This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Football series.
Welcome back to the weekly FanDuel strategy piece. Over the season, we will cover a variety of topics - from tournament strategy to player ownership, and of course, matchups to exploit each and every week. The goal is to prepare you with an array of tools to help build optimal lineups. There were many outstanding performances in Week 1, as well as plenty of disappointing efforts. Now that each team has played a game, we have statistics and game film to analyze and help us prepare for the upcoming week. There were also a number of injuries that will impact both offenses and defenses around the league, which could provide some players with unexpected playing time in Week 2. Let's look at some matchups, injuries and player salaries to take advantage of to help us get an edge on the competition in Week 2.
Injuries to Exploit
The most notable injury for fantasy football purposes occurred Sunday night when Dez Bryant broke a bone in his right foot. He will be out for multiple weeks, leaving the Cowboys with a big void to fill on offense. The two main beneficiaries are Terrance Williams ($6,300) and tight end Jason Witten ($6,000). Both players should see an increase in targets with Bryant out, and both are strong plays in a potentially high-scoring affair with the Eagles. Cole Beasley ($5,700) could also see in increase in targets, and makes for an interesting tournament play.
Cardinals running back Andre Ellington suffered a minor leg injury and will most likely be ruled out for Week 2. The Cardinals have a juicy matchup with the Bears, so former star running back Chris Johnson ($5,700) may get significant playing time. Talented rookie David Johnson ($6,600) may also see an increased role, and he scored a long touchdown on his only touch in Week 1.
Quarterbacks Derek Carr of the Raiders and Josh McCown of the Browns both suffered injuries in their opening games, and their statuses for Week 2 are up in the air. Johnny Manziel ($6,500) could be worth a look at home against the Titans because of his running ability. The Ravens' defense becomes an even stronger play on Sunday if Carr cannot play.
Matchups to Exploit
The games with the highest projected point totals are Cowboys versus Eagles and Giants versus Falcons. None of those four teams has an imposing defense, while all four offenses have plenty of firepower and quality quarterbacks. It is wise to target players from these four teams, as both games could turn into shootouts (even with Dez Bryant out).
The New Orleans Saints are the biggest favorite of the week, as they have a juicy matchup at home against Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers got embarrassed in Week 1 at home by the Titans, and now they have to travel and play the Saints indoors. The Saints' offense could have a big day in the Superdome.
The Ravens defense would become an elite play if Derek Carr is ruled out, leaving backup Matt McGloin as the starter for the Raiders. It could be a long day for the Raiders offense.
Salaries to Exploit
Since FanDuel salaries for Week 2 came out prior to Monday night's games, there are a few salaries to take advantage of before they increase. Sam Bradford ($7,500) threw for over 300 yards as the new Eagles starting quarterback, and he has a juicy matchup at home against the Cowboys. Jordan Matthews ($7,000) saw a slight increase in his price tag, but he quickly showed that he is Bradford's favorite target with 10 catches Monday. Take advantage of his current salary before it rises to an appropriate level.
Carlos Hyde ($7,000) also had a big game Monday, scoring two touchdowns and rushing for 168 yards. He has a great matchup in Week 2, as he faces the Steelers and their leaky defense. He could have another big game on the ground.
There were a few inexperienced quarterbacks that impressed in the first week of the season as well. Tyrod Taylor ($6,300) had a big first half against the Colts, and he can run as well as any quarterback in the league. He faces a tough test Sunday at home against the Patriots, but he could have another big game if he plays as well as he did in Week 1. He makes for an excellent tournament play at his current salary and his upside.
Thursday Night Football Preview
The Broncos travel to Kansas City to face the Chiefs in an AFC West battle. These teams both have quality defenses, and Vegas projects the game to be relatively low scoring (42-point total). Peyton Manning struggled in Week 1, and does not look 100 percent healthy, so it is hard to trust the Broncos' passing game right now. The Chiefs impressed in their opener with a road win against the Texans, with running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Travis Kelce the focal points of the Chiefs' ball-control offense. Both are worth consideration for those playing in FanDuel leagues that include the Thursday night game.
