Daily fantasy football expert picks for Week 2

The NFL season is underway, and with Week 2 NFL daily fantasy contests starting to fill up, our experts have scouted out the players they're locking into their lineups first. From the star performers to the top values, here are our expert picks for this week in DFS football.

Star performers

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

It was a difficult start to the season for the Cardinals, who were flattened in Week 1 by the Lions, and David Johnson is set to miss extended time because of a dislocated wrist. While Carson Palmer had major struggles in Week 1, there's basically no better matchup based off of what we saw in Week 1 than the Colts. The team remains without Vontae Davis, and while Fitzgerald does his heavy lifting from the slot, there's little reason to believe Indy will have much of an answer for him. Expect a massive target share and a productive day for Fitz. -- Field Yates

Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

The score should be high when the winless Patriots and winless Saints, with their exceptional passing games, meet in a dome. The Patriots had plenty of trouble handling Chiefs Alex Smith and Tyreek Hill, as well as running back Kareem Hunt, and since the Saints have several running backs apparently sharing the role, making none of them a great play, go with the top receiver. Thomas finished with single digits in PPR scoring Monday at Minnesota, and it might be the only time this season that occurs. -- Eric Karabell

Ty Montgomery, RB, Green Bay Packers

Nineteen carries; who'd have expected it? Montgomery shined against a stout Seattle Seahawks run defense, in addition to the hefty workload also faring well in the receiving game, pass protection and even in scoring position (he had a six-yard rushing touchdown). Now he gets a much more favorable matchup against an Atlanta Falcons defense that ranked among the bottom 10 in 2016 and surrendered 186 yards and two scores to the Chicago Bears running backs in Week 1, including 11 receptions (second most in the league). -- Tristan H. Cockcroft

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons are coming off a season where statistically they ranked as one of the top 10 offenses of all time, and virtually everybody is back at the skill positions. Meanwhile, the Packers are coming off a season in which their passing defense was historically bad. Although a Week 1 win over Seattle may seem like a step in the right direction, we have to remember that the Seahawks' major struggles on the offensive line could have made things appear better than they really are on that Packers D. -- Joe Kaiser

Brandin Cooks, WR, New England Patriots

Cooks was limited to 88 yards and three grabs versus the Chiefs in Week 1, but he did see multiple deep ball targets down the field from quarterback Tom Brady. That's a positive after watching the Saints' inexperienced secondary give up a combined 250 yards and two touchdowns to Vikings wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen on Monday night. Along with those vertical shots, the Patriots can also use play action and middle-of-the-field throws to get Cooks the ball with room to run after the catch. -- Matt Bowen

Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

In Week 1, the Jaguars confirmed they wouldn't hesitate to call Fournette's number and the rookie running back proved he could answer the call. Posting 100 yards and a touchdown as a rusher while adding three receptions for 24 yards -- all against a Houston defense that expected a heavy dose of Fournette -- should inspire confidence that he can produce on a weekly basis. On paper, the Titans' defense presents less of a threat than that of the Texans, so Fournette should be in for another good week. -- Stephania Bell

Top values

Shane Vereen, RB, New York Giants

This value play carries even more merit if Odell Beckham Jr. is unable to suit up next Monday night against the Lions. Vereen is an exceptional pass-catching back, as was evidenced by his nine grabs on 10 targets in Week 1. The Giants' stuck-in-the-mud running game and below-average offensive line plays into his favor: Rather than trying to do what you struggle at for the sake of establishing the run, the G-men were forced to spread things out in Week 1. If Beckham sits, there are targets aplenty to go around for the nifty running back. -- Field Yates

Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

The way he played his first game, he sure didn't look like a rookie, as he runs precise routes, consistently gets open and brings a stable, veteran presence. And I think Jared Goff can be competent and said that even before facing the terrible Colts. No Ram had more targets than Kupp in Week 1 and all credit due to a healthy Sammy Watkins but I think Kupp ends up the top target getter. And by the way, Washington's secondary isn't so great, either, so I expect the Rams to continue moving the ball. -- Eric Karabell

Chris Hogan, WR, New England Patriots

Patriots-Saints should be one of the -- if not the -- highest-scoring games of Week 2, and after a disappointing opener, Brady should rebound against the Saints' shoddy pass defense. Hogan, who had a quiet opener, could rebound in what's a much more favorable matchup for him, especially as he could see additional snaps should Danny Amendola be unable to play. -- Tristan H. Cockcroft

Ted Ginn Jr., WR, New Orleans Saints

It's still difficult to believe that the Patriots allowed a league-high 537 yards at home in the season-opening loss to the Chiefs. While we can expect Bill Belichick to fix the defensive woes in the coming weeks, a quick fix won't be easy since the Patriots have to go on the road to face a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Drew Brees. With that in mind, I like Ginn as a low-priced home run threat who has the wheels to get behind that defense. -- Joe Kaiser

Tarik Cohen, RB, Chicago Bears

Cohen's stock is on the rise after the rookie caught eight passes (on 12 targets) for 49 yards and a score while adding another 66 yards rushing on just five carries in Week 1. With the matchup ability to win underneath on high-percentage throws and the speed to hit the edge in the run game, Cohen is a movable piece for an offense that lacks a true threat at the wide receiver position. Good value here for a running back that will see touches versus the Bucs in creative situations that cater to his skill set. -- Matt Bowen

Kyle Rudolph, TE, Minnesota Vikings

Despite having only three catches in Week 1, it's worth noting that one of those catches for Rudolph came in the end zone. Last season, his first with Sam Bradford throwing to him, Rudolph set a career high in both receptions (83) and yards receiving (840) while netting seven touchdowns. Even the presence of other downfield threats in Minnesota isn't likely to disrupt the end zone chemistry between Bradford and Rudolph. The price is right for a tight end who should easily be among the top 10 in fantasy points this week. -- Stephania Bell