The players below are the ones I’m looking at for NFL DFS GPP considerations this week. Salaries marked with an * indicate a strong value in pricing difference on FanDuel.
Week 2 NFL DFS GPP Advice & Picks
Quarterbacks
Mac Jones (QB – SF) @ NO | DraftKings: $4,000/FanDuel: $6,000
When a backup quarterback ascends to the starting role at a flat $4,000, you simply play him no matter who it is. When that backup is a quarterback who had multiple QB1 finishes in 2024 and turned a rookie into a slate-breaking top-10 receiver, you stack them and call it a day.
The players below are the ones I’m looking at for NFL DFS GPP considerations this week. Salaries marked with an * indicate a strong value in pricing difference on FanDuel.
Week 2 NFL DFS GPP Advice & Picks
Quarterbacks
Mac Jones (QB – SF) @ NO | DraftKings: $4,000/FanDuel: $6,000
When a backup quarterback ascends to the starting role at a flat $4,000, you simply play him no matter who it is. When that backup is a quarterback who had multiple QB1 finishes in 2024 and turned a rookie into a slate-breaking top-10 receiver, you stack them and call it a day.
Mac Jones is a very capable quarterback, and backups have done very well in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Jones will be without several of the 49ers’ key weapons, but that does help create a very clear, cost-effective stack with Ricky Pearsall.
Trevor Lawrence was a highly disappointing chalk play in Week 1 and finished with 19 completions on 31 attempts for just 178 yards with one touchdown and one interception. However, while the Panthers’ defense is a prime target, they’re easier to target on the ground than through the air.
This week’s matchup is a far better volume play. Cincinnati’s Week 1 defense requires context. Cincinnati intercepted two Joe Flacco passes that were the direct result of pure luck, bobbled balls leading to interceptions. Flacco completed 31-of-45 attempts for 290 yards and a touchdown.
Had those random interceptions not happened, it could’ve easily been a QB1 day for Flacco. Lawrence has the opportunity to exploit the Cincinnati defense at a reasonable salary and at far lower rostership.
Additional Considerations
Running Backs
Despite finishing the week as the overall RB3 in PPR, Christian McCaffrey received just a $200 boost in salary on DraftKings (note that he’s pricy on FanDuel), giving him one of the best values per salary at running back and making him the likely highest-rostered running back on the slate.
It’s difficult to fade the chalk here because of the pricing and the soft matchup against a New Orleans defense that gave up over 100 rushing yards on 20 carries to the combination of James Conner and Trey Benson. McCaffrey should do well on the ground, but it’s the increased value in receptions that makes him a strong play here.
In Week 1, McCaffrey had nine receptions for 69 yards. As crazy as it sounds, he could get an increase in receiving production with the 49ers’ injuries.
Derrick Henry is the highest-priced running back on the slate — not surprising after running for over 150 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1. The Browns’ defense held Chase Brown to 43 yards in Week 1, but the entire Cincinnati offense was out of sync.
In two matchups versus the Browns last season, Henry had a combined 200+ yards on the ground and three touchdowns. He presents high upside in a matchup where volume should be king on the ground, and Henry’s rostership will be relatively low due to cost.
Jahmyr Gibbs’ Week 1 performance was abysmal — just 19 rushing yards — but his day was salvaged by 10 receptions. The Detroit offense looked overwhelmed and confused, but that might’ve been less about Ben Johnson and more about the Packers’ defense.
We got the benefit of seeing the Packers’ defense on Thursday Night Football this week, and the verdict is in — the Packers’ defense is a serious problem, allowing just 34 rushing yards to Commanders running backs. Jordan Mason looked excellent against the Bears’ defense in Week 1, and Gibbs could have a strong bounce-back this week.
Additional Considerations
Wide Receivers
Ricky Pearsall had a solid Week 1 debut, catching four of his seven targets for 108 yards. As a result, Pearsall received a $800 bump in salary on DraftKings, but he’s still popping as one of the best value per salary plays this week at receiver.
With George Kittle out and Jauan Jennings‘ status unclear, Pearsall should be hyper-targeted and is an excellent volume play this week.
Dak Prescott’s Week 1 performance was underwhelming, and the culprit wasn’t the defense — it was CeeDee Lamb’s four ill-timed drops. This week’s matchup against the Giants is a far softer matchup, and Lamb’s rostership should be moderate as the second-highest priced receiver on the slate.
Despite the drops, Lamb produced from a fantasy perspective with seven receptions for 110 yards. He remains Prescott’s primary target and will thrive this week.
Brian Thomas’ matchup is appealing, and he offers solid value at a sub-$7,000 pricing on DraftKings, and rostership should be moderate. Despite the poor Week 1 performance, one thing is clear: Thomas remains the primary target for Trevor Lawrence and offers the most upside.
Additional Considerations
- Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ) @ BUF | DraftKings: $6,500/FanDuel: $7,300*
- Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN) @ JAC | DraftKings: $8,100/FanDuel: $9,000
- Marquise Brown (WR – KC) @ PHI | DraftKings: $5,200/FanDuel: $6,500
- Cedric Tillman (WR – CLE) @ BAL | DraftKings: $4,300/FanDuel: $5,400
- DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI) @ KC | DraftKings: $5,600/FanDuel: $6,400
Tight Ends
Hunter Henry (TE – NE) vs. MIA | DraftKings: $4,000/FanDuel: $4,900*
Hunter Henry faces a Miami defense that gave up seven receptions for 76 yards to Tyler Warren in Week 1. When looking at potentially stacking Drake Maye this week, it’s tough to pinpoint the right target because the Week 1 target share was extremely even.
Kayshon Boutte, Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas and Henry all had seven or eight targets. Boutte was the most productive in terms of yardage (103), but Henry had the second-highest amount of yards (66). The combination of volume, matchup and moderate pricing makes Henry an ideal target this week.
Additional Considerations
D/ST
Los Angeles Rams D/ST | DraftKings: $3,100/FanDuel: $4,500
The Rams’ defense will be the most popular play this week because of pricing and projections. They have the second-highest projected points on the main slate this week, but are just the eighth-highest-priced salary on DraftKings.
The Rams had a strong Week 1 outing, allowing just nine points to the Texans with three sacks, one fumble recovery and one interception. The matchup is interesting because the Titans’ offensive line is more formidable than Houston’s. However, Cam Ward was sacked six times by the Broncos, and the Rams could feast on rookie mistakes.
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