NFL Daily Fantasy Picks – Page 10

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 – TE/DEF/ST

NFL Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on October 5, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

It seems like every week another tight end is lost to a significant injury. Week 4 was no different as Tyler Eifert went down for the season with an ankle injury. This might be the thinnest the tight end position has been in a long time, but there are still options out there for Week 5 that could provide significant returns. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players, and defenses/special teams, to target or avoid as you create your DFS entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 - TE/DEF/ST

Zach Ertz vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,500

There isn’t much risk involved when you roll with Ertz in DFS. He’s received at least 10 targets in each game this year, including a season-high 14 in Week 14 even with the return of Alshon Jeffery. Although Ertz has yet to find the end zone, he has finished with at least 73 receiving yards in three of four contests.

It’s not all that surprising that Ertz still received a ton of targets in Jeffery’s first game of the season. The Eagles rely on Ertz heavily in the passing game, resulting in him getting at least 106 targets in three straight seasons. Opposing tight ends only have one touchdown against the Vikings this season, but they have allowed 246 receiving yards to the position. Two of their four games have come against the Bills and Rams, too, neither of which have a lot of talent at tight end. Expect another reliable performance from Ertz.

Jared Cook vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $4,800

Cook didn’t exactly have a banner campaign in his first year with the Raiders, catching 54 of 86 targets for 688 yards. He finished the year with just two touchdowns, giving him three total scores across the last three seasons. The change at head coach has done wonders for Cook through four games this year, resulting in him posting 26 receptions on 35 targets for 370 yards and two touchdowns. After finishing with at least 100 yards in a game two times in 2017, he’s already reached that threshold twice through Week 4.

It’s certainly encouraging for Cook’s value moving forward that he has received at least 10 targets twice this season, especially since he had no more than nine in any game last year. His 74.3% catch rate is also a big improvement over his 62.8% mark in 2017. The Chargers have had no problems scoring points, so the Raiders might be forced to throw a lot to keep up, which only further adds to Cook’s upside.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $3,800

The Rams defense started out strong by allowing 13 points across the first two weeks. Their fortunes have changed since, allowing 54 points over their last two contests. One of the main reasons for their struggles of late is their injuries at cornerback. Aqib Talib is on IR with an ankle injury and Marcus Peters is battling a calf strain.

The good news for the Rams is that even with all of their issues the last two weeks, they recorded six sacks and three fumble recoveries. They still put a lot of pressure on the opposing quarterbacks, which could spell doom for Russell Wilson since he has already been sacked 16 times. The Seahawks did get Doug Baldwin back last week, but their offense still isn’t all that explosive. The Rams might not have the ceiling they would if they were healthy at cornerback, but they are one of the top defenses for Week 5.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 - TE/DEF/ST

David Njoku vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $3,400

Njoku was active in Baker Mayfield’s first career start, catching five passes for 52 yards. He finished the game with seven targets, marking the third time this season that he has received seven targets. However, he finished with a catch rate of 57.1% or lower in the first two weeks compared to 71.4% in Week 4.

The move from Tyrod Taylor to Mayfield provides a boost to the majority of the skill players on the Browns offense. Mayfield will go through some growing pains, but Taylor had never averaged more than 216.8 passing yards per game during any season of his career. This is no easy task against a tough Ravens defense, but the volume of passes that Njoku gets thrown his way at least makes him someone to consider.

Vance McDonald vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,700

After sitting out the first game of the season, McDonald has received exactly five targets in each of the Steelers three games since. He followed up his monster 112-yard performance from Week 3 with 62 yards and a season-high five receptions in Week 4. An encouraging trend is that McDonald has seen his snap percentage increase each game, topping out at 62% last week.

This game should be a shootout based on how poorly both defenses have played. The Steelers have great weapons at wide receiver but expect McDonald to still be heavily involved. With all the injuries the Falcons have been dealt at linebacker and safety, teams can exploit the middle of the field against them. At this cheap price, McDonald has an opportunity to provide significant returns in tournament play.

Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $3,200

Although the Broncos lost last week, their defense didn’t play all that poorly against the potent Chiefs. They only allowed 10 points in the first half and the 27 total points that the Chiefs scored in the game marked their lowest output of the season. In fact, the Chiefs had scored at least 38 points in each of their first three contests.

The downside with the Broncos defense is that they haven’t created a turnover since forcing three in Week 1. Expect them to get back into that column Sunday against Sam Darnold, who has thrown at least one pick in three of four games. The Jets passing attack hasn’t been great, either, with Darnold throwing for fewer than 200 yards three of four weeks. If you don’t want to pay up for the Rams, the Broncos are a viable option.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 - TE/DEF/ST

Jesse James vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $3,100

James started the first two games for the Steelers, catching eight of 10 targets for 198 yards and a touchdown. However, now that McDonald is completely healthy, James has received just two targets combined across the last two games. His snap percentage has also decreased each week, bottoming out at 44% in Week 4. McDonald is the Steelers tight end you want to roll with this week, not James. McDonald is even cheaper than James on FanDuel.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $2,800

The Jaguars defense has done a good job keeping teams out of the end zone, but they have only forced three turnovers this season, two of which came in Week 1. Outside of their Week 2 matchup against the Patriots, they haven’t exactly faced offensive juggernauts in the Giants, Titans, and Jets. This will be an extremely tough test against the Chiefs, so starting their defense seems like an unnecessary risk to take, especially based on how expensive they are on FanDuel.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 – Wide Receivers

NFL Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on October 4, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

There were 20 wide receivers who came away with at least 100 receiving yards in Week 4, including four that had over 160 yards. There are plenty of great matchups in Week 5 to exploit, as well. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players to target, and some to possibly avoid, as you create your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 - Wide Receivers

Julio Jones vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,500

After scoring a measly three touchdowns in 2017, Jones has failed to reach the end zone across the first four games this year. The Falcons have only targeted Jones three times inside the red zone, which equates to 13.6% of their opportunities. To put that into perspective, other star receivers around the league who have received a higher percentage include Jarvis Landry (60%), Davante Adams (44.4%) and A.J. Green (36%).

The good news is that Jones has already amassed 29 receptions for 502 yards. His 46 targets are tied for fourth-most in the league. This should be a high-scoring game between two teams that have potent offenses and porous defenses. Jones might continue to struggle to score touchdowns, but with all the targets he receives, he still has a high floor in DFS.

Adam Thielen vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $7,700

Like Jones, Thielen struggled to find the end zone last year with only four scores despite hauling in 91 passes. Unlike Jones, Thielen hasn’t had similar issues this season, recording two touchdowns already. Although the Vikings have another extremely talented wide receiver in Stefon Diggs, it hasn’t stopped Thielen from leading the league with 56 targets. He hasn’t let those opportunities go to waste, posting 40 receptions for 473 yards.

Diggs might have the higher touchdown upside, but there is plenty of room within this offense for both players to be extremely productive every week. If anything, having the two of them makes it so opposing defenses can’t key in on either one of them. The Eagles defense has been stout against the run, but they are vulnerable in the passing game. Start Thielen with confidence.

JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,500

Smith-Schuster is coming off of his quietest performance of the season in Week 4, catching four passes for 60 yards. On a positive note, he did receive 11 targets in that contest and has received at least eight targets in all four games. His 49 total targets rank third in the league behind Thielen and his own teammate, Antonio Brown. Smith-Schuster’s 416 receiving yards also rank eighth, significantly ahead of Brown’s 272 yards.

Having Brown playing alongside him certainly takes some of the pressure off of Smith-Schuster. The Steelers are also still without the services of Le’Veon Bell, who catches a ton of passes out of the backfield. Based on how poorly the Steelers defense has played, they’ve had to throw the ball a lot to try and keep pace offensively. Scoring should be abundant in this contest, leaving Smith-Schuster with significant upside.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 - Wide Receivers

Tyler Boyd vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,700

The Bengals offense has been firing on all cylinders this season, scoring at least 34 points in three of four games. Andy Dalton has been a different quarterback, averaging 299.3 passing yards per game compared to 207.5 passing yards per game in 2017. One of the main beneficiaries of their offensive explosion has been Boyd, who has at least 91 receiving yards in three straight games. He received a staggering 15 targets in Week 4, hauling in 11 of them for 100 yards.

With defenses having to worry about A.J. Green, Boyd has shown he can be a viable secondary receiver. He should be even more heavily involved going forward after the Bengals lost tight end Tyler Eifert for the season due to an ankle injury. Eifert had 15 receptions on 19 targets so far this year. The Dolphins have allowed the seventh-most passing yards per game (285) heading into this matchup, making Boyd an excellent play at this reasonable price.

John Brown vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $5,600

Speaking of offenses who have been far more productive this season, the Ravens are averaging 30.8 points per contest. Injuries contributed to Brown appearing in only 10 games last year and he posted a dismal 38.2% catch rate when he was on the field. The Ravens added Michael Crabtree and Willie Snead to their wide receiver corps this year, but the emergence of Brown might be the biggest reason for their improved scoring output. His 50% catch rate still isn’t great, but his average of 22.5 yards per reception has helped him total 338 yards and three touchdowns.

Week 5 brings a matchup against a Browns team that has made some improvements on defense but was destroyed by Derek Carr last week for 437 yards and four touchdowns. Michael Crabtree leads the team with 36 targets, but he doesn’t have nearly the explosive upside that Brown does, averaging 10.2 yards per reception. If you plan to utilize a Ravens stack with Flacco as your quarterback, Brown is the top choice to pair with him in tournament play.

Dede Westbrook vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $4,700

Westbrook hasn’t had the most consistent of starts. He has posted 51 receiving yards or fewer in two of four games, but he recorded at least 82 yards in both of the other two contests. A lot of that falls on the shoulders of Blake Bortles, who threw for fewer than 180 yards in both of Westbrook’s unproductive games. The good news for Westbrook is that he leads the team with 28 targets.

The Jaguars have a great defense, but they will be tested this week by the Chiefs. If they can’t hold down Patrick Mahomes and company, the Jaguars might be forced to throw the ball more than usual. The loss of Leonard Fournette to a hamstring injury won’t help their running game, either. Westbrook doesn’t carry a lot of touchdown potential, but he should get enough passes thrown his way to be a viable option for your entry.

Jordy Nelson vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $4,500

Nelson’s first two games as a Raider did not go well, catching five of eight targets for 53 yards. He had his first big performance with his new team in Week 3, catching six passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. That yardage total was certainly a fluke and he came back down to Earth with 48 yards in Week 4. However, he chipped in another touchdown reception and received eight targets for the second time in as many weeks.

Amari Cooper is clearly the top wide receiver for the Raiders, but he hasn’t exactly been reliable, either. One player who has emerged as a productive part of the passing game is tight end Jared Cook, who already has 370 receiving yards after finishing with 688 yards in all of 2017. The Chargers defense hasn’t lived up to expectations so far this year, allowing 10 touchdown passes through the first four weeks. Nelson is very much a boom-or-bust option, but he’s intriguing in tournament play at this cheap price.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 - Wide Receivers

Larry Fitzgerald vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,700

The normally reliable Fitzgerald hasn’t been immune to the Cardinals offensive struggles, posting only 15 receptions and 141 receiving yards through four games. His streak of three straight seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards is very much in doubt. To make matters worse, he’s currently battling a hamstring injury. Even if he does tough it out and play Sunday, he’ still someone to stay away from when crafting your entry.

Devin Funchess vs. New York Giants
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $5,200

Funchess emerged as the Panthers top wide receiver last year and is off to another solid start with 14 receptions and 185 yards through three games. The loss of tight end Greg Olsen to yet another foot injury has opened up even more opportunities for Funchess to be productive. Unfortunately for Funchess, he’ll be matched up against standout cornerback Janoris Jenkins on Sunday, who helped limit Saints star receiver Michael Thomas to four catches and 47 yards last week.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 – Running Backs

NFL Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on October 3, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

One of the top-tier DFS options at running back was lost last week as Leonard Fournette reaggravated his hamstring injury. While he will be on the sidelines for Week 5, Joe Mixon and Devonta Freeman could be making a return to their respective squads. Let’s dig into the running back position to see where you can gain the edge in DFS. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 - Running Backs

Todd Gurley vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $9,400

Gurley is as consistent as it comes at the running back position. He has at least 100 total yards in three of four games this season and has recorded at least one touchdown in all four. The Rams have also given him at least 17 rushing attempts in every game and he’s seen at least six targets in three of them. With a talented wide receiver trio to support the emerging Jared Goff at quarterback, defenses can’t key in on Gurley anymore.

Sunday brings an excellent matchup for Gurley as the Seahawks have allowed the sixth-most rushing yards per game (122.5) and the eighth-most yards-per-carry (4.6). They also suffered a tough blow last week when star safety Earl Thomas was lost for the season due to a broken leg. This game could get out of hand in a hurry for the Seahawks as their offense has struggled, as well, which could lead to a steady dose of Gurley in the second half. Don’t hesitate to pay up to get him into your entry.

Melvin Gordon vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $8,600

Gordon hasn’t received more than 15 rushing attempts in a game this season, but he’s been able to accumulate 276 rushing yards because of his career-high 6.1 yards-per-carry. The Chargers have also made him a primary option in the passing game with his 34 targets ranking second on the team behind Keenan Allen (36). Last year, Gordon finished with 58 receptions on 83 targets for 476 yards and four touchdowns. He already has 24 catches for 199 yards and three touchdowns across four games.

Austin Eckler has emerged as a quality second running back, but Gordon has still played at least 72 percent of the team’s offensive snaps in three of their four games. The only game he didn’t was their blowout win over the Bills where he left early with an injury. He won’t get a much easier matchup than he will in Week 5 against the Raiders, who have allowed the third-most rushing yards per game (139.3) and the second-most yards-per-carry (5.6).

Christian McCaffrey vs. New York Giants
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $8,000

The Panthers come into this game well rested after being one of the first teams to have a bye week this season. McCaffrey had the most impressive rushing performance of his career in Week 3, carrying the ball 28 times for 184 yards. Before that contest, he hadn’t received more than 15 rushing attempts in a game during his career and had never even topped 70 rushing yards. Known more for his pass-catching abilities, McCaffrey already has 26 targets through just three games.

Things won’t exactly be easy for him on the ground Sunday against the Giants, who have one of the best run stoppers in the league in Damon Harrison. However, they were torched by Alvin Kamara on Sunday for 134 yards on 19 carries. Even if McCaffrey doesn’t have as many yards on the ground, he has a high floor in DFS based on his involvement in the passing game.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 - Running Backs

James Conner vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $7,500

Things couldn’t have gone any better for Conner in Week 1 as he replaced Le’Veon Bell, rushing 31 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He also chipped in five receptions on six targets for 57 yards. While it looked like the Steelers wouldn’t skip a beat with him leading their backfield, Conner has only totaled 97 yards on 32 carries in three games since. On the bright side, he did record 13 catches on 18 targets for 107 yards during that stretch.

With the news that Bell plans to return to the Steelers before their Week 8 game, Conner’s days as a starter are numbered. He has a favorable opportunity to get back on track Sunday against the Falcons, who have allowed the eighth-most rushing yards per game (119) and have been torched for 42 receptions and 310 receiving yards by opposing running backs. Even if the Steelers have to throw a lot to keep up with the Falcons’ explosive offense, Conner has a high ceiling this week.

T.J. Yeldon vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,600

With Fournette going down once again, Yeldon should step in as the lead back for the Jaguars. He played well after Fournette departed early last week, finishing with 100 total yards and two total touchdowns. Over the previous two games that Fournette missed, Yeldon had 102 rushing yards and 59 receiving yards. The Jaguars have used him a lot in the passing game, throwing at least five passes his way in three of four games.

It’s well known that the Chiefs secondary has been porous this season, but they’ve also allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game (123.3) and the most receiving yards to opossing running backs (385) by a hefty margin. Corey Grant will get some work, too, but not enough to deal a significant blow to Yeldon’s upside. At this price, he’s hard to pass up in tournament play even if he is expected to be highly-owned.

Matt Breida vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $5,700

This has quickly turned into a lost season for the 49ers with Jimmy Garoppolo and Jerick McKinnon both suffering torn ACL’s. The injury to McKinnon has opened up added opportunities for Breida, who began the year in a timeshare with Alfred Morris. While Morris is still a threat for carries, he’s only averaging 3.8 yards-per-carry and is not a viable option in the passing game. Even though Breida is battling a shoulder injury, he’s been much more explosive by averaging 7.6 yards-per-carry.

Breida is also a better threat to catch passes, receiving 12 targets through four games compared to five for Morris. Breida’s shoulder is still bothering him, but if he can play Week 5, he could be in line for a monster performance. The Cardinals have not only allowed the second-most rushing yards per game (142.3), but they’ve also allowed the most rushing touchdowns (seven).

Aaron Jones vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – Ford Field
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $4,300

After missing the first two weeks due to a suspension, the Packers only gave Jones six carries in Week 3. He took advantage of his opportunity with 42 rushing yards, showing he is the most explosive player out of their running back trio that also consists of Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery. They gave him 11 carries against the Bills on Sunday, which he turned into 65 yards and a touchdown.

Montgomery, a former wide receiver, is clearly the best pass-catching option in the Packers backfield, but they would be wise to give Jones more carries. Williams has only averaged 3.4 yards-per-carry after averaging 3.6 yards-per-carry on 153 attempts last year. The real question is, how long with head coach Mike McCarthy continue to stubbornly stick with Williams? If we had a clearer picture, Jones certainly wouldn’t be priced this cheap against a Lions defense that has allowed the most rushing yards per game (157.8). I still think he’s talented enough to provide value even if he doesn’t get the bulk of the carries considering this matchup.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 - Running Backs

Jay Ajayi vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,100

Ajayi returned after sitting out Week 3 due to a back injury, carrying the ball 15 times for 70 yards against the Titans on Sunday. The Eagles have a lot of options at running back, which has limited Ajayi to playing no more than 53% of their offensive snaps in any of the three games that he played. The Vikings defense hasn’t been nearly as tough this year, but they have limited teams to 104 rushing yards per contest. The Eagles running back situation just isn’t set up for Ajayi to provide significant value.

Dalvin Cook vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Century Link Field
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,300

Speaking of running backs who have dealt with injury, Cook missed Week 3 with a hamstring issue and was limited by the injury in his return Sunday against the Rams, finishing with 20 yards on 10 carries. He’s listed as questionable for Week 5, but even if he does play, he may once again see a limited workload. Considering the Eagles have allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (63.8), Cook is too risky.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 – Quarterbacks

NFL Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on October 2, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

There are only two teams on byes for Week 5, leaving plenty of options to choose from for your DFS entry. Let’s examine some quarterbacks to target and avoid as you craft your lineup. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 - Quarterbacks

Ben Roethlisberger vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $6,900

Roethlisberger entered Week 4 having thrown for at least 335 yards in each of the first three games this year. He also had six touchdown passes combined over the last two weeks. While he wasn’t terrible Sunday against the Ravens, it was a subpar performance by his standards with only 274 passing yards and a touchdown. Although he finished with only a 57.5% completion percentage, his 47 pass attempts marked the third time he has attempted at least 40 passes in a game in the early going.

Week 5 brings a stellar matchup for Roethlisberger against a Falcons defense that has been decimated by injuries out of the gate. The Falcons have allowed the eighth-most passing yards per game (284) and have only recorded three interceptions. Teams have had no problems finding the end zone against them, in general, as they have allowed 30.5 points per game. This could be a high-scoring game considering the Steelers have plenty of their own defensive liabilities, leaving Roethlisberger with an extremely high floor.

Matt Ryan vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $6,600

Ryan has come out firing to start the season, averaging a career-high 329 passing yards per contest. After recording only 20 touchdown passes in 2017, he already has 10 through the first four weeks. All of those touchdowns have actually come across the last three games since he was shut out against the Eagles in Week 1. It should be noted that was also the only game that he has played on the road this season, which is where they will be playing Sunday after three straight home games.

The addition of Calvin Ridley has been a big boost for Ryan as he adds another weapon who has shown a knack for scoring touchdowns in his rookie season. Julio Jones is still looking for his first score of the year, but he has an insane 502 receiving yards already. The dynamic duo, along with the reliable Mohamed Sanu, causes plenty of problems for opposing defenses. The Steelers defense has been even worse than the Falcons, allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game (305) in the league.

Philip Rivers vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $6,700

Rivers went off for 424 passing yards Week 1 against the Chiefs, but he hasn’t topped 256 passing yards in a game since. The good news is that hasn’t stopped him from being a reliable contributor in DFS because he has thrown at least two touchdown passes in all four games this season. Turnovers have plagued him a few times in his career, but he’s only been picked off twice so far.

There are a lot of big names at the quarterback position and Rivers hasn’t had a lot of success in the playoffs, so he sometimes doesn’t get the recognition that he deserves. He has recorded at least 4,286 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes in five straight seasons and hasn’t thrown fewer than 25 touchdowns in a year since 2007. The Raiders have had a hard time generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks, so expect Rivers to come through with another valuable performance.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 - Quarterbacks

Andy Dalton vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $5,900

Talk about a turnaround for Dalton. He averaged only 207.5 passing yards per game last year and posted a 59.9% completion percentage that was his lowest mark since his rookie season. The first four weeks have brought completely different results as he is averaging 299.3 passing yards per game and has a 65.6% completion percentage. Although he did have one ugly four-interception performance, he has logged at least two touchdown passes in all four contests.

One of the big reasons for Dalton’s improved numbers has been the emergence of Tyler Boyd, who is finally healthy and putting up big numbers. His performance has also helped take some of the pressure off of A.J. Green as opposing defenses finally have another receiver to worry about. The Dolphins do have the most interceptions (nine) in the league, but they have also allowed the seventh-most passing yards per contest (285). I wouldn’t be surprised if Dalton throws at least one pick in this game, but he should produce enough across the board to be worth considering in tournament play.

Joe Flacco vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $5,400

The Ravens had an eye towards the future during the 2018 Draft, selecting quarterback Lamar Jackson to hopefully be their successor to Flacco. It certainly made sense for them to select a young quarterback since Flacco was coming off of a season where he averaged 196.3 passing yards per game and had 18 touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions. It should be noted, though, that Flacco didn’t exactly have great weapons around him. The addition of Michael Crabtree and a healthy John Brown have helped Flacco show he still has some gas left in the tank, resulting in him averaging 313 passing yards per game and throwing eight touchdowns across the first four weeks.

Flacco’s improved play has been one of the main reasons why the Ravens are off to a 3-1 start despite the fact that they are averaging a league-low 3.1 yards-per-carry. It’s not as if they have shied away from running the ball, either, as they are actually tied for the fourth-most rushing attempts (114). Flacco will lead his team into this road game against Browns, who have allowed the ninth-most passing yards per game (276) and just allowed Derek Carr to throw for 437 yards and four touchdowns in Week 4.

Blake Bortles vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $5,500

If you’ve rostered Bortles in DFS this season, it’s been a hit-or-miss proposition. In weeks one and three, he threw for a combined 331 yards and one touchdown. In weeks two and four, he threw for 764 yards and six touchdowns. Week 4 brought his most efficient game of the year as he completed 76.3% of his passes against the Jets, which is a sharp contrast from his 54.6% completion percentage Week 1 against the Giants.

The Jaguars will be forced to lean on Bortles more heavily again this week after Leonard Fournette reaggravated his hamstring injury and will be forced back to the sidelines. The Jaguars have a stout defense, but they face a tough task in slowing down the Chiefs’ high-powered offense. Bortles might be forced to throw the ball a lot to keep pace, especially if they can’t get their running game working without Fournette. His inconsistency certainly makes him a risky play, but I think it’s a risk worth taking based on the Chiefs allowing the second-most passing yards (329) per game.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 - Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson vs. Los Angeles Rams
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $5,100

Wilson came through with 298 passing yards and three touchdowns Week 1, but it’s been all downhill for him since. He hasn’t topped 200 passing yards in either of the last two weeks and failed to a throw a touchdown Sunday against the Cardinals. The Seahawks have had an inconsistent running attack and Doug Baldwin is still working his way back to being completely healthy after suffering a knee injury, which certainly hasn’t helped Wilson’s cause. The Rams are missing Aqib Talib at cornerback, but they have a ton of talent on defense, which is going to limit Wilson’s upside.

Baker Mayfield vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $5,300

Mayfield didn’t exactly have ideal conditions for the first start of his career having to play on the road on the West Coast. He came through with 295 passing yards and two touchdowns, but he also had two interceptions and lost two fumbles. There is no question that Mayfield has a ton of talent, but he’s going to have growing pains as he gets acclimated to the NFL. This is not a good matchup for him against a Ravens defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (193) and also gets cornerback Jimmy Smith back from a four-game suspension.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 – TE/DEF/ST

NFL Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on September 28, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

The tight end position is looking ugly across the league. Another one of the top players there will be sidelined this week as Evan Engram is out with a knee injury. Add in Jordan Reed and Redskins on their bye week and it’s slim pickings for Week 4. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players, and defenses/special teams, to target or avoid as you create your DFS entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - TE/DEF/ST

Zach Ertz vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Nissan Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $6,200

In what has been a volatile position this year, Ertz has stood out as one of the few reliable tight ends. He’s received at least 10 targets in all three games, although he is still looking for his first touchdown. After three straight seasons with at least 800 receiving yards, Ertz is well on his way to hitting that threshold again with 215 yards so far.

The Eagles have been banged up at wide receiver and even if Alshon Jeffery does return this week, they are still going to rely heavily on Ertz. Carson Wentz was a little rusty in Week 3 in his first game since returning from a torn ACL, but he’ll continue to improve with each passing week. The Titans have great numbers against opposing tight ends, but they faced three teams with poor options at the position in the Dolphins, Texans, and Jaguars. Look for Ertz to give them plenty of trouble.

Trey Burton vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Soldier Field
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $3,900

Burton left the Eagles to take over as the top tight end for the Bears this year and received plenty of hype as a breakout fantasy candidate. Things haven’t gone well for him so far, catching nine of 15 targets for 90 yards and a touchdown. Part of the problem has been the play of quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who is only averaging 197 passing yards per game and has more interceptions (three) than touchdowns (two).

If you want to look at the bright side, Burton’s 15 targets are third-most on the team behind Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, so he’s clearly an important part of the offense. If there is ever a week for him to have a big performance, it could come in this game against the Bucs, who have allowed the most receptions (25) and receiving yards (329) to tight ends so far.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
Stadium – TIAA Bank Field
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,100

The Jaguars continue to get after the quarterback, totaling seven sacks across three games. They only have one interception on the year, but they have recovered two fumbles and held two of their three opponents to 15 points or fewer. In their toughest matchup against the Patriots, they limited them to 20 points while pulling off a big win at home.

It would be nice to see the Jaguars creating more turnovers, but their ability to accumulate sacks makes them a defense to target more often than not. Week 4 brings a great matchup against a Jets team that has seen rookie quarterback Sam Darnold throw five interceptions compared to three touchdowns. The Jaguars are the most expensive option at the position, but for good reason.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - TE/DEF/ST

Tyler Eifert vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,800

Eifert certainly has talent, but injuries have left him unable to reach his full potential. He played 10 games over the last two seasons combined and hasn’t played more than 13 games in a year since his rookie campaign 2013. The Bengals have taken a cautious approach with his return and he’s been able to stay healthy through the first three weeks. His best performance came last week against the Panthers, catching six of eight targets for 74 yards.

Part of the season for Eifert’s production in Week 3 was because wide receiver A.J. Green didn’t play in the second half due to injury. Eifert had only seven total targets in the first two weeks. There is still a reason to be optimistic about his chances to provide value Sunday based on this matchup against a Falcons defense that has been decimated by injuries. This game could turn into a shootout, making Eifert an intriguing option.

Rhett Ellison vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $2,700

The loss of Engram is significant for the Giants. They have a lot of weapons on offense, but Engram still received 12 targets across their first two games. After he went down last week, Ellison stepped in as the Giants primary tight end. He played 87% of their snaps, catching all three of his targets for 39 yards and a touchdown.

Ellison is known for his blocking abilities, but he also caught 75% of the passes thrown his way last year. Engram didn’t play in the final game last season, a contest in which Ellison caught five of six targets for 63 yards. At this cheap price, Ellison is worth a look in tournament play if you want to load up at running back and wide receiver.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $3,200

The Seahawks defense has lost a lot of players from the “Legion of Boom” era, but that hasn’t stopped them from recording seven interceptions this season. They have also chipped in eight sacks, although two of the three games they have played came against subpar offenses in the Bears and Cowboys.

They’ll face another low-scoring team Sunday as the Cardinals have only posted 20 points through three weeks. Sam Bradford has looked terrible, leading the team to name Josh Rosen the starting quarterback for Week 4. Rosen could experience some growing pains and the Cardinals offensive play calling has been questionable, to say the least, making the Seahawks a viable candidate if you don’t want to pay up for the Jaguars.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - TE/DEF/ST

George Kittle vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,200

The 49ers have lost arguably their two best players on offense already with Jerick McKinnon and Jimmy Garoppolo both done for the year with torn ACL’s. C.J. Beathard takes over at quarterback for Week 4 and he was anything but special last season, averaging 204.3 passing yards and throwing six interceptions across seven games. There may still be occasions where Kittle can be productive, but I’d take a wait-and-see approach for the first week with Beathard running the offense.

Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $2,700

Few teams looked as inept offensively over the first two weeks as the Giants. They have plenty of talent, but a poor offensive line and the diminishing play of Eli Manning had put them in a 0-2 hole. They played much better against the Texans in Week 3, scoring 27 points in route to their first win of the year. Considering they lost Engram in the second quarter, it was an even more impressive feat. The Texans have allowed at least 20 points in each game this season and only have one interception, leaving them with limited upside on the road against the Colts.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 – Wide Receivers

NFL Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on September 27, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

Although the Redskins and Panthers are both on a bye for Week 4, it doesn’t really have a significant impact in terms of viable wide receiver options in DFS as neither team’s wide receiver corps has been overly productive. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players to target, and some to possibly avoid, as you create your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Wide Receivers

A.J. Green vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $7,500

Green suffered groin and hip injuries that forced him to exit Sunday’s game against the Panthers. He was on pace for another big performance, hauling in five of eight targets for 58 yards in the first half. The good news is that Green was already listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice and is fine according to coach Marvin Lewis.

Despite only playing in the first half Sunday, Green has received at least eight targets in all three games this season. After scoring eight touchdowns total in 2017, he already has four this season. The poor play of quarterback Andy Dalton had a negative impact on Green’s numbers last year, but Dalton has turned things around, averaging 286.7 passing yards per game this year compared to 207.5 yards per game in 2017. The Falcons are tied for the seventh-most receiving yards allowed through three weeks, leaving Green with a high floor once again.

Keenan Allen vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $8,300

Allen had his worst game of the season in Week 3, catching only three of seven targets for 44 yards. He had caught at least 72.7% of his targets in both of the first two games and this was the first time he failed to top at least 50 receiving yards since Week 10 last year. Don’t read too much into this performance, though, as it came against a tough Rams secondary that has been one of the stingiest in the NFL.

While he had an extremely difficult matchup last week, things swing back in his favor against the 49ers. The 49ers have allowed the fifth-most receiving yards per game and are tied for the second-most passing touchdowns allowed. Allen did sit out Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury that flared up late in last week’s game, but his absence was likely just precautionary. He should be on the field Sunday, so don’t hesitate to add him to your lineup.

Davante Adams vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,800

Adams and the Packers have faced three tough defenses this year as the Bears, Vikings, and Redskins are all in the top half of the league in terms of fewest receiving yards allowed. Adams has yet to reach 100 yards in a game as a result, but he has been targeted at least eight times and hauled in a touchdown in all three contests.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is still battling through a knee injury, but it really hasn’t resulted in a significant impact in Adams’ value. The Packers don’t run the ball much either as they have the third-fewest rushing attempts in the league. Adams is their clear top receiving option and should get all the targets he can handle Sunday. The Bills defense was excellent at home against the Vikings last week, but don’t expect them to have similar success at Lambeau Field

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Wide Receivers

Jarvis Landry vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $7,400

Landry was a target monster for the Dolphins last year with his 161 targets tieing him for the third-most in the league. He did score nine touchdowns, but his 8.8 yards-per-reception resulted in him failing to reach 1,000 receiving yards despite his heavy involvement. Volume certainly hasn’t been a concern since joining the Browns as his 37 targets rank sixth in the league. He’s been able to convert it into more yardage, though, with an average of 13.9 yards-per-reception.

With Josh Gordon now in New England, Landry is the unquestioned top receiving option for the Browns. Their offense wasn’t exactly explosive over the first two weeks, but the switch to Baker Mayfield at quarterback showed some promise that they could be more productive moving forward. The Raiders have allowed the second-highest yards-per-reception (14.5) this year, giving Landry a high ceiling for your entry.

Sterling Shepard vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,900

The Giants offense finally came to life in Week 3, scoring 27 points against the Texans. They made a change at right tackle by benching Ereck Flowers for Chad Wheeler and while Wheeler had his problems, the offensive line seemed to play better, overall. Manning having added time to operate helped Shepard have his best game of the season, catching six of seven targets for 80 yards and a touchdown.

Another factor that helped Shepard be more productive was the loss of tight end Evan Engram to a knee injury. Engram has already been ruled out for Week 4 and is listed as week-to-week moving forward, which should result in a significant boost to Shepard’s value. The Saints have allowed the third-most receiving yards in the league this year and just lost cornerback Patrick Robinson for the season. The Giants may be forced to throw a lot to keep up with the Saints offense, giving Shepard plenty of upside with Engram sidelined.

Tyler Boyd vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,600

The Bengals have been searching for a receiver to take some pressure off of Green and may have found their man in Boyd. Boyd was limited to 10 games last year due to a knee injury and finished with just 22 receptions and 225 yards on 32 targets. The former second-round pick in the 2016 Draft got off to a quiet start Week 1 as well with three receptions on five targets for 26 yards. However, he’s been excellent the last two weeks, catching 12 of 16 total targets for 223 yards and two touchdowns.

Week 3 brought his best performance of the year with 132 yards, but some of that was due to the fact that Green didn’t play in the second half. That being said, Boyd still has a significant role in this offense. The Falcons defense is riddled with injuries, resulting in them allowing 28.3 points per game. They have a high powered offense as well, so there could be plenty of points put on the board by both teams. Even with Green likely back in the fold, Boyd has value at this price.

Kenny Golladay vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $6,500

The Lions have one of the most talented wide receiver trios in the league in Golden Tate, Marvin Jones Jr., and Golladay. Although Golladay is listed third on their depth chart, he could be the most talented of the group. He’s certainly heavily involved in the offense, receiving at least seven targets in all three contests this year. He’s made the most of his opportunities, too, with 19 receptions, 256 yards, and two touchdowns.

The Lions can support three fantasy-relevant receivers because they have a pass-heavy offense and a lack of quality receiving options at tight end. Eric Ebron received 86 targets as a member of the Lions last year, but since he departed for the Colts, Luke Wilson now leads the team’s tight end group with five targets through three contests. Golladay is a better bargain on FanDuel than he is DraftKings, but he still has plenty of upside on both sites.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Wide Receivers

Doug Baldwin vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $5,500

Baldwin suffered a knee injury Week 1 and has not played since. The Seahawks desperately need him to return and have to be encouraged that he practiced on a limited basis Wednesday. When he first suffered the injury, his original timeline for a return was two to four weeks. When healthy, Baldwin has shown he can put up impressive numbers. He’s clearly their top receiving option, but even if he does return Sunday, it might be best to wait at least another week before using him in DFS to make sure he’s completely healthy.

Marquise Goodwin vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,800

I was as high as anyone on Goodwin heading into this season, but his outlook isn’t nearly as bright now that the 49ers lost Jimmy Garoppolo to a torn ACL. C.J. Beathard will take over at quarterback, which will be his second starting stint with the team. In seven games last year, Beathard averaged 204.3 passing yards and threw just four touchdowns compared to six interceptions. Expect their offense to take a significant step backward with him at the helm.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 – Running Backs

NFL Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on September 26, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

The Panthers and Redskins will be the first two teams with bye weeks this season, meaning Christian McCaffrey, Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson all won’t be available for your DFS entry in Week 4. However, there are still some great matchups to exploit, so let’s dig into the position to see where you can gain an edge. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Running Backs

Alvin Kamara vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $9,600

Kamara is certainly not your traditional running back. He’s averaged 3.8 yards-per-carry through the first three weeks, totaling 141 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. His big impact comes in the passing attack as he already has 30 receptions on 38 targets for 289 yards and a touchdown. Not only has he received the most targets of any running back in football, but he has the fourth-most targets overall behind only Adam Thielen (44), Antonio Brown (42) and his teammate Michael Thomas (40).

This will be the last game of Mark Ingram’s suspension to start the season, so there is no question that Kamara will receive a heavy workload once again. With the number of passes he gets thrown his way, he has an extremely high floor. This is also a good matchup against a Giants defense that has allowed 165 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns to running backs through the first three weeks. Kamara won’t come cheap, but he should be worth it.

Ezekiel Elliott vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $7,700

The Cowboys are severely lacking talent at wide receiver, squarely putting the offense on the shoulders of Elliott. Their offensive line isn’t as formidable as it has been in recent seasons, but Elliott is still averaging 5.7 yards-per-carry and has two rushing touchdowns this season. He hasn’t been able to rack up many receiving yards, but he has already received 18 targets after getting 38 targets over 10 games in 2017.

Although his touchdown upside is limited based on the Cowboys’ offensive struggles, this is a great matchup for Elliott. The Lions have been awful against the run, allowing a league-high 5.4 yards-per-carry. The Lions also have a high-powered offense, so the Cowboys would be wise to lean heavily on Elliott in attempt to eat up the clock and keep the ball out of Matthew Stafford’s hands.

Giovani Bernard vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $6,300

Bernard filled the role of lead running back for the Bengals in Week 3 with Joe Mixon sidelined due to a knee injury. He came through with a well-rounded performance, rushing 12 times for 61 yards and a touchdown while catching five of nine targets for 25 yards. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd was the only other Bengal to receive a carry in this game and Bernard’s nine targets also lead the team.

Mixon is expected to be out again for Week 4, leaving Bernard with a great opportunity to provide value. The Falcons defense has been decimated by injuries and has already lost linebacker Deion Jones and safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen. Over the last two weeks, they have allowed 29 receptions and 226 receiving yards to opposing running backs. Bernard isn’t overly expensive, either, making him a great player to build your lineup around.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Running Backs

Lamar Miller vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,000

Miller found tough sledding against the Giants in Week 3, rushing 10 times for only 10 yards. He was still able to salvage his afternoon, though, by hauling in five of six targets for 41 yards and a touchdown. He was running well heading into that game, averaging 4.9 yards-per-carry against the Patriots and Titans over his first two contests. The Giants do have a great run-stuffer Damon Harrison in the middle of their defensive line, so it wasn’t exactly a great matchup for Miller on Sunday.

Things swing back in Miller’s favor this week against a Colts run defense that allowed 142 rushing yards last week to the combination of Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood, and Josh Adams. They struggled against Mixon in Week 1, allowing him to rush for 95 yards on only 17 carries. Miller doesn’t have much competition for carries behind him, so he could be worth the risk at this reasonable price on both sites.

Chris Carson vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,600

The Seahawks have had a murky running back situation to start the year. Carson only totaled 13 carries over the first two games, but he averaged 5.8 yards-per-carry. They handed the reins over to him last week against the Cowboys and he cashed in with 102 yards and a touchdown on 32 attempts. Rashaad Penny, his main competition for carries, had only three attempts for five yards.

It can be tough to gauge head coach Pete Carroll, but Carson figures to be the lead back for Week 4 based on his performance Sunday. It also shouldn’t go unnoticed that they had success running the ball last week in what was the first game of the season for offensive guard D.J. Fluker, who is very good in the running game. The Cardinals have allowed 131.3 rushing yards per game and five rushing touchdowns so far this season, making Carson an intriguing option to consider.

Marshawn Lynch vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,800

Lynch hasn’t had any eye-opening performances yet this season, averaging 56.7 rushing yards per contest. He hasn’t provided much value in the passing game, either, catching six of seven targets for 33 yards. The one positive to latch on to is that he has scored a touchdown in each contest. He already has 10 rushing attempts inside the red zone, which is good for fourth in the league behind Todd Gurley, Alvin Kamara and Adrian Peterson.

The Browns do have an improving defense and have allowed just 3.7 yards-per-carry this season, but they have given up four scores on the ground. Although Derek Carr has already thrown five interceptions, he has been able to move the ball up and down the field by averaging 312 passing yards per game. He only has two touchdown passes, though, as the Raiders have shown they prefer to turn to Lynch when they have the ball in close. Lynch might be hard pressed to rush for 100 yards in this game, but he has a good chance of reaching the end zone.

Aaron Jones vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,100

Jones made his season debut Week 3 after missing the first two games due to a suspension. The Packers didn’t have many rushing attempts since they got down big and had to play catch up, but Jones did lead the team in rushing attempts (six) and rushing yards (42). He showed promise in limited action last year, as well, averaging 5.5 yards-per-carry on 81 attempts. If you are looking for a downside with Jones, though, it’s that he’s clearly a secondary option catching passes out of the backfield behind Ty Montgomery.

The Bills came out of nowhere to put a hurting on the Vikings last week, but don’t expect similar results on the road at Lambeau Field. If the Packers race out to an early lead, they could be run-heavy down the stretch. The Bills have also allowed four rushing touchdowns this year, continuing a trend from last season where they couldn’t keep opposing running backs out of the end zone. Jones might see more carries in this contest, making him someone to at least consider at this cheap price in tournament play.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Running Backs

Isaiah Crowell vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – TIAA Bank Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $3,700

Crowell got a bit of revenge against his former team in the Browns with two rushing touchdowns Thursday. He already has four touchdowns for the season after scoring just twice all of last season. The problem is he only averaged 2.5 yards-per-carry the last two weeks and gets a tough matchup against the vaunted Jaguars defense Sunday. I think his 102-yard performance in Week 1 is more of an outlier than anything else, so I’d stay away from using Crowell in this contest.

Peyton Barber vs. Chicago Bears
Stadium – Soldier Field
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $3,800

Barber has seen his carries decrease in each of the first three games, bottoming out at eight carries for 33 yards on Monday night. The Bucs gave him 16 carries in Week 2, but he came away with only 22 yards. Their offense is clearly built around their talented wide receiver trio of Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson and Chris Godwin, who have all been extremely productive with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm. Don’t expect them to rely too much on their rushing attack Sunday against a Bears team that has allowed an average of 3.4 yards-per-carry and has yet to allow a rushing touchdown.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 – Quarterbacks

NFL Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on September 25, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

After three weeks of a full schedule, Week 4 brings two teams on a bye with the Redskins and the Panthers getting an early breather. The Chiefs also play on Monday, taking their high-flying offensive weapons out of the equation if you playing the main Sunday slate in DFS. However, there are still plenty of great matchups to take advantage of at the quarterback position. Let’s examine some players to target and avoid as you craft your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $6,800

Last year, Rodgers threw for at least 300 yards in each of the first three games of this season. Through the first three weeks of 2018, Rodgers has yet to reach that mark. He continued to battle through a knee injury Sunday against the Redskins, throwing for 265 yards and two touchdowns. Although his yardage totals haven’t been great, he does have six touchdown passes and has yet to throw an interception.

Rodgers is certainly not going to be completely healthy again Sunday, but he could be in line for one of his best performances of the year. The Bills pulled off a miraculous upset against the Vikings last week, but that game was at home. Playing on the road in Lambeau Field is a completely different story. The Bills have allowed seven touchdown passes and recorded only one interception through the first three weeks, setting up Rodgers with a high floor in this contest.

Matt Ryan vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $6,100

Ryan’s season started with a whimper, registering 251 yards, one interception and no touchdowns Week 1 on the road against the Eagles. To say he’s bounced back well would be an understatement. In the last two games, Ryan has thrown for 646 yards, seven touchdowns and has even chipped in two rushing touchdowns. He completed just 48.8% of his passes in Week 1 but has completed 77.8% of his passes since.

Week 4 brings a third-straight home game for Ryan and the Falcons. They’ll face a Bengals defense that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks through the first three weeks. The Bengals didn’t exactly get lit up by Cam Newton last week, but the Panthers offense is built around their running game, which is not the case for the Falcons. Their wide receiver trio of Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Mohamed Sanu can cause a lot of problems for opposing defenses, so don’t hesitate to roll with Ryan for your entry.

Philip Rivers vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $6,500

Sunday’s game against the Rams wasn’t pretty for Rivers, who completed 18 of 30 passes for 226 yards. He still threw two touchdown passes and avoided being intercepted, but it wasn’t all that surprising that he didn’t have a banner day against a tough Rams defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. The two touchdown passes by Rivers were the first they had allowed this year.

Things swing back in Rivers’ favor for Week 4 against a 49ers team that is still reeling from the loss of their franchise quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a torn in ACL. Their defense was torched in that contest, allowing Patrick Mahomes to rack up 314 yards and three touchdowns. The 49ers have now allowed eight touchdown passes and are still looking for their first interception. They will be short-handed in the secondary with Richard Sherman already ruled out due to a calf injury, potentially setting up Rivers for a productive afternoon.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Quarterbacks

Andy Dalton vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $5,400

Dalton provided a mixed-bag against the Panthers in Week 3. While his 352 passing yards and two touchdowns look nice, he also threw four interceptions in the Bengals first loss of the year. His yardage total was boosted by his 46 pass attempts, which marked his second consecutive week with at least 40 attempts. He threw at least 40 passes in a game only two times all of last season.

The Bengals have a much easier matchup Sunday against a Falcons defense that is missing several key players due to injury, including linebacker Deion Jones and safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen. They have allowed 731 passing yards and six passing touchdowns to quarterbacks over the last two games, leaving Dalton as an excellent option in tournament play based on his upside.

Baker Mayfield vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $5,300

The Browns finally ended their long losing streak and basically did so on the shoulders of Mayfield, who came in at quarterback after Tyrod Taylor left Thursday’s game due to a concussion. Although Mayfield didn’t throw a touchdown, he completed 17 of 23 passes for 201 yards and added some much-needed life to their offense. The Browns have already named Mayfield as the starting quarterback for Week 4, a job he should hold onto for the rest of the season, barring injury.

Playing on the road on the West Coast isn’t exactly ideal for a rookie quarterback’s first career start, but the Raiders don’t have an imposing defense. The trading of Khalil Mack has significantly hurt their pass rush as they have only three sacks through the first three weeks., which is the fewest in the NFL. Their lack of pressure has only resulted in one interception, as well. Don’t be surprised if Mayfield thrives in this game.

Ryan Tannehill vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $5,500

Who would have thought that heading into this AFC East matchup that the Dolphins would be 3-0 while the Patriots would be 1-2? A lot of the Dolphins success can be attributed to Tannehill, who has completed at least 71.4% of his passes and thrown at least two touchdowns in each of the first three weeks. He’s also provided some value with his legs, rushing 15 times for 74 yards.

While the Dolphins’ start has been impressive, this will be by far their toughest task of the season facing the Patriots on the road. It might not be all that bad for Tannehill and their offense, though, since the Patriots have allowed 25.7 points per game across the first three weeks. The Dolphins are finally completely healthy at wide receiver, too, with DeVante Parker returning last week. I don’t think Tannehill has as high of a ceiling as Dalton and Mayfield do, but he can still provide value at this price.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Quarterbacks

Carson Wentz vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Nissan Stadium
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $5,800

Wentz made his first start of the season Sunday, completing his return from a torn ACL suffered last year. He wasn’t great, but he wasn’t awful either, throwing for 255 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. It certainly didn’t help his cause that the Eagles were missing two of their top three wide receivers in Alshon Jeffery and Mike Wallace. They were also without Jay Ajayi and Darren Sproles in their backfield. Ajayi and Sproles are expected to return for Week 4 and Jeffery might make his season debut, as well, which would certainly be a boost for their offense. That being said, Wentz is still coming off a long layoff, so it might be wise to spend your money elsewhere.

Derek Carr vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $5,100

The Raiders are a mess. They have led at the half in each of their first three games, but don’t have a win to show for it. Carr has posted a 76.6% completion rate and is averaging 312 passing yards per game, which would both be career-highs. However, he’s turned that into only two touchdown passes and he has five interceptions. The Browns defense has been much improved and has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. That’s especially impressive when you consider they have faced the Steelers and Saints already. Stay away from Carr when crafting your lineup.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 – TE/DEF/ST

NFL Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on September 21, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

The tight end position has grown even thinner due to some key injuries through the first two weeks, but there is still value to be found at the position. There are also some defenses who could be primed to dominate in Week 3. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players, and defenses/special teams, to target or avoid as you create your DFS entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 - TE/DEF/ST

Travis Kelce vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,700

Kelce had a quiet performance Week 1, finishing with one catch for six yards. However, he did receive six targets, so it was only a matter of time before he had his first big game of the season. That came last week when he hauled in seven of 10 targets for 109 yards and two touchdowns in a shootout against the Steelers.

There is no question that Kelce is one of the top tight ends in the league. After his Week 1 dud, it was reassuring to see him get back on track so quickly with his new quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs have a ton of weapons on offense, but Kelce is still going to get a hefty amount of targets. This has the potential to be another high-scoring affair, leaving Kelce with a high floor once again.

Jordan Reed vs. Green Bay Packers
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,400

The most important note on Reed is that through two weeks of the season, he’s still healthy. Injuries have put a huge damper on his production in recent years, but he’s one of the more talented pass-catching tight ends when he’s on the field. He’s already received 13 targets through the first two weeks, converting them into 10 receptions, 103 yards, and a touchdown.

It’s no surprise that Reed has a 76.9% catch rate so far as he has never finished a season with a catch rate lower than 74.2%. His 13 targets are second on the team behind running back Chris Thompson (21) and he’s going to remain one of Alex Smith’s top options for as long as he can stay on the field. The Redskins might be required to throw the ball more in this matchup to keep pace with the Packers prolific offense, which could create even more opportunities for Reed to provide value.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,300

The Vikings defense had an impressive first game of the season against the 49ers, producing three sacks, three interceptions, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown. They had a much tougher task against the Packers on the road last week, even with Aaron Rodgers battling a knee injury. They managed to record three sacks but allowed 23 points in what was largely an average performance at best.

Things swing back in their favor for Week 3 against the Bills. The Bills are a team to target opposing defenses against just about every week. Josh Allen has already taken over at quarterback and although he was much better than Nathan Peterman was in Week 1, he is still in the early stages of his professional development. He also doesn’t have great skill players around him and could be without his best one in LeSean McCoy, who is dealing with a rib injury. Don’t overthink this one, roll with the Vikings at home.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 - TE/DEF/ST

George Kittle vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,500

Kittle was a breakout candidate heading into this season based on his success after Jimmy Garoppolo took over as the 49ers quarterback last year. He got off to a great start, catching five of nine targets for 90 yards in Week 1. He entered Week 2 with a juicy matchup against the Lions, but he couldn’t cash in, catching two of four targets for 22 yards. The 49ers did race out to an early lead, so they didn’t have to throw the ball as much late in the game.

Kittle looks to get back on track Sunday in a game where scoring should be abundant. The 49ers may also get wide receiver Marquise Goodwin back from injury, which is good for Kittle since Goodwin would require a significant amount of attention from the Chiefs defense. Don’t get too discouraged after one poor week, Kittle has plenty of upside.

Will Dissly vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,300

The Seahawks didn’t have much wide receiver depth, to begin with, then they lost Doug Baldwin to a knee injury. Dissly has been forced into a more prominent role, receiving five targets in both of the team’s first two games. He scored a touchdown in both games, as well, and posted 105 yards in Week 1.

Baldwin should be out again for Week 3, leaving Russell Wilson thin on options. Baldwin has received at least 100 targets in three straight seasons, so it’s going to take more than one player to make up for his loss. The Cowboys have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends through the first two weeks, making Dissly an intriguing option at such a cheap price on both sites.

Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $3,500

Khalil Mack has had an instant impact on the Bears defense, leaving them with 10 sacks over the first two weeks. They’ve also recorded one interception, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown in both games, proving to be one of the most productive fantasy defenses, even if they do allow opponents to put some points on the board.

This matchup against the Cardinals couldn’t get much better. Sam Bradford has been an absolute disaster so far, throwing for 243 yards and two interceptions while still searching for his first touchdown. There has been some talk about getting David Johnson more involved and getting him the ball in situations where he can be successful, but with Bradford at the helm, this is not going to be an explosive offense. If you don’t want to use the Vikings, the Bears are another great option, especially at their reasonable price.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 - TE/DEF/ST

Jimmy Graham vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,900

Graham had his best game as a Packer in Week 2, hauling in six of eight targets for 95 yards. His day could have been even better had a touchdown reception not been nullified by a penalty committed by his offensive line. Even with his big performance, he’s still a risky play on a weekly basis. He had only two catches for eight yards Week 1 and has largely become a touchdown-dependent option the last couple of seasons. He’s not cheap, so it might be best to spend your money elsewhere.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $3,100

This is more about the other options available Sunday than it is about the Rams defense. They have certainly been stout and may have the most talented group of defenders in the league, especially in their secondary. The Chargers, on the other hand, have an explosive offense and have scored 59 points through the first two weeks. While I don’t expect them to have nearly as much success against the Rams, they could put up a couple of big plays. With the Vikings, Bears and even the Jaguars, who face the Titans possibly without Marcus Mariota, all facing much worse offenses, this might be a week to pass on the Rams.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 – Wide Receivers

NFL Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on September 20, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

Through the first two weeks of the season, there have been 25 instances where a wide receiver has finished with at least 100 yards in a game. Not only have they been racking up yardage, but 13 wideouts have at least two touchdowns so far. There should be plenty of productive performances this week, as well, so let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players to target, and some to possibly avoid, as you create your DFS entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 - Wide Receivers

Michael Thomas vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $8,900

Thomas has been dominant through the first two weeks, hauling in 28 of 30 targets for 269 yards and three touchdowns. While his 93.3% catch rate is certainly not sustainable, the amount of passes he is getting thrown his way is going to remain high. He received 121 targets in his rookie season and followed that up with 149 targets last year, which was tied for sixth-most in the NFL.

The Falcons haven’t allowed much production from wide receivers so far, but they haven’t exactly faced a ton of talent. Week 1 brought a matchup against an Eagles team missing their top wideout in Alshon Jeffery due to injury. Last week they faced the Panthers, who have some promising young talent in Devin Funchess and D.J. Moore, but they are still trying to establish themselves as reliable options. Expect Thomas to have a high floor considering his massive role in the Saints offense, especially since his seven red zone targets are the second most in the league this year.

Stefon Diggs vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $7,700

Diggs had a fairly quiet performance in Week 1 with only 43 receiving yards, but he still received six targets and scored a touchdown. He had a massive game Sunday against the Packers, catching nine of 13 targets for two touchdowns. He’s quickly developed a strong relationship with Kirk Cousins, who has already thrown for 669 yards through two games. Case Keenum did a nice job for the Vikings last year, but Cousins presents a higher-upside quarterback for Diggs and the rest of the Vikings receivers.

This stands out as a great matchup against the Bills, who are one of the worst teams in the league and have problems keeping their offense on the field. They also don’t have the strongest secondary and even went through the debacle of Vontae Davis retiring at halftime last week. There is some concern that the Vikings will be running the ball a lot during the second if this game gets out of hand, but Diggs should still get enough opportunities to provide significant value.

Tyreek Hill vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,500

The Chiefs offense looks like a video game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been amazing out of the gate, throwing 10 touchdown passes without an interception. He also has a 69.1% completion rate. He has plenty of weapons around him, but Hill might be the most dangerous. Hill has shown his big-play ability often through the first two weeks, totaling 259 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. He’s averaging 21.6 yards per reception.

The 49ers will have their hands full with the Chiefs offense. They are coming off a poor showing against the Lions where they allowed Matthew Stafford to throw for 347 yards and three touchdowns. Both Golden Tate and Kenny Golladay finished with at least 89 receiving yards in that contest. This should be another high-scoring game when you consider how poorly the Chiefs defense has played, as well, so don’t hesitate to add Hill to your lineup.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 - Wide Receivers

Will Fuller vs. New York Giants
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $5,900

Fuller missed Week 1 due to a hamstring injury, which was a big blow to the Texans offense. He returned in style for Week 2, catching eight of nine targets for 113 yards and one touchdown. His presence has made a huge difference for Deshaun Watson who has averaged 35.4 fantasy points per game in his career in games that Fuller has played compared to just 17.4 fantasy points per game without him.

The Giants have done a nice job limiting receiving yards this year, but they haven’t exactly faced two offensive juggernauts in the Jaguars and Cowboys. They have a strong cornerback duo of Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple, but they don’t have much depth past those two players. Apple is currently dealing with a groin injury and it looks like a real possibility that he won’t be able to play this week. If he can’t, the Giants are going to be hard-pressed to slow down Fuller. He’s a lock for me if Apple sits, but Fuller can still provide value even if Apple is ultimately able to play.

Nelson Agholor vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,100

Agholor only had 33 receiving yards in Week 1, but his role in the Eagles offense was clear as he hauled in eight of 10 targets. He received another 12 targets last week and was able to cash that in for eight receptions, 88 yards, and a touchdown. The Eagles were dealt another injury at receiver during that game as Mike Wallace suffered a leg injury that has since landed him on IR.

Jeffery’s status for Week 3 is still uncertain, but if he doesn’t play, Agholor is again going to get all the targets he can handle. He’ll also be catching passes from Carson Wentz for the first time this season. Although Wentz will be playing for the first time in nine months after suffering a torn ACL, the Eagles have been very calculated with his recovery and held him out until they felt comfortable that he was completely healthy. Wentz might be a little rusty, but Agholor still has plenty of upside at this price.

Marquise Goodwin vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,500

The 49ers offense was expected to take a significant step forward with Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm for an entire season. One of his most talented weapons is Goodwin, who unfortunately suffered a quad injury Week 1. Although he did return to that game, the injury forced him to miss Sunday’s contest against the Lions. While it’s still unclear if he will play in Week 3, it’s encouraging that he was a limited participant in practice Wednesday.

Goodwin has a tremendously high ceiling. His full-season pace based on the five games that Garoppolo started last year would have put him at 138 targets, 93 receptions, and 1,229 yards. If he can return for Sunday, the sky is the limit against the horrid Chiefs secondary that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers through two games.

Dede Westbrook vs. Tennesee Titans
Stadium – TIAA Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,600

The Jaguars lost Marquise Lee to injury before the season began, dealing a tough blow to their wide receiver group. Westbrook and Keelan Cole have emerged as their top-two options so far with Westbrook receiving at least five targets in both games this year. He’s averaging 14.9 yards per reception and has already scored a touchdown after reaching the end zone only one time all last year.

In an impressive win against the Patriots last week, the Jaguars threw the ball 45 times. Some of that had to do with the fact that running back Leonard Fournette sat with an injury. With Fournette likely back this week, don’t be surprised to see them run the ball more. Even if that’s the case, Westbrook is still a cheap option worth considering for your entry because the Titans have allowed the second-most yards (469) to opposing wide receivers.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 - Wide Receivers

Keenan Allen vs. Los Angeles Rams
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,300

There is no question that Allen is one of the focal points of the Chargers offense. Over the first two games of the season, he’s recorded 14 catches on 19 targets for 175 yards and a touchdown. When healthy, he’s one of the best receivers in the league. However, this is a very tough matchup against the Rams and their stingy secondary that is led by Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. No wide receiver has posted more than 28 receiving yards against them this year. Considering the cost required to add Allen to your entry, it might be best to spend your money elsewhere.

Sterling Shepard vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,500

The Giants have a lot of talented skill players on offense, which was going to limit Shepard’s involvement, to an extent. To make matters even worse, their porous offensive line has left Eli Manning with very little time to work in the pocket. They aren’t moving the ball well or scoring many points, which has led Shepard to only eight catches and 72 yards through the first two weeks. Until they show more signs of life on offense, taking a chance on one of their secondary pass-catching options like Shepard seems like an unnecessary risk to take.

Category Archives

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

Zach Ertz vs. Minnesota Vikings Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field FanDuel = $7,500 DraftKings = $6,500

Jared Cook vs. Los Angeles Chargers Stadium – StubHub Center FanDuel = $5,900 DraftKings = $4,800

Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks Stadium – CenturyLink Field FanDuel = $4,700 DraftKings = $3,800

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

David Njoku vs. Baltimore Ravens Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium FanDuel = $5,200 DraftKings = $3,400

Vance McDonald vs. Atlanta Falcons Stadium – Heinz Field FanDuel = $4,600 DraftKings = $3,700

Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets Stadium – MetLife Stadium FanDuel = $4,100 DraftKings = $3,200

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Jesse James vs. Atlanta Falcons Stadium – Heinz Field FanDuel = $5,200 DraftKings = $3,100

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium FanDuel = $4,500 DraftKings = $2,800

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

Julio Jones vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Stadium – Heinz Field FanDuel = $8,800 DraftKings = $8,500

Adam Thielen vs. Philadelphia Eagles Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field FanDuel = $8,300 DraftKings = $7,700

JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. Atlanta Falcons Stadium – Heinz Field FanDuel = $8,000 DraftKings = $7,500

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

Tyler Boyd vs. Miami Dolphins Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium FanDuel = $6,300 DraftKings = $5,700

John Brown vs. Cleveland Browns Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium FanDuel = $6,200 DraftKings = $5,600

Dede Westbrook vs. Kansas City Chiefs Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium FanDuel = $5,900 DraftKings = $4,700

Jordy Nelson vs. Los Angeles Chargers Stadium – StubHub Center FanDuel = $5,600 DraftKings = $4,500

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Larry Fitzgerald vs. San Francisco 49ers Stadium – Levi’s Stadium FanDuel = $6,400 DraftKings = $4,700

Devin Funchess vs. New York Giants Stadium – Bank of America Stadium FanDuel = $6,200 DraftKings = $5,200

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

Todd Gurley vs. Seattle Seahawks Stadium – CenturyLink Field FanDuel = $9,100 DraftKings = $9,400

Melvin Gordon vs. Oakland Raiders Stadium – StubHub Center FanDuel = $8,700 DraftKings = $8,600

Christian McCaffrey vs. New York Giants Stadium – Bank of America Stadium FanDuel = $8,100 DraftKings = $8,000

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

James Conner vs. Atlanta Falcons Stadium – Heinz Field FanDuel = $7,800 DraftKings = $7,500

T.J. Yeldon vs. Kansas City Chiefs Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium FanDuel = $6,500 DraftKings = $5,600

Matt Breida vs. Arizona Cardinals Stadium – Levi’s Stadium FanDuel = $6,200 DraftKings = $5,700

Aaron Jones vs. Detroit Lions Stadium – Ford Field FanDuel = $6,100 DraftKings = $4,300

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Jay Ajayi vs. Minnesota Vikings Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field FanDuel = $6,300 DraftKings = $5,100

Dalvin Cook vs. Philadelphia Eagles Stadium – Century Link Field FanDuel = $6,300 DraftKings = $5,300

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

Ben Roethlisberger vs. Atlanta Falcons Stadium – Heinz Field FanDuel = $8,400 DraftKings = $6,900

Matt Ryan vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Stadium – Heinz Field FanDuel = $8,300 DraftKings = $6,600

Philip Rivers vs. Oakland Raiders Stadium – StubHub Center FanDuel = $8,200 DraftKings = $6,700

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

Andy Dalton vs. Miami Dolphins Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium FanDuel = $7,500 DraftKings = $5,900

Joe Flacco vs. Cleveland Browns Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium FanDuel = $7,200 DraftKings = $5,400

Blake Bortles vs. Kansas City Chiefs Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium FanDuel = $7,000 DraftKings = $5,500

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Russell Wilson vs. Los Angeles Rams Stadium – CenturyLink Field FanDuel = $7,200 DraftKings = $5,100

Baker Mayfield vs. Baltimore Ravens Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium FanDuel = $7,100 DraftKings = $5,300

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

Zach Ertz vs. Tennessee Titans Stadium – Nissan Stadium FanDuel = $7,000 DraftKings = $6,200

Trey Burton vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stadium – Soldier Field FanDuel = $5,600 DraftKings = $3,900

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets Stadium – TIAA Bank Field FanDuel = $5,200 DraftKings = $4,100

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

Tyler Eifert vs. Atlanta Falcons Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium FanDuel = $4,600 DraftKings = $3,800

Rhett Ellison vs. New Orleans Saints Stadium – MetLife Stadium FanDuel = $4,100 DraftKings = $2,700

Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals Stadium – State Farm Stadium FanDuel = $4,400 DraftKings = $3,200

PLAYERS TO AVOID

George Kittle vs. Los Angeles Chargers Stadium – StubHub Center FanDuel = $5,700 DraftKings = $4,200

Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium FanDuel = $4,200 DraftKings = $2,700

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

A.J. Green vs. Atlanta Falcons Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium FanDuel = $8,500 DraftKings = $7,500

Keenan Allen vs. San Francisco 49ers Stadium – StubHub Center FanDuel = $8,100 DraftKings = $8,300

Davante Adams vs. Buffalo Bills Stadium – Lambeau Field FanDuel = $8,000 DraftKings = $7,800

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

Jarvis Landry vs. Oakland Raiders Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum FanDuel = $7,000 DraftKings = $7,400

Sterling Shepard vs. New Orleans Saints Stadium – MetLife Stadium FanDuel = $6,200 DraftKings = $4,900

Tyler Boyd vs. Atlanta Falcons Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium FanDuel = $5,800 DraftKings = $4,600

Kenny Golladay vs. Dallas Cowboys Stadium – AT&T Stadium FanDuel = $5,800 DraftKings = $6,500

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Doug Baldwin vs. Arizona Cardinals Stadium – State Farm Stadium FanDuel = $7,200 DraftKings = $5,500

Marquise Goodwin vs. Los Angeles Chargers Stadium – StubHub Center FanDuel = $5,500 DraftKings = $4,800

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

Alvin Kamara vs. New York Giants Stadium – MetLife Stadium FanDuel = $9,100 DraftKings = $9,600

Ezekiel Elliott vs. Detroit Lions Stadium – AT&T Stadium FanDuel = $8,200 DraftKings = $7,700

Giovani Bernard vs. Atlanta Falcons Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium FanDuel = $6,400 DraftKings = $6,300

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

Lamar Miller vs. Indianapolis Colts Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium FanDuel = $6,500 DraftKings = $5,000

Chris Carson vs. Arizona Cardinals Stadium – State Farm Stadium FanDuel = $6,400 DraftKings = $4,600

Marshawn Lynch vs. Cleveland Browns Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum FanDuel = $6,400 DraftKings = $4,800

Aaron Jones vs. Buffalo Bills Stadium – Lambeau Field FanDuel = $5,500 DraftKings = $4,100

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Zach Ertz vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,500

Jared Cook vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $4,800

Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $3,800

David Njoku vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $3,400

Vance McDonald vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,700

Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $3,200

Jesse James vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $3,100

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $2,800

Julio Jones vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,500

Adam Thielen vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $7,700

JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,500

Tyler Boyd vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,700

John Brown vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $5,600

Dede Westbrook vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $4,700

Jordy Nelson vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $4,500

Larry Fitzgerald vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,700

Devin Funchess vs. New York Giants
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $5,200

Todd Gurley vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $9,400

Melvin Gordon vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $8,600

Christian McCaffrey vs. New York Giants
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $8,000

James Conner vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $7,500

T.J. Yeldon vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,600

Matt Breida vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $5,700

Aaron Jones vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – Ford Field
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $4,300

Jay Ajayi vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,100

Dalvin Cook vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Century Link Field
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,300

Ben Roethlisberger vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $6,900

Matt Ryan vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $6,600

Philip Rivers vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $6,700

Andy Dalton vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $5,900

Joe Flacco vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $5,400

Blake Bortles vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $5,500

Russell Wilson vs. Los Angeles Rams
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $5,100

Baker Mayfield vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $5,300

Zach Ertz vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Nissan Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $6,200

Trey Burton vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Soldier Field
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $3,900

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
Stadium – TIAA Bank Field
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,100

Tyler Eifert vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,800

Rhett Ellison vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $2,700

Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $3,200

George Kittle vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,200

Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $2,700

A.J. Green vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $7,500

Keenan Allen vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $8,300

Davante Adams vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,800

Jarvis Landry vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $7,400

Sterling Shepard vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,900

Tyler Boyd vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,600

Kenny Golladay vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $6,500

Doug Baldwin vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $5,500

Marquise Goodwin vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,800

Alvin Kamara vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $9,600

Ezekiel Elliott vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $7,700

Giovani Bernard vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $6,300

Lamar Miller vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,000

Chris Carson vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,600

Marshawn Lynch vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,800

Aaron Jones vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,100

Isaiah Crowell vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – TIAA Bank Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $3,700

Peyton Barber vs. Chicago Bears
Stadium – Soldier Field
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $3,800

Aaron Rodgers vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $6,800

Matt Ryan vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $6,100

Philip Rivers vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $6,500

Andy Dalton vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $5,400

Baker Mayfield vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $5,300

Ryan Tannehill vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $5,500

Carson Wentz vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Nissan Stadium
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $5,800

Derek Carr vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $5,100

Travis Kelce vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,700

Jordan Reed vs. Green Bay Packers
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,400

Minnesota Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,300

George Kittle vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,500

Will Dissly vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,300

Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $3,500

Jimmy Graham vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,900

Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $3,100

Michael Thomas vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $8,900

Stefon Diggs vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $7,700

Tyreek Hill vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,500

Will Fuller vs. New York Giants
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $5,900