Did you forget to set your DFS lineups on DraftKings for Week 2? Fear not! You still have some time to enter a fantasy football roster with these picks for Monday Night Football before Week 2 of NFL action comes to an end.
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Top MNF DFS Picks on DraftKings for Week 2
Elijah Moore, WR, Cleveland Browns ($4,500)
The Week 1 production for Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore wasn’t quite what many fantasy managers hoped for, but he was still heavily involved in a passing offense that wasn’t required to do all that much to beat the Cincinnati Bengals to start the season.
Moore tied for the lead in targets with seven while seeing an additional two touches as a runner. Altogether, his five total touches (three receptions, two carries) only generated 62 total yards. Yet, he did finish with more yards from scrimmage than anyone in this Browns offense not named Nick Chubb.
Amari Cooper is dealing with a groin injury heading into their MNF matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which could see Moore have an expanded role whether Cooper is active or not.
Lastly, the Steelers’ defense did give up an eight-reception, 129-yard performance to Brandon Aiyuk in Week 1, which saw the 49ers’ receiver find the end zone twice in the season opener. Expect Moore to be productive in an expanded role in Week 2.
Deshaun Watson, QB, Cleveland Browns ($6,400)
As is customary in the world of DFS, I want to stack one of my wide receivers with my quarterback. In this scenario, Deshaun Watson is the guy I like the most heading into this Monday slate with just four quarterbacks in play.
Watson represents the most rushing upside of any of the QB options available and faces a Pittsburgh defense that allowed 30 points in Week 1.
MORE: Week 2 MNF Fantasy Start/Sit 2023
And while I’m not putting a lot of clout from Watson’s six-game sample size with Cleveland last season, he did manage to throw for 230 yards and two scores while adding another 44 yards on the ground in last season’s Week 18 loss to the Steelers.
Jamaal Williams, RB, New Orleans Saints ($6,000)
The New Orleans Saints’ running game drew one of the toughest matchups in the league to start the 2023 season. The Tennessee Titans’ defense is a formidable unit that managed to hold Jamaal Williams to a rough 2.5 yards per carry on 18 carries in Week 1.
The silver lining we can take from New Orleans’ season opener was Williams dominating the RB usage, seeing 18 of the 19 carries from the Saints’ backfield.
Fortunately, New Orleans’ Week 2 matchup is against a Carolina Panthers defense that gave up 131 rushing yards to the Atlanta Falcons’ RB duo of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier in Week 1.
The only potential cause for concern would be the status of rookie Kendre Miller — who managed to log limited practices on Thursday and Friday while trying to work through a hamstring injury — who could eat into Williams’ workload if he makes his NFL debut against the Panthers.
Still, even if Miller manages to get on the field in Week 2, I have to imagine he’ll be somewhat limited by the coaching staff to try and avoid reaggravating the hamstring injury.
When you combine Williams’ projected volume of touches in the running game and their matchup against a Panthers team that isn’t likely to generate a ton of points against a quality Saints defense, he’s a great bet to see a ton of volume and potential scoring opportunities on Monday Night Football.
Pat Freiemuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers ($4,500)
Pat Freiermuth scored the lone touchdown of the day in the Steelers’ season-opening loss, but he didn’t do much else in the passing attack for the rest of the game.
Freiermuth’s one-catch for three yards in Week 1 may present a great buy-low opportunity for this DFS slate with WR Diontae Johnson being ruled out with a hamstring injury.
It’s easy to assume that George Pickens will be the biggest benefactor with Johnson’s absence this week. However, it’s just as much within the range of outcomes for Freiermuth to lead the team in targets against Cleveland.
At just $4,500, Freiermuth’s my favorite play at the TE position for this slate.
Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints ($7,200)
Chris Olave certainly looked the part for a Year 2 breakout candidate at the WR position to start the 2023 season, and his eight-catch, 112-yard performance certainly established him as a top option for Derek Carr.
The Panthers may have held the Atlanta Falcons’ passing game in check in Week 1 — holding Drake London to zero receptions — but they will be without top cornerback Jaycee Horn to help shadow Olave in this contest.
Olave may be the most expensive WR option on the slate, but his high target share and big-play ability make him worth the investment.
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