Wide Receiver Matchups to Target in Week 2: Cooper Kupp, Rashee Rice, Chris Godwin, Malik Nabers, more

Welcome to Week 2 WR Matchups to Target. Last week’s picks yielded one “in the money” pick (3x multiplier on DraftKings salary) in Jaylen Waddle. 

Each week we will use matchup data from PFF to determine wide receivers to target based on who they will be primarily lining up against that week. These are players more likely to return a 3x multiplier on their DraftKings salary, a benchmark for consistently winning DFS cash games. 

Below are five of the top WR vs. CB matchups for this week’s DFS main slate. Use these to set season-long lineups, make player prop picks, and gain an edge in DFS.

Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

$7,600 on DraftKings, $7,700 on FanDuel; vs. Garrett Williams

Kupp is a cheat code for DFS this week, with the fifth-highest DraftKings salary on the main slate despite a clear path to WR1 status in Week 2. The eight-year pro finished last week with 14 catches for 110 yards on an insane 43.8% target share against the Lions after fellow WR Puka Nacua went down with a knee injury. Kupp’s 21 targets included 5 looks in the red zone.

The Rams match up against the Cardinals this week, PFF’s number one easiest matchup for receivers. Last week Kupp lined up 71% of the time in the slot. Sean McVay found incredible success deploying a heavy amount of pre-snap motion last week to open things up underneath for Kupp. Expect more of the same this week.

While Kupp will be a popular cash game pick, his floor is as high as they come in Week 2.

Cooper Kupp’s 21 Targets in Week 1 tied Davante Adams (2023) for the highest target total in a single game since 2016.

Last season only three players (Adams x2, ARSB & Keenan Allen) had games with 20 or more targets.

It is officially Cooper Kupp SZN
pic.twitter.com/mvk4sSUdJA

— TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) September 12, 2024

Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

$6,700 on DraftKings, $6,900 on FanDuel; vs. Mike Hilton

Rice had an excellent start to his sophomore season last week, tallying seven catches for 103 yards and a touchdown and finishing with 20.3 DK points against a tough Ravens defense. He will have the opportunity to build on that this week against the Bengals. 

Rice had the ninth-best PFF grade among receivers last week (80.0). He faces off against an exploitable Cincinnati secondary, with a primary matchup in the slot against CB Mike Hilton who struggled last week against the Patriots (54.5 defensive PFF grade).

Rice comes at a particular discount on DraftKings this week as the 12th receiver by salary. Kansas City’s number-one receiver is a high-floor option in cash games for Week 2.

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Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

$6,000 on DraftKings, $6,200 on FanDuel; vs. Carlton Davis III

Tampa Bay looked great in Week 1, scoring 37 points in a convincing win over the Commanders. Godwin played a significant role in that performance, catching all eight of his targets for 83 yards and a touchdown. He garnered a 26.7% target share in that contest and finished with the best PFF receiving score in the NFL on the week.

Godwin and the Buccs travel to Detroit in Week 2 in what is projected to be the highest-scoring game on the slate (51.5 point over/under). Godwin will line up primarily in the slot where he has thrived historically. He has an opportunity for another high-volume game - last week the Lions gave up 21 targets and 14 receptions to Rams’ slot receiver Cooper Kupp.

Godwin is a great bet to top his 5.5 reception over/under and return value in DFS this week.

Malik Nabers, New York Giants

$5,900 on DraftKings, $6,400 on FanDuel; vs. Benjamin St-Juste

Nabers had a promising NFL debut last week, catching five of his seven targets for 66 yards. He showed an immediate rapport with Daniel Jones, capturing an 18% target share.

Nabers will look to build on that start against the Commanders, one of the most vulnerable secondaries in the NFL. The Giants have the second-best receiving matchup in the NFL this week according to PFF’s strength of schedule metric. 

Washington played zone coverage at a top-12 rate last week (73%). Nabers ran 48 routes and caught four of his five receptions against zone last week. 

The rookie is a high-ceiling play in DFS for Week 2.

Malik Nabers never left the field in Week 1 and had a 100% route participation. QB issues could cap his upside in 2024, but long-term the outlook is 🔥🚀🌕 pic.twitter.com/k2ZqoFBMXT

— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) September 11, 2024

Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

$5,700 on DraftKings, $6,000 on FanDuel; vs. Deonte Banks

McLaurin had a quiet debut with QB Jayden Daniels last week, catching two passes for 17 yards against the Buccaneers. 

The 28-year-old will look to bounce back against the Giants this week, in PFF’s fourth-best matchup for receivers. McLaurin has a smash matchup on the outside against CB Deonte Banks this week, with PFF giving him an 89.0 matchup grade.

The Giants are projected to play more man coverage than the Buccaneers did last week against the Commanders, which bodes well for the shifty McLaurin. After a slow Week 1, expect low ownership for McLaurin in a bounce-back spot.

Thanks for reading, and good luck with your DFS contests!

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