For the first time this season, the NFL is leaving the country to build its brand overseas as part of the ever-growing International Series. That means football fans can wake up and turn on the TV for an extended few hours of NFL action. The excitement isn’t contained to an overseas contest, as several notable matchups are worth tuning into throughout the day. Conference play is front and center in what should be another exciting day of football.
This article will discuss 3-5 of my favorite pick’ems from various DFS sites like Betr, Sleeper Fantasy, PrizePicks, and Underdog Fantasy.
Don’t forget to leverage our simulations tool from our projections team to identify where the biggest edges are — and you can see more projection picks here.
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Week 2 NFL Fantasy Pick’ems
Joshua Kelley Lower 52.5 Rushing Yards
An ankle injury to Austin Ekeler has propelled Joshua Kelley to the top of the Los Angeles Chargers depth chart. However, early returns aren’t promising, and Kelley will face a tough Las Vegas Raiders rush defense in Week 4.
Kelley has been an afterthought in the Chargers’ game planning. The fourth-year pro has played fewer than 80% of snaps in both his starts, with even more disappointing rushing metrics. Kelley has toted the ball 24 times in two starts for a minuscule 51 yards. At 2.1 yards per carry, the Chargers are right for prioritizing other players in their schemes.
The Raiders are fresh off a solid run-stopping performance. Last week, Las Vegas held the Pittsburgh Steelers to 105 rushing yards, just 3.4 per rush attempt. They should duplicate that feat against a backup running back and pass-first offense on Sunday.
Kelley’s tenure as a lead back has been an unfortunate one. It’s unlikely he secures the touches needed to go above 52.5 rushing yards against the Raiders.
Kenneth Gainwell Higher 6.5 Rushing Attempts
The Philadelphia Eagles have picked up where they left off after last year. The reigning NFC Champions relied on their potent offense and imposing defense to get them within a field goal of winning the Super Bowl. Now, the Eagles are back with an upgraded three-headed rushing monster poised to bulldoze the Washington Commanders in Week 4.
We’re getting a taste of how Nick Sirianni plans on deploying his running backs, and the early returns are promising for Kenneth Gainwell. The 24-year-old has carried the ball 14 times in both his appearances, accumulating targets in the passing game, as well.
The Eagles are projected to be playing with the lead against the Commanders, meaning Gainwell will once again be a prominent feature on offense. Philadelphia should turn to their rushing attack to maintain possession, manage the clock, and keep Washington’s offense off the field.
As we’ve already seen, that means a heavy workload for Gainwell and De’Andre Swift. This total is set far too low for our liking. We’re betting Gainwell soars above his modest rushing attempts projection.
Lamar Jackson Higher 16.5 Completions
The Dawg Pound will be fired up for Sunday’s AFC North clash. The Cleveland Browns host the Baltimore Ravens in a crucial early-season divisional showdown. Lamar Jackson remains the catalyst of the Ravens’ offense, and he’ll need to be at his best to keep pace with the Browns.
This is the most accurate we’ve seen Jackson throughout his career. The former MVP is completing 73.3% of his passes, emphasizing high-probability throws to keep the chains moving. Moreover, Jackson has completed at least 17 throws and 70.9% of his passes in all three outings this season.
The Ravens will need Jackson to maintain that standard if they hope to keep pace with a divisional foe on the road. The Browns have been moving the ball efficiently, leaving Jackson and company to match that energy.
Without a feature back, the passing game has come into focus, and Jackson can keep that momentum going in Week 5. Getting to 17 completions should be nothing more than a formality.
Jakobi Meyers Higher 3.5 Receptions
Last season, Davante Adams was solely responsible for the lion’s share of the Raiders yards. That is, until Jakobi Meyers came to town. The wide receiver has cemented himself as an integral part of Las Vegas’ aerial assault and should be a prominent playmaker again Sunday.
When in the lineup, Meyers has eaten into Adams’ target share. The North Carolina State product was targeted 10 times in Week 1, outpacing Adams with a 40.0% target share. After missing Week 2, Meyers was up to his usual antics on Sunday Night Football last week, falling behind Adams with 12 targets, or a 27.3% comparative workload.
More impressively, Meyers has made the most of these extra looks. He’s hauled in 16 of those 22 passes for a 72.7% catch rate, putting him on the edge of setting a new career benchmark.
Meyers has infiltrated his new team without missing a beat. His 3.5 receptions projection doesn’t accurately reflect his ceiling or even come close to scratching the surface of what we’ve seen from him early in 2023. Four catches should be short work for Meyers as he takes the field as a primary weapon against the Chargers.
