Top daily fantasy football plays for Saturday’s Week 2 preseason games

Week 2 of the NFL preseason concludes with seven games on Saturday, providing all sorts of interesting options for daily fantasy players. Thus far this week, as expected, starters are playing roughly the entire first quarter and in some cases, into the second.

This article seeks to point out some of the best options for Saturday’s games, targeting starters in good positions and backups with opportunities for extended run against second- and third-string defenses. But with any preseason game, roster decisions can be fluid, right up to kickoff. Be sure to check Twitter for late-breaking scratches and indications that certain players are expected to get heavy run.

That disclaimer out of the way, here are some options to consider when building your DFS teams on Saturday:

QB

Must play: Cam Newton
Stay away: Marcus Mariota

Notes: If Cam is out there for more than a quarter, that should be enough time for him to run and pass his way to solid numbers, especially if he looks to hook up with returning deep threat Kelvin Benjamin. This is a tough defense for Mariota to face, so look elsewhere on this deeper slate.

RB

Must play: Derrick Henry
Maybe play: Cameron Artis-Payne, DeMarco Murray
Stay away: Bishop Sankey

Notes: The only reason for the “maybe” play on Murray is that he will face a much tougher starting defense in Carolina, as opposed to the porous San Diego Chargers. But Henry should see the backups and could duplicate his big Week 1 performance.

WR

Must play: Devin Funchess, Tajae Sharpe
Maybe play: Kelvin Benjamin
Stay away: Justin Hunter

Notes: Funchess is the rising star for the Panthers and should see decent snaps. It’s hard to know how much Benjamin will play, but all it takes is one long touchdown pass to be a preseason DFS star. Sharpe avoided a concussion last week and is showing his potential. He could be in for a productive night.

TE

Must play: None
Maybe play: Delanie Walker
Stay away: Greg Olsen

Notes: Olsen isn’t practicing with his back issue, so expect him to sit this one out.

QB

Must play: None
Maybe play: Ryan Nassib, Cardale Jones
Stay away: Eli Manning

Notes: What to do with Ryan Nassib? He was the darling of DFS last week when he was named the starter and tabbed to play most of the game. He indeed played, but he was terrible and sunk many hopeful DFS lineups. This week, Eli Manning isn’t expected to play much, so the opportunity is once again there. Do you trust him? He’ll certainly be lower owned. Jones was pretty solid in his debut last week as a thrower and a runner. Depending on how much Tyrod Taylor plays, Jones might be able to do enough to fill a productive stat sheet.

RB

Must play: None
Maybe play: Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams, Jonathan Williams
Stay away: LeSean McCoy

Notes: Check to see how much Jennings is expected to play. Even if he goes a full quarter, there might be better options out there. Williams had a decent debut last week and if Jennings only gets a cameo, he could be a volume option. Jonathan Williams had a solid debut for the Bills last week and could see a decent workload again as the team decides his fate as the potential No. 3 back.

WR

Must play: None
Maybe play: Sterling Shepard, Marquise Goodwin
Stay away: Victor Cruz

Notes: Shepard has all the talent and should be capable of a nice game, but he is really quarterback dependent here, so he carries some risk. If Eli looks for him and Nassib is serviceable, Shepard could have a big game. Goodwin was another player last week expected to make a splashy debut, only to bust. Maybe this is the week he shows off his talent. Cruz traveled with the team. That’s nice. Don’t play him.

TE

Must play: None.
Maybe play: Will Tye
Notes: Tight end is the worst position to fill in preseason fantasy. Tye is a solid player, but there is at least one better option on this slate.

QB

Must play: Andrew Luck
Maybe play: Ryan Mallett, Josh Johnson
Stay away: Joe Flacco

Notes: Chuck Pagano said Luck will play “at least a quarter.” That’s a good enough reason to play him, although the offensive line had a rough game last week. Flacco’s status remains up in the air. He’s really hard to trust here. Mallett should see the first half and Johnson the second. Both are capable of maximizing their volume, but Johnson is probably the better play after a solid Week 1 performance.

RB

Must play: Terrance West
Maybe play: Josh Ferguson, Kenneth Dixon
Stay away: Frank Gore

Notes: West scored on a pair of one-yard touchdowns last week, and if he is going to continue to get goal-line work, he’s going to make a difference in DFS. It’s boom or bust, but that was a big boom last week. Dixon had the same number of carries (nine) and did more with them. If you don’t believe in West’s end zone radar this week, Dixon is the safer play. Ferguson was a Week 1 bust, but if Gore plays sparingly, as expected, he might get another chance to live up to his preseason hype.

WR

Must play: T.Y. Hilton
Maybe play: Michael Campanaro
Stay away: Keenan Reynolds

Notes: If Luck is going to play more than a quarter, Hilton is going to get fed, and he could put up a big number even in limited time. Campanaro is an interesting option, as he will also likely return kicks. He has missed time in camp with injuries, so check his status, but he could be a low-owned intriguing option, especially if he breaks one on special teams.

TE

Must play: Darren Waller
Maybe play: Dwayne Allen

Notes: Waller will serve a four-game suspension to start the season, but he was a preseason gem last week, catching five passes for 48 yards. He’s going to be the man again this week and should be highly considered.

QB

Must play: Jameis Winston
Maybe play: Mike Glennon
Stay away: Blake Bortles

Notes: Gus Bradley indicated this week that because of the intra-squad practices against the Bucs, he will not treat this game like a normal preseason Week 2, meaning he will limit his starters. That should take Bortles off the board. Winston should be good for at least a quarter and Glennon could see the bulk of the second half, giving them both some value.

RB

Must play: None
Maybe play: T.J. Yeldon, Chris Ivory, Doug Martin

Notes: If Martin were to be locked into a full quarter, he might be a must play, but playing time is uncertain here. Yeldon and Ivory both had their moments last week and either one is a safe play here.

WR

Must play: Marqise Lee
Maybe play: Rashad Greene, Kenny Bell
Stay away: Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns

Notes: Again, tough to trust the Jaguars starters, as they are not expected to play much. But it opens the door for guys like Lee and Greene to show their stuff. Lee was solid last week and is fighting for the No. 3 job, so he could see plenty of targets. Bell had a dreadful Week 1, but looked good in practice and makes for a nice “redemption” play as he fights for a job.

TE

Must play: Austin Seferian-Jenkins

Notes: Winston and ASJ are really working well together in practice, especially this week against the Jags, connecting for three touchdowns. If that spills over into the real game, ASJ becomes the top tight end play.

QB

Must play: None
Maybe play: Garrett Grayson, Brock Osweiler
Stay away: Drew Brees

Notes: Brees said he expects to play “a little more” than one series, but that could be two series. Probably not worth the risk here. Grayson was uneven against the Patriots last week and could come up big here, but again, not worth the risk. Osweiler is pretty much in the same boat. This is not the game for QB play.

RB

Must play: Kenny Hilliard
Maybe play: Mark Ingram, Tyler Ervin
Stay away: Lamar Miller

Notes: Texans coach Bill O’Brien said the main goal for Miller is to stay healthy, so he likely won’t play very much. Hilliard will, however, and he could be in line for a big game after a strong preseason opener last week. Tyler could also factor in here, but Hilliard is in a nice spot. Even if Ingram plays sparingly, he is capable of big numbers, as he showed last week.

WR

Must play: Michael Thomas, DeAndre Hopkins
Maybe play: Jaelen Strong

Notes: Hopkins is always capable of a big play (or two) and the Saints secondary is hardly formidable. Strong is competing with Will Fuller in camp, and he was the more productive receiver in Week 1. This is a good chance for him to build on that success. Thomas looked very good against the Patriots and should see enough volume here to make him viable.

TE

Maybe play: Coby Fleener

Notes: Fleener is a solid player, but there are better options on this slate.

QB

Must play: Blaine Gabbert
Maybe play: Mark Sanchez, Trevor Siemian
Stay away: Christian Ponder

Notes: It’s probably a safe bet that Gabbert will play into the second quarter, as the 49ers are decimated with injuries at the position. Then again, why risk adding Gabbert to the list. If the offensive line protects him, Gabbert should be in long enough to put up some numbers. On the other side, Siemian will start, but both he and Sanchez will play about a quarter and a half and play with the first unit. Siemian makes for an intriguing low-owned target. You don’t get points for handing the ball off, so don’t play Ponder.

RB

Must play: None
Maybe play: Mike Davis, Devontae Booker

Notes: Davis exploded in Week 1, rushing for 72 yards on just five carries. That may have earned him a longer look against the Broncos, so the sky’s the limit here if the carries are there. Booker is pushing Ronnie Hillman hard in practice and should get another solid look in this one.

WR

Must play: Demaryius Thomas
Maybe play: Quinton Patton, Cody Latimer
Stay away: Bruce Ellington

Notes: Thomas is always a threat to put up big numbers even in limited snaps, so he is a solid option. Latimer had seven catches in Week 1 and with Bennie Fowler down with an injury, his opportunities should be there again this week. With Ellington almost certain not to play because of injury, Patton has a chance to pick up some extra targets.

TE

Must play: Vance McDonald

Notes: McDonald had two catches for 54 yards and a touchdown last week. That certainly bodes well for an encore with increased playing time. He’s among the few elite options on this slate.

QB

Must play: Jared Goff, Alex Smith
Maybe play: Case Keenum

Notes: Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Goff would likely work with the first team offense against the Chiefs. The defense he’ll face is formidable, but since Goff’s debut last week was limited due to a minor injury, he should get a very long look in this one. Go with the volume here. Keenum should still get in his work as the starter and has the potential to score points. On the other side, Andy Reid said the starters will play the first half, so Alex Smith is in a generous volume scenario here, even if he isn’t the flashiest of point producers.

RB

Must play: Spencer Ware
Maybe play: Charcandrick West, Malcolm Brown
Stay away: Todd Gurley

Notes: Ware showed he was the better back than West in the preseason opener, so it stands to reason, with the starters going the full first half, that West will be the dominant ball-carrier of the two. Roll with Ware, but West could surprise in a smaller role, if you want to be contrarian. Gurley is making his season debut off knee surgery. Don’t risk it, as his playing time will almost certainly be limited. Brown had eight carries for 66 yards last week, and should still get looks even with Gurley playing.

WR

Must play: Jeremy Maclin
Maybe play: Tyreek Hill, Nelson Spruce

Notes: If the starters are playing the entire first half, you have to think Maclin is going to get in on the fun. He had a catch in very limited playing time in Week 1, so he’s in play for sure with more snaps on tap. Hill should continue to get looks after a solid debut, which can also be said for Spruce, who had six catches and a touchdown last week against the Cowboys.

TE

Must play: Tyler Higbee
Maybe play: Travis Kelce

Notes: Higbee has had a lot of hype this preseason, and he lived up to it against the Cowboys with five catches for 49 yards. Against the Chiefs pass rush, he could be gold with Goff looking to get rid of the ball quickly.