.

 

Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!

More Fantasy Baseball Analysis