Cash Game Option
Tom Brady, Patriots ($7,800) at Miami
How do the Patriots not drop 30+ in this spot? The Dolphins are fresh off a 59-point beatdown at the hands of Lamar Jackson. Now they enter Sunday likely without S Reshad Jones — and with CB/S Minkah Fitzpatrick seeking a trade. What a mess.
Meanwhile, it’s all rosy in New England. Brady excelled in the opener with 341-3, and it appears that Antonio Brown will play at least a minor role in Sunday’s contest. That’s a bonus for an already gigantic mismatch.
Tournament Target
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers ($7,600) vs. Seattle
The Seahawks allowed the most passing yards league-wide last week (418). And it came from road Andy Dalton…
Big Ben certainly bombed in his 2019 debut, but the outlook looks much better back at Heinz Field. Last year, Roethlisberger averaged nearly 296 yards and 2.4 TDs per game at home. Losing Antonio Brown clearly hurts (at least on-field), but his absence raises the stacking profile of JuJu Smith-Schuster, who’s also a strong standalone play. The toe injury that landed him on the injury report is by all indications minor.
Fanshare Ownership Projection: 5.9%
Also consider: Jared Goff
Cash Game Options
Gio Bernard, Bengals ($5,700) vs. San Francisco
Mixon returned to practice on Friday, but he’s still not a lock to play vs. the 49ers. If he sits, get Bernard into cash game lineups. He’ll be a strong bet for ~18 touches at home.
Sony Michel, Patriots ($6,800) at Miami
Michael was shut down in Week 1, as New England found most of their success through the air. But I’d be surprised if he doesn’t find the end zone this week against the tanking Dolphins.
Michel was fed against Miami last year, posting games of 20 and 25 carries. Another 20+ touches would bring enormous upside.
Tournament Targets
Todd Gurley, Rams ($7,000) vs. New Orleans
Gurley might not see 20+ touches per game as he did last year. But in this key showdown, I’d look for him to exceed the 14 carries and 1 catch he compiled against Carolina.
A home matchup with the Saints could easily be the highest scoring game of Week 2. New Orleans is on the road with 1 fewer day of rest after playing on Monday. In that opener, they allowed 140 rushing yards to Houston on only 19 attempts.
FanShare Ownership Projection: 10.2%
Damien Williams, Chiefs ($6,600) at Oakland
Williams watched as LeSean McCoy out-produced him in Week 1 (10-81 vs. 13 for 26). But Williams out-produced his new backfield-mate in the passing game (6 catches vs. 1).
Tyreek Hill’s injury could have the Chiefs leaning more towards the run. Oakland showed up in their home opener vs. Denver, but they still allowed 4.7 YPC to an average backfield. Williams is a decent TD bet at low cost.
FanShare Ownership Projection: 5.1%
Also consider: Saquon Barkley, Alvin Kamara, Austin Ekeler, Devin Singletary
Cash Game Options
Keenan Allen, Chargers ($7,700) at Detroit
The Chargers roll into Motown without Hunter Henry — and potentially without Mike Williams. HC Anthony Lynn already labeled the 3rd-year WR a game-time call for Sunday.
Even if he’s active, Williams could be limited. Insert a massive ceiling for Allen, who’s coming off a 10-8-123-1 line vs. the Colts.
Tyler Boyd, Bengals ($6,300) vs. San Francisco
Boyd started just fine with an 8-60 line last week at Seattle. His slot role will primarily keep him away from Richard Sherman, although interestingly, Sherman actually traveled into the slot on a few snaps against Tampa Bay.
Ultimately, Boyd should push for another double-digit target outing. And overall, in 2018, no team allowed more WR scores than San Francisco (27, 3 more than the next closest team).
Tyrell Williams, Raiders ($5,900) vs. Kansas City
Williams played all but 3 snaps in the season opener. That helped produce a 6-105-1 outing on 7 targets. His 27% target share placed him right behind TE Darren Waller (30.7%).
Williams’ targets should grow against the high-scoring Chiefs, and his projected efficiency bodes well, too. The former Charger will see plenty of CB Charvarius Ward, who’s allowed the 3rd most yards per route covered across 2018 and 2019 (per Pro Football Focus).
Tournament Targets
Brandin Cooks, Rams ($7,000) vs. New Orleans
Cooks is the type of big-play talent you want to get into a tournament lineup. He sits 8th among main slate WRs in our ceiling projections.
The last 2 games against his old team (both last season) have produced 6-114-1 and 7-107, so it’s a matchup he’s excelled in before. After the Saints struggled to stop a banged up Deshaun Watson, Sunday looks like an even more appealing spot.
FanShare Ownership Projection: 7.6%
Christian Kirk, Cardinals ($5,400) at Baltimore
Kirk catches the Ravens at the right time, as they’re without CB Jimmy Smith. The 2nd-year WR saw a hefty 12 targets in Week 1 — 22.2% of Kyler Murray’s total — but mustered only 4-32. Murray clearly improved late in the OT tie to Detroit. If he’s able to carry over that momentum, Kirk should benefit big-time.
The Cardinals are already playing as the league’s fastest-pace team. Now they enter the weekend as 13-point underdogs.
FanShare Ownership Projection: 6.7%
Also consider: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Sammy Watkins, Tyler Lockett, John Brown.
Cash Game Option
Travis Kelce, Chiefs ($8,000) at Oakland
Kelce’s ceiling jumps even higher with Tyreek Hill sidelined. The veteran TE has already rolled up 28-337-3 in his last 4 outings with Oakland. Plus, the Raiders just lost 1st-round safety Jonathan Abram for the season due to a shoulder injury.
Kelce’s upside clearly puts him in play for tournaments, too.
Tournament Targets
George Kittle, 49ers ($7,100) at Cincinnati
Kittle had 2 TDs called back last week. He still started the season fine with 10-8-54. No other San Francisco pass catcher exceeded 3 targets.
A thin WR corps provides a boost to Kittle. And without Tevin Coleman, the 49ers might need to rely on the pass a bit more. Facing a Bengals TE defense that was destroyed in 2018, Kittle’s ceiling comes close to Travis Kelce’s.
FanShare Ownership Projection: 8.9%
Vance McDonald, Steelers ($5,600)
Talent, price and opportunity are enough for me to have interest. Such minuscule projected ownership is just a bonus.
After a Week 1 disaster, Pittsburgh’s entire offense should wake up back at home. McDonald also draws a Seahawks squad that could be missing starting safety Tedric Thompson (hamstring).
FanShare Ownership Projection: 1.8%
Cash Game Option
Patriots ($4,900) at Miami
Tournament Targets
Bears ($4,500) at Denver
Bills ($4,600) at Giants