It’s that time of week, ladies and gentlemen! We will breakdown each of the outside matchups, as well as my 10 favorite matchups out of the slot. Then, below the charts in this article, I break down my five absolute favorite matchups by price in DFS, as well as likely ownership in seasonal formats. This article is critical to seasonal and daily players, as this will help you gain a competitive advantage when setting your lineups.
Remember, the No. 1 wide receiver doesn’t always matchup against the No. 1 cornerback. This isn’t a game of Madden!
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Offense | Left WR | Defense | Right CB | Analysis |
| ARI | Chad Williams | LAR | Marcus Peters | Williams was more involved than rookie Christian Kirk , but the sheer fact of going against Marcus Peters with a struggling Sam Bradford isn't something I want to be involved in. I will be looking elsewhere this week. |
| ATL | Julio Jones | CAR | Donte Jackson | Well, it was Julio or bust for the Atlanta offense in Week 1. For his career, he's averaging 103.7 yards on 10.2 targets per game against the Panthers. Don't forget, two years ago he went for 300 receiving yards against the Panthers, and he recorded at least 80 yards in each of the two contests last season. Jones is a WR1, as if you needed me to say that. |
| BAL | Michael Crabtree | CIN | William Jackson | Jackson is a terrific young corner, but he struggled in the opener, allowing six receptions on seven targets for 61 yards, one touchdown and a 142.6 QB rating when targeted.* Crabtree didn't have to do much in the season opener, as the Ravens were up 20 before you even knew it. Crabtree did manage to score in the opener, but with Joe Flacco spreading it around, he's no more than a low-end WR2 on Thursday night. |
| BUF | Kelvin Benjamin | LAC | Trevor Williams | Benjamin led the team in targets in Week 1, but he managed just one reception in the season opening shellacking by the Ravens. Benjamin is a volume flex play, but efficiency tends to elude him, regardless of where he is. |
| CAR | Devin Funchess | ATL | Robert Alford | Since the start of 2016, in nine games without Greg Olsen on the field, Funchess' production skyrockets. He goes from averaging 2.18 receptions per game for 33.8 yards up to 4.56 receptions per game for 56.33 yards. In a PPR format, his point production nearly doubles! Alford is a formidable cover corner, but with an increased workload, Funchess is a volume play in Week 2. |
| CHI | Allen Robinson | SEA | Shaquill Griffin | Robinson saw seven targets in the opener, catching four balls for 61 yards. He's a reliable threat in the red zone and in Matt Nagy's offense, Robinson looks poised for a quality inaugural campaign in the windy city. Robinson is a WR2 against a vulnerable Seattle defense. |
| CIN | A.J. Green | BAL | Brandon Carr | Green has his hands full on Thursday Night against Brandon Carr . Carr was a lockdown option in the season opener, allowing a miniscule 1.8 QB rating when targeted.* Green is a must-start in seasonal formats, but in DFS, he's not worth the price tag. |
| CLE | Rashard Higgins | NO | Ken Crawley | Antonio Callaway is more enticing of a fantasy option, but Higgins is the one getting the snaps, so at this point in time, Higgins is ahead of Callaway on the depth chart. Even in a good matchup against Ken Crawley , Higgins is buried in the passing game, and TyRod Taylor isn't a type of guy to sustain multiple fantasy relevant receivers. Higgins is an easy fade this week. |
| DAL | Michael Gallup | NYG | Janoris Jenkins | I'm a big fan of Gallup, but after seeing Dak Prescott and the Dallas passing attack in Week 1, I'm fading Gallup against Jenkins and Co. There are sure to be some growing pains for the young receiver, and Jenkins is not an easy guy to go against. Fade Gallup in Week 2. |
| DEN | Demaryius Thomas | OAK | Gareon Conley | Thomas' Week 1 stat line wasn't as dynamic as Emmanuel Sanders ', but 63 yards and a receiving touchdown is still getting the job done. In a positive matchup, Thomas is a WR2 and has a great chance to find the end zone yet again. |
| DET | Kenny Golladay | SF | Ahkello Witherspoon | Golladay posted the 11th-best receiving grade among qualified receivers in Week 1.* He received 11 targets, hauling in seven of them for 114 yards in Week 1 against the New York Jets. Witherspoon is a solid corner, but Golladay is one big dude whose rapport is growing with Matthew Stafford . Golladay is a flex option this week. |
| GB | Davante Adams | MIN | Xavier Rhodes | This will be a tough matchup for Adams, but so long as Aaron Rodgers is under center, Adams is a must-start fantasy asset. Adams scored in the season opener and tallied up 88 yards. In DFS, Adams may be a fade candidate, but you must start your studs in seasonal formats. Remember that. |
| HOU | DeAndre Hopkins | TEN | Malcolm Butler | Despite a poor showing from the Houston offense in Week 1, Hopkins got his, eclipsing 15 points in a PPR format. He will be a focal point in the offense and if Will Fuller returns to action, things should open up more for the Houston offense. Hopkins will, and forever will be, a WR1 in 2018. Don't overthink it folks. |
| IND | Ryan Grant | WAS | Quinton Dunbar | Phenomenal showing in Wek 1 for Dunbar, as he allowed an absurd 8.3 QB rating when targeted and 0.37 yards per coverage snap.* Andrew Luck is a talented quarterback, but I'm not buying into Ryan Grant in this sneaky tough matchup. Fade Grant in Week 2. |
| JAX | Keelan Cole | NE | Stephon Gilmore | Cole had a long completion early in Week 1 against the Giants, but was relatively quiet after that, as Dede Westbrook seemed to be more involved in the Jacksonville passing attack. Cole will continue to see targets and be a flex option in deeper formats. |
| KC | Sammy Watkins | PIT | Artie Burns | With Tyreek Hill exploding in Week 1, Watkins was relatively quiet, hauling in just three passes for 21 yards. It's a good matchup against a Pittsburgh defense that allowed nearly 18 yards per reception to Cleveland wide receivers in Week 1. Watkins is a low-end WR2 or high-end flex option in the second week of the NFL season. |
| LAC | Mike Williams | BUF | Phillip Gaines | Williams had a nice opening week of the season and he's trending closer and closer to being the clear-cut No. 2 wide receiver. In terms of QB rating, Philip Rivers ' rating was exceptional when targeting Williams. Williams is a flex option against a Buffalo defense that was just manhandled by the Baltimore Ravens. |
| LAR | Brandin Cooks | ARI | Jamar Taylor | Cooks saw eight targets in the season opener and it's clear what his role in the offense is going to be. The speedster is going to get vertical for this offense. Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp will handle the short and intermediate routes, while Cooks is looking to make the splash plays. However, it's exciting that he still saw eight targets in this game. Cooks will avoid Patrick Peterson for the majority of the evening, while Taylor's coverage grade of 48.7 ranked 102nd (out of 120) among qualified corners in Week 1.* Fire him up, baby! |
| MIA | DeVante Parker | NYJ | Morris Claiborne | Parker returned to practice on Wednesday and seems in line to play against Claiborne and the Jets defense. Matthew Stafford was horrible in the season opener, and Claiborne picked him off, and allowed 0.65 yards per coverage snap.* If I'm taking any Miami receiver, I want Kenny Stills or Danny Amendola , not Parker. |
| MIN | Laquon Treadwell | GB | Tramon Williams | As expected, Treadwell got the snaps outside, but the passing attack clearly flows through Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs . Treadwell managed to receive four targets, but he did drop one pass and tallied just 18 receiving yards. Treadwell is nothing more than a low-end flex option in the deepest of fantasy leagues. |
| NE | Chris Hogan | JAX | A.J. Bouye | Hogan was quiet in Week 1 against Houston and it could be a similar story in Week 2. While Ramsey struggled in coverage on Odell Beckham Jr. in Week 1, Bouye allowed his lone target to be caught for just 10 yards.* Hogan is a GPP option and flex option in seasonal formats, but there's no denying how tough this matchup is for the former lacrosse player. |
| NO | Michael Thomas | CLE | Terrance Mitchell | Mitchell played pretty well in the opener, but he was targeted 10 times in 45 coverage snaps, and with Denzel Ward showcasing his skills in the opener, I'd expect Drew Brees to go to his top dog.* Thomas will see some Denzel Ward in Week 2, but Ward typically stuck on the opposite side of the field where Thomas typically lines up. Fire up Thomas everywhere this week, as if you needed to hear that. |
| NYG | Cody Latimer | DAL | Byron Jones | No thanks to Latimer yet again this week. His role in the passing attack is minimal and Jones was solid in coverage in the opener. Fade Latimer again in Week 2. |
| NYJ | Quincy Enunwa | MIA | Bobby McCain | If you didn't read the DFS WR Coach, go check it out. Enunwa had a quality Week 1 appearance and appears to be Sam Darnold 's guy. Sure, small sample size, but it's encouraging nonetheless. Enunwa enters flex territory this weekend against the Miami Dolphins. |
| OAK | Jordy Nelson | DEN | Adam Jones | Jordy is healthy, but was rather quiet in the opener. Sure, Oakland receivers didn't receive a ton of targets, but if Nelson isn't getting the volume, he's not a guy that is worthy of anything past low-end flex consideration. Hell, that might even be generous. |
| PHI | Shelton Gibson | TB | Ryan Smith | Despite a good matchup against a vulnerable Tampa Bay defense, there's no need trying to get cute by taking the No. 3 wide receiver in the Nick Foles -led Philadelphia offense. |
| PIT | Antonio Brown | KC | Steven Nelson | You're starting Brown no matter what, but you can feel extra good about it this week. The Steelers are back at home, where Big Ben plays much better, and the Chiefs secondary just allowed 424 passing yards to Philip Rivers last week. Brown is going to have a monster game here, and somewhere around 140 yards and a touchdown is easily in reach for the game's best. |
| SEA | Jaron Brown | CHI | Prince Amukamara | Brown saw just three targets in the opener and didn't do anything with them. The injury to Doug Baldwin opens the door for additional targets in the passing attack, but it's likely that Brandon Marshall , Tyler Lockett and David Moore see the majority of those available targets. Brown won't be in any of my lineups this weekend. |
| SF | Marquise Goodwin | DET | Nevin Lawson | Assuming Goodwin plays and that he isn't hobbled by a quad injury he suffered in Week 1, he has an excellent opportunity in Week 2 against Nevin Lawson and the Detroit defense. In terms of DVOA, the Lions were the fourth-worst team in defending passes to the left side of the field, which is conveniently where Goodwin often lines up for the 49ers offense. Assuming full health, Goodwin has backend WR1 potential. |
| TB | Mike Evans | PHI | Ronald Darby | Darby had a nice showing in Week 1, but arguably, Evans' was better. Evans was dominant against the Saints, however, while I still expect a WR1 performance from the star wide receiver, I don't expect Ryan Fitzpatrick to be as lethal as he was in Week 1. Evans scores again in Week 2, but will be held to under 75 receiving yards. |
| TEN | Tajae Sharpe | HOU | Kareem Jackson | It was Sharpe, not Rishard Matthews getting the majority of the snaps out wide. Corey Davis is the clear-cut No. 1 WR for the Titans, but Sharpe has a plus matchup against former corner turned safety Kareem Jackson . Jackson really struggled in coverage last season, making Sharpe a sneaky good play in DFS this week. |
| WAS | Paul Richardson | IND | Quincy Wilson | Richardson paced Washington's wideouts in targets in Week 1, but managed to turn just four receptions into 22 yards. Richardson has a great matchup against Quincy Wilson , Whom allowed all four of his targets to be caught, including one touchdown, in the season opener.* Richardson is a good flex option in Week 2. |
| Offense | Right WR | Defense | Left CB | Analysis |
| ARI | J.J. Nelson | LAR | Aqib Talib | No thanks. No thanks. No thanks. Sam Bradford was bad enough in Week 1 and now Nelson has to go up against Aqib Talib and a ferocious front seven. I'll pass. |
| ATL | Calvin Ridley | CAR | James Bradberry | Ridley wasn't targeted in the team opener, while teammate Julio Jones was targeted an astounding 19 times! Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian should find a way to get Ridley more involved, but who knows if that will happen. Ridley is an exceptional young talent, but until the usage is there, he's incredibly hard to trust in fantasy. |
| BAL | John Brown | CIN | Dre Kirkpatrick | Kirkpatrick allowed only half of his targets to be caught, but he did allow a touchdown in the season opener. His 0.89 yards per coverage snap is pretty good, and even though Brown scored in the opener, he's going to need to score often to be relied upon as a flex option. However, in DFS, he's going to be a GPP option in plus matchups. |
| BUF | Zay Jones | LAC | Casey Hayward | Rookie Josh Allen is getting the start, and Jones is the No. 2 receiver in a below-average passing attack going against a talented secondary. Yikes. Jones was uninspiring in the team's first game and I'm expecting much of the same in this one. The Chargers bounce back after being torched by Patrick Mahomes . |
| CAR | Torrey Smith | ATL | Desmond Trufant | With Atlanta's defensive scheme allowing receptions to running backs, Smith's usage in this game might be minimal. He's a GPP option, sure, but not an enticing one. In seasonal formats, you should have enough depth to be able to avoid starting him. |
| CHI | Taylor Gabriel | SEA | Byron Maxwell | Gabriel caught all five of his targets in the opener, which is great, however, those receptions went for just 25 yards. Gabriel is going to be used in screen passes and drag routes, as well as the occasional deep ball, but not necessarily the intermediate routes. Matt Nagy comes from the Andy Reid coaching tree, so he can scheme it up well, but if Gabriel is going to be a low-volume possession guy, his upside is capped. |
| CIN | John Ross | BAL | Marlon Humphrey | Albeit against the Buffalo Bills, Humphrey allowed just six receiving yards in the season opener. Ross is an absolute burner, so Humphrey has his hands full in this matchup. Brandon Carr is the more feared corner for Baltimore, so if you don't have many great options, Ross is a more than adequate flex option. |
| CLE | Antonio Callaway | NO | Marshon Lattimore | With Josh Gordon ruled out due to a balky hamstring, Callaway figures to see an increased role for the Browns in Week 2. It's a tasty matchup, making Callaway a GPP option, but it's really Jarvis or bust for the Cleveland receivers in Week 2. |
| DAL | Allen Hurns | NYG | Eli Apple | In terms of DVOA, the Giants are about league average in terms of defending intermediate and deep passes, which is the type of realm Hurns works in. Dak Prescott struggled in the opener, and Hurns is not capable of being the top dog in a team's passing attack. Hurns was marginal at best in the team's first game, and he's a low-end flex option this week. The only thing benefitting him is that he will avoid Janoris Jenkins for the majority of the afternoon. |
| DEN | Courtland Sutton | OAK | Rashaan Melvin | Sutton averaged 22.5 yards per reception in the opener, but as we all expected, he was the clear-cut No. 3 wide receiver, attracting just four targets compared to Emmanuel Sanders ' 11 and Demaryius Thomas ' 10. It's a quality matchup against Melvin, but Sutton is no more than a flex option this week. |
| DET | Marvin Jones | SF | Richard Sherman | Jones was quiet in the opener, giving way to Golden Tate and Kenny Golladay . Not that it's a huge difference, but Golladay received three extra snaps than Jones, but again, Detroit runs tons of 3WR sets, so it's nothing of which to be alarmed. Sherman struggles against burners, but can handle his own in this matchup. Jones is a flex option this week, but in DFS, I'd rather have Golladay. |
| GB | Geronimo Allison | MIN | Mike Hughes | Avoiding Xavier Rhodes is key, because the game plan is often times to avoid Rhodes at all costs. Rhodes was targeted just once in the season opener, while Hughes was targeted six times.* Hughes held up well in the opener, allowing a mere 45.1 QB rating when targeted.* Allison will score again in Week 2. |
| HOU | Will Fuller | TEN | Adoree' Jackson | Fuller is expected to play and will likely be on some sort of pitch count, as this hamstring injury has sidelined him for a few weeks. |
| IND | T.Y. Hilton | WAS | Josh Norman | Norman allowed just four yards receiving in coverage in the season opener, which is obviously very good.* Hilton found the end zone in Week 1, but things will be much tougher in Week 2. Hilton remains in the WR2 category, but he's a risky DFS play. |
| JAX | Donte Moncrief | NE | Eric Rowe | Moncrief saw five targets in the opener, but brought in just one ball for 14 yards. Even if Leonard Fournette doesn't play and Blake Bortles has to throw the football more, that bumps up Dede Westbrook and Keelan Cole , not Moncrief. The former Colt is not a guy I can trust in my starting lineup quiet yet. |
| KC | Tyreek Hill | PIT | Cameron Sutton | Good luck, Cam. Hill is a game-changing talent and his effectiveness in the return game boosts his value even more. Hill is a low-end WR1 this week, in what's anticipated to be a shootout in the Steel City. |
| LAC | Tyrell Williams | BUF | Tre'Davious White | Williams just missed a touchdown in the opener and his big play ability should be noted heading into a matchup with a Buffalo defense that allowed five passes over 20 yards in the opener. Williams isn't my favorite receiver with a last name of Williams in Los Angeles, but he's a GPP option this Sunday. |
| LAR | Robert Woods | ARI | Patrick Peterson | If there was ever to be a Brandin Cooks week, it's right here in Week 2. With Patrick Peterson shutting down Woods on Sunday, Cooks will get a few extra looks. Woods is no better than a low-end flex option, as he's going up against one of the best cornerbacks in the National Football League. |
| MIA | Kenny Stills | NYJ | Trumaine Johnson | The Jets' secondary was lights out in the season opener, but Still was pretty damn good himself, eclipsing 100 yards and finding the end zone. Perhaps what's even more impressive is that his 3.42 yards per route run was the ninth-best mark in Week 1.* Stills is still a flex option, despite a tricky matchup against this New York secondary. |
| MIN | Stefon Diggs | GB | Kevin King | King was impressive in the opener, allowing a mere 66.7 QB rating when targeted.* However, Diggs showcased a nice rapport with new quarterback Kirk Cousins , despite seeing half of the targets as Adam Thielen . Diggs will find the end zone for the second consecutive week, en route to being a mid-tier WR2. |
| NE | Phillip Dorsett | JAX | Jalen Ramsey | Dorsett may have scored in Week 1, but that was against Houston's Kevin Johnson . Good luck against Jalen Ramsey . I'm going to fade this matchup entirely. |
| NO | Ted Ginn | CLE | Denzel Ward | Ward was targeted often in the season opener, but that comes from seeing Antonio Brown on more than just a few occasions. He held his own though, and despite allowing a touchdown, he recorded two interceptions and allowed under nine yards per reception.* Ginn will need the big one to be fantasy relevant, but I don't see it happening against Ward. |
| NYG | Odell Beckham Jr. | DAL | Chidobe Awuzie | Beckham just got done facing Jalen Ramsey , and Beckham still had double-digit receptions and 100+ receiving yards. Now, he gets Awuzie whom allowed all four of his targets to be caught for 32 yards, 27 of which came after the catch.* With how elusive and game-breaking OBJ is, this matchup seems criminal, and Beckham could very well end up being the highest-owned receiver on the slate. He's a WR1 again. |
| NYJ | Robby Anderson | MIA | Xavien Howard | Anderson had a nice 41-yard score in the season opener, but that was his lone reception in the contest. Anderson's role in the offense is pretty defined, as Quincy Enunwa and Jermaine Kearse will handle the underneath duties. Anderson is going to be a boom-or-bust option with Sam Darnold under center. |
| OAK | Amari Cooper | DEN | Bradley Roby | It was a rough opener for Cooper and the majority of the Oakland receivers, as the game plan leaned towards targeting the tight end and running backs. However, the Denver corners are more exploitable than the Rams' guys, making Cooper a GPP play in DFS. He remains a low-end WR2/high-end WR3 in seasonal formats. |
| PHI | Mike Wallace | TB | Carlton Davis | Davis struggled in coverage in the season opener, allowing five receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown, not to mention a near perfect 151.8 QB rating when targeted.* Wallace has an opportunity to get behind the defense for a big one, it's just a matter of whether or not Nick Foles takes a shot down field. Wallace is a flex option in Week 2. |
| PIT | James Washington | KC | Orlando Scandrick | Washington will get some reps out wide, as will Justin Hunter , but until one of these guys gets regular looks, they are going to be nothing more than a low-end flex option in deeper formats. Scandrick allowed two touchdowns in coverage last week, and in a [likely] high-scoring game, Washington offers cheap exposure to the Pittsburgh offense. |
| SEA | Brandon Marshall | CHI | Kyle Fuller | The Chicago secondary struggled against Green Bay receivers in Week 1, but the damage came more so from the slot, rather than on the outside. Marshall has had a heck of a career, but he's not the fantasy asset he once was. He scored in Week 1, but unless he finds the end zone with regularity, his fantasy value will be minimal. It looks as if his fantasy value will be touchdown dependent. |
| SF | Pierre Garcon | DET | Darius Slay | While Sam Darnold picked apart the Detroit defense, it was by no means against Darius Slay, an established corner in this league. Slay was targeted just twice in the contest, allowing one reception for just seven yards.* The other corners are beatable pieces, and after a rough opener, I expect Jimmy Garoppolo to attack the more advantageous matchups, a la Marquise Goodwin against Nevin Lawson . Garcon is a flex option this weekend. |
| TB | Chris Godwin | PHI | Jalen Mills | Ryan Fitzpatrick will be back in business and there will certainly be statistical regression from Week 1. This Philadelphia defense won't get torched, but if 2017 is any indication, expect Fitzmagic to attack this matchup. Mike Evans will still get his targets, but attacking Jalen Mills is more exploitable than Ronald Darby . Godwin will give way to DeSean Jackson throughout the game, but Godwin is a low-end flex option in Week 2. |
| TEN | Corey Davis | HOU | Johnathan Joseph | Davis vs. Joseph will be a fun matchup worth watching on Sunday afternoon. Davis saw a team-high in targets in Week 1 and with Delanie Walker lost for the season, Davis is well in line for another large workload in Week 2. The Houston secondary looks better than last season, but Davis is a freak athlete that can make the tough catch. He's a WR2 this week. |
| WAS | Josh Doctson | IND | Nate Hairston | Hairston allowed 1.69 yards per coverage snaps and a 104.2 QB rating when targeted in Week 1.* The Indy defense is soft in general, but on Hairston's side of the field, Indy's DVOA is the seventh-worst in the league. Doctson is an intriguing GPP option. |
Now, here are my 10 favorite matchups in the slot this weekend.
| Offense | Slot WR | Defense | Slot CB | Analysis |
| LAC | Keenan Allen | BUF | Taron Johnson | Did you see Keenan Allen last year? Did you see him last week? He's the top option in a Philip Rivers -led passing attack and even Buffalo can't keep this game close, Allen could rack up 80 yards and a score before halftime. He's an easy WR1 this week. |
| CLE | Jarvis Landry | NO | Patrick Robinson | Todd Haley is using Landry like he did Antonio Brown . He's being moved around the offense, and he's maintaining a high target share in the offense. Cleveland is going to have to try to keep up with New Orleans in this one, lending itself to another big opportunity for Landry. |
| PIT | JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC | Kendall Fuller | Only Green Bay's Randall Cobb accrued more yards out of the slot than Smith-Schuster, and with the Steelers playing back at home against a poor Kansas City defense, it's full steam ahead for the sophomore wideout. Fuller had a quality Week 1 in coverage, but Big Ben is a different beast at home. Smith-Schuster is a reliable WR2 this Sunday. |
| MIN | Adam Thielen | GB | Jaire Alexander | Thielen racked up 68 yards receiving out of the slot in Week 1, which was seventh-most in the NFL.* He was targeted early and often by Kirk Cousins , and I expect that trend to continue here this week. In a PPR format, Thielen will push for backend WR1 status. |
| ARI | Larry Fitzgerald | LAR | Nickell Robey-Coleman | It's not a particularly inviting matchup for Fitzgerald, but he's the team's best wide receiver and he avoids LA's two best cover corners (Talib and Peters). He drops to the WR2 realm, especially if the Arizona O-Line cannot handle the beasts in the trenches for the Rams. |
| PHI | Nelson Agholor | TB | M.J. Stewart | With no Alshon Jeffery again in Week 2, expect a lot of Agholor and tight end Zach Ertz . Agholor racked up the catches in Week 1, but his yardage was minimal, due to working the short, underneath routes. He's an excellent start in all formats, but receives a slight boost in PPR setups. |
| GB | Randall Cobb | MIN | Jayron Kearse | Cobb will need Aaron Rodgers to suit up and survive if he wants to reward fantasy owners in a tough matchup against a stout Minnesota defense. If Rodgers doesn't play, Cobb's fantasy value plummets. Monitor Rodgers closely, and if he is good to go, even in a tough matchup, Cobb is worthy of your flex spot. |
| SEA | Tyler Lockett | CHI | Bryce Callahan | With no Doug Baldwin , Lockett occupied the slot and hauled in both of his targets for 57 yards.* Lockett's outlook out of the slot is promising in this matchup against the Bears, and he's firmly on my flex radar in Week 2. |
| DEN | Emmanuel Sanders | OAK | Leon Hall | Sanders had a nice long distance touchdown in the season opener and the Case Keenum to Sanders connection will be on display again this week. The Raiders played late Monday and the defense was uninspiring, which inspires me to slot in Sanders as a WR2. Despite Demaryius Thomas being proclaimed the No. 1, Sanders is the No. 1 fantasy receiver for this team. |
| DET | Golden Tate | SF | K'Waun Williams | Tate is a target hog and a PPR golden boy. Tate saw seven targets out of the slot last week, and he caught five of them for 52 yards, en route to a quality 1.44 yards per route run metric.* Tate is a WR2 through and through. |
Elite
Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Chidobe Awuzie
Awuzie was targeted four times in the opening game, and he allowed all four balls to be caught for 32 yards, and a 100.0 QB rating when targeted.* Conversely, Beckham was targeted 14 times against Jacksonville, where he caught 11 balls for 111 yards. In a much easier matchup for the star receiver, it’s hard not to love his outlook for Week 2. Saquon Barkley will get his touches, but when Eli Manning drops back, everyone and their brother knows where his first option is; OBJ. For his career against the Cowboys, Beckham is averaging 5.2 receptions for 71 yards and 0.8 TDs per game. Not bad, huh? Even with Antonio Brown , DeAndre Hopkins , Michael Thomas and Keenan Allen in great spots, Beckham will be the top scoring wide receiver in fantasy this week.
Affordable
Brandin Cooks vs. Jamar Taylor
Cooks, Kupp and Woods all had eight targets in Week 1, but the usage won’t be the same this week. With Patrick Peterson locking up Robert Woods on one side of the field, quarterback Jared Goff will be looking at his other options, and Cooks is going to feast on Taylor. Taylor wasn’t tested much in Week 1, but he allowed all three of his targets to be caught, en route to posting a 102.8 QB rating when targeted.* Cooks and Goff will continue to sharpen the connection and despite not hooking up for a big one in the opener against Oakland, the two strike for a big one here. Cooks has WR1 potential this week, as well as being sufficient for cash game and GPP lineups.
Jarvis Landry vs. Patrick Robinson
At this point, if this continues, Landry will be in every one of my lineups, especially in DFS. Landry eclipsed 100 yards in Week 1 and will likely lead the team in targets on a weekly basis. I liked the matchup for Landry even with Josh Gordon in action, but with Gordon ruled out (hamstring), Landry should see a ton of volume in this matchup. Robinson was about the only corner that didn’t get trashed by Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 1, but in the slot, he’s no match for the ex-Dolphin. Landry will be moved all around the offense and in a game where Cleveland will need to put up points, Landry has every opportunity to catch 10 balls in this game.
Bargain Bin
Quincy Enunwa vs. Bobby McCain
Enunwa’s seasonal ownership is still pretty low and his DFS price didn’t jump too much, making him eligible for this category. He saw nine targets in Week 1, compared to just Terrelle Pryor ’s three and Robby Anderson ’s one. He turned those targets into 63 yards and a touchdown, not to mention that four of those receptions moved the chains for the New York offense. When targeting Enunwa, Sam Darnold ’s QB rating was 123.8, which is excellent.* McCain was excellent in coverage in Week 1, but I’m buying into Enunwa’s target share.
*Information gathered from research done at Pro Football Focus.