• Carolina Panthers WR D.J. Moore should get back on track against a New York Giants secondary far from full health. Expect him to improve on his 65.1 PFF receiving grade dud from last week.
• Pittsburgh Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth earned a 76.2 PFF receiving grade last week, second-best among tight ends with at least six targets.
• New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley is a steal at his current DraftKings salary of $7,300 after producing a 73.4 PFF rushing grade and a 76.5 PFF receiving grade in Week 1.
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NFL Week 2 action is finally here. Here are five recommended plays to help you win big in DraftKings GPP and cash game competitions.
WR D.J. MOORE, CAROLINA PANTHERS ($5,700 ON DRAFTKINGS) @ NEW YORK GIANTS
D.J. Moore and company faced the rugged Cleveland Browns in Week 1 but have a far softer matchup this week against a New York Giants defense that was repeatedly roasted by Tennessee Titans pass-catchers last Sunday. New York’s three starting cornerbacks — Adoree Jackson, Aaron Robinson and Darnay Holmes — were responsible for five explosive pass plays of 15 yards or more. On the day, the team gave up seven such completions, tied for fifth-most in the NFL. Jackson (69.0) and Robinson (72.4) still managed reputable PFF coverage grades, but Holmes’ (34.5) showing fell far short.
Things are not looking any brighter for the Giants’ secondary this week, as Robinson was rushed to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy and has already been ruled out. Third-round rookie cornerback Cordale Flott is expected to start in Robinson’s place, and the team will be awfully shallow behind him.
Fellow backup cornerback Nick McCloud didn't practice both Wednesday and Thursday with a hamstring injury, leaving just Justin Layne as the lone fill-in option. Flott produced a respectable 84.8 PFF coverage grade at LSU last year, but being asked to cover Moore is a whole different ball game. Moore has finished 15th (80.2), 16th (79.1) and 24th (76.3) in PFF receiving grade among wide receivers with at least 100 targets each year, over the past three years.
PFF’s WR/CB matchup chart initially had Moore facing both Jackson and Robinson on 23 snaps apiece, with 11 expected snaps against the dreadful slot cornerback Holmes, but PFF’s Ian Hartitz noted that the Giants’ tasked Jackson with shadowing Tennessee’s Robert Woods last week. Fellow Panthers receiver Robbie Anderson cruised to five catches on seven targets for 102 receiving yards and one touchdown against the Browns and brings with him a known complementary presence that Tennessee lacked.