Opening week of the 2024 NFL season was a wild one, filled with stunning upsets, brutal QB debuts, and some very happy new head coaches. Don't blink, because the main Sunday slate for Week 2 DFS contests sits just around the corner. Time for a fresh batch of sleepers and value plays to help you make some daily fantasy cash!
For years, this column has shined a light on the under-the-radar gems each week on DraftKings, FanDuel, and now SuperDraft. Anyone can spot the elite DFS studs, but it's the sleepers and value picks who separate lineups from the crowd and start making you some real money.
MORE: Week 2 best bets and top props | Odds and lines for every game this weekend
By identifying solid production at affordable DFS prices, we afford ourselves more proven weekly studs at other roster positions. That way, a larger percentage of our lineup is contributing, and we differentiate our entry greatly from the majority of tournament entries.
Last week, we kicked the season off by highlighting multiple players who balled out at cheap salary costs. Throughout the season, we will highlight our biggest hits from the previous week to prove the effectiveness of our strategies. Here's our top-value hits from Week 1, with salary and final point production from DraftKings:
| PLAYER | GAME | PRICE | POINTS |
| Baker Mayfield, QB | Bucs vs. WAS | $5,600 | 29.7 |
| Jayden Daniels, QB | Commanders @ TB | $5,700 | 28.2 |
| Geno Smith, QB | Seahawks vs. DEN | $5,500 | 18.8 |
| Jerome Ford, RB | Browns vs. DAL | $5,500 | 18.9 |
| Tony Pollard, RB | Titans at CHI | $5,900 | 18.4 |
| Brian Thomas Jr., WR | Jaguars at MIA | $4,700 | 14.7 |
| Chargers D/ST | vs. Raiders | $2,900 | 14.0 |
Not a huge list, but the picks that did hit proved to be massive lineup boosts. Mayfield and Daniels for under $5,800 were huge, as they ended up two of the highest-scoring players of the entire week. Ford and Pollard both posted RB1 numbers for under $6,000, while Thomas and the Chargers pushed plenty of entries over the top and into the money for discount prices.
Let's run it back and bring you the DFS sleepers and value picks for Week 2 on DraftKings, FanDuel, and SuperDraft. Here are the most affordable high-value options at each position, as well as their listed cost or scoring boost on each DFS site. Good luck, have fun, and enjoy Week 2!
WEEK 2 FANTASY PPR RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 2: Quarterback
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers at Lions (DK: $5,900 | FD: $7,400 | SD: 1.3x)
Baker seems like the early-season favorite to win the "Derek Carr Award," our unofficial prize for making the most sleeper and value play columns each year. Dave Canales leaving Tampa clearly didn't have a lasting effect on Mayfield's game, as he put nearly 30 DK points on the Commanders and lifted many lineups into the money. Still, he sits amongst the bargain bin against the Lions.
Need we remind you that Cooper Kupp balled out for 14 catches, 110 yards, and a touchdown against Detroit on Sunday night? And Tyler Johnson juked Carlton Davis into oblivion on a 63-yard chunk gain. Matthew Stafford connected on nearly 70 percent of his passes, totaling 317 yards. Don't expect quite that much volume or efficiency from Mayfield at Ford Field, but he should easily outperform these price points.
Other QBs whose Week 2 values exceed their price tags:
- Justin Herbert, Chargers at Panthers (DK: $5,800 | FD: $7,600 | SD: 1.35x)
- Daniel Jones, Giants at Commanders (DK: $5,300 | FD: $6,900 | SD: 1.4x)
- Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, Steelers at Broncos (DK: $5,400 | SD: 1.4x)
MORE: How to play DFS, and which sites/apps to use | Survivor pool advice for Week 2
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 2: Running back
J.K. Dobbins, Chargers at Panthers (DK: $5,400 | FD: $6,800 | SD: 1.45x)
Dobbins went bananas last week in the Bolts' win over Las Vegas, blasting away for big-yardage plays of 61 and 46 en route to a 135-yard, one-TD day. He will clearly be a focal point of Jim Harbaugh's run-centric system, and he easily demonstrated in opening weekend that he's healthy.
Meanwhile, Carolina's defense looked ill last week. The Panthers allowed New Orleans to rack up 180 rushing yards, and both Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams found the end zone. Dobbins should be able to feast for a second straight week.
MORE NFL: Dobbins highlights top fantasy waiver pickups | Worst overreactions from Week 1
Justice Hill, Ravens vs. Raiders (DK: $5,200 | FD: $5,100 | SD: 1.5x)
Before you scoff, take a look at Hill's Week 1 production as Baltimore's passing-downs back: six catches on eight targets for 52 yards. And that was against a pretty good Chiefs defense on opening night! Now he gets to inflict some damage on a Vegas D that got gashed multiple times by the aforementioned Dobbins and the Chargers last weekend. At a little over $5,000, you might want to seek Justice — at least in larger tourneys where lineup variance is vital.
Other strong Week 2 RB values:
- Jerome Ford, Browns at Jaguars (DK: $5,900 | FD: $6,300 | SD: 1.35x)
- David Montgomery, Lions vs. Buccaneers (DK: $6,000 | FD: $7,200 | SD: 1.35x)
- Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. Giants (DK: $5,800 | FD: $6,200 | SD: 1.4x)
- Trey Benson, Cardinals vs. Rams (DK: $5,100 | FD: $4,900 | SD: 1.6x)
MORE: Learn about the SuperDraft Jackpot
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 2: Wide receiver
Malik Nabers, Giants at Commanders (DK: $5,900 | FD: $6,400 | SD: 1.3x)
Nabers played about as well as he could in his NFL debut, catching 5-of-7 targets for 66 yards against an underrated Vikings defense. Now he gets to go off in his first-ever NFC East battle, in a juicy matchup against a Commanders D that allowed the second-most DK points and third-most FD points to wide receivers in Week 1.
Like we mentioned last week, Nabers has it all: size, speed, strength, and intelligence. He can blast by defensive backs, win 50/50 balls when Daniel Jones underthrows him, or power-blast off the line of scrimmage near the goal line. The breakout game awaits.
WEEK 2 FANTASY ROSTER MANAGEMENT ADVICE
Waiver Wire Picks | Waivers FAAB Report | Trade Recommendations
Chris Godwin, Buccaneers at Lions (DK: $6,000 | FD: $6,200 | SD: 1.3x)
With Mike Evans likely drawing primary coverage from former teammate Carlton Davis, the cornerback stuck with Godwin for the majority of this game will be rookie Terrion Arnold. The kid's good, but he showed his inexperience plenty of times against the Rams before and after the Puka Nacua injury on Sunday night.
Godwin, meanwhile, looked healthy as a horse against the Commanders. He hauled in all eight of his targets for 88 yards and a TD, good for a sparkling 22.3 DK points. Fire him up against the Lions, who surrendered the most PPR points to wideouts in the NFL in Week 1.
Other strong Week 2 DFS values:
- Ladd McConkey, Chargers at Panthers (DK: $4,900 | FD: $5,700 | SD: 1.4x)
- Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars vs. Browns (DK: $4,800 | FD: $5,800 | SD: 1.45x)
- Greg Dortch, Cardinals (DK: $4,600 | FD: $4,900 | SD: 1.45x)
- Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants at Commanders (DK: $4,300 | FD: $5,400 | SD: 1.5x)
- Adonai Mitchell, Colts at Packers (DK: $4,000 | FD: $5,300 | SD: 1.6x)
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 2: Tight end
Brock Bowers, Raiders at Ravens (DK: $4,400 | FD: $5,300 | SD: 1.35x)
Bowers hauled in 6-of-8 targets for 58 yards in his NFL debut versus the Chargers, and now he draws a Ravens D that surrendered the sixth-most DK points to tight ends last week. The rookie will be quite busy in this offense, as he has clearly already earned the trust of Gardner Minshew. Lock in The Brock, and do the people's eyebrow every time he makes a catch.
More Week 2 TEs worth a look:
- Isaiah Likely, Ravens vs. Raiders (DK: $4,800 | FD: $5,800 | SD: 1.3x)
- Taysom Hill, Saints at Cowboys (DK: $3,900 | FD: $5,200 | 1.45x)
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 2: D/ST
Seattle Seahawks at Patriots (DK: $3,000 | FD: $4,000)
The Seahawks defense seems to be underrated, especially by DK. Head coach Mike Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde just dialed up a perfect game plan against rookie Bo Nix, and now they get the chance to tee off against Jacoby Brissett.
The Pats didn't play terribly well last week — they just played better than the Bengals, who looked completely dilapidated at just about every level. Seattle might have this game wrapped up by halftime, with sacks and turnovers likely playing a big part.
Other solid D/ST plays for Week 2:
- Jaguars vs. Browns (DK: $3,100 | FD: $3,800)
- Colts at Packers (DK: $3,300 | FD: $4,500)
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