DraftKings Main Slate Shakedown: Week 2

This weekly series will bring you tips on how to attack the weekly Guaranteed Prize Pool (GPP) tournaments on DraftKings. The player pool is restricted to the Main Slate (Sunday AM/PM games). Look for analysis regarding Game Environments, Good Chalk/Bad Chalk, Stacks, and Leverage Plays.

First, a quick summary of what to consider when building a lineup. The entire goal of playing in GPP tournaments is to finish 1st. The top prize is massive compared to the small returns from barely finishing inside the prize cutoff. Beyond striving for 1st, look for a unique lineup to avoid any split winnings. Focus on the most-likely top-end outcomes and assume hunches will be correct. Pair QBs and pass catchers, so that each TD is counted twice. Identify game environments that should lead to scoring for both teams and include players on both sides.

The easiest way to narrow down what games to target is looking at betting lines for game totals (total points scored). Leverage the spread to identify the implied team totals (i.e. what would be the score if both the total and the spread are correct). Also consider the physical environment – will the game be exposed to weather, and how will that affect play? Rain generally won’t hurt fantasy output much, but wind can impact passing and kicking opportunities.

Game Environments

Browns at Ravens (Total 45, Ravens -12); No expected weather impact
This should be a one-sided affair. It is one of the NFL’s worst teams visiting one of the NFL’s best. However, we thought Cincinnati would handle Cleveland before the Browns took them to the edge in Week 1. Don’t expect the same surprise in Week 2. The Ravens will look to rebound from an emotional loss to the Bills in front of a national audience on Sunday Night Football. Expect the Ravens to lead throughout and not take their feet of the gas. Cleveland should be in a negative game script all afternoon, so expect reduced rushing attempts and increased passing.

Jaguars at Bengals (Total 49, Bengals -3.5); No expected weather impact
The Jaguars get what should be another high scoring affair, visiting the Bengals in Week 2. While the Jaguars didn’t get pushed in Week 1, they should flashes of offensive firepower, which suggests they’ll keep up with the Bengals as implied by the spread. The Bengals survived a close call in Week 1, so expect them to lean more heavily on their stars in this one as they look to leave no doubt.

Giants at Cowboys (Total 44.5, Cowboys -5.5); Dome
A poor showing in Week 1 had the Giants hesitating before announcing that Russell Wilson will remain the starter for Week 2. The Cowboys hung with the Eagles to open the NFL season, but couldn’t get the job done. The Giants are a much better matchup, although they do boast a strong pass rush, which could frustrate Dallas at times. Expect Dallas to lean into the running game, focusing on Man-blocking schemes against a Giants defense that was poor against these plays in Week 1.

Rams at Titans (Total 41.5, Rams -5.5); No expected weather impact
The Rams travel to Tennessee to face #1 Overall Pick Cam Ward and the Titans. Stafford’s back held up find through Week 1, and the production for Puka Nacua and Davante Adams was fine – hopefully we see this continue and we can move on from the preseason worries about Stafford’s health. The Titans, while not putting up a ton of points against Denver in Week 1, did manage to keep the game close, and they have some interesting pass catching options behind Calvin Ridley for some nice deep plays to help diversify lineups.

Bears at Lions (Total 46.5, Lions -6.5); Dome
Offensive Coordinator Revenge Game! The Lions struggled in their debut against a strong Packers squad, only mustering 13 points. The Bears looked great in the first half but faltered when it mattered. Despite the Bears holding Justin Jefferson in check for much of the night, don’t expect them to have the same success against Amon-Ra St. Brown and the Lions unless they can get their starting cornerbacks healthy. The Vikings early passing game struggles were likely the result of a training-wheel offense to help get their rookie QB through the game without asking too much. The Lions should also be able to get the running game going this week, with Montgomery pounding between the tackles and plays designed to get Jahmyr Gibbs open in space.

Patriots at Dolphins (Total 43.5, Dolphins -2); Possible rain as the game progresses
With both squads looking for a get-right game, the matchup couldn’t be any better. The Patriots were terrible in the running game, but the Dolphins faced the most rushing attempts and gave up the 6th most rushing yards in the NFL in Week 1. The Dolphins struggled through the air, themselves, but the Patriots allowed Geno Smith and the Raiders to post the 2nd highest YPA an total Passing Yards in Week 1. With the negative sentiment facing both squads, this could be a sneaky game if we find out there is a mismatch one way or the other.

49ers at Saints (Total 40.5, 49ers -3); Dome
A lower point total game with a backup QB slated to start for the *favored* visitors? Not exactly a typical recipe for DFS success. However, with the rash of injuries the 49ers have suffered, their offensive touches should be extremely concentrated. Their only healthy starting skill players heading into the contest are Christian McCaffrey (go figure) and Ricky Pearsall. The Saints actually played extremely fast in Week 1, which gives some optimism for potential shootouts as the season goes on.

Bills at Jets (Total 47/47.5, Bills -6); No expected weather impact
In a surprising twist, this game actually features the #1 and #4 top scoring teams in the NFL after the first week. The scenario actually sets up well to see more offensive success, as we know the Bills can score. The Jets ran the ball really well in Week 1, and the Bills struggled to stop the Ravens’ running game, so there is a believable path to a shootout. Even if the Jets are chasing points, Justin Fields looked much better than expected while using his new weapons, Garrett Wilson & Breece Hall.

Seahawks at Steelers (Total 40.5, Steelers -3); No expected weather impact
As feared the Seahawks deployed a split backfield in Week 1. If you think that one or the other did enough to take the lead role, Breece Hall just ran for 107 yards against the Steelers in Week 1. Questions remain as to what the intended backfield split will look like, as the Week 1 deployment could have been injury related as Ken Walker III recovers from a foot injury. The Steelers put on an offensive clinic with Aaron Rodgers throwing 4 TDs against what is supposed to be a strong Jets defense.

Broncos at Colts (Total 43.5, Broncos -1.5/-2); Dome
We won’t have to wait long to figure out if the Colts are contenders or pretenders. After thrashing the Dolphins in Week 1, they get one of the toughest defenses in the NFL as the Broncos visit in Week 2. Don’t expect fireworks in this one, as both defenses should be able to keep the offenses relatively in check.

Panthers at Cardinals (Total 44.5, Cardinals -6.5); Dome
There are matchups in this game that suggest the total could end up higher than expected. While the Panthers struggled on offense in Week 1, the Cardinals did give up 208 yards passing to the Saints. On the flip side, the Jaguars’ RBs posted a crisp 200 yards rushing against the Panthers in Week 1. These trends suggest that it should be a good day for fantasy output for the Panthers’ passing attack and the Cardinals rushing attack.

Eagles at Chiefs (Total 47, Eagles -1/-1.5); 10-11 mph winds
Week 2 brings us a rematch of the Super Bowl as Patrick Mahomes looks to avenge the loss against the Eagles. While the total looks strong, I would expect this one to be lower scoring as the Chiefs do a good job against the run and are pretty beat up offensively. They’ll likely keep scoring in check and hope to get some Mahome’s magic in the 4th quarter.

Chalk

Christian McCaffrey, despite being listed on the injury report leading up to Week 1 played A LOT. He handled 22 carries and recorded 9 receptions on 10 targets, but somehow, he didn’t find the endzone. Regardless, he remains underpriced at $7500 for Week 2 and boasts the same ceiling as always. Good Chalk.

Achane was about the only good thing to come out of the Miami offense in Week 1. He was quietly VERY efficient (7.9 YPC, 6.7 YPR). The only issue is that he only got 10 touches all game because the Dolphins couldn’t manage to put drives together. The matchup gets much better against the Patriots, and if he can get 20 touches with the same efficiency he had in Week 1, he’ll put up a big number for fantasy. Good Chalk.

Chase Brown has been reliable for fantasy but has yet to really display a slate breaking ceiling. Against this Jaguars’ defense, Chuba Hubbard bailed out fantasy managers with a 27-yard receiving TD. He otherwise would have produced a total of 8.2 points. Chase is a strong play in redraft leagues or cash game lineups. In GPPs, he is a landmine that can crater your lineup when he does bust, and he doesn’t offset that risk with blow up games. Bad Chalk.

Kyren Williams should again dominate the backfield for the Rams in a positive game script against the Titans. Williams profiles similarly to Chase Brown, as there are higher end options surrounding him (Puka Nacua and Davante Adams). Unlike Brown, however, Williams has shown the ability to either hit the 100-yard threshold or score multiple touchdowns often enough to offset the risk of a dud. Good Chalk.

Jahmyr Gibbs had a quiet 2025 debut, if you can be quiet while catching 10 passes. The Lions just struggled to get much going against Green Bay, and Gibbs’ stat line suffered. However, the challenge against the Bears should be significantly easier. We’ve already seen the Bears surrender a receiving touchdown to a RB, and Gibbs should be in a strong spot to score at least once this week. Good Chalk.

Tony Pollard should be one of the more popular “cheap” options at running back. The Rams were stout against the Seahawks, but Pollard won’t have to share the load with Tyjae Spears starting the season on IR. If you NEED to save salary, you can drop down to Pollard. However, he’s only hit 3x on his current $5900 price tag 5 times in 16 games with the Titans. Bad Chalk.

Due to his sacrifice of lining up against Patrick Surtain in Week 1, Calvin Ridley comes back in Week 2 with a price tag of $4900. He is cheap enough that he could certainly pay off, but he gets another tough matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Ridley’s usage is promising, but with a rookie quarterback, I’d suggest holding off on Ridley until we get a good matchup. Bad Chalk.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba had insane usage in Week 1. He posted over a 50% target share and over 90% air yards share en route to a 9-catch, 124-yard performance. It appears everything through the air is filtering through Smith-Njigba for Seattle, so while you shouldn’t worry about matchup, it’s not an easy one against Pittsburgh. Good Chalk.

Puka Nacua was in and out of the lineup in Week 1 after taking a helmet to helmet hit that caused a gash above his eye. While he was in, he remained Stafford’s favorite target. The talent and usage are there, and Nacua is one of the players who can near 200 receiving yards in any given game. Good Chalk.

Ja’Marr Chase was labeled as “Bad Chalk” last week due to the situation. The game was much closer than expected, but the Bengals clearly hadn’t installed Ja’Marr Chase as a focal point of the offense for Week 1. Expect that to change as they look to get the offense clicking against the Jaguars. The Bengals are still favored this week, but as only 3.5-point favorites, the game is projected to be close enough for the Jaguars to push the Bengals and force Chase to carry the team at times. Good Chalk.

Harold Fannin Jr., welcome to the NFL. In his first career game, he led his team in targets, was within 3 yards of the team-lead in receiving yards, and recorded a carry from the Wildcat formation. At $3100, he is likely to be the highest owned tight end on the slate, and for good reason. The upside as a primary pass catcher on a team projected to lose a lot (and by a lot) is enticing at a normal price. $3100 is just too cheap. Good Chalk.

Hollywood Brown will assume the top receiving option for the Chiefs after Xavier Worthy was ruled out due to his Week 1 shoulder injury. The only legitimate threat to his targets is Travis Kelce, who recorded 4 targets — he surpassed that total in all but 3 games last season, so perhaps he isn’t even going to be significant competition. The matchup with the Eagles’ secondary is tough, but as Patrick Mahome’s top target, there is a good chance he’ll get enough usage to pay off at $5200. Good Chalk.

Ricky Pearsall is seemingly the only real healthy option out of the 49ers’ wide receivers. George Kittle will miss time, and Christian McCaffrey won’t get 10 targets again… (will he?). Pearsall should be targeted early and often by backup QB Mac Jones, so at $5300 he does come with some risk of the offense face-planting without multiple starters. However, Mac Jones was a 1st Round pick and started for more than a season in New England, so he has enough talent that he should be able to make use of the options he does have available. Good Chalk.

Stacks

Patriots at Dolphins:
Drake Maye + 1 – 3 of Stefon Diggs, TreVeyon Henderson, Hunter Henry, and Kayshon Boutte.
If Daniel Jones can put up 250+ Passing Yards, 3 Total TDs and 25+ Rushing Yards; Drake Maye is certainly capable of the same. If you can correctly predict who else gets involved with the receiving touchdowns, the stack is very affordable and has upside given what the Colts were able to do. My personal preference would be Maye, Diggs, and Henderson as I think people will gravitate toward Boutte after his solid Week 1 showing. The Dolphins offer a couple bring back options in De’Von Achane and Tyreek Hill (yes, he is still fast and can still outrun defenders).

Tua Tagovailoa + 1-2 of Tyreek Hill and De’Von Achane.
I like Achane more than Tyreek individually, but if we’re stacking, that means we’re predicting Tua to get it done through the air, and history shows that is more likely to be Tyreek Hill than anyone else on the Dolphins. If you think this game goes nuclear, you can always use both (and Waddle as well).

Bengals at Jaguars:
Joe Burrow + 1 – 2 of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
When the Bengals feel pressure to win, they turn to their stars. After a too-close-for-comfort game against the division rival Browns, expect Zac Taylor to dial up plenty of plays for his stud WRs. I’d look for a bit more exposure to Chase than Higgins, but I want a healthy share of each in a game where I think the offense wants to flex its muscles. Jacksonville has the typical bring back options: Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter at wide receiver or Travis Etienne at running back. If you want to get fancy in a larger field tournament, Bhayshul Tuten should get at least some of Tank Bigsby’s touches and the rookie is a big play waiting to happen.

Trevor Lawrence + 1-3 of Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, and Brenton Strange.
After Week 1, the passing production feels harder to predict for Jacksonville. Travis Hunter out-targeted superstar Brian Thomas Jr. in Week 1. That could continue, or it could be a signal flare for the Jaguars to get their star more involved. Strange is still a cheap option who is the 3rd option in the passing game. You can bring back either of the Cincinnati WRs or Chase Brown — although I don’t like Brown’s profile for DFS much, he can still get a solid bring back total.

Browns at Ravens:
Lamar Jackson + 0-2 of Mark Andrews and Zay Flowers.
The Ravens’ stack is almost a leverage play off of Derrick Henry, frankly. But Lamar is always in play with his weekly ceiling, and he has the ability to bring a couple guys with him. I prefer Henry in this game, but you may want some exposure to the other Ravens’ pieces too.

Giants at Cowboys:
Russell Wilson + Malik Nabers.
Until Malik Nabers joins the elite WRs near $8000, I’ll keep including him in a stack option due to his dominating usage. Always a candidate to earn double digit targets and catch multiple touchdowns, you don’t want to miss his explosion weeks, and the QB play has been bad enough in New York for long enough that their QB is always cheap enough to pair with Nabers. Look to bring back one of Lamb, Pickens, or Javonte Williams from Dallas hoping one of them go head-to-head with Nabers for “Fantasy MVP of the Week”

Dak Prescott + 1 – 2 of CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Jake Ferguson.
I much prefer the WRs in this stack, although Ferguson would be a sneaky play if you want to get some differentiation to start your build. Lamb should get the most volume of the three options, but Pickens does get big play chances that mean he doesn’t need many opportunities to cash in. The obvious bring back is Malik Nabers, but I’d consider Tyrone Tracy too, as he had surprisingly strong usage in a bad environment for Week 1.

Bills at Jets:
Josh Allen and 0-2 of Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir.
Josh Allen will almost always get his. Who he brings along for the ride is anyone’s guess. Coleman was the beneficiary of some big plays during their Week 1 comeback, but Shakir projects to be his most reliable target. If you can’t make up your mind, just use Josh Allen solo and look for correlation elsewhere. Garrett Wilson or Breece Hall are the candidates for a Jets’ bring back. I’d consider Mason Taylor in a giant tournament, but I don’t want that much exposure.

Justin Fields and 0-2 of Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall and Mason Taylor.
Fields, like Allen, is always a threat for multiple rushing TDs, which means he can be played by himself. However, he showed a solid connection with Garrett Wilson in Week 1 and rookie Mason Taylor may end up the secondary target this week as Josh Reynolds has been ruled out due to injury.

Eagles at Chiefs:
Jalen Hurts + 1 – 2 of A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith.
The Chiefs showed in Week 1 that they are still strong against the run. To counter, the Eagles may turn more often to Hurts’ arm and involve their star wide receivers rather than relying on Saquon Barkley this week. There is always the risk of Jalen Hurts running the ‘Tush Push’ for multiple short yardage scores, but this feels like a “squeaky wheel gets the grease” game.

Leverage Plays

49ers’ Secondary Pass Catchers:
Jauan Jennings, WR SF, $4800, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR SF, $3800, Jake Tonges, TE SF, $3200
If the 49ers’ offense is more about Shanahan’s scheme than the players in it, then you can take some shots on Jennings (monitor his health), Valdes-Scantling (the deep threat for spike weeks), or Jake Tonges (the back-up tight end who may have some rapport with Mac Jones already). These options keep you off of Pearsall and McCaffrey who both project to be highly owned. If one of these options were to dominate the production, you’d get a solid boost and crater a lot of entries that were relying on the other pieces.

Jaylen Waddle, WR MIA, $5400
If Achane shows up as one of the top-owned running backs weekly, there will probably be weeks where he doesn’t do much because the production flowed through the receiving game. Most would assume that will be Tyreek Hill, so why not take the other option who has the talent to carry the passing game?

Cooper Kupp, WR SEA, $5000
We just saw Darnold lock onto one of his new targets in Week 1. What if he chooses another top option in Week 2? We’ve seen Kupp be the go-to option for Stafford over the past few years, and the Steelers have tended to have trouble with the slot options.

Elic Ayomanor, WR TEN, $3200
If we listed his opportunities from Week 1, you would assume that the player was the top option for his team, and likely a household name. Instead, it was rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor that earned .28 TPRR, a 25% target share, and a 48.5% air yards share. This type of player would normally be in a ton of lineups the next week, but because of the matchup against Denver, it resulted in only 2 catches on 7 targets for 13 yards. Follow the opportunities, not the production. Playing Ayomanor also leverages your entry against those who take Tony Pollard or Calvin Ridley.