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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

We’ve passed the last bye weeks of the season, so Week 13 will bring a full slate of games in the NFL. With plenty of options to wade through, let’s dive right in and highlight a few running backs that stand out with favorable matchups, and a couple to avoid. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Running Backs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Running Backs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Running Backs

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

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

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

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

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

The Chiefs and Rams will be facing off on Monday Night Football, taking away two of the top running back options for the main Sunday slate of DFS in Week 11. There are also six teams on a bye, which hurts the overall depth at the position. Let’s dive into to schedule to see which options are still on the board. 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 11 - Running Backs

Saquon Barkley vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,700

The Giants won their second game of the season against the 49ers in Week 10 with Barkley reaching 100 total yards. His 20 carries were a season-high, but his five targets were the first time he had received fewer than 10 targets since Week 5. The Giants offensive line has been one of the worst units in the league, which has limited Barkley to 3.4 yards-per-carry or fewer in four of his last five games.

Barkley’s touchdown upside will remain somewhat limited due to the Giants terrible offense, but this could be a week for him to shine against the Bucs since they are tied for the third-most rushing touchdown allowed (12) in the league. They’ve also allowed 473 yards and three touchdowns through the air to opposing running backs. With Barkley’s heavy workload, he makes for an excellent option in cash contests.

Melvin Gordon III vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings =$8,900

Gordon has yet to receive 20 carries in a game this season, but that hasn’t stopped him from being one of the most consistent fantasy contributors. He was excellent against the Raiders on Sunday, turning 18 carries into 93 yards. After recording 3.9 yards-per-carry last year, Gordon has posted 5.4 yards-per-carry this season. Not only did Gordon excel on the ground in Week 10, but he also turned five receptions in 72 yards and a touchdown.

With his most recent touchdown, Gordon has now found his way into the end zone at least one time in every game since Week 1. He’s also just 31 targets away from matching his mark from all of 2017. This is a matchup to exploit against the Broncos, who have allowed 4.8 yards-per-carry. Gordon won’t come cheap, but his workload and efficiency make him hard to pass up.

Christian McCaffrey vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – Ford Field
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,000

The Panthers were beaten soundly by the Steelers last week, but McCaffrey still had a productive game with 138 total yards. He also accounted for all three of their scores, compiling one rushing touchdown and two through the air. He only found his way into the end zone once across his first five games but has seven total touchdowns over three games since.

McCaffrey has one of the highest floors among running backs based on his ability to contribute in both the running and passing attacks. He’s been on the field for 96 percent of the Panthers offensive snaps this season, which is tops among their skill players. That type of usage could set him up with a tremendous opportunity to thrive against the Lions, who have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game (132.7).

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 - Running Backs

David Johnson vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,500

It took until Week 10, but Johnson finally had his first hefty stat line of the season against the Chiefs. Not only did he 98 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, but he also caught seven of nine targets for 85 yards and another score. The rushing yards are obviously important, but it was just as encouraging to see Johnson so involved in the passing game. After receiving 120 targets in 2016, Johnson only had 32 targets across his first eight games.

The change at offensive coordinator might salvage Johnson’s season. After the Cardinals had a bye week to install Byron Leftwich’s new scheme, Johnson looked like the fantasy star that we all know and love. This is another juicy matchup for him against the Raiders, who allow the third-most rushing yards per game (141). His price is already starting to climb, but it’s still low enough for him to have plenty of upside.

Doug Martin vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,500

To say this season has been a disappointment for the Raiders would be a huge understatement. After losing 20-6 to the Chargers last week, their record now stands at 1-8. Their defense hasn’t been good, but it’s hard to win many games when you score 1o points or fewer in four of your last five contests. With Marshawn Lynch (groin) on IR, Martin has received the bulk of their carries. It’s no surprise that he hasn’t scored a touchdown, but he has rushed for at least 61 yards in two of their last three games.

Martin is likely to continue to receive the majority of the carries for the Raiders, but he’s not going to be as involved in the passing attack as Jalen Richard. With the Raiders often down big in games, that doesn’t always work in Martin’s favor. However, even with the Cardinals improved play last week, they still have a ways to go before they can be considered as a dangerous offensive team. The game flow might work in Martin’s favor, which could lead him to a big day since the Cardinals allow the fourth-most rushing yards per game (140.3). They’ve also allowed 13 rushing touchdowns, so this is as good of an opportunity as any for Martin to finally reach the end zone.

Alex Collins vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,400

Collins emerged as the Ravens top running back last year, but his workload has been limited this season. He’s finished with 12 carries or fewer in seven of nine games and hasn’t been much of a factor catching passes out of the backfield, either. That’s not likely to change now with Ty Montgomery coming over from the Packers. Add his 3.7 yards-per-carry to his limited attempts and you get a running back who doesn’t seem all that appealing on the surface.

There are plenty of factors working against Collins in terms of his snap count, but he may still be someone to take a chance on in tournament play. He has managed to record six rushing touchdowns, four of which have come across his last four games. The Bengals have also been atrocious against the run, allowing the second-most yards per game (141.2) and 11 rushing touchdowns. He’s strictly a tournament play option, but this matchup leaves him with some intrigue.

Dion Lewis vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $4,800

The Titans pulled off possibly the biggest shocker of Week 10 with a commanding 34-10 win over the Patriots. It was sweet revenge for Lewis against his former team, but he didn’t exactly shine with 57 yards on 20 carries. The silver lining is the 20 carries, which marked his second straight week with at least 19 rushing attempts. His previous season-high was 16 carries back in Week 1.

Derrick Henry is the Titans preferred option when they get in close, which is the main reason why Lewis only has two total touchdowns. The good news is that he’s significantly out snapped Henry, playing at least 73 percent of their offensive snaps in three of the last four games. Lewis is also the far superior option in the passing game, which is one of the main reasons why he could be someone to play in Week 11. The Colts haven’t played all that poorly against the run, but they’be allowed 71 receptions and 571 receiving yards to running backs.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 - Running Backs

Lamar Miller vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,600

Miller has had his moments, but he’s largely struggled to provide consistent production. After posting back-to-back games with at least 100 rushing yards, Miller laid an egg in a favorable matchup against the Broncos in Week 9 by turning 12 carries into just 21 yards. That marked his fourth game of the season that he finished with 3.5 yard-per-carry or fewer. The Redskins have allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game (90.9), potentially setting up Miller for another subpar performance.

Adrian Peterson vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,500

All things considered, Peterson didn’t play that poorly behind a makeshift offensive line in Week 10, rushing 19 times for 68 yards against the Bucs. The problem is, that might be close to best case scenario for him moving forward based on all of the injuries to the line. The Texans have allowed a league-low 3.6 yards-per-carry and just three rushing touchdowns, so there isn’t much of a case to be made for playing Peterson on Sunday.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

One of the highlights of Week 9 in the NFL will be Todd Gurley facing a New Orleans Saints defense that has allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (74.1) in the league. If there was ever a week not to pay up to get him into your entry, this might be it. Let’s dig into the running back position to see where you can gain the edge for your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Running Backs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Running Backs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 - Running Backs

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

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

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

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

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

The Panthers and Redskins will be the first two teams with bye weeks this season, meaning Christian McCaffrey, Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson all won’t be available for your DFS entry in Week 4. However, there are still some great matchups to exploit, so let’s dig into the position to see where you can gain an edge. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Running Backs

Alvin Kamara vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $9,600

Kamara is certainly not your traditional running back. He’s averaged 3.8 yards-per-carry through the first three weeks, totaling 141 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. His big impact comes in the passing attack as he already has 30 receptions on 38 targets for 289 yards and a touchdown. Not only has he received the most targets of any running back in football, but he has the fourth-most targets overall behind only Adam Thielen (44), Antonio Brown (42) and his teammate Michael Thomas (40).

This will be the last game of Mark Ingram’s suspension to start the season, so there is no question that Kamara will receive a heavy workload once again. With the number of passes he gets thrown his way, he has an extremely high floor. This is also a good matchup against a Giants defense that has allowed 165 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns to running backs through the first three weeks. Kamara won’t come cheap, but he should be worth it.

Ezekiel Elliott vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $7,700

The Cowboys are severely lacking talent at wide receiver, squarely putting the offense on the shoulders of Elliott. Their offensive line isn’t as formidable as it has been in recent seasons, but Elliott is still averaging 5.7 yards-per-carry and has two rushing touchdowns this season. He hasn’t been able to rack up many receiving yards, but he has already received 18 targets after getting 38 targets over 10 games in 2017.

Although his touchdown upside is limited based on the Cowboys’ offensive struggles, this is a great matchup for Elliott. The Lions have been awful against the run, allowing a league-high 5.4 yards-per-carry. The Lions also have a high-powered offense, so the Cowboys would be wise to lean heavily on Elliott in attempt to eat up the clock and keep the ball out of Matthew Stafford’s hands.

Giovani Bernard vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $6,300

Bernard filled the role of lead running back for the Bengals in Week 3 with Joe Mixon sidelined due to a knee injury. He came through with a well-rounded performance, rushing 12 times for 61 yards and a touchdown while catching five of nine targets for 25 yards. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd was the only other Bengal to receive a carry in this game and Bernard’s nine targets also lead the team.

Mixon is expected to be out again for Week 4, leaving Bernard with a great opportunity to provide value. The Falcons defense has been decimated by injuries and has already lost linebacker Deion Jones and safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen. Over the last two weeks, they have allowed 29 receptions and 226 receiving yards to opposing running backs. Bernard isn’t overly expensive, either, making him a great player to build your lineup around.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Running Backs

Lamar Miller vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,000

Miller found tough sledding against the Giants in Week 3, rushing 10 times for only 10 yards. He was still able to salvage his afternoon, though, by hauling in five of six targets for 41 yards and a touchdown. He was running well heading into that game, averaging 4.9 yards-per-carry against the Patriots and Titans over his first two contests. The Giants do have a great run-stuffer Damon Harrison in the middle of their defensive line, so it wasn’t exactly a great matchup for Miller on Sunday.

Things swing back in Miller’s favor this week against a Colts run defense that allowed 142 rushing yards last week to the combination of Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood, and Josh Adams. They struggled against Mixon in Week 1, allowing him to rush for 95 yards on only 17 carries. Miller doesn’t have much competition for carries behind him, so he could be worth the risk at this reasonable price on both sites.

Chris Carson vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,600

The Seahawks have had a murky running back situation to start the year. Carson only totaled 13 carries over the first two games, but he averaged 5.8 yards-per-carry. They handed the reins over to him last week against the Cowboys and he cashed in with 102 yards and a touchdown on 32 attempts. Rashaad Penny, his main competition for carries, had only three attempts for five yards.

It can be tough to gauge head coach Pete Carroll, but Carson figures to be the lead back for Week 4 based on his performance Sunday. It also shouldn’t go unnoticed that they had success running the ball last week in what was the first game of the season for offensive guard D.J. Fluker, who is very good in the running game. The Cardinals have allowed 131.3 rushing yards per game and five rushing touchdowns so far this season, making Carson an intriguing option to consider.

Marshawn Lynch vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,800

Lynch hasn’t had any eye-opening performances yet this season, averaging 56.7 rushing yards per contest. He hasn’t provided much value in the passing game, either, catching six of seven targets for 33 yards. The one positive to latch on to is that he has scored a touchdown in each contest.  He already has 10 rushing attempts inside the red zone, which is good for fourth in the league behind Todd Gurley, Alvin Kamara and Adrian Peterson.

The Browns do have an improving defense and have allowed just 3.7 yards-per-carry this season, but they have given up four scores on the ground. Although Derek Carr has already thrown five interceptions, he has been able to move the ball up and down the field by averaging 312 passing yards per game. He only has two touchdown passes, though, as the Raiders have shown they prefer to turn to Lynch when they have the ball in close. Lynch might be hard pressed to rush for 100 yards in this game, but he has a good chance of reaching the end zone.

Aaron Jones vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,100

Jones made his season debut Week 3 after missing the first two games due to a suspension. The Packers didn’t have many rushing attempts since they got down big and had to play catch up, but Jones did lead the team in rushing attempts (six) and rushing yards (42). He showed promise in limited action last year, as well, averaging 5.5 yards-per-carry on 81 attempts. If you are looking for a downside with Jones, though, it’s that he’s clearly a secondary option catching passes out of the backfield behind Ty Montgomery.

The Bills came out of nowhere to put a hurting on the Vikings last week, but don’t expect similar results on the road at Lambeau Field. If the Packers race out to an early lead, they could be run-heavy down the stretch. The Bills have also allowed four rushing touchdowns this year, continuing a trend from last season where they couldn’t keep opposing running backs out of the end zone. Jones might see more carries in this contest, making him someone to at least consider at this cheap price in tournament play.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Running Backs

Isaiah Crowell vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – TIAA Bank Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $3,700

Crowell got a bit of revenge against his former team in the Browns with two rushing touchdowns Thursday. He already has four touchdowns for the season after scoring just twice all of last season. The problem is he only averaged 2.5 yards-per-carry the last two weeks and gets a tough matchup against the vaunted Jaguars defense Sunday. I think his 102-yard performance in Week 1 is more of an outlier than anything else, so I’d stay away from using Crowell in this contest.

Peyton Barber vs. Chicago Bears
Stadium – Soldier Field
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $3,800

Barber has seen his carries decrease in each of the first three games, bottoming out at eight carries for 33 yards on Monday night. The Bucs gave him 16 carries in Week 2, but he came away with only 22 yards. Their offense is clearly built around their talented wide receiver trio of Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson and Chris Godwin, who have all been extremely productive with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm. Don’t expect them to rely too much on their rushing attack Sunday against a Bears team that has allowed an average of 3.4 yards-per-carry and has yet to allow a rushing touchdown.

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17

by Chris Durell 0 Comments

*Chris Durell*

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17

 

Welcome to the craziness that is Week 17 in the NFL. There are teams that are locked into their playoff spots or have nothing to play for at all and could very well sit their starters. Even if some players don’t sit all together, they could be limited to a couple quarters at most. Be sure to check out all the information available on Twitter or by a simple Google search before locking in your lineups as this article is written mid-week. Let’s jump in and take a look at each Tier for the seven-game early slate on Sunday.

 Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17

Tier 1

Ezekiel Elliott returned last week and rushed for 94 yards and picked up an additional 21 yards through the air but unfortunately, the Cowboys lost and were eliminated from the playoffs. This muddies the waters for Week 17 as it is unclear how much usage he will get and then add the tough matchup vs. the Eagles defense that ranks 4th in DVOA vs. the rush and 3rd in DraftKings points per game allowed to running backs.

DeAndre Hopkins received his second-lowest target share of the season(6) but still managed to make a ridiculous catch in the endzone to pick up 16.5 fantasy points. This week he gets an elite matchup vs. the Colts who have allowed the third-most passing yards per game(254.8) this season and rank 23rd in DK points per game allowed to wideouts. I am also less concerned with his usage as both teams have been out of the playoffs for some time now and it hasn’t stopped him at all.

The Patriots are locked into the playoffs and have wrapped up the division but still have one game left to lock down home-field advantage through the playoffs with a win so I am expecting another big game from Gronk. He has scored 15 or more DK points in four straight games with three of those performances exceeding 25 points and now faces a horrendous Jets defense that ranks 23rd in DVOA vs. the pass and 24th in DK points per game allowed to tight ends. He could be the highest owned player in this tier but also may have the biggest upside.

The Vikings have also locked up their division but have a big game on Sunday as the Rams, Saints, and Panthers are all breathing down their neck for that #2 seed and a first-round bye. Adam Thielen has been quiet over the last two weeks with just five catches for 54 yards but is having a big season overall with 1,215 yards and could be low owned this week considering he is facing a Bears team that has been pretty good against wideouts ranking 14th in DK points per game. Don’t overlook he and Case Keenum’s ability to produce big-time fantasy points as Thielen moves all over the field and can exploit matchups.

Top Targets in this Tier – Rob Gronkowski, Adam Thielen

Tier 2

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17

Marvin Jones has not scored a touchdown or broke 100 yards since Thanksgiving vs. the Vikings and has seen some decline down the stretch as he has only been targeted 14 times over the last three games and tallied double-digit fantasy points just once. Despite neither team in this game having anything to play for, Jones does get a nice matchup vs. the Packers defense that has allowed the 11th most passing yards per game(232.3) and ranks 25th in DK points per game to wideouts.

It’s a similar situation for T.Y. Hilton as the Colts and Texans have been eliminated and on to next season. Hilton did breakout in a tough matchup last week vs. the Ravens catching six of his 12 targets for his first 100-yard game since week 9 against none other than these Houston Texans who rank 28th in DK points per game allowed to wideouts. Look for Hilton to finish the year off strong.

Speaking of the Texans, it was JuJu Smith Schuster getting to them late on Christmas day as he caught six of his seven targets for 75 yards and a touchdown. With Antonio Brown still sidelined with an injury both Martavis Bryant and Smith-Schuster should continue to see high usage in the Steelers defense. The other thing he has going is that the Steelers can still grab a first-round bye with a win and a New England loss. This week they get a winless Browns team that sits mid-pack in passing yards per game allowed (230.7) but rank 29th overall when looking at DVOA vs. the pass. Fire up JuJu with confidence this week.

Another safe play in this tier is Dion Lewis at the running back position. With James White and Rex Burkhead both out last week, Lewis saw the bulk of the action out of the backfield and crushed for fantasy rushing for 129 yards and a touchdown 35.3 fantasy points. Burkhead for sure won’t be back this week and White is still questionable early in the week meaning Lewis could once again be the feature back for the Pats who are huge 15.5 point favorites. The Jets have been pretty good against the run ranking 12th in DVOA and 15th in DK points per game allowed to running backs but the game script in fully in Lewis’s favor here and he should once again see 20+ carries which presents a high floor and ceiling.

Top Targets in this Tier – JuJu Smith-Schuster, Dion Lewis

Tier 3

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17

Tom Brady has been a big disappointment for fantasy lately and a lot of it can be attributed to the run game that has averaged 121.5 yards per game over their last four games. In those four games, Brady has not topped 17 fantasy points once and may not again this week as the Patriots are currently huge 15.5 point home favorites vs. the Jets and will likely lean on Dion Lewis once again.

Kirk Cousins is coming off his best game in over a month throwing for 299 yards and three touchdowns against the Broncos and has topped 15 fantasy points in three of his last four weeks. He has also thrown for multiple touchdowns in five of his last six games. The running game in Washington has been hit hard with injuries which should once again force Cousins to throw it up 30+ times and he gets an elite matchup to do it against the Giants who rank 31st overall in DK points per game to quarterbacks.

Even without Antonio Brown, Big Ben threw two touchdowns on Christmas day making it seven straight games with multiple touchdown passes. Like I mentioned earlier, the Steelers are still playing for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs but without Brown again this week and an elite running back in the backfield(Le’Veon Bell), we shouldn’t expect high volume from the passing game which will limit Big Ben’s upside.

Matthew Stafford hasn’t flashed much upside since having his throwing hand stepped on earlier in December against the Ravens. He has hit double-digit fantasy points in every single game this season but has only hit the 20-point threshold once in his last five games. There has been no word nor is it expected that the Lions will rest their starters against the Packers and that is good news as the matchup is favorable as the Packers rank 25thin DK points per game allowed to quarterbacks. Back in Week 9, Stafford completed 26 of 33 passes for 361 yards and two touchdowns vs. the Packers.

The Eagles snuck out a win on Christmas vs. a weak Raiders defense but it was almost all credited to the defense as Foles came back to Earth after a four-touchdown performance the week before. He completed just 50% of his passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. With the win, the Eagles locked up home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs so it is unclear how much run they will give Foles in a division game vs. the Cowboys. If word comes out that they will let him play the entire game to prepare for the playoffs, fire him up as the Cowboys rank 21st in DK points per game allowed to QB’s and Foles has a ton of weapons to help him hit value(Ertz, Jeffery, Agholor, Ajayi).

Top Targets in this Tier – Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17

Tier 4

 Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17 - Lineuplab.com

The fourth tier is a very interesting one considering four of the five quarterbacks have nothing to play for as their teams have been eliminated from playoff contention. Only the Vikings and Case Keenum have something to play for as they look to lock up the #2 seed and a first-round bye. As of Wednesday, the four other quarterbacks are slated to start for their respective teams but Eli Manning seems to have the biggest question mark as to how much playing time he will see.

Dak Prescott gets a tough matchup on paper vs. the Eagles who rank 6th in DVOA vs. the pass and 12th in DK points per game allowed to the position. With the Eagles having already locked up the #1 seed there is a chance they could rest some starters in the second half which would open up Prescott’s upside if he was to play the entire game.

Brett Hundley will get the start and likely play the entire game but the knock on him this week is that two of his top receiving options are dealing with injuries. Devante Adams remains in the league’s concussion protocol while Jordy Nelson was injured in Saturday night’s game and has yet to practice this week. The matchup is also not high on the list as the Lions rank 16th in DVOA vs. the pass and 14th in DK points per game allowed to quarterbacks. Proceed with caution.

Jacoby Brissett easily gets the best matchup in the tier facing a Texans defense that ranks 24th in DVOA vs. the pass and dead last in DK points per game allowed to quarterbacks. The issue with him is that the upside really hasn’t been there as he has just three touchdowns over his last four games while averaging 11.9 DK points per game. If you are planning on using Brissett in this tier, be sure to pair him with his top target, T.Y. Hilton, in Tier 2.

Top Target in this Tier – Case Keenum, Jacoby Brissett

Tier 5

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17 - Lineuplabs.com

Tier 5, which consists of five wide receivers, start with Stefon Diggs who has not only scored in back to back games but has also been much better at home this season. He is averaging just over 85 yards per game(44 on the road) and has scored five touchdowns(2 on the road) while averaging 20.9 DK points per game(9.9 on the road). The matchup is not the greatest against the Bears who rank 14th in DVOA vs. the pass but the good news is that Diggs has also seen an uptick in targets over his last four games with 7.3 per game compared to his 5.9 season average.

As a mirror opposite, Brandin Cooks gets a great matchup this week against the Jets who rank 23rd in DVOA vs. the pass and 19th in DK points per game allowed to wideouts. The issue here is that he has trended down with his targets lately with an average of 5.5 over the last four games and the game script will most definitely not be in his favor as the Pats are huge 15.5 point favorites.

After scoring in back to back games, Alshon Jeffery recorded his worst game of the season catching zero balls on just two targets against the Raiders. He and Nick Foles have not shown the same chemistry as he and Carson Wentz did for most of the season. The Eagles have also locked up the #1 seed and although he will start the game, it is unclear how many snaps he and the rest of the starters will see against the Cowboys. Best to fade Jeffery here.

Jamison Crowder played with a hamstring injury last week and seen just 45% of the snaps but came through catching all four of his targets for 47 yards and a touchdown. He has been the most targeted player on the Redskins this season(6.8 per game) and with an extra week to get back to full health should be able to exploit an excellent matchup vs. the Giants who rank 24th in DVOA vs. the pass and 21st in DK points per game allowed to wideouts.

Martavis Bryant also gets an upside matchup in Week 17 against a Browns team that ranks 29th in DVOA vs. the pass. He should also see some added target share this week with Antonio Brown still sidelined with an injury while the Steelers are still fighting with the Patriots for the #1 seed in the AFC. This is one tier that I will be splitting a few a players in multi-lineup contests.

Top Targets in this Tier – Jamison Crowder, Stefon Diggs, Martavis Bryant

Tier 6

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17 - Lineuplabs.com

Zach Ertz has been the most reliable option in this tier averaging 7.2 targets and 15.5 DK points per game but will be hard to trust this week as the Eagles have wrapped up the #1 seed and it’s unclear how much the starters will play this week. The same sentiment holds true for Ertz’ teammate Nelson Agholor who could also see limited snaps. Another big question mark in this tier is the status of Sterling Shepard as he was not present at practice on Thursday and with the Giants having nothing to play for, it is unlikely he sees the field and if he does it will likely be limited snaps.

I talked about the Lions matchup this week with Marvin Jones and the same holds true for Golden Tate who has seen steady targets all season(7.5 per game) and sits with 899 yards and four touchdowns. I do prefer Jones slightly as he gets the better matchup vs. Damarious Randall while Tate, in the slot, will see quite a bit of Morgan Burnett who is rated quite a bit higher than Randall over at PFF. Both are definitely in play if Stafford is going to be playing the entire game.

Like I have mentioned, the Eagles will likely sit most of their starters, at least in the second half which presents an excellent matchup for the Cowboys this week and Vegas agrees as they have Dallas sitting as road favorites. Dak Prescott even mentioned he will be damned to finish the season after last week’s performance so I fully expect the offense to play the entire game and try and end 2017 on a high note. Roll out Dez with confidence.

Josh Gordon has continued to trend down since his return and posted his worst game of the season(4 games) last week in Chicago with just two catches on eight targets for 19 yards. He is getting the targets(9 per game) but gets an even tougher matchup this week facing a Steelers team that ranks 7th in DVOA vs. the pass and DK points per game allowed to wideouts. More bad news as the Steelers also have the #1 seed to play for so you can expect a strong performance against their division rivals.

With Aaron Jones not practicing this week and doubtful to play in Sunday’s finale, it opens up the workload for Jamaal Williams once again making him a nice target this week. He has flashed big upside since taking over as the Packers top back mid-season and posted one 100+ yard game and scored in three straight games from Week 12-14. He will likely see 20+ touches this week in a terrific matchup vs. the Lions who rank 28th in DVOA vs. the rush and 31st in DK points per game allowed to running backs.

Top Targets in this Tier – Golden Tate, Dez Bryant, Jamaal Williams

Tier 7

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17 - Lineuplabs.com

Jordan Howard has been a boom or bust play all season.  He has flashed big upside as he has rushed for 100 or more yards five times and scored multiple touchdowns three times but also scored 10 or fewer DK points seven times. I have a strong feeling that the latter will be the case in Week 17 as he gets a terrible matchup against a Vikings defense that has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game(87.1) and fewest DK points per game to running backs. Probably best to fade him here. Robby Anderson is also on my fade list in this tier as he is not only questionable with an illness but has also done nothing since Josh McCown went down in Week 13. Lamar Miller has been a huge disappointment this season as he has not topped 75 yards once and comes in with three straight weeks without getting to 10 DK points and was out-touched and out-performed by Alfred Blue on Christmas day. Safe to say Miller is also a fade in Week 17.

After starting off the tier with three fades it doesn’t leave many options but there is some value with the Vikings players this week as they have the #2 seed in the NFC to play for and the starters will likely play the entire game unless it gets out of hand. The matchup for the running backs is a tough one as the Bears have allowed the ninth-fewest yards per game(105.5) and rank 9th in DK points per game allowed to the position. Because of this, I lean Jerick McKinnon who has been far and away the receiving back this season with 4.5 targets per game compared to Murray’s 1.1 per game. On the season, McKinnon has 51 receptions for 421 yards and a touchdown. As for Kyle Rudolph, he has been dealing with n ankle injury all December and was once again limited in practice this week. On top of that, he gets a tough matchup as the Bears rank 12th in DK points per game allowed to tight ends. For receiving options, I prefer Diggs and Thielen for the Vikings. SKOL!

I talked about Jacoby Brissett and T.Y. Hilton as a nice stack earlier and another option on the Colts this week is tight end, Jack Doyle. He is tied with Hilton for the team lead in targets(6.9) and gets a terrific matchup vs. the Texans who have allowed the seventh-most passing yards per game(246.3) and rank 26th in DK points per game to the tight end position.

Top Targets in this Tier – Jerick McKinnon, Jack Doyle

Tier 8

 Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17 - Lineuplabs.com

If Duke Johnson gets in a full practice this week after being limited Wednesday he makes an intriguing option as he has been a nice PPR back all season. He is fourth in receiving among running backs with 68 receptions for 618 yards and three touchdowns. Will Fuller cannot be trusted as he has fallen off a cliff since Deshaun Watson went down before Week 9. Bilal Powell is a nice option here in this tier as he is closing his season out on a high note with touchdowns in three of his last four games and coming off his second 100+ yard game last week vs. the Chargers.

The Colts may not have anything to play for in Week 17 but Frank Gore has a milestone to hit. Via Evan Silva on Twitter:

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17 - Lineuplabs.com

I fully expect the Colts to feed him the ball this week. Another option who is fully in play here is Randall Cobb of the Packers. With Jordy Nelson and Devante Adams very doubtful to play it will open up a ton of targets and Cobb could very well be the beneficiary giving him a high floor and ceiling vs. the Lions.

Top Targets in this Tier – Bilal Powell, Frank Gore, Randall Cobb

 

Thanks for reading and if you have any questions leading up to Sunday morning lineup lock, be sure to hit me up on Twitter(@Jager_Bombs9). Good luck everyone!

 

Draftkings NFL Cash and GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Week 14

by Cesar Becerra 0 Comments

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Week 14

Week 14 is not a pretty slate by any means. This week marks the fourth week in a row that we will be without the Steelers offense and will also be missing the Patriots, Saints, and Falcons. There’s a lot of value found at the running back position, so depending on what you do at that position, it will help you differentiate your lineup. Let’s dive into it.

Vegas

Since Vegas lines have become such a huge part of the DFS community and are where most DFS players start their research, I decided to write up a portion outlining the big Vegas numbers. All Vegas totals will be taken from Vegas Insider page on Wednesday.

As if Wednesday night there is no current game lines on the Lions at Bucs and Colts at Bills. Outside of that, this week doesn’t feature any game with a huge spread. The Chargers are the biggest favorite of the week (-6) but still are within a touchdown. The Cowboys (-4), Chiefs (-4), Packers (-3.5), Titans (-3), Texans (-3), Rams (-2.5), Jags (-2.5), Vikings (-2.5), and Jets (-1) are all very marginal favorites this week.

This week doesn’t feature a lot of teams with extremely high team totals. There are nine teams currently implied to score more than three touchdowns, headlined by the Chargers with a team total of 26 points. The Chiefs (25.75), Rams (25.25), Titans (23.5), Texans (23.5), Cowboys (22.75), Eagles (22.75), Bengals (22.25), and Packers (22) round out the teams implied to score more than 21 points.

In regards to game totals, there are three game totals over 45 points. The Eagles at the Rams lead the list with a 48 over/under, followed by KC @ OAK (47.5), and LAC @ WAS (46). Of these three games, the Eagles and Rams game has seen the largest total movement with a 3 point drop from the opening 51 game total.

As with every week, check pack the Vegas Insider page on Sunday morning to get the latest Vegas data.

Quarterbacks

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Week 14

Quarterbacks are very thin this week on the Draftkings main slate. We will be without Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, and Ben Roethlisberger. Yikes.

Alex Smith (DK $6,500) – I feel like I am chasing my tail after Smith’s 23.48 point performance last week. But I expect most people to flock to Smith due to recency bias and the favorable matchup he has this week against the Raiders. Smith is going up against a Raiders defense that ranks 25th in the league in aFPA. The Raiders are riding a two-game winning streak to put them back into contention for first place in the AFC West, but have faced pedestrian quarterbacks the last two weeks. They held both Geno Smith and Paxton Lynch in check. But before that, they were lit up by Brady (28.6 FP), Cutler (27.4), Taylor (16.7), and Alex Smith (28.68). A lot is riding on this game so Smith will look to snap the four-game losing streak and regain the lead in the West. One stat worth noting if you are playing Smith, with the field, Smith has failed to meet salary expectations 4 of the last six times he was priced at $6,000 range.

Russell Wilson (DK $6,200) – At $6,200 this is the lowest price we’ve seen Russell Wilson since November of 2016. That’s insane when you consider the fact that Wilson leads all quarterbacks in scoring after his bye week. Wilson has been smashing as of late, accumulating at least 24 points in 8 of his last 10 games. Now, this week he’s priced down severely because of his tough matchup on the road against the Jaguars. The Jags rank 1st in the league in aFPA this season and are even more dominant at home than on the road. The Jags have allowed an average of 11.61 Draftking points to opposing QBs at home. When you factor that defense dominance with Wilson’s home/road splits, it doesn’t look like an ideal situation for Wilson. It’s just tough for me to write off Wilson given his production the past 10 games and his dramatic price difference. Wilson is an ideal GPP play to hedge off the field.

Jimmy Garoppolo (DK $5,500) – The lower tier is where I will likely land on quarterbacks this week. Jimmy G got his first start last week and certainly passed the eye test. Although he didn’t throw a touchdown and only scored 11.52 DK points, he completed 70% of his passes and missed the 300-yard bonus by only 7 yards. Outside of that, he looked poised under Shanahan’s offense and was able to cut through the Bears defense with just half a playbook. Now Jimmy G finds himself as a road dog against the Texans who rank 30th in aFPA. The Texan’s defense has struggled this season once JJ Watt went down and this figures to be a close game. I think this game has sneaky shootout potential and like how Garoppolo’s savings round out my lineup.

Cash:

A. Smith, J. Garoppolo, M. Stafford (If active), J. Winston

GPP:

R. Wilson, C. Wentz, J. Goff, B. Gabbert

Running Backs

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Week 14

Running back offers a lot of value and the top tier running backs are all in difficult spots.

LeSean McCoy (DK $7,200) – McCoy is the only running back of the top five priced backs that is expected to exceed his implied projected point based on salary. Unfortunately, as I write this, there is no line out for this game due to the Bills not naming their QB starter. But I expect to be a slight favorite at home, which benefits McCoy. McCoy has a seen his price drop to the low $7,000 for the first time since September of this season. He’s received 15 targets in the last four weeks and figures to see more check downs if Perriman is under center. The Colts rank 30th in aFPA to opposing running backs, which is why I boost McCoy slightly over Gurley for the price savings. McCoy is still a wait and see based on the Vegas line, but I like him in the higher tier.

Lamar Miller (DK $5,800) – I mentioned earlier that I like this game as a sneaky shootout. Lamar Miller is in theory in a good spot. He’s a 3 point home favorite and is going up against a 49er defense that ranks 31st in aFPA this season. I would note that Miller has only carried the ball more than 20 times once in his last six games and has yet to eclipse the 100-yard mark this season. The 49ers have only allowed 100-yard rushers to 3 running backs (Gurley, Elliott, and Peterson) this season, so their ranking may be a little misleading.  I do like that Miller is averaging more at least 3 targets the last four games, but he hasn’t entirely been efficient with those opportunities. Miller is a decent cash gameplay if you need the salary relief from the top tier and want to differentiate from the value plays I’ll talk about next.

Giovani Bernard (DK $3,100) – The free square of the week. Bernard is the chalk running back this week assuming Mixon is out this week. He is near minimum price and was slashing through the Steelers defense on Monday night. There’s not much more to say here other than Bernard is near min salary and has 20+ touch upside against a Bears defense that is banged up on the defensive line. If Mixon is out, just lock Bernard in and eat the massive ownership.

Cash:

G. Bernard, T. Gurley, M. Gordon, L. McCoy, L. Miller, R. Barber (Doug Martin inactive), J. Howard

GPP:

K. Hunt, S. Perine, M. Lynch, A. Morris

Wide receivers

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Week 14

Wide Receivers are where you will more than likely differentiate your lineup. There are good plays at the top and in the mid-range.

DeAndre Hopkins (DK $8,500) – Hopkins is a target monster and is going up against the 49ers who rank 16th in aFPA. Hopkins has received more than 10 targets in 7 of the last 8 games. He’s exceeded value in all but one game this season and should have a big game against the 49ers secondary. If you’re paying up for any wide receiver, don’t over think it.

Josh Gordon (DK $5,500) – Every real football fan was watching Gordon last week to see if he would show any signs of the superstar he was when he first came into the league. Well if you ask me, Gordon looked a bit rusty and had some issues catching some of the balls but saw a significant amount of targets. Last week Gordon went up against a tough Chargers secondary and still saw 11 targets. This week he has what comes across as a dream matchup against the Packers who rank 32nd in aFPA. Gordon will likely be heavily owned given his talent level and his good matchup, I’m just not sold on him yet. I also don’t see how Corey Coleman ($4,100) who led the team in receiving before Gordon was activated completely disappears with 0 catches. I understand why people are on Gordon, but I might be lower than the field on him. 

Sterling Shepard (DK $5,300) – I think he’s my preferred pivot off Gordon. Before his injury that sidelined him for 3 weeks, he was averaging 12 targets in week 7 and 8. Last week he disappointed with only 3 catches, but that was with Geno Smith under center. Now he’s $1,700 cheaper, in a good matchup, and has Eli Manning back under center. He’s going up against the Cowboys who rank 25th in aFPA allowed to wide receivers. I like the Giants to keep this game close, so I expect Shepard to get the volume he saw before he got hurt.

Trent Taylor (DK $3,300) – My favorite punt play at wide receiver. With Jimmy Garoppolo he came up big in what Kyle Shanahan called his “Michael Jordan game given he was puking before the game last week. Sickness and all, the rookie came away with catching 6 of his 6 targets for 92 yards and looked like Julian Edelman for Garoppolo early last year.

Cash:

D. Hopkins, L. Fitzgerald, A. Green, A. Thielen, J. Gordon, G. Tate, S. Shepard, E. Sanders

GPP:

K. Allen, T. Hill, D. Bryant, D. Adams, M. Crabtree, S. Diggs, C. Coleman, G. Tate, M. Goodwin, D. Thomas,

Tight End:

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Week 14

A lot of value opens up at tight end this week. As always you can be contrarian by paying up for the studs like Kelce, but this week the way to go for cash games is down at the barrel.

Stephen Anderson (DK $3,200) – Anderson had a breakout game last week against the Titans filling in for Bruce Ellington and Cj Fiedorowicz. Anderson saw 12 targets and caught 5 of them for 79 yards and a touchdown. Anderson was a wide receiver in college and is a freak athlete and will figure to see work out of the slot this week. It’s worth monitoring if Will Fuller will play this week as that may eat into some of his targets. But Anderson should be a popular value play.

Trey Burton (DK $2,900) – Zach Ertz is in the concussion protocol. At this point there isn’t much being reported other than Ertz is with the team. IF Ertz is inactive, this opens up a ton of value at tight end, and Burton will almost be another lock and play. When Ertz missed week 9 against the Broncos, Burton filled in with 2 catches for 41 yards and a touchdown pass.

Cash:

T. Kelce, J.Witten, S. Anderson, T. Burton (Ertz), A. Seferian-Jenkins

GPP:

H. Henry, K. Rudolph, C. Clay, J. Graham

Defense

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Week 14

Cincinnati Bengals (DK $3,300) – I like the Bengals this week as a home favorite against a team that has an implied total of 16.25.

New York Jets (DK $3,300) – The Broncos offensive line is vulnerable right now. That means Leonard Williams will have several opportunities to get to Trevor Siemian.

Cash:

Bengals, Packers, Jets

GPP:

Jaguars, Titans, Vikings

 

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 9

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations – Week 9

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After one of the more active trade deadlines we have seen in the NFL, several players will see a major adjustment in their fantasy value. Throw that in with six teams being on a bye this week and that could make for some unexpected DFS lineups. Don’t worry though, there are still plenty of viable options to help you bring home some cash. Put your favorite daily fantasy football recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.

**QUARTERBACKS**

Deshaun Watson vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $8,100
FanDuel = $9,600

Watson is putting up insane numbers as he has thrown 16 touchdown passes over the last four games. It’s hard to imagine he started this season as the backup quarterback. Not only is he providing excellent numbers through the passing game, but he has also rushed for at least 31 yards in four of the last six games. Sunday brings a great match up against a Colts defense that has allowed the second most net passing yards in the NFL. Pay up for Watson.

Drew Brees vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
DraftKings = $7,000
FanDuel = $8,300

Brees doesn’t come into this game firing on all cylinders as he has thrown for less than 300 yards in four of his last five games and has thrown for only two touchdowns in his last two games combined. The Saints rushing duo of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara has taken some pressure off of Brees and has been able to punch in several scores of late, taking some red zone pass attempts away from Brees. This could be a breakout week for Brees though as the Buccaneers have allowed the third most net passing yards per game this season. In a week with limited options, Brees is one of the best.

Jared Goff vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $5,500
FanDuel = $7,600

Goff has had a hard time finding the end zone of late as he only has two passing touchdowns over his last three games combined. Don’t get overly concerned though as those three games were against the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Arizona Cardinals. The Giants defense is not nearly as impressive and will be without top cornerback Janoris Jenkins as he is suspended for this game. If you need to save money at quarterback, look no further than Goff.

**RUNNING BACKS**

Lamar Miller vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $6,200
FanDuel = $7,500

Miller has been helped greatly by the rapid ascent of Watson as defenses can no longer stack the box against the Texans to stop the run. Miller has scored four total touchdowns over his last four games and has gained at least 81 total yards in three of those four games. The Colts defense isn’t much better against the run as they have allowed the most rushing touchdowns (10) in the NFL this season. Look for another productive game from Miller.

Alvin Kamara vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
DraftKings = $6,300
FanDuel = $6,600

Kamara has really benefited from Adrian Peterson being traded to the Arizona Cardinals as he has become an excellent compliment to Ingram. He has a significant role in the passing game as he has recorded at least 48 receiving yards in three of the last four games. I already documented the struggles the Buccaneers have defending the pass, meaning Kamara could provide excellent value at this price.

Kenyan Drake vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium = Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $4,000
FanDuel = $4,500

With the trade sending Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles, Drake should find himself with a more significant role in Miami. You can’t really take much stock in his numbers this year as Ajayi handled much of the work load for the Dolphins, leaving Drake with only 10 total carries. Based on volume alone, it’s hard to pass up taking a chance on Drake at this bargain price.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

DeAndre Hopkins vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $9,200
FanDuel = $9,100

After struggling last year, Hopkins has been revived with Watson throwing him passes now. He has received at least 11 targets in three of the last four games and already has 76 targets in 7 games this season. Not only is he putting up great yardage totals, but he has also scored at least one touchdown in each of the last four games. With all the problems the Colts’ defense has, Hopkins is a great play this week as well.

Jarvis Landry vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $6,300
FanDuel = $7,000

The Dolphins offense is a mess, but that hasn’t stopped Landry from receiving a whopping 80 targets this year. Not known for his ability to reach the end zone, Landry actually has three touchdowns receptions, which is only one shy of his season total from 2016. The Dolphins may be forced to throw the ball a lot to keep up with the Raiders offense, leaving Landry with another heavy work load Sunday.

Devin Funchess vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
DraftKings = $5,400
FanDuel = $6,100

The Panthers traded wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to the Buffalo Bills Tuesday, leaving Funchess as the number one receiver in Carolina. His 33 receptions this season have already set a new career high and he is close to setting new career bests in receiving yards and touchdowns as well. While he has failed to exceed 41 receiving yards in any of his last three games, the volume he should see in his new role makes him a valuable option at this price.

Cooper Kupp vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $4,500
FanDuel = $6,000

Kupp has had a bit of an inconsistent rookie season as he enters this game with only 23 receptions on 42 targets for 316 yards and three touchdowns. However, two of his touchdowns have come over the last four games and he had a season high 10 targets in his last game against the Arizona Cardinals. With the Giants down their best cornerback in Jenkins, Kupp should be met with less resistance in this game. At this price, he’s worth the risk.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Zach Ertz vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $6,800
FanDuel = $7,600

Ertz has been a touchdown machine of late as he has at least one score in each of the last four games. He’s developed a great relationship with emerging quarterback Carson Wentz and is well on his way to establishing new career highs across the board. The Broncos are excellent against the pass overall, but struggle to defend tight ends. They have allowed 543 receiving yards and four touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season. Start Ertz with confidence this week.

Jared Cook vs. Miami Dolphons
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $4,000
FanDuel = $5,500

A quick glance at Cook’s numbers aren’t very reassuring as he has 46 receiving yards or less in five of his last seven games. However, this a favorable match up against a Dolphins defense that has allowed 358 receiving yards and four touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season. If you need to save money at tight end, Cook is someone to consider.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – EverBank Field
DraftKings = $3,800
FanDuel = $5,300

The Jaguars defense has been a valuable DFS commodity as they lead the NFL in sacks (33) and are tied for the third most interceptions (10). The Bengals have allowed 22 sacks this season, so the potential is there for the Jaguars defense to rack up sacks again in this contest. They will cost a lot, but should be well worth it this week.

Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers
Stadium – Lambeau Field
DraftKings = $3,000
FanDuel = $4,500

It would have been hard to imagine liking an opposing defense playing at Lambeau Field at the start of this season, but I’m going in that direction this week. The loss of quarterback Aaron Rodgers has crippled the Packers offense as Brett Hundley has really struggled. Over the last two games, Hundley only has 244 passing yards, one passing touchdown and four interceptions. The Lions have 10 interceptions this season, so Hundley could be in for another rough game. If you want to go with a more budget friendly defense for Week 9, look no further than the Lions.

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!