By clicking this, you're saying that you like to live dangerously. You want to take that shot at separating from the pack. You don't want to just fall in line with a bunch of chalk picks. Heck, you don't even want those value plays that many of the sharps are touting. You're feeling like Leonardo DiCaprio in Inception as you feel the need to go deeper into this Week 2 player pool. Too far? Ok, sorry.
The point is, Week 1 has had its time to be digested by everyone, and now people still have their preseason notions to go off of, but Week 1's results have the spotlight right now. I'm seeing quite a bit about "recency bias" right now, and it's spot on. The darlings of Week 1 are going to see a serious uptick in ownership come Sunday.
Nick Mensio pointed out how Carlos Hyde was 30.5% owned in FanDuel's GPP last night. While this isn't a FanDuel article, it illustrates a cognitive bias that all players, all humans, are susceptible to (thanks brain). We put so much weight when making decisions on the most recent data point we have to go off of, but we often don't realize it. The point here is that we can take advantage of this.
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Week 2 DraftKings Quarterback Sleepers
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Vikings: $6,400 - vs. DET
For those of you that stomached Trent Dilfer's incessant slobbering over Colin Kaepernick's greatness long enough to watch most of the 49ers-Vikings tilt on Monday Night Football Pt. 2, you saw Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings offense fall flat on their face. Everyone anticipated Adrian Peterson being set loose in his return to action, and that Bridgewater would continue to show growth with Charles Johnson, Mike Wallace, and Kyle Rudolph around him. None of those things happened. While there are plenty of other choices out there that most people are going to be making googly eyes at, Bridgewater might provide very sneaky value for you against a Detroit defense that Philip Rivers exposed in the second half last week. Rivers used short and intermediate routes to Keenan Allen and Stevie Johnson, while using Ladarius Green effectively as a tall target, on his way to a 404-2-2 line. The Lions have a reputation for a solid front, but the secondary gets beaten by quick feet and crisp routes that sweep upfield. If Teddy and Wallace get their timing down on mid-slant routes it could lead to an insane day for both. Adrian Peterson should be much more of a factor this week as well, which should help as far as having a balanced attack where the pressure isn't all on Teddy Two Gloves to make dreams come true for Minnesota. He's my favorite low-end quarterback who most people probably won't even consider.
Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers: $5,600 - @ NO
Well, Week 1 was a disaster for Jameis and the Buccaneers, no getting around that. If you really want to roll the dice and spend very little on quarterback though, buy into Winston bouncing back. His first game is out of the way now, he's had time to study the tape, and all signs point to him getting Mike Evans back this week against a depleted New Orleans secondary. The Saints are heavy favorites at home (-10.5), so Vegas projects the Bucs to be in catch up mode all day. Jameis showed that even at his worst, he can just air it out and find one of his skyscraper targets (Evans, Vincent Jackson, and Austin Seferian-Jenkins). At this price point and with his perceived value after an embarrassing debut, I'm definitely making a GPP team with Winston at the helm. While he's no Carson Palmer, do recall that the Cardinals gashed the Saints B-squad secondary pretty darn effectively. If Winston can set his feet in the pocket, you are going to find cash in yours.
Other deep plays that might have higher ownership: Joe Flacco, $6,400 @ OAK, Tyrod Taylor, $6,200 @ NE.
Week 2 DrafKings Running Back Sleepers
Shane Vereen, RB, Giants: $4,200 – vs. ATL
This one might get some attention with the glowing green "32nd" next to his name, referencing the dead last rank of the Falcons defense against running backs on DraftKings. That said, Vereen is sandwiched between plenty of other tempting names and there doesn't seem to be a lot of chatter about him. Vereen had a quiet Week 1 for the Giants, and the Giants in general have a pretty negative image about them right now after their impressive collapse in Dallas. While people are buying into a bounce back game for Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. (that's going to be a popular stack this week), Vereen isn't on their level. Vereen actually played on 42% of snaps, but only saw seven touches (five targets for the passing potential). The hope here is that the Giants realize they can use Vereen like how the Eagles used Sproles, and if Vereen takes one to the house he's going to give your squad a boost that many others won't benefit from.
Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB, Ravens: $3,000 – @ OAK
There aren't a lot of "cutesy" options at running back this week, plenty of the cheaper plays like Ameer Abdullah and Tevin Coleman are being talked up as they have great opportunities. Even for those who go mining for minimum $ plays, they'll probably stop right at Lance Dunbar and call it a day. Dunbar got consideration for inclusion here, and you should definitely consider him in a projected shootout against the Eagles, but the Bryant injury coupled with a strong Week 1 seems to have thrust Dunbar into plenty of talks. Way at the bottom of the list of running backs is Taliaferro, who is coming back from injury and should easily hurdle Buck Allen for #2 duties behind Justin Forsett (another popular pick this week), as well as his own goal line opportunities. If the Bengals-Raiders game showed us anything, it's that Oakland is pretty much the same Oakland, and the Ravens have a strong defense that should make life difficult for Derek Carr and company despite the loss of Terrell Suggs to a torn ACL. Even if one assumes that Taliaferro gets barely any looks if the game is tight, the Ravens could enter the second half up 20, and he could get plenty of garbage time work and easily return great value for you. Expectations are that he gets goal line work anyway, and those opportunities should be present against a dumpy Raiders defense that the Bengals ran all over. Be sure Taliaferro suits up, but if he does this is a really intriguing as deep as you can get play. If he hits lucky 7's for you and plows in 2 TDs, that's amazing for $3,000, and the money you saved allows for plenty of stud plays.
Other deep plays that might have higher ownership: C.J. Spiller, $5,000 vs. TB, Dion Lewis, $3,400 @ BUF.
Week 2 DraftKings Wide Receiver Sleepers
Reuben Randle, WR, Giants: $4,700 - vs. ATL
Okay, doubling down on one person from last week. Reuben Randle was practically invisible in Week 1, and he is reportedly dealing with knee issues that are holding him back in practice. As I said last week, Reuben Randle isn’t held in the highest regard, his poor route running skills and general inconsistency are popular talk in Giants’ circles, but opportunity is calling this Sunday against Atlanta. Much of what was said in the Vereen blurb can carry over to Randle. Victor Cruz remains sidelined, and you can bet that Randle will be out there as the #2. The question becomes, is Randle really healthy enough to be effective? Or is he more just a size decoy and that's why Preston Parker saw one more target than him? Randle should have a very low ownership % in a game with a high projected point total, and that's a great thing to chase. With the aforementioned Eli-Beckham stack, if Randle comes through with a 6-70-2 line, you're cleaning up and vaulting ahead of the pack.
Doug Baldwin, WR, Seahawks: $4,200 – @ GB
Seattle Seahawks wide receivers are (deservedly) not seen as a beacon of hope in the world of fantasy sports, as Seattle loves to attack with the run and they traditionally don't generate enough passing volume to sustain any usable wide receiver. Week 1 of 2015 might end up being a wild outlier, but Russell Wilson dialed up 41 passing attempts, a career high. Perhaps this was just because the Rams front seven is terrifying and they felt it was the right call, but Doug Baldwin still saw nine targets and is a better receiver than Jermaine Kearse is. Hot commodity Tyler Lockett only saw four targets as he starts to rotate in, but Baldwin is still the most reliable wide receiver out there. Jimmy Graham is certainly a difference maker, but it should be noted that Baldwin would have scored 16.6 points on DraftKings (6-106-0 line) from last year's NFC Championship Game between these two teams. Maybe he breaks one, or maybe he just works the Packers over in the same light as last year. Baldwin is tucked in between the flashy names of Stevie Johnson and Terrance Williams, and his ownership levels should be next to nothing. It should be noted that this is probably the "cutesy-est" play out of the lot, and his ceiling isn't as high as I normally like for tournaments, but we're trying to dig deep and against the grain here. If Baldwin spits out 6-60-1 or 7-100 line while Stevie and Terrance fall flat, that's going to look good.
Brandon Coleman, WR, Saints: $3,300 - vs. TB
There just has to be a quick note on this guy, because he looked really strong in Week 1 and he's still very cheap on DraftKings leading into a cake draw against Tampa Bay's DBs. I won't harp on this, because I don't know how low-owned he'll be at this price point and the momentum he has, but don't forget about him. He was the #2 for Drew Brees last week, bumping Marques Colston to #3 duties, and while defenses key more on Brandin Cooks, Coleman got his. You can read the waiver wire blurb I wrote up on him here. Coleman could give you 25 points for your $3,300 investment, so if you need a low cost high upside guy, look to Coleman.
Other deep plays that might have higher ownership: Andre Roberts, $3,300 vs STL, Rishard Matthews, $3,000 @ JAX.
Week 2 DraftKings Tight End Sleepers
Jared Cook, TE, Rams: $3,000 - @ WAS
Jared Cook is a real feast or famine type. Week 1 was so insane for tight ends that people probably won't make it that far down the list before seeing someone they like. Cook was second on the Rams in targets with six in Week 1 behind Benny Cunningham, turning in a 5-85-0 line. He gets to square up against a weak Redskins secondary that allowed Jordan Cameron to have some very good looks for Miami in Week 1. The Dolphins have plenty of weapons who the production gets spread to, while the Rams can't boast such things. Cook won't be on most people's minds, but he could turn in a sneaky two TD game. The Redskins have an underrated rush defense that did well against Lamar Miller, and should do well against Tre Mason and Benny Cunningham. Jared Cook should need to be utilized by Nick Foles, this is a good play in tournaments if you want to go off the beaten path.
Crockett Gillmore, TE, Ravens: $2,500 - vs. OAK
Oh you want to go a little further off said beaten path? Well if you continue through the woods you'll find Crockett Gillmore. He was the target on the end zone throw at the end of the Ravens-Broncos game in Week 1. He only saw four targets, but two of them were over 15 yards downfield. You'll recall that Tyler Eifert destroyed the Raiders, and while Gillmore is not the talent that Eifert is, he is playing into the same Raiders weakness. For the absolute minimum, I wouldn't begrudge you for going with Richard Rodgers, but I'm looking Gillmore's way. Flacco and the Ravens offense should bounce back against Oakland, and Gillmore is the third option behind Steve Smith Sr. and Justin Forsett in a game that should see Flacco have a clean pocket and be able to get the ball wherever he wants. Gillmore can return 4x-5x value on your investment with a few catches and a TD, which I see as most probable from him out of these minimum guys.
Other deep plays that might have higher ownership: Heath Miller, $3,500 vs. SF, Eric Ebron, $3,300 @ MIN.
Week 2 DraftKing Defense Sleepers
Indianapolis Colts, D/ST: $2,900 - vs. NYJ
The Colts are at home and favored in a primetime matchup against the New York Jets. The Colts are coming off a loss against the Bills, and the Jets are coming off a strong showing where they teed off against the Cleveland Browns. Both of these facts shape up the Colts D/ST as a solid Week 2 play that should be low owned and doesn't leave you feeling nauseous. Vontae Davis doesn't get talked up as much as he should, but he can take away a whole side of the field just like Jets counterpart Darrelle Revis can. He should do a good job clamping down on Brandon Marshall, and Ryan Fitzpatrick is a known Favre-ian gunslinger who can make unforced errors trying to do too much. Fitzmagic should be having to press on Monday night as road dogs, and this leads to opportunities for the Colts D/ST to get you solid points on the low.
Minnesota Vikings, D/ST: $2,800 – vs. DET
Minnesota finds themselves at home, but that's about all they have going for them on the surface. The Lions have a ton of weapons, but the Vikings tend to play the Lions well. Here are the last three games between these teams: 14-13 MIN, 17-3 DET, 16-14 DET. Matthew Stafford's lines in those three games: 22/33-1-0, 19/33-1-0, 17/28-1-0. Not scary, though you'd like to see some turnovers. If you feel the need to dig deep for your D/ST play, I like the Vikings to provide a good shot at paying out. Plus they have two plus returners in Marcus Sherels on punt duties and Cordarelle Patterson on kickoffs (both ranked 6th in their respective return categories in 2014), which only helps. It's not the strongest play to those looking at 2015, but I like it as a lottery ticket.
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