Good morning. The Art of War is an ancient Chinese military treatise dating from the Late Spring and Autumn Period. The work, which is attributed to the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu, is composed of 13 chapters. Here's an excerpt:

PROFILE

Spotlight: AJ Dillon

AJ Dillon was a 4-star recruit out of high school and committed to Michigan - until they decided to use him as a linebacker. He then switched to Boston College, where he had a dominant 3-years, holding all-time records with 4,382 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns. Dillon was compared to Derrick Henry: bruising running style, freakish body measurements (+ lack of involvement in the passing game).

In 2020, the Packers drafted Dillon with the 62nd pick. With Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams on the last year of their rookie deals, it appeared to be the perfect landing spot. Dillon could ease into NFL action with a significant future role.

Year 1: Operated as the RB3, only receiving 46 carries and 2 receptions.

Year 2: Williams left in free agency. Dillon, now the RB2, was regularly utilized in the offense and showed out. Dillon had the highest PFF rushing grade in the NFL (90.3). Since 2010, only three running backs registered higher grades: Derrick Henry, Marshawn Lynch, Adrian Peterson. Not bad company.

Why so high on Dillon in Year 3?

• That PFF rating we just mentioned.

• Aaron Rodgers said it is likely Dillon and Jones get 50 receptions each, hinting Dillon's involvement in the passing game grows.

• HC Matt Lafleur referred to Jones and Dillon as "1A and 1B".

• No Davante Adams or MVS on the team this year (224 vacated targets).

• Hmmm, maybe his quads????

Dillon had 45 rushing yards on 10 carries in Week 1 (4.5 YPC) and was the only Packer to score a TD. Most importantly, he was heavily involved in the passing game (5 catches for 46 yards). AJ Dillon having more targets than Aaron Jones in a game they trailed the whole way, even if just one more, is kind of a big deal. And more work is on the way:

BUY & SELL

The case for...

Buying: DJ Chark. Chark was 4th in Air Yards and second on the Lions with 8 targets in the first week of action. He saw 81% of the snaps and is the clear WR2. Lions should put up high point totals this year but their defense will give up more, favoring a pass-heavy game script. Good news for pass-catchers. He's basically free in most leagues.

Starting Saquon Barkley. Barkley has only been a favorite eight times in his career. In those eight games, he’s averaged aridiculous28.1 DraftKings FPG (RB1) and 24.2 Fanduel FPG (RB1). The Giants are 2.0-point favorites in Week 2.

Selling Cordarrelle Patterson. After a monster Week 1 against the Saints, it's time. Sell high. Sure, Patterson saw 84.6% of his team's rushing usage and a career high in rushing yards (120), but is this sustainable? The Falcons were shockingly leading for the majority of this game, incentivizing a run-heavy game script. In addition, Damian Williams, not Cordarrelle Patterson, started. Once DW went down, Patterson became the workhorse.

Stashing Sterling Sherpard & Zay Jones. In Shepard’s last 12 healthy games with Daniel Jones, he’s averaged 17.2 FPG (~WR9) and 8.7 targets per game (~WR14). He costs just $4,900 (WR37) on DraftKings.

Zay Jones tied with Davante Adams for the 2nd-most end zone targets of the week (3), and had the 15th-most overall targets of any WR in Week 1 (9), per @JakeTribbey.

Reading this Week 2 DFS Study Hall. Snapshot: Tyreek Hill averages an insane 25.6 FPG in losses, but just 16.6 FPG in wins. Miami is a 3.5-point underdog in W2.

QUICK SLANTS

• Allen Lazard was limited in practice on Thursday but all signs point to him suiting up Sunday night against the Bears.

• J.K. Dobbins fully practiced all week but OC Greg Roman said he can't put a date on when Dobbins will return. Dobbins details his injury in this video.

• Despite missing practice again, Aaron Wilson from Pro Football Network reported that D'Andre Swift will be "good to go" Sunday.

• Alvin Kamara and Mike Evans were both downgraded from limited to DNP on Thursday. We'll keep you updated.

• Michael Pittman was also downgraded to DNP on Thursday with a quad injury. Pittman has a dream matchup against the Jags and I've got him in three leagues - prayers up.

Thanks for joining us this morning. And Mike Williams owners, congratulations. That's all you.

Jake, Eddie, Coach Wehler & Matt

Tweet of the Day

Wish this wasn't so relatable