FanDuel Fantasy Football: Top Lineup Strategies for Week 2

There are a number of very good running backs for Sunday's NFL slate, and Mike Barner explains why Derrick Henry may be the one to focus on.
FanDuel Fantasy Football: Top Lineup Strategies for Week 2
SPECIAL OFFER

Get 50% OFF All-in-One

Find the best pickups with our waiver wire tool, optimize your DFS lineups, and find your perfect pick. This subscription has everything you need to win this NFL season. Ends 9/21. Use promo code ALL.
PROMO CODE ALL

There are several star running backs primed for huge performances in Week 2. With that in mind, finding value at other positions will be key. Let's dig into the Sunday FanDuel NFL DFS slate and highlight some of the top players to consider.

The Games

A lot of the focus is on individual players, and while skills certainly matter, finding game environments that are likely to promote a lot of points is a way to narrow the focus of our player pool.

Over-UnderRoad TeamRoad Team TotalHome TeamHome Team Total
44.5Browns16.5Ravens28.5
48.5Jaguars22.5Bengals26.5
44.5Giants19.5Cowboys24.5
46.5Bears20.5Lions26.5
42.5Patriots20.5Dolphins22.5
40.549ers21.5Saints19.5
46Bills24.5Jets19.5
39.5Seahawks18.5Steelers20.5
41.5Rams23.5Titans17.5
44Panthers18.5Cardinals25.5
42.5Broncos22.5Colts20.5
46.5Eagles23.5Chiefs23.5

There are three games with a total below 42 points and four with at least 46; the favorites with the highest totals include the Ravens, Lions and Bengals.

Value Options

George Pickens, DAL vs. NYG ($6,000): Pickens was quiet in Week 1, catching three of four targets for 30 yards. However, he has averaged at least 15.3 yards per catch in each of his three NFL seasons, and he has a dangerous quarterback in Dak Prescott. Giants' top cornerback Paulson Adebo should spend most of his time covering CeeDee Lamb in this matchup, leaving Pickens with the potential to feast against Cor'Dale Flott and Deonte Banks.

Cedric Tillman, CLE at BAL ($5,400): The Browns attempted 45 passes in Week 1, which helped Tillman to five catches for 52 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. He comes with big-play upside, posting an average depth of target of at least 11.2 yards in both of his first two seasons in the NFL. In a game in which the Browns should throw a lot, Tillman is almost too good to pass up at his price.

Other Value Options

QB Drake Maye, NE at MIA ($6,800)
QB Joe Flacco, CLE at BAL ($6,600)
RB Travis Etienne Jr., JAC at CIN ($6,700)
RB Javonte Williams, DAL vs. NYG ($6,300)
RB Zach Charbonnet, SEA at PIT ($5,600)
WR Jerry Jeudy, CLE at BAL ($6,100)
WR Travis Hunter, JAC at CIN ($5,900)
WR Keon Coleman, BUF at NYJ ($5,300)
TE Jake Ferguson, DAL vs. NYG ($5,200)
TE Brenton Strange, JAC at CIN ($5,100)

Stacks to Consider

Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are a team to attack on a weekly basis. They allowed the most points per game in the league last season and gave up 26 to the Jaguars in Week 1. They generated just nine interceptions and 32 sacks last year, while giving up 35 passing touchdowns.

Kyler Murray ($7,700) finished with just 163 passing yards last week, but he had two touchdowns and 38 rushing yards against the Saints. The combination of his rushing upside and the Panthers' terrible defense makes him a top option. Meanwhile, Marvin Harrison Jr. ($6,700) and Trey McBride ($7,000) are two players to consider stacking with him. McBride was targeted nine times in Week 1 and has a higher floor than Harrison. However, after posting an average depth of target of 13.1 yards last season, Harrison had averaged 12.5 in Week 1 while recording five receptions, 71 yards and one touchdown.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The duo of Joe Burrow ($8,000) and Ja'Marr Chase ($9,000) were one of the most disappointing stacks in Week 1. Burrow threw for 113 yards and one touchdown, while Chase had only two catches for 26 yards. They will look to bounce back against the Jaguars, who were tied for the fifth-most passing touchdowns allowed in the league last year. Their 67.1 percent completion rate allowed was the ninth-highest mark.

Other Stacks to Consider

Jets – Justin Fields ($7,600) + Garrett Wilson ($7,300)
Lions – Jared Goff ($7,500) + Amon-Ra St. Brown ($8,000)
Giants – Russell Wilson ($6,500) + Malik Nabers ($7,700)

High-Price Heroes

Christian McCaffrey, SF at NO ($8,900): McCaffrey might be the last man standing for the 49ers. Brock Purdy (toe), George Kittle (hamstring) and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) are all out, and even Jauan Jennings is battling a shoulder injury that forced him out of Week 1. McCaffrey wasn't overly efficient against the Seahawks, but he finished with 142 total yards because he was given 22 carries and 10 targets. He'll have all the work that he can handle again in Week 2.

Breece Hall, NYJ vs. BUF ($7,300): The Bills pulled off a late comeback against the Ravens despite their defensive struggles. They were demolished by Derrick Henry, who ran 18 times for 169 yards and two touchdowns. The Jets deployed a run-heavy scheme in Week 1, which helped Hall to 107 yards on 19 carries. He also caught two of four targets for 38 yards. Hall has posted at least 57 receptions and 483 receiving yards in both of the last two seasons, which makes him almost game-script proof. If the Jets have a lead, they can turn to him to burn clock. If they are down early, which is certainly possible against the Bills, Hall can make an impact in the passing game while they play catchup.

The Smash Spot

Derrick Henry, BAL vs. CLE ($9,000): The last time the Browns saw Henry, he ran for 138 yards and two touchdowns in Week 18 last year. He also reached the end zone against them in Week 8. He showed no signs of slowing down against the Bills last week, averaging 6.5 yards after contact. The Browns were tied for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns allowed last season, so look for Henry to thrive again in their first meeting this year.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Mike Barner plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: mbarner, DraftKings: mbarner51.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mike started covering fantasy sports in 2007, joining RotoWire in 2010. In 2018, he was a finalist for the FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Mike also won the 2022-23 FSGA NBA Experts Champions league. In addition to RotoWire, Mike has written for Sportsline, Sports Illustrated, DK Live, RealTime Fantasy Sports, Lineup Lab and KFFL.com.
RotoWire Logo

Continue the Conversation

Join the RotoWire Discord group to hear from our experts and other NFL fans.

Top News

Tools

NFL Draft Kit Logo

NFL Draft Kit

Fantasy Tools

Don’t miss a beat. Check out our 2025 NFL Fantasy Football rankings.