Week 2 NFL DFS QB Breakdown: Top Cash Game and Tournament Picks

The quarterback position is one of the most flexible in NFL DFS. You can go in a variety of different ways. Do you pay up for one of the top studs or try to save some money with a value option? Do you eat the chalk or look for a low-owned option with upside? There’s no 100% one-size-fits-all answer, so each slate and contest type is going to require thought and consideration.

In this piece, I highlight quarterbacks who stand out in our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, most specifically, our FantasyLabs Player Models. While the models are built for DFS contests, this is an all-purpose fantasy article with actionable information for all formats.

As news breaks throughout the week and we adjust our projections (powered by the award-winning expert ranker, Sean Koerner), player ratings in our Player Models will change as the projections change. For updates, visit the models directly.

And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.

Or you can just use our NFL DFS sims to effortlessly create advanced lineups.

Finally, make sure to check out all the projections available for purchase within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace.

You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:

Top NFL DFS Cash Game Picks

Carson Wentz ($4,600 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel)

The Vikings pulled off a big comeback win over the Packers in Week 1, and they did it without their starting quarterback. Kyler Murray was forced to exit due to a nasty concussion, and he seems almost certain to miss this week’s contest vs. the Bears.

The good news is that Wentz looked pretty solid in relief of Murray last week. He finished with 133 passing yards and three scores, racking up 19.22 DraftKings points in just over three quarters of work. Most importantly, he displayed a much better connection with Justin Jefferson than he did last year, with the two connecting for eight catches, 92 yards, and two scores.

All backup QBs are worth some fantasy consideration when they earn a start, but Wentz is particularly appealing because of the matchup. The Bears played in an absolutely bananas game in Week 1, scoring 59 points while allowing 37. Ben Johnson has stated that he wants to set a new record for points scored, and it appears as though his defense is willing to cooperate. Chicago was 24th in pass defense EPA in Week 1, and Bryce Young finished with 35.44 DraftKings points.

Ultimately, Wentz still looks like one of the better backups in football, and this is arguably the best possible matchup. This game has the second-highest total on the main slate, and Wentz leads all passers in projected DraftKings Plus/Minus.

Justin Herbert ($6,000 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel)

It’s safe to say that the Chargers’ season did not get off to a great start. They were one of the largest favorites of the week, yet they lost outright to the Cardinals. Not only that, it’s not like they were particularly unlucky. They simply got outplayed by Arizona, who was expected to be one of the worst teams in the league. The new-look offense didn’t look particularly sharp under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, with Herbert managing just 209 passing yards, one score, and one interception.

Fortunately, Herbert is a strong spot to bounce back in Week 2. He’s taking on the Raiders, who were merely 23rd in pass defense EPA in 2025-26. They looked better in Week 1 vs. the Dolphins, but it’s hard to give them too much credit for that. The Dolphins could be a disaster on offense this season, and they have arguably the worst group of pass-catchers in the NFL.

Herbert and the Chargers’ offense are still getting plenty of love from the oddsmakers. They’re seven-point home favorites, and they have the fifth-highest implied team total on the slate. Herbert ranks first at the position in projected FanDuel Plus/Minus, and his 82% Bargain Rating is tied for the top mark on that site.

Top NFL DFS Tournament Picks

Lamar Jackson ($7,300 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel)

The Ravens are officially back. There was some concern about what Jackson and the offense would look like this season. Jackson was coming off the worst season of his career, and at 30 years old, it was possible that his best days were in the rearview mirror. If he wasn’t going to run as much, it was going to have a serious impact on his fantasy outlook.

Those concerns were clearly unfounded. Jackson looked as good as ever in Week 1. He torched the Colts for 324 yards and a touchdown through the air, and he added another 40 yards and a score on the ground. Jackson might’ve had an even better day if not for the fact that Derrick Henry did most of the scoring: he punched in three of the team’s five touchdowns.

Jackson and the Ravens should do plenty more damage in Week 2. They’re listed as 8.5-point favorites vs. the Saints, and they have the highest implied team total on the slate. Jackson is ultimately the most expensive quarterback across the industry, but that comes with the top median and ceiling projections in our NFL Models.

Drake Maye ($6,100 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel)

Maye did not look like himself in the first game of the season. He threw three interceptions and missed countless other throws, and the Patriots blew a lead against Drew Lock and the Seahawks.

That said, it was just one week. Maye showed last season that he’s one of the best quarterbacks in fantasy, and anyone is capable of struggling against an elite defense like the Seahawks. Maye was tied for second at the position in terms of fantasy points per game last season, so he should be able to bounce back moving forward. Unfortunately, he is going to have to do it without A.J. Brown, who will miss at least the next four games after landing on the IR.

Even without his top receiver, Maye is simply too cheap across the industry. He should also command reduced ownership after his Week 1 clunker.

Brock Purdy ($6,200 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel)

The 49ers are in one of the most interesting spots of the week. On one hand, they are going to have to return to the United States after playing the first-ever game in Australia. That’s a tough trip to recover from.

However, the 49ers have at least had an extended time frame to do it, and they draw a phenomenal matchup vs. the Dolphins. Miami was torn apart by Kirk Cousins, Ashton Jeanty, and the Raiders last week. Specifically, Jeanty caught six passes for 45 yards and two touchdowns. If they thought defending Jeanty as a receiver was tough, they’re going to love trying to slow down Christian McCaffrey.

Even with the extended travel, the 49ers have the top implied team total of the week (29.25 points). They looked awesome offensively against the Rams, and with a full year of health for Purdy, they could be poised to return to the top of the offensive rankings this season.

Contrarian NFL DFS Tournament Picks With Upside

Jayden Daniels ($6,300 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel)

The Commanders held their own against the Eagles in Week 1. However, Daniels wasn’t exactly great for fantasy purposes. He had just 164 yards through the air, and more concerningly, he had only five carries for 31 yards on the ground.

While the lack of rushing is a bit scary, it is important to remember that it was against a tough Eagles defense. There could be better performances in better matchups, and the Cowboys definitely qualify. Their defense entered the season with plenty of hype, but they were thoroughly dismantled by the Giants in Week 1. Daniels ultimately owns an Opponent Plus/Minus of +4.2, which is the second-best mark on the slate.

Tyler Shough ($5,300 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel)

It was a tale of two halves for Shough in Week 1. He struggled mightily in the first half vs. the Lions, despite the fact that their secondary was pretty thin. However, he turned things around with a massive second half. He ultimately finished with 410 passing yards and three touchdowns, resulting in just under 30 DraftKings points.

Shough threw the ball 56 times in that contest, and he could be poised for another big workload in Week 2. He’s taking on the Ravens, and the Saints are listed as 8.5-point underdogs. Shough has more upside than his current price tag suggests, and he could have an additional weapon in the passing game if Alvin Kamara returns to the lineup.

Baker Mayfield ($5,600 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel)

Mayfield and the Buccaneers were sloppy in Week 1 vs. the Bengals. They had some success on offense, but they ultimately shot themselves in the foot with four turnovers. Three of them came from Mayfield himself, all of them on fumbles.

Mayfield should hopefully be able to bounce back vs. the Browns. Their defense was terrible against the Jaguars, ranking 31st in the league in EPA per play. They were dead last against the pass, with Trevor Lawrence completing 18-of-23 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns.

If Mayfield is able to get back on track, there’s a good chance he’s underpriced on DraftKings. His salary comes with an 89% Bargain Rating, and Mayfield averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.71 with a comparable salary in 2024-25 (per the Trends tool). Mayfield wasn’t the same value at a comparable price tag last year, but he dealt with injuries to himself and his primary pass-catchers.

Pictured: Justin Herbert
Photo Credit: Imagn