Week 2 of the NFL is here, and Awesemo has a ton of great tools and NFL DFS strategy to help you tackle all the largest contests in DFS. This article will take you through and highlight some of the week’s highest-projected Yahoo NFL picks at each position on the Week 2 main slate, all based on Awesemo’s projections and models. We will also provide insight into ownership projections and provide some other matchup information for optimal Yahoo NFL picks for daily fantasy lineups each week.
Week 2 Yahoo NFL Picks
Top Graded QB: Kyler Murray | Grades: A, Values: B
Murray had a fantastic Week 1, going for five touchdowns (four throwing and one rushing) against a weak Titans pass defense. Up until he got injured around Week 11 last year, Murray was the No. 1 quarterback for fantasy. He should continue to succeed in Week 2, especially given the matchup. Minnesota was eighth worst in terms of yards per pass attempt allowed last week (just behind the Titans) and gave up a 74% completion rate and 128 passer rating to Joe Burrow, who was playing his first game since a major knee injury last October. The matchup is reflected in the Awesemo projections this week, and he has the highest-projected fantasy output at quarterback by over a point. He is a great pay-up target once again in Week 2.
Projected NFL DFS ownership: 10.2%
Top Value QB: Jalen Hurts | Grades: A, Values: A
It should surprise no one that one of the best values at quarterback this week is also a rushing quarterback, as they tend to be ultra-valuable in DFS, especially the ones who can pass. Hurts proved he is capable of taking advantage of good matchups with his arm, shredding a bad Atlanta defense for three touchdowns in Week 1. Hurts also proved that he is going to provide yards rushing no matter the score (ahead or behind), as he still rushed for 62 yards on nine attempts despite the Eagles being in control of this game from the get-go. San Francisco had 27 pressures last week, but pressure may just mean Hurts will regress a touch as a passer and run the ball more. The 49ers also gave up 314 yards passing, and nine caches went to Lions tight ends; Hurts has Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz to exploit that weakness. At just $26, Hurts has the best value score of anyone at the position above $25.
Projected NFL DFS ownership: 15.3%
Top Graded RB: Chris Carson | Grades: B, Values: B
As mentioned above, the Seahawks and Titans game has a 54 over/under, and Seattle has a 30.25 implied team total for this game, the second highest on the main slate. Tennessee gave up a collective 106 yards to Cardinal running backs in Week 1 and also ceded 43 yards receiving to their backs as well. Carson played nearly every down for Seattle in Week 1 and was spelled only by Rashaad Penny, who again had to leave a game with injury issues. Expect to see a ton of Carson, who should see a multitude of red-zone touches and opportunities given the current spread and game total. He is projected for the best value score of anyone above $20 on Yahoo this week.
Projected NFL DFS ownership: 26.2%
Top Value RB: Mike Davis | Grades: C, Values: A
Davis is an interesting pay-down option this week on Yahoo at just $16. He has the best value score of any running back on Yahoo in a game where Atlanta could be passing a ton late. Davis lost a few snaps to Cordarrelle Patterson in Week 1 but still played on 75% of the snaps and also saw six targets in the passing game. He proved himself a capable pass-catching back last year in Carolina when Christian McCaffery was out, and his domination of the passing work in Week 1 bodes well for his usage in this game since Atlanta is a +12.5 underdog. The reception potential here makes Davis a sound value given his bargain pricing.
Projected NFL DFS ownership: 8.2%
Top Graded WR: Deebo Samuel | Grades: A, Values: C
Samuel was a bit of a shock performer in Week 1, going for nine receptions, 189 yards and a touchdown. A lot of that came on a 79-yard touchdown catch and run, but the real eye catcher was the volume. In a game where the 49ers led for three quarters and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo attempted just 25 passes, Samuel received 12 targets, seven more than the next-highest receiver. That gap may not be there every week, but it was clear the 49ers plan to get the ball in Samuel’s hands in any way possible. The Awesemo model also says not to wait on Samuel, as it projects gun for the third-highest point total at wide receiver on the slate and with the best value score of any receiver $25 or more.
Projected NFL DFS ownership: 6.4%
Top Value WR: Cooper Kupp | Grades: A, Values: B
Kupp is another receiver who vastly outperformed his usage expectations in Week 1. He caught seven passes on 10 targets, which was four more than the next-highest receiver on the Rams. Increased efficiency this year for Kupp should be expected with Matthew Stafford now at quarterback, and if he keeps leading them in target share, he could be in for a big year. The Colts secondary was trampled by Seattle last week, allowing 10.5 yards per pass attempt (fourth worst in the league) and still are likely to be without cornerback Xavier Rhodes here. Kupp has the fifth-best points projection on Yahoo this week, so his $22 price tag here screams value. Keep attacking the Colts, who are starting to pile up injuries on defense.
Projected NFL DFS ownership: 10%
Top Graded TE Darren Waller | Grades: A, Values: B
In Week 1 Waller was not just the focal point of the Raiders offense, he was their entire offense. He took 19 targets in the crazy comeback win, 10 more than any other Raider on the night. Because he played in a prime-time game, though, everyone is now privy to Waller’s usage here, so do not expect low ownership (he is projected for over 30% on Yahoo). With that being said, fading him does not really make sense either. Waller is only $22 on Yahoo at a position with no Travis Kelce on the main slate and is projected to score 2 more points on Yahoo than the next highest-scoring tight end. The price outweighs the matchup here against a strong Steelers defense, as Waller’s position simply has a lack of viable high-priced pivots.
Projected NFL DFS ownership: 34.2%
Top Value TE: Dallas Goedert | Grades: C, Values: C
The 49ers gave up nine receptions and a touchdown to Lions tight ends in Week 1, making this matchup for Goedert stick out as a potentially great spot for an upside week. Goedert shared some work with Ertz but played on 78% of the snaps and out-targeted Ertz 5-2. While the projections this week have Goedert in the middle of the pack, he rates as a strong value play given his $14 salary. There is also the fact Ertz was limited in practice this week and may not be 100%, which would only mean a bigger target share for Goedert in a great matchup. As a pay-down candidate, he rates well this week at a thin position and makes for a great stacking target with the Hurts at quarterback.
Projected NFL DFS ownership: 10.4%
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