FAVORABLE MATCHUP

Antonio Brown (DK – $8,800/FD – $8,900): Brown had a nice game in Week 1 (9/93/1 on 16 targets) while playing in poor weather conditions. Last year in his matchup on the road vs. the Chiefs, Antonio had eight catches for 155 yards and one TD on ten targets. He also had a productive game (4/64/2) at 2016 at home against Kansas City. In Week 1, the Chiefs’ top CB Steven Nelson showed risk when covering Keenan Allen. Very winnable matchup with plenty of upside if the young Patrick Mahomes can push the issue on the scoreboard against a tougher pass defense.

Julio Jones (DK – $8,400/FD – $8,500): Ryan looked Julio’s way 19 times in Week 1 leading to ten catches for 169 yards, but he failed to score a TD. Over the last three years, Jones has two elite games vs. the Panthers at home (2015 – 9/178/1 and 2016 – 12/300/1). Last year he had 11 catches for 198 yards on 23 targets in two games against Carolina. In Week 1, the Cowboys didn’t test the Panthers secondary from the WR position. Top play of the week at WR, but he needs the Falcons’ coaching staff to do a much better job getting him involved in the scoring department.

Jarvis Landry (DK – $6,300/FD – $6,700): Landry finished Week 1 with a great opportunity (15 targets). He only caught seven of his chances for 106 yards with two of his catches gaining over 20 yards. The weather was a factor, and he does need Tyrod Taylor to play better when throwing the ball. The Saints’ CBs struggled to defend the Bucs’ WRs (18/361/4 on 21 targets). More of the damage came from their two outside CBs. Slot CB Patrick Robinson wasn’t the problem in Week 1. New Orleans won’t be this bad covering WRs in Week 2, but a shootout game does give Jarvis upside. Tough to fade based the slugfest last week.

Emmanuel Sanders (DK – $6,200/FD – $6,800): It was easy to see that Sanders was developing a nice chemistry with Case Keenum in the preseason. Their trust carried over to Week 1, leading to a nice game by Emmanuel. He caught ten of his 11 targets for 135 yards and one TD. Last year he struggled in his two games against the Raiders (seven combined catches for 39 yards on 11 targets). CB Leon Hall is past his prime, and he’ll have a tough time covering Sanders in the matchup. Possible follow through.

Nelson Agholor (DK – $6,100/FD – $6,100): With Alshon Jeffery out again this week, Agholor will again be the top WR option for the Eagles. In Week 1, Nelson caught eight of his ten targets for only 33 yards. He also had a 16-yard run and a pass completion for 15 yards. The Bucs allowed 268 yards with 23 catches and two TDs to the Saints’ WRs. Nelson should be active in the passing game with a favorable matchup against slot CB M.J. Stewart. Playing him comes down to how much a Fantasy owner trust Nick Foles who played poorly in Week 1. I expect solid targets with a reasonable chance at a TD, but he’ll need to hit on a long pay off at this level.

Cooper Kupp (DK – $5,500/FD – $6,300): In his first game in 2017, Kupp caught five of his nine targets for 68 combined yards with a TD. He has three chances inside in the red zone and two targets inside the ten. Cooper did drop one long catchable ball. Last year he caught nine passes for 119 yards and one TD on 16 targets in two games against the Cardinals. His matchup looks neutral vs. CB Budda Baker, but his chemistry will Jared Goff should push him into a playable area this week. The key for his follow-through will be success on the scoreboard by Arizona. Upside play for me in this matchup with a favorable salary.

Jamison Crowder (DK – $4,900/FD – $6,000): I had strong feelings for the value and upside of Crowder heading into this season, but I didn’t like his usage against the Cardinals. He caught three of his four targets for 32 yards while being on the field for the third most snaps (49 – 62 percent) in Washington at WR. Jamison has a volume type skill set that should work best when chasing on the scoreboard. I fully expect him to lead the Redskins in catches in 2018. His matchup against slot CB Nate Hairston looks favorable. An excellent chance at 20+ Fantasy points in PPR leagues while being undervalued at DraftKings while needing the Colts to put up a fight on the scoreboard.

 

MATCHUP RISK/AGAINST THE GRAIN

Tyreek Hill (DK – $7,600/FD – $8,100): Hill only had eight targets in Week 1, but he still delivered a monster game. His day started with a long TD via a punt return followed by seven catches for 169 yards and two TDs. Last year he caught five of his seven targets for 34 yards against the Steelers with minimal success in 2016 (5/24/1). CB Mike Hilton played well last year in his rookie season while doing his best to keep receivers in front with minimal damage in TDs. Easy to get excited about Tyreek after a big game, but this isn’t a great matchup with a boring resume.

Davante Adams (DK – $6,800/FD – $8,100): After a slow start and fears that Aaron Rodgers was done for the day, Adams turned on the jets to finish with a solid day of work. He caught five of his eight targets for 88 yards and one TD. Last year in his only game vs. the Vikings, Davante caught five of ten targets for 54 yards and one TD. CB Xavier Rhodes will be a tough matchup for him plus Rodgers is still questionable to play on Sunday. Even if Rodgers plays, he’ll look to get the ball out quickly to avoid taking any more hits. I’ll leave him on the sidelines this week in the daily games.

Marvin Jones (DK – $6,200/FD – $6,800): Jones finished with the third best WR opportunity for the Lions in Week 1. He caught four of his eight targets for 54 yards. The Lions ran many three WR sets, which led to each option being in the field at least 80 percent of the time. Marvin will draw CB Richard Sherman in coverage on many plays. His speed may lead to a long scoring play if Richard doesn’t get away with holding on many plays. Not the best matchup, and he’ll have more competition for targets with Kenny Golladay in the mix for more playing time.

Brandin Cooks (DK – $6,100/FD – $7,000): In his first start for the Rams, Cooks had a nice steady game. He caught five of his eight targets for 87 yards. LA had all three of their starting WRs on the field for 97 percent of their 63 plays. I expect Cooks to see a high percentage of CB Patrick Peterson in this matchup, which will limit his explosiveness. I’m going to stay clear of Brandin in this week’s matchup.

Kenny Stills (DK – $5,700/FD – $6,400): Last week Stills only had five targets while being on the field for 59 of 62 plays run by the Dolphins. He still finished with an impact game (4/106/2) thanks to a 75-TD and another score. In his two games against the Jets last year, Kenny caught ten passes for 136 yards and two TDs on 19 targets with his best success coming at home (6/85/2). His best three games in 2017 all came in Miami. New York did allow 19 catches to the WR position last week on 38 targets for 253 yards and one TD.  Top WR for sure on the Dolphins, but I’m going to fade in the road against CB Trumaine Johnson.

Pierre Garcon (DK – $5,000/FD – $5,600): Garcon struggled to make plays in Week 1 vs. a good Vikings’ defense. He caught two of his six targets for 21 yards while being on the field for 80 percent of the plays (66) run by the 49ers. In 2017, Pierre didn’t score a TD in his eight games while setting a nice floor in catches in six games of his eight games (five catches or more). With Marquise Goodwin expected to miss this week’s game, Garcon assumes the WR1 role in this offense. He’ll draw CB Darius Slay on a fair number of plays, which will limit his scoring ability. Not ideal in the daily games due to questions with his explosiveness.

Keelan Cole (DK – $4,900/FD – $5,500): Cole struggled to break free in the Giants’ secondary in Week 1. He caught three of his four targets for 54 yards while being on the field for 47 of 63 plays (75 percent) run by the Jaguars. He did have WR1 snaps for this offense. Last year in the playoff, Keelan had struggled to make plays in the cold weather in New England (2/37 on three targets). The Patriots have one strong CB in Stephon Gilmore who should keep Cole under control in this matchup. More of a gamble than a wise guy play.

Chris Godwin (DK – $4,600/FD – $6,100): Godwin made the best of his chances in Week 1, but he failed to match the success of Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson. He caught three of his four targets for 41 yards and a TD while receiving WR2 snaps (46 – 70 percent). With Jackson at risk of playing this week, Godwin should have a better chance at targets. Tampa will throw the ball to their TEs, which does hurt his overall opportunity. The Falcons showed a willingness to pick on CB Ronald Darby last week, but he tends to be a good CB. The Eagles will pressure the QB leading to a shorter passing window for Ryan Fitzpatrick. Not the best matchup even though I like the skill set of Godwin.

 

TOUGH MATCHUP / LIMITED UPSIDE

T.Y. Hilton (DK – $6,700/FD – $7,200): Luck looked Hilton’s way 11 times in Week 1, but he caught only five of his chances for 46 yards while scoring a short TD. The Redskins shut down the Cardinals’ WR last week (8/80 on 12 targets). Hilton will face top CB Josh Norman in his next matchup, which points to minimal upside.

Amari Cooper (DK – $6,600/FD – $6,900): Cooper was a bust in 2017. His short game (18 combined yards with one catch) last week didn’t give Fantasy owners a lot of confidence with his value in Week 2. The Raiders did their best to move him around in formations, but Derek Carr was gun shy to throw the ball his way. In his two games vs. Denver last year, Amari only had three catches for 18 yards on nine targets. The Raiders had him on the field for 69 of 74 plays, which was plenty of time to have success. The Broncos have two solid CBs with strength in their pass rush. Easy park in the daily games while the season-long owners debate his failure factor this week. Huge against the grain play.

Robby Anderson (DK – $5,400/FD – $6,400): Anderson made the best of his only target in Week 1 turning it into a 41-yard TD. Last season he scored in both games against Miami with six combined catches for 130 yards on 11 targets. CB Xavier Howard is on the rise, which makes this a tougher matchup than expected. Sam Darnold threw the ball well in his first NFL game, but it’s tough to trust the overall passing opportunity in New York.

Chris Hogan (DK – $5,400/FD – $6,200): The excitement for Chris Hogan on draft day turned into a nightmare after a disaster Week 1 game (1/5 on five targets) and a brutal matchup in Week 2 vs. the Jaguars. Chris has a date with the top secondary in the game. No need to dig deeper, Hogan is a pure avoid in the daily games.

Jordy Nelson (DK – $5,000/FD – $6,000): Nelson stumbled out of the gate in 2018. He struggled to create separation leading to only three catches for 23 yards on four targets. Part of the problem was the short passing window by Derek Carr, and it won’t get much better this week facing the Broncos. HIs CB matchup isn’t that bad unless Denver moves CB Chris Harris out of the slot on more plays to cover Jordy. I need to see more big plays with value at the goal line before giving the stamp of approval in this offense. I’ll put him in the avoid column in Week 2.

Kelvin Benjamin (DK – $4,600/FD – $5,400): Playing any WR in Buffalo is going to be a challenge in 2018. Benjamin finished Week 1 with seven targets, but he only caught one of his chances for ten yards. The Bills will make a change to rookie QB Josh Allen, but it won’t be a much of an upgrade at this point of his career. The Chargers have strength at CB, which was helped by a strong pass rush in 2017. With DE Joey Bosa injured, Allen will have a chance to make plays. I don’t trust his accuracy while understanding he does have an NFL arm. Kelvin is a bench warmer for me in all formats until Buffalo starts to get better QB play.

Phillip Dorsett (DK – $4,500/FD – $6,300): For one week, Dorsett filled the Julian Edelman role the Patriots’ offense. He caught all seven of his targets for 66 yards and one TD while being on the field for 57 of 75 plays (76 percent). The Jaguars have two elite CBs, which puts the brakes on Phillip having follow through on the road. Player of interest over the next two weeks, but a big “no” in this matchup.

Geronimo Allison (DK – $3,800/FD – $5,000): Allison played well in Week 1 (5/69/1 with eight targets). The Packers had him on the field for 42 of 60 plays (70 percent) due to game score requiring almost all passes in the second half. He has a very tough matchup against CB Trae Waynes, which makes him a player to avoid in the daily games especially when adding the injury status of Aaron Rodgers.

 

 

NEUTRAL

Michael Thomas (DK – $8,600/FD – $8,800): For those who doubted the upside of Thomas in 2018, he proved to be a beast in Week 1. He caught 16 of his 17 targets for 180 yards and one TD in a shootout game. Last week the Browns struggled to cover the Steelers’ top two WRs (14 catches for 202 yards and one TD on 24 targets). The damage could have been worse if Ben Roethlisberger had more time to throw and better weather conditions. CB Terrance Mitchell played well last year, but he will give up some TDs and long plays. Workhorse type WR with scoring ability, but he needs to have a fast pace on the scoreboard to be viable at this level. Only double down if he filled your pockets last week.

Odell Beckham (DK – $8,500/FD – $8,200): CB Jalen Ramsey can chirp all he wants, but Beckham got the best of him last week. The damage could have much worse if Eli Manning made a couple of better throws in the deep passing game, Odell caught 11 of his 15 targets for 111 yards while flashing explosiveness and elusiveness on the field. Last year Beckham didn’t play against Dallas. His best game in 2016 was four catches for 94 yards with one TD. The Cowboys weren’t challenged in Week 1 by the Panthers’ WRs, which was helped by 11 hurries, two QB hits, and three sacks. The addition of Saquon Barkley is going to force Dallas to play the Giants’ WRs differently in 2018. Odell has the skill set to deliver an impact game, but he still needs Manning to have enough of a passing window to challenge the Cowboys downfield. Almost need him on one ticket just in case Beckham goes off.

DeAndre Hopkins (DK – $8,000/FD – $8,400): The Patriots forced Deshaun Watson to short throws last week, which led to only a steady game by Hopkins (8/78 on 11 targets). Last year he had 18 catches for 187 yards and one TD on 26 targets in two games against the Titans. Last week Kenny Stills beat CB Malcolm Bulter for a 75-yard TD. Houston doesn’t have many playmakers in the passing game behind DeAndre, so he can’t help but see elite targets. Nice floor with plenty of upside if he hits pay dirt.

Keenan Allen (DK – $7,800/FD – $8,000): Allen should no longer be considered a possession receiver. Last week he caught three passes for 20 yards or more leading to a nice day on the field (8/108/1). He should have a top five WR opportunity in 2018 with growth expected in TDs. In 2017 at home, Keenan lit up the Bills for 12 catches for 159 yards and two TDs in 13 targets. Last year six of his seven games with over 100 yards receiving games came at home along with five of his six TDs. LA will do their best to keep Allen away from CB Tre’Davious White. Talented player, but his home/road splits suggest fading him in the daily games when traveling even with a favorable matchup.

Mike Evans (DK – $7,300/FD – $7,900): The best part of Evans’ success in Week 1 was that he caught all seven of his targets. He finished 147 yards with one TDs while gaining over 20 yards on three plays and over 40 yards on one catch. Last year Mike had only nine catches over 20 yards and two over 40 yards. Evans looks well on his way to a special year. The Eagles struggled with Julio Jones in Week 1 (10/169), but they did hold him to a short catch rate (52.6). CB Jalen Mills will play physical with more value over the short field, but he can get beat in the deep passing game. Priced in a favorable range, but he needs a jump in targets to pay off.

Adam Thielen (DK – $7,100/FD – $7,600): It took one game to see that Thielen is going to be the top target for Kirk Cousins. Adam only caught six of his 12 targets, but he gained 102 yards. Thielen shows the ability to get open with strong hands. His next step is proving his value in TDs. Last year he had a short game (2/24) in Green Bay in Week 16 when Adam wasn’t healthy. In his first meeting of the year, he caught nine of his 13 passes for 96 yards. The Packers have some young talent at CB with an edge in speed. More of a coin flip on the road. A positive report of playing time for Aaron Rodgers will help the battle on the scoreboard plus create more passing chances.

Stefon Diggs (DK – $6,900/FD – $7,400): Diggs scored a TD in Week 1, but he had half the targets (6) and catches (3) of Adam Thielen while gaining 43 yards. In his only game vs. the Packers in 2017, Stefon caught five of eight targets for 60 yards with a TD. His matchup looks to be more favorable if the Vikings can get him matched up with aging CB Tramon Williams. Volume type WR who has the ability to get hot within games. May surprise, but he looks overpriced for his shorter targets.

Golden Tate (DK – $6,500/FD – $7,100): Stafford looked for Tate 15 times in a blowout game vs. the Jets, which led to seven catches for 79 yards and one TD. The 49ers allowed 173 yards with 14 catches on 22 targets to the Vikings’ WRs in Week 1. CB K’Waun Williams doesn’t have a shutdown resume, and he did make a couple of mistakes last week. The Lions don’t have a great running game, which gives Golden a chance to see plenty of targets again this week. Mid-teen value while needing a TD plus 100+ yards to be viable in this matchup. The emergence of WR Kenny Golladay does help his ability to find open space in the secondary.

JuJu Smith-Schuster (DK – $6,400/FD – $7,200): Smith-Schuster continues to make plays while on the field. Last week he caught five of his eight targets for 119 yards. In his limited playing time last year against the Chiefs, Juju had three catches for 32 yards. Kansas City has an upside CB (Kendall Fuller) in the slot, which will put a slight negative to Smith-Schuster’s upside. I like his direction, and he has the ability to work the middle of the field in the red zone creating TDs. Not an explosive matchup as far as CB and his salary isn’t quite a layup anymore.

Larry Fitzgerald (DK – $6,000/FD – $7,100): Fitzgerald wasn’t the problem in Week 1 for the Cardinals’ passing attack. He caught seven of his ten targets for 76 yards. Last season Larry had 13 catches for 127 yards and one TD on 13 targets in two games vs. the Rams. LA upgraded their pass rush in the offense season while adding two high-end cornerbacks. Fitzgerald should face third CB Nickell Robey-Coleman on most plays. Arizona should have to chase on the scoreboard, which is a positive for the chances for Larry. More of a chance than a good play.

Robert Woods (DK – $5,900/FD – $6,500): Woods is going to get plenty of looks in the Rams’ offense. He had starting snaps (61) in Week 1, but he caught only three of his nine targets for 37 yards. In his only game vs. the Rams last year, Robert caught five of his seven targets for 70 yards. Woods will draw journeyman CB Jamar Taylor on most plays. Overpriced for me as the third WR option in this passing game. Only viable in a Rams’ stack.

Josh Gordon (DK – $5,900/FD – $6,300): I sense that Gordon isn’t going to flash impact upside until Baker Mayfield moves into the starting lineup. Tyrod Taylor is a decent game manager, but he doesn’t have the pocket presence to challenge a defense in the deep passing game. The Browns had Josh on the field for 69 of 89 plays in Week 1, but he only caught one of his three targets for 17 yards and one TD. The Saints have one top CB (Marshon Lattimore) who had a brutal game last week. Gordon is fairly priced with the talent to explode, but he needs to get open while being the same page at the starting QB. Part of a Browns’ stack for sure, but I wouldn’t reach for him if playing a different team structure.

Demaryius Thomas (DK – $5,600/FD – $7,000): Thomas had ten targets in week 1, but he caught only six of his chances for 63 yards and one TD. He finished with 53 of 74 plays run by the Broncos. Last year the Raiders held him six catches for 29 yards on 13 targets in two games. His matchup vs. CB Rashaam Melvin isn’t elite. Possible steady game with a chance at TD.

Will Fuller (DK – $5,300/FD – $6,300): The Texans hope to have Fuller in the starting lineup after sitting out vs. the Patriots in Week 1 with a hamstring issue. In his only game against the Titans last year, Will caught four of six targets for 35 yards and two TDs. CB Adoree Jackson has talent even with some struggles in Week 1. I need to see a game before trusting Fuller coming off an injury.

Corey Davis (DK – $5,100/FD – $6,300): Davis missed practice this week with a hamstring issue, which puts him at risk on Sunday. The target plate in Tennessee is cleared for a huge run by Corey with Delanie Walker out for the season. Davis has the talent to be an impact player, and opportunity is calling his name. His next step is proving his worth on the field. Last week he caught six of his 13 targets for 62 yards. The Texans don’t have a CB on the roster with elite value, but Corey still needs better QB play to have success. An excellent chance at double-digit targets with the talent to shine. Worth a ticket or two.

DeSean Jackson (DK – $4,900/FD – $6,300): Just like Fantasy owners, the Saints forgot how good Jackson could be if given a chance to make plays in the deep passing game. In Week 1, he caught all five of his targets for 146 yards with two TDs. Unfortunately, he took a bad hit on the deep sidelines leading to a concussion and a shoulder issue. He’s questionable for this week’s game, which makes him a tougher play in the daily games.

Ted Ginn (DK – $4,800/FD – $6,800): Ginn had WR2 snaps (50) in Week 1 for New Orleans with Cam Meredith still recovering from his injury, and Tre’Quan Smith not ready to make an impact. Ted caught five of his six targets for 68 yards with one TD. He enters this week with a knee issue that cost him practice time. He’s expected to face rookie first-round draft pick Denzel Ward in coverage. Denzel did pick up two Ints in his first NFL game, but he did allow a TD to Antonio Brown. I can’t trust Ginn’s targets, and I’ll give the young CB the benefit of the doubt in this matchup. Pass even with the wheel to hit on a long TD.

Kenny Golladay (DK – $4,800/FD – $5,700): It’s pretty evident in 2018 that Golladay is going to be active in the Lions’ passing game. He caught seven of his 12 targets in Week 1 for 114 yards while receiving the most WR snaps (65 – 93 percent) in Detroit. Kenny offers a WR1 skill set that points to TDs and big plays, but he still has to fight two other WRs on the Lions for targets. The lack of a viable TE in this offense does help his opportunity from game-to-game. Second-year CB Ahkello Witherspoon can match his size while offering more speed. Possible play, but his chances won’t be as high on the road with a more controlled game on the scoreboard.

Devin Funchess (DK – $4,700/FD – $6,000): In Week 1, Funchess caught three passes for 41 yards while receiving five targets. The Panthers had him on the field for 85 percent of their offensive plays. Last year Devin had seven catches for 134 yards and one TD on 13 targets in two games against the Falcons. Atlanta rarely moves their CBs around. Carolina should move Funchess around in formations to get him away from top CB Desmond Trufant. Not the best matchup, but the lack of viable passing catching TE does increase the WR targets going forward. His lower salary and chance at a TD does give him a chance at this level.

Quincy Enumwa (DK – $4,700/FD – $5,000): My no Jets-clause on draft day led me to overlook the upside of Enuma in 2018. After missing all of 2017, Quincy looked stout in Week 1 for the Jets. He caught six of his ten targets for 63 yards with a TD. Enuma is big WR (6’2″ and 225 lbs.), which gives him the physical edge over many CBs. He’s on a path to lead the Jets in all receiving categories this year. Miami did add CB Minkah Fitzpatrick in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft, which will slow down the upside of Quincy in this matchup. Not a slam dunk and the passing game of the Jets still needs to show its true colors. Based on opportunity, Enumwa is a live play vs. Miami.

Sterling Shepard (DK – $4,700/FD – $6,000): Shepard had only a steady game (5/48 on seven targets) in Week 1 against a very good Jacksonville secondary. He’ll play second fiddle to Odell Beckham all season while having the game to go off if defenses decide to take Beckham away from Eli Manning. Last year Sterling had nine catches for 60 yards on 11 targets in two games against the Cowboys. CB Byron Jones will give up TDs, but he tends to keep WRs in front of him. Viable chance at a 5/50 type game with a TD.

Randall Cobb (DK – $4,600/FD – $6,200): Cobb looks mispriced here based on his success in Week 1 (9/142/1 on ten targets) and his pairing with Aaron Rodgers. He does face a top defense and Rodgers won’t be healthy for this matchup if he does play. His CB matchup is the best of the three Packers’ WRs. Last season he caught seven passes for 50 yards on ten targets in two games against Minnesota while Green Bay wheeled out a weak QB for half the season. If Rodgers plays, Randall is going to make plays, and he doesn’t need much to fill his Fantasy bucket. Possible trap for the weaker hearted who build their teams on last week’s stats.

Dede Westbrook (DK – $4,500/FD – $5,700): Fantasy owners are still looking for the big plays from Westbrook that he showcased in college. Last week he caught five of his six targets for 51 yards with one catch going for 20+ yards. Jacksonville had him on the field about 50 percent of the time as their WR3. In 2017 in the playoffs, Dede only had one catch for 29 yards on three targets vs. the Patriots. New England will try to beat him up at the line while lacking the speed to cover him over the long field if he breaks free. His lack of playing time and targets invites losing downside in this matchup.

Ryan Grant (DK – $4,300/FD – $4,900): With Andrew Luck throwing the ball 53 times in Week 1, Grant was active in the Colts’ passing game (8/59 on nine targets). He had WR2 snaps (65 of 82 plays) for Indy while doing most of his work close to the line of scrimmage. Ryan will be facing his former team. The Redskins will try to take away T.Y. Hilton with CB Josh Norman, which will create more chances for Grant and the TE position. CB Quinton Dunbar played well in Week 1, and I’m sure he has experience defending Ryan in practice. Not a sexy name, but the Colts will give him some chances to make plays in this matchup.

Cole Beasley (DK – $4,200/FD – $5,100): The lack of a TE and a history of success with Dak Prescott led to Beasley emerging as the top WR for Dallas in Week 1. Cole caught seven of his eight targets for 73 yards while leading the Cowboys in WR snaps (43 of 64 – 67 percent). In his two games against the Giants in 2017, Beasley caught six passes for 91 yards on ten targets. I’ll give him the edge vs. New York’s slot CB. I have to believe he remains active in the short passing game again in Week 2 as a possession type WR. If he scores, Cole will be viable at this level.

Dante Pettis (DK – $4,000/FD – $4,500): Pettis should be an improved version of Marquise Goodwin in the 49ers’ offense. He has big-play ability with the skill set turn a short pass into a TD. His biggest challenge will come when asked to catch contested balls. Dante came off the bench last week to catch two of his five targets for 61 yards and one TD. He should start this week, but he might see a fair share CB Darius Slay. Jimmy G can make things happen in the passing game, which gives Pettis a fighter’s chance of paying off. The key is getting him open against the Lions’ secondary CBs. Interesting hookup in a 49ers’ stack plus could return a kick for a TD.

Mike Wallace (DK – $3,900/FD – $5,300): Wallace was launched back into the free agent pool in most leagues this week after delivering a zero in Week 1 against the Falcons. Philly looked his way three times in the game. Mike did have WR2 snaps (66 of 72 plays) for the Eagles, which does give him opportunity. CB Carlton Davis didn’t play well in his first NFL game after being drafted in the second round in the 2018 NFL Draft. Wallace has a strong enough NFL resume to consider him a value at this level when you add in his playing time.

Allen Hurns (DK – $3,800/FD – $5,400): Hurns was a none factor in the Cowboys’ passing game last week. He caught his only pass in three chances for 20 yards while being on the field for 38 of 64 plays run by Dallas. CB Eli Apple struggled with TDs allowed last year, but he does have the talent to be an effective NFL starting CB. I expect better from Allen at home, and his game is high enough where a TD with mid-teen production is well within his reach. A chaser game would be ideal for his upside at his low salary.

Mike Williams (DK – $3,700/FD – $5,400): Williams had WR4 snaps (44 of 82) for the Chargers in Week 1, but he did flash his potential upside. He caught five of his six targets for 81 yards. Travis Benjamin has a foot issue heading into Sunday, which gives Mike a bump already in playing time. His next step is passing Tyrell Williams in the depth chart. CB Phillip Gaines can’t matchup with Williams. I benched him in all my season-long leagues, but I do believe this matchup is favorable. I need to see more playing time while knowing he’ll be a top two options at WR in the Chargers’ passing game. Explosive option who will score 30+ Fantasy points in a couple of games in 2018.