If you're playing in a daily league--or if you're desperate for a spot starter in a regular league--here are some deep, deep bargains who are more likely than not to produce well beyond expectations in Week 2.
To be clear, I'm not recommending playing any of these guys over every week contributors. They're for owners / daily leaguers who need a desperation play--a Hail Mary with a surprisingly decent probability of moderate-to-significant production.
All pricing is based on Fan Duel for simplicity/consistency.
QB - Andy Dalton ($6,900) -- For the second straight week--as it was all preseason--I'm banging this drumbeat. Somehow, despite scoring the eighth most QB fantasy points in Week 1, Dalton's Fan Duel price dropped. He's got a great home matchup vs. a Chargers team that last week yielded 28 points to an underperforming Detroit offense. He's a steal at this price and remains a steal in regular leagues.
RB - Darren Sproles ($5,600) -- While I hate jumping on bandwagons, it's hard to argue with chemistry. Sproles led Philly in rushing yards last season with an astonishing 10 yards per carry, and added seven catches for 76 yards. Sam Bradford and the coaching staff seems to trust him as a regular contributor in one of the NFL's highest-upside offenses. A home tilt vs. the Cowboys makes Sproles a potential 12+ point RB.
WR - Markus Wheaton ($5,100) -- This is the week to take a chance on a guy Big Ben clearly values (based on preseason hyping). He's vying to keep Pittsburgh's #2 receiving job when Martavis Bryant returns from suspension in Week 5. Facing an overrated San Francisco defense at home, Wheaton is capable of posting a 100-yard, 1-TD performance.
TE - Zach Ertz ($5,200) -- Still available in 20% of ESPN leagues, Ertz is arguably Philly's second best WR/TE weapon outside of Jordan Matthews. He was ranked in my top 5 before a preseason injury set him back. If you want boom-bust (consider his 15-catch, 115-yard game last December), look no further than one of the NFL's future elite tight ends.
K - Josh Scobee ($4,600) -- It was an inauspicious debut for the third Steelers kicker in a month, as he missed two of four field goal attempts last week. However, after swapping out holders, he was perfect. So let's assume it was a holder issue, not a Scobee issue. In that case, we're looking at a fairly reliable veteran kicker in a fairly high-powered offense. I like those odds.
DST - Packers ($4,500) -- It's not often you'll want to play a defense vs. the defending NFC champs. But this isn't an ordinary game. Green Bay threw away a chance to face New England in the Super Bowl last season after blowing a late double-digit lead. It was an embarrassing ending for a championship-caliber team. This year's squad, despite missing Jordy Nelson, remains among the elite. I'm anticipating the Packers viewing this as a revenge game. It won't be close. Predicted final score: 30-10, for what it's worth.
To be clear, I'm not recommending playing any of these guys over every week contributors. They're for owners / daily leaguers who need a desperation play--a Hail Mary with a surprisingly decent probability of moderate-to-significant production.
All pricing is based on Fan Duel for simplicity/consistency.
QB - Andy Dalton ($6,900) -- For the second straight week--as it was all preseason--I'm banging this drumbeat. Somehow, despite scoring the eighth most QB fantasy points in Week 1, Dalton's Fan Duel price dropped. He's got a great home matchup vs. a Chargers team that last week yielded 28 points to an underperforming Detroit offense. He's a steal at this price and remains a steal in regular leagues.
RB - Darren Sproles ($5,600) -- While I hate jumping on bandwagons, it's hard to argue with chemistry. Sproles led Philly in rushing yards last season with an astonishing 10 yards per carry, and added seven catches for 76 yards. Sam Bradford and the coaching staff seems to trust him as a regular contributor in one of the NFL's highest-upside offenses. A home tilt vs. the Cowboys makes Sproles a potential 12+ point RB.
WR - Markus Wheaton ($5,100) -- This is the week to take a chance on a guy Big Ben clearly values (based on preseason hyping). He's vying to keep Pittsburgh's #2 receiving job when Martavis Bryant returns from suspension in Week 5. Facing an overrated San Francisco defense at home, Wheaton is capable of posting a 100-yard, 1-TD performance.
TE - Zach Ertz ($5,200) -- Still available in 20% of ESPN leagues, Ertz is arguably Philly's second best WR/TE weapon outside of Jordan Matthews. He was ranked in my top 5 before a preseason injury set him back. If you want boom-bust (consider his 15-catch, 115-yard game last December), look no further than one of the NFL's future elite tight ends.
K - Josh Scobee ($4,600) -- It was an inauspicious debut for the third Steelers kicker in a month, as he missed two of four field goal attempts last week. However, after swapping out holders, he was perfect. So let's assume it was a holder issue, not a Scobee issue. In that case, we're looking at a fairly reliable veteran kicker in a fairly high-powered offense. I like those odds.
DST - Packers ($4,500) -- It's not often you'll want to play a defense vs. the defending NFC champs. But this isn't an ordinary game. Green Bay threw away a chance to face New England in the Super Bowl last season after blowing a late double-digit lead. It was an embarrassing ending for a championship-caliber team. This year's squad, despite missing Jordy Nelson, remains among the elite. I'm anticipating the Packers viewing this as a revenge game. It won't be close. Predicted final score: 30-10, for what it's worth.