Week 1 was a perfect example of why cash games are so vital (at least for myself) in NFL DFS. Even though I didn’t hit anything big in my GPPs, I was able to make a decent profit in Week 1 due to having a successful cash lineup.
If you followed along with my cash-game article from a week ago, you would’ve had Jalen Hurts, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Michael Pittman Jr., and the defense of the Miami Dolphins in your cash lineups. After a successful start to the season in cash contests, let’s take a look at my favorite cash-game plays in Week 2 for the main slate on DraftKings.
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford vs. ATL ($6,300)
It was a disaster for the offense of the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1 amid a blowout to the Buffalo Bills. Even after the lopsided loss and the concerns surrounding his elbow, Stafford is a solid cash and GPP play in Week 2 vs the Falcons.
The defense of the Falcons just surrendered 21.7 fantasy points to Jameis Winston in Week 1 while blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Rams are tied for the highest projected team total (28.5) with the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2 and Stafford should have much more success airing the ball out against Atlanta’s secondary.
Derek Carr vs. ARI ($6,200)
Speaking of the Raiders, they’ll be a popular team to target in NFL DFS in Week 2. Carr makes for a spectacular cash-game option with Las Vegas projected to score a ton of points against a defense of the Cardinals that just got torched for 37.9 points by Patrick Mahomes.
Related: Roast & Ghost: Fantasy Football Starts & Sits for Week 2
While Carr isn’t Mahomes, by any means, he certainly has the ability to throw three or four touchdowns, especially with Davante Adams now at his disposal. On top of that, the veteran signal-caller won’t have to worry about Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa chasing him around versus the Cardinals.
Trey Lance vs. SEA ($5,700)
By the time Sunday morning rolls around, Lance might be the most popular quarterback to target in cash games (if he already isn’t). He’s projecting to be one of the highest-rostered quarterbacks in Week 2 after having to play in an abysmal weather environment in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears.
Running quarterbacks are a cheat code in NFL DFS and fantasy football, and the San Francisco 49ers allowed Lance to carry the ball 13 times to begin the season. Plus, the second-year quarterback gets to play at home against a defense of the Seahawks that will be without Jamal Adams and is coming off an emotional win over the Denver Broncos.
Running Backs
Saquon Barkley vs. CAR ($7,300)
DraftKings knew they couldn’t keep Barkley priced at $6,100 after his strong showing in Week 1, but this still might be the last time we can get him for $7,300 or cheaper this season. Even with the increased salary in Week 2, the stud running back touched the ball 24 times for 194 scrimmage yards and a touchdown while getting 33.3% target share.
The volume is going to be through the roof for Barkley each week, especially with the New York Giants having issues at the wide receiver position. It also helps that New York will play at home against a Panthers squad that just got gashed for 187 rushing yards on 33 attempts by Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt combined in Week 1.
D’Andre Swift vs. WAS ($7,000)
Why did so many people have question marks surrounding Swift entering the 2022 season? The Georgia product put on a show in Week 1 with 144 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown while also posting 3 receptions for 31 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Swift averaged 4.7 yards after contact per attempt in Week 1, which was the second-most among all running backs that saw 40-plus snaps. Even though the Jacksonville Jaguars ran the ball only 15 times on the defense of the Commanders in Week 1, Washington still allowed 7.5 yards per attempt (second-most in the NFL).
* Swift missed practice for the Detroit Lions on Wednesday, so if he is unable to play on Sunday, Jamaal Williams ($5,400) becomes a viable option in cash games.
Darrell Henderson Jr. vs. ATL ($5,700)
Social media exploded in the season opener between the Rams and the Bills when Henderson started the game in the backfield instead of Cam Akers. Henderson would proceed to play in 82% of the offensive snaps for the reigning Super Bowl champions while Akers logged only 18%.
As hard as it is to trust Sean McVay when it comes to running backs, Henderson is the clear No. 1 back on the Rams after commanding 76.5% of the backfield carries in Week 1. The former third-round pick is far too cheap on DraftKings at $5,700 and he gets a favorable matchup at home against the Falcons.
Wide Receivers
Davante Adams vs. ARI ($8,600)
Did you hear that Carr and Adams were college teammates before? The college narrative was strong in Week 1 as Adams finished with 10 receptions, 141 yards, and 1 touchdown to produce 33.1 points in his debut for the Raiders.
The All-Pro wideout received an astronomical 45.9% target share in Week 1 for the Raiders, which is unsustainable for an entire season, but he should garner 10-plus targets nearly every week. Las Vegas gets to head home in Week 2 to play an Arizona defense that just surrendered 44 points to Kansas City at home.
Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. WAS ($6,500)
St. Brown proved that his strong finish to last season wasn’t a fluke by notching 20.4 points in Week 1 vs the Eagles. The second-year wideout saw a team-high 12 targets to begin the season and he looks extremely comfortable with Jared Goff throwing him the ball.
Besides the volume he should receive, St. Brown is a nice cash game play due to playing against a Commanders defense that struggled against Christian Kirk out of the slot in Week 1, allowing 20.7 points to the expensive wideout. The Sun God received 11 of his 12 targets out of the slot in Week 1 and he saw 48 offensive snaps out of the slot (eighth-most among WRs).
I’m also fine going up to Michael Pittman Jr. ($6,700) in cash games in the same range as St. Brown.
Allen Robinson vs. ATL ($5,500)
There was a search warrant put out for Robinson in Week 1 after registering only 2 targets and 1 reception for 12 yards in his debut for the Rams. Even after the dismal outing he had to begin the season, the Pro Bowl wideout is shaping up to be one of the most popular wide receivers in cash games.
The silver lining for Robinson is that he played on only two fewer offensive snaps than Cooper Kupp ($9,900) who is also worthy of consideration in cash games, if you have enough salary. I’m betting on a bounce-back game from the veteran wide receiver and the passing game of the Rams as a whole. The Falcons just allowed 53.2 combined points to Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, and Chris Olave in Week 1.
Tight Ends
Darren Waller vs. ARI ($5,600)
What a rough beginning to the season it is for the Cardinals in terms of the tight ends they have to face in the first two weeks. After having to try to contain Travis Kelce, who recorded 29.1 points in Week 1, Arizona will have to square off against Waller in Week 2.
Even though Waller didn’t have an explosive performance in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers, he still ran 35 routes (sixth-most among TEs).
Tyler Higbee vs. ATL ($4,200)
Higbee isn’t a premier tight end in the NFL, but he has a solid role with the Rams right now. Until Van Jefferson returns to the offense, Higbee is the de facto No. 3 option for Stafford alongside Kupp and Robinson.
The veteran wideout received 11 targets in Week 1 (second-most on the Rams) and his usage in the red zone always makes him a threat to score a touchdown.
Albert Okwuegbunam vs. HOU ($3,700)
My favorite cash play at the tight end position this week is Okwuegbunan. Despite the head-scratching decision by Nathaniel Hackett to kick a 64-yard field goal instead of giving the ball to Russell Wilson on fourth down, Okwuegbunam had a solid outing in Week 1.
The third-year tight end caught 5 passes on 6 targets for 33 yards and now gets to face the Texans at home in Week 2.
D/ST
Cincinnati Bengals @ DAL ($2,200)
Just plug and play the defense of the Bengals in your cash games in Week 2. Cooper Rush will be the starting quarterback for the Cowboys on Sunday with Dak Prescott nursing a thumb injury, making Cincinnati’s defense way too cheap on DraftKings.
New York Jets @ CLE ($2,200)
You typically want to target defenses that are facing a team that could pass the ball often. That being said, the Jets could be involved in an ugly game against the Browns, which could lead to multiple turnovers in favor of New York.