Quarterback
1. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals ($7,900)
As the 13th-most expensive Fanduel quarterback this week, Dalton represents a tremendous amount of value. He's the eighth-ranked fantasy quarterback through two weeks and will be going up against a suspect Tennessee Titans defense with the likes of A.J. Green likely to go. That's going to be huge for Dalton, who seems to have taken the next step in his progression from mediocre quarterback to above-average starter.
With Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton all representing more expensive options this week, Dalton's value is undeniable.
2. Geno Smith, New York Jets ($7,400)
This may very well be the first time that I have recommended Smith in a daily article. And for good reason, as Smith struggled to make much of a fantasy impact last season. Now much improved from what we saw during his rookie season, look for the former second-round pick to have a big game against a bad Chicago Bears secondary, especially with Charles Tillman out of the mix.
As the 16th-most expensive fantasy quarterback, Smith represents top-eight upside. That's a nice amount of value if you want to avoid the truly "elite" options this week.
3. Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins ($6,800)
No, this is not a reaction to RGIII's injury and a simple plug and play decision. Cousins will be taking on a Philadelphia Eagles defense that is still among the worst in the NFL against the pass. And don't let decent outings against the Jacksonville Jaguars as well as the Indianapolis Colts fool you, this unit will struggle going up against the full complement of receiving options that Cousins will have at his disposal.
I fully expect DeSean Jackson to play and show up big time in his return to Philadelphia, which will help Cousins out a great deal. Coming in off the bench after RGIII's ankle injury last week, Cousins finished as the 10th-ranked fantasy quarterback. Now valued at No. 22, he's a solid play for those of you looking at bottom-tier QB1 options in daily's.
Running Back
1. Terrance West, Cleveland Browns ($5,800)
What a sexy option West has become in daily leagues. With Ben Tate out of action and this rookie third-round pick tallying 190 total yards and a score in his first two NFL games, this has to be an easy decision for those of you looking outside the box for a high-upside second running back.
West, who will get a vast majority of Cleveland's carries on Sunday, has the pleasure of going up against a Baltimore Ravens defense that's giving up an average of 122 total yards to opposing running backs on the season. Fanduel has West as the 39th-most expensive running back. Considering that we view his upside in the top 15, this is a nice little value option.
2. Danny Woodhead, San Diego Chargers ($5,900)
With Ryan Mathews out of action, Woodhead becomes a must start in PPR leagues. Now the featured back in San Diego, the expectation has to be that this intriguing starting option will find a way to crack the top 12 in PPR leagues on a consistent basis until Mathews returns from injury. Valued as the 38th-most expensive running back, Woodhead represents top-10 upside against a Buffalo Bills defense that is yielding 140 total yards and 62.5 receiving yards per game to opposing running backs.
3. Andre Ellington, Arizona Cardinals ($6,700)
Now that we can lock Drew Stanton in as Arizona's starting quarterback against the San Francisco 49ers, the expectation here has to be that Bruce Arians and Co. will focus on the running game against a defense that's without NaVorro Bowman, who has the ability to hit the edges against the run. Ellington is still dealing with a foot injury, but there is no reason to expect him to be limited come Sunday. Look for top-six or seven production when all is said and done.
Wide Receiver
1. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans ($6,200)
Hopkins and Andre Johnson have combined to tally 67.6 percent of Ryan Fitzpatrick's completions through the first two games. With Johnson valued ahead of the likes of Keenan Allen and Cordarrelle Patterson, Hopkins represents a much better value pay as the 34th-most expensive receiver.
The second-year standout is coming off two consecutive touchdown-scoring outings to start the season and will be lining up against a New York Giants team that ranks in the bottom 10 of the NFL against fantasy receivers. You do the math here.
2. Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints ($6,300)
It's official. Cooks, not Marques Colston, is the Saints most viable fantasy receiver. It took all of two games, but this 2014 first-round pick now has the look of a dynamic option for Drew Brees in the Saints passing game. Valued outside of the top 30, Cooks has produced like a mid-tier WR2 through two weeks. While the Minnesota Vikings offer a tough opponent to Cooks' fantasy success this week, he should be targeted enough to finish as at least a top-20 fantasy receiver.
3. Brian Quick, St. Louis Rams ($5,200)
Metrics don't lie here. Quick is accounting for 30 percent of the Rams receptions and 27 percent of their targets through two weeks. He's also catching a ridiculous 78 percent of the passes thrown in his direction this season. Now slated to go up against a bad Dallas Cowboys defense that ranked dead last in the NFL against fantasy receivers last season, Quick will find himself as a top-12 option in daily's. Thus far this season, the third-year receiver ranks 16th in fantasy points without as much as a touchdown. Expect that latter stat to change. And as the 52nd-most expensive Fanduel receiver, that's ridiculous value.
Tight End
1. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles ($5,800)
With Nick Foles struggling to find his wide receivers in the passing game, Ertz becomes that much more valuable. He's being targeted an average of 5.5 times per game thus far this season, but that's likely to increase against a Washington Redskins defense that boasts disastrous safety play. In addition to this, the likes of David Amerson and DeAngelo Hall have been much better than advertised, which is a further indication that Foles might struggle finding the likes of Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper on the outside. In short, Ertz represents solid value at a low-end tight end price.
2. Derek Carrier, San Francisco 49ers ($4,500)
Vernon Davis is expected to be a game-time decision come Sunday afternoon and backup tight end Vance McDonald is unlikely to play. This will give the unknown 49ers third-string tight end an opportunity to shine against an Arizona Cardinals defense that has been a downright dumpster fire against fantasy tight ends since the start of the 2013 season. Seeing his first real playing time as a member of the 49ers, Carrier tallied three receptions for 41 yards last week against the Chicago Bears. That's reason enough to conclude that he's a deep sleeper for those of you unwilling to spend top money on this position in daily's.