FanDuel NFL Lineups: Preseason Week 2 Friday

Welcome back for another FanDuel NFL LIneups column for week two of the NFL Preseason.  We’re a Daily Fantasy Football column focused on top picks and best value for your weekly FanDuel NFL lineups.  We arm you with information for a big FanDuel NFL payday each week.

After a fun three-game slate on Thursday night, we’re left with only one late, 10pm EDT, game Friday night followed by a Saturday afternoon 3pm match up.  So to clear the way for a bigger Saturday night slate, which we’ll visit soon, FanDuel has put together a small two-game ‘Friday’ slate, which includes the Saturday afternoon event.

Last night, we bet that Mike Evans would play a decent part of the game for the Bucs, and he rewarded us with five receptions, 57 receiving yards, and 8.2 total FanDuel NFL points.  Sturgis at kicker, nine points, and the Ravens Defense, ten points, were also great picks.  While TJ Yates had a solid 6.32 points, Jameis Winston would’ve been an additional two points for our lineup.

The biggest problem was the Eagles offense.  Doug Pederson didn’t like what he saw in the first two series, and he ended up keeping Wentz and the top receiving crew on the field longer, which at into our remaining running back and wide receiver picks.  Unfortunately, those types of unpredictable events occur in many preseason games, making these picks very challenging, but also exciting.

So who do we have tonight?  Here’s a look at the scheduled games for the Preseason Week 2 Friday slate:

Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks  (Friday at 10pm EDT)

Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans (Saturday at 3pm EDT)

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A reminder, with all players having a similar salary ($6,000), we need to drop the value part of our picks for FanDuel NFL preseason.  We are focused mostly on who has the most time on the field, but also may have the greatest opportunity for yards and touchdowns.

We’ll review each game, narrow down who will see the most time on the field, and highlight our top picks.  We’ll also check an initial list of lineup picks for this slate.

FanDuel NFL Lineups: Preseason Week 2 Friday – Quarterbacks

Vikings vs. Seahawks

Last week, Sam Bradford ($6,000) was able to sling the rock seven times for a total of 35 yards. Tonight, against a very good Seahawks first line, I expect the Vikings to push Bradford a little further into the game, likely getting ten or more passing attempts.  But against this defense, I’m not excited about Sam’s FanDuel NFL point potential.

Instead, for the Vikings, the most attractive option is Case Keenum ($6,000) once again.  Case was a productive 11 for 16 with 121 yards, but no touchdowns.  Taylor Heinicke had the loan passing touchdown for the Vikings, but also had a pick and threw 3 for 8 against the Bills passing attack. Heinicke won’t see the best the Seahawks have to offer on defense and should get more time, but Keenum will be the most productive.

For the Seahawks, Russell Wilson ($6,000) should see the field again, and Seattle may want to push Austin Davis ($6,000) into the game more, but Trevone Boykin ($6,000) was outstanding last week, with 189 passing yards on 15 attempts.  While Boykin threw a pick, it was only one of the three passes he missed his target on, and he also threw a touchdown pass.

Boykin has had a history of off-field issues, but on the field Trevone has been dynamic and the Seahawks should allow Boykin to play with several talented receivers who could make the squad this season.

Panthers vs. Titans

While Cam Newton ($6,000) is back to throwing, I’m skeptical the Panthers want to push Newton on the field Saturday afternoon, and have yet to make a call about his availability.  So we could see Derek Anderson ($6,000) start the game, again, with plenty of talented targets around him.

Anderson is one of the better picks at quarterback tonight, but I’m more intrigued by Joe Webb ($6,000) because of his versatile, Cam-like, pass and run abilities.  Last week, against a good Texans defense, Webb threw one pick, but two touchdowns on 128 yards and rushed three times for 21 yards.  A total of 149 yards from a quarterback is hard to peg in preseason, but Joe can do that practically every game as he’s moving the ball quickly downfield.

The Titans offense was very unproductive last week against the Jets, and we have to imagine their offensive coaching staff is eager to push the ball more on Saturday.  Marcus Mariota ($6,000) should see more time one the field, running several series.  Mariota could be productive, but it’s a risk to pick him as he’ll hand the ball early to Matt Cassel ($6,000), who was finally cleared to play on Saturday.

FanDuel NFL Lineups: Preseason Week 2 Friday – Running Backs

Vikings vs. Seahawks

For the Seahawks running game, Thomas Rawls has a ‘minor’ ankle injury.  So, we should see a heavy dose of Eddie Lacy ($6,000) to start the game.  But the bulk of the carries should go to Mike Davis ($6,000) and Alex Collins ($6,000).  CJ Prosise ($6,000) continues to be an intriguing option as a pass-catching back, likely getting several targets today.

For the Vikings, we start the trend of young rookie or second year running back targets with Dalvin Cook ($6,000).  While Cook is only a rookie, he’s at the top of the depth chart already and is impressing everyone at camp.  Dalvin had five carries for 13 years and four throwing targets for four receptions and 30 receiving yards.  If Cook had a touchdown, he would’ve been on of the top producing running backs last year.  The Vikings should continue to push Cook tonight and he’s one of my favorite targets at running back, again.

Panthers vs. Titans

For the Titans last week, while their offense was generally unproductive, Derrick Henry ($6,000) saw eight carries, recording 29 rushing yards, and two targets.  Henry only had one reception and didn’t get a yard in this two throws his way, but that’s more production than any other offensive weapon the Titans trotted out onto the field last week.

We could see DeMarco Murray ($6,000) on the field, but Mularkey hasn’t confirmed he’ll play yet. Still, even if we see Murray take some snaps, he likely won’t get many.  The Titans should also turn to David Fluellen ($6,000) and Akeem Judd ($6,000) through the second half of the game Saturday afternoon.

Christian McCaffrey ($6,000) is one of, and most popular, of the many new young talented faces around the Panthers offense this season.  If Newton gets back on the field healthy, he’s going to be able to focus on his passing game this season, without carrying the offense on his shoulders. Many think he could hand that burden to McCaffrey.

The talented Stanford rookie had 33 yards on seven carries last week and one target.  The Panthers should want to continue to see Christian progress on the field during live action, and we expect the coaching staff to target McCaffrey early and often, into the early second half of the game.  Once McCaffrey exits, your top two targets are Cameron Artis-Payne ($6,000) and Jalen Simmons ($6,000).

FanDuel NFL Lineups: Preseason Week 2 Friday – Wide Receivers

Vikings vs. Seahawks

The Seahawks threw 28 targets last week, to thirteen receiving options.  Seattle should try to spread the ball around, again, on Friday night.  But they will start with Doug Baldwin ($6,000) on the field, first, this time.  Baldwin sat last week with a foot injury, and the Seahawks likely want to push Doug on the field a bit this week, to make sure he’s progressing before the start of the season.  Baldwin is a potential big target this year for Fantasy Football players and could be a sneaky good pick tonight.

With Tyler Locket ($6,000) and Paul Richardson ($6,000) each game-time decisions, I’m fading them and that makes Baldwin even more attractive.  But after Doug is off the field, the Seahawks will target Jermaine Kearse ($6,000) and Kasen Williams ($6,000).  Last week, Kasen had a huge game, snagging four receptions for 119 yards, and could be a great pick again tonight.

The Vikings passing game was unimpressive and isn’t a great option against the Seahawks defensive backs in Seattle.  But if you’re looking for the best Vikings options, we’ll see Adam Thielen ($6,000), Stefon Diggs ($6,000), and Laquon Treadwell ($6,000) back on the field for a good part of the first half tonight, and each has an opportunity to get several good targets.

Panthers vs. Titans

The Titans offense was anemic last week, but we were targeting two receivers lower on their depth chart, Harry Douglas ($6,000) and Taywan Taylor ($6,000).  Douglas is a tenth year wide out from Louisville who spent most of his career backing up receivers on the Falcons, but getting some time of his own.

Douglas is now 32 years old and fighter for a roster spot on a talented receiver depth chart.  But injuries have open the door for Douglas, who had three receptions on three targets with 49 yards last week against the Jets.  Taylor had four receptions for 56 yards, leading the team, and had nine targets.  Taylor could get a lot of looks, again, facing this Panthers defense on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers have two very attractive options in Kelvin Benjamin ($6,000) and Damiere Byrd ($6,000).  There are a lot of concerns about Benjamin’s work ethic, even considering his tremendous talent, so Kelvin marched on the field last week and shocked everyone positioning himself well on the field and grabbing a touchdown among his two targets.

The Panthers will likely target Benjamin again, early in the game.  But Byrd is the more attractive pick.  The speedy 24-year-old from South Carolina saw six targets, grabbing four receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns.  Byrd was, by far, the best FanDuel NFL pick last week, and we have to imagine the Panthers want to see how much more Byrd can show them in his attempt to hang onto a roster spot among a very talented group.

FanDuel NFL Lineups: Preseason Week 2 Friday – Tight End / Kicker / Defense

This is a terrible slate for tight ends, with hardly any targets to tight ends thrown last week among these four teams.  But one of the targets we watched from the Seahawks, Tyrone Swoopes ($6,000) has promise and it seems the Seahawks see the potential.  Last week, the former Texas Longhorns quarterback saw three targets and had two catches for 26 yards.  Among all the tight end options tonight, that’s by far the best, and we have to imagine the Seahawks want to see more out of Tyrone on Friday night.

Among the kicking options, we’ve targeted the teams we think have the potential to produce the most points.  Unfortunately, this slate’s points should mostly come from the Panthers in Tennessee.  The problem with that is the Panthers are the only, of the four teams, working through a kicking battle.  Still, I think Graham Gano ($6,000), like last week, will get several chances to kick some field goals and extra points, enough to beat out the other picks.

Finally, for defense we have two of the better defensive units, the Vikings and Seahawks, facing off against each other on Friday night.  I like both for lineups tonight, but given the Seahawks production against the Chargers, we’re going with Seattle on defense.

So after reviewing all the options, we put together our favorite lineup for the day.  Here’s a look at our Final FanDuel NFL Preseason Week 2 Friday Lineup:

QB – Boykin (SEA)

RB – Cook (MIN)

RB – McCaffrey (CAR)

WR – Baldwin (SEA)

WR – Byrd (CAR)

WR – Taylor (TEN)

TE – Swoopes (SEA)

K – Gano (CAR)

D – Seattle Seahawks

Once again, we have $6,000 left over, but there’s no way to avoid it.  Still, we have FanDuel to thank for finding a way to make the first week of preseason a more enjoyable event!

Next: Titans Fantasy Football Preview: Marcus Mariota

Good luck with your FanDuel NFL plays Friday and Saturday afternoon, and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR on Twitter for all the late breaking lineup news and roster updates!