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Week 2 DraftKings Cash-Game Picks

By Jared Smola 9:46pm EDT 9/15/23

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Top Plays for DraftKings Head-to-Head and 50/50 Contests

Here are the guys I’m considering for DraftKings Week 2 head-to-heads and 50/50s:

Quarterback

Anthony Richardson, Colts ($6,300)

Josh Allen ($7,900) leads our dollars-per-point rankings and is an awesome play in an obvious bounce-back spot at home for the Raiders.

But as I’ve worked on building my cash lineup this week, I’ve often landed on Richardson for the $1,600 savings.

The rookie scored 21.9 DraftKings points in his debut last week. 

He gave us the rushing: 10 carries for 41 yards and a score.

But he also threw 37 passes in an Indianapolis offense that was fast-paced and pass-leaning. The Colts ranked fifth in neutral pass and 12th in Pass Rate Over Expected. They aren’t babying Richardson.

With big rushing upside and stronger-than-expected passing volume, Richardson supplies a high floor at this price tag.

The Texans will be without both of their starting safeties on Sunday.

Running Back

Christian McCaffrey, 49ers ($8,900)

22 carries and five targets on an 85% snap rate.

If McCaffrey is going to get that type of usage, he should be closer to $9,900 on DraftKings.

His 49ers are 7.5-point favorites with a 26.5-point implied total vs. the Rams on Sunday.

Ken Walker, Seahawks ($5,800)

Playing Walker as a 4.5-point underdog last year would have been asking for a losing week.

Not this year.

Walker ran a route on 55% of Seattle’s pass plays and drew a 19% target share in the opener. It looks like his role in the passing-game has expanded, making him much less susceptible to game script.

He finds himself in a Week 2 game without shootout potential vs. the Lions. Last year’s meeting between these two teams produced 93 points.

Walker was still in a bit role at that point. But lead back Rashaad Penny smoked Detroit for 151 yards and two TDs on 17 carries.

Joshua Kelley, Chargers ($5,000)

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on – ah, screw it. We’re playing a RB against the Titans again this week.

Jamaal Williams burned us last week with a 7.2-point outing against this stout Tennessee run defense.

The difference with Kelley this week is that he should be more involved in the passing game than Williams, who saw just two targets. And Kelley’s Chargers have a 24-point implied total.

Volume and TD upside make Kelley a strong cash-game play, even in this negative rushing matchup.

Also consider: A.J. Dillon ($5,900) if Aaron Jones is out

Wide Receiver

Davante Adams, Raiders ($7,600)

Jakobi Meyers had the big Week 1. But Adams still drew nine targets for a huge 34.6% target share.

Meyers will miss Week 2 with his concussion. And the Raiders figure to be playing catch-up vs. the Bills.

That makes Adams arguably the best volume bet at WR on the entire slate.

Deebo Samuel, 49ers ($5,600)

WR Brandon Aiyuk had the big Week 1.

But Samuel saw seven targets on a strong 24% share and carried twice.

He remains a big part of San Francisco’s offense. And Week 2 sets up as a Deebo Week.

While Aiyuk tends to dominate against man-heavy pass defenses, Samuel crushes zone defense. The Rams are a zone-heavy defense.

That explains why Samuel has tortured the Rams recently. His last four games vs. the division rival:

• 133 total yards, 2 TDs
• 140 total yards, 1 TD
• 98 total yards, 1 TD
• 117 total yards, 1 TD

Jahan Dotson, Commanders ($4,900)

Dotson underwhelmed in the opener, posting 9.0 DK points on a 5-40-0 line.

The usage was there, though:

• 96% route rate
• 7 targets (23% share)

I’m expecting Broncos All-Pro CB Patrick Surtain to spend most of Sunday’s game covering WR Terry McLaurin, who’s still widely viewed as Washington’s No. 1 WR.

In that case, Dotson would see CB Damarri Mathis in primary coverage. 

Mathis is the corner that Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers tortured in Week 1. Mathis coughed up eight catches, 95 yards, and two TDs in coverage in that one.

Also consider: Ja’Marr Chase ($7,900), Amon-Ra St. Brown ($7,800), Calvin Ridley ($7,200), Keenan Allen ($7,100), Brandon Aiyuk ($5,800)

Tight End

Luke Musgrave, Packers ($3,200)

Musgrave scored a decent 8.0 DK points on a 3-50-0 line last week.

But he was literally a few feet away from going over 100 yards with a TD.

QB Jordan Love overshot him for a would-be 56-yard TD in the second quarter. Then in the fourth, Musgrave broke wide open deep for a 37-yard catch. But he stumbled over his own feet making the grab, preventing what would have been a 41-yard TD.

Musgrave’s usage was strong:

• 80% route rate
• 15% target share
• TE-leading 72 air yards

The rookie is underpriced, especially vs. a Falcons defense that just allowed a 5-41-1 line to Panthers TE Hayden Hurst.

Defense/Special Teams

Jets ($2,700)

This defense is simply too good to be priced down at $2,700. The Jets opened the season with 20 DK points vs. the Bills.

Their Week 2 matchup gets an upgrade with the Cowboys offensive line banged up. G Tyler Smith is doubtful, and G Zack Martin is questionable.

Watch below for more of our top WR targets this week