Week 1 didn’t go as planned, to be honest. However, there are plenty of matchups in Week 2 that are sure to be more rewarding than those in Week 1. The chart below highlights the matchups you can expect to see on Sunday, and don’t forget to see my favorite matchups at the bottom. Also, be sure to check out the DFS WR coach for even more of my thoughts! Oh yeah, follow me on Twitter (@colbyrconway) as well!
Offense | Left WR | Defense | Right CB | Analysis |
| ARI | Jaron Brown | IND | Rashaan Melvin | The only Arizona receiver I'm comfortable playing in all formats is Larry Fitzgerald. Brown is a GPP dart and low-end flex in deep leagues only. |
| ATL | Julio Jones | GB | Damarious Randall | Oh, baby, do I love me some Julio this week! I don't need to tell you all the stats to know that the Green Bay secondary isn't inspiring and Jones is a monster. After a quiet opener for Julio, get ready for an explosion. |
| BAL | Breshad Perriman | CLE | Jason McCourty | Baltimore wants to run the football but at some point in this contest, Perriman's two inches and roughly 20 pounds on McCourty will come in handy for Joe Flacco. However, if Baltimore pounces on Cleveland, it could be a negative game script for Perriman. |
| BUF | Zay Jones | CAR | Daryl Worley | Jones didn't do much in the opener and he doesn't figure to be one of the team's top two targets in the passing game. He's likely even behind running back LeSean McCoy. Some of that hype is dying down, but it's a long, long season. |
| CAR | Kelvin Benjamin | BUF | E.J. Gaines | Gaines had a nice first game, but there were only four targets thrown his direction. Benjamin's physical stature is going to be a stiff test for Gaines in Week 2. |
| CHI | Josh Bellamy | B | Brent Grimes | Grimes is a talented, playmaking corner who won't be tested much in the team's first game. The Bears have nothing at wide receiver, to say the least. |
| CIN | A.J. Green | HOU | Kareem Jackson | Green will see some Johnathan Joseph coverage during Thursday's game, and likely some Kevin Johnson as well. The latter struggled in the season opener, but Green's success in this one will come down to what version of Andy Dalton we see. Houston held him in check in 2016. |
| CLE | Corey Coleman | BAL | Jimmy Smith | Smith was excellent in Week 1, especially given that he spent a considerable amount of time on Cincinnati's A.J. Green. Also, Andy Dalton was horrendous. Coleman has a nice rapport with quarterback DeShone Kizer, but Smith and Co. are stingy. |
| DAL | Dez Bryant | DEN | Aqib Talib | After a quiet Week 1 against New York's Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins, Bryant draws another tough matchup against Aqib Talib, one of the game's premier corners. Dez is a low-end WR2, high-end WR3 for me in Week 2. |
| DEN | Demaryius Thomas | DAL | Chidobe Awuzie | Demaryius Thomas is the top target in the offense and I believe he'll expose a bad Dallas secondary on Sunday. For me, 80 yards and a touchdown is a realistic expectation for him on Sunday. |
| DET | Marvin Jones | NYG | Janoris Jenkins | Jackrabbit Jenkins is a tough corner and I believe he will shadow Jones in Week 2. Another tough matchup for Jones and you may even consider benching him, if you have enough depth at wide receiver. |
| GB | Davante Adams | ATL | Robert Alford | Alford saw a whopping 10 targets at him in the opener, which resulted in just four receptions for 44 yards. However, they were playing the Bears. Adams is an excellent wide receiver and he remains a WR2 for Sunday night's matchup. |
| HOU | DeAndre Hopkins | CIN | Adam Jones | If there's one thing I know, it's that the volume will be there for Hopkins. All three tight ends are injured and after seeing 16 targets in the season opener, he's in line for a similar workload on Thursday night. Deshaun Watson will be under center and I believe that it only upgrades Hopkins' fantasy value. He's going to get peppered in this one. |
| IND | Donte Moncrief | ARI | Justin Bethel | Bethel struggled in the opener, allowing two touchdowns and 94 yards on just five receptions. With Peterson likely spending most of the afternoon on Hilton, Moncrief could be the Indy receiver to target. Still, with Scott Tolzien or Jacoby Brissett under center, I'm not particularly enthused. |
| JAX | Marqise Lee | TEN | Brice McCain | Tennessee still isn't great against wide receivers, but luckily, Jacksonville doesn't want Blake Bortles doing much. Leonard Fournette will tote the rock upwards of 25-30 times, and Bortles will only throw to complement the rushing attack. I don't expect much from Lee this week, even with Allen Robinson on the shelf. |
| KC | Tyreek Hill | PHI | Jalen Mills | Fire up Hill everywhere. Mills allowed a ton of yards in Week 1 and it will happen again on Sunday. Love Hill. Love. Love. Love! |
| LAC | Tyrell Williams | MIA | Xavien Howard | Williams saw seven targets in the opener, turning in a pedestrian 5-54-0 line. Williams has a good matchup against Howard, but there's so many mouths to feed in Los Angeles. Flex consideration only. |
| LAR | Sammy Watkins | WAS | Bashaud Breeland | Breeland was an excellent corner to target at times last season, but he was pretty sound in the opener last week. However, with most teams not attempting to throw at Josh Norman much, Breeland tends to see a lot of action. He'll spend time on both Watkins and Robert Woods, but Cooper Kupp is the Rams receiver I'm most confident in. |
| MIA | DeVante Parker | LAC | Jason Verrett | Both Charger corners shadowed in Week 1 and it could happen again in Week 2, but I'm less inclined to believe it happens this week. Parker has a lot of hype behind him, but whether it's Verrett or Casey Hayward on him, expectations need to be tempered. I envision more of a low-end WR3 week for Parker. |
| MIN | Laquon Treadwell | PIT | Artie Burns | Burns did allow a touchdown in Week 1, but the receptions he allowed resulted in just 11 yards. Treadwell is a non-factor in the Minnesota offense, as Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen and Kyle Rudolph hog the targets. |
| NE | Brandin Cooks | NO | Marshon Lattimore | Lattimore is arguably the most talented member in this secondary, but former Saint receiver Brandin Cooks is a stiff opponent. Cooks offers big play ability and there's no better time to find the end zone for the first time as a Patriot than against his former team. Cooks' best performance came in the dome, but on Sunday, it will be with Tom Brady, not Drew Brees. |
| NO | Michael Thomas | NE | Malcolm Butler | I expect Butler to cover Thomas rather than Stephon Gilmore, despite recent tendencies. Thomas likely will be double-covered, so it could be another difficult game for the talented sophomore receiver. You're still playing him in seasonal formats, however. |
| NYG | Odell Beckham Jr. | DET | Darius Slay | If Beckham plays, he'll most certainly see Slay for most of the contest. There could be a potential shadow situation here, since I doubt the Lions want Nevin Lawson covering OBJ. Despite seeing Detroit's top corner, Beckham is a must-start in every format, if he's truly healthy. |
| NYJ | Jermaine Kearse | OAK | Sean Smith | Kearse will lead the team in targets this week and with the team playing from behind, likely after the opening drive, Kearse is an excellent value play in DFS. The new Jet is also a great flex option in very deep PPR leagues. |
| OAK | Amari Cooper | NYJ | Justin Burris | Burris didn't do much in the opener, but he'll be exposed on Sunday. Cooper is going to go OFF ladies and gents. Fire him up everywhere. Must start. |
| PHI | Alshon Jeffery | KC | Terrance Mitchell | By virtue of tendencies, Mitchell is slated to line up against Jeffery, but I really think Marcus Peters will see a fair share of Jeffery as well. Despite a tough first week for Mitchell, he should bounce back in Week 2, because he is no slouch himself. Another tough matchup for Jeffery after facing Josh Norman in the season opener. He's a low-end WR2 at best. |
| PIT | Antonio Brown | MIN | Xavier Rhodes | Rhodes is a phenomenal corner and while it's not the best matchup for Brown, there is no way you are sitting him. He's a must-start. |
| SEA | Paul Richardson | SF | Rashard Robinson | Seattle couldn't quite get the passing game going in the opener, mainly due to the fact that the Green Bay front four was wreaking havoc on a lackluster Seattle offensive line. Playing at home, I expect things to even out, with Richardson quietly putting up a good game. I like him as a flex option in deeper leagues. |
| SF | Marquise Goodwin | SEA | Shaquill Griffin | After being thrown in the fire with Jeremy Lane being ejected, Griffin did quite well. Unlike last week, he'll face a burner in Goodwin. San Francisco's speedy wide receiver is nothing more than a GPP play in this contest. |
| TB | Mike Evans | CHI | Prince Amukamara | Amukamara's first game back for the Bears comes at a great time, as they need him to match up with Mike Evans, one of the premier receivers in the league. Good luck, Prince. |
| TEN | Corey Davis | JAX | A.J. Bouye | Bouye is an excellent corner who can shut down top receivers. However, he is penalty-prone, as seen by his three pass interference penalties against his former Texans in Week 1. Davis is an animal and he is the team's top wide receiver. |
| WAS | Josh Doctson | LAR | Kayvon Webster | Until Doctson does something productive for the Redskins, he can't be trusted. Look elsewhere in a unfavorable matchup. |
Offense | Right WR | Defense | Left CB | Analysis |
| ARI | John Brown | IND | T.J. Green | Green allowed a touchdown in Week 1 but allowed just two receptions on four targets. Those two catches did go for 39 yards, however. Arizona will likely throw the ball a little more, and Brown has a good matchup against a Colts secondary that allowed the seventh-most receiving yards in the opener. GPP play and flex consideration only. |
| ATL | Taylor Gabriel | GB | Davon House | Gabriel had a quiet opener, in which three other Falcons out-targeted him. He has big-play potential against a week Green Bay secondary, but he's not a recommended play of mine. |
| BAL | Mike Wallace | CLE | Jamar Taylor | Ben Roethlisberger targeted Jamar Taylor seven times in Week 1. All seven of those passes were completed. Wallace is one of my favorite GPP plays and low-end flex options, because he will get loose once on Sunday. Jeremy Maclin got the long touchdown in Week 1, but it will be Wallace who gets one in Week 2. |
| BUF | Andre Holmes | CAR | James Bradberry | Bradberry and the Carolina defense held Brian Hoyer in check in the opener, but is that really saying much? The Buffalo receivers are nothing to shake a stick at, so I have little reason to believe that Andre Holmes will torch Bradberry in this one. Holmes isn't worth starting, unless you're in a 14-team league where each teams starts 10 receivers. |
| CAR | Devin Funchess | BUF | Tre'Davious White | Cam Newton was rusty in Week 1, so perhaps he returns to form in Week 2. If that's the case, Funchess is a sneaky GPP play going against Tre'Davious White. In seasonal formats, I'd avoid Funchess. |
| CHI | Deonte Thompson | TB | Vernon Hargreaves | Hargreaves had a rough rookie season, but he gets a matchup against Thompson, a wide receiver that would likely never see the field with any other franchise. Thompson is unstartable. |
| CIN | Brandon LaFell | HOU | Johnathan Joseph | Joseph was Houston's best corner back in Week 1 but he'll have his hands full in Week 2. Joseph will certainly see some A.J. Green in this one, perhaps even more than LaFell, depending how Kevin Johnson and Kareem Jackson perform. |
| CLE | Kenny Britt | BAL | Brandon Carr | Carr had an excellent opening contest and now he gets to square off against over-the-hill Kenny Britt. The veteran receiver is uninspiring and I want no part of him this week. |
| DAL | Terrance Williams | DEN | Bradley Roby | Denver boasts two excellent corners, and while Roby is no slouch himself, he's certainly the corner to target. He allowed 77 yards and a touchdown in the opener, so I don't think that it is unreasonable to believe that Williams will be the most productive receiver for Dallas in Week 2. |
| DEN | Emmanuel Sanders | DAL | Nolan Carroll | Carroll only allowed 27 yards receiving, but don't buy into that hype. Manny Sanders has an excellent matchup and he's a solid WR2 for me in this one. |
| DET | Kenny Golladay | NYG | Eli Apple | Golladay was solid in Week 1, while Apple wasn't. He allowed 99 yards and a touchdown on his watch, while allowing eight receptions on 10 targets. It's going to be another healthy dosage of Golden Tate and Golladay in the Detroit passing attack this week. |
| GB | Jordy Nelson | ATL | Desmond Trufant | Honestly, Nelson is about as matchup proof as they come. His rapport with quarterback Aaron Rodgers is elite and the two are a threat to hook up for a touchdown on a weekly basis. Nelson remains a WR1 for me. |
| HOU | Jaelen Strong | CIN | Dre Kirkpatrick | Strong was suspended for the season opener but with practically everyone on the Texans injured, he's in line to produce in Week 2. He's a risky play and shouldn't be started anywhere, but don't be surprised when he trails only DeAndre Hopkins in targets. |
| IND | T.Y. Hilton | ARI | Patrick Peterson | Peterson was his normal self in the opening week, holding Marvin Jones to just one reception for six yards. It could be tough-sledding for Hilton again. |
| JAX | Allen Hurns | TEN | Adoree' Jackson | Hurns earns a bump in fantasy value with Allen Robinson going down, but I don't think this is the game to start Hurns, unless you're desperate at wide receiver. Jackson isn't a shutdown corner, but two run-heavy offenses attempting to dominate ball control typically doesn't lead to a ton of valuable passing. |
| KC | Chris Conley | PHI | Jaylen Watkins | Philadelphia's weakness on defense is in there secondary and Conley should be able to record a few receptions. Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Kareem Hunt will hog the targets, leaving Albert Wilson and Conley to fight for the scraps. |
| LAC | Travis Benjamin | MIA | Byron Maxwell | Benjamin hauled in a 38-yard touchdown in the opener against the Broncos, so it's hard to not get excited about Benjamin in this one. He has valuable flex appeal in my opinion. |
| LAR | Robert Woods | WAS | Josh Norman | Norman will spend time on Sammy Watkins, too, so it's not an ideal matchup for Robert Woods who notches just 53 yards on five targets in the season opener. Cooper Kupp is the receiver to play for the Rams in this matchup. |
| MIA | Kenny Stills | LAC | Casey Hayward | Stills is a home run hitter but it's going to be tough-sledding against Casey Hayward. In Week 1, Hayward held Demaryius Thomas, a far better receiver than Stills, to just four receptions for 61 yards. Jay Cutler looked good in the preseason, but I have my reservations for Cutler and Stills in this first game. |
| MIN | Stefon Diggs | PIT | Joe Haden | Don't be scared of this matchup. Haden was pathetic in Week 1, while Diggs was excellent, albeit against the Saints. Haden allowed the most receiving yards in Week 1, meaning Diggs has another excellent opportunity to produce. |
| NE | Chris Hogan | NO | De'Vante Harris | On just five targets in Week 1, Harris managed to allow the opposition to haul in four passes for 50 yards and a score. In a game where New England is going to throw it a ton, Hogan is going to get loose. Upgrade him if Amendola is out. |
| NO | Ted Ginn Jr. | NE | Stephon Gilmore | Ginn is a vertical threat and the New England defense proved to be rather vulnerable against the Chiefs in Week 1. Gilmore is an excellent cover corner, but in a high scoring affair, above-average volume could save Ginn, even if he is unable to get loose for a big one. |
| NYG | Brandon Marshall | DET | Nevin Lawson | Marshall was nonexistent in the opener and Eli Manning was garbage. I don't like Marshall this week and I'll hate him if Odell Beckham doesn't play, because that means he'll be covered by Darius Slay. |
| NYJ | Robby Anderson | OAK | David Amerson | Marcus Mariota spread the ball around in Week 1, so Amerson's coverage stats look pretty good. However, he's certainly beatable, but the fact remains that the Raiders play a borderline-anemic Jets team. Anderson is barely a flex option and is nothing more than a blindfolded GPP dart. |
| OAK | Michael Crabtree | NYJ | Morris Claiborne | Anyone who plays the Jets is in play! Cooper and Crabtree are excellent plays this week. The latter is a WR2 this week. |
| PHI | Torrey Smith | KC | Marcus Peters | If Smith can't escape Peters' coverage in Week 2, I don't want any piece of him. However, I fully expect Peters to get some work on Alshon Jeffery, so hopefully Carson Wentz can make the most of those opportunities with his vertical threat. |
| PIT | Martavis Bryant | MIN | Trae Waynes | Bryant is a big play receiver and Waynes is the Minnesota corner you want to attack. Antonio Brown will still get his, but with Xavier Rhodes on lock down, Bryant could see some additional targets. He's a boom-or-bust receiver, but the dial is turned slightly towards boom for Week 2. |
| SEA | Tyler Lockett | SF | Dontae Johnson | Johnson allowed a touchdown in the opener, and Lockett's big play ability could be on display this weekend. He's still just a tournament play for me though. |
| SF | Pierre Garcon | SEA | Richard Sherman | Volume shouldn't be a problem for Garcon, but how effective he will be with Sherman covering him is unknown. Marquise Goodwin certainly draws the easier matchup, so if you have to play Garcon, your hope is that he can escape Sherman for a few drives. |
| TB | DeSean Jackson | CHI | Marcus Cooper | Matt Ryan had success against Cooper in the opener and Jackson's agility could leave Cooper running in circles on Sunday. Jackson is well-rested and quarterback Jameis Winston would love to get his new toy a touchdown in their first game. |
| TEN | Rishard Matthews | JAX | Jalen Ramsey | Ramsey missed practice on Wednesday, but expect to see him on Sunday. Ramsey and A.J. Bouye are an excellent cornerback tandem and Matthews isn't a recommended play this week. |
| WAS | Terrelle Pryor | LAR | Trumaine Johnson | The Rams have two good corners and Kirk Cousins is still working on developing his rapport with Pryor. However, I still like Pryor as a high-end WR3 on Sunday. |
Elite
Julio Jones vs. Damarious Randall
You already read the analysis in the chart. Need I say more? Jones torched the Packers last season and they have no answer for him again in 2017. Quinten Rollins has the best chance to slow Jones down, but he works exclusively in the slot, where Jones hardly spends any of his time. Jones will be the top scoring wide receiver in Week 2.
Amari Cooper vs. Juston Burris
I mean, this is too easy, picking on the Jets. They simply have no match for Cooper and he should find the end zone on Sunday. The only thing that could hurt Cooper is a negative game script, because I expect the Raiders to have a double-digit lead by halfway through the second quarter. Hopefully the Jets can keep it close enough that Carr keeps slinging the pigskin. Please don’t think that the Jets are good against receivers because the numbers look good after containing Buffalo. The Oakland Raiders will show you how vulnerable this secondary really is. Expose them, Coop!
Affordable
I think this is my favorite matchup on the slate. Hill is going to FEAST on Sunday. Mills allowed the second-most receiving yards to wide receivers last year, and he allowed the second-most yards last week! Everyone saw what Hill was able to do on Thursday Night Football in Week 1 against the Chiefs. Hill’s 4.16 yards per route run was third-most in Week 1. Mills is in for a long day and Hill has the upside of a top five wide receiver in Week 2. Play him everywhere.
Only 10 receivers allowed more receiving yards out of the slot than Bobby McCain in 2016. Allen saw double-digit targets in Week 1 against the Broncos, including a touchdown reception from quarterback Philip Rivers. Allen will spend most of his time in the slot, and even when he doesn’t none of the Miami corners really impress me. Also, in the red zone, Allen’s prowess and frame will pay dividends. Additionally, he’ll continue to knock the rust off and Rivers will continue to look this way. Lock him in as a WR2 on Sunday.
Bargain Bin
Wallace is my favorite GPP play on the slate. Only 10 non-slot corners allowed more receiving yards than Taylor and Big Ben was a perfect 7-for-7 when throwing at Taylor. Wallace may not receive that sort of volume, but he could easily haul in a 60-yard bomb from Joe Flacco off a play-action pass. You heard it right here. After two or three runs in a row, a play-action bomb to Wallace for six points. I’m calling it.
Note: Research was done at Pro Football Focus and Mike Clay's WR/CB breakdown.