Week 2 DFS players don’t need to overthink the board too much: this slate is built around bounce-back spots, and a few stars are positioned to cash in on softer matchups.
Dak Prescott is the headline name after a quiet Week 1, but the setup could not be much better against the Washington Commanders. Washington gave up three passing touchdowns and three completions of 30-plus yards on only 25 pass attempts against Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, and that kind of looseness downfield fits Prescott’s profile perfectly. With plenty of weapons around him, he’s in line to turn things around fast.
George Pickens is in a similar spot. He was one of the most frustrating Cowboys in Week 1, but the same Commanders secondary that struggled to limit explosive passes gives him a clear path to a rebound. His downfield ability makes him a natural stack partner with Prescott, and that correlation is exactly the kind of thing DFS players are chasing here.
Bijan Robinson remains the engine of the Atlanta Falcons offense, no matter who is under center. In Week 1, he logged 29 touches and piled up 173 scrimmage yards.
The rushing numbers were fine, but the real damage came through the air: Robinson handled 45 percent of the Falcons’ target share, catching eight passes for 90 yards and a receiving touchdown. That kind of workload makes him a premium play again in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers, who were gashed by both Chicago Bears backs, D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.
Those two combined for more than 100 rushing yards apiece and four total rushing touchdowns, and Robinson has a path to production in every phase.
Derrick Henry is another back with a Week 1 statement already on the resume. He finished as RB1 and looked every bit like the force DFS players expect.
Baltimore’s receiver room is banged up, with Ja’Kobi Lane ruled out and Zay Flowers’ status in jeopardy for Week 2, which only strengthens the case for Henry to remain the centerpiece. He could also see more work as a receiver.
The matchup helps too, since the New Orleans Saints had trouble slowing Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 1. Henry has a real shot at another big line, including 100-plus rushing yards and multiple touchdowns.
The same bounce-back theme extends to Jake Ferguson, who was held without a catch in Week 1. That zero is ugly, but the matchup is workable. Washington just allowed Dallas Goedert to post 23.7 FPPG, which was good for TE3 in Week 1, and Ferguson’s vertical ability gives him a ceiling that fits this price range.
There’s also value to be found in the receiver pool. Caleb Douglas made noise in his Miami Dolphins debut with five catches for 94 yards on seven targets, but the snap share was even more encouraging.
The rookie played 91% of the snaps, trailing only Malik Washington on the team. If Miami is playing from behind as expected, Douglas should be in line for more targets in a favorable game script.
Matthew Golden is another sophomore who made an immediate impression. He scored 15.5 PPR points in Week 1 and led the Packers with 12 targets, four more than the next closest teammate.
He also logged 56 snaps, the most among Green Bay receivers. That kind of usage makes him a strong value play against the New York Jets.
At the flex spot, Bucky Irving is the safer route than Burden III. Irving should be heavily involved for the Buccaneers against the Cleveland Browns, especially near the goal line, where he was the clear choice in Week 1.
Burden III, meanwhile, showed some life in his opener and has a real ceiling against the Minnesota Vikings, who allowed Christian Watson and Matthew Golden to top 95 receiving yards. The concern is workload consistency in a crowded Chicago Bears offense, but the upside is still there.
The defense call depends on which side of that flex decision you make. If you go with Irving, the Buccaneers D/ST fits naturally.
If you choose Burden III, the 49ers D/ST is the pairing. Both units have favorable spots, with Tampa Bay hosting Cleveland and San Francisco hosting Miami.
Each defense has a chance to post useful fantasy production against offenses that struggled in Week 1.
In Other News...
Former Cowboys Pass Rusher Returns With Something To Prove In Dallas
Dorance Armstrong is set to make his 2026 debut Sunday against the Cowboys, a familiar opponent for a pass rusher who spent years in Dallas before moving on to Washington. After serving a one-game suspension and working back from the torn ACL that wiped out most of last season, Armstrong enters the matchup with a fresh chance to reestablish himself in a game that still carries some extra edge for everyone involved.
Washington's staff has said it is confident Armstrong is ready to go, and the plan is to rotate him with the rest of the pass-rush group to keep his workload manageable. For Dallas, that means facing a former defensive end who knows the building, the personnel and the stage, even if the bigger question now is how much of Armstrong's old burst has returned after such a long absence. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jones Just Raised The Stakes For Dallas' Shaky Defense
Jerry Jones didnt sound interested in pretending the Cowboys defensive performance in Week 1 was anything close to where it needs to be. The team owner acknowledged Dallas underestimated the Giants in the opener, and with Washington up next, he pointed to the defense as the area most likely to show a better version of itself in a game that already feels important for setting the tone of the season.
The challenge for Dallas is that belief and execution are two different things, and the defense has given plenty of reasons for skepticism already. Jones is framing the Commanders matchup as a chance to reset, but until the Cowboys actually string together a cleaner outing, every promise of improvement comes with a layer of doubt that the schedule will quickly test. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jones May Soon Face A Cowboys Decision He Hates
Brian Schottenheimers second season in Dallas already carries the sort of early pressure that tends to come with this franchise, even if the Cowboys have historically shown more patience with head coaches than most. After going 7-9-1 in his first year, Schottenheimer watched the team open a new defensive chapter by moving on from Matt Eberflus and turning the unit over to Christian Parker, a change meant to steady a side of the ball that has been a major point of concern.
Instead, the defense stumbled in Week 1 against the New York Giants, and that is where the unease begins to creep in for a team that cannot afford another losing year. There is already speculation about Schottenheimers seat if the record goes the wrong way again, and for Jerry Jones, the uncomfortable part may be less about making a change than having to consider one at all. [Read more 🡒]