A date with Darrelle Revis shouldn’t scare you away from Jeremy Maclin
So isn’t it strange how Week 1 and Week 2 can be dramatically different? Not to mention how in 2015 a team combines for over 100 points, but in 2016 they combine for 29.
This is what I love about fantasy football in general, and what I love even more about daily fantasy sports. There is so much unpredictability, yet you still need general knowledge and skills to play the game well.
Looking back at Week 2 we hit well on three out of our five quarterbacks. Shockingly, Eli Manning was a bust and one of the two teams I was referring to in the high scoring game in 2015. Matt Ryan and Carson Palmer were by far the best of the bunch based on points per dollar.
I fell for the Carlos Hyde trap. I asked, and I should have listened to that little voice telling me it’s a trap. I didn’t, and hopefully you ignored me on that one.
I did better at the WR and TE positions with my value plays. I wish I had more exposure to Dennis Pitta, though.
Alright, enough living in the past. Time to move forward.
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Quarterback
Ryan Tannehill (MIA): $6,200 vs. CLE
Tannehill is my cash game option, and you will see listed in my notable mentions, Alex Smith is my GPP target. Tannehill will be facing off against a Cleveland defense which ranks 21st against the pass.
They are not awful, nor great. That said, the Browns have not faced an offense like the Dolphins yet this season. Miami is going to be a pass-happy offense with Arian Foster likely out, and Jay Ajayi not amounting to expectations.
With Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker and Kenny Stills, Tannehill should have plenty of targets to throw the ball to. At this price, I will have Tannehill in many of my cash lineups.
Notable mentions:
- Matthew Stafford (DET): $6,800 @ GB
- Philip Rivers (SD): $6,700 @ IND
- Marcus Mariota (TEN): $5,900 vs. OAK
- Alex Smith (KC): $5,800 vs. NYJ
- Brian Hoyer (CHI): $5,000 @ DAL (Note: Only in GPP)
Running Back
Melvin Gordon (SD): $5,800 @ IND
One man’s tragedy is another man’s opportunity. Gordon already had an opportunity as the Chargers’ lead back, but with Danny Woodhead out, that means Gordon should see an increase in touches. Gordon has a great matchup against the Colts too.
Over the first two weeks of the season, the Colts have given up 34.6 points per game to the running back position. That makes them last against the run thus far. Gordon has looked more like the first rounder everyone thought he would be last season.
Notable mentions:
- Frank Gore (IND): $5,000 vs. SD
- Charles Sims (TB): $4,900 vs. LA
- Isaiah Crowell (CLE): $4,700 @ MIA
- Chris Ivory (JAX): $3,900 vs. BAL (Banking on goal line work)
- Shane Vereen (NYG): $3,700 vs. WAS
Wide Receiver
Jeremy Maclin (KC): $6,000 vs. NYJ
Apparently, the people who set prices at DraftKings have not seen how bad Darrelle Revis is this season. At $6,000, give me the top option for Alex Smith and the Chiefs. Maclin will be going up against Revis Island, which sunk some time ago.
Maclin is extremely consistent and can put up monster games. In fact, the Jets are giving up 35.4 points to the WR position over the first two games. Which other receiver will take targets away from Maclin?
My guess is no one will take enough away to matter. In Week 2, Maclin saw 15 targets and has averaged 11 over the first two weeks. He should easily see another 10 on Sunday.
Notable mentions:
- Michael Crabtree (OAK): $6,000 @ TEN
- Michael Floyd (ARI): $5,800 @ BUF
- Sterling Shepard (NYG): $5,500 vs. WAS
- DeVante Parker (MIA): $4,900 vs. CLE
- Quincy Enunwa (NYJ): $4,800 @ KC (Must start for me if Marshall is out)
- Tajae Sharpe (TEN): $4,700 vs. OAK
Tight End
Eric Ebron (DET): $3,700 @ GB
In any lineup where I do not pay up for Delanie Walker, who by the way may not play due to a hamstring injury, I will be using either Ebron or Dennis Pitta. Ebron will be my focus because he has the better matchup. He is facing the Packers in a divisional game, and the Packers have given up the third most points to tight ends this year.
Ebron has seen on average six targets per game, and he should see at least that on Sunday. If he finds the end zone, he will return great value for his salary.
Notable mentions:
- Jason Witten (DAL): $4,300 vs. CHI
- Dwayne Allen (IND): $3,800 vs. SD
- Dennis Pitta (BAL): $3,400 @ JAX
- Zach Miller (CHI): $2,900 @ DAL
Do you think Week 3 falls somewhere in-between what we saw from Weeks 1 and 2, or will it be its own monster?
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Rob Schwarz, Jr. is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Rob, check out his archive. You may also read his work on Fantasy Life, FLAFFLhouse and Clock Dodgers, or you can follow him on Twitter@ChiSportsnut25.
