September 16, 2025
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NFL DraftKings Picks: Week 2

Walt010 mins
A.J. Brown

I’ll be posting NFL DraftKings picks here. I cannot post lineups anymore, but I will list some players I like each week.


Week 2: Monday Slate


I can no longer post any lineups, per DraftKings rules. I will be trying something different this year, which is to rank my order of preferences by position taking price into account.


Top DFS Quarterbacks:

  1. Justin Herbert, $5,900 (at Raiders)
  2. C.J. Stroud, $5,600 (vs. Texans)
Justin Herbert is throwing much more than expected. C.J. Stroud is battling a pass-funnel defense.


Top DFS Running Backs:

  1. Ashton Jeanty, $7,000 (vs. Chargers)
  2. Omarion Hampton, $5,800 (at Raiders)
  3. Bucky Irving, $7,200 (at Texans)
Ashton Jeanty is the top choice here with Denzel Perryman out for the Chargers.


Top DFS Wide Receivers:

  1. Nico Collins, $7,300 (vs. Buccaneers)
  2. Keenan Allen, $4,800 (at Raiders)
  3. Jakobi Meyers, $4,900 (vs. Chargers)
  4. Dont’e Thornton, $3,900 (vs. Chargers)
  5. Ladd McConkey, $6,900 (at Raiders)
  6. Quentin Johnston, $5,400 (at Raiders)
  7. Emeka Egbuka, $5,800 (at Texans)
Nico Collins is cheaper than I thought, but the real values are Keenan Allen and Jakobi Meyers, both of whom could easily be priced in the high $5K range.


Top DFS Tight Ends:

  1. Brock Bowers, $6,300 (vs. Chargers)
  2. Dalton Schultz, $3,200 (vs. Buccaneers)
There’s enough value on this slate to spend up for Brock Bowers.


Top DFS Defenses:

  1. Texans, $3,000 (vs. Buccaneers)
  2. Buccaneers, $2,800 (at Texans)
Every defense is viable on this slate, but I prefer the two from the early game.




Players to Avoid: Baker Mayfield (6500), Mike Evans (6800). The Buccaneers have offensive line woes, while the Texans have a ferocious defensive front. … Mike Evans shouldn’t be $1,000 more than Emeka Egbuka, especially when he has to deal with Derek Stingley Jr.


Week 2: Main Slate


I can no longer post any lineups, per DraftKings rules. I will be trying something different this year, which is to rank my order of preferences by position taking price into account.


Top DFS Quarterbacks:

  1. Jalen Hurts, $6,800 (at Chiefs)
  2. Joe Burrow, $6,600 (vs. Jaguars)
  3. Drake Maye, $5,200 (at Dolphins)
  4. Josh Allen, $7,100 (at Jets)
  5. Justin Fields, $5,800 (vs. Bills)
It’s difficult to recommend most quarterbacks when the top players at the position are just $1,000-$1,500 more than most of the other quarterbacks. I would play one of the top guys, though the one exception seems to be Drake Maye, who is in the same matchup as Daniel Jones was last week.


Top DFS Running Backs:

  1. Christian McCaffrey, $7,500 (at Saints)
  2. Breece Hall, $6,200 (vs. Bills)
  3. Travis Etienne, $5,700 (at Bengals)
  4. Chase Brown, $6,800 (vs. Jaguars)
  5. Kyren Williams, $6,300 (at Titans)
  6. TreVeyon Henderson, $5,500 (at Dolphins)
  7. James Cook, $6,400 (at Jets)
  8. Dylan Sampson, $5,200 (at Ravens)
  9. Javonte Williams, $5,800 (vs. Giants)
  10. Derrick Henry, $8,200 (vs. Browns)
First of all, Christian McCaffrey is still too cheap. While he’s healthy, he should be in the $8K range. Also, there are a number of great options at $6K, with Breece Hall being the best choice. Travis Etienne, however, could be argued to be a better choice at $500 less because of his matchup against the Bengals.


Top DFS Wide Receivers:

  1. A.J. Brown, $6,600 (at Chiefs)
  2. Ricky Pearsall, $5,300 (at Saints)
  3. Marvin Harrison Jr., $5,800 (vs. Panthers)
  4. CeeDee Lamb, $7,800 (vs. Giants)
  5. Ja’Marr Chase, $8,100 (vs. Jaguars)
  6. Rome Odunze, $4,900 (at Lions)
  7. Brian Thomas Jr., $6,700 (at Bengals)
  8. Garrett Wilson, $6,500 (vs. Bills)
  9. Courtland Sutton, $6,300 (at Colts)
  10. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, $6,000 (at Steelers)
  11. Puka Nacua, $7,600 (at Titans)
  12. Kayshon Boutte, $4,500 (at Dolphins)
  13. Olamide Zaccheaus, $3,600 (at Lions)
A.J. Brown is cheap and will be aided by the squeaky-wheel narrative, as well as a great matchup. Ricky Pearsall and Marvin Harrison Jr. are two great options in the $5K range. And if you can afford CeeDee Lamb, he could fight hard to redeem himself after his two drops in Philadelphia.


Top DFS Tight Ends:

  1. Tyler Warren, $4,500 (vs. Broncos)
  2. Trey McBride, $6,000 (vs. Panthers)
  3. Brenton Strange, $3,600 (at Bengals)
  4. Grant Calcaterra, $2,500 (at Chiefs)
  5. Harold Fannin, $3,100 (at Ravens)
  6. David Njoku, $4,400 (at Ravens)
  7. Jake Ferguson, $3,800 (vs. Giants)
Tyler Warren is still way too cheap. There are some strong cheap options this week, including the two Cleveland tight ends.


Top DFS Defenses:

  1. Rams, $3,100 (at Titans)
  2. Patriots, $2,800 (at Dolphins)
  3. Cowboys, $3,000 (vs. Giants)
  4. Cardinals, $3,400 (vs. Panthers)
The Rams’ great pass rush should cause major problems for Cam Ward. You can also use any of the three defenses battling Tua Tagovailoa, Russell Wilson, and Bryce Young.




Players to Avoid: Saquon Barkley (8000), Tyreek Hill (6400), Travis Hunter (5200), Keon Coleman (5100). Saquon Barkley did nothing versus the Chiefs in the Super Bowl; Kansas City’s run defense is elite. … Tyreek Hill is still way too expensive. … Liam Coen said Travis Hunter will focus more on defense this week. … Keon Coleman will be super popular, but he has a very difficult matchup.


Week 2: Falcons-Vikings Showdown Slate


Top Captains: Drake London (15600). Drake London didn’t have a great fantasy performance last week, which makes him a great buy-low candidate. What’s important is that he had 15 targets, so a monster performance is coming with a young quarterback locking in on him.

Top Spend-Up FLEX (in addition to Top Captains): Bijan Robinson (12000). You probably have to decide between Bijan Robinson and Justin Jefferson. I’d prefer Robinson. He has a tough matchup, but he’s talented enough to beat it. Meanwhile, the Vikings won’t have Christian Darrisaw, which will limit J.J. McCarthy’s ability to get the ball downfield to Jefferson.

Top Value: Jordan Mason (6600). Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones are splitting carries almost evenly. In fact, Mason looks like he’s slightly ahead of Jones. And yet, Mason is $1,200 cheaper than Jones.

Top Punt Play: Tyler Allgeier (3000). Tyler Allgeier was given 10 carries last week and could be used at the goal line.

Player to Avoid: Darnell Mooney (7000). Darnell Mooney will be enticing because he’s cheap for a WR2. However, he many not be completely healthy, and young quarterbacks tend to lock in on No. 1 receivers and tight ends.



 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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