RADIO
Welcome to the Week 2 main slate edition of RotoBaller's NFL DFS Bargain Bin for the 2024 NFL season, where the goal is to touch on some potentially mispriced players across the industry who find themselves in favorable matchups and/or suddenly expanded roles.
Each week, I’ll give you my thoughts on where there may be some value spots to exploit. On this 2nd main slate of the 2024 campaign, I'm glad to report value-salary players are abundant on Yahoo, FanDuel, and DraftKings.
In addition to offering multiple candidates at each position, I'll also list at least one more player to consider, along with some site-specific value plays when applicable.
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NFL DFS Bargain Bin Intro
Before we go NFL DFS Bargain Bin hunting, a few particulars about format and content.
The nature of the beast with value plays is at least a modest amount (and sometimes substantially more) of risk. Therefore, the Bargain Bin may prove to be a bit more of a roller coaster ride on some slates than your typical “tout” article! Naturally, that doesn’t mean there isn’t an upside to be had. All of these selections are therefore suitable for GPPs and can also often serve as solid cash game plays, while often helping you accommodate multiple higher-priced studs into your lineup.
Typically, I’ll suggest players that are value-priced across three major DFS sites (DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo). However, there are certainly occasions where one or more sites price a player significantly lower than others. Whenever possible, I’ll typically at least note those players as an “XYZ site special.”
This article is by no means intended to serve as an exhaustive list of all value options for the week. Rather, it’s meant to take a deeper dive into those I feel offer some of the best combinations of savings and upside.
The goal is to recommend truly affordable players, as opposed to say a player priced just $300-$400 away from the highest-priced option at his position. I don’t have set-in-stone price limits in mind for each site, but I do consider legitimate affordability a very important criterion.
Quarterback DFS Value Plays
Matthew Stafford, LAR at ARI | DK: $6,000, FD: $7,500, Yahoo: $28
There's no question Stafford is in the stretch run of his impressive NFL career, but when he's healthy and slinging it, the veteran can still rack up a 300-yard game in his sleep. That much was evident in Week 1 against the Lions, when Stafford diced a refortified Detroit secondary for 317 yards and a touchdown on his way to 18.7 DK/FD points and 14.7 Yahoo points. Stafford did lose a priceless target to injury in Puka Nacua, but he has both a forgiving matchup this week and the depth at the skill positions to help make up for it.
Arizona allowed a relatively modest 232 passing yards and two touchdown passes to Josh Allen in Week 1, but that included an atypically slow start by Allen as he acclimated to his new-look WR corps. Stafford threw for 226 and 229 yards along with a 5:1 TD:INT in two games against Jonathan Gannon's defense last season.
Matthew Stafford put on a show in the 4th quarter with no Puka Nacua and multiple backup linemen pic.twitter.com/811S8kRCp0
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) September 9, 2024
Baker Mayfield, TB at DET | DK: $5,900, FD: $7,400, Yahoo: $31
Mayfield couldn't have started his quest to prove his 2023 was no fluke any better than he did against the Commanders in Week 1, when he compiled 29.7 DK/FD/Yahoo points on the strength of a 289-yard, four-touchdown performance. Yes, the matchup was certainly a favorable one, but it's worth noting Mayfield and his pass catchers were playing their first full game in new coordinator Liam Coen's offense, the same system that Stafford has enjoyed plenty of success with in Los Angeles when healthy.
The Lions were supposed to field an improved secondary in 2024, and there's little doubt their metrics will look better than a year ago by season's end, especially once first-round pick Terrion Arnold is fully acclimated. However, for the moment, Mayfield is facing a secondary that appears to have some vulnerabilities if Stafford's season-opening performance against them is any indication. Mayfield not only has his ever-dependable top duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin at his disposal, but rookie third-round pick Jalen McMillan, who he already connected with for a TD in Week 1 and just narrowly missed another, looks to be the real deal as well.
ALSO CONSIDER:
- Brock Purdy, SF at MIN | DK: $6,100, FD: $7,300, Yahoo: $29
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Running Back DFS Value Plays
Tony Pollard, TEN vs. NYJ | DK: $5,900, FD: $6,700, Yahoo: $27
There's admittedly some uncertainty regarding Pollard this week, as there's been talk in Tennessee of getting Tyjae Spears more involved after the latter only logged eight touches in the opener. However, it would be completely counterintuitive to ding Pollard's opportunities too much, considering he looked refreshed and like a pre-2023 version of himself against a tough Bears defense in Week 1. Moreover, he now takes on a Jets team on a one-day rest disadvantage that was just trampled by No. 2 running back Jordan Mason for 147 yards in the Monday night loss to the 49ers.
Pollard saw a total of 19 touches (16 rushing, three receiving) in a game where Tennessee eventually had to turn more toward the pass late. The Jets as led by Aaron Rodgers are still largely an enigma, as we only have a one-game sample size and it came against an elite defense. However, it would seem safe to say New York could have trouble building any kind of large lead on the road and on short rest with Rodgers still shaking off rust, meaning Pollard should get his fair share of chances against a unit that surrendered the aforementioned rushing yardage total to Mason, along with three receptions for 45 yards to RBs during that Week 1 loss.
Tony Pollard: 7 carries for 57 yards and 1 TD = 11.7 fantasy points
Tyjae Spears: 2 catches for 8 yards = 1.8 fantasy pointspic.twitter.com/sXYTdWgzSn
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) September 8, 2024
J.K. Dobbins, LAC at CAR | DK: $5,400, FD: $6,800, Yahoo: $29
Speaking of refreshed and rejuvenated running backs, Dobbins certainly fit that description in Week 1 after breaking away for multiple long runs and finishing with 135 rushing yards and a TD on just 10 carries against the Raiders. Dobbins even saw three targets for good measure, and considering what he put on film in Week 1, there's little question that his head coach, who already has quite an affinity for the ground attack, will lean on him again and perhaps even more heavily in Week 2's highly favorable matchup.
The Panthers were essentially disastrous in every sense in Week 1, and that included against the run. Now playing without star rusher Brian Burns and just having lost standout defensive lineman Derrick Brown for the season with a knee injury, Carolina could be easy pickings for a Chargers offensive line built to bulldoze after surrendering 132 rushing yards and two TDs on 30 carries to RBs in Week 1, along with six receptions for 40 yards to the position.
ALSO CONSIDER:
- Derrick Henry, BAL vs. LVR | DK: $6,700, FD: $7,500, Yahoo: $29
- Jordan Mason, SF at MIN | DK: $5,200, FD: $5,500, Yahoo: $10
DK-Only Special:
- Kyren Williams, LAR at ARI | $6,800
Wide Receiver DFS Value Plays
Rashee Rice, KC vs. CIN | DK: $6,700, FD: $6,900, Yahoo: $28
Rice will have legal matters to address at some point, but in Week 1, the second-year wideout looked explosive and unencumbered in every sense against a talented Ravens defense. White finished the TNF 2024 kickoff with 20.3 DK/16.8 FD/13.8 Yahoo points on the strength of a 7-103 line on nine targets. The speedster could be joined on the field by Marquise Brown this week after the latter's recovery from his shoulder injury, but if that does come to pass, it only figures to lessen the amount of defensive attention defenses can afford Rice.
The Bengals were not tested by the Patriots' passing game in any sense in Week 1, as New England simply bulldozed Cincy with Rhamondre Stevenson and played excellent defense to complement that strategy. However, given Patrick Mahomes -- and increasingly, Rice -- are matchup-proof, and rookie Xavier Worthy is sure to steal some defensive resources even if Brown can't play, Rice is an excellent upside play at his salaries.
Here is Rashee Rice torching Cam Taylor-Britt, just for fun. https://t.co/7sJYDZUiyl pic.twitter.com/HTvL1M2EIP
— 𝑰𝒄𝒚𝒚 (@quote_icy) September 12, 2024
Chris Godwin, TB at DET | DK: $6,000, FD: $6,200, Yahoo: $27
Godwin came through handsomely as a value suggestion in Week 1, accruing 22.3 DK/18.3 FD and Yahoo points via an 8-83-1 tally on eight targets. The efficiency and production were the manifestation of a summer-long mantra about Godwin being set to play the "Cooper Kupp" role in Coen's scheme, which derives from the Sean McVay philosophy that's proven so fruitful in Los Angeles. The veteran wideout remains very reasonably salaried for a game with a massive total, one in which Tampa Bay figures to have to remain aggressive.
As mentioned in Mayfield's entry, the Lions displayed some vulnerabilities to the pass in Week 1, and Godwin is now operating almost exclusively out of the slot, where he'll likely avoid the coverage of former teammate Carlton Davis and Arnold, instead mostly operating against Amik Robertson. Robertson has allowed multiple touchdown passes in each of the last three seasons and at 5-foot-8, has a notable height disadvantage against the 6-foot-1 Godwin.
Jameson Williams, DET vs. TB | DK: $5,300, FD: $5,700, Yahoo: $22
Speaking of that fertile offensive environment that should be the Buccaneers-Lions clash, Williams makes for another very viable tournament play at his still very modest salaries. We may have seen the beginnings of a breakout season for Williams, one that's been long-awaited by both the Lions and fantasy managers following his first-round selection back in 2022.
To make the scenario all the more enticing, the Buccaneers project to be without star safety Antoine Winfield (ankle), giving Williams an even better shot at a successful encore of his 5-121-1 line in Week 1. The Buccaneers did a fine job in Week 1 against Jayden Daniels in his first NFL game, but the matchup against Jared Goff and Williams is on a completely different level, especially without Winfield to help shore up the back end.
ALSO CONSIDER:
- Terry McLaurin, WAS vs. NYG | DK: $5,700, FD: $6,000, Yahoo: $21
- Ladd McConkey, LAC at CAR | DK: $4,900, FD: $5,700, Yahoo: $24
- Jalen McMillan, TB at DET | DK: $3,600, FD: $5,200, Yahoo: $19
- Tyler Johnson, LAR at ARI | DK: $3,300, FD: $4,000, Yahoo: $14
Tight End DFS Value Plays
Isaiah Likely, BAL vs. LVR | DK: $4,800, FD: $5,800, Yahoo: $20
Yes, Likely will certainly be a popular value option this week after his primetime performance against the Chiefs in Week 1, but that's no reason to not have some shares and simply differentiate elsewhere in your lineup. Likely is no mirage by any stretch -- let's not forget how effective he was filling in for Mark Andrews last season -- and even though Andrews is now healthy, Likely looks like he'll be a legitimate, consistent part of the offense.
The Raiders faced the journeyman tight-end duo of Hayden Hurst and Will Dissly in Week 1 and still gave up a 3-46 line to the position. A season ago, Las Vegas yielded a 90-839-3 line to tight ends, one of the more robust lines in either conference. Likely nearly transcends the traditional parameters of his position anyhow in the way that he's utilized, and his salaries are such that the risk is minimized.
Isaiah Likely in his last 7 regular season games ⭐️
▫️433 yards
▫️40 targets
▫️30 catches
▫️6 TDs
▫️14.4 yards per catch #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/D7Q79NAdUU— 𝙕𝙖𝙘𝙝🦦® (@NewEraZach) September 11, 2024
Colby Parkinson, LAR at ARI | DK: $3,100, FD: $4,800, Yahoo: $10
Parkinson is another tight end that figures to have a high rostering rate in Week 2, based not just on a solid Week 1 performance but the fact that Nacua's absence creates massive supply of targets. Then there's the matter of the matchup presented by a Cardinals defense that looks destined to have plenty of struggles again in 2024 if Week 1 is any indication. Additionally, the Rams do have multiple absences on the offensive line, which could lead to Stafford having a bit more of a quick trigger and getting passes out quickly to running backs and tight ends.
The Cardinals were tied with multiple teams for second-most touchdowns allowed to tight ends (eight) in this same Jonathan Gannon defensive scheme, and Parkinson already displayed some nice rapport with Stafford in Week 1 while recording a 4-47 line on five targets in a performance that netted 8.7 DK/6.7 FD and Yahoo points. Those numbers could climb exponentially this week, especially if the game is as close (Cardinals -1) and high scoring (48-point projected total as of Thursday night) as oddsmakers expect.
ALSO CONSIDER:
- Mike Gesicki, CIN at KC | DK: $3,100, FD: $5,000, Yahoo: $10
DraftKings/Yahoo Special:
- Mark Andrews, BAL vs. LVR | DK: $5,000, Yahoo: $17
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