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Week 2 DraftKings Cash-Game Picks

Top Plays for DraftKings Head-to-Head and 50/50 Contests

Here are the guys I’m considering for DraftKings Week 2 head-to-heads and 50/50s:

Quarterbacks

Jayden Daniels, Commanders ($6,200)

We featured Daniels in this space last week – and he delivered 28.2 DraftKings points.

His price is up $500 this week, but he still checks in as the top dollars-per-point value at QB.

The rookie carried a whopping 16 times for 88 yards and two TDs in his debut. The Commanders coaching staff has since said that they don’t want Daniels running that much going forward. But he also had eight designed carries in that game vs. the Bucs.

He’s a good bet for 10+ carries in Week 2, laying a nice floor at this price. The passing ceiling is elevated in a plus matchup against the Giants, who just let QB Sam Darnold complete 79% of his passes at 8.7 yards per attempt.

Also consider:

• Justin Fields, Steelers ($5,400)

Running Backs

Breece Hall, Jets ($7,400)

Although the box-score production wasn’t huge, Hall got elite usage in the opener. Just looking at the plays before QB Aaron Rodgers was pulled, Hall registered a:

• 97% snap rate
• 100% route rate
• 100% carry share
• 29% target share

Sunday brings a tough matchup on the ground against a stout Titans interior. But Hall’s passing-game skills raise the floor.

He’s at least $1,000 underpriced.

Kyren Williams, Rams ($6,800)

So about that Blake Corum stuff …

The rookie played 0 snaps in the opener. Williams, meanwhile, registered a:

• 91% snap rate
• 75% route rate
• 78% carry share
• 6% target share

All but the target share were higher marks than Williams finished with last year, when he ranked second among RBs in DraftKings points per game.

Week 2 brings an awesome matchup against a Cardinals defense that can’t stop anything. Arizona coughed up 137 total yards to Bills RBs in the opener.

Jordan Mason, 49ers ($5,200)

This, of course, assumes RB Christian McCaffrey misses Sunday’s game in Minnesota.

And why would the 49ers rush him back? Mason was dominant in the lead role in Week 1, taking 28 carries for 147 yards and a score. He benefitted from HC Kyle Shanahan’s always-awesome scheme. But Mason also ranked sixth among 34 qualifying RBs in NFL Next Gen Stats’ Rush Yards Over Expected Per Attempt.

Mason saw just one target in the opener. But he ran a route on 61% of pass plays, so there’s untapped receiving upside.

We’re getting an every-down back on a team with a 26-point implied total for $5,200. Don’t overthink this one.

Also consider:

• Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks ($5,800)

Wide Receivers

Cooper Kupp, Rams ($7,600)

21 targets.

Kupp saw 21 targets on a 43% target share in the opener.

Can we project a 43% target share with WR Puka Nacua out this week? No.

Would I be surprised if Kupp got there again? No.

This is the same guy who racked up 191 targets on a 31.5% share back in 2021 – well before Nacua arrived. Kupp averaged 25.7 PPR points per game that season and could be similarly productive for however long Nacua is out.

His Week 2 ceiling is boosted in a plus matchup against the Cardinals.

Deebo Samuel, 49ers ($6,800)

Samuel scored 18.7 DK points in Week 1, despite underperforming vs. expectation. He tallied 20.2 expected PPR points on his nine targets and eight carries.

Assuming RB Christian McCaffrey remains out for Sunday’s game vs. the Vikings, Samuel should again see elevated volume in the passing and running games.

That gives him a very high floor for cash games.

Allen Lazard, Jets ($3,300)

Sometimes we need a gross play to make the rest of our cash lineup work. This, unfortunately, is one of those times.

Lazard ran a route on 100% of Jets pass plays in the opener. WR Mike Williams’ role figures to gradually grow at Lazard’s expense. But I’m still expecting Lazard at 70+% of routes in Week 2.

That makes him a viable cash play at this price, especially considering his established rapport with QB Aaron Rodgers. Yes, Lazard’s second TD came from QB Tyrod Taylor in garbage time last week. But he also drew a 24% target share from Rodgers, catching three balls for 76 yards and a score.

Also consider:

• Rashee Rice, Chiefs ($6,700)
• Demarcus Robinson ($4,000)

Tight Ends

Colby Parkinson, Rams ($3,100)

Parkinson’s 82% route rate in Week 1 was topped by only nine TEs. He posted a serviceable 4-47-0 receiving line on five targets (10.2% share). 

With that level of playing time – and WR Puka Nacua out – Parkinson is a good bet for a bigger target share in Sunday’s plus matchup against the Cardinals.

He’s our top dollars-per-point value at TE.

Defense/Special Teams

Colts ($3,300)

It pains me to pay this much for a DST in cash. But there are no attractive cheap plays this week – and the Colts are in a smash spot.

Here are Packers starting QB Malik Willis’ numbers on 67 career pass attempts:

• 52% completion rate
• 5.2 yards per attempt
• 0 TDs
• 3 INTs
• 18.3% sack rate

Green Bay’s 18.75-point implied total is fifth-lowest on the slate.

Jared Smola, Lead Analyst

Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and My Team tools. He currently ranks 1st among 133 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.