jason mezrahi 
It’s already Week 2 NFL DFS time, and your wallets are gonna love Darren Waller — my favorite GPP play at TE this week. I’m also looking for some cash game TEs for your NFL DFS lineups – and some upside-laden defenses (DSTs) who could give you that essential edge.
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Week 2 Tight End NFL DFS Cash Game Plays
Travis Kelce, KC at OAK
FD ($8,000) DK ($7,300)
With Tyreek Hill out for an extended period of time and the Chiefs searching for reliable receiving options, Kelce will be looking at possibly 12-15 targets on a weekly basis. He’s a difficult matchup even for a decent defense with a good game plan, and he’s got both a solid floor and soaring upside. This week could feature a lot of the TEs from both teams (Darren Waller being the other). Kelce caught three of eight targets for 88 yards during last Sunday’s 40-26 win over the Jaguars and will be more heavily involved in this game plan with the Raiders losing safety Jonathan Abram.
Evan Engram, NYG vs. BUF
FD ($6,400) DK ($5,200)
Not to sound too much like last week, but Engram is STILL the best receiver available on the Giants and they will continue to throw him the ball without a corps of dependable wideouts. Sterling Shepard is questionable and Engram is essentially matchup-proof with how he’s deployed by the Giants. His 14 targets last week and 11-116-1 were more than even I anticipated, and he could top those numbers this week despite a tougher matchup against the Bills.
Week 2 Tight End NFL DFS GPP Plays
Darren Waller, OAK vs. KC
FD (5,400) DK ($3,300)
Waller played on every one of Oakland’s 55 offensive snaps in Week 1 in the Jared Cook role, hauling in 7-of-8 targets for 70 yards on MNF, leading the team in targets and appearing to be every bit as good as we’ve heard. That type of volume and his storied athleticism means he’ll be one of Derek Carr’s go-to players in a matchup that could see the Raiders throwing a lot in the second half.
George Kittle, SF at CIN
FD ($7,100) DK ($6,800)
I’m going back to the well this week with Kittle, who pulled down eight catches for 54 yards (no score) on a team-high 10 targets last week on an offense that didn’t have anybody else over three targets. With Matt Breida locked into the lead RB role and a lack of viable offensive ball control options, expect more of the same from the 49ers. That means plenty of looks for Kittle, who has the requisite upside for both GPPs and cash games. Plus, the Bengals were one of the weaker teams at defending tight ends a year ago, and that’s a good guideline for trusting George in the Jungle against the Big Cats this week.
Mark Andrews, BAL vs. ARI
FD ($6,100) DK (3,800)
Andrews caught all eight of his targets for 8-108-1 and essentially tripled his output projections for Week 1 — even if we expected a big game from him. He’s a bona fide TE1 with a decent floor and more upside than we imagined in last week’s write-up. I know the Dolphins defense was bad, but Andrews is still affordable on DK and should be an excellent FD GPP play.
Week 2 Tight End NFL DFS Value and Punt Plays
Blake Jarwin, DAL at WAS
FD ($4,500) DK ($2,900)
We know from last season that Jarwin has upside (his 12/30/18 game vs. the Giants saw him collect 7-119-3 on eight targets), and we know he’s involved in the Cowboys offensive plans for 2019 (3-39-1 on three targets in Week 1 against the Giants). I know — the Cowboys are in Washington, and don’t get to face the Giants again until later this season. But there’s still plenty of value here and Jarwin won’t make it onto too many rosters with all the viable TE plays this week — making him a solid GPP punt if you don’t have much more than the minimum to spend on your final spot.
T.J. Hockensen, DET vs. LAC
FD ($6,000) DK ($3,000)
Hockensen also shattered expectations in his remarkable debut for the Lions with 6-131-1 in the Week 1 tie against the Cards. We saw a pronounced skill set with oodles of athleticism and upside, and the Rob Gronkowski comparisons may be premature — that just doesn;t necessarily make them wrong. He’s projecting as a weekly option in all formats and makes for a fine flex play if you’re looking to use a couple of TEs.
Additional GPP/Punt options:
Will Dissly, SEA vs CIN (FD $4,000, DK $2,800)
Delanie Walker, TEN vs. IND (FD $5,900, DK $3,500)
Tyler Eifert, CIN vs. SF (FD $4,900, DK $2,900)
Week 2 NFL DFS DST Cash Game Plays
Baltimore Ravens (BAL at ARZ)
FD ($5,400) DK ($3,800)
The Ravens were the top consensus unit heading into last week, and the most expensive. This week, they’re once again the highest-priced DST on both sites, and that doesn’t dissuade me from locking them into any lineup in any format. The upside is still there, and they could force a bunch of turnovers facing a rookie QB. As one of the premier aggressive, ball-hawking defenses in an excellent matchup, they’re also as safe as any other DST on the docket.
New England Patriots (NE at MIA)
FD ($4,600) DK ($3,700)
The Pats get the Dolphins and come in a little bit cheaper on both sites. This is a pretty easy decision. In cash games, you’re going with the Pats or the Ravens and either unit makes sense in GPPs as well, especially since there’s plenty of opportunity to differentiate lineups at the skill positions. Still, the lack of counting stats in Week 1 (just one sack and one TO) could push some DFS competitors toward the Ravens.
Week 2 DST GPP Plays
Buffalo Bills (BUF at NYG)
FD ($4,400) DK ($3,400)
Like last week, there’s a precipitous drop following the top two defenses heading into Week 2. And while I dug the Rams here in Week 1, I’m looking for more exposure to the Bills in GPPS this week. Facing an exploitable New York Giants team with its questionable QBs, we could see another big outing from the Bills. They racked up four sacks and one takeaway while allowing just eight points to the Jets, and now get their in-state NFC analogs.
Houston Texans (HOU vs. JAX)
FD ($4,500) DK ($2,800)
The Texans defense had a tough time containing the Saints in Week 1, but get a much less potent offense to contend with in Week 2. Jaguars QB Gardner Minshew was solid in relief of Nick Foles (shoulder) last week, but Houston will watch the tapes and plot some new looks and impending disaster for the rookie. They’re a below-the-radar GPP/punt option that won’t cost you much on either site.
Chicago Bears (CHI vs. DEN)
FD ($4,200) DK ($3,900)
The Bears make it on the main slate after being confined to TNF showdowns and all-week slates in Week 1, and Broncos QB Joe Flacco couldn’t be more scared. I’m kidding, but the gist is that this is a defense to fear — and because of that, one to utilize in all fantasy formats. The effort against the Packers was maybe even a little better than expected: they limited the Packers to only 10 points while picking up five sacks — figures they could rocket past in Week 2.
Week 2 DST Punt Plays
Los Angeles Rams (LAR vs. NO — GPP)
FD ($3,600) DK ($2,700)
This is not a play for the faint of heart. The Saints are really good, but the Rams have Aaron Donald anchoring their defensive line and play at home. Nobody will be on them, and they are dirt cheap on both sits.
Seattle Seahawks (SEA at PIT — GPP)
FD ($3,700) DK ($2,900)
The Seahawks aren’t as great a play as last week, but this unit is still having some growing pains, and they’ll only get better as the season progresses. Still — they recovered three fumbles in Week 1 and totaled four sacks as a team, and they’re facing a Steelers offense that scored three points in the opener.
Denver Broncos (DEN vs. CHI — DK Cash/FD GPP)
FD ($4,500) DK ($2,700)
The Broncos make for a solid GPP play at their elevated price on FD and a relatively safe cash game play on DK. The Monday night game can be viewed as an anomaly, since negative fantasy production against a seemingly innocuous Oakland offense was more than bizarre. The Broncos have the pieces for maximum disruption, including an elite pass rush, and they’re worth a look in Week 2.
Evan Engram Featured Image via Keith Allison
