Trying to get rich quick on Fanduel? The best way to cash on weekly fantasy football sites is to load up on as many stars with good matchups as possible. Due to budget restraints, however, fantasy players must sacrifice other positions to nab the stars they want.
Here, you'll find the top bargains at each position that will let you splurge elsewhere.
Best Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 2
Quarterback
1. Carson Palmer, Cardinals ($7,800): Palmer was an absolute stud in Week 1, and he’s got a great matchup this week. Ride the hot hand, especially since the price hasn’t adjusted on him. He was clearly undervalued last year, and his complement of weapons is strong. WR John Brown is a total game breaker, and even though Andre Ellington’s out, both Chris Johnson and David Johnson are capable of catching the rock. Comfortably use Palmer, and spend on Gronk or something.
2. Tyrod Taylor, Bills, ($6,300): Like last week, Taylor isn’t likely to put up a huge day like Palmer did. Instead, he can be trusted to throw up 15-18 points at a very modest price tag. Bill Belichick typically feasts on young quarterbacks because he can confuse them with his brilliant schemes. Taylor may be immune to that somewhat because of his ability to just take off and run, as well as the simple game plans he’s being fed. Plus, New England doesn’t have the horses in the secondary to keep up with Sammy Watkins and Percy Harvin.
3 Pickups To Help Survive Dez Bryant Injury
3. Jameis Winston, Buccaneers, ($6,500): Winston sure did look bad at times last week, but he also finished with 210 yards and two touchdown passes. He should have No. 1 WR Mike Evans back this week, which gives Tampa Bay a third enormous pass-catcher when combined with Vincent Jackson and TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins. The Bucs are playing a mediocre pass defense in New Orleans, and if the Saints light up Tampa’s defense, then Winston will be asked to throw even more.
Running Back
1. Ameer Abdullah, Lions, ($6,400): This dude is the goods! He averaged more than seven yards per carry in Week 1 in addition to catching four passes out of the backfield. He scored a long touchdown, and in general made Joique Bell look like an antique. Minnesota was a sleeper team for a lot of prognosticators, but Carlos Hyde made them look horrendous by chewing up 169 yards on the ground and scoring twice. Abdullah is in for another big week.
2. Chris Johnson, Cardinals, ($5,700): David Johnson is the better bet for long-term fantasy owners, but in Week 2 Chris Johnson is going to get the bulk of the touches. The Cardinals’ coaching staff seems to trust the veteran more, and his style of play is more similar to Andre Ellington’s, who is out with a sprained PCL. Johnson is a boom-or-bust type on every carry, but even as his production has declined, his speed has remained. If he can get a seam, Johnson is still a big play threat. He’s cheap, and he will have opportunities.
3. Lance Dunbar, Cowboys, ($4,800): Dez Bryant’s fractured foot is pretty serious, and he reportedly could miss up to 12 weeks. Dunbar wound up being the best Dallas RB in Week 1 because the team lined him up mostly as a receiver and actually made sure to get him the ball. Dunbar didn’t disappoint. He is a real threat as a receiver, and has a grip on the third-down, passing-situation job. At $4,800 there’s no arguing with his upside.
Wide Receiver
1. Davante Adams, Packers, ($6,400): How quickly a man is forgotten. Adams was quiet in Week 1 because of James Jones’ flashy plays, but aside from the two touchdowns Jones put up, their production was nearly identical. Don’t lose faith in this kid just yet. Aaron Rodgers will find plenty of opportunities to feed him passes, and Adams is going to catch them. I wouldn’t be worried about facing the Legion of Boom in Seattle either; without Kam Chancellor in the back along with Earl Thomas, the Seahawks pass D looked vulnerable against Nick Foles. Rodgers is a slight upgrade, and he’s at home.
2. Marques Colston, Saints, ($5,300): I may be on an island here, but color me unimpressed when it comes to Saints WR Brandin Cooks. The Buccaneers were ripped to shreds by Marcus Mariota last week, and the prospect of now facing Drew Brees indoors must terrify them.
Still, it’s an NFL defense, and NFL defenses prepare. They will be ready to bottle up Cooks, and Colston is pretty much the only other difference-maker in the passing game. Folks are high on Brandon Coleman, but he is still mostly unknown. Brees targeted Colston seven times in Week 1, and if he gets the same looks, he’ll do more damage vs. the Bucs’ secondary.
3. Pierre Garcon, Redskins, ($5,400): Hold your nose and queue up Garcon. Without Jackson, Garcon will be force fed targets, especially if the Rams are able to jump out in front and force Washington to throw a ton. TE Jordan Reed was impressive last week, but Garcon is still the No. 1 guy.
Tight End
1. Greg Olsen, Panthers, ($6,000): Last week was crazy. Olsen had just one catch for 11 yards, and if you used him, chances are you did not finish in the money. I don’t see how that happens again. Part of the lack of production was Carolina being up on Jacksonville all day long. Houston should be more competitive, and Olsen will see more looks.
2. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Buccaneers, ($4,500): Are you kidding me? It’s crazy that he is still ranked this low, but don’t complain! Grab ASJ quick. Even if Mike Evans returns, Seferian-Jenkins won’t shrink or be any less appealing in the red zone. Evans will draw double-coverage, and Vincent Jackson is a threat as well. Half of ASJ’s appeal is the other options leaving him one-on-one. This is an awesome price.
3. Larry Donnell, Giants, ($5,300): Zach Ertz was finding ways to get open against the Falcons on Monday night, and Donnell should be able to do the same. He’s capable of impressive one-week showings, and with the way Atlanta figures to focus on Odell Beckham Jr., Donnell may be primed for a big week.
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