Justin Elick 
We made it through the first week of NFL action, and it was a crazy one! There were only 13 TE with more than five targets in Week 1. Only Tyler Higbee (11) and Pat Friermuth (10) saw double-digit looks. Two of the top four in PPR scoring (Travis Kelce and Gerald Everett) play on Thursday night. Let’s find some low-owned options, cash options, and everything in between!
Be sure to jump into the WinDailySports Discord, and take advantage of our cheat sheets and projections while you build your lineups for Week 2 on DraftKings and FanDuel! Let’s dive right in for Week 2.
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens ($6,400 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel)
Andrews is the most expensive option on both sites, and for good reason. Week 1 saw the Ravens blow out the Jets, which significantly impacted his ceiling. Despite that, he still saw seven targets and was on the field for 47 snaps. He finished with a 5-52 line, which would not be good enough on this slate.
In Week 2, the Ravens are favored by 3.5 points against the Dolphins in a game with a decent total of 46 points. Vegas is expecting a close game, and so am I. Andrews is still the top option for Lamar Jackson. Big plays down the field to the WR won’t come quite as easy against a tough Miami defense. Fire up Andrews as a play with big upside in Week 2, although I would likely look elsewhere in cash at his price tag.
Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys ($5,200 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
I am hoping that the Dak Prescott injury will keep eyes off Schultz this week. Cooper Rush will draw the start, and in his one start in 2021 he posted a decent 24-40 line with 325 yards and 2 TD (1 INT). In that game, Schultz was targeted seven times, but only caught two balls for 11 yards. Amari Cooper was the favorite target with 13 looks in that game, but as we all know, he is now in Cleveland.
I’m bullish on Schultz this week. He is in a great spot with Dallas being a 7-point home dog. The expectation is that the Cowboys will be playing from behind, and I’m all aboard the Schultz train. Rush only played for part of the 4th quarter in Week 1 and Schultz was targeted twice in that short time.
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers ($4,400 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel)
The Steelers showed us only a few things in Week 1 on offense. One of them is that Mitch Trubisky is looking to get the ball out of his hands FAST. Freiermuth was targeted 10 times in Week 1 (the game did go to OT) and posted a 5/75 line.
Bill Belichick and company always look to take away the top option on the opposing offense. That said, Najee Harris is hoping to play but will be less than 100% (and expected to see fewer snaps). Trubisky and the Steelers will need everything they can get from their big TE in this one. He could be a focal point of the offense as a safety blanket for Trubisky. I’m expecting a similar volume to what he saw against the Bengals.
Darren Waller ($5,600 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel)
If you’re looking for volume, Waller may just be your guy this week. Vegas is expecting a shootout (in Vegas) this weekend with a total of 50.5. Only the Bengals/Cowboys is listed with a higher total on the main slate as of right now.
Davante Adams has been reunited with his old college buddy Derek Carr, but that had very little effect on Waller in Week 1. He still saw six targets on 49 snaps, and will likely be asked to take on a big role again this weekend. Adams is likely to soak up the RedZone targets (he had three in Week 1), but Waller is a big-play threat any time he touches the ball. Fire him up across the board in Week 2.
Others to Consider
Albert Okwuegbunam ($3,700 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel)
He quickly built rapport with Russell Wilson in Week 1, and Wilson has always shown an affinity for his big TEs. He missed a touchdown by INCHES against the Seahawks, and still posted a 5/33 line on six targets. Finding the end zone on that play would have made him a top-five overall scorer at TE.
Tyler Conklin ($3,400 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel)
Your Week 1 snap leader at TE, Conklin was on the field for SEVENTY-SEVEN plays against the Ravens. His 4/14/1 line leaves plenty to be desired, but seven targets are nothing to ignore. Flacco and company will need his help in this stagnant offense.
Hayden Hurst ($3,600 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel)
Joe Burrow had his worst game as a professional against the Steelers in Week 1, but Hurst had a solid first appearance in Orange and Black. He posted a 5/46 line on eight targets and was on the field for 75 snaps. Tee Higgins could potentially be limited or OUT, and that would only increase the appeal of Hurst in this one.
Kylen Granson ($2,600 DraftKings, $4,700 FanDuel)
I was one of the many who threw Mo Alie-Cox into some season-long teams where George Kittle was out last week. Big mistake. Not only did Granson out-snap Alie-Cox 51-50, but he saw seven targets to Alie-Cox’s two. He is a true punt play, but I’m completely fine rolling him out this week, especially at his DraftKings price.
Come find me on Twitter and let’s chat some football! Good luck in Week 2, and let’s meet at the top of the leaderboards!
