Another huge slate on Monday morning in the NFL, with another 12-game slate. We are back in the odd 9-3 early/late window allocation, where the NFL for some reason only has three late window games. Whilst it’s annoying, one of those games is worthy of a standalone contest, as the Eagles head to Arrowhead to take on the Chiefs in a Super Bowl rematch. With plenty of other quality games on offer, week 2 looks set to explode.
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NFL 2025-26 Daily Fantasy Tips: Week 2 Monday
Quarterbacks
Justin Fields - $14,680
Where has this guy been hiding? Justin Fields looked tremendous in his first start for the New York Jets, throwing for 218 yards and a touchdown, and rushing for 48 yards and two scores on the ground. Was this a flash in the pan or has new Head Coach Aaron Glenn found a way to unlock Fields’ potential. This week looks a bit tougher for the Jets and Fields, coming up against one of the most impressive teams from last week, the Bills. However, the Bills’ defence leaked like a sieve last week to the Ravens, and I anticipate Fields will eat again this week.
Drake Maye - $13,440
Whilst Maye wasn’t great last week, scoring 16.8 points almost entirely on volume (287 passing yards, 1TD, 1INT, 11 rushing yards), this week he gets the best matchup in the NFL for quarterbacks in my opinion. The Patriots take on the Dolphins, who 7 days ago made Daniel Jones look like Tom Brady, slaying the Dolphins and scoring on every single Colts’ drive. Statistically, the Dolphins allowed the fourth-highest pass yards per attempt, sixth-highest passer rating, and eighth-most passing yards in week 1. Again, this was to Daniel Jones. Play Maye with confidence at a nice discount from the premium picks this week.
Running Backs
Breece Hall - $13,350
I was all over Breece Hall last year, and it didn’t work out. So, I’m a little gun shy to go full on Breece mode here, but his performance in week 1 was hard to ignore. Whilst he only played 58% of offensive snaps, he carried the rushing offense with 70% of the rushing attempts, running for 145 yards on 21 carries. Now, Hall gets to take on a rush defence that was statistically horrible last week, and last season, in the Bills. The Bills have not set their defence up to stop the run, and as a result they are regularly gashed by opponents on the ground. Game script will hugely dictate how Hall plays here, however if the Jets can keep it competitive at home, he should flourish.
James Conner - $13,420
We were on Conner last week, and whilst he didn’t disappoint, he did look a little leggy. With just the 39 yards from his 12 carries, Conner was saved by his receiving touchdown, which pushed his score up to 14.4. Whilst another similar score isn’t out of the realms of possibility, I’m backing Conner this week with the best running back matchup in the league, the Carolina Panthers. Last year, most people were calling for the end of Travis Etienne’s career as a RB1 for the Jags. Last week, Etienne torched the pathetic Panthers’ run defence, gashing them for 143 yards on just 16 carries. I have no doubt that Conner can get his this week, and with a positive game state expected, should get plenty of carries for volume.
RJ Harvey - $8,000
This is a bit of a hit and hope on Harvey, who looked really good in his debut last week. The hope is that Head Coach Sean Payton agrees, and that he unleashes Harvey this week behind a dominant run blocking offensive line. Harvey had just the 6 carries last week to the 16 J.K. Dobbins enjoyed, but if that can get a bit closer to 50/50, Harvey should be in for a decent score here for $8k. It’s a good chance to let him off the leash this week, as the Broncos take on a Colts run defence that allowed the highest yards after contact per attempt, the sixth-highest rushing success rate, and the 11th-lowest stuff rate in week 1 against a poor Dolphins run blocking unit in catch up mode.
Wide Receivers
Jaxon Smith-Njigba - $15,070
JSN’s numbers were ridiculous last week, and it appears as though he is the only option for quarterback Sam Darnold in this offense right now. Smith-Njigba finished week 1 with 9 catches for 124 yards on 13 targets, sucking up 90% of the air yards for the Seahawks, and 83% of the team’s entire receiving yards! The Seahawks have on paper, a tough matchup this week, coming up against the vaunted Steelers defence, however Justin Fields and Garrett Wilson were able to exploit the Steelers’ secondary, and I believe Darnold and Smith-Njigba can have similar success.
Brian Thomas Jr. - $14,280
We were on Thomas Jr. last week, and it wasn’t a great call at all. BTJ struggled to get going against a poor Panthers’ defence, however the one bright spot on the Panthers’ defence was Jaycee Horn, who locked Thomas down all game. Lawrence targeted Thomas seven times, where he had just one reception for 11 yards, in the worst performance of his fledgling career. This week, he and the Jags take on a Bengals’ defence that is just as bad as the Panthers, and surely, he bounces back this week with a better showing. The Bengals don’t have a true shutdown corner, and with Travis Hunter likely to play more on defence this week, BTJ will need to be the main man for the Jags this week.
Cedric Tillman - $9,090
Tillman showed last year that he can be a really good fantasy player, and he has started off this season reminding everyone about that fact. Last week, Tillman drew 8 targets and managed 5 receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. With Joe Flacco under center, the Browns are a pass first offense, and this week taking on a Ravens team that the Browns will surely be throwing against all day. Last season, Tillman shredded the Ravens’ defence with 7 receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns. More of the same this week, thank you Cedric!
Tight Ends
Trey McBride - $13,840
McBride was solid if not spectacular last week in the Cardinals’ week 1 victory over the Saints, with 6 catches for 61 yards on 9 targets. This week, McBride and the Cardinals take on the Carolina Panthers, who struggled last season against tight ends. With Marvin Harrison Jr. looking like a vastly improved receiver, McBride’s targets may diminish slightly, but he has a great chance this week to dominate a Panthers’ defence that is horrible. A high ceiling, despite his floor being a little lower this season in my opinion.
Juwan Johnson - $7,730
Hard to ignore Johnson’s usage in week 1, leading the team with 11 targets (most of any TE in week 1), and hauling in 8 of those targets for 76 yards. He is a volume play this week against a tough 49ers defence, with his ceiling affected by how good the 49ers are at slowing opposing tight ends down. However, his stats last week are so impressive it’s hard to not start him, with a 79.6% route share, a 23.9% target share, a 28.1% first-read share, and two redzone targets last week. Expect a more Olave led passing offense this week, but Johnson should get his, and is always a redzone threat.
D/ST
Arizona Cardinals - $6,590
The Cardinals graded out as the best coverage defence last week, and this week they get to take on Bryce Young and the Panthers. There is a chance the Cardinals shut the Panthers out in this game in my opinion, and despite the high cost, the Cardinals are a great selection here. Whilst they only managed 5 points last week against the Saints, this was due to the pass rush struggling to get home, and zero turnovers. I see Bryce Young turning the ball over again this week, and the Cardinals D to take advantage.
Los Angeles Rams - $6,610
We had the Rams last week, and it was a great call as they shut the Texans offense down, holding them to just 9 points. The Rams had three sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery on their way to an 11-point score in week 1. This young defence can get to the quarterback, and I can see Titans and Cam Ward having fits trying to stay out of the clutches of this defence. This game is the third lowest total of the week (41.5), and I can easily see another single digit output for a team coming up against the Rams. Smash play.
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