Draftster NFL: Week 2 Rankings

Draftster is kicking off its Week 2 contests with another $1,000 freeroll. One thing I noticed when assembling these rankings is that all player salaries remained unchanged from Week 1 to Week 2. As daily fantasy players, we are aware how much player values can fluctuate from week to week, so use these unchanged salaries to your advantage.

*Please note the following rankings do not include Thursday's matchup between Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

Quarterbacks

1. Peyton Manning (DEN) vs. KC - $9,000
2. Drew Brees (NO) at CLE - $9,000
3. Andrew Luck (IND) vs. PHI - $8,200
4. Nick Foles (PHI) at IND - $8,300
5. Aaron Rodgers (GB) vs. NYJ - $9,000
6. Matt Ryan (ATL) at CIN - $7,700
7. Andy Dalton (CIN) vs. ATL - $6,700
8. Colin Kaepernick (SF) vs. CHI - $7,500
9. Tony Romo (DAL) at TEN - $7,100
10. Tom Brady (NE) at MIN - $7,700
11. Jake Locker (TEN) vs. DAL - $5,600
12. Russell Wilson (SEA) at SD - $7,700
13. Matthew Stafford (DET) at CAR - $7,800
14. Carson Palmer (AZ) at NYG - $5,800
15. Robert Griffin III (WAS) vs. JAX - $7,700
16. Cam Newton (CAR) vs. DET - $7,700

Andrew Luck (IND) vs. PHI - $8,200
The Colts came up just short in their comeback against Denver on Sunday but Luck's performance surely did not disappoint fantasy owners. After finishing with 389 yards and three touchdowns, Luck will now get to take on a fast-paced Philadelphia team. Expect a Monday night shoot-out that features a lot of passing.

Andy Dalton (CIN) vs. ATL - $6,700
After a 301-yard performance in the Bengals' opener against the Ravens, Andy Dalton sits near the top as one of my favorite plays in week two. Last week, I mentioned Matt Ryan was my favorite play, so hopefully this renders similar results. Dalton gets to take on an Atlanta defense that gave up 333 passing yards to Drew Brees last week. Cincy's offense is a little banged up, but look for A.J. Green to have a monster day.

Jake Locker (TEN) vs. DAL - $5,600
The most value you will find this week on Draftster is Jake Locker. Locker looked great in a Wee ae victory over Kansas City, leading the way with 266 yards passing and two touchdowns. He comes in with a price-point of just $5,600. To make that last sentence stick a little harder, that is $100 cheaper than Johnny Manziel. Locker takes on a Dallas defense that, as you may recall, had a less-than-stellar Week 1 debut.

Running Backs
1. LeSean McCoy (PHI) at IND - $8,100
2. Matt Forte (CHI) at SF - $7,500
3. Adrian Peterson (MIN) at STL - $6,700
4. Jamaal Charles (KC) at DEN - $7,800
5. Montee Ball (DEN) vs. IND - $6,000
6. Marshawn Lynch (SEA) at SD - $6,000
7. Giovani Bernard (CIN) vs. ATL - $6,400
8. DeMarco Murray (DAL) vs. SF - $6,200
9. Arian Foster (HOU) at OAK - $5,800
10. Alfred Morris (WAS) vs. JAX - $5,500
11. Frank Gore (SF) vs. CHI - $4,100
12. Shane Vereen (NE) at MIN - $5,700
13. Chris Johnson (NYJ) at GB - $5,200
14. Knowshon Moreno (MIA) at BUF - $4,200
15. Reggie Bush (DET) at CAR - $5,500
16. Ryan Mathews (SD) vs. SEA - $5,300

Bargains: Terrence West ($3,700), Fred Jackson ($3,000)

Matt Forte (CHI) at SF - $7,500
Facing a banged up Niners defense, DeMarco Murray was able to rack up 127 yards on the ground, all while the Cowboys struggled to make plays. In a game that should be much closer, the Niners now face one of the most prolific play makers in the league in Matt Forte. Look for Forte to put up not only big numbers on the ground but also through the air.

Giovani Bernard (CIN) vs. ATL - $6,400
As previously noted with Andy Dalton, the Bengals get a friendly home match-up with the Falcons this week. Though the Atlanta defense is greatly improved over last year, they are still vulnerable in key areas. Mix that with the Cincinnati offense fighting some injuries and you have a recipe for Gio Bernard to see a ton of touches in Sunday's game.

Arian Foster (HOU) at OAK - $5,800
There was a strong amount of uncertainty coming into this season as to whether or not Foster was truly healthy and ready to return to his old form. Well, after a 29 touch performance against Washington this past week, those questions have been answered. The offense in Houston is nowhere near pretty but that could actually work to Foster's advantage. As one of only a few reliable pieces, he should see plenty of work as the Texans look to figure things out.

Wide Receivers
1. A.J. Green (CIN) vs. ATL - $7,500 (questionable to play as of Thursday afternoon)
2. Calvin Johnson (DET) at CAR - $8,300
3. Demaryius Thomas (DEN) vs. KC - $8,000
4. Dez Bryant (DAL) at TEN - $7,400
5. Brandon Marshall (CHI) at SF - $7,100
6. Julio Jones (ATL) at CIN - $7,300
7. Jordy Nelson (GB) vs. NYJ - $6,800
8. Cordarrelle Patterson (MIN) vs. NE - $5,600
9. Percy Harvin (SEA) at SD - $5,900
10. Randall Cobb (GB) vs. NYJ - $6,400
11. Roddy White (ATL) at CIN - $5,800
12. Emmanuel Sanders (DEN) vs. KC - $5,100
13. Vincent Jackson (TB) vs. STL - $6,500
14. T.Y Hilton (IND) at DEN - $6,000
15. Kendall Wright (TEN) vs. DAL - $5,400
16. DeSean Jackson (WAS) vs. JAX - $5,700

Bargains: Kelvin Benjamin ($4,500), Justin Hunter ($4,400), Reggie Wayne ($4,400)

Julio Jones (ATL) at CIN - $7,300
Much like Arian Foster, health was the key concern for Jones entering this season. Well, you can put his injury behind him, as he looked like the Julio of old on Sunday. Outside of a key fumble that could have lea to a touchdown, Jones saw nine targets leading to seven receptions. He was also tackled on the one-yard-line in the first half. Point being, Jones had a "down game" in some facets yet still managed 14 fantasy points. The Falcons take on the Bengals Sunday in a game that has a current total of 49.

Jordy Nelson (GB) vs. NYJ - $6,800
The Packers came to Seattle last Thursday to open the NFL season and looked flat. ]Though facing the number one defense in the league, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was never able to get a strong offensive rhythm going, leading the team into repetitive third-and-long situations. The Packers now get to come home to Lambeau and face the Jets in a game in which they have to make a statement. Nelson led all Packers receivers last Thursday to the tune of 83 yards on nine catches. He should have plenty of chances come Sunday, especially with running-back Eddie Lacy a little banged up following a concussion in Week 1.

DeSean Jackson (WAS) vs. JAX - $5,700
A name that seems to be slipping in price all across the DFS industry is DeSean Jackson. The Redskins' offense generated a great amount of hype coming into this season, but after a disappointing Week 1 showing against Houston, Jackson's name has seemingly fallen off the radar - but not so fast. Jackson still had a very salvageable fantasy week, hauling in eight passes for 62 yards. He gets to face a Jacksonville defense this week that ranks in the middle of the pack. Look for RG3 to take some deep chances to his new wide-out this week.

Tight Ends
1. Jimmy Graham (NO) at CLE - $6,800
2. Julius Thomas (DEN) vs. KC - $5,400
3. Rob Gronkowski (NE) at MIN - $5,600
4. Greg Olson (CAR) vs. DET - $4,700
5. Vernon Davis (SF) vs. CHI - $4,600
6. Jason Witten (DAL) at TEN - $4,600
7. Zach Ertz (PHI) at IND - $4,300
8. Kyle Rudolph (MIN) vs. NE- $3,900
9. Delaine Walker (TEN) vs. DAL - $3,300
10. Martellus Bennett (CHI) at SF - $4,000

Bargains: Jermaine Gresham ($3,000)

Greg Olsen (CAR) vs. DET - $4,700
As predicted, Olsen was a target monster on Sunday, leading the team with 11. Of those 11, he corralled eight to the tune of 83 yards and a touchdown. Carolina gets Cam Newton back this week against Detroit which will only further Olsen's value.
Delaine Walker (TEN) vs. DAL - $3,300

After a lowly 3-for-37 performance in week one, Walker will see an opportunity to turn it around Sunday against the Cowboys. Vernon Davis found the end zone twice against Dallas in week one on a 4-for-44 performance. Though the numbers, on paper, appear the same, comparing the Titans' and Niners' offenses is like comparing apples and oranges. Expect the Titans to have their aerial game on full blast Sunday.

Jermaine Gresham (CIN) vs. ATL - $3,000
Though not on the top ten list this weekend, a name to keep a close eye on is Gresham. With Tyler Eifert placed on designated IR, Gresham is once again the Bengals' lead tight end. Marvin Jones is still injured and A.J. Green missed Thursday's practice with a foot injury, so all signs point to Gresham playing a key role in the passing game come Sunday.

Kickers
1. Adam Vinatieri (IND) vs. PHI - $3,300*
2. Dan Bailey (DAL) at TEN - $3,400
3. Mason Crosby (GB) vs. NYJ - $3,300
4. Stephen Gostkowski (NE) at MIN - $3,600
5. Matt Bryant (ATL) at CIN - $3,500
*The kickers selection will change week-to-week based upon highest over/under of each player's specific game. In most cases you will want to select the lowest-priced kicker with the highest over/under. This week those honors go to Adam Vinatieri.

Defense
1. Arizona (at NYG) - $3.900
2. Tampa Bay (vs. STL) - $3,000
3. Green Bay (at. NYJ) - $3,000
4. San Francisco (vs. CHI) - $3,000
On the opposite spectrum of kickers, defenses are selected based upon the lowest over/under totals in a given week. The St. Louis/Tampa Bay game has one of the lowest totals I've seen in a Vegas line in quite some time at 37 total points. Given the Rams' performance last week, lock the Bucs in as one of the top defenses of the week. The top spot, however, goes to the Cardinals. Though the total of their matchup with the Giants sits a little bit higher, at 43 total points, the Eli Manning of 2013 still seems to be in full effect. Take advantage of the Giants' turnover vulnerability and hope one translates to a touchdown.