DFS: The Slate, Part I - A Detailed Look at the Week 2 Schedule

Here's a breakdown of Sunday's early slate of games (click here for Part II; all times ET):

Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m.

Line: Panthers -3 (opened at -3 1/2)
O/U: 41 (opened at 40 1/2)
Weather: Clear, 86 F; NNE wind @ 3 mph

You're up, Ryan Mallett. The Texans are making a quarterback switch, turning to Mallett after Brian Hoyer struggled against Kansas City; neither is a DFS option against a stout Carolina defense. ... RB Alfred Blue had just nine carries last week, and will likely see a similar workload this week. Stay far away. ... WR DeAndre Hopkins was a hot play last week, and should be Mallett's favorite target Sunday. Nate Washington is worth a look in GPPs. ... Panthers QB Cam Newton learned last week just how daunting things are in the post-Kelvin Benjamin era. His upside is low, and his floor isn't high enough to warrant a DFS roster spot in cash games. ... RB Jonathan Stewart is dealing with a knee injury and faces a Texans defense that punishes running backs. Look elsewhere this week. ... The wide receiver landscape in Carolina is not worth examining in Week 2. ... The Panthers say the'll make an effort to get TE Greg Olsen more involved; he had just one catch for 11 yards last week, and with better, cheaper options available, he should be faded.

Prediction: Panthers 16, Texans 14
DFS MVP: DeAndre Hopkins

San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m.

Line: Steelers -5.5 (opened at -5 1/2)
O/U: 46 (opened at 44)
Weather: Clear, 68 F; NNE wind @ 10 mph

49ers QB Colin Kaepernick looked ordinary in the season-opening win over Minnesota, and won't find much solace in Steeltown. The Pittsburgh defense isn't terrific, but then again, neither is Kaepernick. ... RB Carlos Hyde was one of the best value plays on the docket in Week 1, and will likely see a heavy workload again. Jump on him in both formats before his price goes sky-high. ... WRs Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin just aren't reliable DFS options, plagued by a quarterback who doesn't rack up passing yards. ... TE Vernon Davis, on the other hand, is a decent GPP play against a Steelers D that struggles with tight ends. ... Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger is salaried as a top-10 QB, but with two of his top receiving options still out of action, he's a bit overpriced. ... RB DeAngelo Williams was sensational in Week 1, but gets a 49ers defense that limited Adrian Peterson to 31 rushing yards. He's a GPP play only. ... WR Antonio Brown is a cash-game stud. Play him all day. ... TE Heath Miller should see plenty of targets and is a decent tournament option.

Prediction: Steelers 21, 49ers 14
DFS MVP: Antonio Brown

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m.

Line: Saints -8.5 (opened at 10 1/2)
O/U: 46.5 (opened at 48 1/2)
Weather: Dome

As debuts go, Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston's was less than stellar. But he'll have a chance to rebound against a suspect Saints pass defense - and he'll likely have his top weapon back in the lineup. That said, DFS players should probably take a wait-and-see approach. ... RB Doug Martin was limited to 11 carries in last week's blowout loss - and could see a similar fate if this one goes as planned. Look elsewhere. ... WR Mike Evans is slated to return, and could go wild as Winston's new favorite target. Lock him down in GPPs, but make sure he's playing first. ... Vincent Jackson and TE Austin Serefian-Jenkins both stand to lose targets; Jackson should be avoided, while ASJ is a GPP-only play. ... Saints QB Drew Brees is licking his chops - and with good reason, as the Bucs don't appear capable of defending anyone. Brees should be a top-3 option this week, and is worth owning in all formats. ... The return of RB C.J. Spiller would dampen the value of Mark Ingram. Take a flier on either in GPP play if Spiller plays; if he doesn't, Ingram is a must-own. ... WRs Brandin Cooks and Brandon Coleman are both great tournament plays, while an argument could be made for Cooks in cash play.

Prediction: Saints 35, Buccaneers 17
DFS MVP: Drew Brees

Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m.

Line: Vikings -2 1/2 (opened at -3)
O/U: 44 (opened at 44)
Weather: Partly cloudy, 70 F; S wind @ 12 mph

Picking on Detroit QB Matthew Stafford is easy, but it needs to be said: Targeting a healthy Calvin Johnson four times in a 60-minute football game (as Stafford did in Week 1) is asinine. Stafford has no chance of returning value if Megatron doesn't see 10+ targets; don't bet on it happening Sunday. ... RB Ameer Abdullah was used in a variety of ways in his NFL debut, racking up seven carries, four receptions and three returns. Expect similar usage against the Vikings, which makes him a decent cash-game option. ... Johnson can't be trusted until Stafford proves he actually knows his No. 1 receiver is on the field. ... WR Golden Tate is still priced too high. ... Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater struggled in San Francisco, but should be a decent value play against a Lions D that was shredded by San Diego last week. ... RB Adrian Peterson looked rusty in Week 1. The Lions limited the Chargers to 3.2 YPC last week; leave Peterson alone until he looks better. ... no Vikings receivers stand out in this one; if you have to lean on one, take Mike Wallace.

Prediction: Vikings 23, Lions 17
DFS MVP: Teddy Bridgewater

Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.

Line: Cardinals -1 1/2 (opened at -1 1/2)
O/U: 45 1/2 (opened at 44 1/2)
Weather: Clear, 67 F; SE wind @ 3 mph

Cardinals QB Carson Palmer's last seven games: 1,933 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, three interceptions. Palmer is scorching-hot, and should remain so against a porous Bears pass defense. Palmer is the best bargain QB play of the week. ... RB Chris Johnson is far from being an elite back; avoid at all costs. ... WRs Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown are both in play due to their high floors; if you're looking for a GPP option, take Brown, who is more likely to convert a deep score. ... Bears QB Jay Cutler should be able to return value in what could turn into a shootout, but the Cardinals' lock-down defense will limit his upside. Better options are available. ... RB Matt Forte is still the centerpiece of the offense, and worth his high price tag as a cash-game lock. ... WR Alshon Jeffery should fare better than he did in Week 1, though his upside, like Cutler's, is lower than most weeks. ... TE Martellus Bennett should be targeted often, but you can find better GPP options for cheaper.

Prediction: Cardinals 30, Bears 23
DFS MVP: Carson Palmer

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m.

Line: Bills -1 (opened as PK)
O/U: 45 (opened at 45)
Weather: Clear, 63 F; N wind @ 6 mph

Patriots QB Tom Brady tore the Bills to ribbons in their Week 6 matchup a year ago in Buffalo; He probably won't throw for four scores again, but Brady clearly isn't intimidated by the Bills' imposing D. DFSers shouldn't, either; his floor is high, making him a solid cash-game play. ... RB LeGarrette Blount returns from a one-game suspension and becomes the Pats' early-down and goal-line back. He's even money to score, making him a strong GPP play. ... WR Julian Edelman is a target monster, and should snag enough receptions to be a worthwhile cash game option. ... Thinking about spending up for TE Rob Gronkowski? He has nine touchdowns in seven career games against Buffalo. Do it. ... Tyrod Taylor isn't a sexy QB pick, but he should do enough damage with his feet to return most of his value. He's a cash-game option if you're looking to spend elsewhere. ... RB LeSean McCoy is still banged up, limiting his upside and leaving him at risk of a mid-game aggravation. Avoid him. ... WR Sammy Watkins won't be shut out again, but with Taylor at the helm, he isn't worth rostering.

Prediction: Patriots 23, Bills 20
DFS MVP: Rob Gronkowski

San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.

Line: Bengals -3 1/2 (opened at -3 1/2)
O/U: 47.5 (opened at 45 1/2)
Weather: Partly cloudy, 74 F; NE wind @ 9 mph

Chargers QB Philip Rivers had a sensational performance against Detroit, throwing for more than 400 yards; he'll always be a threat to rack up yardage, and he should be one of the better mid-range QB picks of the week. ... RB Melvin Gordon was upstaged by Danny Woodhead, who scored twice and looked great in doing so. Gordon should be avoided, while Woodhead is a high-upside GPP play. ... WR Keenan Allen posted career highs in catches (15) and yards (166) last week; he won't match those totals against the Bengals, but remains good value at the low end of the elite WR list. ... Stevie Johnson makes for a great GPP pick as Rivers' No. 2 option in a pass-happy offense. ... Bengals QB Andy Dalton makes too many mistakes to be a reliable DFS option. ... RB Jeremy Hill showed his all-world talent last week, and is a great cash-game play; he'll still cede work to Giovani Bernard, but his ceiling is sky-high. ... WR A.J. Green would be a great play if Dalton weren't his QB. Unfortunately, he is - so stay away.

Prediction: Bengals 24, Chargers 21
DFS MVP: Jeremy Hill

Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.

Line: Titans -1 (opened at +2 1/2)
O/U: 41 (opened at 41 1/2)
Weather: Clear, 66 F; NNE wind @ 12 mph

What does Titans QB Marcus Mariota do for an encore? DFS players shouldn't expect a repeat of his Week 1 four-touchdown showing, as the Browns actually defend the pass well. Steer clear in all formats. ... RB Bishop Sankey was sensational against Tampa Bay, and now gets a matchup with a talent-deficient Cleveland run defense. Buy him in either format; he should be good for 80-100 total yards and at least one score. ... WR Kendall Wright hauled in four passes for 101 yards and a score against the Bucs, and is clearly Mariota's favorite receiver. He should see more targets this week, but should end up with fewer yards. ... TE Delanie Walker is in a similar situation, and makes for a nice tournament play with the potential for a score. ... Those crickets you hear represent the audio equivalent of the Browns' daily fantasy impact. Aside from taking a GPP flier on RB Duke Johnson in hopes he wrests the starting role from Isaiah Crowell, there's nothing to see here.

Prediction: Titans 20, Browns 10
DFS MVP: Bishop Sankey

Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants, 1 p.m.

Line: Giants -1 1/2 (opened at -2)
O/U: 49.5 (opened at 51)
Weather: Clear, 77 F; N wind @ 13 mph

Falcons QB Matt Ryan had a first half to remember and a second half to forget in his season opener; he should return value in what is expected to be a shootout, but his road record is spotty - so stick to GPP play. ... RB Tevin Coleman may not see much action for a feature back, and should be avoided. ... WR Julio Jones is a gamble worth taking in either format; don't let the price scare you off - he's a top-3 WR with huge upside. ... Roddy White was solid in Week 1, but is an injury risk on every play. Look elsewhere for a mid-tier WR option. ... QB Eli Manning had a rough opening week, but returns home to face a Falcons secondary that was picked apart by Sam Bradford in the second half of their Monday night tilt. Eli is a great cash game play. ... RB Rashad Jennings is a weekly threat to score in the Giants' high-octane offense - but this game will feature plenty of passing, so limit his use to GPPs. ... Shane Vereen may be worth a tournament look, particularly if Jennings struggles early or the Giants trail big. ... WR Odell Beckham Jr. should feast on the Atlanta pass defense, so ignore his Week 1 struggles and fire him up in all formats.

Prediction: Giants 30, Falcons 24
DFS MVP: Eli Manning

St. Louis Rams at Washington Redskins, 1 p.m.

Line: Rams -3 (opened at -3)
O/U: 41 (opened at 42)
Weather: Partly cloudy, 75 F; N wind @ 10 mph

Facing one of the league's most imposing defenses, Rams QB Nick Foles racked up nearly 300 yards and a touchdown; this week is going to seem like a cake walk in comparison, so don't hesitate to use him in GPPs as a potential mid-priced steal. ... Injuries have muddied the St. Louis run game, but Benny Cunningham looks like the safest pick; that said, he can't be trusted in cash games. ... It's hard to trust any Rams receiver despite Foles' projected success; Cunningham led the way with seven targets last week. If you want to take a flier, try Stedman Bailey, whom Foles likes and whose prices allows you to roster some top flight talent. ... TE Jared Cook may wind up being the Rams' best option, and offers high upside in both formats with strong TD potential. ... QB Kirk Cousins isn't that good to begin with; missing his top target in DeSean Jackson, he isn't rosterable. ... RB Alfred Morris needs a score to be DFS relevant; that's going to be tough to do against a Rams run defense that limited Seattle to 3.9 YPC. ... WR Pierre Garcon is one of the top cash game plays of the week - especially if TE Jordan Reed sits out. Use him for the targets and receptions, but don't expect a TD. ... Reed is a decent cash play if healthy, but he's had leg issues his entire career - so beware.

Prediction: Rams 23, Redskins 10
DFS MVP: Jared Cook