The Conclusion: DraftKings DFS Core, GPP Plays

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Welcome to the Conclusion. Where each week I will go over my final player pool for DraftKings main slate. This is not a list of all the good players. This is a list of players that will make my final player pool. We can’t play everyone.

My contest selection for the main slate will generally be single or three-max entry tournaments with less than 1,000 entries. I’ll usually do three lineups each week. This week I’ll be in single-entry small field entries.

Week 1 was a mixed bag. We hit some key spots, and we missed a few key spots. We’re a forward-thinking bunch, so we’re on to Week 2.

Week 2 will be full of chalk. We will need to separate the good chalk from the bad chalk.

Stack No. 1: Arizona Cardinals/Los Angeles Rams

The Arizona Cardinals will host the Los Angele Rams for a 4:05 p.m. EST kickoff on Sept. 15. We have a game total of 48. This game will garnish some ownership. If you’re stacking this game with me, you’ll want to make sure you get unique either with the stack or with your build around pieces.

Either Matt Stafford (6.0k) or Kyler Murray (6.6k) can be used. I’ll be using Murray and his rushing upside in my lineup. There are certainly scenarios where Stafford throws for 300 yards and 3 TDs, so if you preferred that route, I completely get it. Pairing Murray with Trey McBride (6.0k) will be a priority for me. McBride didn’t hit last week, but he did have a 29-percent target share and ran a route on 84.2 percent of the pass attempts. In larger field contests, all of Greg Dortch, Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. can be used.

Kyren Williams (6.8k) and James Connor (6.4k) are in play. I won’t use Connor in my Murray lineup but will be sure to get him in another lineup. The Rams just allowed 33.7 fantasy points to Detroit RB’s. Williams is a usage monster and can be played in the stack or as a one-off.

Cooper Kupp (7.6k) will be the highest-owned wide receiver on the slate—and rightfully so. With Puka Nacua out, Kupp will likely exceed a 30-percent target share again. Be sure to get unique when using Kupp in your lineup. All the Rams ancillary pieces are in play—Demarcus Robinson (4.0k), Tyler Johnson (3.3k) and tight end Colby Parkinson (3.1k). Robinson would be my favorite, but he too will come with some ownership. Parkinson will likely be the highest-owned TE on the slate. I doubt I get to Parkinson this week, but he will make the player pool.

I don’t know exactly how I’ll build this stack yet. I know I’ll start with Murray and McBride. From there I’ll try multiple combinations and find the one I like best.

Stack No. 2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Detroit Lions

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will head to Detroit to take on the Lions at 1 p.m. EST on Sept. 15. The highest total on slate belongs to this game at 51.5.

Jared Goff (6.4k) and Baker Mayfield (5.9k) are both options in this stack. I will likely side with Mayfield simply due to the salary savings. But I will play around with both QB’s in my stack and see where we land.

I’m likely staying away from running backs in this game. All of Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and Rachaad White are playable. I just won’t be getting there this week. There are other spots I’d rather go to.

Amon-Ra St. Brown (8.1k) is my favorite Detroit WR and he can be good leverage off Kupp lineups. If St. Brown doesn’t restrict the lineup too much, I prefer going with him. St. Brown had 29 targets in two games vs. Tampa Bay last year. If St. Brown just cost too much, both Jameson Williams (5.3k) and Sam LaPorta (6.3k) are fine options. LaPorta had 22 targets in the two matchups last season. Keep an eye on Williams’ health. He is questionable as of this writing.

I’m likely to double stack Mayfieldso any mixture of Mike Evans (7.5k), Chris Godwin (6.0k), Jalen McMillian (3.6k) and Cade Otton (3.6k) will suffice. If I’m using St. Brown, it’s unlikely I will get to Evans due to salary restrictions, but Evans is always in play. Godwin, who has moved back to play most of the slot snaps will likely be the way I look. Detroit was slaughtered by the slot against the Rams. McMillian is a cheap low-owned dart throw that was third in team target percentage last week that is in a high-scoring game. It only takes one. Otton had 5 receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown in the last matchup.

Stack No. 3: Indianapolis Colts/Green Bay Packers

The Indianapolis Colts will travel to Green Bay to take on the Green Bay Packers at 1 p.m. EST on Spet. 15. We have a total of 40.5. This is very unlikely to garnish much ownership at all.

I won’t actually be “full” stacking this game. I don’t think you should either. I will be using Anthony Richardson (6.8k) though. Per Rich Hribar of Sharp Football, Richardson has played three games in his career from start to finish. In those games he has scored 20.9, 29.6 and 26.1 fantasy points, respectively. There are chances this game will get bogged down by Green Bay and starting quarterback Malik Willis, but when Richardson has played a full game, he has scored points.

If I pair Richardson with anyone, it will be rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (4.0k) again. I used Mitchell last week and it didn’t work out, but he did have a 26.3-percent target share. Unfortunately, he and Richardson only connected on one of his five targets, missing a couple bigger opportunities. That will happen with Richardson until he can develop as a better passer. The upside is there. See Alec Pierce.

With Malik Willis starting at quarterback, I’m not interested in any of the Packers receivers or tight ends. I am interested in Josh Jacobs (6.5k), though. Jacobs got things going in the second half last week after being virtually shut out in the first half. I expect the Packers to lean on Jacobs as much as they can with quarterback Jordan Love out. The Colts allowed Joe Mixon to run for 159 yards and one touchdown, while also bringing in 3 catches for 19 yards.  

You can certainly just use Richardson on his own. We are looking for his rushing upside and splash plays in the passing game.

Game Target No. 1: Kansas City Chiefs/Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals will travel to Arrowhead to take on the Kansas City Chiefs at 4:25 p.m. EST on Sept. 15, with a game total of 48.

This is more about the Chiefs than it is the Bengals. I like what I saw from the Chiefs last week and I want to try and get pieces from them. Patrick Mahomes is always in play, hitting 300 yards and 3 TDs is certainly on the table. I won’t be getting to Mahomes this week, but he was the last one off my list. I do want to roster Isiah Pacheco (6.9k) and Rashee Rice (6.7k). Pacheco was the true workhorse we wanted and expected to see, and he’ll face a Bengals defense that just allowed Rhamondre Stevenson to rush for 120 yards. No disrespect to Stevenson, but the New England Patriots offense is not on the level of the Chiefs.

Rice is a true alpha wide receiver for the best quarterback in the league and he’s only $6,700. Yes, please. Xavier Worthy scored 2 touchdowns on three targets and a rush attempt, and he’s $6,100. I’ll need to see more usage before rostering him in a small-field contest. If you’re stacking Mahomes in a large field, Worthy is an option. Travis Kelce is also a stacking option, but I won’t be getting to him this week. If I’m getting to the Kansas City pass game, I want Rice.

I’m not too interested in the Bengals side. Ja’Marr Chase is always an option with his big-play ability, but with his price, there are other spots I’d rather go. I do have some interest in Andrie Iosivas (3.8k). He ran a route on 94.3 percent of the drop backs for the Bengals last week and was tied with the team lead in targets with six. He’ll be about half the ownership he was last week when everyone paired him to fit Tyreek Hill in their lineups.

One-offs

The following list of players will be the players I fill out the rest of lineups with. Whether it be as a mini stack or a one-off. I won’t be able to use everyone, but I will consider all when building lineups.

RB Jordan Mason (5.2k): Mason will be the highest-owned player on the slate. I don’t plan on fully fading him, but I will be under the field. He’s likely going to be over 50 percent owned in small-field contests. Mason wasn’t involved in the passing game and he will likely be touchdown dependent. The chances he puts up a "have to have it" score are lower than what his roster percentage would suggest.

RB Zach Charbonnet (5.8k): Currently, Kenneth Walker is doubtful. Should he miss, Charbonnet will be the workhorse for Seattle.

RB J.K Dobbins (5.4k): Dobbins can be a pivot off Mason. He won’t get the volume Mason does, but he has big-play upside as we saw last week, and he gets the Carolina Panthers this week. He’ll come at a fraction of the ownership of Mason.

RB Breece Hall (7.4k): Hall will make my pool, but it will likely be hard to get to him with the stacks I’m looking at. But I want to leave the option available.

RB Jerome Ford (5.9k): Ford is involved in multiple facets of the game. He had seven targets last week with 12 rushing attempts.

WR Deebo Samuel (6.8k): Deebo is my favorite San Francisco 49er this week. He’ll be used in the pass and running game and one of my favorite one-offs. If I can afford his price tag, I will certainly be using him.

WR Malik Nabers (5.9k): Elite skill set and elite matchup. Still too cheap. Hopefully Daniel Jones can play a little better against a softer defense in the Washington Commanders.

WR Amari Cooper (6.2k): Led the team in targets last week and had an average depth of target (aDOT) of 19.8. He’ll be super-low owned with big upside. A great leverage play.

WR CeeDee Lamb (8.8k)/Brandin Cooks (5.6k): Both Dallas Cowboys WR’s are in play. I’m more likely to get to Cooks simply due to salary reasons. Cooks will be more of a last piece that works for me if I was to use him.

WR Rashid Shaheed (4.6k): I don’t expect Shaheed to lead the team in targets every week as he did last week. But he has legit upside and can get there on one pass. He ran the second-most routes for the Saints last week.

WR Allen Lazard (3.3k): Lazard is a punt option, but I’d rather use some of the cheaper I mention earlier.

TE Brock Bowers (4.4k): Great usage in Week 1. He led the team in targets and ran a route on 7.5 percent of the team drop backs. If you’re not using a TE in your stack, Bowers is a solid one-off.

TE Jordan Akins (3.0k): Cheap option replacing David Njoku as the starter.

That will be it for the week 2 player pool. Should anything change and I add anyone to the player pool, I’ll be sure to update that on X. You can follow me Twitter/X here. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Good luck this weekend and we’ll see you at the top of the leader board.

You can find my NFL Best Bets here.