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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 – TE/DEF/ST

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

Zach Ertz and George Kittle are both playing in primetime games during Week 10, taking two of the top tight ends off the board 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.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 - TE/DEF/ST

Travis Kelce vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,000

The Chiefs scored 37 points against the Browns in Week 9, marking their fifth straight game with at least 30 points. To no surprise, Kelce again played an integral role in their success, catching seven of nine targets for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Kelce had gone a stretch of three consecutive games without a score, but he’s recorded three touchdowns across the last two weeks.

Even though the Chiefs have a ton of talent on offense, Kelce leads the team with 79 targets. His 14 red zone targets are also the most on the team, leaving him with plenty of opportunities to rack up fantasy points. The Cardinals defense has been tough against the pass, but that shouldn’t scare you away from playing Kelce. He’s the clear top option at tight end, so don’t hesitate to pay up for him in cash games.

O.J. Howard vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,300

The Bucs have had an unsettled quarterback situation this season, but whether Ryan Fitzpatrick of Jameis Winston has started, Howard has still had plenty of success. The Bucs suffered yet another loss in Week 9 against the Panthers, but they managed to score 28 points. Howard was a big part of their offensive production, hauling in four of six targets for 53 yards and two touchdowns. After a slow start in terms of touchdowns, Howard now has four scores across his last four contests.

Howard has certainly put to rest any concerns about fellow tight end Cameron Brate limiting his production. Outside of a Week 4 matchup against the Bears when Howard had to leave early due to an injury, Howard has been on the field for a higher percentage of snaps than Brate in every week. With the Bucs porous defense often putting their offense in situations where they have to throw a lot to keep up, Howard should remain a great option against the Redskins.

New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $3,400

One of the ugliest games in Week 9 had to be the bout between the Jets and Dolphins. Scoring was hard to come by on both sides, which was particularly impressive for the Jets defense considering their offense couldn’t move the ball at all, often putting them in a hole field position wise. They failed to force a turnover, but they did record four sacks, marking the fourth time they’ve posted at least four sacks in a game this season.

Week 10 brings the dream matchup against the Bills. If you’re looking for a good cash option in just about any week, check to see who is playing the Bills. The Bills aren’t sure who is going to start at quarterback in this game, but regardless of who it is, none of their options are all that appealing. They have very little talent on offense, anyway, setting up the Jets defense for possibly their best performance of the season. If Nathan Peterman is ultimately the one who draws the start, the sky is the limit for the Jets.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 - TE/DEF/ST

David Njoku vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,200

After a disastrous Week 8 where he didn’t receive a single target against the Steelers, Njoku was due for a bounce-back performance. It wasn’t an eye-popping outing, but Njoku caught four of five targets for 53 yards in Week 9. That’s much more in line with his season averages since he had received at least six targets in all but one game before Week 8.

The Browns allowed 37 points to the Chiefs on Sunday, which forced them to throw a lot in an attempt to come back. The Falcons aren’t nearly as explosive as the Chiefs are, but they’ve scored at least 31 points in a game five times this year. The Browns should be forced to pass plenty in this contest, as well, potentially setting up Njoku for a productive day considering the Falcons have allowed 42 receptions for 434 yards and three touchdowns to opposing tight ends.

Jordan Reed vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,400

The decision to move on from Kirk Cousins and bring in Alex Smith at quarterback hasn’t worked out very well in terms of passing production for the Redskins. Cousins had 27 touchdowns and averaged 255.8 passing yards per game last year, but Smith only has nine touchdowns through eight games and is averaging 233.4 passing yards per contest. Of course the year Reed is finally healthy, the Redskins bring in a less explosive passer.

Reed is currently dealing with a neck injury, but everything so far points to him playing against the Bucs. Although he hasn’t recorded more than 43 receiving yards in any of his last five games, Reed could be a sneaky option to consider for your entry. The Bucs defense has been terrible, in general, but they’ve really been hammered by opposing tight ends, allowing 618 yards and five touchdowns to the position.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $3,500

The Chargers had to travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks in Week 9, but their defense played well by holding them to 17 points. That marked the fourth straight game in which the Chargers have held their opponents to under 20 points. They also sacked Russell Wilson five times and have a total of 14 sacks during their recent run of success.

It’s hard to pass up on the Jets against the Bills, but if you decide to, the Chargers might be the next best option to consider. The Raiders offense hasn’t been great for the majority of the season and is even worse now after the traded Amari Cooper to the Cowboys and lost Marshawn Lynch to a groin injury. When these two teams met earlier this season, the Chargers had three sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery while holding the Raiders to 10 points. Look for them to thrive again Sunday.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 - TE/DEF/ST

Eric Ebron vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $3,500

Ebron really stepped up for the Colts when they were decimated by injuries, specifically during an extended absence for Jack Doyle. Doyle was able to return to the field in Week 8 and ended up playing 73 percent of the Colts offensive plays. Ebron saw his usage plummet as he was only on the field for 22 percent of their plays. In the first two games that Dayle played this season, he was on the field for at least 94 percent of their plays in both contests. On the other hand, Ebron was never on the field more than 45 percent of the time. Now that Doyle is back, Ebron’s upside is severely limited.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,300

Yes, the Cardinals offense has been a mess this year. However, the majority of their struggles came with offensive coordinator Mike McCoy at the helm. Even though the Cardinals didn’t look much better when they scored 18 points against the 49ers in Week 8, new offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich had the benefit of a bye in Week 9 to help install his offensive scheme. The Cardinals still have some weapons in David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, so this isn’t a slamdunk matchup for the Chiefs defense to excel. Since they don’t come at much of a discount over the Jets or Chargers, it might be best to avoid the Chiefs.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 8 – TE/DEF/ST

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

Even with four teams on a bye for Week 8, the tight end position has several excellent options available 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 8 - TE/DEF/ST

Travis Kelce vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $6,800

Kelce had another impressive performance last week against the Bengals, catching all five of his targets for 95 yards. He just missed posting 100 yards for the fourth time this season, but he has now caught at least five passes in six straight games. With his 60 targets and 563 receiving yards, he’s well on his way to his third straight season with at least 100 targets and 1,000 receiving yards.

This could actually be the best year yet for Kelce as his 14.8 yards per reception and 80.4 yards per game would both be the highest marks of his career. With a major upgrade at quarterback in Patrick Mahomes over Alex Smith, the Chiefs offense is demolishing the league. Kelce’s three touchdowns are a bit disappointing, but he’s still a great option in cash contests based on his role in this explosive offense.

David Njoku vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,600

Njoku doesn’t exactly pile up yards, but he does have at least 52 receiving yards in four straight games. He’s proven to be an important part of the Browns passing game, receiving at least six targets in all but one game. Although it took him a while to find the end zone, he has a touchdown in back-to-back contests.

Njoku has added opportunities to provide value because he has been on the field for 83 percent of the team’s offensive snaps, second only to Jarvis Landry (94 percent). With the departure of Josh Gordon, the Browns don’t have a ton of talent at wide receiver outside of Landry. The Steelers have been destroyed by opposing tight ends, allowing 46 receptions for 478 yards and three touchdowns to the position. If you don’t want to pay up for Kelce, Njoku is also one of the safer options based on this matchup.

Chicago Bears vs. New York Jets
Stadium – Soldier Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,100

The Bears defense looked like a powerhouse to start the year, allowing an average of 16.3 points across their first four games. All that changed in Week 6 when they gave up 31 points to the Dolphins, of all teams. They followed that up by allowing 38 points to the Patriots. On a positive note, they did force six turnovers across those two contests.

One area of concern for the Bears is that after recording at least four sacks in each of their first four games, they only had one in the two games where they gave up all those points. Part of that is because Khalil Mack is battling an ankle injury, which still might hinder him in Week 8. The Jets offense is decimated by injuries right now and Sam Darnold has thrown 10 interceptions, so they are still a top option even with their recent struggles.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 8 - TE/DEF/ST

Trey Burton vs. New York Jets
Stadium – Soldier Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,800

Being involved in a shootout with the Patriots last week certainly paid off for Burton, who had a season-high 11 targets. He hadn’t received more than six targets in any of the previous five games. Not only did he get plenty of passes thrown his way, but he took full advantage of the opportunity by catching nine of them for 126 yards and a touchdown. It marked Burton’s third straight game with a touchdown and his fourth score of the season, overall.

The Bears signed Burton to a big deal in the offseason, and even though his 325 receiving yards aren’t stellar, he has been on the field for 82 percent of their offensive snaps. That’s second only to Allen Robinson (88 percent). His five red zone targets are second only to Robinson and Tarik Cohen, who have seven each. Burton’s touchdown dependency makes him a bit of a risky play, but the Jets have allowed three touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season.

O.J. Howard vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $3,900

Howard received a season-high nine targets in Week 7, leading to five receptions for 67 yards. Outside of Week 4 when he injured his knee against the Bears, Howard has finished with at least 54 receiving yards in each of his other five contests. The Bucs do have another talented tight end in Cameron Brate, but Howard is clearly their top option at the position. Brate has only been on the field for 39 percent of their offensive plays while Howard has been on the field 59 percent of the time.

With how poorly the Bucs play on defense, they often get involved in high scoring contests where they have to abandon the running game. That certainly provides a boost in value for Howard, who has a matchup to exploit in Week 8 against a Bengals team that has allowed the third-most receiving yards (521) to opposing tight ends.

Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,200

If you just look at the final score of the Cardinals’ 45-10 loss to the Broncos in Week 7, it doesn’t exactly instill a ton of confidence for playing their defense in Week 8. However, the Broncos returned two interceptions for touchdowns, so the drubbing wasn’t all the fault of the Cardinals defense. Josh Rosen through threw total interceptions in that contest, which didn’t do any favors for his defense.

The Cardinals are terrible against the run, allowing the most rushing yards per game (148.3) in the league. The 49ers are a bit banged up in their backfield with Matt Breida dealing with an ankle injury. Even if he does play, it’s an injury that has plagued him at times this year, so he’s no guarantee to make it through the entire contest. Their quarter C.J. Beathard has shown flashes of promise, but he’s thrown at least two interceptions in three of his four starts. The Cardinals had four sacks, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions against the 49ers in Week 5, so they might be worth the risk in tournament play.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 8 - TE/DEF/ST

Jordan Reed vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,500

In a somewhat surprising turn of events, Reed is still healthy heading into Week 8. He’s already played in six games this year, matching his total from last season. The problem is, he hasn’t been productive with just 22 receptions for 268 yards and one touchdown. His total of 35 targets isn’t a terrible number, but his 62.9 percent catch rate is the lowest mark of his career. The Giants traded away a couple of their better defensive players in Eli Apple and Damon Harrison this week, but Reed still might not be worth the risk for your lineup.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $2,800

The Ravens defense hasn’t given up a lot of points this year, so this might not stand out as a team to avoid. However, they haven’t been great at creating turnovers with just five interceptions and two fumble recoveries, total. They’ve also recorded one or no sacks in three of their seven games. The Panthers are tied for the fifth-fewest sacks allowed (10) and Cam Newton has only thrown four picks, potentially leaving the Ravens with very little upside Sunday.

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

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PLAYERS TO AVOID

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

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

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

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

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

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 – TE/DEF/ST

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

There were some excellent performances by tight ends in Week 1, but we also lost two of the most productive players at the position due to injury in Delanie Walker and Greg Olsen. With Walker out for the season and Olsen likely to miss several weeks, an already thin position became that much harder to navigate. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players, and defenses/special teams, to target or avoid as you create your DFS entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 - TE/DEF/ST

Zach Ertz vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $6,100

Ertz only came away with five catches for 48 yards against the Falcons in Week 1, but the key is that he was targeted 10 times. He has never finished a season with a catch rate below 63.2%, so it was a bit of an aberration to see him haul in only half of the balls thrown his way. The number of targets he received was no surprise, though, as he received at least 106 targets in three consecutive seasons.

Alshon Jeffery is expected to miss Week 2 as well, opening up an even larger role in the offense for Ertz. Nelson Agholor will be his main competition for targets, but the Eagles pass-catching options are fairly limited otherwise. Nick Foles attempted 34 passes against the Falcons with Ertz and Agholor being his targets on 20 of them. Ertz is also their best red zone option, leaving him with a high floor in this contest.

Jordan Reed vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $5,000

Reed is one of the most talented tight ends in the league. His only problem is finding a way to stay on the field. He’s healthy right now and is coming off a productive first game of the season that saw him catch four of five targets for 48 yards and a touchdown.

Last year was pretty much a lost season for Reed as he played only six games and was limited by injury in many of those contests where he did actually play. In the 24 games that he played across 2015 and 2016, he averaged more than 10 yards per reception and scored 17 total touchdowns. The Colts secondary entered this season ranked last in the NFL by Pro Football Focus and struggled in Week 1, making Reed an excellent target for your entry.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $3,700

The Rams had one of the best defenses in the NFL last year and made it even stronger when they added cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. Aaron Donald was holding out for a contract extension, but luckily he and the Rams were able to agree to a new deal before the start of the season so he didn’t miss any games. They limited the Raiders to 13 points Monday, recording three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

The Cardinals offense laid an egg Week 1, scoring only six points against the Redskins. Sam Bradford struggled mightily, completing 20 of 34 passes for 153 and an interception. They have two talented weapons in David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, but Bradford doesn’t have much to work with outside of those two. Add in the fact that this game will be at home and the Rams defense could dominate Sunday.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 - TE/DEF/ST

George Kittle vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $3,800

Not much went right for the 49ers against the Vikings on Sunday, but Kittle was one of the bright spots for their offense. He finished with five catches on nine targets for 90 yards and could have finished with an even better line had he not dropped what looked to be a potential long touchdown pass.

Kittle and Jimmy Garoppolo clearly have developed a good relationship. In the final three games of 2017 with Garoppolo as his starting quarterback, Kittle averaged 64.7 receiving yards per contest. The 49ers may try to avoid cornerback Darius Slay, which could open up even more targets for Kittle. The Lions defense is weak, overall, so look for Kittle to build on his strong opening performance.

Jared Cook vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $3,600

The Raiders were clearly trying to avoid the Rams star cornerbacks in Week 1, which opened up a huge role in the offense for Cook. He finished with nine catches on 12 targets for a staggering 180 yards. He had 83 targets and 688 receiving yards across 16 games in all of 2017.

While his performance was certainly impressive, Cook is going to be hard pressed to get 12 targets again Sunday. He might not need to in order to provide significant value, though, based on the Broncos struggles to defend tight ends. They allowed 1,023 receiving yards and nine touchdowns to the position in 2017 and were torched by Will Dissly for 105 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. At this cheap price, he’s a viable option to consider in tournament play.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $3,600

The Chargers defense suffered a significant loss when Joey Bosa was unable to play against the Chiefs. They were destroyed by Tyreek Hill, who had 169 receiving yards and three total touchdowns, one of which came on a punt return. Patrick Mahomes also had an impressive performance in the first game of the post-Alex Smith era.

The Chiefs have a lot of weapons on offense. The Chargers will be facing a team on the opposite end of the spectrum in the Bills. They could only muster three points against the Ravens and have already turned over the quarterback job to Josh Allen after Nathan Peterman was awful once again. They have very few playmakers outside of LeSean McCoy and will likely struggle to score again in Week 2.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 - TE/DEF/ST

Jimmy Graham vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,800

Jimmy Graham was all about touchdowns in 2017. He hauled in 10 scores but also posted just 520 receiving yards on 57 receptions. He only topped 60 receiving yards in a game twice all season and finished with a combined 47 yards across his last four games. A move to the Packers brought much of the same in Week 1 as he finished with two catches on four targets for eight yards.

Graham is one of the more talented tight ends that Aaron Rodgers has played with in his career, but Graham is heavily touchdown dependent at this stage of his career. I’d much rather roll with Reed, Kittle or Cook rather than the all-or-nothing risk that Graham provides.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – TIAA Bank Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $2,800

The Jaguars defense started off on the right foot, holding the Giants to 15 points in their season opener. Eli Manning was under pressure throughout the game and eventually threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. That was nothing new for a Jaguars team that had seven defensive touchdowns in 2017.

The Giants have a lot of weapons on offense, but Manning is in the twilight of his career. Tom Brady hasn’t lost a step and opened the season with 277 passing yards and three touchdowns against the Texans. The Patriots are thin at wide receiver with Julian Edelman suspended, but they still have enough talent to cause plenty of problems. It might be wise to avoid this matchup, especially at the Jaguars price on FanDuel.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – TE/DEF/ST

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

The NFL season is finally here! Along with it comes another exciting year of daily fantasy football. We’ll be doing things a little differently as we look to help you fatten your wallet. We’ll be churning out four articles a week, including one each for quarterbacks, runnings backs, wide receivers and a combined piece for tight ends and defenses/special teams.

In each article, we’ll highlight some players to target for cash or GPP contents. We’ll also discuss players to avoid as your 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 1 - TE/DEF/ST

Rob Gronkowski vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $6,900

Gronkowski was able to stay relatively healthy last year and he put up big numbers as a result. He caught 69 of 105 targets for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns. He also received 21 red zone targets, second to only Jimmy Graham (27) among tight ends. In the last four seasons that Gronkowski has played at least 14 games, he has at least 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns in each of them.

While he’s always one of Tom Brady’s top targets, Gronkowski will likely be leaned on even more so with Julian Edelman suspended for the first four games of the season. Outside of Chris Hogan, the Patriots are extremely thin at wide receiver. For a Week 1 schedule that has so many viable cheap options at running back and wide receiver, this might be the time to pay up to get Gronkowski into your lineup.

Delanie Walker vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $4,900

Walker is as steady as they come at tight end. He’s logged at least 100 targets, 60 receptions and 800 receiving yards in four consecutive seasons. His three touchdowns last year were a bit of a disappointment, but the struggles of quarterback Marcus Mariota led to some down numbers for most of the Titans pass catchers. Mariota threw just 13 touchdowns the entire season.

The Titans still don’t have a ton of great weapons on offense, but they did bring in Dion Lewis to form a solid duo out of the backfield with Derrick Henry. They also should see some improvement from second-year receiver Corey Davis. That might help take some of the attention away from Walker by opposing defenses. Considering Walker received at least five targets in all but one game last year, he has one of the highest floors at the tight end position.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $3,800

This seems like the chalk play of the week. The Bills offense looks simply atrocious outside of LeSean McCoy. Nathan Peterman will be their starting quarterback after he threw one touchdown and five interceptions in two starts last year. They are extremely thin at wide receiver, as well, which doesn’t exactly help Peterman’s cause. The Ravens were excellent at creating turnovers last year with 22 interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries. Don’t overthink this one, play the Ravens.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - TE/DEF/ST

Jordan Reed vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Reed has never played more than 14 games during a season in his career. In four of his five years in the league, he’s played 12 games or fewer. More injuries ruined his 2017 campaign, resulting in him playing just six games. He wasn’t productive when he was on the field, either, averaging 35.2 yards per contest.

The good news is that Reed looks to be healthy heading into Week 1.  The Redskins managed his workload throughout training camp and during the preseason, but he’s not listed on their injury report for this game. Although he’ll be playing with a new quarterback in Alex Smith, Reed is one of the best pass-catching options on the Redskins roster. It’s not often that you get the opportunity to roster him at such a reduced price, so this might be an opportunity to pounce on.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,200

Seferian-Jenkins entered the league with a lot of promise after being selected 38th overall in the 2014 draft by the Buccaneers. Off-the-field issues prevented him from fulfilling his potential with the Buccaneers, ultimately leading him to become a member of the Jets. He played a career-high 13 games for the Jets last year, catching 50 of 74 targets for 357 yards and three touchdowns.

The Jaguars badly needed to add talent at tight end, ultimately leading them to take a chance on Seferian-Jenkins. He gets a great matchup right out of the gate against a Giants defense that allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends last year and looks to be soft in the middle of the field again this season. Seferian-Jenkins is dealing with a core injury right now, but if he’s cleared to play, he has an excellent opportunity to outproduce his price point.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $2,800

The Chiefs certainly have plenty of talent on offense, led by Kareem Hunt, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce. They have turned over the reins at quarterback to Patrick Mahomes, their promising first-round pick from 2017. Mahomes has a great arm and could be in store for a productive NFL career, but he gets a tough assignment Week 1 on the road against a Chargers defense that can create pressure with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. They did lose cornerback Jason Verrett due to a torn Achilles, but they still have an extremely talented secondary. Don’t be surprised if the Chargers create a couple of turnovers in this game.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - TE/DEF/ST

Evan Engram vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,700

The Giants were decimated by injuries at wide receiver last year, which sometimes left Engram as their best pass-catching option. He had a promising rookie campaign, overall, catching 64 of 115 targets for 772 yards and six touchdowns. The Giants are healthy at wide receiver heading into Week 1 and added talented rookie running back Saquon Barkley to their backfield, so Engram might not see a ton of targets come his way. Add in the fact that he is playing the stingy Jaguars defense and he’s risky at this price.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $3,100

The “Legion of Boom” era is officially a thing of the past in Seattle. Not only did they lose Richard Sherman this offseason, but Sheldon Richardson and Michael Bennett are also gone from their defensive front. They did receive some encouraging news when Earl Thomas ended his holdout Wednesday, but it’s unclear if he’ll be able to play at full capacity considering his last-minute arrival. The Broncos improved significantly at quarterback with Case Keenum and also added promising rookie running back Royce Freeman during the offseason, leaving the Seahawks as a defense to avoid for your entry.

NFL Lineup Daily Fantasy Football: Week 3 Cash and GPP Plays

by Cesar Becerra 0 Comments

We close the book on Week 2 of the NFL season after a relatively chalky NFL slate. We saw several of the obvious plays hit like Tom Brady, Ty Montgomery, Melvin Gordon, Keenan Allen, and even Coby Fleener all hit value

 

Now we transition to Week 3, which opens up as an unusual ten home teams as current underdogs. The Patriots, Eagles, Panthers, Titans, and Packers are the only home teams that are favored in the main slate. That doesn’t exactly say everything about the slate quite yet; it just means ownership may be more spread out than what we’ve seen the first two weeks. So without further or do, let’s dive in.

Quarterbacks

Matt Ryan (DK $7,100, FD $8,500) – One of the first things I look for when looking into Quarterbacks are team implied totals. Matt Ryan comes in after a dominant performance against the Packers on Sunday Night Football with an implied team total of 26.75 against the Lions. That’s good enough for third highest on the slate behind only the Patriots and the Raiders. The Lions are currently 12 worst in the league by averaging 236 passing yards per game and are averaging 40 passing attempts allowed per game. This game originally opened up with a 48.5 o/u and has since moved to 50.5, which is good enough for the second highest total of the week. The game is on the road for the Falcons, and Ryan is known for performing better at home, so there is a reason to temper expectations. But in a matchup against an improved Lions offense with a secondary bad secondary, the game flow could mean Ryan will a lot of opportunities to chuck the ball.

Matthew Stafford (DK $6,200, FD $7,900) – Pivoting to the other side of the ball, Stafford has done reasonably well his first two weeks against the Cardinals and the Giants. Two opponents that are tougher on paper than his matchup this week. Stafford comes into the week as a 3 point underdog and with an implied team total of 23.75. Stafford is returning home where he threw for 4 touchdowns and 292 yards in Week 1 against a good Cardinals secondary. Out of all the games this week, this Lions/Falcons game is my favorite for quarterback points.

Kirk Cousins (DK $6,100, FD $7,600) – Cousins has been disappointing the first two weeks. He had a disappointing game on the road against the Rams and was mediocre against the Eagles in the opening week. This week could potentially be a rebound spot for Cousins. He’s at home facing a Raiders defense that has been overachieving the first two weeks of the season. The Raiders are averaging only 200 passing yards per game and have only allowed two passing touchdowns on the year. Last year the Raiders were one of the worst secondaries in the league and did very little to improve that unit this offseason. Oakland does have one of the league’s best offenses in the league, which explains the high o/u at 54 (highest of the week). Give me a low-owned Kirk Cousins against a weak secondary at home, even as a 3 point underdog.

Value QB

Andy Dalton (DK $5,100, FD $6,800) – Andy Dalton has been terrible the first two weeks. In fact, the entire Bengals offense has as they are 1 of 2 teams (49ers) that have yet to find the end zone this season. That being said, Dalton has had two difficult matchups after facing the Ravens and the Texans on a short week. The Bengals opened the week as a 10 point underdog on the road against the Packers, but have since narrowed the line to +8.5. Aaron Rodgers is without a doubt looking to light up the scoreboard after getting run over by the Falcons (again) on national TV, so I expect Dalton to have plenty of garbage time opportunities to throw the ball.

Running Backs

Le’Veon Bell (DK $8,800, FD $8,700) – To say Bell has been disappointing the first two weeks is an understatement. He’s been so disappointing that Elliott eclipsed him as the most expensive running back on this week. But this week could be the week we get Bell at depressed ownership and in a bounce-back spot. He doesn’t quite check all the boxes going up against an improved front seven in Chicago, but the Steelers are 7 point favorites. We saw Bell get 27 rushes last week and also 4 targets, so the volume is much improved after that bizarre first week. We all know Big Ben’s struggles on the road, yet the Steelers are still are implied to score 26 points. This should be a get well spot for Bell.

CJ Anderson (DK $5,800, FD $6,900) – Anderson is way too cheap on DK at 5.8k. The Broncos have shown that Anderson is the feature back while Jamaal Charles has only found his way on the field in passing situations. Anderson owns 70% of the Broncos rushing attempts after two weeks and has produced just under 200 yards (199). He also has 4 catches on 6 targets, which adds to his value on DK. The Broncos are a 3 point favorite against the Bills in a game that could feature both running backs with their pedestrian passing games and minimal projections. Anderson is projected as the third best running pack (point per dollar) on LineupLabs.

Isaiah Crowell (DK $4,800, FD $6,600) – If you drafted Crowell as I did in season long or redraft leagues, you’re probably frustrated with the thought of playing him in DFS. But the truth is, if there is ever a spot to play Crowell, it might be this week. Crowell is facing a Colts defense whose defensive line may have more holes than swiss cheese. This game has one of the lowest totals on the week and rightfully so as both teams have young offenses. Crowell does have the luxury of running behind the best offensive line in the league per PFF.com, so this could be a breakout week for Crowell.

GPP Flyer

Mike Gillislee (DK $5,700, FD $6,800) – Probably the better site to play him is on FD since he’s so touchdown dependent, but that’s exactly why he’s a shot in the dark. Gillislee has scored 4 touchdowns in the first two weeks. He leads the league in rushes inside the 5-yard line, converting each 4 of his carries into touchdowns. Although Gillislee is touchdown dependent, he does own 59% of the market share of rushes out of the Patriots backfield. The Pats are the biggest favorite of the week (13.5), and at home so Gillislee should get a shot at a cheap TD.

Cash game plays not noted above: M. Gordon, K. Hunt, J. Ajayi, T. Montgomery.
GPP Flyers: L.McCoy, D. Freeman, C. McCaffrey

Wide Receivers:

AJ Green (DK $8,100, FD $ 7,500) – I talked about Green’s quarterback up top. I like the idea of targeting this game from the Bengals passing attack with the likelihood that they will be playing catch-up for the majority of the game. Green currently accounts for 30% of the Bengals’ targets through the first two games of the season. He’s seen 18 targets and has caught 10 of them for 141 yards. He has yet to find the end zone, but as I mentioned with Dalton, they have had two tough matchups. This week they go up against a Packers secondary that got torched by Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu in really what was only one-half of competitive football. The Packers rank 18th in the league in FP allowed to opposing WR by allowing 18 points through the first two weeks. I can see Green getting one, possibly two touchdowns in garbage time.

Michael Crabtree (DK $7,400, FD  $7,700) – I really thought that Amari Cooper was going to peak this season and Crabtree was going to begin declining. That clearly wasn’t the case last week when Crabtree scored 3 times on 6 targets, while Cooper only saw 5. I still think this may happen, but at least for this week, Crabtree might be the play over Cooper again. The big reason is that I expect Josh Norman to spend most of his time against Cooper, which would leave Crabtree lined up against Bashaud Breeland who currently has a PFF grade of 67.2. If Crabtree does face Breeland throughout the game, he should be able to find the end zone again.

Value

Rashard Higgins (DK $4,000, FD $5,100) – Higgins got a lot more playing time once the Brown’s top receiver Corey Coleman left the game. Coleman was eventually placed on IR and Higgins looks to be the biggest beneficiary from the move. Higgins got 11 targets from Kizer and caught 7 for 95 yards last week.

Devin Funchess (DK $4,200, FD $4,800) – With the injury to tight end Greg Olsen, Cam Newton will have to find someone over the middle of the field to dump the ball off. Per PFF.com, Funches is expected to lineup in 2 and 3 wide receiver sets against P.J. Williams. Williams is by far the Saints worst graded corner (42.7) in a secondary that has gotten torched by Brady and Bradford to begin the season. With Olsen out that’s going to open up more targets for the Panthers passing attack. I expect McCaffrey to see an uptick in targets but Funches should also benefit from Olsen’s absence.

** Devonte Adams is practically a free square if Nelson and Cobb are out ** 

GPP Flyer

DeAndre Hopkins (DK $6,200, FD $ 7,500) – Similar to Green’s situation, Hopkins is likely to find his team chasing a high-powered offense. Hopkins is currently third in the NFL in targets with 13 and also leads the NFL in team target market share 54.2%. It’s amazing how Watson just continues to chuck the ball Hopkins way. The Pats are currently 29th in the league against WR by allowing an average of 27.6 points to opposing wideouts. Hopkins is GPP only because Belichick is notorious for taking away the opposing team’s best weapon, which is Nuke.

Other Middle/Top Tier Options: M. Evans (GPP), K. Allen (Cash), D. Baldwin (GPP), T. Hill (Cash)

Tight End

For the first time this season there isn’t a clear-cut chalk tight end that will be heavily owned in cash games. At least for now. Below are a few of the best options when considering price per dollar spent.

Martellus Bennett (DK $4,400, FD $ 5,600) – Bennett is the tight end that I’m watching pretty closely. As I’m writing this Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb have missed practice early in the week after leaving last week’s game against the Falcons. If one or neither of these players play that leaves plenty of targets up for grabs for the Packers, pass catchers, and I expect Bennett to be a beneficiary. Last week Bennett saw 11 targets with both Nelson and Cobb out of the game. Bennett would face a Bengals defense that ranked 30th in the league against tight ends last season.

Jack Doyle (DK $ 3,600, FD $5,300) – Doyle may be the heaviest owned TE on the week considering many DFS players will stick to recency bias and save their money by using Doyle as their value play. Doyle is certainly cheap and is coming off of a nice outing with Colts’ new quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Brissett targeted Doyle 8 times last week and Doyle caught every one of those targets and gained 79 yards to lead the team in receiving.

GPP Flyer

Jordan Reed (DK $5,400, FD $ 6,700) – Reed is limited to a tournament play only because he has missed practice early this week. Reed is listed as questionable which is likely to drive down his ownership. I already expressed my interest in the ‘skins offense in the QB section and I think adding Reed to a game stack for this Sunday night hammer could lead to a big payoff. Reed is among the top 5 TE in targets this season accounting for 20% of the team’s targets.

Cash game plays not noted above: Z. Ertz, T. Kelce, E. Ebron

Gpp Flyer: R. Gronkowski, D. Allen (if Gronk is inactive)

Defense

With 10 home teams as current underdogs ownership is likely to be spread out at defense.

New England Patriots (DK $3,800, FD $4,900) – The Patriots are at home facing the Texans who are implied to score a slate low 15.25 points. According to Vegas, they seem like the safest play. The issue is that they’re the most expensive option on DK and 4th most expensive on FD. If you’re able to fit them in your lineups, you probably should. Belichick will without a doubt have a scheme to unravel rookie QB Deshaun Watson

Tennessee Titans (DK $ 2,700, FD $4,300) – If you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel on defense I won’t blame you. As we get deeper in the week, I find myself justifying using the Titans for a few reasons. They’re home favorites (-3), Russell Wilson’s terrible home/road splits, and the Seahawks’ team total has dropped from 20.25 to 19.75. The Seahawks haven’t got their offense going this season and were lucky to survive a home game against the 49ers. The Titans like to control the clock by running the ball which could limit possessions, which limits scoring

 

Fantasy Football Season Preview: Tight Ends and Defenses/Special Teams 2017

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

**Mike Barner**

Fantasy Football Season Preview Tight Ends and Defenses/Special Teams 2017

The long journey through the NFL season is rapidly approaching, meaning it’s one of the most exciting times of the year: drafting your fantasy football team. While you need your players to stay healthy and have a little luck go your way, having a strong draft can go a long way to determining the fate of your season.

Lineup Lab is here to help you come away a winner. In the fourth and final of our season previews, we’ll break down tight ends and defenses/special teams. Quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers get most of the attention, but having a quality tight end on your roster can help elevate your squad to a championship level.

While most owners wait to select defenses/special teams until the final rounds of your draft, that doesn’t mean it’s a throwaway position. Finding one that can create turnovers, accumulate sacks and throw in the occasional return touchdown can provide plenty of valuable points for your team.

Let’s examine some tight ends and defenses/special teams to target and avoid as you navigate your way through your draft.

Martellus Bennett - Fantasy Football Season Preview Tight Ends 2017

Old Faces In New Places

Martellus Bennett – Green Bay Packers

You can put Bennett into this category just about every season as the Packers will be his fifth different team in the last seven seasons. He had the best season of his career in 2014 as a member of the Chicago Bears as he recorded 90 receptions for 916 yards and six touchdowns. The Patriots signed him to be their second tight end last season, but he ended up with a larger role than expected as Rob Gronkowski was injured yet again. Bennett played all 16 games and finished with 55 receptions, 701 yards and seven touchdowns.

Bennett will be the undisputed starter in Green Bay, becoming possibly the most talented tight end that quarterback Aaron Rodgers has had the pleasure of playing with. Last season’s tight end duo of Jared Cook and Richard Rodgers combined for 60 receptions, 648 yards and three touchdowns.

Bennett is certainly a better player than either Cook or Rodgers and should present a better red zone target as well. The Packers have a great receiving trio of Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams as well Ty Montgomery to catch passes out of the backfield, which could limit Bennett’s receptions a bit. With that being said, Bennett is still likely to be a top-10 fantasy option at tight end.

Julius Thomas – Miami Dolphins

Thomas had his breakout campaign as a member of the Denver Broncos in 2013 when he posted 65 receptions, 788 yards and 12 touchdowns. Although he only had 43 receptions and 489 yards in 2014, he still provided a ton of value as he again scored 12 touchdowns. It appeared he was going to be one of the elite red zone targets among tight ends in all of football for years to come.

His success was short lived though as he moved on to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2015. Injuries limited him during his tenure with the team as he missed 11 games over the last two seasons. 2016 was a complete disaster as he only had 30 receptions, 281 yards and four touchdowns.

Now a member of the Dolphins, Thomas is looking to rejuvenate his career under the eye of coach Adam Gase. It’s important to note that Gase was on the Broncos’ staff when Thomas was playing at his best. Even though that would appear to be in Thomas’ favor, I’d still stay away from making him your starting tight end.

Tyler Eifert - Fantasy Football Season Preview Tight Ends 2017

Overrated Players

Tyler Eifert – Cincinnati Bengals

Eifert’s best season came in 2015 when he had 52 receptions, 615 yards and an impressive 13 touchdowns in only 13 games. To put that into perspective, Gronk had 11 touchdowns that same season despite playing in two more games and Eifert. That excellent season vaulted Eifert towards the top of the tight end position for fantasy owners last season, but he couldn’t cash in as he was limited to only eight games due to injury.

Eifert supporters will point to the fact that he has 20 touchdowns in 37 career games. That is certainly elite production, but what is more important to note is that those 37 games have come over four seasons. Playing less than 10 games a year on average is a killer for his fantasy value. While he could be a top-5 tight end when healthy, the odds of him staying healthy for an entire season are not great. If you want to take a risk and draft him based on his upside, be sure to not overpay for him on draft day. Based on his current ADP though, you’ll likely have to.

Denver Broncos

To make this clear right off the bat, the Broncos are an excellent defensive team. They allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL last season and had more interceptions (14) than passing touchdowns allowed (13). Their 42 sacks were tied for third most in the league. Even though they weren’t as impressive against the run, they were still around the middle of the pack in rushing touchdowns allowed at 15.

The reason I believe the Broncos defense/special teams is overrated is because it’s likely going to cost you a pick that is higher than either of your last two selections, which is where you should be selecting your defense/special teams and kicker. Looking at ESPN standard scoring last season, the Broncos actually scored the second most fantasy points behind the Minnesota Vikings. The difference between the highest scoring defense/special teams and the tenth highest was only an average of three fantasy points per game.

A difference of three fantasy points per game is not worth reaching for the Broncos. I’d rather take a running back or wide receiver with upside at that point in the draft and worse case scenario, stream my defense/special team throughout the season based on weekly match ups.

Fantasy Football Season Preview Tight Ends 2017 - Zach Ertz

Undervalued Players

Zach Ertz – Philadelphia Eagles

On an Eagles team that lacked talented wide receivers last season, Ertz played a major role in their passing attack as he had 78 receptions for 816 yards and four touchdowns. He caught 74% of the passes thrown his way and averaged 10.5 yards per reception. Among fellow tight ends, Ertz ranked fifth in both receptions and receiving yards.

Ertz has been very consistent in his career, recording at least 702 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons. The last two seasons have been even better as he has at least 106 targets and 75 receptions in both years. He has also averaged at least 10.5 yards per reception in all four of his seasons in the league.

Although the Eagles are much improved this season with the additions of Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith, Ertz is still going to be a very important part of their offense. Quarterback Carson Wentz also looks primed to improve his game, which could provide a boost for Ertz. He might not score a ton of touchdowns, but his consistency and yardage provides a lot of value.

Austin Hooper – Atlanta Falcons

Hooper was selected in the third round of the 2016 draft, but he had a quiet rookie season last year as he had 19 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns. He only received 27 targets, so he really wasn’t that involved in the offense in general. One of his best games of the season though actually came in the Super Bowl as he had three receptions on six targets for 32 yards and a touchdown.

Hooper didn’t have great numbers last year partially because he was in a time share with Jacob Tamme. Tamme finished the season with 22 receptions, 210 yards and three touchdowns. As a unit, Falcons tight ends finished the season with 788 yards and 10 touchdowns. With Tamme now gone, Hooper is lined up to take over the starting job in only his second season in the league.

The Falcons passing offense was one of the best in the league last year, finishing third in passing yards, tied for second in passing touchdowns and first in yards per pass attempt. With a more prominent role in the offense, Hooper is going to have a chance to establish himself as a viable fantasy option this year. I think at worse he is a top-15 tight end who has the potential to finish in the top-10. Considering how late he is going in drafts, he could be one of the best value picks at the tight end position.

Fantasy Football Season Preview Tight Ends 2017 - Houston Texans

A Look At The Fantasy Playoff Schedule

Another key part of your research is to know who has favorable match ups during the fantasy football playoffs, generally weeks 15 and 16 in most leagues. Let’s dive in and see where you can gain that edge.

Favorable Schedules

Houston Texans

The Texans defense/special team starts off the fantasy playoffs by taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road in Week 15. While the Jaguars drafted promising running back Leonard Fournette, they are just a mess at quarterback as Blake Bortles has regressed significantly. They certainly do not have the makings of a potent offense. Week 16 brings a match up against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which would appear difficult on the surface, but is more favorable when you consider the game is being played in Houston. As noted in our quarterbacks season preview, Ben Roethlisberger struggles significantly on the road. Things are looking up for the Texans fantasy value at the right time this year.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs face the Los Angeles Charges in Week 15, a team that does have some fire power. However, this is a home game for Kansas City and they allowed only 16 points per game at home last season. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is prone to throwing interceptions as well as he has at least 18 in two of the last three seasons. Week 16 brings another home game, this time against the Miami Dolphins. Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler also turns the ball over a lot as he has thrown 34 interceptions in his last 35 games. Getting two turnover-prone quarterbacks at home is a major win for the Chiefs during the fantasy playoffs.

Difficult Schedules

Jordan Reed – Washington Redskins

I mentioned this before when talking about Tyrelle Pryor in the wide receivers preview, but the Redskins have a brutal schedule when it matters the most. Week 15 brings a contest against the Arizona Cardinals who allowed the fourth fewest passing yards and were tied for the eighth fewest passing touchdowns allowed. Week 16 brings the stingy Broncos who allowed the fewest passing yards and fewest passing touchdowns last season. Reed certainly has his work cut out for him.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons are faced with two road games during the fantasy playoffs. Week 15 will be against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who have added wide receiver DeSean Jackson and tight end O.J. Howard to go along with Mike Evans and Cameron Brate. Entering his third season in the NFL, quarterback Jameis Winston is poised to take the Bucs offense to the next level. Week 16 brings the nightmare match up against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans. Last season, the Saints scored 32 points against the Falcons when they met them at home as Drew Brees threw for 376 yards and three touchdowns. While I’m not high on the Falcons defense to begin with, you definitely want to avoid them down the stretch.