One week of data is the smallest of sample sizes and lends itself to jumping to wild conclusions, but this is fantasy football. Jumping to wild conclusions and reaching for mid-range talent is half of the fun. There are some very interesting matchups this week though, especially when it comes to receivers and pass defenses. And a quick look at DraftKings Week 2 prices throws up some intriguing possibilities.
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Bargain Shopping for the Sunday Afternoon Slate
Robert Woods
Woods caught the same number of passes from C.J Stroud as Nico Collins did, six. But Collins was targeted 11 times, so he ended the game against Baltimore with a lower catch percentage. Stroud attempted 44 passes in Week 1 against a very strong Ravens defense. 61% of the Texans’ plays were pass plays! This week they line up against a Colts defense who allowed 7 yards per play against the Jaguars last week. Jaguars pass catchers averaged 9.9 yards per reception in Indianapolis. Calvin Ridley recorded 101 receiving yards after missing nearly two seasons. Ridley was lined up opposite Dallis Flowers, which is where Woods figures to line up this week.
Romeo Doubs
In week 2 Doubs is the cheapest of the four receivers who caught two touchdowns in the season opener. On DraftKings, Doubs costs $4,800, $1,100 cheaper than Christian Watson who could still be injured. Doubs was targeted five times against the Bears, he caught four of those targets and two of them were scores. All in all, not a bad day’s work. Rookie Jayden Reed was also targeted five times, but he finished the game with two catches. A healthy Christian Watson would cut into everyone’s targets but Doubs’ ability to win contested catches will be important with a young QB throwing the passes.
The Packers face the Falcons this week who are without their best cornerback Jeff Okuda. Jessie Bates made two interceptions for the Falcons, but the pass defense allowed 7.3 yards per reception to a rookie quarterback.
DeAndre Hopkins
Hopkins is one of the more expensive receivers this week, but he’ll be playing against a Chargers defense that allowed 466 passing yards last week. He costs $6,700 on DraftKings in Week 2, Derrick Henry will be the Titans’ most important player. But DHop is still a red zone threat for Ryan Tannehill.
Four different receivers caught passes for the Dolphins in Week 1 and they averaged more than 13 yards per reception! The Titans’ offense isn’t designed to pass as much as Mike Mcdaniels is, but they will have spent the week studying how Miami was so successful.
Nuk caught seven passes in Week 1, but he was targeted 13 times which was 39.4% of the Titans total targets. He averaged 9.3 yards per catch against a Saints defense that only allowed 181 yards and made three interceptions.
Josh Reynolds
The Lions have a plethora of receivers who could score big this week, but Reynolds seems the most reasonably priced of the bunch. His DraftKings Week 2 price is a lowly $3,700 which seems too good to miss. Reynolds saw 21.9% of the Lions target share in Week 1, just 6.2% behind Amon-Ra St. Brown. Reynolds was the Lions leading receiver with 80 yards against the Chiefs.
The Lions play the Seahawks this week and they gave up 334 pass yards to a Rams team without Cooper Kupp last week. Puka Nacua who lined up opposite Tariq Woolen caught 10 of 15 targets for 119 yards. So, Reynolds will be looking forward to that matchup.
Darnell Mooney
The Bears were second-best to the Packers in Week 1, but they did show occasional flashes of quality. Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson were two of those brightest flashes, but a healthy Darnell Mooney was another. Mooney’s seven targets equated to 19.4% of the Bears total Week 1 targets. Mooney’s DraftKings Week 2 price is $4,400 making him the fourth most expensive in a game that could be a track meet.
In Week 2 the Bears travel to Tampa Bay to play a Buccaneers team who surprised the Vikings in their back yard last week. Despite winning in Minnesota 20 points to 17 the Bucs allowed 328 yards through the air. They also allowed two touchdowns through the air. All of the Vikings receivers who caught a pass ended the game averaging more than 10.2 yards per catch. Slot receiver KJ Osborn ended the game averaging 10.3 yards per touch. Mooney lined up in the slot last week, but the Bears pre-snap motion saw him travel from side to side quite a bit. He should be difficult to defend in Tampa.
Special mention – Jakobi Meyers
Meyers saw 38.5% of the Raiders targets in Week 1 and wound up with more catches than Davante Adams. Jimmy Garoppolo found Meyers nine times and he ended the game with 81 receiving yards. However, it seems unlikely he’ll play in Week 2 after he left the game with a concussion. That’s the second concussion he’s suffered since December. If Meyers is cleared to play his DraftKings Week 2 price is $5,300 but his health is the most important consideration in the short term.
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Main Photo Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
