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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

The first week of the NFL season brought some prolific performances from a few of the top wide receivers around the league. There are plenty of great matchups to take advantage of for Week 2, as well. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players 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 - Wide Receivers

Antonio Brown vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $8,800

The weather conditions were less than ideal for the Steelers passing game in Week 1, but Brown still had an excellent performance. He caught nine of 16 targets for 93 yards and a touchdown. The game did include an entire overtime period, but Brown received at least 10 targets in 11 of the 14 games he played last year, as well.

There are few matchups that don’t lean in Brown’s favor, but this is one that certainly sticks out as an opportunity for him to dominate. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has historically performed better at home, which has given Brown a boost when they play there. In seven games at Heinz Field last year, Brown averaged 119.1 receiving yards and scored six touchdowns. He averaged 99.9 yards and scored three touchdowns across seven games on the road. The Chiefs secondary allowed Philip Rivers to throw for 424 yards last week, leaving Brown with tremendous upside.

Julio Jones vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $8,400

Jones put on a show against the defending Super Bowl champs in Week 1, catching 10 of 19 targets for 169 yards. He received three targets inside the red zone, but as has been the case in his career, Jones finished yet another game without a score. He scored nine touchdowns over the last two seasons, combined, and has only scored double-digit touchdowns in a year one time in his career.

There is no questioning that Jones is one of the best wide receivers in the league. The only problem has been his inability to reach the end zone. With that being said, he’s a target monster and has no problem racking up yardage. He has received at least 129 targets and recorded at least 1,409 receiving yards in four straight seasons. Even if he doesn’t reach the end zone again Sunday, his role in the offense gives him a high floor that is valuable in cash contests.

Keenan Allen vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,800

Allen was one of the main beneficiaries of the Chargers having to play catch up with the Chiefs, catching eight of 11 targets for 108 yards and a touchdown. The Chargers have quality depth at wide receiver and brought back Antonio Gates to fill their hole at tight end, but Allen is clearly the focal point of their passing attack. Allen received at least 10 targets in a game nine times last year and finished the season recording at least 100 yards in five of his final seven contests.

The Bills were awful in their blowout loss to the Ravens in Week 1 and while they struggled across the board, they allowed Joe Flacco to throw three touchdown passes after he failed to toss more than two in any game last year. There is a chance the Chargers could storm out to an early lead and run the ball more in the second half, but Allen should still see plenty of passes thrown his way.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 - Wide Receivers

Emmanuel Sanders vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $6,200

Sanders entered 2017 having received at least 136 targets and posting at least 1,032 yards in three straight seasons. However, he dealt with injuries and poor quarterback play last year, which resulted in him finishing with 555 yards over 12 games. His 51.1% catch rate and 11.8 yards per reception were both his lowest marks since he was still with the Steelers in 2013.

The addition of Case Keenum immediately paid dividends for Sanders in Week 1 as he hauled in 10 of 11 targets for 135 yards and a touchdown. It did come against a Seahawks defense that is a shell of its former self, but he’ll get another favorable matchup Sunday against a Raiders defense that suffered a tough blow when Khalil Mack was traded to the Bears. He might not be able to replicate his performance from last week, but Sanders doesn’t have to in order to still be able to provide value at this price.

Josh Gordon vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,800

Gordon didn’t start Week 1 after missing part of training camp and was supposed to be on a limited snap count. The latter didn’t come to fruition as he was on the field for 69 of the Browns 89 offensive plays. He only caught one of three targets, but it resulted in a 17-yard touchdown.

Gordon is listed as a starter for Week 2 and should be on the field plenty in this game. He has tremendous talent, but off-the-field issues have certainly put a damper on his career. The Browns may be forced to throw a lot to keep up with the Saints high-powered offense, which could lead to a big performance from Gordon.

Nelson Agholor vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $6,100

Agholor had a weird first game of the season. He entered Week 1 as the Eagles top wide receiver with Alshon Jeffery out due to injury and certainly saw plenty of passes thrown his way, grabbing eight of 10 targets. However, he finished with just 33 yards.

Jeffery will be sidelined again in Week 2, leaving Agholor to likely get the lion’s share of the targets out of the Eagles wide receiver group. Tight end Zach Ertz will likely be heavily involved, as well, but Agholor still stands out as a great option against a Buccaneers defense that allowed Drew Brees to throw for 429 yards in Week 1.

Kenny Golladay vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,800

The Lions suffered one of the uglier losses of Week 1 on Monday against the Jets. Matthew Stafford had a particularly poor performance, throwing four interceptions compared to just one touchdown. The good news was they were forced to throw a lot because of the lopsided score, which helped Golladay amass seven receptions and 114 yards on 12 targets.

The Lions have an impressive wide receiver trio of Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr., and Golden Tate. While that might limit their production for some teams, it’s not a big concern for the Lions because they use a lot of three-receiver sets and don’t run the ball a ton. They also don’t really have any quality pass-catching options at tight end after Eric Ebron departed for the Colts. Don’t be surprised if the Lions defense forces their offense to try and play from behind in this game, too, which makes Golladay an intriguing option in tournament play.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 - Wide Receivers

Amari Cooper vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $6,600

Cooper is one of the more frustrating receivers in fantasy. He has a lot of talent, but drops have limited his production. New head coach Jon Gruden said he wanted Cooper to be heavily involved in their offense this year, but he received just three targets in Week 1. While it did come against a very tough Rams secondary, it wasn’t the type of performance that instills a ton of confidence that this season will be any different for him. The Broncos secondary is formidable as well as they entered the season ranked 10th in the league by Pro Football Focus. There are a lot of great options at wide receiver with bye weeks having yet to start, so Cooper seems like an unnecessary risk to take.

Randall Cobb vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,600

The injury to Aaron Rodgers last year really hurt Cobb’s numbers. He averaged a career-low 9.9 yards per catch and scored just four touchdowns despite playing in 15 games. He put up a vintage performance with Rodgers back at the helm for Week 1, catching nine of 12 targets for a whopping 142 yards and a touchdown. It was certainly encouraging for Cobb’s outlook for the season, but he’s not someone you want to consider this week with Rodgers battling a knee injury and also having to face the stingy Vikings defense.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – Wide Receivers

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 some 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 - Wide Receivers

A.J. Green vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $7,300

Green had a poor season by his standards in 2017. He finished with 1,078 receiving yards and eight touchdowns but caught only 75 of his 143 targets. He averaged just 67.4 yards per game, well below his career average of 80.5 yards per contest. After posting a catch percentage of at least 65.2% in back-to-back seasons, his 52.4% catch rate last year was the lowest mark of his career.

The good news is Green is clearly still the top option in Cincinnati and is going to get a ton of passes thrown his way. He’s never received fewer than 100 targets in a season, including in 2016 when he played just 10 games. The Colts have the worst secondary in the league according to Pro Football Focus, so Green could get off to a monster start in Week 1.

Keenan Allen vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,500

Allen entered 2017 having played nine games in the last two seasons combined. He has a ton of talent but needed to stay healthy to live up to lofty fantasy expectations. Everything finally came together, resulting in him playing all 16 games. He put up excellent numbers, catching 102 of 159 targets for 1,393 yards and six touchdowns. He led all wide receivers with 24 targets inside the red zone as well.

The Chargers added a promising young receiver in Mike Williams in the draft last year and while he’s healthy after battling his own injury problems in 2017, Allen is still far and away the top option for Philip Rivers. His high volume of targets gives him a high floor and his upside is tremendous for Week 1 against a Chiefs secondary that enters the season ranked 28th by Pro Football Focus.

Chris Hogan vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $6,100

Hogan had a hard time staying on the field for the Patriots last year, ultimately playing in just nine games. He finished with a career-low 57.6% catch percentage, but his 48.8 receiving yards per game was the highest mark of his career. He also finished with five touchdowns after scoring four across 15 games in 2017.

Hogan enters Week 1 as the Patriots clear top option at wide receiver due to the suspension of Julian Edelman. Most of his competition for targets will likely come from Rob Gronkowski and the combination of James White and Rex Burkhead catching passes out of the backfield. Hogan might not have the same upside as Green and Allen, but he still is a high-floor option considering his price on both sites.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Wide Receivers

John Ross vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $3,900

With the Bengals searching for another wide receiver to take some of the pressure off of Green, they selected Ross with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft. However, Ross missed training camp due to shoulder surgery and battled injuries throughout the season. Amazingly, he’ll enter 2018 in search of his first career reception in the NFL.

Ross is healthy now and showed a lot of promise in the preseason, including a spectacular reception where he faked out a couple of Bills defenders after making a catch on his way into the end zone. He will have to compete with Tyler Boyd for targets and tight end Tyler Eifert is surprisingly healthy heading into Week 1, but Ross still might be worth the risk in tournament play against the Colts porous secondary.

Danny Amendola vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $4,200

Amendola had one of the best seasons of his career last year, catching 61 of 86 targets for 659 yards. Although he’s had some injury issues during his nine seasons in the league, he’s recorded a catch percentage of at least 70% and averaged at least 10 yards per reception in three straight years.

Amendola left the Patriots to sign with the Dolphins during the offseason. They don’t exactly have a bunch of elite receivers in DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, and Albert Wilson, so Amendola should make an immediate impact. Parker reportedly won’t play in this game due to a finger injury, which should open up even more targets for Amendola. He doesn’t carry much touchdown upside, but Amendola could still provide value.

Cole Beasley vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of American Stadium
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $3,600

Beasley had a breakout season in 2016, finishing with 75 receptions on 98 targets for 833 yards and five touchdowns. He had a spectacular 76.5% catch percentage in what was Dak Prescott’s first season in the NFL, setting up what appeared to be an excellent quarterback-wide receiver relationship. However, his volume took a major hit last year, resulting in just 36 catches on 63 targets for 314 yards.

The Cowboys have a reworked wide receiver corps, so Beasley may have the best working relationship with Prescott out of the group. That could bode well for him to have a bounce-back season, especially early on while Prescott tries to gain an increased comfort level with the likes of Allen Hurns and Michael Gallup. Don’t be surprised to see Beasley fairly active in this contest.

Keelan Cole vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $3,800

The Jaguars have a suffocating defense, but they’ll need their offense to improve this season if they are going to bring home a Super Bowl title. They have already been dealt a tough blow at wide receiver, losing Maqise Lee for the season due to a knee injury. In his absence, Cole, Dede Westbrook, and Donte Moncrief will vie to be Blake Bortles top pass-catching option.

Cole only hauled in 42 of 83 targets last year, but he averaged 17.8 yards per reception. Over three games that Lee was sidelined at the end of the regular season, Cole had a combined 17 receptions on 30 targets for 327 yards. The Giants are thin at cornerback outside of Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple and have been susceptible to giving up big plays in the middle of the field. With Cole likely to see some work out of the slot, he makes for an intriguing option.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Wide Receivers

Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $7,000

Beckham has had an exceptional start to his NFL career, logging at least 90 catches, 1,300 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in each of his first three seasons. However, like many of his teammates, Beckham’s campaign was cut short last year due to injury. He is healthy heading into Week 1 and just signed a huge five-year extension that erased any doubts about his future with the Giants. Big things are likely on the horizon for Beckham this season, but he could get off to a slow start against star cornerback Jalen Ramsey. At this price, he’s too much of a risk for me.

Marquise Goodwin vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,600

Goodwin was finally able to put together a healthy season in 2017, finishing with 56 receptions on 105 targets for 962 yards. His full-season pace based on the five games that Jimmy Garoppolo started would have put him at 138 targets, 93 receptions, and 1,229 yards. He’s someone you’ll likely want to have in your lineup more often than not but stay away from him this week against the stingy Vikings defense.

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 13

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 13

Get our NFL Seasonal package for 50% off for a LIMITED TIME using code "NLA5017"

Get our NFL Seasonal package for 50% off for a LIMITED TIME using code “NLA5017”

With no teams on a bye and only one game Thursday, this is the first time since Week 5 that there is a full list of options to choose from for your daily fantasy football entry. Put your favorite 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 for Week 13

Carson Wentz vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – Century Link Field
DraftKings = $7,200
FanDuel = $8,000

Wentz continues to be a touchdown machine as he has thrown for at least two scores in seven straight games, five of which he threw at least three. Not only is his touchdown streak impressive, but he has not thrown an interception in three straight games either. Normally playing on the road in Seattle is no easy task against the Seahawks defense, but their secondary is a shell of its former self with Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor out for the season. Look for Wentz to continue to excel in this contest.

Case Keenum vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
DraftKings = $6,000
FanDuel = $7,600

If you are still a Keenum skeptic, you shouldn’t be. He’s not just a game manager anymore as he has at least 30 pass attempts in five of his last six games. The last four weeks have been especially exceptional as he has thrown for 1,154 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s even chipped in at least 20 rushing yards in each of his last two games. The Falcons defense has not been great as they have allowed at least 20 points in four of their last five games. With their offense catching fire as well, Keenum should be looked at to throw the ball plenty again this week. Another valuable performance could be in the works.

Trevor Siemian vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $4,800
FanDuel = $6,200

The Broncos quarterback carousel continues to turn as Paxton Lynch was their third starting quarterback this season in Week 12. Lynch, Siemian, and Brock Osweiler have all started under center for Denver this season, with Siemian really the only one showing any signs of promise. He performed well in relief of Lynch last week, throwing for 149 yards and two touchdowns. He started out the season throwing six touchdowns in the first two games, so he can be productive. Sunday brings a matchup against a Dolphins defense that is tied for the second-most touchdown passes allowed (22) in the NFL. They have only picked off four passes as well, so Siemian could be a nice cost effective option for your entry.

**RUNNING BACKS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 13

Todd Gurley II vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – University of Phoenix Stadium
DraftKings = $8,200
FanDuel = $8,800

Gurley has seen limited carries of late as he has 17 or fewer rushing attempts in each of his last four games. However, he still provides tremendous value based on his role in the passing attack. He enters Week 13 having already set career-highs in targets (59), receiving yards (479) and receiving touchdowns (three). The Rams offense has reached new heights this season, resulting in 11 total touchdowns for Gurley. Gurley posted 154 total yards and a touchdown when these same two teams met earlier this season, so expect big things again this week.

Latavius Murray vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
DraftKings = $5,200
FanDuel = $6,500

Keenum’s success at quarterback has been a major boost for Murray as teams are no longer able to stack the box to stop the run. While Murray is sharing the running back duties with Jerick McKinnon, he has received more carries than McKinnon in each of the last five games. Murray also gets the goalline work and has cashed in that opportunity to score five touchdowns over the last five games. This could be a high-scoring contest, leading to more scoring opportunities for Murray to reach the end zone. He presents an excellent mid-tier option for your entry.

Rex Burkhead vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
DraftKings = $5,000
FanDuel = $5,900

The Patriots running back situation has been a source of DFS frustration in the past, but it has seen some surprising clarity of late. Burkhead and Dion Lewis have taken over the lions share of the work, with James White only receiving limited opportunities. More than just a threat in the passing game, Burkhead has received at least 10 carries in two of the last three weeks. Burkhead has even found his way into the end zone, scoring three touchdowns over the last three weeks. With the Patriots offense firing on all cylinders, Burkhead should provide value again at this price.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 13

Keenan Allen vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – StubHub Center
DraftKings = $8,300
FanDuel = $8,100

To say Allen has played well lately is an understatement as he has 23 receptions on 27 targets for 331 yards and three touchdowns in the last two games. Finally healthy, he is having one of the best season’s of his career as he is in the top-seven in the NFL in targets (107), receptions (67) and receiving yards (927). The Browns defense is not as horrible as it has been in recent memory, but they are still tied for the second-most touchdown passes allowed (22) in the NFL. Don’t expect them to be able to slow Allen down this week.

Robby Anderson vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $6,300
FanDuel = $7,200

Anderson is about as hot as you can get right now as he has scored a touchdown in each of the last five games. He’s piling up yardage totals as well as he has at least 85 yards in three of his last four games. With limited weapons around him, his 74 targets this year are only four away from matching his total from all of last season. Week 13 brings a matchup against a Chiefs defense that has allowed the fifth-most net passing yards per game (246) in the league, so look for him to keep his hot streak alive.

Cooper Kupp vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – University of Phoenix Stadium
DraftKings = $6,400
Fan Duel = $6,300

Kupp had his best game of the season last week when he had eight receptions on 11 targets for 116 yards. While he failed to reach the end zone for the fourth straight game, that kind of volume gives him excellent value. Fellow Rams receiver Robert Woods should be out again this week with a shoulder injury, which was a big reason for Kupp’s added involvement last week. If he manages to find his way into the end zone, he could far exceed his price point.

Cordarrelle Patterson vs. New York Giants
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
DraftKings = $3,400
FanDuel = $5,500

Patterson had a big game last week against the Denver Broncos when he hauled in three of four targets for 72 yards. With Amari Cooper leaving the game due to injury and Michael Crabtree getting ejected, Patterson took on a more prominent role in the offense. Much of the same could be in store for him this week as Crabtree has been suspended and Cooper might not be able to play. The Giants defense has been decimated by injuries and will now be without top cornerback Janoris Jenkins as well. If you want to take a chance on a cheap receiver, Patterson has significant upside, especially on DraftKings.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 13

Rob Gronkowski vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
DraftKings = $7,300
FanDuel = $8,100

When he’s healthy, you don’t need a whole lot of justification to start Gronk most weeks. Only Jimmy Graham has more than Gronk’s seven touchdowns amongst tight ends this season and only Travis Kelce has more receiving yards at the position. To make things even more enticing this week, Gronk has historically owned the Bills. In 11 career games against them, he has 52 receptions, 813 yards, and 11 touchdowns. Don’t overthink this one, get him in your lineup.

Jared Cook vs. New York Giants
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
DraftKings = $5,400
FanDuel = $5,500

Much of the same argument for starting Patterson can be made for also using Cook this week. He will likely be more involved in the passing game with the team thin at wide receiver, which is significant considering he already has received at least five targets in all but one game this season. While the Giants will be down their best cornerback, they are even thinner at linebacker. The Giants have allowed an NFL-worst 10 touchdowns to tight ends this season, making Cook a strong option if you want to save money at the position.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 13

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – EverBank Field
DraftKings = $4,500
FanDuel = $5,600

The Jaguars feasted on the Colts earlier this season when they recorded a staggering 10 sacks. The Jaguars have actually done that twice in a game this season and have recorded at least five sacks in four games. They are a turnover machine as well, producing four interceptions and five fumble recoveries in their last three games. Need further convincing? They also have seven scores this season. There is a reason they are the most expensive defense/special team option this week, so don’t hesitate to get them in your entry.

Denver Broncos vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $3,000
FanDuel = $4,600

If you can’t make the Jaguars fit into your budget, one of the better cheap options could be the Broncos. They take on a Dolphins team that struggles to score and are down to pretty much one NFL-caliber running back in Kenyan Drake. The Broncos defense is not as dominant this season, but they still allow the fourth-fewest net passing yards per game (202) in the league. The problem with the Broncos defense is they don’t create a lot of turnovers as they haven’t picked off a pass in their last four games. Miami is tied for the second-most interceptions thrown (15), so this might be the week the Broncos get back on track. Although losing Aqib Talib to suspension is a significant blow, the Broncos can still provide value this week.

NFL Lineup Daily Fantasy Football: Week 6 Cash and GPP Plays

by Cesar Becerra 0 Comments

The Week 6 teams on bye aren’t as difficult to overcome compared to last week’s teams. This week the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, and Seattle Seahawks are all on bye. That being said there are a few games that are worth targeting if you are starting your research with Vegas totals. There are 7 games with a game total over 46 points, including the most appealing of them all in New Orleans (50). Let’s take a look at some plays this week from each position.

Quarterback:

NFL Lineups Daily Fantasy Football - Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints - Lineup lab

As I’ve mentioned throughout this year, quarterback ownership is almost always spread out equally, that there rarely is a QB that we see over 20% owned. That figures to be the case this week with several good options on the slate.

Drew Brees (DK $7,200, FD $8,600) – Brees is surprisingly not the highest priced QB on neither DK or FD. He’s the third priced QB on both sites and is in a pretty damn good spot. If you’re a football fan, you’re well aware of Bree’s home and road splits. Brees has averaged over 300 yards and has had a 2:1 TD to interception ratio in dome stadiums. This week Brees is at home coming off a bye against a Lions team that has been over performing to start the season. To add more frosting to the cake, Brees is a slight home favorite implied to score 27.25 points. This game has the slates highest over/under (50), so Vegas is expecting these two teams to light up the scoreboard. Brees will be popular this week.

Matthew Stafford (DK $ 6,500, FD $8,500) – For all the reasons mentioned in the Brees section, I think Stafford will be popular on this slate. He’s $700 cheaper on DK than Brees so the savings could make him higher owned than Brees, but on FD he’s essentially a pick ‘em with only $100 separating the two. This game is one of the few games with a high total and a relatively close spread so if any game is going to shoot out; it will likely be this one.

Deshaun Watson (DK $6,700, FD $7,900) – Watson is another QB I expect will garnish some ownership based on his recent play. Watson has averaged 31.8 DK points over the past 3 weeks, and his price spike reflects his performance. He does have a good matchup as a home favorite against the Browns who are worst in the league in adjusted fantasy points allowed (26.3). His rushing ability gives him a nice floor for cash games, but in gpps, I like fading him for my favorite quarterback on the week (next player). He’s not a bad play at all, but he’s gotten to be a little too expensive for my taste, especially when you consider that most of his TD production last week came during garbage time against the Chiefs.

Kirk Cousins (DK $6,800, FD $ 7,800) – Cousins is the same price point as the last two QBs I mentioned above, and I feel he will be the least owned, which is why I like him for gpps. Cousins is coming off of a bye week and facing the 49ers who are coming off their second consecutive road overtime loss. Cousins and the Redskins go into week 6 with the highest implied team total (28.8) and are 10.5 point favorites. The 49ers are probably the best winless team in the league, losing 4 games by a combined 11 points, but their secondary can be attacked. Per PFF, the 49ers have 3 of the worst rated corners. Dontae Johnson rated no. 108 of 109, Rashard Robinson is no. 104, and K’Waun Williams is no. 99. The Redskins should be able to attack through the air, especially with Rob Kelly expected to be out.

Bargain Barrel:

Carson Palmer, Jameis Winston, Jacoby Brissett

Running Backs:

NFL Lineups Daily Fantasy Football - DeVonta Freeman - Lineuplab.com

Kareem Hunt (DK $8,200, FD $9,300) – I wasn’t going to write up Hunt because by now you should be aware of the amount of volume he’s been getting this season. On DK he’s $1,400 cheap than Bell, which is insane when you factor in that the Chiefs are home favorites over the Steelers. Hunt lost a lot of fantasy points last week with two flukey touchdowns by Charcandrick West. This week Hunt is going up against the Steelers who are 31st DVOA against the run and just got burned for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns from top rookie Leonard Fournette. Hunt is currently projected as our top RB this week over Bell, regardless of price.

Leonard Fournette (DK, $8,000, FD, $8,600) – Speaking of rookies. It’s about time to start talking about Fournette on a consistent basis. He’s averaging 24 touches per game and has scored in all but one game this season. There’s no secret the Jags are trying to keep the ball out of Bortles’ hands as much, which leads to Fournette carrying the offensive workload. Through the first 5 weeks, Fournette has received 70% of the carries and has been targeted 15 times. He’s going up against a Rams defense that ranks 32nd in aFPA (32.8). The Jags are a slight home favorite, so that also bodes well for Fournette.

Devonta Freeman (DK $7,400, FD $ 8,500) – Freeman is the better play on DK since his salary gives you bigger savings from the two backs mentioned above. Freeman has the luxury of playing behind the number 1 rated run blocking offensive line according to PFF. The Falcons are among the biggest home favorites this week (11.5) and are implied to score over 28 points. The Dolphins rank in the middle of the pack in aFPA with an average of 21 PPG. There’s always a concern with splitting carries with Tevin Coleman, but through the Falcons first 4 games, Freeman has 73% of the carries compared to Coleman’s 27%.

Mark Ingram (DK $4,400, FD $ 5,900) – A true committee that a lot of DFS players will have their eye on. With the trade of Adrian Peterson, this backfield is now a true timeshare between Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara (DK $4,500, FD $ 5,800). My initial thought is that Kamara will be the more popular back because of his involvement in the passing game and his big game before last week’s bye. Kamara went for 25.6 DK points on 10 receptions for 71 yards and a TD. This game has shootout written all over it so Kamara could continue to see more passing targets out of the backfield. My only concern here is that although Ingram is being phased out by the coaches, he’s still seeing over 55% of the carries and 36% of the targets. Ingram does have pass-catching upside and is still the goal line back, so he’d be the preferred choice on FD. However, on DK I think I’d have to lean on Kamara for the bigger PPR upside.

Jerick McKinnon (DK $4,100, FD $5,600) – Another running back situation that people will monitor is the Vikings’ committee. Last week in their first week without Delvin Cook, McKinnon saw 67% of the snaps compared to Murray who saw 31%. The carries were 55% for McKinnon and 41% to Murray. McKinnon led all backs with 6 receptions on 6 targets, while Murray seemed to be phased out in the second half. McKinnon was more successful with his workload averaging 5.9 YPC compared to Murray’s 2.6. McKinnon is currently rated as our top value play (points per dollar) on DK and FD.

Chris Thompson (DK $5,000) – A nice GPP pivot off the chalkier cheaper options I mentioned above. If Rob Kelly misses like the reports indicate he is, Thompson could be a great gpp option against the 49ers. He’s not that cheap on DK but has a lot of upside. Samaje Perine could work the early downs but Thompson is the featured back in the passing game, which I expect the Redskins to focus on.

Other Viable Options:

CJ Anderson, M. Gordon, T. Gurley, A. Jones *T. Montgomery out*, L. Miller, E. McGuire.

Wide Receivers:

NFL Lineups Daily Fantasy Football - DeAndre Hopkins - Lineup Lab 

Wide Receiver is a little more open season when compared to running backs. There are a lot of teams that are big favorites so there are really only a few passing offenses that you want to use.

DeAndre Hopkins (DK $8,100, FD $8,000) – Nuke’s price took a STEEP hike on DK, rising over $1,700 after a 3 touchdown performance against the Chiefs. But even at over 8K, that price is finally warranted for a guy that is receiving over 12 targets per game. Through 5 weeks of the season, Hopkins only trails Antonio Brown for most targets in the league. This week Hopkins has an above average matchup against Jason McCourty, who actually has a great grade on PFF(91.7), but the past two seasons he’s averaged a grade in the mid 50’s. It’s also worth noting that Hopkins is expected to lineup against Jamar Taylor (has a 45.1 PFF rating) in two WR sets. Hopkins should be able to produce with the 12+ targets he’s expected to see.

Julio Jones (DK, $8,300, FD $8,400) – I have yet to roster Julio this season, and thankfully so. Julio has yet to score this year and only has 30 targets on the season (4 games). But I have a feeling this is the week we see Julio get back on track. The Falcons are really thin at WR and Julio will be facing either Cordrea Tankersley or Xavien Howard. Regardless of who Julio matches up against, he’s virtually matchup proof. Julio notoriously plays better at home than on the road. It’s about time Julio finds the endzone this week.

Pierre Garcon (DK $ 6,300, FD $6,800) – I loved Garcon last week against the Colts despite going up against Vontae Davis. This week I want to go back to the well in a game that I expect the 49ers to be trailing. The Redskins will be without Josh Norman which helps Garcon. Garcon is currently 8th in the league in targets with 44 through 5 games. This week Garcon could face Quinton Dunbar and Bashaud Breeland who are both targetable corners. I expect Garcon to get 10-12 targets this game and can very well see him putting up over 14 fantasy points.

Adam Thielen (DK $6,000 FD $6,500) – Thielen gets a great matchup here against a bad Packers secondary. Thielen is the primary slot receiver for the Vikings so he’ll face Quinten Rollins who is one of the worst slot corners according to PFF. The Packers should jump out to an early lead, which would mean the Vikings would have to pass the ball more. It’s worth monitoring Bradford’s status as game day gets closer.

Cash Viable Plays:

M. Thomas, K.Allen, L. Fitzgerald, J. Landry, G. Tate,  C. Hogan, A. Cooper.

Gpp Flyers:

D. Jackson, John Brown, M. Jones Jr., T. Hill, D. Amendola, B. Cooks, T. Pryor Sr.

Value Receivers

A. Wilson, J. Kearse, J. Crowder.

Tight Ends:

Hunter Henry - NFL Lineups Daily Fantasy Football - San Diego Chargers - Lineuplab.com

Hunter Henry (DK $4,100, FD $5,400) – Henry looks to have finally taken over the tight end position for the Chargers. After 3 weeks of force-feeding Antonio Gates, Henry has finally become a part of the offense. He has now scored in two straight weeks. He ran 33 routes in over 75% of snaps he played last week.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins (DK $4,300, FD $5,600) – ASJ came through last week by scoring a touchdown. That now gives him an average of 6 targets the past 3 weeks. He’s going up against the Patriots who will get out to a big lead and have allowed the most passing yards in the league. 

Travis Kelce (DK $6,100, FD $7,200) – Kelce is the top projected TE on both sites this week. Kelce has 20 targets the last two weeks. Keep an eye out on the Chiefs injury report to make sure Kelce is active.

Defense:

 NFL Lineups Daily Fantasy Football - Baltimore Ravens - Lineuplab.com

There are 5 teams that are currently more than a touchdown favorite. The Patriots are the only team in that bunch that is not at home. The Ravens (16.5), Falcons (17.25), Redskins (18), Texans (18.5), and the Patriots (20) are all going up against teams implied to score less than 20 points. Defense is very volatile so any one of these could land atop the leaderboards. The Ravens are currently our top projected defense. While the Bucs are the best value projected to score nearly 3x.

Good Luck!