Opening week of the 2025 NFL season turned out to be a wild one, and with many fantasy studs looking like duds it was the sleepers and value picks who made DFS competitors the big prizes. So, this column probably came in handy.
That's why we're here each week! We scour the daily fantasy player pools, pinpoint the most overlooked and undervalued names from the main slate, and serve them up for you on a proverbial platter.
If you can't find the best deals, you probably won't be bringing home the bacon. That's why we highlight the best players at every position on DraftKings and FanDuel each week, so you can create an optimal lineup and cash in on both.
Let's take a quick look at our biggest hits last week, with each player's DK salary and ultimate fantasy production:
| Pos. | Player | Week 1 matchup | Salary | Points |
| QB | Michael Penix Jr. | Falcons vs. Bucs | $5,600 | 24 |
| QB | Drake Maye | Patriots vs. Raiders | $5,500 | 17 |
| RB | Chuba Hubbard | Panthers at Jaguars | $6,000 | 18 |
| WR | Emeka Egbuka | Buccaneers at Falcons | $4,600 | 23.6 |
| WR | Deebo Samuel | Commanders vs. Giants | $5,200 | 22.6 |
| WR | Marvin Harrison Jr. | Cardinals at Saints | $5,500 | 18 |
| WR | Ricky Pearsall | 49ers at Seahawks | $4,500 | 18 |
| TE | Tyler Warren | Colts vs. Dolphins | $4,400 | 15 |
| DST | San Francisco | 49ers at Seahawks | $2,900 | 9 |
Not too shabby! We fulfilled the ultimate objective: get the most bang for our buck during lineup construction. Finding a balance between proven weekly studs and high-value sleepers is crucial, just like pumping our children with Vitamin C and water to avoid the dreaded first bugs of the school year.
Let's keep our DFS balances healthy, and get to the Sporting News' NFL Week 2 DFS sleepers and fantasy football value picks on DraftKings and FanDuel.
MORE: Learn how to play NFL DFS
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 2: Quarterback
Jared Goff, Lions vs. Bears (DK: $6,000 | FD: $7,500)
Jared was "Goff his Game" in Week 1, looking completely outmatched by the Packers defense. We think the veteran signal-caller will be "Goff the Chains" this time around, considering the Bears defense just let J.J. McCarthy rack up three total TDs in Chicago.
Detroit can't afford to go 0-2 in the NFC North, and Dan Campbell's squad will be extra fired up to beat former offensive coordinator and current Bears head coach Ben Johnson. So, "Turn Your Head and Goff" this weekend.
Dak Prescott, Cowboys vs. Giants (DK: $5,900 | FD: $7,300)
Prescott and the Cowboys looked horrid in their season-opening loss to the Eagles last Thursday, but they've got plenty of time to prepare for the Giants this Sunday. New York has a couple solid defensive players, but on the whole it's a pretty underwhelming unit in terms of limiting opposing QB's fantasy production.
You might want to "Spit on Dak Thing" in Week 2 (too soon, Jalen Carter?).
Other QBs whose Week 2 values exceed their price tags:
- Justin Fields, Jets vs. Bills (DK: $5,700 | FD: $7,600)
- Drake Maye, Patriots at Dolphins (DK: $5,200 | FD: $6,800)
- Sam Darnold, Seahawks at Steelers (DK: $5,000 | FD: $7,000)
- Joe Flacco, Browns at Ravens (DK: $5,000 | FD: $6,600)
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 2: Running back
Chuba Hubbard, Panthers at Cardinals (DK: $6,000 | FD: $6,400)
As long as DK and FD have this guy listed this low, we're going to keep going back to the "Hubba-Hubba Burning Chub" (sorry, this train can't be stopped...it just keeps Chuba Chuba chugging). What's not to love? He's getting bell-cow usage both on the ground and through the air, he's finding the end zone and he's facing a below-average defense. Go with Hub for the Dub.
Travis Etienne, Jaguars at Bengals (DK: $5,700 | FD: $6,700)
Etienne played so well in Week 1 vs. Carolina that the Jags shipped Tank Bigsby out of town. And, while the Bengals should be better defensively than the Panthers, it's hard not to love the volume upside that comes with ETN. So, let's sing it! "Ohh baby, you—ya got what we need...but you say he's ETN?"
More strong Week 2 RB values (bold prices indicate volatility):
- Javonte Williams, Cowboys vs. Giants (DK: $5,800 | FD: $6,300)
- J.K. Dobbins, Broncos at Colts (DK: $5,600 | FD: $5,800)
- Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Seahawks (DK: $5,400 | FD: $5,800)
- Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks at Steelers (DK: $5,100 | FD: $5,600)
- Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants at Cowboys (DK: $5,300 | FD: $5,700)
FANTASY WEEK 2 RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 2: Wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks at Steelers (DK: $6,000 | FD: $7,400)
We'll be deploying the Teenage Mutant Njigba Turtles this weekend, as we project the Steelers to get out to an early lead. JSN got peppered with Sam Darnold targets last weekend — 13, to be exact — and he finished with nine receptions for 124 yards. He's a clear-cut top-10 wide receiver and we're paying modest prices for him — easy call.
George Pickens, Cowboys vs. Giants (DK: $5,800 | FD: $6,000)
It was "Slim Pickens" in Week 1, but we're stackin' Dak with George for some fantasy fun in Week 2. Breakout game, anyone? There's no way the Giants can cover CeeDee Lamb and contain Pickens in the same game. The points will come.
More strong Week 2 DFS values at WR:
- DJ Moore, Bears at Lions (DK: $5,600 | FD: $6,600)
- DeVonta Smith, Eagles at Chiefs (DK: $5,600 | FD: $6,400)
- Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers at Cardinals (DK: $5,400 | FD: $5,700)
- Hollywood Brown, Chiefs vs. Eagles (DK: $5,200 | FD: $6,500)
- Cedric Tillman, Browns at Ravens (DK: $4,300 | FD: $5,400)
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 2: Tight end
Hunter Henry, Patriots at Dolphins (DK: $4,000 | FD: $4,900)
The Pats had an underwhelming start to their 2025 season, but they could be in for a bounce-back effort with a little help from a certain Dolphins Demon Hunter this Sunday afternoon.
Henry remains one of Drake Maye's favorite targets — they connected on 4-of-8 targets for 66 yards last week — so the two should put up some nice numbers against a Miami squad that looks flat-out lost.
More Week 2 TEs worth a look (but really, all these options stink):
- Tyler Warren, Colts vs. Broncos (DK: $4,500 | FD: $5,500)
- Jonnu Smith, Steelers vs. Seahawks (DK: $3,900 | FD: $5,400)
- Dallas Goedert, Eagles at Chiefs (DK: $3,800 | FD: $5,800)
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 2: D/ST
Los Angeles Rams at Titans (DK: $3,100 | FD: $4,500)
The Rams stifled C.J. Stroud and the Texans last week, registering two takeaways and three sacks while only allowing nine total points. Now they get to feast against shaky rookie Cam Ward, who looked miserable in Denver last weekend. Big points explosion coming for LA.
More sleeper D/ST plays for Week 2:
- Denver Broncos at Colts (DK: $3,500 | FD: $4,000)
- New England Patriots at Dolphins (DK: $2,800 | FD: $4,400)
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