Header Image - PICK LIKE THE PROS
PICK LIKE THE PROSLineup Lab is an advanced MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL daily fantasy lineup optimizer for Fanduel, Draftkings, and Yahoo. Pros use a DFS optimizer, so why don't you? Pick like the pros. Use the worlds most advanced projections and optimization techniques. Join today, and start winning!
start winning

Tag Archives

29 Articles

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

We’ve passed the last bye weeks of the season, so Week 13 will bring a full slate of games in the NFL. With plenty of options to wade through, let’s dive right in and highlight a few running backs that stand out with favorable matchups, and a couple to avoid. 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 13 - Running Backs

Kareem Hunt vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $7,800

With all of the prolific passing numbers put up by the Chiefs and Rams in Week 11, Hunt didn’t get a lot of work on the ground. He did make the most of his opportunities, carrying the ball 14 times for 70 yards. His involvement in the passing game wasn’t great, either, but he did turn his four targets into three receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown. With that score, Hunt already has 14 total touchdowns.

There are few running backs with as high of a floor as Hunt. Not only does the Chiefs offense put him in a lot of great positions to score touchdowns, but he is averaging 109.3 total yards per game. The Raiders have allowed the most rushing yards per game (151.4) in the league, so expect Hunt to have another excellent performance Sunday. The only cause for concern with him is if the Chiefs jump out to a big lead and rest Hunt in the fourth quarter. However, if they do score a lot early, it could be in large part because of Hunt’s efforts.

Christian McCaffrey vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
Draft Kings = $8,800

McCaffrey couldn’t have looked any more dominant than he did last week against the Seahawks. They had no answer for him on the ground, allowing him to rack up 125 yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries. Things were equally as impressive for McCaffrey in the passing game, catching all 11 of his targets for 112 yards and another touchdown. If you rostered him in DFS or season-long, you likely came away as a winner.

It’s highly unlikely that McCaffrey matches that performance this week, but this is a matchup for him to exploit against the Bucs. They’ve allowed 14 rushing touchdowns this year and four more scores through the air to opposing running backs. When these two teams met in Week 9, McCaffrey finished with 79 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and 78 receiving yards on five receptions.

Aaron Jones vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $6,700

The Packers are slumping right now, but it certainly isn’t due to the play of Jones. He was effective again in Week 12 against the Vikings, rushing 17 times for 72 yards and a touchdown. While his 21 receiving yards weren’t great, it was important that he received five targets. With his role starting to expand as we head down the stretch, Jones has received at least five targets in three straight games.

The talent level seemed pretty obvious with Jones, but it took a while for the Packers coaching staff to give him the lead role. That time is finally here with Jones being on the field for at least 74 percent of their offensive snaps in each of the last three games. There’s no reason to believe that will change this week, setting him up for possibly a career day against a Cardinals team that has allowed the most rushing touchdowns (16) and third-most rushing yards per game (144.8).

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Running Backs

Phillip Lindsay vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $5,400

Don’t look now, but the Broncos have won back-to-back games against two tough teams in the Chargers and Steelers. Their passing attack has been awful this year, but Lindsay has established himself as a weapon on the ground. Despite receiving just 14 carries in Week 12, Lindsay ran for 110 yards and a touchdown. That’s particularly impressive considering the Steelers are allowing only 4.2 yards-per-carry for the season, overall.

Next up for Lindsay and the Broncos is a matchup against a Bengals team that just lost their starting quarterback for the year and might still be without their best wide receiver in A.J. Green (toe). Their struggles likely won’t be limited to their offense, though, since they have allowed an average of 37.8 points over their last five games. They particularly struggle in the running game, allowing 147.5 rushing yards per game to go along with 14 touchdowns.

Gus Edwards vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,800

If you play in season-long fantasy, a player like Edwards coming out of nowhere to play well can help propel you into the playoffs if you were lucky enough to snap him up off waivers. He was heavily involved again Sunday versus the Raiders, carrying the ball 23 times for 118 yards. His usage in the passing game has been non-existent, but it’s hard to argue against his success with 233 rushing yards over two games since assuming the lead running back role.

The key to Edwards’ success might be Lamar Jackson remaining as the Ravens quarterback. With Jackson’s own ability to rush the ball, the duo creates a nightmare for opposing defenses. Initial reports indicate Joe Flacco (hip) isn’t ready to return, so it’s hard to see Edwards’ role fading with Jackson still running the offense. The Falcons allow the third-most yards-per-carry (5.1), making Edwards a potential steal in DFS, especially at his price on DraftKings.

Lamar Miller vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Miller burst out for a 97-yard touchdown run in Week 12 against the Titans, helping propel him to 162 rushing yards for the game, overall. He only received 12 carries, but it marked the third time in his last five games that Miller rushed for at least 100 yards. It’s no coincidence that he ran for a touchdown in each of those contests, which accounted for all three of his rushing touchdowns this season.

Miller is peaking at the right time for Texans, which has helped them reel off eight straight wins after starting out 0-3. Alfred Blue does cut into his carries, but Miller has been on the field for at least 62 percent of the Texans offensive snaps in five of his last six games. During that stretch, Blue didn’t log more than 48 percent of their snaps in any contest. The Browns have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game (131.8) to go along with 15 rushing touchdowns, making Miller a great target in tournament play.

Jalen Richard vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,300

Looking at Richard’s line from Week 12 doesn’t exactly install a whole lot of confidence in playing him for Week 13 in DFS. He only had one carry for one yard and caught two of four targets for an additional 15 yards. The Raiders were down big early, but Richard still couldn’t get much going in the passing attack with the Raiders having to throw a lot in an attempt to catch up.

If you want to roll with Richard, make sure you do so with the understanding that he won’t provide much in terms of rushing yards. He did post 61 yards on the ground in Week 11 against the Cardinals, but that’s more than half of his total for the entire year. His main source of value is in the passing game with a career-high 53 receptions on 63 targets. The Raiders should have to throw a lot in an attempt to keep up with the Chiefs high-powered offense, meaning Richard might be more involved then their primary rusher, Dough Martin, who only has 17 targets all year.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Running Backs

Tevin Coleman vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,500

Coleman was completely shut down on the ground by the Saints last week with only six yards on eight carries. His three catches for 17 yards weren’t great, either, but he somewhat salvaged his line with a receiving touchdown. The Saints have arguably the best rushing defense in the league, so it’s not a surprise that Coleman struggled. Things won’t get much easier for him in Week 13 against the Ravens, who allow the third-fewest rushing yards per game (92.1).

Peyton Barber vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $3,700

Barber has reached the end zone in both of his last two games while racking up 153 yards on the ground. The Bucs have struggled to run the ball most of the season, but that didn’t stop them from giving Barber 18 carries in both of those contests. This isn’t shaping up to be a matchup to exploit, though, against a Panthers team that is allowing just 4.1 yards-per-carry. When these two teams met earlier in the year, Barber had only 31 yards on 11 carries.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 – Quarterbacks

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

The stretch run of the NFL season is here. There are no teams on a bye in Week 13, leaving a bevy of quarterbacks to choose from in DFS. Let’s examine some players 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.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Quarterbacks

Patrick Mahomes vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $9,500
DraftKings = $7,600

The last time we saw Mahomes on the field was in Week 11 during that thrilling game against the Rams. He had a monster performance with 478 yards and six touchdowns. Believe it or not, that was actually his second game of the season with six passing touchdowns. The only downside to his performance was that he turned the ball over a total of five times with three interceptions and two fumbles.

The Chiefs enjoyed a bye for Week 12 and now face a much easier opponent in the Raiders. Even though this could become a blowout in which Mahomes isn’t required to throw the ball much late in the game, that doesn’t mean he won’t be very productive along the way. The Raiders get virtually no pressure on opposing quarterbacks and are tied for the second-most passing touchdowns allowed (25) in the league.

Cam Newton vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $6,600

After starting out the season 6-2, the Panthers have lost three straight games. They suffered a tough loss to the Seahawks at home last week, but it was still another productive performance from Newton. He completed 25 of 30 pass attempts for 256 yards and two touchdowns while also chipping in 63 yards on the ground. That marked the fourth time in the last five games that’s posted a completion percentage of at least 72.4 percent and his 10th straight contest with at least two touchdown passes.

Newton gets a stellar matchup this week against a bad Bucs secondary that has allowed the most passing touchdowns (26) and the sixth-most passing yards per game (274). They did play well against the 49ers last week, but facing Nick Mullens and his depleted wide receiver group isn’t exactly a herculean task. The Panthers hung 42 points on the Bucs when these two played each other in Week 9, a game in which Newton had 247 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Jared Goff vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – Ford Field
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $6,400

As impressive as Mahomes was during their matchup, Goff was just as good with 413 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and one score on the ground. That marked his second game with at least 400 passing yards this season and the third time in his last four contests that he threw for at least three touchdowns. It’s also important to note that he has just one interception across his last five games.

The Rams also had the luxury of a bye last week and will now travel to Detroit to face a Lions team that is in line for another disappointing year at 4-7. They don’t give up a ton of yards through the air, but the Lions have allowed 24 passing touchdowns compared to just four interceptions. This also has the makings of a potential blowout, but Goff is still a great option in cash contests due to his touchdown upside.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $6,300

After struggling to score at the beginning of the season, the Seahawks have produced at least 27 points in each of their last three games. Wilson had his best game of the year in Week 12, throwing for 339 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers. That was the first time he topped 300 passing yards in a game, but it was also his seventh-straight contest with at least two touchdowns.

The Seahawks have a run-heavy offense, which sometimes doesn’t always lead to huge yardage totals from Wilson. However, that hasn’t stopped him from throwing for 25 touchdowns, leaving him with a great chance to throw for at least 30 scores for the third time in his career. The 49ers have allowed 23 passing touchdowns and picked off just two passes all season, so expect Wilson to thrive in this contest.

Jameis Winston vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,000

Things couldn’t have gone much better for Winston in his return as the starting quarterback last week against the 49ers. He completed 76.3 percent of his passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns while adding 24 rushing yards. Maybe the most important stat is that he wasn’t intercepted for the first time this season.

The Bucs beat the 49ers comfortably, holding them to just nine points. Don’t expect their defense to play nearly as well against the Panthers, which should require Winston to throw the ball more to keep up. The Panthers are vulnerable through the air having allowed 25 touchdown passes, although it is a bit concerning for Winston that they also have 11 interceptions. His history with turnovers makes him a bit risky, but he still has enough upside to make him a viable option in tournament play.

Lamar Jackson vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $5,900

He didn’t exactly face a tough opponent in the Raiders, but Jackson helped lead the Ravens to another win in Week 12. His passing numbers weren’t stellar, completing 14 of 25 attempts for 178 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. However, he continued to dominate with his legs, rushing 11 times for 71 yards and a touchdown. Through two starts, Jackson has an insane 190 rushing yards.

The Ravens quarterback situation is one to monitor closely. Joe Flacco (hip) has still not been cleared to return, which could lead Jackson to start again in Week 13. Even if Flacco is healthy enough to play, there is no guarantee he regains his starting job. There have already been reports that the Ravens might use both quarterbacks in games. If Flacco is out against the Falcons, this is a great opportunity for Jackson since the Falcons have allowed the seventh-most rushing yards (205) and three rushing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Quarterbacks

Matt Ryan vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $5,600

The Falcons couldn’t pull out a win against the Saints last week, but Ryan still played well with 377 yards and two touchdowns. Ryan gets the benefit of playing this game at home and has some great weapons at wide receiver, but this is not a very favorable matchup against a Ravens team that allows the second-fewest passing yards per game (203). Ryan might not be a total flop and isn’t priced overly high on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel is less than appealing.

Case Keenum vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $5,200

On the surface, this might stand out as a great matchup against a Bengals defense that couldn’t be playing much worse. They’ve allowed the second-most passing yards per game (292) and were just destroyed by the Browns. However, Keenum is having a poor season with 13 touchdown passes compared to 10 interceptions. He hasn’t thrown for at least 300 yards in a game since Week 6 and has thrown for 205 yards or fewer in back-to-back contests. If you want to take a chance on a cheap option in tournament play, look elsewhere.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

Six teams are on a bye during Week 11, but none of them have as much of an impact on the wide receiver position for the main Sunday afternoon slate in DFS as the Packers, Chiefs, Rams, and Vikings all playing in prime time. There are still a lot of quality options, though, so let’s dig into the position to see which matchups stand out. 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 11 - Wide Receivers

Michael Thomas vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,800

The Saints exploded for 51 points against the Bengals last week, so it’s no surprise that Thomas had a big game. He caught all eight of the targets thrown his way for 70 yards and two touchdowns. After scoring five touchdowns all last season, he already has seven through his first nine games. He also has an insane 89.7 percent catch rate, leaving him just 50 yards shy of reaching 1,000 yards for the third straight year.

The Eagles have only allowed 12 passing touchdowns this season, but they have allowed the 10th-most passing yards per game (266). Their secondary also received a significant blow when cornerback Ronald Darby was lost to a torn ACL. With the Saints firing on all cylinders offensively, they could put up plenty of points in a hurry in this contest. Thomas is tied for the league lead with 78 receptions, so expect him to have another great performance.

Julio Jones vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $8,500

There has never been any question about Jones’ workload with his 102 targets tied for the third-most in the league. He’s already posted 1,040 receiving yards, marking his fifth straight season with at least 1,000 yards. The only issue has been his incredible inability to score touchdowns. However, he finally found the end zone in Week 9, then followed that up with another score last week against the Browns.

If you’re just looking at the opponent, this does not stand out as a great matchup for Jones. The Cowboys have a good pass defense and have only allowed 12 touchdown receptions all season. However, Jones has such a heavy volume of passes thrown his way that it’s hard to slow him down. If he can continue to find his way into the end zone, the sky is the limit in terms of his value. Even if he doesn’t again Sunday, he still has a high enough floor to be worth considering in cash contests.

Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $8,400

It’s been a frustrating season for Beckham and the Giants offense. He’s still put up some big yardage totals, but he entered Week 10 with just two touchdown receptions. A matchup against the 49ers turned out to be just what the doctored ordered with the Giants scoring 27 points and Beckham hauling in two scores. Even though he finished with four receptions for 73 yards, his day actually could have been even better since he had 11 targets.

A surprising as this may be, Beckham actually has as many targets as Jones does. Having Eli Manning as his quarterback is going to continue to limit his upside, but that doesn’t mean you should shy away from him at this lofty price. The Bucs have been horrible against the pass, allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game (292) and the most passing touchdowns (23). As long as the Giants offensive line can keep Manning upright, he should look Beckham’s way enough to make him a safe option.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 - Wide Receivers

Alshon Jeffery vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $6,300

Jeffery had a quiet performance against the Cowboys last week with only four catches for 48 yards. On the bright side, he received eight targets and was on the field for 97 percent of their offensive snaps. New wide receiver Golden Tate wasn’t involved much in his debut with the team, only appearing on the field for 29 percent of their snaps. That number seems likely to rise as he gets more familiar with their offense, but it’s clear that Jeffery is still their top option at the position moving forward.

Tight end Zach Ertz will eat into Jeffery’s production from time to time, but Jeffery has four touchdowns in just six games and has a career-high 63.5 percent catch rate. The Eagles offense has had its struggles, but they will likely have to throw a lot Sunday to keep up with the Saints. That could lead to a banner performance from Jeffery since the Saints allow the second-most passing yards per game (296).

Kenny Golladay vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Ford Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $5,800

The trade of Tate to the Eagles opens up an even larger role for Golladay. He was great in Week 10 against the Bears, catching 6 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Marvin Jones (knee) also had to depart that game early, which led Golladay to receive a season-high 13 targets. Golladay has now been on the field for 90 percent of the Lions offensive snaps his season, which is tops among their skill position players.

Jones is luckily just dealing with a bone bruise in his knee, but his status is still in question for this contest against the Panthers. If he can’t play, Golladay is going to be extremely busy. Even if Jones is able to take the field, Golladay is going to be heavily involved due to Tate no longer being in town. The Panthers have struggled in the secondary, allowing the second-most touchdown passes through the air (22).

Larry Fitzgerald vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $5,600

The first two games with Byron Leftwich as the Cardinals offensive coordinator has provided immediate dividends for Fitzgerald. After receiving 41 targets across seven games with Mike McCoy at the helm of their offense, Fitzgerald has received 22 targets over two games since. He’s made the most of his added opportunities, posting 14 receptions, 152 yards, and a touchdown.

Another encouraging sign for the Fitzgerald is that he was on the field for at least 96 percent of the Cardinals offensive snaps in the two weeks under Leftwich. He had logged no more than 87 percent of their offensive snaps in three of his previous four contests. The Raiders get virtually no pressure on opposing quarterbacks and have allowed 21 passing touchdowns, potentially setting up Fitzgerald for a big game.

Tre’Quan Smith vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,000

With the Saints putting up 51 points last week, it is surprising that Smith wasn’t even targeted once in that contest. He was on the field for 68 percent of their offensive snaps, which was more than any other wide receiver, including Michael Thomas (61 percent). Don’t expect him to out snap Thomas moving forward, but last week illustrates the potential that Smith could have if the Saints decided to throw more passes his way.

The Saints just signed Brandon Marshall to provide some depth at wide receiver, but Smith should still be their second best option at the position moving forward. His lack of targets is concerning, which is why you should only consider him in tournament play. However, if this game turns into a shootout, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Smith provide value at this dirt cheap price.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 - Wide Receivers

Mike Evans vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,300

It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Evans. He received 10 targets in Week 9, but only caught one pass for 16 yards. He managed to post 51 yards in Week 10 but caught only three of six targets. This brief rough stretch is especially surprising considering how well he played with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback to start the year. Don’t expect him to struggle like this for the remainder of the season, but this isn’t a good opportunity for him to turn things around against the Giants. They’ve dealt away a couple of their key defenders, but they still have cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who has helped them allow just 12 passing touchdowns this season. At this lofty price, Evans is awfully risky.

Tyrell Williams vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $4,800

After four touchdowns across his previous three games, Williams was finally shut out of the end zone by the Raiders in Week 10. He’s only received 36 targets all season, so a lot of his value depends on him scoring touchdowns. With Keenan Allen the top option at wide receiver for the Chargers and Melvin Gordon thriving in the backfield, don’t expect Williams to receive a significant jump in targets anytime soon, either.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

Only a few of the top running backs won’t be available for the main Sunday slate in DFS for Week 10, leaving plenty of great options to choose from across the price scale. Let’s dig into the position to see where you can gain the edge for 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 10 - Running Backs

Todd Gurley vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
FanDuel = $10,800
DraftKings = $9,400

The Rams were caught in a shootout with the Saints in Week 9, which finally led to a subpar game from Gurley. He averaged 5.2 yards-per-carry, but he only finished with 68 yards on 13 attempts. The Saints held him in check in the passing game, as well, with Gurley finishing with six catches on seven targets for 11 yards. Even though Gurley managed to record a rushing touchdown, he had just one touchdown for the second straight week.

If you paid up to get Gurley in your entry last week, you were left disappointed, but don’t let that cloud your judgment moving forward. This is a much better matchup against a far inferior Seahawks offense, which should lead to more rushing attempts for Gurley. The Seahawks are also allowing an average of 4.8 yards-per-carry, which is tied for the fourth-most in the league. When these two teams met earlier this season, Gurley finished with 113 total yards and three touchdowns.

Kareem Hunt vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $8,500

The Chiefs had another great offensive performance against the Browns in Week 9 and Hunt was right in the thick of the action. He had 17 carries for 90 yards, and although he only received two targets, he caught one of them for a 50-yard touchdown. Add in his two rushing touchdowns and it was his third multi-touchdown game of the season. A feat even more impressive than that is that he has at least one touchdown in eight straight contests.

With the ease at which the Chiefs move the ball, Hunt is going to get plenty of opportunities for touchdowns. This is another stellar matchup for him against the Cardinals, who have allowed the second-most rushing yards per game (143.1). Their 12 rushing touchdowns allowed is also tied for the second-most, so don’t hesitate to pay up for Hunt.

Melvin Gordon vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $9,000

A bye week came at just the right time for the Chargers. Gordon missed Week 7 with a hamstring injury, but a bye in Week 8 helped him to miss only that one game. He certainly didn’t look hampered at all against the Seahawks on Sunday, turning 16 carries into 113 yards and a touchdown. That marked the third time in his last four games that Gordon finished with at least 6.9 yards-per-carry.

Week 10 brings a matchup against the Raiders, who looked like a trainwreck against the 49ers last week. In their first meeting this season, Gordon had 120 total yards and a touchdown against the Raiders. With the Raiders allowing the most rushing yards per game (144.5), expect Gordon to have another strong performance in their rematch.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 - Running Backs

Tevin Coleman vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $5,400

Coleman’s performance against the Redskins in Week 9 was impressive. They’ve had one of the better run defenses in the league this year, but Coleman still finished with 88 rushing yards on just 13 carries. He did plenty of damage in the passing game, as well, hauling in five of seven targets for 68 yards and two touchdowns. Those are the only two receiving touchdowns the Redskins have allowed to running backs all season.

Coleman is still sharing the backfield duties with Ito Smith, but Coleman has been on the field for exactly 57 percent of the Falcons offensive plays in each of their last three games. Smith wasn’t on the field more than 46 percent of the time in any of those contests. The Browns have allowed the fourth-most rushing yards per game (138.9) and the most rushing touchdowns (14), leaving Coleman with excellent upside.

David Johnson vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $6,800

If you play in season-long fantasy football, Johnson is right up there with some of the biggest disappointments in the league. The Cardinals finally moved on from offensive coordinator Mike McCoy before Week 8, which really can only help Johnson at this point. His first game with Byron Leftwich as offensive coordinator wasn’t exactly off the charts, but he finished with 100 total yards against the 49ers, marking just the second time this season he has recorded at least 100 total yards in a game.

The Cardinals had a bye last week, which should be helpful as they adopt Leftwich’s new offense. He’s already stated his desire to get Johnson more involved, at least bringing him back onto the radar in DFS. This is certainly a favorable matchup for Johnson to exploit with the Chiefs allowing a league-high 5.2 yards-per-carry. There is risk involved here, but Johnson could be someone to consider for your entry.

Duke Johnson Jr. vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $4,700

One of the more perplexing things we’ve seen this season is the Browns usage of Johnson. After finishing with 74 catches on 93 targets last year, Johnson only had 20 receptions on 29 targets through their first eight games. The Browns decided to clean house by firing their head coach and offensive coordinator last week, which immediately provided positive results for Johnson. With the Browns trying to keep up with the Chiefs, Johnson caught all nine of his targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

It was about time the Browns got Johnson more involved. They aren’t exactly deep at wide receiver, so it would seem to remain in their best interest to keep throwing passes Johnson’s way. If he can get similar usage in Week 10, he could once again have a big stat line considering the Falcons have allowed a league-high 68 receptions to opposing running backs. At this cheap price. Johnson could be well worth the risk in tournament play.

Jalen Richard vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,800

Few losses this season have been as embarrassing as the one the Raiders suffered at the hands of the 49ers in Week 9. With Nick Mullens making his first career start, they managed to blow out the Raiders, 34-3. Richard only had two carries in that contest, but running the ball is not his forte. He did catch all four of his targets for 45 yards, marking his fourth-straight game with at least four targets.

After the Raiders dealt Amari Cooper to the Cowboys and lost Marshawn Lynch to injury, their offense doesn’t have a ton of talented playmakers left. Their defense has played poorly as well, which should leave with some early deficits to try and make up. In those situations, Richard should be heavily involved in catching passes out of the backfield. Don’t be surprised if the Chargers race out to an early lead, setting things up nicely for Richard to provide value.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 - Running Backs

Leonard Fournette vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $6,300

Fournette injured his hamstring in the first game of the season against the Giants, which forced him to miss the subsequent two games. He tried to return in Week 4, but couldn’t make it through that contest and hasn’t played since. After having a bye in Week 9, everything is pointing towards Fournette taking the field against the Colts. Although he can be a major asset when healthy, it might be best to make sure he can make it through an entire game before you start playing him in DFS again.

Adrian Peterson vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $5,700

Peterson’s success with the Redskins has been surprising. After looking ineffective with the Saints and Cardinals last year, Peterson has already rushed for at least 96 yards in a game five times this season. However, his prognosis going forward looks extremely bleak with the Redskins offensive line decimated by injuries. Not only have they lost guards Brandon Schreff (pectoral) and Shawn Lauvao (knee) for the season, but tackle Trent Williams (thumb) is also a couple of weeks away from returning. With a bunch of backups blocking for him, Peterson isn’t very appealing at this price.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 – TE/DEF/ST

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

Six teams on a bye for Week 9, dealing a significant blow to the options at tight end in DFS. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players, and defenses/special teams, to target or 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 9 - TE/DEF/ST

Travis Kelce vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $6,600

Kelce came through for the Chiefs in their win over the Broncos in Week 8, catching six of 10 targets for 79 yards and a touchdown. With that performance, Kelce now has at least five receptions in seven consecutive games and at least eight targets in six of those contests. He only has four touchdowns this year despite the Chiefs explosive offense, but his 80.3 yards per game is the highest mark of his career.

If you are prepared to pay a premium at tight end, Kelce is the safe route to take. He leads the Chiefs with 70 targets, which actually ranks inside the top-15 in all of football. The Browns have only given up two touchdowns to opposing tight ends, but they have allowed 44 receptions to them, which is tied for fifth-most in the league. This game has the potential to get out of hand for the Browns early, so expect Kelce to be heavily involved in yet another offensive explosion for the Chiefs.

O.J. Howard vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of American Stadium
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,300

Howard only received four targets in Week 8, but he made the most of his opportunities by catching all of them for 68 yards and a touchdown. The score was Howard’s second in his last three games, giving him a total of three for the season. His targets have been a bit up an down, but that hasn’t stopped Howard from recording at least 54 receiving yards in six of seven games. The only contest where he didn’t reach that mark was in Week 4 against the Bears when he had to leave early due to injury.

One major plus about the Bucs offense is that their defense often puts them in an early hole that they have to try and pass their way out of. The Bucs are making a change back to Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback, but that shouldn’t impact Howard negatively considering how well the two played together when Jameis Winston was suspended to start the year. The Panthers have allowed 545 yards and five touchdowns to tight ends, making Howard a great option at this reasonable price.

Chicago Bears vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,100

The Bears only allowed 10 points to the Jets in Week 8, but they didn’t force a single turnover. That’s saying something considering Jets quarters Sam Darnold has 10 interceptions. They also recorded just one sack, which can mostly be attributed to the absence of Khalil Mack (ankle). The Bears had started out strong in that area this year, recording at least four sacks in each of their first four games.

Whether or not Mack returns for this game, you still want to play the Bears defense. The Bills offense is already a mess, but due to injuries to Josh Allen (elbow) and Derek Anderson (concussion), it looks like Nathan Peterman will once again be their starting quarterback. Peterman has thrown four picks across only 32 pass attempts this year, so don’t hesitate to pay up for the Bears, even at this expensive price for a defense.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - TE/DEF/ST

Greg Olsen vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Bank of American Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Olsen continues to battle his way through a foot injury, but he’s been on the field for at least 97 percent of the Panthers offensive snaps the last three games. He only has 10 receptions for 109 yards during that stretch, but he has found his way into the end zone in both of the last two weeks. The Panthers will continue to take a cautious approach with him in practice leading up to Sunday but expect him to be on the field a lot once again.

Even though Olsen has been one of the most consistent tight ends in the league, his upside is limited by his injury. That makes him somewhat of a risky play, but this could be a matchup to exploit. The Bucs have not only allowed the second-most passing yards per game (318), but they’ve allowed 542 yards and four touchdowns to opposing tight ends.

David Njoku vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,600

Talk about a rough week for Njoku. The Browns had plenty of problems scoring points against the Steelers, ultimately losing 33-18. Njoku has been a big part of their offense, but he didn’t receive a single target Sunday. He may have been hampered by a knee injury that has limited him in practice leading up to Week 9, but he was on the field for 84 percent of their offensive snaps.

Don’t panic over one bad game from Njoku. He had received at least six targets in all but one game leading up to Week 8 and had four straight games with at least 52 receiving yards. With the likelihood that the Browns are going to have to throw a lot to keep up with the Chiefs, Njoku is going to get targets Sunday if he’s healthy enough to play. With there being no indication so far that he won’t be able to suit up, he’s a great option in tournament play.

Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $3,000

The Texans hung 42 points on the Dolphins in Week 8, but they did allow them to score 23 points of their own. The Texans defense had been on a streak of allowing 16 points or fewer in three straight games, but those were three outstanding matchups against the Cowboys, Bills, and Jaguars. Outside of games versus the Patriots and Colts, the Texans really haven’t been faced with many offensive juggernauts this year.

The schedule continues to fall in their favor for Week 9 against a Broncos team that just traded away receiver Demaryius Thomas. Case Keenum has not played well since coming over from the Vikings and the Broncos haven’t protected him, either, resulting in 22 sacks. To put that into perspective, Keenum was sacked 22 times all last season. If you don’t want to pay up for the Bears, the Texans are another viable option to consider.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - TE/DEF/ST

Austin Hooper vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $3,800

Hooper isn’t priced poorly on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. It’s likely inflated due to his performances in Weeks 5 and 6 where he combined for 18 receptions on 22 targets for 148 yards and a touchdown. However, over his other five games, he has a total of 15 receptions on 19 targets for 173 yards and a score. Buyer beware, especially against a Redskins team that has only given up 292 receiving yards to tight ends.

Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $3,200

The Panthers might explode offensively against the Bucs, but their defense could be in for a struggle. The Bucs throw the ball a ton and have some great offensive weapons. Fitzpatrick can be turnover prone, but he also had 11 touchdown passes across his first three games. This isn’t exactly an appealing price for the Panthers, either, so it might be best to avoid them altogether when crafting your lineup.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

Even with so many teams on a bye for Week 9, there are still a ton of great wide receiver options across the price scale in DFS. 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 9 - Wide Receivers

Adam Thielen vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $8,900

For the first time all season, Thielen only received single-digit targets in Week 8 with seven against the Saints. However, it didn’t hurt his bottom line as he hauled in all of them for 103 yards and a touchdown. He has at least 100 yards in every game this season and has scored at least one touchdown in five straight contests. After never posting more than five touchdowns in a season during career, Thielen already has six this year.

Without question, Thielen has one of the highest floors of any receiver in DFS. He leads the NFL in targets (96), receptions (74) and receiving yards (925) and opposing defenses can’t key in on him with Stefon Diggs also a great option for Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. Detroit has allowed 15 touchdowns through the air and recorded just two interceptions, so don’t be afraid to pay up for Thielen.

DeAndre Hopkins vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,300

The Texans exploded for 42 points in Week 8 against the Dolphins after having scored 22 points or fewer in six of their first seven games. As one of their best offensive weapons, it’s no surprise that Hopkins stuffed the stat sheet in that contest, catching six of seven targets for 82 yards and two touchdowns. After finding the end zone 13 times last year, Hopkins has been extremely productive this season, as well, with six touchdown receptions.

The Texans suffered a significant blow to their offense last week when Will Fuller was lost for the season with a torn ACL. They were able to quickly address his loss via trade, though, by acquiring Demaryius Thomas from the Broncos. It might take Thomas some time to get adjusted, but it will be a benefit to Hopkins to at least have him on the field Sunday to occupy some of the defense’s coverages. Hopkins has the seventh-most targets (78) among wide receivers in the league, leaving him with a high floor again Sunday.

Mike Evans vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $8,100

The Bucs dug themselves a big hole early against the Bengals last week, which forced them to throw the ball a ton in the second half. Evans certainly got all the work he could handle, catching six of 13 targets for 179 yards and a touchdown. With 770 receiving yards through his first seven games, Evans is well on his way to totaling at least 1,000 yards for the fifth straight season.

It should be noted that Evans’ touchdown last week came from Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was forced to relieve the struggling Jameis Winston. Evans has four touchdown receptions this season, all of them coming from Fitzpatrick. Across the first three games that Fitzpatrick started this season, Evans had 23 receptions on 30 targets for 367 yards, as well. Fitzpatrick will be under center again in Week 9, leaving Evans with the plenty of upside.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Wide Receivers

Jarvis Landry vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,500

Landry came through with an odd stat line last week. He was certainly involved with 12 targets, which he turned into eight receptions. That tied for his second-most receptions in a game this season. However, he only finished with 39 yards. Believe it or not, that actually marked the third time in his last five games that Landry received at least 10 targets, but recorded 39 yards or fewer.

With the Browns having fired their head coach and offensive coordinator on Monday, this could end being an ugly game. Add in the fact that the Chiefs have arguably the most potent offense in the league and the Browns could be trying to dig themselves out of a huge hole early. They might be forced to throw the ball plenty to keep up, with Landry being one of the main beneficiaries in that scenario. The Chiefs have also allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game (305). Landry is a bit risky, but he’s still a viable option in tournament play.

Devin Funchess vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $5,600

The Panthers don’t always throw the ball a lot, which leaves Funchess with limited opportunities. Even in a game where the Panthers scored 36 points Sunday against the Ravens, Funchess only had three receptions on three targets for a season-low 27 yards. He hasn’t topped more than 77 yards in a game this season and has only received at least 10 targets one time.

On the bright side, Funchess does have a touchdown in three of his last five games and leads the team with eight red zone targets this year. The Bucs have been horrible against the pass, allowing the second-most passing yards per game (318). Considering they have also allowed the most passing touchdowns (20), this could be the week to take a chance on Funchess in tournament play.

Kenny Golladay vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings =  $5,500

Golladay was one of the focal points of the Lions passing attack to start the season, receiving at least seven targets in four of his first five games. However, he hasn’t seen much action in the last two weeks with three total targets. He caught all three of them, but only totaled 49 yards and failed to find his way into the end zone in either contest. It was especially surprising last week that he only had one pass thrown his way considering he was on the field for 92 percent of their offensive plays.

Even though it’s been a quiet couple of weeks for Golladay, look for him to be much more productive Sunday. The Lions dealt Golden Tate to the Eagles at the trade deadline, leaving a significant hole in their offense. Tate was leading the team with 69 targets, which was at least 20 targets more than anyone else. The Vikings aren’t exactly a stellar matchup, but Golladay is still worth considering based on his likely increased role.

Courtland Sutton vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $3,900

As a second-round pick in the 2018 Draft, the Broncos have high hopes for Sutton. He hasn’t received a ton of targets in the early going, but he has been on the field for 69 percent of their offensive snaps. His 45.9 percent catch rate leaves a lot to be desired, but he’s shown big-play upside by averaging 19.1 yards per reception.

With Thomas now in Houston, Sutton will step in as the Broncos’ number two wide receiver behind Emmanuel Sanders. He could also see more opportunities in the red zone since Thomas had the second-most red zone targets (eight) on the team. Sanders has the higher upside of the two, but Sutton makes for a great tournament option at this reduced price. Don’t expect him to be this cheap again next week.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Wide Receivers

Keenan Allen vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,300

Allen had a 64.2 percent catch rate last year, which was the second-lowest mark of his career. He’s corrected that issue with a 73.2 percent catch rate this year, but that still hasn’t led to lofty production. His 56 targets are good, but he’s a long ways away from matching the 159 targets that he received last season. The Chargers haven’t been looking his way when they get in close, either, with his five red zone targets ranked third on the team behind Melvin Gordon (10) and Mike Williams (six). The Seahawks have allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards (219) and only 10 touchdowns through the air, so this could end up being a quiet week for Allen.

Calvin Ridley vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,700

Ridley started out his career in impressive fashion with six touchdowns across his first four games. However, he wasn’t on the field for more than 66 percent of the Falcons offensive snaps in any of those contests and finished with five or fewer targets twice. His targets have continued to remain limited across his last three games, resulting in 47 receiving yards or fewer in each contest. The key stat, though, is that he failed to reach the end zone in all three games. This isn’t a great matchup against a Redskins team that has allowed just 11 passing touchdowns all season, making Ridley awfully risky at this price.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

One of the highlights of Week 9 in the NFL will be Todd Gurley facing a New Orleans Saints defense that has allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (74.1) in the league. If there was ever a week not to pay up to get him into your entry, this might be it. Let’s dig into the running back position to see where you can gain the edge for 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 9 - Running Backs

Melvin Gordon vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,200

Gordon had his first 1000-yard rushing campaign last year, but his 3.9 yards-per-carry weren’t exactly great. He’s made a significant improvement in that area this season with 5.1 yards-per-carry through six games. The Chargers have relied on him more in the passing game, as well, resulting in Gordon catching 30 of 42 targets for 279 yards and three touchdowns.

Gordon sat out Week 7 with a hamstring injury, but he’s received the benefit of added rest after the Chargers were on a bye in Week 8. All signs are pointing to him playing Sunday, bringing back one of the top options in DFS. The Seahawks have been excellent defending against the pass, but their 4.5 yards-per-carry allowed is the 10th-highest mark in the league. If you want to shy away from using Gurley against the Saints, Gordon is a safe bet to consider in cash contests.

Kareem Hunt vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $7,700

Hunt was limited to 50 rushing yards in Week 8 by the Broncos after recording at least 80 rushing yards in four straight games. He still had plenty of attempts with 16, but his 3.1 yards-per-carry was his third-lowest mark of the season. However, he also chipped in five catches on six targets for 36 yards and a touchdown.

With the Chiefs high-powered offense, Hunt has recorded at least one touchdown in every game since failing to find the end zone in Week 1. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him score again Sunday with the Browns tied for the most rushing touchdowns allowed (12). They’ve also allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game (138.9), setting up Hunt with a very high floor.

Christian McCaffrey vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,800

The Panthers exploded for a season-high 36 points against the Ravens last week, which resulted in a very productive game from McCaffrey. His 56 total yards left a lot to be desired, but he scored two total touchdowns, one of which was his first rushing touchdown of the year. In fact, McCaffrey only had one receiving touchdown, as well, through his first six games.

Don’t be overly concerned with McCaffrey’s lack of yardage in Week 8, especially his paltry 11 receiving yards. He still had 14 carries and six targets, the kind of volume that is going to help him be productive more often than not. The Panthers are met with another favorable opportunity to score plenty of points in Week 9 against a Bucs team that has allowed 20 touchdowns through the air and eight on the ground. With McCaffrey as one of the focal points of their offense, this is a matchup to exploit.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Running Backs

Tarik Cohen vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $6,200

It took a while for the Bears offense to get going, but they’ve been excellent of late. They are coming off of a 24-10 win over the Jets in Week 8, a game in which Cohen had a 70-yard receiving touchdown. It was his only catch of the game on three targets, although he did have five carries for an additional 40 yards. Cohen has benefited greatly from the improved play of the Bears offense, scoring a touchdown in four straight games.

Another encouraging stat for Cohen that came out of Week 8 is that he was on the field for 58 percent of the Bears offense plays, the exact same amount as Jordan Howard. It marked the first time this season that Howard didn’t have a higher percentage than Cohen. Howard could get plenty of carries if the Bears get up big against a bad Bills team, but Cohen’s big-play ability makes him someone worth targeting in tournament play.

Nick Chubb vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $4,500

In his second week as the Browns featured back, Chubb finished with 65 yards on 18 carries. He also caught his first two passes of the season, although only for a total of 10 yards. The Browns were down big to the Steelers, which might be why Chubb was only on the field for 48 percent of the Browns offensive plays after being on the field for 66 percent of their plays in Week 7.

While it was concerning that somehow Dontrell Hilliard played 23 percent of the Browns snaps last week, all that goes out the window for Week 9 with the Browns having fired their head coach and offensive coordinator Monday. Duke Johnson has largely been underutilized this year, so it will be interesting to see if they get him more touches Sunday. Even with the uncertainty surrounding their offensive scheme moving forward, Chubb is going to get the majority of their carries. The Browns might be able to move the ball well against the Chiefs leaky defense, leaving Chubb with touchdown upside, as well.

Lamar Miller vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,200

There was certainly concern surrounding Miller heading into Week 7 against the Jaguars with him rushing for 49 yards or fewer in three straight games. He even had on horrid performance against the Giants where he gained 10 yards on 10 carries. However, he broke out of his slump against the Jaguars, accumulating 100 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. If that wasn’t impressive enough, he followed that up with 133 yards and another touchdown Week 8 against the Dolphins.

With Alfred Blue as his only real competition for carries, Miller is the most talented player in the Texans backfield. He’s set up with another great matchup Sunday with the Broncos allowing the sixth-most rushing yards per game (135.8). The game flow could lean in Miller’s favor, as well, with the Broncos having dealt away wide receiver Demaryius Thomas at the trade deadline. They’ve already scored 23 points or fewer in six of eight games, so his loss likely won’t improve their odds of being more productive. If the Texans get up big, we could see a heavy dose of Miller in the second half.

Isaiah Crowell vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,200

On the surface, Crowell’s stats look pretty good. He’s averaging a career-high 5.1 yards-per-carry and has already found his way into the end zone six total times. The problem is that most of his damage done on the ground came in two games. Although he had 102 rushing yards in Week 1 and 219 rushing yards in Week 5, he’s had 40 rushing yards or fewer in each of his other six contests. Week 8 was another struggle against the Bears, gaining 25 yards on 13 carries.

It should be noted that his two big performances came against the Lions and Broncos, two of the worst rushing defenses in the league. He’ll face another bad one in the Dolphins in Week 9, who have allowed the third-most rushing yards per game (143.1). The Dolphins also don’t have a great offense, which is good news for Crowell since a close contest would likely result in a better game script for Crowell. He’s certainly risky, but he might be worth taking a chance on at this cheap price.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Running Backs

Mark Ingram vs. Los Angeles Rams
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $5,000

The return of Ingram in Week 5 struck fear in the hearts of everyone who rosters Alvin Kamara in season-long fantasy after Ingram rushed for 53 yards and two touchdowns on six carries. While Ingram does somewhat eat into Kamara’s upside, Ingram’s value in DFS is largely touchdown dependent. He hasn’t found his way into the end zone in either of the last two games and has to face a Rams defense in Week 9 that has only allowed five rushing touchdowns this season. His price isn’t all that unreasonable on DraftKings, but he’s definitely someone to avoid on FanDuel.

Tevin Coleman vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $4,800

Coleman only has 21 carries for 85 yards over his last two games. Ito Smith has cut into his opportunities with Coleman only on the field for 57 percent of the Falcons offensive snaps in those two contests. The Falcons don’t throw the ball to Coleman a lot, either, with him receiving three targets or fewer in all but one game this year. The Redskins have allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game (80.1) and have allowed just six rushing touchdowns, making Coleman too much of a risk based on his limited upside.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 6 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

The Giants, Chiefs, and Packers all won’t be part of the main slate for DFS in Week 6, but there are still plenty of great wide receiver options to help you bring home some money. 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 6 - Wide Receivers

A.J. Green vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,000

Green topped 100 receiving yards for the first time this season during Week 5, hauling in six of 10 targets for 112 yards. Although his yardage totals haven’t always been great, Green has received at least eight targets in all five contests. This is nothing new for Green considering he has never received fewer than 100 targets in a season during his career. That’s especially impressive since he has played 13 or fewer games in a season twice.

The Bengals offense has been much improved, which has helped Green record five touchdowns. While he only had 12 total touchdowns the last two seasons, Green had recorded at least 10 scores in three of the previous four campaigns before that stretch. The Steelers have allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game (296) and are tied for the most passing touchdowns allowed (13), leaving Green with a high floor Sunday.

Adam Thielen vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel – $8,600
DraftKings = $8,500

Simply put, Thielen is a target machine. His 66 targets are tied for the league lead with Antonio Brown and his 47 receptions are more than any other player. The problem for Thielen last year was that he received plenty of passes thrown his way, but he was only able to convert them into three touchdowns. He’s already matched that mark this season to go along with at least 105 yards in each contest.

There are few sure things in DFS, but Thielen has one of the highest floors of any receiver in the league. The Vikings offense has been explosive with Kirk Cousins at the helm, resulting in them attempting the third-most passes in the league. The Vikings might get up big in this game against the inferior Cardinals, but Thielen will still get plenty of opportunities to provide value.

Julio Jones vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $7,900

The drought continues for Jones. He has failed to find the end zone this season and has scored just three touchdowns total since the start of the 2017 season. He had his worst performance of the year in Week 5, catching five of nine targets for 62 yards. On the bright side, it was the fourth time this season that Jones has received at least nine targets.

Jones’ lack of touchdowns might scare some people away from using him at this price. However, this is a stellar matchup against the Bucs. They have allowed the most passing yards per game (358) and are tied with the Steelers for the most touchdown passes allowed (13) despite only playing four games. When these two teams met in Atlanta last year, Jones exploded for 12 catches on 15 targets for 253 yards and two touchdowns. This is as good an opportunity as any for Jones to find the end zone.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 6 - Wide Receivers

Tyler Boyd vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $6,000

Boyd was flying high heading into Week 5 against the Dolphins having posted at least 91 receiving yards in three straight games. He was heavily involved with seven targets, but he was only able to turn that into four catches for 44 yards. He also failed to score a touchdown for the second straight week against a Dolphins defense that has only allowed six scores through the air all season.

Although his results last week were a disappointment, it was encouraging to see him receive so many targets. He and Green are actually tied for the team lead with 43 targets each. After them, the next two players with the most targets are both injured in Giovani Bernard (21) and Tyler Eifert (19). With how poorly the Steelers defense has played against the pass this season, there is plenty of room for both Green and Boyd to be productive Sunday.

Mohamed Sanu vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,800

The sexy names in the Falcons wide receiver corp are Jones and emerging rookie Calvin Ridley. While they might grab all the headlines, don’t sleep on Sanu. He had another big game last week against the Steelers with 73 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. It marked the second time in the last three weeks that Sanu found the end zone and the fourth time in five games that he has received at least six targets.

Sanu has been on the field for 81% of the Falcons offensive plays this season, which is second-highest on the team only to tight end Austin Hooper. By comparison, Ridley has only been on the field 61% of the time. Ridley might have the highest touchdown upside and Jones may receive more targets, but Sanu can provide value in his own right. Considering how cheap he is on both sites, he could be a great option against the porous Bucs secondary.

Keke Coutee vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,600

The Texans have two excellent wide receivers in DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller. Both are having great seasons with quarterback Deshaun Watson back from a torn ACL. Another player who is starting to emerge for the Texans is Coutee, who missed the first three games due to a hamstring injury. He debuted in style Week 4 against the Colts, catching 11 of 15 targets for 109 yards. He followed that up with six catches on seven targets for 51 yards and a touchdown Week 5.

Can Coutee keep up this kind of production playing alongside two other great receivers? Well, working in his favor is the fact that the Texans run a lot of three-receiver sets. That has resulted in Coutee being on the field for 82% of the teams offensive plays since his return. His upside isn’t nearly as high as that of Hopkins or Fuller, but it doesn’t have to be for him to be a viable option in tournament play at this price.

Chester Rogers vs. New York Jets
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,500

The Colts were extremely thin on pass-catching options for Week 5 with both T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle out due to injury. Rogers was heavily involved, as a result, catching eight of 11 targets for 66 yards. Doyle was out for Week 4, too, and Hilton was also injured during that game, which helped Rogers catch eight of 11 targets for 85 yards.

Injuries will be a problem for the Colts again for Week 6 with both Hilton and Doyle unlikely to play. Eric Ebron has helped make up for the loss of Doyle, but the Colts wide receiver trio of Rogers, Ryan Grant, and Zach Pascal are left to fill the significant void created by Hilton’s absence. Rogers hasn’t shown to have big-play upside, but 22 targets across two games in certainly encouraging for his potential output Sunday.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 6 - Wide Receivers

Allen Robinson vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,700

The Bears badly needed to add talent at wide receiver during the offseason, resulting in Robinson being their prized acquisition. He posted 10 catches on 14 targets in Week 2, but only accumulated 83 yards. He has yet to top 100 receiving yards in a game this season and has finished with 61 or fewer receiving yards in three of four contests. The Dolphins have done a great job keeping opposing receivers out of the end zone, leaving Robinson with little upside.

Corey Davis vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – Nissan Stadium
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,800

Davis followed up his monster performance Week 4 against the Eagles with just four catches on six targets for 49 yards last week against the Bills. Considering he has 62 receiving yards or fewer in four of five games, that game against the Eagles is more of an outlier than anything else. The Ravens have allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (215), so don’t expect Davis to be overly productive.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 6 – Quarterbacks

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

Quarterback depth will be somewhat tested in Week 6 if you are playing the main Sunday slate in DFS. Both the Saints and Lions are on a bye, which means no Drew Brees or Matthew Stafford. Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers all won’t be available, either, with the Chiefs and Patriots facing off Sunday night and the Packers hosting the 49ers on Monday. There is still value to be had, though, so 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.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 6 - Quarterbacks

Ben Roethlisberger vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $6,500

The Steelers won handily over the Falcons in Week 5, limiting Roethlisberger to a season-low 29 pass attempts due to their big lead. He made the most of his opportunities, racking up 250 yards and three touchdowns. Although he did throw an interception for his third straight game, he’s also thrown at least three touchdown passes in three of his last four contests.

With the Steelers still without star running back Le’Veon Bell, Roethlisberger is averaging a career-high 332.8 passing yards per game. James Conner has had a couple of strong performances in Bell’s absence, but Roethlisberger and their receivers have shined. Roethlisberger traditionally has better numbers at home than he does on the road, but he still has a high floor in this game. He showed he can take advantage of poor defenses on the road Week 3 when he lit up the Bucs for 353 yards and three touchdowns. The Bengals haven’t played as poorly as the Bucs, but they have already allowed 10 touchdown passes.

Matt Ryan vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $6,800

Ryan departed last week’s game early with a foot injury, but that had a lot to do with the lopsided score. The Falcons didn’t have a strong offensive performance, resulting in Ryan throwing for 285 yards and a touchdown. It was the first time since Week 1 that Ryan didn’t record at least two touchdowns in a game. The good news is that he’s expected to be fine for this matchup with the Bucs.

The Bucs defense has struggled mightily to defend the pass, allowing a league-high 358 passing yards per game. Despite being on their bye during Week 5, the Bucs are still tied for the most passing touchdowns allowed (13). They only have one interception, too, providing very little resistance to opposing offenses. The Falcons have scored at least 31 points in each of their three home games this season, so look for Ryan to bounce back in a big way Sunday.

Deshaun Watson vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $6,400

Watson was rusty Week 1 in what was his first game back from a torn ACL, throwing for 175 yards to go along with one touchdown and one pick against the Patriots. He’s been a different quarterback since, throwing for at least 300 yards in each of his next four games. Turnovers have still been a problem with him throwing one interception in each of those contests, but he’s also chipped in eight total touchdowns.

The added value that Watson provides with his legs goes a long way towards giving him a high floor. He has at least five rushing attempts and 36 rushing yards in all five games. The Bills defense played well at home against the Titans last week, but the Titans don’t exactly have an overwhelming offense. Watson has two of the most dynamic wide receivers in the league to support him in DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller, which helps with his touchdown upside.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 6 - Quarterbacks

Andy Dalton vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,300

Dalton had arguably his worst performance of the year Week 5, throwing for 248 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. It was the first time he threw for less than two scores in a game and marked the second time he accumulated less than 250 yards through the air. He did only have 30 pass attempts, though, which was his fewest since Week 1.

Week 6 brings a chance for Dalton to get back on track against a Steelers defense that has allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game (296) and is tied with the Bucs for the most passing touchdowns allowed (13). This has the potential to be a high-scoring game based on the Steelers explosive offense, so Dalton could be a great option in tournament play at a cheaper price than Big Ben.

Jameis Winston vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $5,800

Winston was reinstated from his three-game suspension and eligible to play Week 4, but he didn’t start because of the hot streak that Ryan Fitzpatrick was on. That streak ended in a hurry in that contest against the Bears, ultimately leading to Winston coming in for relief of Fitzpatrick. Winston didn’t exactly shine, either, finishing with 145 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Winston has been able to use the bye week to get ready for this game, which should leave him more prepared than he was for his relief role against the Bears. Turnovers have plagued Winston during his career and his 61.1% career completion percentage also leaves a lot to be desired. Even with that being said, he has a great wide receiver trio around him and will have to throw the ball a lot based on the Bucs defensive deficiencies. The Falcons have allowed 12 touchdown passes this year and their defense has been decimated by injuries, potentially setting up Winston for a valuable performance.

Baker Mayfield vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $5,500

Mayfield was faced with a tough task Week 5 against a Ravens defense that was playing well and getting back cornerback Jimmy Smith from suspension. His 342 passing yards were nice, but he only completed 58.1% of his passes and recorded one touchdown to go along with one interception. In both of his starts since taking over for Tyrod Taylor, Mayfield has completed less than 59% of his passes. On the plus side, he has attempted at least 40 passes in both of those contests.

Sunday brings a much easier task against the Chargers, who have allowed 270 passing yards per game compared to just 215 passing yards per game allowed by the Ravens. The Charges have also given up 11 touchdown passes while the Ravens have only allowed six. Mayfield is going to have his ups and downs throughout his rookie campaign, but he has enough upside to be worth considering at this price for Week 6.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 6 - Quarterbacks

Mitch Trubisky vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $5,300

The Bears had a bye week to bask in the glory of their 48-10 demolishing of the Bucs in Week 4. Trubisky’s play was the highlight of that game since he finished with 354 yards and a staggering six touchdown passes. Don’t get too excited, though, because Trubisky only had two touchdown passes in three games total before Week 4. The Dolphins secondary has given up some yards, but they have only allowed six touchdown passes and recorded a league-high 10 interceptions. Expect Trubisky to come crashing back down to Earth in this contest.

Alex Smith vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $5,400

How smart do the Chiefs look right now for moving on from Smith to start the Patrick Mahomes era? Smith had a fine stint with the Chiefs, but their offense was never nearly as explosive with him at the helm. The same issue has carried over with him to the Redskins, who are only averaging 20.8 points per game. Smith has failed to throw a touchdown pass in two of their four contests and only has four total scores through the air this season. He’s not expensive, but he doesn’t have enough upside to even warrant taking a chance on in tournament play.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 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.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

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.