TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 26: Wide Receivers DeSean Jackson #11 and Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Raymond James Stadium on August 26, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The Browns defeated the Buccaneers 13 to 9. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
Maybe the best part about the NFL season starting is the fact that daily fantasy football is back. I can’t tell you how much I love creating lineups and tweaking to make sure I get the most bang for my buck. Last week didn’t go so well as my quarterback, Carson Palmer, threw three interceptions against a revamped Detroit Lions defense and my sleeper, Robby Anderson, ended up with only six points. I was also banking on a massive game from Terrelle Pryor, which it seems like he and Kirk Cousins are still working on their chemistry.
However, this lineup did win me money in every contest I was in, so if you listened to me at least there is that. Here’s a full recap of my Week 1 lineup:
Carson Palmer – 11.96
Christian McCaffery – 12.50
LeSean McCoy – 23.90
Amari Cooper – 17.20
Stefon Diggs – 27.70
Terrelle Pryor – 12.60
Jason Witten – 18.90
Robby Anderson – 6.2
Falcons DST – 5.0
I really nailed it with Witten and Diggs, who ended up being the saving grace and put me in the money. Good on you also if you faded David Johnson and Le’Veon Bell with me and went with McCoy. With all that, let’s go through my can’t miss, unbeatable lineup for Week 2.
QB – Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Salary – $6,300
Matchup — Chicago Bears, 25th OPRK
I really love Winston coming into this season. He’s improved each year he’s been in the league and the team surrounded him with a ton of weapons this season. With Doug Martin out, I expect the already-prone-to-passing offense to air it out even more, especially with the big plays the Atlanta Falcons were able to get on the Bears in Week 1.
RB — Ty Montgomery, Green Bay Packers
Salary — $5,800
Matchup — Atlanta Falcons, 29th OPRK
It’s very clear the Packers are placing their faith in Montgomery to carry the load in the rushing attack. Even against a stout Seattle Seahawks defense, Montgomery got 19 carries and turned that into 54 yards and a score. He also logged four receptions. With the Atlanta Falcons having just given up a ton of points combined to Tarik Cohen and Jordan Howard, Montgomery should go off this week.
RB —Javorius Allen, Baltimore Ravens
Salary — $4,100
Matchup — Cleveland Browns, 2nd OPRK
The Browns did a fine job against Bell in Week 1, but I believe that to be an aberration. Bell didn’t report to Steelers camp until Sept 1, so he was knocking some of the rust off. Meanwhile, Allen got 21 carries after Danny Woodhead went out and looks to be the passing down back for the Ravens. Terrance West almost split the carries down the middle with 19, but if you’re doing the math you can see the Ravens plan to run the ball, a lot. If they get a big lead like last week, Allen will benefit.
WR — Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders
Salary — $8,100
Matchup — New York Jets, 10th OPRK
If you haven’t noticed by now, I’m a huge fan of Cooper’s. I think he was rated way too low by most fantasy football websites, coming in around the 20-25 range. He has the talent to be a top five wide receiver, and should feast on a pretty awful Jets team. Ignore the Jets’ OPRK as they were playing the run heavy Buffalo Bills in Week 1.
WR — Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Salary — $7,700
Matchup — Chicago Bears, 13th OPRK
Mike Evans didn’t get a chance to play in Week 1, so you know he’s chomping at the bit to get the season under way. A top five fantasy wide receiver in 2016, look for him to build off that and even improve now with a deep threat like DeSean Jackson on the other side of the ball.
WR — DeSean Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Salary — $4,900
Matchup — Chicago Bears, 13th OPRK
Speaking of Jackson, I’m going big stack with the Bucs this week. For my money, it’s tough to get the kind of potential Jackson brings at just $4,900. He is a threat to house one at any moment, something that happened to the Bears in Week 1 when they gave up an 88-yard touchdown to Austin Hooper. I don’t think they can hang with Jackson all game, and I very firmly believe the Bucs will bring the aerial assault to the Bears.
TE — Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills
Salary — $3,000
Matchup — Carolina Panthers, 9th OPRK
He doesn’t have a great matchup, but the Bills don’t have much else to throw to and that showed in Week 1. Clay led the Bills in targets with nine, including four red zone targets. If the Bills move the ball at all against the Panthers, it will surely end with some targets thrown Clay’s way in the red zone.
FLEX — Jay Ajayi, Miami Dolphins
Salary — $6,400
Matchup — Los Angeles Chargers, 4th OPRK
I think it’s fair to sleep on Ajayi a little bit based on the Chargers’ performance against C.J. Anderson in Week 1, but Ajayi is way more talented than anyone on the Denver Broncos. Don’t forget he posted 1,272 yards in 2016 and wasn’t the starter until Week 5. He was a first round pick in most season-long leagues this season, so $6,400 is a bargain.
DST — Baltimore Ravens
Salary — $3,700
Matchup — Cleveland Browns
The Ravens completely shut out the Bengals on the road in Week 1, so they should be able to handle the Browns pretty good at home this week. Rookie QB DeShone Kizer looked good at times against the Steelers, but also looked like a rookie at times. The Ravens are a candidate to score on defense and should at least hold the Browns in check.
Possible tinkers:
Austin Hooper at tight end instead of Clay
Chris Carson or Thomas Rawls at RB instead of Allen
Tyreke Hills, Diggs, or Marshawn Lynch at FLEX instead of Ajayi
