Week 2 of the 2021 season is the books. In Week 2, our Bills stack of Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs collected 33.7 DKFP, including a passing TD from Allen to Diggs. Expect more from this duo as the season moves on. Rooke RB Najee Harris added another 19.1 DKFP and collected his first career TD. Finally, TE Jared Cook and the Pittsburgh Steelers defense let us down with only 7.8 combined DKFP. We now turn our attention to this week’s look at some of the players we will be rostering in DraftKings GPP and Cash contests. Now, let’s get to our DraftKings NFL Week 3 Picks for the Sunday Main Slate.
I know it is still early in the season, but I must admit the “Matthew Stafford Experience” in Los Angeles is sensational. He has thrown for 599 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception while averaging 22.8 DKFP/GM through two games. This week he gets a great matchup with the pass funnel defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Throughout two games, the Bucs defense has allowed 23.5 DKFP/GM (8th most in the NFL), 342 passing yards per game (3 rd most in the NFL), and 2.5 passing touchdowns per game (T6th most in the NFL) to opposing quarterbacks. Interestingly, DraftKings didn’t raise Stafford’s price this week, considering the enormous game total and the matchup. However, at his current $6,400 price, he has a safe floor and a massive ceiling, making him a staple in my cash lineups this week.
This is in no way a knock on Cooper Kupp, who is a fine play this week at $6,800 on DraftKings. But if we want to win a GPP, we have to make some difficult decisions. This brings me to Robert Woods, who should carry less ownership this week versus Tampa Bay. The word is undoubtedly out on Kupp, as evidenced by his 16-271-3 receiving line and 33.3 DKFP/GM over the first two weeks of the season. While Robert Woods 8-91-1 receiving line and 12.2 DKFP/GM leaves a lot to be desired. It is encouraging that Woods saw nine targets last week versus the Indianapolis Colts, which was only two fewer than Kupp. Both wideouts are blessed with a matchup against a Buccaneers defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.
My reasons for Robert Woods this week are simple, he is cheaper, should have reduced ownership, and gets the same beautiful matchup.
Gronk has been a touchdown monster early in the 2021 NFL season, totaling four touchdowns in two games. Unfortunately, his price increased, and he is the third-highest priced tight end on DraftKings. Fortunately, that may keep his ownership suppressed with the field flocking to wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, especially given the uncertainty of Antonio Brown (Covid-19) this week versus Los Angeles. The Rams defense currently ranks in the bottom half of the NFL versus tight ends, allowing 13.8 DKFP/GM and a whopping 9.5 targets/GM to the position. However, Gronk has caught all four of his red-zone targets this year, and while that efficiently won’t last, I like his chances of finding pay dirt in a game that is sure to have offensive fireworks.
Austin Ekeler showed us last week why he is a PPR darling. He only saw 9 carries for 54 yards (6 yards per carry) but caught all nine of his targets for 61 yards, finishing the day with 22.5 DKFP. We shouldn’t expect nine targets from any running back every week, but we could be in line for a repeat performance this week as Ekeler and the Chargers travel to Arrowhead to take on the Kansas City Chiefs. One thing I’m sure we all agree on is that Patrick Mahomes and company are live to put up 30+ points any week, which plays right into Ekeler’s favor.
Throughout two weeks, the Chiefs defense has allowed a mammoth 32.1 DKFP/GM (3rd most) and 130 rushing yards (3rd most) to opposing running backs. Ekeler should be popular, but I am totally fine eating the chalk on this one for GPP and cash contests.
I feel pretty good about the Tennessee Titans defense, no matter who is under center for the Indianapolis Colts this week. With Carson Wentz nursing two ankle sprains, the Colts may be forced to roll out 2020 fourth-round pick Jacob Eason and/or 2015 fifth-round pick Brett Hundley at quarterback. While the Titan’s defense has managed only five sacks and one interception through two games, those games were against the potent offenses of the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks. Not exactly a cakewalk for opposing defenses. I expect the Titans defense to have much more success against either a gimpy Carson Wentz or Jacob Eason and Brett Hundley, who have a combined 14 INTs and a 49.6 completion percentage. At $2,400 on DraftKings and playing at home against a banged-up division opponent, the Titans are my top value defense for Week 3.
These are some of the players we will have in our GPP and Cash lineups for our DraftKings NFL 2021 Week 3 contests. Good luck, and may your screens always be green.
Week 1 of the 2021 season is the books football fans. In Week 1 our Eagles stack of Hurts/Smith locked in 47.9 DKFP and showed the DFS world this combo has the potential to be DFS relevant. Dalvin Cook added another 21.4 DKFP to our lineups and still we have not seen his ceiling. Kyle Pitts only securing 7.1 DKFP was disappointing in a shoot out but the route running talent showed. Now we turn our attention to the Sunday slate to bring you our weekly look at some of the players we will be rostering in DraftKings GPP and Cash contests. Now, let’s get to our DraftKings NFL Week 2 Picks for the Sunday Main Slate.
Josh Allen has owned the Miami Dolphins in his young career. Not only does he possess a 5-1 record against his AFC East rivals, but Allen has thrown for 1,552 yards, 17 touchdowns, and four interceptions, with a passer rating of 114.3 in those six games. Add in his 340 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns, and I’m sure I’ve made my point. While the Dolphins defense has elite talent in the secondary, their pass rush doesn’t compare to the likes of the Steelers, who made life difficult for Allen last week. With that said, Miami allowed rookie quarterback Mac Jones to throw for 281 yards and one touchdown last week (15.24 DKFP). So prepare yourselves; Josh Allen is about to go nuclear.
Although Diggs only put up 15 DKFP last week, he did see a team-high 14 targets. That kind of volume is going to lead to massive production eventually. We all know what Diggs is capable of, evidenced by his league-leading 127 receptions and 1,535 yards last season. This week he squares off with a Dolphins defense that has allowed the 10th most fantasy points to wide receivers over the previous two seasons. In two games against Miami last season, Diggs caught 15 balls for 229 receiving yards and one touchdown, averaging 23.5 DKFP/GM. I like his chances for a ceiling game this week on DraftKings.
Jaylen Waddle looked impressive last week versus the New England Patriots, finishing the game with a 4-61-1 receiving line, good for 16.1 DKFP, respectively. It was also encouraging that he saw 80% of the offensive snaps, which should continue this week with fellow wide receiver Will Fuller (Personal) ruled out. Waddle lined up in the slot on 75-percent of his routes in week one, meaning he should avoid seeing Bills’ top cornerback Tre’Davious White. His price increased after last week, but Waddle still holds good value given his role in the offense. All things considered, he should be low-owned this week which is why I love playing him in GPP’s with my Bills stacks.
Najee Harris’ stat line in his NFL debut may not have been awe-inspiring. Harris only rushed for 45 yards on 16 carries and caught one of three targets for four yards. But the key was that he saw 100% of the offensive snaps and ran 30 total routes at running back last week. As a six-point home favorite, I expect the Steelers to get their run game going, especially against a Las Vegas Raiders defense that ranked inside the bottom five in both fantasy points and touchdowns allowed to running backs last season.
Jared Cook caught five of eight targets for 56 yards last week versus the vaunted Washington Football Team defense. Importantly, he was on the field for 58-percent of the offensive snaps. With Hunter Henry now in a New England Patriots jersey, Cook is unquestionably the Chargers’ top pass catcher at tight end. He takes on a Dallas Cowboys defense that allowed an 8-90-2 receiving line to Rob Gronkowski last week. In no way am I comparing Cook to Gronk, but in a projected high-scoring game and at under $4,000 on DraftKings, if he can replicate last week’s statistics and find the endzone, he makes for a great value in GPP contests at tight end.
The Steelers defense is the real deal. I guess that is what one would expect with seven former first-round draft choices on defense. They generated a lot of pressure last week, finishing with three sacks and a fumble recovery against the Bills. This week is Pittsburghs’ home opener against a Raiders team playing on short rest. Not to mention Vegas is traveling from the west to east. This week, it should be another big day for the Steelers pass rush against a Raiders offensive line that allowed quarterback Derek Carr to be sacked three times and hit seven times on Monday night versus the Baltimore Ravens.
These are some of the players we will have in our GPP and Cash lineups for our DraftKings NFL 2021 Week 2 Picks. Good Luck, and may your screens always be green.
FOOTBALL is back! Happy Week 1 football fans. The season started with an exciting Thursday night game in which the GOAT led a game-winning drive to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the Dallas Cowboys 31-29. Now we turn our attention to the Sunday slate to bring you our weekly look at some of the players we will be rostering in DraftKings GPP and Cash contests. Now, let’s get to our DraftKings NFL Week 1 Picks for the Sunday Main Slate.
Given that the game total currently sits at 49, I love this stack for week 1, especially in GPP’s. Both defenses gave up an average of 26 points per game in 2020. Notably, The Falcons owned the worst pass defense in the NFL last season, allowing a whopping 293 passing yards per game.
Jalen Hurts has been electric since taking over the starting quarterback role back in Week 14 of the 2020 season. In his four career starts, he compiled 919 passing yards, five passing touchdowns and 3 interceptions. However, his real upside came from his legs as he rushed for 272 yards and added another three scores. On top of allowing the most passing yards per game in 2020, Atlanta allowed the seventh-most rushing yards to quarterbacks (344) and the third-most rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks (6). In a game that is expected to be a shootout, Hurts is in a great spot to hit the 300-yard passing and the 100-yard rushing bonus on DraftKings, which is a must if you’re looking at taking down GPP’s.
First off, Smith won the 2020 Heisman and now reunites with his former Alabama quarterback after being selected 10th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2021 draft. Secondly, DeVonta Smith was truly sensational last year, breaking SEC single-season records in receiving yards with 1,856 receiving yards and receiving touchdowns with 23. In fact, he also set a new FBS record with 46 career receiving touchdowns. Lastly, his debut begins with a soft match up against a Falcons defense that allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2020.
Please do yourself a favor and check out Kyle Pitts college highlights on YouTube. Now try to tell me who the Florida product reminds you of. If your answer is Raiders tight end Darren Waller, then congratulations, your vision is not impaired. Both tower at a “measly” 6’6 with 4.4 forty-yard dash times. Talk about a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Pitts should fit in well alongside veteran quarterback Matt Ryan in the Falcons offense. With the departure of Julio Jones this off-season, Matty Ice should call upon Pitts plenty in his first NFL season.
To emphasize, Pitts had a fantastic final year at Florida, catching 43 balls for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns, and was undoubtedly the winner of the John Mackey Award. Fortunately, Pitts debut comes against an Eagles defense that ranked in the bottom ten versus tight ends last season in fantasy points allowed and touchdowns allowed. Don’t overthink this one, play Kyle Pitts in GPPs and Cash contests in Week 1.
The season couldn’t start much better for Dalvin Cook, who receives a glorious matchup with a Bengals defense that allowed 2013 rushing yards in 2020, which ranked 3rd worst in the NFL. Considering the Bengals lost their best defensive lineman Geno Atkins to free agency and didn’t bring in any meaningful replacements, I don’t expect their run defense to be much better. Nevertheless, Cook was dominant last season and set career highs in rushing yards (1,557), yards per rush (5.0), and rushing touchdowns (16). NEWS FLASH for those of you living under a rock, Dalvin Cook is an absolute stud. Play him with confidence this week in GPPs and Cash contests.
The Buffalo Bills’ number one need this past off-season, FIX THE PASS RUSH. And they did just that, drafting defensive ends Gregory Rousseau (Miami) and Carlos Basham Jr. (Wake Forest) with their first two draft picks. Add them to a defensive line already consisting of Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison, Star Lotulelei, Ed Oliver, Vernon Butler, and A.J Epenesa and what was once a weakness appears “on paper” to now be a strength.
The Bills were one of the league’s most greedy defenses in 2020, ranking 3rd in takeaways with 26. They should be able to wreak havoc this week against a makeshift Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line that saw the departures of pro bowl center Maurkice Pouncey (retirement), left guard Matt Feiler (signed with Chargers), left tackle Alejandro Villanueva (signed with Ravens), and right guard David DeCastro (free agent) this spring. My strategy is simple, target opportunistic defenses facing weak offensive lines.
These are some of the players we will have in our GPP and Cash lineups for DraftKings NFL 2021 Week 1 Picks. Good Luck, and may your screens always be green.
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