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The first week of the new year surely didn't disappoint. It was complete with some notable fantasy performances, with Kyler Murray taking the step forward in the MVP conversation by having a stellar showing against the Tennessee Titans. Patrick Mahomes was also up to his usual hijinx, leading the Chiefs to a comeback win over the Cleveland Browns. Joe Mixon led the way at the running back position, while Tyreek Hill, Amari Cooper, Deebo Samuel, and Tyler Lockett were a few standout receivers on the schedule.
At the tight end spot, Rob Gronkowski looked like the "Gronk" of old by racking up eight catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns, and Darren Waller, who was targeted 19 times during the Monday Night overtime win over the Ravens, compiled 10 receptions for 105 yards and a score. Last but not least, we can't leave out the defensive specialists as Chandler Jones recorded five sacks to help the Arizona Cardinals end Week 1 as one of the most impressive defensive units on the slate.
In this article, I will be providing you with my Week 2 daily fantasy football lineup picks for FanDuel’s “Main Slate.” These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. Be sure to also check out our weekly DraftKings DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big! Feel free to give me a follow on Twitter @DennisMClausen. Also, be sure to check back on Saturday night and Sunday morning for updates heading into Week 2.
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FanDuel Quarterbacks - Week 2 Picks
Tom Brady, QB - vs. TB ($8,200)
Fresh off his most recent Super Bowl win, the seventh of his career, Brady scorched the Cowboys last Thursday. He looked as good as ever, finishing with 379 yards. Yes, he threw two interceptions, but his four touchdown throws certainly made up for it.
Now, entering Week 2, the future Hall of Famer will get another one at home, with the Falcons heading south for a divisional showdown against the champs. Most will shy away from this one, primarily since the Bucs may build up a big lead. However, despite what Vegas believes, these two clubs have had some competitive games over the years, making a blowout far from a guarantee. Brady has played well against Atlanta throughout his career, too. Yet, his ownership may not be as high because of the projected score, making him a perfect GPP choice for those looking for an alternative option apart from the popular signal-callers on the slate.
Josh Allen, QB - @ MIA ($8,100)
Allen struggled during the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, finishing with a disappointing 17.2 fantasy points. He also reverted back to his old ways, connecting on only 58.8 percent of his passing attempts. Still, he should get a free pass despite the dreadful performance and could easily turn things around against the Dolphins on Sunday.
Allen has played exceptionally well against Miami over the years, racking up nearly 260 yards per contest and throwing 17 touchdowns and only four picks against the club throughout his tenure as a professional. He is also dangerous on the run, which you know by now, and he also should see less ownership throughout the DFS community, which is especially good for deeper GPP contests.
Also Consider:
Kyler Murray, QB - vs. MIN ($8,700)
Murray had an excellent showing in Week 1 by tossing for 289 yards and four touchdowns against the Tennessee Titans. He also had five carries for 20 yards while adding a rushing trip to the end zone for good measure. He has the highest rostering cost at the position, but he's a virtual lock to produce against Minnesota on Sunday. With Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert getting most of the attention, the 24-year-old could fly under the radar for DFS consideration.
Dak Prescott, QB - @ LAC ($8,000)
Prescott battled several injuries heading into the year, so naturally, many would be skeptical about his effectiveness throughout the first few weeks. Yet, he looked better than ever on Thursday Night Football, his first game since fracturing his ankle during the 2020 campaign, putting up over 28 fantasy points against the defending champs. The matchup between the Cowboys and Chargers has all the makings of a shootout, making Prescott one of the most popular options at the position for Week 2. He can be used in all formats, although managers can gain ground in GPP contests if he doesn’t produce, mainly because his ownership will be higher than usual.
Matthew Stafford, QB - @ IND ($7,500)
Stafford had one hell of a debut for the Rams during the opening week. He racked up 321 passing yards and three touchdowns against a team he knows all too well from his days with Detroit, the Chicago Bears. Stafford also completed an impressive 20 of his 26 attempts and could be in line for another strong outing against Indy on Sunday.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB - vs. LV ($7,200)
Although Roethlisberger has the potential to make a dent on the fantasy end, he has gone unmentioned throughout the DFS community heading into the weekend despite a relatively favorable outlook for Week 2. The Raiders are banged up on the defensive end, which is undoubtedly good news for the veteran's potential as a viable DFS option. Vegas (not the team) also has some optimistic projections for Roethlisberger, so he could be a sneaky option in GPP formats for those looking to save a few bucks.
FanDuel Running Backs - Week 2 Picks
Derrick Henry, RB - @ SEA ($8,000)
Entering the 2021 campaign, Henry was a consensus top-three option in fantasy drafts. Yet, he still couldn't get anything done against the smothering Arizona Cardinals defense on Sunday, and he finished with only 58 yards off 17 carries.
Nevertheless, Week 1 is now in the rearview mirror, and with it, the rushing king is coming in at a seriously inexpensive $8,000 price tag. Henry is a much better player than his previous statistical output would suggest, so it's very likely he gets back on track in a projected high-scoring affair against the Seattle Seahawks. Fantasy managers can utilize his DFS services in both cash and GPP formats.
Damien Harris, RB - @ NYJ ($6,300)
It's been a while since the Patriots had a back rush for over 1,000 yards, with LeGarrette Blount being the most recent to do so after he compiled 1,161 yards back in 2016. Stevan Ridley also did it in 2012, "The Law Firm" BenJarvus Green-Ellis surpassed the mark in 2010, and Corey Dillon set the team's single-season record back in 2004 after he logged 1,635 yards on the ground. Heading into the 2021 campaign, it appeared that coach Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels would once again utilize a committee approach, setting the stage for Harris, Sony Michel, and rookie Rhamondre Stevenson to get some action moving ahead. With that, it was nearly a guarantee that none of those three would make much of an impact on the fantasy end.
However, after Michel was sent packing to Los Angeles, Harris' outlook went soaring, and rightfully so. He finished the Week 1 opener against the Miami Dolphins with 23 carries for 100 yards and an acceptable average of 4.3 YPC. He even got a few looks from Mac Jones, totaling three targets on the afternoon. Now, entering Week 2, it appears as if the former Alabama product could be well on his way to joining the list of New England's 1,000-yard rushers. He should get plenty of touches against the New York Jets, especially while Mac Jones continues to get his feet underneath him in only his second game as a professional.
Also Consider:
Nick Chubb, RB - vs. HOU ($8,400)
Chubb's ownership is going to be through the roof in Week 2, primarily with a great outlook against a horrendous Texans team. For those looking to fade the popular options, this may not be the place to do it.
Joe Mixon, RB - vs. CHI ($7,800)
Mixon is getting basically no love, especially with everyone hyper-focused on Nick Chubb and Najee Harris. However, let's not forget that he carried the ball a league-leading 29 times for 127 yards in Week 1. The former Sooner should continue to get the ball a ton moving forward, and DFS managers shouldn't forget about him against former teammate Andy Dalton and the Chicago Bears.
Chris Carson, RB - vs. TEN ($6,700)
Carson did everything right in Week 1 except finding the end zone. He had nearly 100 yards on the ground off 16 attempts, and he also caught all three of his targets for 26 yards. If the 27-year-old can produce a similar statistical output and score a touchdown, which are both very possible, he could help fantasy managers gain a ton of ground in large, GPP contests.
FanDuel Wide Receivers - Week 2 Picks
Stefon Diggs, WR - @ MIA ($7,500)
Diggs received plenty of attention for Week 1 DFS lineups throughout last week. Yet, despite catching nine of his 13 targets, the former Minnesota Viking would total only 69 yards. FanDuel only awards managers 0.5 points per reception, which would classify his performance as a disappointment, especially since he was one of the costliest options at the position.
However, that was last week, so we can forget that ever happened and move on with our lives. Diggs draws a decent matchup against Miami on Sunday, and if you believe in Vegas, which you should, he is one of the top projections at the wideout spot moving toward Week 2. Nonetheless, Diggs should get a ton of consideration from GPP enthusiasts once again, so for those looking to play the contrarian role, you may want to look elsewhere.
DeVonta Smith, WR - vs. SF ($5,600)
Smith's debut couldn't have gone any better. During the Week 1 win over the Falcons, the rookie recorded a team-high eight targets, finishing with six catches for 71 yards. He also found the end zone, pulling in an 18-yard throw from Jalen Hurts in the first quarter, which coincidentally was also his first career catch.
It seems that Smith and Hurts have already developed a significant rapport, and it's likely that the relationship will continue when Philadelphia travels across the country for a meeting with the San Francisco 49ers. Obviously, he's not guaranteed to score another touchdown, but for the money, he should receive consideration for GPP formats in Week 2 based on his upside alone.
Also Consider:
DeAndre Hopkins, WR - vs. MIN ($8,500)
Hopkins caught six receptions to total 83 yards and two scores during the Week 1 rout over the Tennessee Titans. The Cardinals are projected to be one of the highest-scoring teams in Week 2. As a result, the veteran could thrive and benefit from Kyler Murray's high ceiling.
DK Metcalf, WR - vs. TEN ($7,000)
While Tyler Lockett went nuts in Week 1, Metcalf also quietly had a fantastic display. He had only four catches but managed to rack up 60 yards and a touchdown. A Russell Wilson, Tyler Lockett, Chris Carson, and Metcalf stack could pay off decisively for fantasy managers in all formats.
FanDuel Tight Ends - Week 2 Picks
Darren Waller, TE - @ PIT ($7,000)
While Travis Kelce is considered the most lethal tight end in the league, and rightfully so, Waller is nearly just as potent. The 29-year-old hasn't been as consistent as Kelce has been over the years, but after he finished the 2020 campaign with the most receiving yards at the position, his ceiling moving into the new year was higher than ever.
The six-year veteran looked great during the overtime win over the Baltimore Ravens. He was unquestionably on the same page with Derek Carr in that one, receiving 19 looks from the signal-caller to surpass 100 yards while also scoring a touchdown. Waller will also attempt to make NFL history on Sunday versus the Steelers as he could be the first tight end in league history to record five straight games with at least 100 yards. Don't think that won't be on his mind, and he should get plenty of love from Carr as a result.
Tyler Higbee, TE - @ IND ($5,600)
If $7,000 is out of your price range, fantasy managers should keep Higbee on the radar. After longtime Rams quarterback, Jared Goff was traded to Detroit during the offseason, questions surrounding Higbee's effectiveness were in question, primarily after producing five touchdowns last year.
Nevertheless, with Matthew Stafford now in town, nothing changed as Higbee was a focal point of the team's passing attack during the Week 1 victory over the Chicago Bears. He was targeted six times by Stafford during the affair, and the 28-year-old would record five receptions for 68 yards. The Colts are next up on Los Angeles' schedule, and with the team severely banged up on the defensive end, Higbee could flourish.
Also Consider:
Noah Fant, TE - @ JAC ($5,700)
We all know that George Kittle is the next best option behind Darren Waller at the position for Week 2. Still, if you're looking to go in another direction in DFS tournament play, check out Fant. He likely won't get any attention, but because the Broncos will be without Jerry Jeudy, he could sneak his way in fantasy relevance in Week 2.
Kyle Pitts, TE - @ TB ($5,500)
Pitts received a ton of focus leading up to his debut outing against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, after he failed to do much of anything, his high ownership allowed others to gain a significant advantage. Now that everyone has fallen out of love with the former Florida Gator, it may be an excellent time to get him back in the mix, primarily since Darren Waller will be in a ton of DFS lineups on Sunday.
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