NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 – Wide Receivers

It wasn’t the prettiest of Week 1’s in the NFL with several teams searching to find a rhythm on offense. However, we still had some monster receiving performances, including surprising ones by Sammy Watkins and Marquise Brown. Who will be in the winning DFS lineups for Week 2? Well, hopefully we can point you in the right direction. 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

Michael Thomas, NO at LAR
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $8,000

In one of the most thrilling games of Week 1, Thomas once again shined for the Saints. He hauled in 10 of 13 targets for 123 yards, although he did fail to find his way into the end zone. The volume is nothing new for him considering he had six games last season in which he received at least 10 targets. This figures to be another shootout against the high-powered Rams offense, leaving Thomas with one of the highest floors (and ceilings) at wide receiver.

Keenan Allen, LAC at DET
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $7,600

Speaking of target monsters, Allen has received at least 105 targets in each season of his career in which he played at least 14 games. He’s certainly on pace to reach that threshold again after receiving 10 targets against the Colts. He made them count, finishing with eight receptions, 123 yards and a touchdown. With fellow wideout Mike Williams battling a knee injury and tight end Hunter Henry (knee) out, Allen could receive even more looks against a Lions’ defense that allowed rookie Kyler Murray to throw for 308 yards and two touchdowns in his NFL debut. Add in his reduced price tag compared to Thomas and it’s difficult to pass up Allen in cash contests.

Sammy Watkins, KC at OAK
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,200

I never thought I’d be recommending Watkins in a cash contest, but here we are. He exploded out of the gate against the Jaguars, catching nine of 11 targets for a staggering 198 yards and three touchdowns. Health has been an issue for him throughout his career, but when he’s healthy, he has the talent to put up monster numbers. With Tyreek Hill (collarbone) expected to miss at least the next month, Watkins becomes the top wideout for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In the Chiefs’ explosive offense, that’s certainly a desirable role. This is a great matchup against a Raiders’ defense that already has holes and now has lost first-round pick Johnathan Abram (shoulder) at safety.

GPP TARGETS

Tyrell Williams, OAK vs. KC
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $4,400

With Antonio Brown no longer in town, Williams is the unquestioned top wide receiver for the Raiders. He’s never been in that role during his career, so it’s fair to question whether he can be successful with opposing defenses focusing on him. He certainly came out swinging in Week 1, catching six of seven targets for 105 yards and a touchdown. That’s even more impressive when you consider he was matched up against star cornerback Chris Harris. Now he gets to face a weak Chiefs’ secondary, leaving him with plenty of upside.

Terry McLaurin, WAS vs. DAL
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $3,800

The Redskins entered this season with a mostly unproven group of receivers. With journeyman Case Keenum at quarterback and a patchwork offensive line, they have the potential to have one of the worst passing attacks in the league. Still, someone has to emerge as their top wide receiver. Could that be McLaurin? Well, he was on the field for 92.5 percent of their offensive snaps against the Eagles, which was second at wide receiver only to Trey Quinn (97 percent). He also hauled in five of seven targets for 125 yards and a touchdown. Expect the Redskins to have to throw a lot to keep up with the Cowboys, making McLaurin an extremely appealing cheap option.

Cole Beasley, BUF at NYG
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $3,800

It might not be a sexy move, but the addition of Beasley could prove to be crucial for the Bills. He provides a reliable safety net in the slot for young quarterback Josh Allen and was heavily involved in the opener, catching five of nine targets for 40 yards. The yardage total is a disappointment, although he’s not the kind of slot receiver who can turn a short pass into a monster gain by blowing past the defense. However, this Giants’ secondary is a mess outside of Janoris Jenkins and is really porous in the center of the field. Expect another heavy workload from Beasley and for him to outproduce his price point.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Stefon Diggs, MIN at GB
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $6,300

With the Vikings steamrolling the Falcons on the ground last week, they only attempted 10 total passes. That didn’t leave much work for Diggs, who caught his only two targets for 37 yards. He entered that game nursing a hamstring injury and might not be completely healthy for this contest, either. As crazy as this might have sounded a couple of weeks ago, I’d rather deploy Williams over Diggs, especially when you factor in his reduced price.

Courtland Sutton, DEN vs. CHI
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $4,200

The Broncos are hoping for big things from their young receiver Sutton, who rewarded them by catching seven of eight targets and recording 120 yards in Week 1. This could be his breakout season, even with the aging Joe Flacco at quarterback. The problem with this matchup is that he’ll be facing a Bears’ defense that is one of the stingiest in the league. Stay far, far away from Sutton when crafting your entry.

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.