NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 – Running Backs

Even though it’s only been one week, the running back landscape across the league has already been impacted by a few key injuries. That leaves us with some added value plays to consider for Week 2 in DFS. Let’s examine the entire price scale and highlight some of the better players to target. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our NFL Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH TARGETS

Saquan Barkley, NYG vs. BUF
FanDuel = $9,200
DraftKings = $9,200

Despite only receiving 11 carries against the Cowboys in Week 1, Barkley totaled 120 rushing yards. He’s capable of rattling off a big gain whenever he touches the ball, so it’s no surprise that he thrived despite the limited workload. The Giants would be wise to get him more involved in this contest, especially since they spent the offseason upgrading their offensive line. With his ability to also rack up yards in the passing game, Barkley has one of the highest floors of any running back.

Alvin Kamara, NO at LAR
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $8,200

Kamara shined during a thriller of a matchup Monday against the Texans, accumulating 169 total yards. He was once again heavily involved in the passing game, catching seven of eight targets to go along with 13 carries. He’s received at least 100 targets in both of the first two seasons of his career and should at least approach that threshold again if he stays healthy. This could be a shootout between two high-powered offenses, leaving Kamara as one of the safer options at his position.

Mark Ingram II, BAL vs. ARI
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,000

There were a lot of players who put up mouth-watering stat lines during the Ravens’ 59-10 demolishing of the Dolphins on Sunday. Ingram was certainly among one of the best, rushing for 107 yards and two touchdowns. He only received 14 carries, but a lot of that was likely due to the Ravens jumping out to an early lead and resting him late. The Cardinals have much better talent on the offensive side of the ball, so this matchup at least has the potential to be a little closer.

GPP TARGETS

Josh Jacobs, OAK vs. KC
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $4,700

With Antonio Brown no longer in the fold, Jacobs will be thrust into an even more prominent role. Week 1 against the Broncos was a success with Jacobs turning 23 carries into 85 yards and two touchdowns. He also hauled in his lone target for an additional 28 yards. The game script might have helped his cause with the Raiders racing out to an early lead. While they will likely be playing from behind in this contest against the Chiefs, he is still going to see his fair share of work and will be active whenever the Raiders enter the red zone. At this reasonable price tag, he could pay significant dividends.

Matt Breida, SF at CIN
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,200

A team decimated by injuries last season, the 49ers are once again dealing with a limited depth chart. Jerick McKinnon (knee) is set to miss his second straight campaign and Tevin Coleman is now considered week-to-week after suffering a high ankle sprain against the Bucs. That leaves Breida as the featured back moving forward. He received at least 10 carries in a game nine times last season, averaging 75.3 yards across those contests. Add in his ability to catch passes out of the backfield and he has the potential to be one of the better value plays of the slate.

Chris Thompson, WAS vs. DAL
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $3,900

The Redskins lost their promising young running back Derrius Guice to yet another knee injury in Week 1. While his official timeline for a return is still not known, don’t expect to see him on the field this week. Adrian Peterson should play after being a healthy inactive against the Eagles, but this is a prime spot to deploy Thompson. He’s their running back of choice in the passing game and caught seven of 10 targets for 68 yards in their first game. With the Redskins potentially playing from behind against a vastly superior Cowboys squad, Thompson could see plenty of passes thrown his way. While he’s also appealing on FanDuel, he’s a lock for me on DraftKings.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Phillip Lindsay, DEN vs. CHI
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $4,600

We have the makings of a full-fledged timeshare at running back for the Broncos. Lindsay was on the field for 53.1 percent of their offensive snaps in Week 1 while Royce Freeman was on the field 46.9 percent of the time. The Broncos likely want to involve Freeman more this season now that he is healthy, which will limit Lindsay’s upside. It won’t help his cause that the Bears have one of the best defenses in the league, so be sure to keep him out of your entry.

David Montgomery, CHI at DEN
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,900

The Bears’ running back situation also appears to be a mess in the early going. They seem hellbent on easing Montgomery into the league, leaving him on the field for only 38.1 percent of their offensive snaps against the Packers. Tarik Cohen was split out mostly as a receiver, but Mike Davis was on the field for 56.2 percent of their snaps, totaling five rushing attempts and six receptions. Until Montgomery has a more prominent role, he’s just not worth the risk.

Author Bio:

Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat, and was a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Follow Mike on Twitter @rotomikebarner.