While only two teams will be on a bye in Week 5, the main Sunday afternoon slate in DFS doesn’t have the most appealing running back options. Still, there are some key matchups to highlight that are worth exploiting.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 – TE & DEF/ST
An already thin tight end position is even worse in Week 4 with George Kittle and the 49ers on a bye. We’ll have to dig a little deeper at the position, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t find some fantasy gold.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 – Running Backs
Between some significant injuries and two teams being on a bye, the running back options aren’t as deep in Week 4.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 – Running Backs
If there was ever a time to pay up for running backs in DFS, Week 3 might be it.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 – Quarterbacks
The quarterback position has been decimated by injuries of late, including two significant ones to Drew Brees (thumb) and Ben Roethlisberger (elbow). That makes things a bit interesting for Week 3 in DFS, so let’s break down the options and discuss which matchups to exploit.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – TE & DEF/ST
For our last positional breakdown of the Week 1 DFS slate, we’ll examine both some tight ends and defenses/special teams to target for your lineup.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – Wide Receivers
While we didn’t see several of the top-tier wide receivers play much during the preseason, most of them should be ready to go for Week 1. There are a lot of juicy matchups to exploit, so let’s highlight some of the best ones to consider.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – Running Backs
After breaking down the quarterback position Monday, it’s time to dive into the running backs worth considering for Week 1. Whether you are looking to spend big or save at the position, there are viable options for both strategies.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 16 – QB & RB
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
With a bizarre Week 15 now in our rearview mirror, we only have two weeks left of full slates in the NFL. There is no Thursday game during Week 16, but there are two matchups on Saturday. Let’s dive into the main Sunday slate in DFS and highlight some quarterbacks and runnings backs to consider 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.
QUARTERBACKS
Deshaun Watson vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $6,600
The Texans got back in the win column last week against the Jets, boosting their record to 10-4. Watson had another strong performance, throwing for 294 yards and two touchdowns. He also chipped in 26 rushing yards on four carries. Watson is currently on an impressive streak in which he has completed at least 71 percent of his passes and has not thrown an interception in four straight contests. The Eagles secondary has been decimated by injuries to the point where they have now allowed the second-most passing yards per game (281) in the league for the season, overall. With running back Lamar Miller battling an ankle injury, the Texans could rely even more on Watson, giving him tremendous upside for this matchup.
Baker Mayfield vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $6,100
Mayfield didn’t play all that well against the Broncos in Week 15, completing just 58.1 percent of his passes for 188 yards. He did somewhat salvage his line with two touchdowns, although he did also throw an interception. Despite his underwhelming performance, he’s one of the top DFS options at quarterback this week. The Bengals defense is a mess and has allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game (271) to go along with 28 touchdown passes. The last time these two teams met in Week 12, Mayfield threw for 258 yards and four touchdowns.
Josh Allen vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $5,800
The Bills don’t have a lot of offensive weapons, but things were really bad last week against the Lions with running backs LeSean McCoy (hamstring) and Chris Ivory (shoulder) inactive. To make matters worse, third-string back Marcus Murphy had to leave the game with an elbow injury. That left the Lions defense to key in on Allen, who completed just 50 percent of his passes for 204 yards. More importantly, they held him to 16 yards on nine carries. Luckily, Allen still finished with a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown, helping him to have another productive performance. Playing on the road against the Patriots isn’t a great matchup, but Allen has been able to provide enough value with his legs to still be worth considering in tournament play.
Dak Prescott vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $5,700
The Cowboys entered Week 15 with five straight wins and had the look of a team who was going to pull away from the rest of their division. However, not only did they lose to the Colts, but they were shut out, 23-0. Prescott couldn’t get much going, completing 24 of 39 passes for 206 yards and an interception. He’s been a bit inconsistent of late, but he showed his upside against the Eagles two weeks ago when he threw for 455 yards and three touchdowns. The addition of wide receiver Amari Cooper has been huge for Prescott’s production, so look for him to bounce back quickly from his debacle against the Colts. This is certainly a prime opportunity for him to do so against the Bucs, who are tied for the second-most touchdown passes allowed (30) in the league.
RUNNING BACKS
Christian McCaffrey vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $9,300
DraftKings = $8,800
Panther’s quarterback Cam Newton is struggling with a shoulder issue right now and looked terrible on Monday night against the Saints. He clearly couldn’t throw the ball well down the field, averaging just 4.5 yards per passing attempt. His inability to throw deep was a positive for McCaffrey, though, who was targeted 11 times. He finished with eight catches for 67 yards to go along with 15 carries for an additional 53 yards. That marked his seventh straight game with at least 100 total yards and with his touchdown pass Monday, McCaffrey now has at least one score in four straight contests. Newton’s shoulder likely won’t be any better this week, so expect McCaffrey to get all the work that he can handle.
Ezekiel Elliott vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,000
Even though the Cowboys couldn’t find their way into the end zone against the Colts, Elliott still finished with 128 total yards. He caught seven of his eight targets and has now received at least six targets in six straight games, giving him a significant boost in his overall production. The Bucs are not only allowing the sixth-most rushing yards per game (128.1), but they’ve also allowed a league-high 106 receptions to running backs, leaving Elliott with a tremendously high upside.
Nick Chubb vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,300
Chubb failed to catch a pass Sunday for the first time since Week 7, but he was successful on the ground with 20 carries for 100 yards. Yes, 40 of those yards came on one play, but the 20 carries is the key to his value. He now has at least 20 rushing attempts in four of his last six games and could be in for another heavy workload in Week 16. The Bengals are decimated by injuries on offense, so they might have a hard time putting points on the board, which could lead to a lot of carries late for Chubb. The Bengals’ defense is allowing the fourth-most rushing yards per game (142.4), so don’t hesitate to add Chubb to your entry.
Marlon Mack vs. New York Giants
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $5,500
Mack had 60 rushing yards across two games, combined, heading into Week 15, but he broke out of that drought with 139 yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys. With their defense dominating, Mack received 27 rushing attempts as the Colts nursed their lead to the finish line. Week 16 brings a great opportunity for Mack to thrive considering the Giants just gave up 170 rushing yards and two touchdowns to Derrick Henry on Sunday. The trade of Damon Harrison to the Lions has left a significant hole in their rushing defense, so look for Mack to take advantage.
Elijah McGuire vs. Green Bay Packers
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,700
The Jets had to place Isaiah Crowell (toe) on IR last week, which opened up the lead back role for McGuire. He wasn’t very effective in his first start, turning 18 carries into just 42 yards. He did find his way into the end zone, though, and he was on the field for 75 percent of the Jets’ offensive snaps. The Jets don’t have any other choice but to give McGuire a lot of snaps, leaving him as a very appealing tournament option based on his cheap price on both sites.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 14
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
If you didn’t make the playoffs in your season-long fantasy football league, the fun isn’t over yet. Every week is a new opportunity to bring home some cash in DFS. We already discussed quarterbacks to target and avoid in DFS for Week 14, so now let’s dive into the rest of the positions to hopefully help you bring home some cash. 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.
RUNNING BACKS
Christian McCaffrey vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $9,300
McCaffrey continued his run of dominance against the Bucs in Week 13, turning 10 carries into 106 yards. He also caught nine of 10 targets for 55 yards and a touchdown. Not only has he been racking up yards in bunches, but he has 10 touchdowns across his last five games. Maybe the craziest stat of them all for McCaffrey is that he has been on the field for 97 percent of the Panthers offensive snaps. This is shaping up to be another great matchup for him in Week 14 against a Browns defense that has allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game (136.4) in the league to go along with 15 rushing touchdowns.
Aaron Jones vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $7,200
Jones looked to finally be establishing himself as the lead running back for the Packers, but he was only on the field for 51 percent of their offensive snaps in Week 13. Even with his limited playing time, he still managed to score a touchdown for the fourth straight game. Maybe the biggest boost for his value moving forward was the dismissal of head coach Mike McCarthy after their embarrassing loss last week to the Cardinals. Despite is seeming obvious that Jones is their best running back, McCarthy still continued to force Jamaal Williams onto the field. If Jones gets the bulk of the carries in Week 14, he could explode against a Falcons defense that has allowed the sixth-most rushing yards per game (130.7) and 14 touchdowns on the ground.
Jeff Wilson Jr. vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $3,800
There was a lot of excitement around the 49ers heading into the season, but injuries have decimated them to the point where they are one of the worst teams in the league. Their most recent injury came to running back Matt Breida (ankle), who has already been ruled out for Week 14. Wilson did a nice job after Breida went down against the Seahawks, carrying the ball 15 times for 61 yards and catching eight of nine targets for 73 yards. He’ll likely get all the work he can handle Sunday, making him an extremely appealing option in tournament play based on his cheap price on both sites.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Keenan Allen vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,400
The Chargers were involved in a high-scoring affair against the Steelers last week, resulting in Allen catching 14 of 19 targets for 148 yards and a touchdown. He’s really started to turn things on down the stretch, hauling in 42 of 57 targets for 490 yards and four touchdowns across his last five games. That recent hot streak has left him just four yards shy of reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight year. Expect him to blow past that number against the Bengals, who have allowed the second-most passing yards per game (280) and 26 passing touchdowns.
Chris Godwin vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $4,900
Godwin had one of the best games of his young career last week against the Panthers, catching five of six targets for 101 yards and a touchdown. It was certainly a favorable matchup against a porous Panthers secondary, but Godwin was also heavily involved because of the absence of DeSean Jackson (thumb). He was actually on the field for a season-high 80 percent of the Bucs offensive snaps. If Jackson is unable to play again in Week 14, Godwin is an excellent target against a Saints team that has allowed the third-most passing yards per game (279).
Courtland Sutton vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $4,500
The Broncos certainly don’t have an electric passing attack, but Sutton was productive in Week 13 with four catches on seven targets for 85 yards and a touchdown. He’s already received an expanded role after the Broncos traded Demaryius Thomas to the Texans and will be even more involved now after Emmanuel Sanders (Achilles) was placed on IR on Wednesday. This could be a dream matchup against the 49ers, who have allowed 27 passing touchdowns and picked off just two passes all season.
TIGHT ENDS
Zach Ertz vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $6,400
The Eagles came away with a big divisional win against the Redskins last week, a game that saw Ertz catch nine of 10 targets for 83 yards. That marked the eighth game this season that Ertz has received at least 10 targets and his sixth with at least nine receptions. The Cowboys have had trouble slowing down tight ends this season, allowing 725 yards and five touchdowns to the position. That included Ertz destroying them in Week 10 for 14 catches, 145 yards, and two touchdowns. It will certainly be difficult for Ertz to duplicate those numbers, but he still has an extremely high floor.
Vance McDonald vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $3,800
McDonald isn’t exactly on a roll right now with 28 receiving yards or fewer in four of his last five games. However, he received at least five targets in four of those five contests and also recorded touchdowns. The presence of Jesse James does eat into some of McDonald’s playing time, but he’s received 56 targets this year compared to just 35 for James. If you want to take a risk on a cheaper tight end in tournament play, the Raiders have allowed 896 receiving yards and nine touchdowns to the position this year.
DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS
Denver Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $3,600
Don’t look now, but the Broncos have won three straight games. Two of those victories were even against tough teams in the Chargers and Steelers. They have been winning on not only the strength of their running game but also their defense, which allowed a total of 49 points across those three games. They’ve also done a great job of creating turnovers during their winning streak with five interceptions and four fumble recovers. With all of the injuries that the 49ers have on offense, the Broncos defense has a favorable chance to keep things rolling again Sunday.
New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $2,500
The Giants allowed 27 points in their overtime victory against the Bears last week, but they did post five sacks, one fumble recovery and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. They took advantage of backup quarterback Chase Daniels and will face another backup in Mark Sanchez on Sunday, who has only been on the Redskins roster for a couple of weeks. The loss of safety Landon Collins (shoulder) is a huge blow for the Giants, but with all of the injuries the Redskins have suffered on offense, they should at least be considered in tournament play.