This article is part of our Showdown/Single Game DFS Breakdown series.
The Browns opened as 3.0-point favorites in New York, a spread that went down to 2.5 briefly before moving all the way to 6.5 after it was announced that Jets starting quarterback Sam Darnold would not play after being diagnosed with mononucleosis. The 45.5-point total on FanDuel Sportsbook isn't high, and with the Jets showing a 19.5-point team total while using a backup quarterback, there aren't likely to be many Jets stacks.
Quarterbacks
There's no question that Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield ($11,200 DK, $15,000 FD) is going to be popular, especially in a game that probably doesn't require rostering both QBs. The Browns' offense struggled in Week 1 against the Titans, but they still have a number of weapons at the skill positions that should give Mayfield plenty of opportunities to make an impact. He'll likely be a popular captain/MVP pick as well, which makes the most sense if you believe he'll be effective at spreading his passes around.
The Jets will be rolling out Trevor Siemian ($8,200 DK, $12,500 FD) against a Browns defense that can put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Rostering Darnold in this matchup was probably going to be ill-advised, and playing a guy who hasn't thrown an NFL pass since 2017 won't likely make people want to jump on him either. He'll surely be a contrarian pick, and the Jets do have multiple pass catchers where you don't necessarily need to focus on their receivers for a captain/MVP spot, but it's a pretty big leap of
The Browns opened as 3.0-point favorites in New York, a spread that went down to 2.5 briefly before moving all the way to 6.5 after it was announced that Jets starting quarterback Sam Darnold would not play after being diagnosed with mononucleosis. The 45.5-point total on FanDuel Sportsbook isn't high, and with the Jets showing a 19.5-point team total while using a backup quarterback, there aren't likely to be many Jets stacks.
Quarterbacks
There's no question that Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield ($11,200 DK, $15,000 FD) is going to be popular, especially in a game that probably doesn't require rostering both QBs. The Browns' offense struggled in Week 1 against the Titans, but they still have a number of weapons at the skill positions that should give Mayfield plenty of opportunities to make an impact. He'll likely be a popular captain/MVP pick as well, which makes the most sense if you believe he'll be effective at spreading his passes around.
The Jets will be rolling out Trevor Siemian ($8,200 DK, $12,500 FD) against a Browns defense that can put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Rostering Darnold in this matchup was probably going to be ill-advised, and playing a guy who hasn't thrown an NFL pass since 2017 won't likely make people want to jump on him either. He'll surely be a contrarian pick, and the Jets do have multiple pass catchers where you don't necessarily need to focus on their receivers for a captain/MVP spot, but it's a pretty big leap of faith to expect a good enough performance, even in a somewhat low-scoring game.
Running Backs
The Jets are likely to rely on running back Le'Veon Bell ($11,600 DK, $14,500 FD) for as long as they can because he is definitely their best offensive weapon, but the Browns also know this and figure to stack the box in order to force Siemian to throw. Bell is still able to contribute in the passing game, but you have to figure his ceiling is somewhat limited in a game the Jets are decent underdogs in. Backup running back Ty Montgomery ($1,600 DK, $8,00 FD) could get a few added opportunities because Bell, who had a 100 percent snap share in Week 1, is dealing with a shoulder injury, but he'll have to break off some kind of long run or catch to justify his inclusion because the volume isn't likely to be there.
Expectations were high for Nick Chubb ($10,000 DK, $13,000 FD) in Week 1, but he disappointed a bit, rushing for only 75 yards and catching three of four targets for 10 yards. However, with the Browns expected to basically dominate, there's definitely a path for Chubb's usage to increase, especially if Cleveland wants to run the game out in the second half. Given that potential game script, Chubb obviously makes sense for the captain/MVP spot, and he will do so at a cheaper price than Mayfield or Odell Beckham (more on him briefly). Similar to Bell, Chubb should likely get a vast majority of the backfield touches, though he doesn't even have someone like Montgomery behind him who would realistically find the end zone.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Odell Beckham ($11,800 DK, $14,000 FD) is the most expensive player on DraftKings and will also likely be popular in his return to New York (not against the Giants, of course). The justification for captaining/MVPing Beckham is that Mayfield targets him more than anyone else and he'll have the highest score in the game because of his receptions (which are more valuable on DraftKings than FanDuel), yards and touchdowns. If you think Mayfield spreads the ball around more then it's possible Beckham isn't the star of the game and Mayfield should be in that multiplier spot. Or, as mentioned above, you think the backfield touches are enough and Chubb is the main beneficiary.
Beckham isn't the only Browns wideout, of course, with Jarvis Landry ($9,000 DK, $12,000 FD) in consideration as their no. 2 receiver who was a target darling last year. Landry's aDOT continues to be light, but with a point per reception on DraftKings, he can't be ignored. Rashard Higgins ($4,200 DK, $6,500 FD) is a cheaper path to the Browns' passing game, though he's also less likely to see reasonable volume. If anything, tight end David Njoku ($5,800 DK, $10,500 FD) is the guy for that after he had four catches on six targets for 37 yards and a touchdown last week. He's unlikely to have high volume because of Beckham and Landry, but he definitely has touchdown upside (he has the third-best anytime touchdown scorer odds on the Browns, and fourth-highest in the game). Going deeper, if Higgins is unable to go, Damion Ratley ($1,800 DK, $5,000 FD) is the next guy up and would certainly make sense for those multi-entering with Mayfield as captain/MVP.
The Jets side was pretty bleak even with Darnold, and while Jamison Crowder ($8,000 DK, $12,000 FD) was clearly his favorite option in Week 1, catching 14 of 17 targets for 99 yards, it wouldn't be surprising to see that step back a little with Siemian under center. Then again, Crowder runs such short routes (5.8 yards per target in Week 1) that Siemian could continue to use him as a crutch with the Browns' defensive line closing down on him. Robby Anderson ($7,000 DK, $9,000 FD) isn't likely to see enough targets to be a cash play, but his big-play ability will always make him viable in GPPs. And with Chris Herndon still suspended, Ryan Griffin ($800 DK, $5,000 FD) will be the Jets' starting tight end, and while was targeted four times in Week 1, he caught just three for 10 yards. The targets may be there if Siemian is familiar with him, but the upside play is third-string wideout Josh Bellamy ($1,200 DK, $5,000 FD), who caught his only target for 15 yards last week with Darnold under center.
Kickers
Games with low totals make kickers viable roster pieces in single-game contests, though they continue to be much more affordable on DraftKings than FanDuel. Cleveland's Austin Seibert ($3,400 DK, $8,500 FD) didn't attempt a field goal in the opener, and he made just one of two PATs, but he should be given more opportunities against a Jets defense that will likely struggle to slow the Browns' offense as much as the Titans did last week. On the Jets side, Sam Ficken ($3,200 DK, $9,500 FD) joined the team less than a week ago after spending the last two seasons not really playing for the Rams. Rostering both kickers in cash games doesn't seem like a bad idea for a low-scoring game, and it'll really test your floor vs. upside resolve when you pay $9,500 for Ficken instead of $9,000 for Anderson in double ups.
Defense/Special Teams
A backup quarterback for a team that wasn't that good to begin with should surely make the opposing defense a viable option on DraftKings, though the Browns' unit isn't overly cheap at $5,400. Then again, captaining them for $8,100 really opens up salary for a number of Browns playmakers. The Patriots showed Sunday that defenses have plenty of upside, and while the Jets aren't as dismal as the Dolphins, and the Browns' defense isn't the Patriots', there's definitely a path to them being the highest-scoring "player" on the slate if they can get a pick six or two.
