NFL DFS Week 2 Value Plays (2022)

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Welcome to Week 2. If you missed last week’s column, don’t worry, you didn’t miss anything. I had some pretty big swings and misses in Week 1 with guys like Dameon Pierce, Austin Hooper, and Cole Kmet. In a hilarious fashion, the three wide receivers I chose for Draftkings — James Proche, Josh Palmer, and Rondale Moore — had I gone Devin Duvernay over Proche, DeAndre Carter over Palmer, and pivoted to Greg Dortch when Moore was ruled out, I would have had a much better week overall.

But dem da breaks. On to Week 2…

Quarterback

DraftKings

Matt Ryan (QB – ATL) @ JAX $5,500

I had Ryan in this same spot last week, but I’m going back to the well. My only concern is if Michael Pittman will play. If, for any reason, Pittman is out, I’ll pivot to one of my other value QBs. Ryan had 50 attempts last week, throwing for 352 yards, a TD, and an interception. The Jags’ defense just gave up over 300 yards and four TDs to Carson Wentz last week, Ryan should have a nice bounce-back game here.

Others I Like: Trey Lance (SF) $5,700, Jared Goff (DET) $5,400

FanDuel

Derek Carr (QB – LV) vs. ARI $7,200

Carr had a rough Week 1, but there were some positives to take away that lead me to believe he will have a bounce-back day in Arizona. First off, Davante Adams is a beast. We can put any questions about his production this season to rest. Second, the Chargers’ defense is fairly stout, especially up front. I don’t put the Cardinals’ defense in the same tier as the Chargers. And third, Patrick Mahomes lit up this Cardinals team to 360 yards and five TDs. Carr isn’t Mahomes by no means, but he is a very capable quarterback that should be able to carve up this defense.

Others I Like: Matt Ryan (IND) $6,800

Running Back

DraftKings

Rex Burkhead (RB – HOU) @ DEN $4,900

Raise your hand if you played Burkhead over Dameon Pierce last week. My hands are firmly at my side because I know I did not. Burkhead had 22 opportunities (carries+targets) last week and played 71 percent snaps. It’s the eight targets that make him a great play on DraftKings, as I expect the Texans to be playing from behind for most of this game, leading to more passing down opportunities for Burkhead.

Others I Like: Chase Edmonds (MIA) $5,200, Jeff Wilson Jr. $5,100

FanDuel

Jordan Mason (RB – SF) vs. SF $4,500

This is my first “shot-in-the-dark” call this season. Yes, Jeff Wilson Jr. is slated to be the starter with Elijah Mitchell out for 6-to-8 weeks, but as a 49er fan, Wilson has not looked good in limited action this season and last. Mason is a big powerful back that won a spot on the 53-man roster with a great showing in the preseason. In fact, he was so impressive that it rendered third-round rookie Tyrion Davis-Price a healthy scratch last week. With Mitchell out, I’d expect a full-blown committee with all three running backs getting some burn. Mason, however, is the biggest of the three backs at 5-foot-11, 235 lbs, and he will be the one getting the carries in close at the goal line. It’s within the realm of possibility that he has a multi-touchdown game on limited carries.

Others I Like: Tony Pollard (DAL) $5,700

Wide Receiver

DraftKings

Russell Gage (WR – TB) @ NO $4,800

As I write this on Thursday night, the Bucs’ wide receiver corps is a bit of a question mark. Chris Godwin is all but ruled out, but Julio Jones, Russell Gage, and Mike Evans all missed or have been limited in practice. I’m going to assume all three of them will play, and Gage is the one that will benefit the most from Godwin’s absence. Mike Evans has had huge issues with Saints’ cornerback Marshon Latimore in the past, and I don’t expect that to be any different in this game. I do like Jones in this game, but he isn’t a volume player at this point in his career, so Gage running the underneath routes will be peppered with targets. Gage only had two targets last week, but both of them came after Godwin had been ruled out.

Others I Like: Curtis Samuel (WAS) $4,600, Zay Jones (JAX) $4,300

Fanduel

Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR – CLE) vs. NYJ $5,800

DPJ quietly had a decent game last week, with the most surprising part being the 11 targets he saw. The Jets’ defense just gave up some big plays to the Ravens’ Devin Dunvernay and Rashod Bateman — if DPJ is going to get 11 targets against that defense, I like my chances. At $5,800, you’re not going to find many players getting that many targets, and if I’m going to pick a Browns receiver to find the endzone this week, I’ll bet on Peoples-Jones.

Others I Like: Brandon Aiyuk (SF) $5,700, Julio Jones (TB) $5,700

Tight End

DraftKings

Tyler Conklin (TE – NYJ) @ CLE $3,400

Conklin was tied for sixth with Mark Andrew in targets among tight ends — they both had seven total targets. Conklin also played a whopping 92 percent of the snaps. That is all I’m looking for in a value tight end, a high snap percentage and targets. He didn’t do much with the targets in the way of yardage, but he did find the endzone, and Joe Flacco‘s love of the tight end position is well documented.

FanDuel

Kylen Granson (TE – IND) @ JAX $4,700

Another tight end that received seven targets in Week 1 was Granson. Despite not getting the start, he was much more involved in the passing game than anyone could have predicted. He will have to score a touchdown to pay off his salary, but as with Conklin, all I’m looking for in a cheap tight end are snaps and targets. He is getting both.