DFS DRAWING BOARD - NFL Week 2 - RB
Welcome to Week 2 of the NFL season and the DFS Drawing Board. Each week we take a step back to review the upcoming weeks matchups and crunch the numbers to develop a series of position specific articles related to top daily fantasy sports plays. Whether you are playing on FanDuel, DrafKings, or even configuring your season long NFL lineups, these articles should serve as a reference tool and helpful guide to choosing the best players. I've shortened these articles to give you only the necessities and bottom-line reasoning as to my top choices. This is a no bullshi*t article and by that I mean the players and plays I suggest are those that I will be using in my personal lineups. Nothing is excluded. We intend to win. The goal is to make great lineups, win money, and share our success stories.
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You'll notice several more selections in this article compared to QB (see QB Post here) and TE. For one, you typically have to fill 2 - 3 RB positions on a team so naturally more of a selection is warranted. But in terms of this weeks strategy, I will be focusing my builds around QB / WR combinations and then seeing what RBs fit. Knowing that, most of my exposure will be be to mid-priced and below RBs. Nonetheless, here are my top plays for the week 2.
RUNNING BACKS
Alvin Kamara – New Orleans Saints
$9,000 / vs. CLE / NO + 10
I’ll be riding Kamara each and every week until Ingram returns. Although he received only 8 carries Week 1, Kamara remained an integral part of the Saints offense raking up 141 yards of total offense with 3 TDs. Ingram and Kamara split a heavy workload last year and until Ingram returns, all the work should remain with Kamara. A supreme talent with no competition in an offense that is going to put up high point totals, I will take him all day. The Saints remain at home Week 2 vs. the Cleveland Browns who by the way just got carved up by a backup in James Conner. As a 10 point home favorite, the game flow should also favor Kamara. If you are spending up at back, Kamara has to be in consideration.
Melvin Gordon – LA Chargers
$8,200 / at BUF / LAC + 7.5
I love strategizing my running backs picks around Vegas point totals. A strong strategy is to focus on running backs that are playing for teams favorited, especially at home – favoring game flow for the run game. Just like Kamara, Melvin Gordon is in a similar spot playing on the road against the Bills as a heavy 7.5 favorite. Gordon looked pretty good Week 1 vs. the Chiefs, averaging 4.3 yards a carry (15 carries for 64 yards). Most impressive was how involved he became in the passing game – catching 9 passes on 13 targets for 102 yards. It’s unreasonable to expect similar numbers each week in the passing game but Gordon should receive significantly more carries against Buffalo, a team that gave up 117 rushing yards Week 1 and 3 total rushing TDs.
Todd Gurley – LA Rams
$8,900 / vs. ARI / LAR + 13.5
Pretty much a unanimous #1 overall pick in season long fantasy formats, Gurley picked up Week 1 pretty much exactly where he left off last year, carrying the ball 20 times for 108 yards while adding 39 yards receiving and 1 receiving TD. This week he faces off against the Arizona Cardinals who are coming off an embarrassing loss vs. the Redskins Week 1 in which they gave up 96 rushing yards and a TD to Adrian Peterson. A guy the Redskins literally added to their roster a few weeks ago. No much needs to be said. As a 13.5 home favorite, Gurley should get plenty of work this week and eat up the Cardinals defense.
Jay Ajayi – Philadelphia Eagles
$6,800 / at TB / PHI + 3
Ajayi didn’t get much love from fantasy owners coming into this season and quite frankly I don’t understand why. He was a certified stud in Miami over the past couple of seasons. The Eagles acquired him mid-season 2017, so I pretty much give him a pass not being completely caught up with that offense and scheme. He looked really good Week 1 for the Eagles rushing 15 times for 62 yards and 2 TDs. Following that game Eagles head coach Pederson said Ajayi would be their workhorse this year. I just love the situation for Ajayi this season in the Eagles offense. I also love that he isn’t getting much love and is priced at a value play this week. Look for Ajayi to get that workhorse workload this week vs. Tampa Bay.
Adrian Peterson – Washington Redskins
$6,700 / vs. IND / WAS + 5.5
I don’t suggest playing Peterson if you are playing Alex Smith – Peterson isn’t known as a pass catching back. However, if you aren’t playing Smith, Peterson lines up as another great value heading into Week 2. The Colts, as mentioned in the QB article, just aren’t a good defense. Peterson is a decent favorite at home this week (+5.5) which should favor his workload. For $6,700 and a heavy workload, I think Peterson comes in as a great value this week.
James Conner – Pittsburgh Steelers
$7,000 / vs. KC / PIT + 4
Week 1 backup sensation, James Conner. Conner got the start Week 1 in place of the absent and frustrated LeVeon Bell and basically received as many carries as he could possibly handle. More importantly, Conner made every carry count as he racked up 135 rushing yards on 31 carries, scoring 2 TDs. He also added a healthy 57 receiving yards on 5 receptions. All in all, Conner is a good play again this week vs. the Chiefs who did give up a ton of fantasy points to Melvin Gordon Week 1. However, Conner was pretty chalky Week 1 and with his performance and relatively low price tag, I suspect he will garnish even more ownership Week 2. For that reason plus the fact I will be playing a ton of Big Ben and Steelers receivers, I likely won’t have too much Conner in play but you can’t ignore the results so far.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
James White - Patriots - $5,900
- The only man not injured in the Patriots backfield. Tough matchup but has had some past success against the Jaguars. Value play under 6k considering potential increase in workload.
Chris Thompson - Redskins - $6,200
- Passing RB specialist that fits well in a Washington / Alex Smith stack. Saw 7 targets Week 1. Smith loves utilizing RBs in the passing game.
Tevin Coleman - Falcons - $5,900
- Freeman ruled out Week 2 leaving the bulk of the workload to Coleman. Carolinas run-D is tough but Coleman offers a nice value play under 6k.
Good luck out there this weekend.....lets win some cash!
Sourced: Sportingnews.com / NFLSpinZone.com / SportsGrid.com