NFL Week 2 DFS Value Plays: Targets & Advice (2023)

Welcome to the second week of NFL DFS. We have a 12-game slate full of opportunities from which to build competitive lineups. For the betting crowd, make sure to check out BettingPros.

This article is aimed at deciphering values in the lobbies. It is not meant to be a roster builder. Instead, it will help identify some players priced below their production potential based on various factors for both DraftKings and FanDuel.

Let’s get into it.

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NFL Week 2 DFS Value Plays

Quarterbacks

Brock Purdy (SF) vs. LAR: $5,700 (DraftKings)

Oh, sweet consistency, Purdy is thy name. Over his last seven regular season starts, Purdy is averaging 17.8 fantasy points per game. During that same stretch, he has thrown two or more touchdown passes in all of them. The new wrinkle is with his legs. During his six regular-season starts last season, he gained 13 rushing yards on 17 attempts. Last week, he scrambled for 20 yards on three attempts. While it is early to declare this facet a new regular feature, it remains encouraging from an upside viewpoint.

Purdy is a high-floor, low-ceiling quarterback who takes what the defense allows. Add a little rushing, and some upside appears. Last week, the L.A. Rams stifled the Seahawks due to key losses on their offensive line. Currently, that is not a Purdy problem, as the weapons around him all pose threats to gain significant yardage once they have the ball in their hands.

Purdy finished last week as the QB10 and can be rostered on DraftKings at a QB15 price tag. The value is baked into the salary and Purdy enters this week as a solid R.O.I. value with a salary that allows flexibility. He is a GPP play this week that offers some stacking upside.

Jared Goff (DET) vs. SEA: $7,300 (FanDuel)

Do not stop reading yet; there is good stuff ahead. Promise. So, let’s cut the discourse and get right to it. Jared Goff plays better at home. Like, a lot better. Here are the home/road split stats from last season.

The difference in passing touchdowns is staggering. Keeping true to form, Detroit played in Kansas City in week one and Goff threw one touchdown pass. Consorting with mediums or reading tarot cards is not required to make this call.

Last week, Matthew Stafford diced the Seahawks up for 334 passing yards at a 63% completion rate. Without Cooper Kupp. Granted, he did not land a passing touchdown as they comfortably led through most of the game.

Goff can be played in both cash and GPP contests, though he seems safer in cash due to a lack of rushing upside.

Running Backs

Rachaad White (TB) vs. CHI: $5,500 (DraftKings)

White gained 39 yards on 17 carries last weekend. The word uninspiring comes to mind. However, the usage compared to salary and opponent is exciting here. White played 79% of the snaps, well ahead of Sean Tucker (15%) and Chase Edmonds (12%). He accounted for 51.5% of the team rushes, with Baker Mayfield having more attempts than the aforementioned backs. Only two targets came his way, but we know his capabilities in that area of his game were not on full display in this outing.

The Bears surrendered the third-most fantasy points to the running back position last week. They allowed 92 rushing yards and a score, along with an additional 103 yards and another score through the air to the position.

White has the majority share in this backfield and the matchup is great for a breakout game from White. At his salary, he can be worked into both cash and GPP lineups, leaving room for other positions.

Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) vs. SEA: $5,800 (FanDuel)

Ah yes, the Detroit Lions and their split backfield. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are this season’s version of Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift. Here’s the thing, both Monty and Gibbs are better running backs than Williams and Swift.

In his limited touches, Gibbs looked nothing short of electric. It took nine touches to accumulate 60 scrimmage yards for Gibbs on his kid’s plate portion of the snaps last week. Lions brass stated they would ease the rookie in the first week. After showing his explosiveness, expect his role to grow, and this matchup against the Seahawks’ generous run defense is a great spot to have exposure.

Gibbs is an excellent running back at cost to work into lineups as an upside play. Especially for a team that fares far better at home.

Wide Receivers

Nico Collins (HOU) vs. IND: $4,800 (DraftKings)

This one is digging a little deep, but there is a point here. Typically, it is difficult to recommend relying on a wide receiver tied to a rookie quarterback. Collins finished week one with a healthy 25% team target share. He led the Texans with 11 targets, tied Robert Woods with six receptions, and led the team in receiving yards. He was also third among receivers in air yards behind only Tyreek Hill and A.J. Brown.

The Colts allowed 101 yards to Calvin Ridley and 55 yards to Zay Jones last week. This secondary is beatable and Collins has already shown some budding chemistry with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

As the de facto WR1 for this Texans offense, Collins has both the role and the matchup to be a very good ROI candidate this week. He is a GPP play for this slate.

D.J. Moore (CHI) vs. TB: $6,100 (FanDuel)

Did Moore disappoint in week one? Yes, yes he did. Doth one week a season make? No, no it does not. Here are the brass tacks, ladies and gentlemen. Chicago gave up a lot to acquire a bonafide WR1 for Justin Fields. Justin Fields attempted 37 pass attempts, and only two were directed at Moore. That is bordering on criminal activity and shall not be repeated moving forward. Moore will have plays drawn up to focus on his yards-after-the-catch ability this week.

At cost, Moore has excellent ROI potential against a middle-of-the-road secondary. With the consistent questions about whether or not Fields has what it takes to improve as a passer, Moore will likely have a lower rostered percentage after a poor showing last week.

Tight Ends

Adam Trautman (DEN) vs. WAS: $3,000 (DraftKings)

Let’s be honest, the tight end position as a whole was disappointing in week one. The best advice that can be given to bargain hunters is to chase volume. Last week, Trautman led the Broncos in red-zone targets with two. He also sauntered out of that game with a 14.7% target share, securing all five of his targets for 34 scoreless yards. Greg Dulcich is battling a hamstring injury, removing target competition from a good route runner.

Washington is typically no slouch against the position, making Trautman largely off the radar for many players. The Broncos are thin at receiver and Trautman now has the role on lockdown. He will be involved and will have some target volume carved out. At $3,000, he is a high-risk, moderate-reward, low-rostered GPP or tournament play with a chance at more end zone targets.

Luke Musgrave (GB) vs. ATL: $5,000 (FanDuel)

Rookie tight ends in DFS? That is crazy. Yes, it is. What is not crazy is a 14% target share in his first game as a pro on a young offense trying to create their identity. Musgrave saw four targets, reeled in three of them for 50 yards (second-most among the position in week one), and an impressive 16.7 yards per reception.

Last season, the Falcons allowed the seventh-most receiving yards to the position. The usage thus far is encouraging. The matchup is fantastic. In short, there are worse tight ends to drop the salary on. Consider Musgrave a GPP dart throw with good week-one peripherals.

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John Hesterman is a featured writer and Expert Consensus Ranker at FantasyPros. He also writes for DynastyLeagueFootball.com. For more from John, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter/X @John_Hesterman.