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Joe Nicely's DraftKings NFL DFS picks and lineup sleepers for the Week 2 (September 2024) Main Slate. His top daily fantasy football lineups to target for DraftKings DFS contests.
Hello, RotoBallers, and welcome back to our weekly DraftKings NFL DFS article! I hope you all enjoyed Week 1 and had some profitable DFS lineups.
We are off and running as we hop into the Week 2 Main Slate, a slate that features some legitimate marquee matchups, as well as some game environments that we project to be very friendly for DFS scoring.
These DraftKings lineup recommendations are based on matchups, projected DK points and ownership, overall upside/talent levels, and opportunity, as well as factors such as Vegas odds, home-field advantage, and more. There are quite a few great plays available on DK for Week 2. Also, be sure to check out our weekly FanDuel DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big! Good luck with your DraftKings DFS lineups -- let's dominate this slate together!
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DraftKings Quarterbacks - Week 2 DFS Picks
Jared Goff - TB at DET ($6,400)
There's certainly no shortage of marquee QBs on the Week 2 slate. But despite the presence of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and others on the salary scale, I'm comfortable starting a lot of GPP lineups with Jared Goff at $6,400.
The Lions signal-caller put forth ho-hum numbers in a season-opening win over the Rams, but he's in a much better spot to succeed in Week 2 matchup against a Tampa Bay defense that allowed the NFL's fifth-most passing yards in 2023 while being one of the league's most prominent pass-funnel units.
In addition to their struggles last season, the Bucs head to Detroit almost comically banged up in the secondary (more on that later) and could be down as many as four defensive backs against Goff and the Lions.
Jayden Daniels - NYG at WAS ($6,200)
If you read last week's edition of this article, then you know I urged you guys to jump on Jayden Daniels before his price tag soared. Sure enough, after posting 28.2 DraftKings points in his NFL debut, the rookie has received a $500 price bump on the Week 2 slate.
The first Rookie of the Week award in the NFL for 2024: Jayden Daniels 🐅 pic.twitter.com/kWBF75kCCz
— Tiger Vibes (@Tiger__Vibes) September 12, 2024
That salary increase might not be enough. I'm content to stay on Daniels in a matchup against what could turn out to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this year -- the New York Giants. The G-Men don't have much going for them in any department and that includes a secondary that was carved up by *checks notes* Sam Darnold in Week 1.
Daniels didn't have a prolific passing day in Week 1, completing 17-of-24 passes for just 184 yards, but dominated on the ground, picking up 88 yards and two scores on a massive 16 rushing attempts. That dynamic ability running the ball raises his DFS floor to a borderline elite level, while better passing performances undoubtedly lie ahead.
Additional Week 2 QB Considerations: Lamar Jackson ($7,200), Anthony Richardson ($6,800), Baker Mayfield ($5,900)
DraftKings Running Backs - Week 2 DFS Picks
Jonathan Taylor - IND at GB ($7,700)
Although J.T. was relatively held in check by the Texans in the season opener, he may well be the new RB usage king in 2024. Taylor handled every single Colts running back touch in Week 1 while piling up a 96% snap share.
The Packers gave up the most fantasy points to opposing running backs in Week 1.
Next up: the Colts and Jonathan Taylor 😳 pic.twitter.com/p1a3U4yaM3
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) September 11, 2024
With Indy's lack of backfield depth and Taylor's talent, his elite workload should remain in a Week 2 meeting against a Green Bay squad that's expected to have Malik Willis at the helm -- a factor that could encourage the Colts to play conservatively on offense should they get a lead.
The matchup is a smash spot, as the Packers were destroyed by Saquon Barkley in the season opener, coughing up 132 yards and three TDs to the Eagles running back while allowing a chunky 4.44 yards per carry.
Jordan Mason - SF at MIN ($5,200)
With Week 2's main slate pricing already out before Christian McCaffrey's surprise scratch on "Monday Night Football," we find CMC's backup, Jordan Mason, priced at just $5.2K. Though it's a situation we'll be forced to monitor into the weekend, Mason would become a DFS auto-play in cash and single-entry formats if McCaffrey can't suit up in Week 2.
The inexperienced but talented Mason balled out in the CMC role in Week 1, torching the New York Jets for 152 total yards and a TD. Kyle Shanahan entrusted the third-year pro with a whopping 28 carries. While the matchup against Minnesota is a tough one, Mason would once again be in line to be the workhorse for one of the best offenses in football if McCaffrey is sidelined in Week 2.
Additional Week 2 RB Considerations: Isiah Pacheco ($6,900), Derrick Henry ($6,700), Tony Pollard ($5,900)
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DraftKings Wide Receivers - Week 2 DFS Picks
Amon-Ra St. Brown - TB at DET ($8,100)
This might be one of your only opportunities this season to "buy the dip" on St. Brown, as the public's consensus on him is likely sagging after his rare disappearing act in the season opener, an outing in which he tallied just 13 yards on three catches against the Rams.
I expect a huge bounce-back outing from St. Brown and the Lions' passing attack in Week 2. A home-field, domed matchup against a Bucs defense that allowed the fifth-most passing yards in the NFL last season sure does feel like a get-right spot, especially when we consider the fact that Tampa Bay's secondary is currently a walking MASH unit.
Tampa has four defensive backs -- including All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. -- who are dealing with injury statuses that range from questionable to out. We should see the "Sun God" shining once again in Week 2.
Cooper Kupp - LAR at ARI ($7,600)
What's the NFL record for targets in a game? Whatever it is, Cooper Kupp could sniff it in Week 2. Following Puka Nacua's early exit in the season opener, Kupp saw a mind-boggling 21 targets in Week 1. He parlayed that ridiculous volume into 14 catches, 110 yards, and a score against the Lions.
Cooper Kupp executing the deep out route to perfection
Sell 9 ⬆️, stop on a dime 🛑 pic.twitter.com/7iIazj0XVX
— Receiver School (@ReceiverSchool) September 9, 2024
With Nacua now officially off to IR, we can expect more of the same for Kupp against the Arizona Cardinals. While Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson will mix in, make no mistake, Matthew Stafford will relentlessly look Kupp's way against an unproven Cards secondary.
If you're entering single-entry GPPs or playing cash, the Rams stud wideout is a borderline auto play.
Additional Week 2 WR Considerations: Mike Evans ($7,500), Malik Nabers ($5,900), Jameson Williams ($5,300)
DraftKings Tight Ends - Week 2 DFS Picks
Trey McBride - LAR at ARI ($6,000)
Week 1 was a sleepy one for the tight-end position as a whole and that extended over to Trey McBride, who had a mediocre 5/30/0 stat line against Buffalo in the season opener. However, I continue to trust McBride's talent and his elite volume.
Despite that middling production in Week 1, there's reason to remain optimistic about McBride in this week's matchup against the Rams, a defense that allowed the NFL's sixth-most receiving yards and second-most receiving TDs to the TE position in 2023.
McBride's usage was elite in Week 1, as he led the Cardinals with nine targets, a trend that appears to have carried over from last season when he averaged 8.25 targets per game when Kyler Murray was Arizona's QB.
Brock Bowers - LV at BAL ($4,400)
For all the concerns surrounding his potentially horrible landing spot with the Raiders and a mysterious preseason foot injury, Brock Bowers looked like Brock Bowers in Week 1. The collegiate superstar led Las Vegas in both targets (eight) and receptions (six) in the season opener, tallying 58 yards in his NFL debut.
Brock Bowers led the Raiders in targets with 7 in Week 1. He played 68.3% of the snaps and ran a route on 96.9% of snaps. Just 6 catches for 58 yards but a very encouraging rookie debut. pic.twitter.com/mLNJJrIZuO
— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) September 10, 2024
While the usage is certainly encouraging, Bowers also passed the eye test for me, as he looked dynamic with the ball in his hands and comfortable against NFL competition. He'll face no easy task this week against the Ravens, but cheap volume is tough to come by at the tight-end position, and Bowers should remain a prime target in the Raiders' passing attack.
Additional Week 2 TE Considerations: Sam LaPorta ($6,300), George Kittle ($5,500), Taysom Hill ($3,900)
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