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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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The Chiefs and Rams being on byes take away some of the top wide receivers for Week 12, but there are still some great options that stand out at the position in DFS. Let’s highlight a few across the price scale that are worth considering. 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 12 - Wide Receivers

Antonio Brown vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $8,700

The Steelers were down 16-0 against the Jaguars on Sunday but stormed back for a big win on the road. Brown wasn’t exactly efficient by catching five of 13 targets, but he turned in a season-high 117 receiving yards and a touchdown. The yardage total is especially impressive when you consider how well the Jaguars have defended against the pass this season. They’ve allowed just 14 passing touchdowns, as well.

The Broncos aren’t exactly a pushover, either, but they have given up 18 touchdowns through the air. Brown not only leads the Steelers with 109 targets but that mark also ranks third in the entire league. Add in his 11 touchdown receptions and he has one of the highest floors of any receiver in DFS, especially during a week with Tyreek Hill and the Rams receivers unavailable.

Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $8,800

The Giants regrouped during their bye week and have now won two straight games for the first time since December of 2016. They scored at least 27 points in both wins with Beckham leading the charge for their receiver group. After catching four passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns in Week 10, Beckham followed that up with four receptions for 74 yards and another touchdown in Week 11.

Likely the biggest reason for the Giants offensive explosion has been their opponents. They faced the 49ers and Bucs, who have combined to allow 46 touchdown passes. The Eagles overall numbers aren’t nearly as bad, but their secondary is decimated right now by injuries. That led the Saints to score 48 points against them in Week 11. Eli Manning is no Drew Brees and this game is at home for the Eagles, but this is a matchup where Beckham could feast.

Mike Evans vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,700

The Bucs were in catch-up mode against the Giants last week, which helped Evans put up some big numbers during the second half. He finished the game with six catches for 120 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. The Bucs will be making yet another quarterback change for this contest, but Evans certainly has a long-standing relationship with Jameis Winston, so don’t expect it to negatively impact his value.

The thing you love about Evans is that you know he’s going to have plenty of opportunities to produce. Not only is he the Bucs top wide receiver, but their defense gives up a ton of points. This requires their offense to throw a lot to try and keep pace. This is a matchup to exploit against a 49ers secondary that has allowed 21 touchdown passes and recorded just two interceptions all season.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 - Wide Receivers

Tyler Boyd vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $6,000

Boyd was the Bengals primary pass catcher again in Week 11 with A.J. Green (toe) on the sidelines. He received 11 targets in that contest, marking his second-highest total of the season. However, he wasn’t able to cash in on his opportunity, catching just four passes for 71 yards. He also failed to score a touchdown for the second straight week, which is somewhat surprising since Green missed both of those contests.

Green will likely return for Week 12, which might actually be a good thing for Boyd. He’ll no longer be the focal point of the opposing team’s defense, setting him up with a better chance to shine against lesser cornerbacks. The Browns do have 13 interceptions this year, but they’ve also allowed the third-most passing yards per game (288). While not a completely safe option at this price, Boyd could be in line for a bounce-back performance.

Doug Baldwin vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of American Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,100

Baldwin is going to need to make a late push if he’s going to get at least 100 targets for the fourth straight season. Injuries left him to start off slowly, but he’s finally showing signs of turning things around with some improved health. He had his best performance of the year in Week 11, catching seven of 10 targets for 52 yards and a touchdown. That marked the first time he’s received double-digit targets in a game and his first touchdown.

If Baldwin really is past his injury issues, he could be in for a monster finish. One of the more encouraging stats from his Week 11 performance is that he received three red zone targets. The Panthers haven’t given up a ton of yards through the air, but they have allowed the fourth-most passing touchdowns (23). This might be the time to take advantage by putting Baldwin in your lineup before his price starts to climb.

Larry Fitzgerald vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,000

Is there anyone happier than Larry Fitzgerald that the Cardinals made a change at offensive coordinator? Other than David Johnson, probably not. In three games since Byron Leftwich took over, Fitzgerald has compiled 26 targets, 16 receptions, 175 yards, and three touchdowns. Across his first seven games, he had a total of 41 targets, 26 receptions, 255 yards, and one touchdown.

It should be noted that his increased production could also be a product of an easier schedule. He has played the 49ers, Chiefs, and Raiders across his last three contests, none of which defend the pass well. Facing the Chargers won’t be as easy with them allowing 15 touchdown passes compared to 10 interceptions. With that being said, Fitzgerald should still see enough volume to at least be worth considering in tournament play.

Marquise Goodwin vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,600

There are few people who were as high as I was on Goodwin heading into this season. He was coming off of a great 2017 campaign and looked poised to break out with Jimmy Garopplo at quarterback. However, injuries hit the 49ers early and often, the most significant of which was losing Garoppolo to a torn ACL. Goodwin has battled plenty of his own injury concerns, leaving him with just 17 catches for 339 yards.

If you’re looking for a silver lining with Goodwin, he does have four touchdown receptions. He also caught four passes for 69 yards against the Giants in Week 10 and has now had the benefit of a bye week to rest up. If there was ever a game for him to break out, this is it. The Bucs have allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game (282) and are tied for the most touchdown passes allowed (25), making Goodwin an extremely appealing option at this price.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 - Wide Receivers

Keenan Allen vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $7,100

This is more about Allen’s matchup than anything else. He’s playing really well right now with touchdowns in back-to-back games and he has 87 targets already. However, the Cardinals boast a strong secondary that contains star cornerback Patrick Peterson. They’ve allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (218), making Allen a risky option at this price. I’d much rather roll with Mike Evans if you looking for someone in a similar price range as Allen.

Golden Tate vs. New York Giants
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $4,800

After barely playing in Week 10 against the Cowboys, Tate was on the field for 71 percent of the Eagles offensive snaps in Week 11. He didn’t put up a great performance, though, with five catches for 48 yards on eight targets. The Eagles are still working him into their offense, but even in the best case scenario, he’s likely their third receiving option behind Zach Ertz and Alshon Jeffery. His price on DraftKings isn’t terrible, but he seems like a reach based on his price on FanDuel.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Wide Receivers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Wide Receivers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Wide Receivers

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

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

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

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

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 12

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations – Week 12

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There are no teams on a bye for Week 12, but there are three games being played Thursday. Some teams are a shell of what they were at the start of the season due to injury, but that leaves you with the ability to select some value plays from unexpected sources. Put your favorite daily fantasy football recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.

**QUARTERBACKS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations

Russell Wilson vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
DraftKings = $7,000
FanDuel = $8,600

The Seahawks running game is a mess. They continue to deal with injuries and ineffectiveness in their backfield, leaving Wilson and their passing game to shoulder the offensive load. Wilson has not disappointed as his 21 touchdown passes this season already, matching his total from last year. He has provided added value with this legs this season, rushing for at least 30 yards six times. Although he struggled against the 49ers Week 2, expect him to continue his recent run of success this week.

Marcus Mariota vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
DraftKings = $6,300
FanDuel = $7,800

There was a lot of hype surrounding Mariota heading into the season, but he has failed to live up to it so far. He has not thrown for more than two touchdowns in any game this season and hasn’t thrown any touchdowns in a game three times. He also has thrown for at least 300 yards in a game only twice. The one saving grace is that he does have four rushing touchdowns so far, which is as many as he had in the first two seasons of his career combined. The Titans scored 36 points against the Colts Week 6 and Mariota threw for 306 yards and one touchdown in that contest. The Colts have allowed the third-most net passing yards per game (275) in the league this season, so take a chance on him to possibly have his best game of the season this week.

Alex Smith vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $6,500
FanDuel = $7,600

In what had the makings of a dream matchup last week against a New York Giants team that looked to have quit on the season, Smith and the Chiefs offense laid an egg in a surprising loss. Smith threw two interceptions in the game after having thrown only one all season. Think of that performance as an outlier, not the norm. This week presents an opportunity for a rebound performance at home against a Bills team that is a mess. The Bills have allowed 135 points over the last three weeks, leaving Smith as a nice mid-tier priced option for your entry.

**RUNNING BACKS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations

Kareem Hunt vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $8,000
FanDuel = $7,700

Hunt had a solid, but unspectacular game against the Giants last week as he rushed for 73 yards on 18 carries. He only caught three of his four targets for a total of four yards, marking the third straight week where he has failed to top 24 receiving yards. Hunt could be in for a big game this week though as the Bills have been horrible stopping the run of late. They have allowed 11 rushing touchdowns over the last three weeks, which is more than all but one other team (Detroit Lions) has allowed for this entire season. Give Hunt another shot Sunday.

Dion Lewis vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $4,800
FanDuel = $6,200

While the Patriots running back situation is often fluid, Lewis has been pretty consistent of late as he has received at least 10 carries in five straight games. He has one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown over the last two games as the Patriots continue to be one of the most productive offenses in the league. Sunday brings a home game against a terrible Dolphins team, so the Patriots could be running the ball a lot if they get up big. The price is right to see if Lewis will continue his recent run of success for another week.

Tarik Cohen vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $3,800
FanDuel = $5,300

This is a horrid matchup for the Bears against one of the best teams in the NFL. The Eagles have an explosive offense while the Bears are struggling through the development of their rookie quarterback. Cohen has seen his role decrease in recent weeks, but he did get nine carries and six targets last week against the Detroit Lions. He has big-play ability, so getting extra touches will only give him a greater chance at breaking off a big play. The Bears might be down big in this game, so Cohen could be heavily involved in the passing attack. If you want a cheap tournament play this week, he is a viable option to consider.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations

Doug Baldwin vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
DraftKings = $7,000
FanDuel = $7,900

Baldwin only has four touchdowns this season, but three of them have come in the last five games. He already has received 85 targets this season, leaving him well on his way to receiving at least 100 targets for the third straight season. His numbers could be even better this year if not for his 65.9% catch percentage, which is his lowest since the 2012 season. Based on his role in the offense and the 49ers struggles defensively, Baldwin is a great option for your lineup Week 12.

Cooper Kupp vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
DraftKings = $5,000
FanDuel = $5,400

The Rams will be without one of their main wide receivers Sunday as Robert Woods is out with a shoulder injury. Woods has 47 receptions on 70 targets this season, leaving plenty of opportunities for other Rams’ receivers to increase their production this week. Kupp has 38 receptions on 61 targets himself this season, so he could really be in line for a big day if he gets at least a few extra targets. This could be a high-scoring game against a potent Saints offense, making Kupp a great option at this price.

Kenny Stills vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $4,800
FanDuel = $5,600

Stills had a monster performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week as he caught seven of eight targets for 180 yards and a touchdown. Even with the Dolphins struggles at quarterback, Stills gets plenty of volume as he has received at least eight targets in four of the last five games. The Patriots allow the most net passing yards per game (282) in the league, but a lot of that is because teams get down big to their offense and then try to pass their way back into games. With that the likely scenario again this week for the Dolphins, Stills could be in for another big outing.

Dontrelle Inman vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $3,500
FanDuel = $5,300

With the Bears lacking talent at wide receiver, Inman was brought in and has provided an immediate impact. It two games with his new team, he has hauled in nine catches on 13 targets for 131 yards. This game could get ugly in a hurry for the Bears, leading to more pass attempts than normal as they play from behind. With the type of volume Inman has already received, he provides an excellent option this week considering his cheap price, especially on DraftKings.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations

Jimmy Graham vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
DraftKings = $5,800
FanDuel = $7,000

Graham’s overall numbers aren’t overly impressive as he only has 46 receptions and 413 receiving yards. The key to his value is his ability to reach the end zone as he already has seven touchdowns, which is one more than his total for the 2016 season. Five of his touchdowns have come in the last four games, making him a valuable fantasy asset even when he’s not racking up receiving yards. Get him in your lineup this week.

Jared Cook vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
DraftKings = $4,600
FanDuel = $5,500

Cook is in the midst of his best stretch this season as he had 20 receptions for 326 yards over his last four games. Week 12 brings an excellent matchup against the Broncos, who have allowed the second-most receiving yards (758) to opposing tight ends this season. Cook had three receptions on eight targets for 46 yards when these teams met earlier this season, so he could have had a big day had he hauled in a couple more passes. If you want to save money at tight end, Cook is someone you should consider.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers
Stadium – Heinz Field
DraftKings = $3,900
FanDuel = $4,800

This game isn’t as much about the Steelers defense as it is about the Packers struggles offensively. Brett Hundley has been a mess since taking over at quarterback and has seven interceptions compared to only two touchdown passes. The Steelers picked off Marcus Mariota four times last week, so this could be another disaster for Hundley. The Steelers are priced reasonably on both sites based on their potential Sunday.

New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $3,400
FanDuel = $4,700

The Patriots have done a nice job creating turnovers lately as they have five interceptions and three fumble recoveries over the last five games. The Dolphins continue to struggle at the quarterback position and have thrown the third-most interceptions (13) in the NFL this season. Regardless if Jay Cutler or Matt Moore starts this week, the Patriots can provide value for your entry.

Daily Fantasy Football: NFL DFS Week 1 Cash and GPP Picks

by Cesar Becerra 0 Comments

Quarterbacks:

Daily Fantasy Football - Marcus Mariota - Lineuplab.com

Quarterback is the most underpriced position in both Draftkings and Fanduel. The main reason why the quarterback position is wildly underpriced is that there isn’t a large gap between the top scoring QB opposed to the 12th scoring QB. It also has to due in large part with the fact that their scoring is weighted lower than other positions. QB’s receive 4 points per touchdown and 1 point for every 25 yards gained. If you play on Draftkings they give a bonus for quarterbacks that throw over 300 yards. That may alter your decision making because it makes quarterbacks more reliant on touchdowns in FanDuel than in Draftkings. Now that we broke down the scoring discrepancies, let’s take a look at a few quarterbacks you should be targeting for both cash and gpp games.

Cash:

Marcus Mariota (DK $6,700, FD $7,700)
Mariota comes into week 1 as the consensus chalk quarterback. The 6th highest priced QB on DK and 7th highest priced QB on FD, Mariota won’t be heavily owned because of his bargain price. Instead, Mariota will likely be the highest owned QB in cash games because of his favorable Vegas totals. The Titans come into week one as a 3.5 point favorite against the Raiders in a game that features the highest over/under 50.5. This high over/under gives the Titans an implied total of 26.5 points, good enough for second on this slate only behind the Steelers. Quarterbacks with similar Vegas totals have gone on to perform well in the past. Mariota has had the best red zone touchdown efficiency rating since joining the league in 2015. When you add up all that and include that the Raiders had one of the worst secondaries in the league last season, you can see why Mariota is expected to be the highest owned quarterback.

GPP:

Russell Wilson (DK $ 6,900, FD $8,000)
After a let down 2016 season, Wilson finds himself looking to hit the refresh button. His fantasy production last season took a dip because he only rushed for 259 yards on the season with one rushing touchdown. It’s been heavily reported that Wilson changed his workout routine over the offseason and is looking to recapture his 2015 form this season. Well, week 1 is a nice opportunity for Wilson to put his new offseason regime to the test against the Packers. The Packers allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game last season and did hardly anything to improve their secondary in the offseason. This game opened up with an over/under just under 50 but has since increased to 51, giving this game the highest over/under on the slate. The Seahawks are on road underdogs, and that generally isn’t a recipe for success, but the Packers secondary is bad enough for you to consider taking a flier on Wilson in tournaments.

Plays worth considering in Cash & GPP:

Matt Ryan (DK $6,900, FD $8,500) – The Falcons are tied for 1st on the slate for implied team points with 27.5. Matt Ryan is going up against a Bears defense that is significantly improved in the front seven and new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian could look to air it out in their first game to get Falcon’s fans over their 28-3 blown Super Bowl win. However, Ryan does come with some red flags as he is playing on the road and there truly is no way of telling how the offense will function without Kyle Shanahan.

Ben Roethlisberger ($DK 7,300, FD $8,200) – Big Ben comes in with the same implied team total as the Falcons. He’s playing an abysmal Browns team and is an 8.5 point favorite. Ben will have his full assortment of weapons to his use with the return of LeVeon Bell and Martavis Bryant. The concern here is Ben’s home and road splits.

Running Backs

Daily Fantasy Football - Carlos Hyde - San Francisco 49ers

The running back position is almost always dominated by Le’Veon Bell (DK $9,800, FD $9,300) and David Johnson (DK $9,400, FD $9,400). This week is no different. Both are elite plays and expect to be the highest owned backs in this slate. Now the question is if you can play both of them. The answer is yes. There’s certainly enough value in other positions that allow you to make your lineup construction with these two elite backs. But if you have to choose one over the other I like Johnson over Bell because of the simple fact that the game has a closer spread and David Johnson plays for a Cardinal team that has fewer mouths to feed than the Steelers.

Chalk

Todd Gurley (DK $6,000, FD $7,300)
If you’re looking for a chalk alternative from the two safe, elite backs look no further than Todd Gurley. More of a value on Draftkings than Fanduel, Gurley comes into week 1 in an elite spot. The Rams are currently home favorite against the Andrew Luck-less Colts and have seen the Vegas line shift them from 3 point underdogs to 4 point favorites. With a poor offensive line and Jeff Fisher calling the plays last season, Gurley had a letdown year after being selected as the number 1 RB in most season-long drafts last season. This year the Rams have made some moves to improve their offensive line and also brought in Sean McVay to jumpstart their offense. Gurley should have an ample amount of opportunities to get to the 100 yard DK bonus and could even fall into the endzone.

GPP

Carlos Hyde (DK $4,600, FD $6,800)
If you’re looking for a cheap running back in your roster construction, Carlos Hyde is your answer. With Joe William landing on the IR and Tim Hightower being a surprise cut out of the 49ers camp, Hyde only has to share targets with undrafted rookie Matt Breida. Hyde should be a lock for 25 touches with Kyle Shanahan calling the plays now and his price on both sites could help open up salary in other roster spots.

 

Wide Receivers

Daily Fantasy Football - Amari Cooper - Lineuplab.com

Depending on lineup construction, wide receiver could be where you really differentiate yourself from the field. The top 3 studs are all in strong positions. Antonio Brown (DK $ 8,800, FD $9,100), Julio Jones (DK $8,500, FD $9,000), and AJ Green (DK $8,000, FD $ 8,400) are all in spots where we can see them have a big game. But let’s take an audible into some plays that people may be overlooking

Doug Baldwin (DK $6,700, FD $7,500)
I mentioned how the Seahawks passing offense was in a good spot against the Packers. The game flow looks to be in Baldwin’s favor as the Packers had the worst secondary in the league last season, and quite frankly their cornerbacks don’t scare any passing attack. Baldwin will face either Quinten Rollins, Davon House, or Damarious Randall neither was graded higher than top 50 of Pro Football Focus Cornerback Rankings.

Kendall Wright (DK $3,200, FD $5,200)
Kendall Wright looks poised to take advantage of a Bears receiving corp that is extremely depleted after losing Cameron Meredith for the season. Although Wright is not listed as the number two receiver behind Kevin White, Wright will be on the field in three wide receiver sets. That may sound concerning, but during preseason the first-team Bears offense ran three wide receiver sets 14 out of their 15 plays, so Wright is a sneaky cheap option to get some much volume. Wright was signed by the Bears after his previous work with offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. Under Loggains, Wright saw and an average of 8.7 targets per game back in 2013. In a game that the Bears are heavy underdogs against the Falcons, the offense could be throwing the ball more than 40 times opening up cheap targets for Wright to snag.

Amari Cooper (DK $7,200, FD $7,600)
Amari Cooper should be another popular play. Playing in the game with the highest over/under on the slate, Cooper is going to have an ample of opportunities to bring in targets. The Titans last season ranked in the bottom of the league in points per game allowed to wide receiver, and with a duel of Cooper and Crabtree, the Raiders passing game could be in store for a big game.

Larry Fitzgerald (DK $5,900, FD $6,400)
Fitz is a veteran that could be heavily owned in this first few weeks. The one thing about the vet is that he has some drastic splits from the first half of the season and the second. Fitzgerald has averaged 13.9 points in the first 6 games of the season compared to 11.3 games in the second half. The Cardinals passing offense faces the Lions who were 32nd in DVOA.

** Fanduel only ** Terrelle Pryor (FD $6,200) is extremely underpriced in Fanduel. Although his preseason action with Kirk Cousins left a lot to be desired, Pryor should see a massive target amount.

Tight End

Daily Fantasy Football - Zach Ertz - Philadelphia Eagles

Drafting a tight end in DFS is often dependent on the site you play. In Draftkings touchdowns become less important than targets, while on Fanduel touchdowns valued higher than targets/receptions.

Chalk

Draftkings – Zach Ertz (DK $4,300, FD $6,100)
Ertz is the uber chalk on Draftkings. With the Eagles getting rid of Jordan Matthews and Alshon Jeffery expecting to be shadowed by Josh Norman, Ertz becomes the immediate beneficiary of targets from Carson Wentz. Ertz doesn’t have the touchdown upside that others like Jared Cook or Tyler Eifert may have, but his price and volume make him a nice cash play on Draftkings.

Fanduel – Tyler Eifert (DK $4,600, FD $6,100)
Eifert is an example of how site determines what would be the better player. With Green sucking up most of the targets, Eifert is left with minimal targets. Fortunately for Eifert, he scored on over 40% of his targets last season. Although that number is likely to regress, Eifert is at a good price for such a volatile position.

Defense

Daily Fantasy Football - Los Angeles Rams - Lineuplab.com

Los Angeles Rams (DK $3,200, FD $4,600)
The Rams’ defense is in a good spot as a 4 point home favorite against a team that doesn’t have their starting quarterback. The Colts could very much be a train wreck come Sunday, and although the Rams will likely be without their All-Pro Aaron Donald, their defense should be able to handle Scott Tolzien and Frank Gore.

Houston Texans (DK $3,800, FD 5,100)
The Texans are the chalkiest defense with the highest upside. Aside from the fact that they are with the most talented defense in a prime matchup, they get to face Blake Bortles. Bortles looked dreadful this preseason and last year ranked in the bottom-10 in interception rate (3.7%). They are the most expensive defensive option out of the other chalk defense.