Week 1 was… rough. After starting out hot, Carson Wentz turned out to be a total dud. And I can promise you that was the last time I’ll waste a spot on DeSean Jackson.
This week, we aren’t messing around at quarterback. Thankfully, I was able to find some exciting bargains at running back that made this strategy possible. Here’s a full breakdown of my Week 2 FanDuel lineup for the entire slate of games.
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Quarterback: Lamar Jackson (BAL): $9,500
As I said, I’m not messing around this week. We’re taking the chalk and going with Jackson at the top. The reigning MVP put up 27.5 points in last week’s blowout over Cleveland. I’d argue he has an even better matchup this week against a Texans defense that Kansas City dominated in the 2020 season opener.
Last year, Jackson threw for 222 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 79 yards against Houston. Nothing is guaranteed, but I’d say that Jackson is a safe bet to post similar numbers against Houston’s lousy defense.
Running Back: Jonathan Taylor (IND): $5,800
All offseason, I wrote about how I couldn’t fully buy into Taylor in season-long leagues because we never knew when his time would come. We got our answer to that question when Marlon Mack tore his Achilles last week in Jacksonville. Ready or not, Taylor’s the starter in Indy.
Frank Reich confirms: Rookie Jonathan Taylor is the team's starting running back.
Nyheim Hines will still very much be involved.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) September 14, 2020
Taylor only carried the ball nine times for 22 yards last week, but he destroyed any concerns about his pass-catching ability by hauling in six passes. Taylor looked pretty good in limited action, and I’m amazed by his speed for his 5-foot-10, 226-pound frame.
Nyheim Hines will certainly play a role as Philip Rivers’ new version of Austin Ekeler, but the early-down work is Taylor’s. He gets a solid matchup at home against a Vikings defense that yielded 158 yards on the ground last week vs. Green Bay.
Running Back: Ronald Jones II (TB): $5,900
Ronald Jones looked good Sunday against the Saints’ strong front seven. He rushed 17 times for 66 yards and caught two passes for 16 yards. He was the most effective back on the field despite playing fewer than half the snaps.
This week, I’ll take a stab on Jones against an enticing matchup. Go look up Josh Jacobs’ stats from Week 1 if you don’t know what I’m talking about. The Carolina Panthers defense is in shambles, and it surrendered 133 yards and three rushing touchdowns last week.
Tampa will be looking to take out some frustration from Week 1 on the poor Panthers. Hopefully, Jones gets in on the party more than running mates Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy.
Wide Receiver: Davante Adams (GB): $8,600
Davante Adams went bananas in Week 1, catching 14 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. And while last week’s performance might be tough to top, the matchup against Detroit could breed similar results.
The Lions are coming off a total meltdown during which they allowed Mitchell Trubisky, of all people, to throw three fourth-quarter touchdowns. Detroit’s secondary is banged up with Darryl Roberts, Justin Coleman, and Desmond Trufant all nursing injuries. First-round pick Jeff Okudah is set to make his debut this weekend, but matching him up against Adams in his first career game would be a recipe for failure.
Nobody can match Adams one-on-one in this contest. Expect the Aaron Rodgers revenge tour to roll on, with Adams serving as the main attraction.
Wide Receiver: Amari Cooper (DAL): $7,000
It was an underwhelming debut for what was supposed to be an explosive Dallas offense. The Cowboys only scored 17 points. Dak Prescott only threw for 266 yards, and his lone touchdown pass was caught by… Ezekiel Elliott.
While Dallas couldn’t light up the scoreboard, Cooper had a really nice game, especially when you consider that he was matched up against Jalen Ramsey for much of the night. Cooper hauled in 10 of his 14 targets for 81 yards. The problem was that Ramsey was draped on Cooper whenever he got the ball, which limited his ability to do damage after the catch.
This weekend’s matchup against the Falcons could be the perfect remedy. Russell Wilson threw for 322 yards and four touchdowns last weekend in Atlanta. Whether he lines up against Isaiah Oliver or A.J. Terrell, Cooper should feast.
Wide Receiver: Parris Campbell (IND): $5,800
The early returns suggest Campbell had a better rapport with Philip Rivers than T.Y. Hilton. While Campbell and Hilton each had nine targets, Rivers and Campbell connected more often over the middle of the field. Campbell hauled in six passes for 71 yards while Hilton caught only four balls and had a critical drop that essentially iced the game.
Minnesota’s horrific defensive performance was among the biggest Week 1 surprises. And while I trust Mike Zimmer to get things cleaned up, it may take a few weeks to fix this secondary. Aaron Rodgers shredded Minnesota for 364 yards and four touchdowns last week.
Rivers simply doesn’t have the arm strength that he used to, which forces him to throw the ball short while working in the middle of the field. This plays perfectly into what Campbell does. Against a very questionable secondary, I could see Campbell posting a similar stat line and getting into the end zone.
Tight End: Mark Andrews (BAL): $7,500
When healthy, Andrews is a baller, and he’s Lamar Jackson’s favorite target — especially in the red zone. Andrews tied for the team lead in targets during last week’s blowout win over the Browns and hauled in two scores.
The Texans did a decent job against Travis Kelce, but they still let him get in the end zone. If I’m going to stack anyone with Lamar Jackson, it’s Andrews. This combination could connect for a couple more scores Sunday.
FLEX: Emmanuel Sanders (NO): $5,700
Opportunity knocks for Emmanuel Sanders. With Michael Thomas out with a high ankle sprain, I’m willing to take a shot on Sanders in my FLEX at this price.
Sanders’ Saints debut wasn’t incredible. He found the end zone, but he caught only three passes for 15 yards. However, he should face a softer matchup Monday night in Las Vegas.
The Raiders defense offered almost no resistance in the passing game last week against Carolina. Teddy Bridgewater threw for 270 yards and a touchdown, and speedy receiver Robby Anderson had the best day with six grabs for 115 yards and a score. Sanders isn’t quite the deep threat that Anderson is, but he plays with a ton of speed and could be a mismatch nightmare for Oakland’s secondary.
Defense: Los Angeles Rams: ($4,500)
Aaron Donald could single-handedly wreck this game against Philadelphia’s makeshift offensive line. The Eagles will get Lane Johnson back, which definitely helps. But this offensive line is still reeling after allowing 14 quarterback hits and eight sacks against Washington.
Plus, Philadelphia’s receiving group has no depth to challenge the Rams secondary. The return of Miles Sanders is a bit troubling, but I don’t expect him to be at his best after missing the bulk of camp with a hamstring injury.
The Rams are a safe bet to at least put up a respectable effort. And at defense, I’m not going to overthink anything.
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Matt Barbato is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Matt, check out his archive and follow him @RealMattBarbato.
