Last Updated: September 19th at 908pm ET
We can be looser with the WR spots in our lineups, showing profit with lower-owned plays (vs. RBs) and cheaper salaries (vs. RBs). You can read more about that in this Winning Milly Maker Trends article. Still, volume is what we’re looking for – even at the cheap end.
Each week, I’ll discuss my favorite main slate wideouts at $5000 or cheaper on DraftKings and $6000 or cheaper on Fanduel. All of these players project for at least five targets in our projections.
Be sure to consult our Projections, Top Plays (released Friday night) and Silva’s Matchups for more context on these players as a whole.
DRAFTKINGS UNDER $5000 AND FANDUEL UNDER $6000
1. Diontae Johnson, PIT vs. DEN: $4500 DK, $5800 FD
Johnson was grossly underpriced on DraftKings for Monday’s 2-game slate and the Week 2 salaries were released before he garnered 10 targets for a 31% share against the Giants. Johnson tied for the WR-lead in snaps as the primary outside man opposite a rotation of James Washington/Chase Claypool. Now Johnson is just $4500 for a home game against an extremely banged-up Broncos defense who just lost top CB AJ Bouye (shoulder). Note that Johnson is in the Air Yards Buy Low Model as well.
Projection: 7.4 targets
2. Christian Kirk, ARZ vs. WAS: $4300 DK, $5700 FD
Kirk airballed in Week 1, catching one of his five targets for zero yards. Still, the usage was strong. Kirk ran a route on 47 of Kyler Murray’s 51 dropbacks and was in the slot on 12 of his 63 snaps overall. We simply can’t project DeAndre Hopkins to see 40% of the team targets again (something around 30% is realistic even if high) and we also know Kirk won’t have a 20% catch rate again. The price has fallen $700 since last week and Kirk is in a better matchup.
Projection: 7.0 targets
3. CeeDee Lamb, DAL vs. ATL: $4700 DK, $5200 FD
Lamb’s NFL debut showed a massive ceiling on one of the NFL’s best offenses. He ran a route on 42 of Dak Prescott’s 45 dropbacks, was in the slot on 91% of his snaps and saw a reasonable 15.3% target share. Now Blake Jarwin is done and will be replaced by blocker-type Dalton Schultz. Lamb is cheap exposure to one of the slate’s best game environments, even if he’s battling with Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and Ezekiel Elliott for touches.
Projection: 6.7 targets
4. Parris Campbell, IND vs. MIN: $4500 DK, $5300 FD
Campbell’s role went from a bit murky to crystal clear after Week 1. He played on 61-of-73 snaps and was in the slot for 58 of them. An every-down slot receiver role for Philip Rivers can be very profitable, as Keenan Allen found out over the years. While the 46 pass attempts Rivers had last week won’t sustain, Campbell’s role will yield a 15-20% target share weekly. Jack Doyle (ankle) being out for Week 2 raises Parris’ outlook as well.
Projection: 6.8 targets
5. Breshad Perriman, NYJ vs. SF: $3800 DK, $5200 FD
The Jets continue to lose bodies as Jamison Crowder (hamstring) is out and so is Le’Veon Bell (hamstring). Perriman ran a route on 100% of Sam Darnold’s dropbacks last week and will be relied upon to do so again Sunday. While the matchup against the 49ers is far from easy, it’s actually better than the road spot at Buffalo last week.
Updated Projection: 7.2 targets
6. Mike Williams, LAC vs. KC: $4200 DK, $5800 FD
When QBs face Kansas City, their pass attempts rise. That’s obviously excellent news this week for Williams, who brushed off a shoulder injury in Week 1 and ran a route on 33 of Tyrod Taylor’s 34 dropbacks. Williams stacked up a 30% target share against the Bengals and his 4-69-0 line could’ve been way bigger as he had one long catch and one TD land just out of bounds. Of course, Williams is in the Buy Low Model as well this week – as he often was so many times last season.
Projection: 6.1 targets
7. ADD if AJ Brown (knee) is out: Corey Davis, TEN vs. JAX: $4000 DK, $4900 FD
Brown is indeed out, leaving Corey Davis as the no-doubt No. 1 WR. He’ll be bookended by the likes of Adam Humphries and Kalif Raymond — hardly target dominators. While Brown has failed before in this spot — most notably before Brown became a full-time player last season — that was before Ryan Tannehill took over. Davis’ matchup against the Jags is strong as well.
Updated Projection: 6.6 targets
8. ADD if Chris Godwin (concussion) is out: Scotty Miller, TB vs. CAR: $4100 DK, $5200 FD
Miller was the primary outside WR in 3-WR sets last week, with Godwin playing in the slot. If Godwin misses this week, Miller and Justin Watson project to share slot reps while Miller gets all the work in 2-WR sets. With Tom Brady clearly taking a liking to Miller and the matchup ideal, Miller is going to be right there with the other $4K options on DraftKings in terms of target projection.
Updated Projection: 6.4 targets
DRAFTKINGS HONORABLE MENTION
Curtis Samuel, CAR at TB, $4700 DK – Primary slot man for Teddy Bridgewater, will avoid top Bucs CB Carlton Davis Sunday. Quietly racked up a 23.5% target share in Week 1 but only finished with 5-38-0. We project for 6.7 targets this week.
Sammy Watkins, KC at LAC, $4800 DK – As expected, Watkins remains far ahead of Mecole Hardman again. When you’re an every-down receiver with Patrick Mahomes, you’re going to have spiked weeks. We project for 5.8 targets.
Jerry Jeudy, DEN at PIT, $5300 DK – Extremely difficult matchup for the rookie, but role is secure. We have him projected for 6.6 targets even if Courtland Sutton (shoulder) plays.
Jalen Reagor, PHL vs. LAR, $4100 DK – Reagor missed a bunch of camp due to a shoulder injury, but was surprisingly active for Week 1. His role was just meh as he ran 30 routes on 50 Carson Wentz dropbacks, exclusively played outside and saw a weak 9.5% target share. However, Reagor isn’t even on the injury report this week and the Eagles desperately need him. We’re projecting 5.1 targets right now but that will look small if the usage spike.
FANDUEL SPECIFIC CHEAPIES
DeSean Jackson, PHL vs. LAR, $5500 FD – Jackson’s $5100 tag on DraftKings is a bit steep, but he’s very cheap on Fanduel. The coaches say D-Jax’s usage will grow after he was eased in with just 30 routes on 50 Wentz dropbacks. We are projecting 6.6 targets in Week 2.
Darius Slayton, NYG at CHI, $5300 FD – The world saw Slayton pop off on Monday Night Football in a difficult matchup against the Steelers. Now he gets a solid but less formidable Bears unit. The key here is if Golden Tate (quad) is out or limited. If Tate is 100%, Slayton’s snap count and projected target share will take a hit. We have him at 6.4 targets in Week 2 while projecting a limited Tate.
