Category: Uncategorized

  • Cornerstone Picks – Week 5

    Week 5 brings us some unusual values thanks to injuries, slow starts, and players returning to full strength. That means we can grab legitimate difference-makers several rounds later than their talent would typically warrant. As always, we’ll aim to locate the best values of the week with one cornerstone play from each of the four positions.

    This article is aimed to be practical and quickly digestible.

    Remember when Jayden Daniels was the QB3 in fantasy football rankings just four weeks ago? Apparently, FanDrill drafters don’t. Daniels is returning from an elbow injury, and if anything, I expect him to rely on his legs even more while he gets comfortable throwing again. We’re talking about a quarterback with 35-plus-point upside in any given week, and now he gets a weak Giants defense with gunslinger Jameis Winston on the other side creating the potential for an ideal game script. Chig Okonkwo will finally be back at full strength, and Terry McLaurin may return this week as well. Daniels’ ADP currently lands in the fourth round, and I’ll make a prediction: this is the cheapest you’ll be able to get him all season.

    Don’t look now, but the Patriots are trying out running backs, which could be a pretty strong indication that Rhamondre Stevenson’s injury may keep him out in Week 5. If that’s the case, Henderson immediately becomes one of my favorite running back values on the slate. He’s been an absolute stud in limited starts and would offer easy top-10 fantasy RB upside with a full workload. Better yet, he gets a Raiders defense that has been lit up on the ground despite facing negative game scripts and weak opponents. The Patriots are favored despite what the teams’ records might suggest, and if the game plays out accordingly, Henderson could be in line for 20-plus touches. Give a player with his game-breaking, slate-breaking speed that kind of volume and watch out.

    Maybe Marvin Harrison Jr. really is Sammy Watkins 2.0, but there is simply too much talent here for him to be going in the ninth round against this Detroit secondary. The Lions have been making opposing quarterbacks look like Tom Brady this season, and Harrison has two-TD upside in any game because of his physical presence in the red zone. Now put him in a near-guaranteed shootout and give him by far his easiest matchup of the year. Don’t forget, Harrison had to deal with the Chargers, Seahawks, and 49ers before finally finding the end zone last week. He’s still playing more than 80% of the snaps, and he’s bound to eat one of these weeks. Perhaps most importantly, this is a perfect opportunity to zig while everyone else zags toward Trey McBride and Michael Wilson. Harrison’s roster rate should remain low, making him one of my favorite contrarian values of Week 5.

    We’ll gladly take the injury-tag discount on this one. Likely is questionable, but he’s expected to play as the Giants take it easy on him while he works through a minor injury. Assuming he’s ready for a full workload Sunday, he gets a Commanders defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. Here’s the wild part: Likely ranks inside the top 10 in target share in the NFL. Read that again—not among tight ends, but among all pass catchers. With an opportunity share like that in a prime matchup, FanDrill users should be willing to reach into the sixth round to lock up a player who offers both a safe floor and legitimate slate-breaking upside. Keep in mind, Jameis Winston is slinging the ball now, and with Likely’s speed, long touchdowns are on the table more than ever.

  • Stack Attack (Week 5)

    Stacking is one of the most efficient ways to separate yourself from the field in FanDrill tournaments.

    When an offense has a big day, your team benefits. When a quarterback throws for 300 yards and three touchdowns, there’s a large chance at least one of his pass catchers is putting up tournament-winning numbers right alongside him.

    That’s why stacks matter: we are looking to build lineups with the highest ceiling to help you win a FanDrill tournament.

    This week, we are identifying the highest-upside game environments on the Week 5 slate and the best stacks to pair with those matchups.

    I know the Arizona Cardinals seem ugly, but this offense is better than you may think. They hung 30 points on the San Francisco 49ers and beat the Chargers 26-14. The playmakers on this offense are undeniable.

    They are going against a Detroit Lions defense that is 32nd in yards allowed per game (423.8), 31st in points allowed per game (31.8), tied for 32nd in EPA/play (+0.16), and allowing the most fantasy points per game to tight ends (19.0) and quarterbacks (33.0).

    Jacoby Brissett is disgusting; we all know this. However, he can sling the rock when needed. He has two games with at least 275 passing yards so far. This will be another one of those games. Detroit cannot cover anybody, and while they can pressure the quarterback, it does not matter. He can take advantage of a bad defense just like Tyler Shough, Geno Smith, and Bryce Young have.

    The game script will be there for Jacoby Brissett to be a fine QB2 on the week. The Cardinals will be down, as they have been in most games, and with Jeremiyah Love managing an ankle injury, they will have to rely on the passing game even more. Vegas has this tied for the highest total of the week at 54.5, with the Cardinals’ team total at 24.5. A lot of points are going to be scored, and Jacoby will benefit from that.

    Trey McBride is, at worst, the second-best tight end in the NFL. He is the TE1 on the season so far, and he could see a huge uptick in production in Week 5. He has gotten a ton of targets, as he leads all tight ends in targets, but he is only fourth in yards, averaging 5.26 yards per target, and is 12th in yards per route run (1.7). The efficiency can come back this week. Detroit is allowing 9.25 receptions (first), 101.75 yards (second), and 1.5 touchdowns (first) per game to the tight end position. It’s simple: an elite tight end against the worst defense for the position. He’s going to go off this week.

    As for Jared Goff, he is on pace for an elite season: 5,160 yards and 38 touchdowns. He is also the QB4 on the season. That is ridiculous. He is taking on an Arizona Cardinals defense that allows the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks (25.0), the 11th-most passing yards per game (233.8), and is tied with the Lions for the most passing touchdowns allowed (11). I’m going to keep this Lions section short because it is obvious, and you will have to pay a premium for any Detroit Lions player this week, but it will be worth it.

    The Cardinals are also tied for second in fantasy points per game allowed to wide receivers (28.0) and allow the fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends (12.0). Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta are coming off a huge game against the Carolina Panthers, while Amon-Ra St. Brown is who he is, and he missed out on 8.5 points on an overthrown touchdown from Jared Goff. It’s pick your poison when it comes to the Lions’ pass catchers, whether you want the value of Jameson Williams or LaPorta or want to spend high draft capital on Amon-Ra.

    Jared Goff and Jacoby Brissett can be your QB1 and QB2 on the week in our SuperFlex format, and you can spend your draft capital elsewhere.

    Yes, I was wrong last week. I did not expect the Chicago Bears to have more first downs than the Jets had total plays. That game was insane. However, their matchup against the Browns is too good to ignore. When you think of the Cleveland Browns, you think of a team carried by a good defense. So far, you would be wrong. They are 19th in EPA/play (-0.02), 23rd in passing yards allowed per game (235.3), and 26th in passing touchdowns allowed (nine), while allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers (26.0) and sixth-most to quarterbacks (22.0).

    Like I said last week, Geno Smith can beat up on bad passing defenses. However, the Chicago Bears offense dominated the New York Jets. I believe I was just wrong about this Bears team, so I will throw last week’s take in the trash. We have seen Geno Smith play well at times this year when the offensive structure is sound. Browns star defensive tackle Mason Graham is questionable for the game after suffering MCL and ankle sprains last Thursday, making Geno’s life easier in the pocket. I think Geno can finish as a mid-tier QB2 on the week in a game the Jets can—not will—win.

    Garrett Wilson needs no explanation. Again, I am throwing last week’s game out for fantasy purposes. He is one of the NFL’s 12 best receivers, and when he gets the targets, he produces no matter the situation. The Browns allow the eighth-most yards and are tied for the second-most touchdowns allowed to wide receivers. In a game that will most likely feature a pass-heavy script, Garrett will command the majority of the Jets’ target share. If they can move him around and away from Denzel Ward, I could see a 100-yard, one-touchdown performance.

    I am not a Jets fan, in case you were wondering. I just like the floor of this offense against matchups they can take advantage of. As for other stacks, C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins are a great target, but that game will be over quickly. I would say the same for Kyler Murray and Justin Jefferson, but their offense has been miserable this year.

  • 5 Bold Predictions for Week 4 DFS

    Every week in the NFL, the unpredictable happens. Last week, it was Geno Smith and Jacoby Brissett putting up 25-plus fantasy points each, while Kenonta Mumpfield went ballistic in Puka Nacua’s absence. If you had any of these players at ADP, you had a significantly increased chance of cashing in your contests. This week, I’ll give you five more bold predictions for the main slate that have less than a 10% chance of happening in simulations, but are within the realm of possibility. If one of these contrarian picks strikes gold, you could be sitting atop the leaderboard.

    It’s time to give Bhayshul Tuten his flowers. The Jaguars’ second-year running back has had at least 15 touches in every game this season, and he is coming off a 15-touch, 90-yard performance against the Patriots. Now, he gets a Bengals defense that was shredded by Jaylen Warren last week.

    Tuten has had three awful matchups to start the season against Cleveland, Denver, and New England, and he still has managed to find 15-plus touches every game. The volume has been there; now he gets a matchup where the production should follow.

    I also think Tuten has more value than his counterpart, Chris Rodriguez Jr., in a negative game script. Jacksonville has not really had to rely on Tuten in that type of game yet, but if the Jaguars find themselves playing from behind, I expect Tuten to see more work through the air.

    The upside is massive. Tuten has the talent to turn his volume into a huge fantasy performance, and this Bengals defense could be exactly what he needs to break out. Don’t be surprised if he finishes as a top-five RB this week.

    With Breece Hall almost certainly out, Braelon Allen should have full command of the Jets’ backfield.

    That is a very exciting proposition when you consider where he gets to play this week: Chicago, where defense appears to be optional.

    Whichever way the game script plays out, Allen should get plenty of touches on the ground and/or through the air. If the Jets are playing with a lead, he can grind out carries. If they are playing from behind, his receiving ability gives him another path to a big fantasy day.

    The kid is a physical specimen with an impeccable athletic profile. Think old-school Michael Turner behind LaDainian Tomlinson—but on the Jets.

    Allen has the opportunity to show everyone why the Jets drafted him, and I think this could be the first game where we see his true star upside.

    Yes, that includes Brock Bowers against Kansas City and Trey McBride against the Giants, which is an awful matchup now that rookie sensation Arvell Reese exists.

    Warren is the de facto No. 1 receiver for the Colts, but with tight end eligibility. He is playing over 90% of the snaps and has run 96 routes already this season, which is more than Ja’Marr Chase, Garrett Wilson, George Pickens, and Davante Adams, among many other star wideouts.

    Most importantly, he has a juicy matchup against the Commanders, who have struggled to stop tight ends this season.

    Warren is already being used like a true No. 1 receiver, and the fact that we get to roster him at tight end gives him an enormous advantage. If he gets the target volume we have seen so far and finds the end zone, there is a legitimate path to Warren finishing as the highest-scoring tight end on the entire slate.

    Coming into the season, Egbuka was not quite himself, nursing a toe sprain from the preseason. He predictably struggled against Denzel Ward in Week 2, but he was solid last week against the Vikings’ all-universe defense.

    Now enter backup QB Jalon Daniels.

    Daniels isn’t your typical rookie. He was a sixth-year senior at Kansas and a 2022 Academic All-American, and he should be able to pick up the offense more quickly than most first-time starters.

    Most importantly, he’s a certified gunslinger who forces passes, airs it out downfield, and should be playing from behind against a highly disappointing Green Bay secondary.

    You can get Egbuka at a discount this week, but it’s not a warranted drop in price. He is still one of the most talented wideouts on the board, and now he gets a quarterback who could be willing to take more chances downfield.

    I think Egbuka reminds everyone why he was such a highly regarded prospect coming into this season and finishes among the top five wideouts this week.

    Yes, I know. The rookie who went 0-for-3 with an interception in his NFL debut is going to be a top-15 fantasy quarterback.

    Hear me out.

    Daniels has wheels. He was a legitimate dual-threat quarterback at Kansas, where he finished his college career with more than 1,400 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns. He also has the arm talent to push the ball downfield, which makes this a much more interesting fantasy situation than the typical rookie making his first NFL start.

    He should also be playing from behind against Green Bay, which means I expect plenty of passing volume. I could easily see him getting 25-plus pass attempts, and 40 rushing yards and a TD isn’t out of the equation on top of that.

    You can get Daniels in the 10th round of your FanDrill drafts this week, in part because most drafters don’t realize he has some wheels and strong instincts as a scrambler.

    If Daniels can avoid the disastrous mistakes that come with most rookie quarterbacks, there is a path to a surprisingly strong fantasy debut. At his current ADP, that kind of upside is exactly what I’m looking for in a contrarian pick.

  • Stack Attack (Week 4)

    Stacking is one of the most efficient ways to separate yourself from the field in FanDrill tournaments.

    When an offense has a big day, your team benefits. When a quarterback throws for 300 yards and three touchdowns, there’s a large chance at least one of his pass catchers is putting up tournament-winning numbers right alongside him.

    That’s why stacks matter: we are looking to build lineups with the highest ceiling to help you win a FanDrill tournament.

    This week, we are identifying the highest-upside game environments on the Week 4 slate and the best stacks to pair with those matchups.

    We just saw Trevor Lawrence and Parker Washington manhandle the New England Patriots on Sunday. These two have an elite connection dating back to their bye week in 2025, and it isn’t stopping anytime soon.

    This game against the Cincinnati Bengals is going to be a shootout. I can see 60 points being scored in this game. The Bengals’ defense has improved, and they’ve only allowed the 17th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks so far, but I am not buying it. They have not played one good offense yet, and Baker Mayfield turned the ball over three times.

    They finally are as they are going against a Jaguars passing attack that has Trevor Lawrence eighth in EPA per play (+0.22) and fourth in completion percentage over expected (+7.1%). He has been playing at an MVP level to start the 2026 NFL season, and I expect it to continue. Despite not allowing a ton of scoring to opposing quarterbacks, the Bengals’ defense has allowed 260 passing yards per game, good for 28th in the league. The touchdowns against them have not come yet because they have played Baker Mayfield, C.J. Stroud, and Aaron Rodgers. We also just saw what old man Rodgers did to them, carving them up for three touchdowns. Trevor Lawrence is a top-10 quarterback right now, and he should continue his success against this “overrated” defense.

    Parker Washington has also been dominant. He is eighth in yards per route run (3.0) and fourth in PFF receiving grade (90.5), with 221 yards and two touchdowns on the season. His usage is also incredible. Trevor Lawrence is known to target slot receivers. Parker has run 35 of his 73 routes on the season from the slot, and he also has been in motion a lot, running 15 routes after going in motion. In 2026, this is the type of usage you want out of your main wide receiver. Get him in motion or out of the slot to get free releases and be able to take advantage of mismatches against linebackers or smaller defensive backs. The Cincinnati Bengals’ main slot defender is cornerback Jalen Davis. Davis will be on Parker most of the time, and he has allowed an NFL passer rating of 126.4, which ranks 86th out of 104 cornerbacks. These two are going to have a field day on Sunday.

    The New York Jets have actually been playing good offensive football to start the 2026 season. The entire offense only has one turnover, the game-losing fumble by Geno Smith in Week 3, and they are averaging the 13th-most yards per game (329.0).

    It is clear that the Raiders were just a dysfunctional organization last year, leading to Geno Smith looking as bad as he did. With the Jets, Geno is 11th in EPA per dropback (+0.13), first in completion percentage over expected (+12.9%), and 10th in PFF passing grade (78.3). It’s safe to say he was written off once again, but he still did not write back.

    Geno is a quarterback who can take advantage of bad defenses. While the Bears’ passing defense looks solid on paper, only allowing 18 PPG to quarterbacks, this is including a bad-weather game against Carson Wentz and the Minnesota Vikings. If we remove that game, they are allowing 22 PPG, which is tied for the eighth-most in the NFL. I will admit that is cherry-picking, but the point stands. I do not believe that this passing defense is as good as the numbers say they are as I watch them on film. There are times when their defensive backs find themselves out of position to make a play far more often than not. Jaylon Johnson is not the same player he once was, and they only have one defensive back in the top 50 of PFF pass coverage grade (out of 198 qualifying defenders). I think Geno is in a great spot to have another good game.

    Garrett Wilson is one of the most talented wide receivers in the league. He currently is the WR7 on the season, and that is not for no reason. Geno Smith has been targeting him every chance he gets, as he averages nine targets per game (tied for eighth-most). He also has been one of the most efficient receivers in the NFL. Through three games, he is fourth in catch rate over expected (+23.6%) and 11th in total receiving EPA (+13.9%).

    I think this will be another shootout for the Bears and Jets. Neither defense inspires me in this game, and even if Case Keenum plays, the Jets will be playing from behind. I expect both Geno and Garrett to finish above their projections in Week 4, in a game that will somehow be fun to watch.

    I cannot in good faith suggest any more than two stacks to attack this week. Most good matchups are not during the main Sunday slate. The Colts and Commanders, as well as the Panthers and Lions, would have been games to target. However, the Colts and Commanders play an international game at 9:30 AM EST, and the Panthers and Lions play on Sunday Night Football.

  • 5 Bold Predictions for Week 3 DFS

    Every week in the NFL, the unpredictable happens. Last week, it was Dalton Schultz going off for 12 receptions and 140 yards, and Kaleb Johnson taking over the lead for the Packers’ backfield. We called both of them right here! This week, I’ll give you five more bold predictions for the main slate that have less than a 10% chance of happening in simulations, but are within the realm of possibility. If one of these contrarian picks strikes gold, you could be sitting atop the leaderboard.

    Whew, this is a spicy one to start with! Yes, I do realize the Chiefs’ newly acquired all-universe running back, Kenneth Walker. In fact, I’m saying he’s a top 5 RB this week too for FanDrill; that’s how bad this Miami Dolphins’ run defense is. When the game gets out of hand—and it will, with the Chiefs favored by 10.5—the Chiefs will turn to the run even more than usual. Why would they want to use Walker more than they have to when he already has 56 touches in two games? Enter Johnson, who excelled in the preseason and leads the NFL in broken tackle rate by a wide margin so far. 10 touches for 70-plus yards and a TD is within the realm of possibility for this undrafted asset in FanDrill this week.

    Let’s run it back on cheap tight end values this week after smashing with Dalton Schultz in Week 2. This time, it’s Pat Freiermuth of the Steelers, who, surprise surprise, is going up against the Bengals. The average tight end against Cincy has scored more fantasy points than Trey McBride over the last 20 weeks. He’s no slouch either, with 10 touches through the first two weeks and a snap count above 70%. With Aaron Rodgers running for his life, the check-down option should continue to see production, especially in this matchup.

    It’s not popular to point this out, but Deshaun Watson has 200+ yards in each game this season and played efficient football last week against a solid Bucs’ defense. It has been Denzel Boston who snuck into the end zone both weeks, but in terms of underlying metrics, it’s Conception who looks like a budding stud in the Browns’ lousy wide receiver room. Not only does he have a tremendous matchup in the slot against Carolina, but the Browns have also fed him four carries already.

    It’s been gross so far, no doubt, but isn’t that what’s expected when you start your season against Seattle and Pittsburgh? We’re talking about an MVP runner-up here; he could go QB1 any week. Add in a perfect game script in Jacksonville, with the Jaguars likely playing catch-up against Liam Coen’s offense, and Maye will have to throw 30-plus passes. Don’t forget that this is a guy who can put up 50 yards and a TD on the ground too. He’s going as the QB13 this week on FanDrill but has more upside than almost everyone drafted ahead of him.

    Being able to say that about anyone going in the fifth round of FanDrill drafts is a dream, but that’s just what we have here thanks to one Jameis Winston. The ultimate gunslinger will be under center for New York again, this time with a week of practice with the starters, and this time against the putrid Titans’ secondary instead of the Rams. Don’t forget, Nabers is competing for targets with the Giants’ No. 2 wideout, Malachi Fields, who many of you didn’t know was a real player until now. 10-plus targets with wild aDOTs feel like a near-certainty.

  • Stack Attack (Week 3)

    Stacking is one of the most efficient ways to separate yourself from the field in FanDrill tournaments.

    When an offense has a big day, your team benefits. When a quarterback throws for 300 yards and three touchdowns, there’s a large chance at least one of his pass catchers is putting up tournament-winning numbers right alongside him.

    That’s why stacks matter: we are looking to build lineups with the highest ceiling to help you win a tournament.

    This week, we are identifying the highest-upside game environments on the Week 3 slate and the best stacks to pair with those matchups.

    We traveled back in time Sunday night as we saw these two connect nine times for 101 yards and a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts. Their matchup Sunday against the Miami Dolphins looks just as good.

    Miami is allowing the highest passing EPA per play in the NFL through two weeks (+0.48) and has the sixth-lowest pressure rate at 28.6%. If you’re a defense that allows Patrick Mahomes to sit back in the pocket untouched, good luck.

    Mahomes has looked amazing since returning from his ACL injury. The Denver defense held him in check through the air, but he had three total touchdowns, and then he went rampant on the Colts’ defense, throwing for 382 yards and three passing touchdowns. It seems as though Patrick Mahomes is fully healthy. Also having Eric Bieniemy back as the offensive coordinator and finally having a run game with Kenneth Walker coming in, the offense seems complete. Mahomes can work off Walker in the play-action game against this putrid Miami defense, and Kelce could be the main beneficiary.

    The Kansas City wide receivers have not looked good to start the year, while Travis Kelce has found his way back to being Patrick’s No. 1 target. Going up against a Jeff Hafley defense, zone coverage will be run at a very high rate. We all know Travis Kelce is one of the best players of all time at finding the soft spot in zone and getting yards after the catch. Another 70- to 100-yard game is in store, and don’t be shocked if he finds the end zone.

    You’re going to have to pay a premium for JSN, but it will be worth it. We just saw him carve up the Cardinals’ secondary, posting nine catches for 155 yards and three scores. Drew Lock also looked very good in that game, and he may have played himself into a starting job in 2027. Seattle does not have to rush Sam Darnold back from this injury. Let Lock play against a Jayden Daniels-less Commanders team, which allows Darnold to heal even longer.

    Washington’s defense is one of the worst against the pass. They find themselves in the bottom five in EPA per pass allowed (+0.24) while allowing the 10th-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers (23.0) and the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks (31.0).

    Drew Lock had 235 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona. He is not like Jameis Winston, who stunk it up on Monday night. He can come into a game and fit perfectly into the offense and get his guys the ball downfield. The stats show that he wants to find Smith-Njigba on almost every play, with him having a 44%—yes, you read that correctly—target share. A 30% mark is an elite target share for a receiver, usually meaning they are a WR1 for the season, but 44%? That is historic. It is only two games, but new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury has made the offense simple for Lock, and it’s to find JSN every single play.

    This matchup is a shoo-in for dominance. Drew Lock or Sam Darnold will be cheap, that’s why I am perfectly okay taking JSN in Round 1 of my FanDrill drafts. I want to attach myself to good offenses with great matchups every week, and this one is the best on the board.

    I know the name C.J. Stroud is disgusting for fantasy football, but the matchup is too good to ignore. Indianapolis allows the most passing yards per game (337.5) and the fourth-highest EPA per pass (+0.27), and Stroud can take advantage of a bad defense. He is quietly third in the NFL in passing yards with 627; the team just struggled to score against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.

    Nico Collins is questionable for the game, but if he plays, he could be the WR1 overall for the week. Indianapolis allows the most fantasy points per game to wide receivers (30) and the second-most yards (214.5). Nico is an elite wide receiver when healthy; he just has not been healthy as he has dealt with constant hamstring issues. In Week 1, we saw Collins take advantage of a Bills defense that has had similar misfortunes when it comes to defending wide receivers, finishing as the WR9 in half-PPR. In five games against the Colts since becoming a full-time starter in 2023, Collins averaged 16.22 PPG in those matchups. He truly is an elite play if healthy, but if not, Dalton Schultz is a great value pick.

    Schultz immediately becomes Stroud’s No. 1 target in games that Collins is not active for, and we saw that in Week 2. Against the Bengals, Schultz caught 12 of 14 targets for 140 yards, finishing as the TE2 on the week. I don’t know what it is, but when Collins plays, Schultz does not get the ball. When he doesn’t, he plays like prime Tony Gonzalez. The Colts defense is also allowing the fifth-most PPG to tight ends, so Schultz is in line for an elite matchup. Seriously, just target whoever plays the Colts every week.

    I know it’s the Texans offense, and it is ugly to think about, but these guys all have a chance at finishing top 12 for their positions in Week 3.

  • 5 Bold Predictions for Week 2 DFS

    Every week in the NFL, the unpredictable comes true. Last week, it was Jalen Coker and Bryce Young going nuclear on the Bears, among many other surprising outcomes. If you read this article last week, we called big games by Caleb Douglas and Dontayvion Wicks, in large part due to their matchups. This week, I’ll give you five more bold predictions for the main slate that have less than a 10% chance of happening in simulations, but are within the realm of possibility. If one of these contrarian picks strikes gold, you could be sitting atop the leaderboard.

    FanDrill’s current ADP has Wentz going in the early 10th round as the QB27, so this would be an epic value. You’ll notice a theme from last week: picking on the Bears’ secondary. Even more so, we are leaning on the expected game script of an offense passing on 70% of plays while playing from behind.

    It helps to be throwing to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. What’s more, Jordan Mason was placed on IR, so you can expect more reliance on the pass in Week 2. And let’s not forget that Wentz averages 20-plus rushing yards per game and may scamper into the end zone himself, as he’s shown a propensity to do throughout his career.

    Last week, we saw Price on the field for only 48% of the snaps, splitting time with George Holani and Brady Russell, but the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator has made it clear Price has earned more playing time.

    While he might not yet be a bell cow, you can expect 15-plus touches against a Cardinals running defense built like Swiss cheese. Assuming the game script plays out as expected, the Seahawks should employ a run-heavy scheme in the second half as they drain the clock to secure a win. If that happens, the immensely talented Price should eat them alive.

    With Josh Jacobs out for who knows how long, the Packers had to turn to a split of Marshawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks. It was ugly.

    Meanwhile, they traded for a Ferrari in second-year back Kaleb Johnson when they recognized the dilemma they were in. While it’s expected they’ll continue with the split, the move indicates Johnson will get a chance to claim the backfield sooner rather than later.

    If he gets a few touches this week, they may feed the hot hand against a lousy Jets defense in what’s expected to be a positive game script for the Packers’ running game. At less than 0.5% FanDrill roster percentage, he may be a slate-breaker if you’re willing to take the risk.

    Week 1 was a significant disappointment for Burden drafters who seemingly wasted a fifth- or sixth-round pick on the hyped sophomore wideout. Add in a Week 2 matchup against the Vikings, who may have the best defense in football, and Burden’s ADP has dropped to Round 8.

    However, the underlying metrics scream a golden opportunity, as Burden finds separation against the blitz better than perhaps anyone in the NFL. Keep in mind, the Bears may have been easing him back in after the preseason injury. This week, he gets unleashed at the lowest price you’ll see him at all season.

    It’s rare that you’ll see me write about the same player in back-to-back weeks. But in Douglas’s case, few are buying into his 94 yards in Week 1 as anything other than a fluke. The tape tells a different story: he led the NFL in separation score and was open seemingly every play.

    With the game script heavily favoring 30-plus pass attempts from the Dolphins in San Francisco, we may well see Douglas surpass double-digit targets. You can grab him in the 11th round of your FanDrill drafts, but I’d reach into the 10th round before a Fanalyst who believes in Douglas has a chance to snipe you.

  • What’s Up, Doc? (Week 2)

    Injuries can create one of the biggest edges in fantasy football. When a star is ruled out, the touches don’t disappear; they get redistributed. For Week 2 of the NFL season, there are already some impactful injuries, so here is what they mean for fantasy football and the players who benefit the most in FanDrill drafts using Smart Variations.

    >> We’re in Beta Testing → Help Us Take DFS to the Next Frontier

    #1 Joe Burrow (QB – CIN)

    Joe Burrow has a lengthy injury history. He is currently dealing with back tightness and is questionable for Sunday’s game in Houston.

    It was already a tough matchup for Burrow, but we all know what he can do against any defense. In a SuperFlex format, quarterback is the most important position to be right about. So here are two players you can replace him with through our Smart Variations feature.

    Option A: Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC)

    While Patrick Mahomes did not look his best in his return from the ACL tear, there were positive signs. He ran the ball well, including a 15-yard touchdown, against one of the NFL’s best defenses in the Denver Broncos.

    I expect him to bounce back through the air against this poor Indianapolis Colts defense. Indianapolis played man coverage between the 20-yard lines at a 61.5% rate, where they allowed 13.4 yards per pass on those plays. Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy have the man-coverage beaters drawn up in the playbook, ready for the Colts.

    Patrick Mahomes could have a huge Week 2 against a Colts defense that proved it cannot defend the pass in the opening week of NFL action.

    Option B: Jordan Love (QB – GB)

    I am all over every Green Bay Packer in Week 2 against the New York Jets. Some people may point to the fact that New York’s defense looked good against the Tennessee Titans, but I think that was more a product of the matchup.

    Cam Ward is scaring me right now, as someone who loved him as a prospect, and the Titans’ offensive line is horrible. The Jets’ defense is not good. I went over this more in my previous article, “Stack Attack – NFL Week 2.”

    Say what you want about the Packers’ collapse in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, Jordan Love still had 387 yards and two touchdowns. He is a good quarterback whether you want to admit it or not, and he can easily take advantage of this matchup.

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    #2 Nico Collins (WR – HOU)

    Nico Collins was limited in Wednesday’s practice and was a non-participant on Thursday due to a hamstring injury. I am not a doctor, but it doesn’t look good for his availability on Sunday. So here are two players you can swap him for in Week 2.

    Option A: Emeka Egbuka (WR – TB)

    Emeka Egbuka has a great matchup against the Cleveland Browns. They allowed Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers, who have similar roles to Egbuka, to score against their defense.

    Egbuka’s usage is exactly what fantasy managers have been asking for since last season. He is getting a ton of motion and free releases, which makes any wide receiver’s day easier.

    He also had the highest percentage of a team’s air yards at 65.1%. The role is there for Emeka to have a huge day in any given week, but especially against the Browns.

    I know the offense did not look amazing against the Bengals, but turnovers are not something that sticks week to week. Baker Mayfield will not fumble the ball three times again.

    Going against his former team, he will have that chip on his shoulder, which is when he performs best. In a game where Baker most likely will perform well, he will be looking for his No. 1 target all afternoon.

    Option B: Cam Skattebo (RB – NYG)

    Cam Skattebo and the New York Giants’ offense looked great against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Skattebo scored 14 PPR points despite not recording a single target.

    Last season, in games where he had a snap share over 50%, he averaged 4.66 targets, so I do not expect him to continue going without targets.

    In the first Thursday Night Football game of the season, the Los Angeles Rams let the San Francisco 49ers run rampant on them, allowing 30 carries for 174 yards.

    With no Myles Garrett for at least the next four weeks and Aaron Donald being questionable, the matchup is great for Cam.

    While the Giants’ offensive coaching staff looked horrible entering the season, we should have expected Matt Nagy and Greg Roman to be able to design a run game. This team can run the ball, and Cam Skattebo will be the main beneficiary.

    #3 Chris Olave (WR – NO)

    Chris Olave had an amazing game against the Detroit Lions, catching 10 passes for 182 yards. He is Tyler Shough’s favorite target, but he was limited on Thursday after not appearing on the injury report Wednesday.

    Option A: DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI)

    DeVonta Smith had a disappointing Week 1 for fantasy football, with just three catches for 53 yards. However, the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Titans in Week 2.

    DeVonta still led the team in route share (82%) and target share (27%), so the production is coming. The Titans allowed Geno Smith, yes, that Geno Smith, to complete 79% of his passes.

    It is not unreasonable to think that Jalen Hurts and Smith can connect early and often in this game, especially with DeVonta Smith now being the team’s X receiver.

    Without A.J. Brown in the lineup, Smith averaged a 38% target share and 2.66 yards per route run. I expect his first big game of 2026 in Week 2.

    Option B: David Montgomery (RB – HOU)

    While the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense looked solid against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, their run defense looked better due to the game script. The volume numbers aren’t there, but the efficiency metrics are, as they allowed Bucky Irving to get 5.6 yards per carry and catch seven passes.

    That’s where David Montgomery comes in. He scored three touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills and received 62.5% of the team’s carries in that game. Clearly, Houston wants to run the ball, and Montgomery benefited from that game plan.

    With a newly improved offensive line, the Texans’ run game has a chance to be good this year. Against the Bengals, Montgomery has a chance to dominate once again.

  • Cornerstone Picks – Week 2

    There was much more scoring than usual in Week 1 with some familiar names leading the charge from Josh Allen and Derrick Henry to some potential breakouts like Christian Watson, Jalen Coker and Isaiah Likely. This week offers a new slate of matchups to dissect and snap counts to analyze, and injuries to sort out. We’ll aim to locate the best values of the week with one cornerstone play from each of the four positions.

    This article is aimed to be practical and quickly digestible.

    It will be popular to pick on the Cowboys’ defense this year, and particularly their secondary. Jaxson Dart lit this unit up for 23/29, 230 passing yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT, and 54 rushing yards in Week 1. While Dart may be a breakout fantasy QB, Daniels still runs laps around him and has slate-breaking upside for Week 2. This game opened at a 51.5 over/under, plus the Commanders are 4.5 point underdogs which makes a near-ideal game script. Daniels is well-worth a first round pick in FanDrill this week and could be taken as high as #4 overall (Allen, Jackson, Gibbs).

    Dobbins was among the Week 1 busts, but that’s going to happen to opponents of the Chiefs’ stifling defense all season, especially if the game gets out of hand. The fact is, we have a clear starter, as indicated by snap count when the game was close. This week, the Broncos are home favorites against the Jags. While it’s not an ideal matchup, that affords us a significant value for the starting running back behind the best run-blocking offensive line in the league. Don’t forget, he was on pace for over 1,300 rushing yards and 7 TDs last year before the injury. There’s 3-TD upside from this contrarian late-round pick.

    Unlike Dobbins above, who may be rostered in less than 2% of lineups, Golden should be popular if the Fanalysts don’t rank him as aggressively as social media is clamoring for. This is a rare case where I’ll encourage you to join the masses by reaching for a player. No matter the momentum in his ADP, it is not enough. He was the #1 wideout in Expected Fantasy Points last week. That’s to say that his opportunities in targets, snap count, routes run, and air yards indicate he will be heavily utilized in Green Bay’s offense. Add in a matchup versus the Jets and I can assure you he’ll never be drafted this low again.

    Say hello to your 11th round pick this week. In fact, he’s such a must-draft, that I wouldn’t fault you for reaching into the 10th or even 9th to ensure you land this value tight end. Over 20% Week 1 target share? Check. High over/under? Check. Best positional matchup on the slate? Checkmate. The Bengals were so much worse than every other team at defending tight ends last season that the gap between #1 and #2 was larger than the gap between #2 and #23. Need I say more? No, just draft the man.

  • Stack attack – NFL Week 2

    Stacking is one of the most efficient ways to separate yourself from the field in FanDrill tournaments.

    When an offense has a big day, your team benefits. When a quarterback throws for 300 yards and three touchdowns, there’s a large chance at least one of his pass catchers is putting up tournament-winning numbers right alongside him.

    That’s why stacks matter: we are looking to build lineups with the highest ceiling to help you win a tournament.

    This week, we are identifying the highest-upside game environments on the Week 2 slate and the best stacks to pair with those matchups.

    >> We’re in Beta Testing → Help Us Take DFS to the Next Frontier

    #1 Jordan Love (QB – GB) &
    Christian Watson (WR – GB)

    The Packers are coming off an ugly Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings where they allowed 22 fourth-quarter points. However, Green Bay still had 419 total yards of offense, and Jordan Love got the ball to his weapons. Christian Watson finished the game with 6 receptions, 147 yards, and 2 touchdowns, while Matthew Golden had 6 receptions for 95 yards.

    Against a porous New York Jets defense that may have looked good in Week 1 against the lowly Tennessee Titans, this stack could have an amazing day.

    Last season, the Jets defense did not record a single interception, the only team to do so in NFL history. Not only that, according to Next Gen Stats, they were last in the NFL in EPA per pass (+0.19). The Packers’ stack should be able to take advantage of a defense that did not improve much in the offseason.

    Some fantasy football players may be wary of Jordan Love, given his costly turnovers in Week 1, but it is hard to win a game when you are pressured on 54.3% of your dropbacks and have PFF’s lowest-graded pass-blocking offensive line.

    In a SuperFlex format, Jordan Love is perfect as your QB2, Christian Watson is a great flex play, or, if you want to wait and bolster other spots on your roster, grab Matthew Golden late.

    #2 Baker Mayfield (QB – TB) &
    Emeka Egbuka (WR – TB)

    Value Pick: Chris Godwin (WR – TB)

    The Cleveland Browns defense just allowed 34 points and the highest EPA per pass (+0.76) to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, and this Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense should be able to take advantage of it in the same fashion.

    Emeka Egbuka has a completely new role with Robinson taking over the offensive coordinator job in 2026. He was put in motion on 12 routes, the second-highest in the NFL last week. He logged 10 routes in the slot, where he caught both targets for 23 yards.

    Last week, the Browns allowed two catches for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns to slot receivers in that blowout loss, leading me to believe that Emeka is going to get targeted heavily in his slot-aligned routes. Robinson will likely continue putting him in a “cheat motion” so he can get a free release off the line and find empty space downfield.

    Baker Mayfield should have an easy time finding Egbuka and Godwin all game long. Even if his performance against the Cincinnati Bengals was worrisome, he is still a great QB2 play in your drafts this week.

    Take advantage of these “mediocre” offenses against horrible defenses. You don’t have to spend a premium pick to get any of these guys, but they could have huge boom weeks.

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    #3 Bring-Back Stack

    I’m partly a sicko for the Antonio Williams pick, but I believe it to be true. On just 10 routes, Williams caught all four of his targets for 64 yards and a score, quickly becoming one of Jayden Daniels’ favorite targets.

    Dyami Brown had more than double the routes (22) than Williams, and the coaching staff had to have seen what we saw from our couch: the talent is undeniable. I would have to assume he sees a higher route share in Week 2 than he did in his NFL debut, which in turn would lead to more production.

    If that efficiency stays, he’s in for a massive week. What is the worst-case scenario? You draft him late and he doesn’t start. It’s a no-risk, high-reward play.

    As for Jayden Daniels, he looked good in the first game of his third season. He is going against a Cowboys defense that let Jaxson Dart rush for 54 yards and throw three touchdown passes. He is a staple play this week.

    Moving onto Dallas, their offense did not look good on Sunday Night and the Commanders defense did improve, but the secondary is still not great.

    Dak Prescott historically has torched Washington, throwing 32 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in 15 career games. I think this is a huge bounce-back week for the Cowboys, and it may be a must-win game.

    Having already lost a divisional game against the New York Giants, this puts them in a tough spot if they start 0-2 in their NFC East matchups. Dak should come out and be able to find explosive plays downfield to either receiver, but I think Pickens will have the bigger day due to his deep-ball ability.

    George Pickens had 2 uncharacteristic drops in Week 1, one of which would have resulted in at least a 30-yard gain deep down the right sideline. It is not unreasonable to think that he will not drop two passes to almost match his entire 2025 total of 5 drops, and he will get meaningful targets deep downfield and in the red zone.

    I think Pickens could have a monster game against the Commanders’ weak secondary, specifically Mike Sainristil.

    In a SuperFlex tournament, having two quarterbacks with massive upside is key, and while you will have to pay a premium pick for Jayden Daniels and Dak Prescott, the matchup is there for it to pay off for both quarterbacks.