NFL DFS Value Picks to Target: Week 2 (2023 Fantasy Football)

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After a great Week 1, hitting on guys like Brandon Aiyuk, Anthony Richardson, Jordan Love, and the Arizona Cardinals defense, I’m excited to jump into Week 2! I don’t want to bore you with a long intro (does anyone read this anyway?). Let’s get to it…

Quarterback

DraftKings

Brock Purdy (QB – SF) @ LAR $5,700

Purdy is the first QB in the NFL to win his first six games while throwing at least two touchdowns in every game, and he’s also the first QB with a passer rating of 95 or higher in all six games. System quarterback? Maybe…but it’s a damn good system. The Rams’ defense, while they looked good last week, is not the once-dominant defense they used to be.

Others to Consider: Jordan Love (QB – GB) $5,500

FanDuel

Geno Smith (QB – SEA) @ DET $7,000

The game between these two teams last season saw a season-high 93 points scored. I’m not expecting that type of offensive explosion this season, mainly because I think the Lions’ defense is vastly improved, but Vegas has this as the second-highest game total on the main slate — only the Chiefs/Jags game is higher. I’m expecting a huge bounce-back for this Seahawks team that did not look ready to play football last week in an upset loss to the Rams.

Others to Consider: Brock Purdy (QB – SF) $7,100

Running Back

DraftKings

Kenneth Walker III (RB – SEA) @ DET $5,800

So much for the Zach Charbonnet vs. Kenneth Walker debate. If last week’s usage is any indication, it’s more a Zach Charbonnet vs. DeeJay Dallas debate. Kenneth Walker had 17 opportunities (carries+targets), and while he didn’t do much with them, he did average 5.33 yards per carry. Unfortunately, he was game-scripted out as the Seahawks fell behind early and had to abandon the run. I see no such issue for them this week, and I’m expecting a huge game from Walker. The knock on him was his lack of passing game usage, but his five targets last week were more than Charbonnet (0) and Dallas (1) combined.

Others to Consider: Joshua Kelley (RB – LAC) $5,000 | Zack Moss (RB – IND) $4,700

FanDuel

Jahmyr Gibbs (RB – DET) vs. SEA $5,800

Ironically, I’m taking a “pass-catching RB” on FanDuel after taking a “1st and 2nd down” back on DraftKings, which seems to be completely backward; however, just like Walker’s five targets last week, Gibbs looked good running the ball, albeit in a small sample size. Gibbs rushed for six yards per carry last week, and had he not tripped on one of his inside-the-10 touches, he would have scored. Do I expect Gibbs to carry the ball 15-20 times? Absolutely not. However, I think his carries will increase, and he will see more use in the passing game. Anyone who watched last week’s game could tell that the more explosive player on the field was Gibbs, not David Montgomery.

Others to Consider: Joshua Kelley (RB – LAC) $6,300 | James Conner (RB – ARI) $6,400

Wide Receiver

DraftKings

Deebo Samuel (WR – SF) @ LAR $5,600

One of my calls last week was Brandon Aiyuk, and that paid off handsomely. But, as a 49er fan, I’m telling you it’s Deebo Week. The 49ers did everything they could to get Deebo involved last week. He had the first two touches of the game on carries, he had another carry later in the game, and he and Purdy just missed hooking up for a huge play that I think Deebo would have scored on. Deebo also loves to play the Rams. In eight games in his career against the Rams, he is averaging 21 ppr points, compared to 14.4 against all other teams — and since 2020, it has jumped to 24.5 ppr points. (via FTNFantasy.com)

Others to Consider: Nico Collins (WR – HOU) $4,800 | Zay Jones (WR – JAC) $4,700

FanDuel

Zay Jones (WR – JAC) vs. KC $6,300

This pick has to makings of a slate breaker. Jones is cheap and still viewed as the third or fourth option on the team behind Calvin Ridley, Travis Etienne, and possibly even Evan Engram or Christian Kirk. However, in the highest Vegas total game at 51.5, give me the cheap WR that always seems to be targeted in the red zone. Zay Jones only had three fewer red zone targets than the team leader Christian Kirk in 2002, despite playing one fewer game and 50 fewer snaps. Last week, Jones equaled the number of red zone targets received by Calvin Ridley (each getting two), and, in fact, they were the only two receivers targeted at all in the red zone.

Others to Consider: Nico Collins (WR – HOU) $6,200 | DJ Moore (WR – CHI) $6,100

Tight End

DraftKings

Zach Ertz (TE – ARI) vs. NYG $3,500

Quick. Who led all tight ends in targets in Week 1? Okay, you got me, it was Zach Ertz. I guess asking that question under the subheading “Zach Ertz” was probably a dead giveaway. All jokes aside, Ertz had 10 targets in Week 1. Now, they were the most inefficient 10 targets in the history of the NFL (not a real stat), but they were 10 targets nonetheless. When playing tight ends in DFS, follow the targets. To be a top-scoring at the tight end position, you don’t have to do much. Point and case: Hunter Henry was last week’s top-scoring tight end with 5 catches for 56 yards and a TD.

Others to Consider: Adam Trautman (TE – DEN) $3,000

FanDuel

Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE – TEN) vs. LAC $4,700

I know what you’re thinking: Chig didn’t do anything last week. And you’re right. He put up a big fat zero. However, he was in on 83 percent of snaps — the eighth most among tight ends — and he ran 29 routes, more than George Kittle, more than Darren Waller, and more than Pat Freiemuth. Not to mention, Durham Smythe looked like a serviceable tight end last week against this Chargers team, and Chig is a much better athlete than Smythe.

Others to Consider: Sam LaPorta (TE – DET) $5,100

Defense

DraftKings

Arizona Cardinals vs. NYG $2,600

The Cardinals’ defense surprised some people last week by getting good pressure on Commanders QB Sam Howell, shutting down their running game and causing multiple turnovers. If there is a team that embodied pressure on their QB, a bad run game, and turning the ball over, the Giants are that team.

FanDuel

NY Jets @ DAL $3,700

After the game the Jets defense had against turnover machine Josh Allen in Week 1, you can imagine their excitement when they realized the schedule makers did them a favor by getting to play turnover machine Josh Allen two weeks in a row!

Oh wait, that’s Dak Prescott.

The same statement is true. Prescott didn’t need to do anything last week in such a lopsided game, and maybe he won’t this week either with Zach Wilson under center, but I will take my chances on a cheap Jets defense versus turnover machine Josh All…Dak Prescott.