The lineup isn’t quite in shape for mid-season yet, but Week 2 was definitely a step in the right direction and much better than the previous week.

Last week’s lineup (144.38 DraftKings points) offered some solid blocks to build around, with Malik Nabers (31.70), Chris Godwin (27.70) and Jordan Mason (20.40) all producing four to five times as many fantasy points per dollar invested.

I missed the opportunity to stack Nabers with his much-maligned quarterback Daniel Jones, who nearly equaled my QB-of-choice Lamar Jackson in scoring. The savings Jones could have provided would have allowed me to slot Alvin Kamara and his 47 slate-breaking points into my lineup.

When you play a quarterback who can score points with his legs, like Jones, single stacks tend to outperform double stacks. Plus, there’s no “bring-back” required to complete the stack.

If the QB creates value on the ground, there usually isn’t enough production to support multiple weeks of winning pass catchers, while pocket passers need the other team to score high on a game-high basis so they can optimize their passing attempts.

This week I’m building around the Arizona Cardinals’ micromachine Kyler Murray, which means there’s no need to include Marvin Harrison Jr. And Trey McBride, but I suggest a retrospective because the Lions-Cardinals game is the only one that produced more than 50 points in the majors.

The introduction

Coming up with the perfect Daily Fantasy Sports strategy for the NFL can be a challenge, which is why I’m here to help every week.

At DraftKings, it’s important to remember that you’re playing on full PPR points, with bonuses if a player reaches 300+ passing yards, 100 rushing yards, or 100 receiving yards.

This is my optimal setup for Sunday’s NFL $3.5 Million Fantasy Football Millionaire contest, but it can be used as a basis for other games and platforms as well.

All prizes listed are courtesy of DraftKings, with a budget of $50,000.

My setup made $30 last week, so I’m up $5 with an average score of 117.27 points in two weeks.

Results so far this year

Week 1: 90.16

Week 2: 144.38

Week 3 Line-up

QB: Kyler Murray, Cardinals ($6,900)

The Lions have been pretty good against the run so far, which should put even more emphasis than usual on Murray playing with his arm And legs. He has a career-high 73.1 completion percentage and 122.9 QB rating through two weeks. Through his first two games, Murray is averaging 214 passing yards, 58 rushing yards and two touchdowns, meaning he likely has the highest floor on slate but could be pushed to his ceiling by an explosive Detroit offense.

RB: De’Von Achane, Dolphins ($7,000)

With Tua Tagovailoa out and Raheem Mostert likely missing another game with a pectoral injury, the dynamic Achane should be the focal point of Miami’s offense. He set a personal-best 29 touches (22 carries and seven receptions) against the Bills in Week 2. Only Kamara has scored more fantasy points than Achane in PPR formats this season

RB: Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks ($6,000)

I’m going to send Charbonnet back after using him against the Patriots last week. He produced a solid 17.9 DraftKings points and Kenneth Walker remains questionable to play with an oblique injury. I’m still focused on volume and targets when it comes to running backs. Charbonnet averaged 19 touches for 78.5 yards and a TD in two starts last season and he finished with 19 touches for 69 yards and a TD with New England. The Dolphins allow the sixth-most yards per attempt on contact, have to travel cross-country and are reeling from a dramatic two weeks to open the season.

WR: Chris Olave, Saints ($6,300)

There’s an Olave blow-up game coming. It’s just a matter of New Orleans against an opponent that can keep the game competitive for four quarters, and I believe the Eagles will after their disappointing loss to the Falcons on Monday night. Philadelphia is allowing the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers through two weeks, and the third-most DraftKings points per game to the position.

WR: Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers ($6,200)

Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle are all out, and Aiyuk has had a slow start to the season after nonstop trade rumors and a lengthy holdout during training camp. He should be gone this week. The Rams are running a single-high ninth-highest percentage of coverage (59.6 percent), a coverage Aiyuk enjoyed last season. We just watched Harrison toast this secondary for 130 yards and two TDs in one half.

WR: Jameson Williams, Lions ($5,800)

When considering a bring-back option for my Cardinals stack, the discount from Amon-Ra St. Brown ($8,200) to Williams was too significant to pass up. Getting the former first-rounder the ball was a priority for Detroit to start the season. Jameson is the WR7 overall in PPR formats. Of the 92 qualifying wide receivers, he ranks sixth in separation and ninth in route win rate, according to FantasyPros.

TE: Trey McBride, Cardinals ($6,200)

A Murray, Harrison and McBride double-stack would cost a pretty penny, so I’m prioritizing McBride in a position that regularly disappoints.

FLEX: Roman Wilson, Steelers ($3,200)

Everyone expected Pittsburgh to move on from its third-round pick on offense after Wilson injured his ankle in training camp and missed the first two weeks of his rookie campaign, but Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III and Scotty Miller aren’t good enough to keep him off the field. Few teams find gems at that position in the draft with the frequency of the Steelers, and it’s poetic that Wilson will make his NFL debut against his former college coach Jim Harbaugh.

Daylight Savings Time: Minnesota Vikings ($2,400)

The Vikings have the highest-scoring defense in fantasy football through two weeks after finishing the final three months of last season as a top-10 unit. Most will discount them against C.J. Stroud and the Texans, but their price tag is simply too attractive given their ceiling. The game is in Minnesota, where the Vikings held the 49ers to just 17 points. San Francisco and Houston have very similar offenses.

Originally published: September 21, 2024 at 2:38 pm