Fantasy Picks – Week 2

Daily fantasy sports have taken off in the US (you may have noticed the ads on every single sports programme) and looks like it will do the same here.

Each week I will take a look at some of the players to draft to your team and the players to avoid.

All prices will be based on DraftKings and picks will be for the guaranteed prize pool contests.

Draft

Jonathan Stewart – $5,400

Sure, the 49ers may have got a big win in week one against the Rams, but they are still a really bad team. The Panthers have been as big as 14 point favourites this week. If the Panthers get up quickly as expected, I think we will see a lot more of the Panthers ground game and therefore, a lot more Jonathan Stewart.

Which leads me to…

Blaine Gabbert – $5,000

I know the Panthers defence is one of the best in the league, and the 49ers offence is one of the worst, but this pick is about one thing – garbage time. In the same way that the Panthers could turn to Jonathan Stewart, the 49ers could be chasing the game from very early on. Gabbert could end up with a lot of passing attempts and therefore a lot of potential fantasy points. At the minimum price, I like Gabbert’s potential for a big game, at least in terms of fantasy. He is my boom or bust pick for this week.

Eli Manning – $7,600

With this passing attack, Manning has the potential to be one of the top fantasy QBs every week. If Victor Cruz can get back to something like his best then there are three genuine threats that a defence has to account for. Going up against a Saints offence that looks as bad as it did last year, the Giants entire offence could be in for a big day. Odell Beckham could well be worth the high price this week.

Avoid

Russell Wilson – $7,400

Russell Wilson has practiced this week despite playing a lot of Sunday’s game with an injured ankle. Wilson didn’t pose anything leek the threat he does when fully healthy. This week he goes up against a fierce Rams pass rush. Add that to the Seahawks’ offensive line looking far from great, Wilson could be in for a long game. The Rams have played the Seahawks well in recent times and that could well be the case this week. There are better options than Wilson this week and I’ll be looking to avoid him at a relatively high price.

Carlos Hyde – $5,100

For the same reasons I am looking to draft Gabbert, I am looking to avoid Hyde. If the game goes as expected, the opportunities could be very limited for Hyde in the 49ers’ backfield. At a similar price point I would rather go with the likes of TJ Yeldon, Melvin Gordon or Ameer Abdullah.

Jimmy Garoppolo – $5,900

Garoppolo showed that he is a more than capable backup in week one but he could come back to earth this week against the Dolphins. Ndamukong Suh and the defence looked good against the Seahawks and will be looking to get after Garoppolo as often as possible. The Dolphins have won three of the past five meetings between the AFC east rivals and this has the potential to be a big letdown game after the big week one win for the Patriots.