Hunter Report Week 2 2017

By Dave Hunter
Dave Hunter How did you fare with your DraftKings NFL $5.55M Fantasy Football Millionaire ($1M to 1st) lineup? I didn’t do so hot, so I won’t bore you with the details.

How many of you had Jacksonville’s Defense, or the young Bears running back Tarik Cohen? Every year there’s always some young whippersnapper that bursts onto the scene, and it looks like Cohen is the anointed one early on in Week 1. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to lock onto Cohen’s $3K salary any longer, so kudos to all you fine Chicagoans for taking a chance on Cohen. I mean, the only DFS owners to roster Cohen in Week 1 must have been Chicagoans, don’t you think?

Heading into Week 2, I find that players are still going to be much more unpredictable than they would in Week 7 for instance. Don’t you agree? It’s the perfect time to throw that dart, as it was in Week 1 (Cohen), so if you’ve got a gut feeling on a guy that you need to squeeze into your lineup… go for it!

I won’t give away my exact lineup every week, although you’ll have a rough idea of what my strategy is and the players I’m leaning towards. Keep in mind all suggestions are not equal, and some players I like more for particular tournament or cash lineup builds.

Week 2:

QUARTERBACK


Top Level

Tom Brady, NE @ New Orleans Saints ($7,900) – You’re a knucklehead if you don’t play Brady in your lineups and you’re looking to spend up at QB, regardless if it’s cash or tournament play. Listen, if you’re trying to be cute and go the contrarian way at QB, don’t spend up. There are good values out there where you don’t have to spend this kind of cash, but if you’re prepared to spend $7K at QB then Brady is your guy. Brady is not going to tank another game as he did in Week 1, and he gets the woeful Saints pass defense. I’m looking for huge numbers from Brady.

Other choices: None – because if you’re spending up at QB, you want Brady!

Mid-Range

Jameis Winston, TB vs. Chicago Bears ($6,300) – Go Jameis, go Jameis, go-go-go-go! I was bent I couldn’t use Winston last week, although certainly understandable with all the suffering in Florida. The Bears could prove to be a tough matchup for Winston, but I think we get to see some scratching and clawing from a rising superstar QB in Week 2 for a very good showing. Winston will live up to his price tag, and we’ll see some excellent connections with Mike Evans.

Other choices: Kirk Cousins, WAS @ Los Angeles Rams ($6,100); Philip Rivers, LAC vs. Miami Dolphins ($5,800)

Value

Jared Goff, LAR vs. Washington Redskins ($5,100) – Call me crazy, but I really like the Goffster in Week 2. Sure, playing him off a solid Week 1 is a good angle, but the Rams looked fantastic overall. Their running game seems to be back in Todd Gurley, which will ease the pressure off Goff and the passing game. Goff’s got good targets and his matchup isn’t anything to hide from this week. Joe Flacco and Deshone Kizer give nice value to owners too, but don’t have the big-game potential that Goff has.

Other choices: Joe Flacco, BAL vs. Cleveland Browns ($5,200); Deshone Kizer, CLE @ Baltimore Ravens ($5,100)

Over-Value

Russell Wilson, SEA vs. San Francisco 49ers ($6,800) – One good matchup does not make for a worthwhile roster spot. I mean, don’t you want Wilson to prove that he can still play da foosball? Even though Bobby Boucher still believes in Wilson, I don’t. At least I don’t believe in him enough to go $6.8K for him, not even in tournament play. Blech.


RUNNING BACK


Top Level

Ezekiel Elliott, DAL @ Denver Broncos ($7,800) – Elliott can easily qualify as a value play this week as well – I’m actually surprised he’s not in the mid-$8K range. The reason why Elliott drops in salary is the matchup. The Broncos aren’t a push over when it comes to defense, although Elliott is going to get his numbers no matter what. He’s a wonderful cash play if you’re looking for a top-tier RB without getting gauged in salary. Plus, the potential of a big day is quite enticing.

Other choices: Le’Veon Bell, PIT vs. Minnesota Vikings ($9,800)

Mid-Range

Melvin Gordon, LAC @ Miami Dolphins ($7,000) – If the Chargers are going to be successful they need to utilize Gordon as much as possible, with runs and catches out of the backfield. Gordon has “Mr. All-Purpose” written all over him this week so don’t be surprised if he kicks all the field goals and plays a little QB for the Bolts. All kidding aside, expect a score on the ground AND in the air from Gordon. Bada-boom!

Other choices: Leonard Fournette, JAC vs. Tennessee Titans ($6,500); Marshawn Lynch, OAK vs. New York Jets ($6,000); Dalvin Cook, MIN @ Pittsburgh Steelers ($5,900)

Value

Andre Ellington, ARI @ Indianapolis Colts ($4,000) – With David Johnson on IR and pretty much done for the season, I really dig Ellington in tournament plays this week. I’m betting others do as well. His ownership percentage may creep up, so something to consider overall. I love Ellington’s receiving ability, which is really what gets him into my lineups. Ellington will see some nice dump-off passes and he’ll even get a shot to rush the ball. I’m guessing 10 carries is not out of the question, with 3-to-4 catches and a good shot at a TD. That’s not a bad day for the price tag, right?

Other choices: LeGarrette Blount, PHI @ Kansas City Chiefs ($4,700); Tarik Cohen, CHI @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($4,100)

Over-Value

Kareem Hunt, KC vs. Philadelphia Eagles ($6,800) – Count me in amongst the Hunt-lovers this season. Yes, I liked Hunt before his massive Week 1 game, and, no, I can’t prove it! I’m not thrilled about paying almost $7K for Hunt after one outstanding performance. Basically, I want to see more from the kid before I commit this kind of dough. There are other RBs that I’m fonder of in Week 2.


WIDE RECEIVER


Top Level

Brandin Cooks, NE @ New Orleans Saints ($8,200) – Normally I allow defenses to get settled before I tear into them, but one week was plenty for me to see in the Saints. Feel free to get Cooks into your cash lineups in Week 2, and in certain cases he fits the bill in tournament play too. Love the matchup; love the Patriots forgetting about Week 1 with a terrific offensive output. I see Cooks finding the end zone at least once with 100-plus yards to his name.

Other choices: Antonio Brown, PIT vs. Minnesota Vikings ($9,400); Julio Jones, ATL vs. Green Bay Packers ($9.200)

Mid-Range

Michael Thomas, NO vs. New England Patriots ($7,500) – Thomas was targeted plenty of times (8) last Monday, although he wasn’t able to capitalize on the big play. That’s why we want Thomas, don’t we? The long Brees-to-Thomas connection for a TD is why I’m loading him into most of my tournament lineups, and I’m sure you’re thinking the same thing. There’s a good bounce-back scenario for Thomas facing a reeling Patriots defense. Yes, the Pats D isn’t this bad and there were obvious matchup situations that frustrated the Pats against Kansas City, but we’re still going to see Thomas have his day in Week 2. Expect to see a couple of long-yardage catches, 100-plus yards total to go along with a TD score or two.

Other choices: Mike Evans, TB vs. Chicago Bears ($7,700); Doug Baldwin, SEA vs. San Francisco 49ers ($6,700)

Value

Jarvis Landry, MIA @ Los Angeles Chargers ($5,500) – Landry is usually an overlooked commodity as he doesn’t find the end zone as often as we’d like to see. The young Miami receiver does offer nice value as a possession guy considering the $5.5K price tag and that he should be targeted frequently by Jay Cutler. Landry has netted almost 300 combined targets over his last two seasons of play, plus, he can catch the ball (94 receptions in 2016 and 110 receptions in 2015). I’ve got my WR3 for my lineups this week in both cash and tournament play, how about you?

Other choices: T.Y. Hilton, IND vs. Arizona Cardinals ($5,300); Corey Coleman, CLE @ Baltimore Ravens ($4,700); Rishard Matthews, TEN @ Jacksonville Jaguars ($4,600)

Over-Value

Michael Crabtree, OAK vs. New York Jets ($7,100) – This is a borderline price for me on Crabtree. Right now, Amari Cooper is listed as Questionable for the game but we should see him give it a go and that means his value dives a bit in my estimations. There should be plenty to go around in the Raiders’ offense but enough to make Crabtree’s price worthwhile at $7.1K?


TIGHT END


Top Level

Rob Gronkowski, NE @ New Orleans Saints ($6,900)

Mid-Range

Greg Olsen, CAR vs. Buffalo Bills ($5,500)

Value

Delanie Walker, TEN @ Jacksonville Jaguars ($4,700)

Over-Value

Zach Ertz, PHI @ Kansas City Chiefs ($5,300)


Good luck in Week 2! Feel free to reach out to me on Twitter: @TheRolyPolyBoy