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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

Six teams are on a bye during Week 11, but none of them have as much of an impact on the wide receiver position for the main Sunday afternoon slate in DFS as the Packers, Chiefs, Rams, and Vikings all playing in prime time. There are still a lot of quality options, though, so let’s dig into the position to see which matchups stand out. 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 - Wide Receivers

Michael Thomas vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,800

The Saints exploded for 51 points against the Bengals last week, so it’s no surprise that Thomas had a big game. He caught all eight of the targets thrown his way for 70 yards and two touchdowns. After scoring five touchdowns all last season, he already has seven through his first nine games. He also has an insane 89.7 percent catch rate, leaving him just 50 yards shy of reaching 1,000 yards for the third straight year.

The Eagles have only allowed 12 passing touchdowns this season, but they have allowed the 10th-most passing yards per game (266). Their secondary also received a significant blow when cornerback Ronald Darby was lost to a torn ACL. With the Saints firing on all cylinders offensively, they could put up plenty of points in a hurry in this contest. Thomas is tied for the league lead with 78 receptions, so expect him to have another great performance.

Julio Jones vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $8,500

There has never been any question about Jones’ workload with his 102 targets tied for the third-most in the league. He’s already posted 1,040 receiving yards, marking his fifth straight season with at least 1,000 yards. The only issue has been his incredible inability to score touchdowns. However, he finally found the end zone in Week 9, then followed that up with another score last week against the Browns.

If you’re just looking at the opponent, this does not stand out as a great matchup for Jones. The Cowboys have a good pass defense and have only allowed 12 touchdown receptions all season. However, Jones has such a heavy volume of passes thrown his way that it’s hard to slow him down. If he can continue to find his way into the end zone, the sky is the limit in terms of his value. Even if he doesn’t again Sunday, he still has a high enough floor to be worth considering in cash contests.

Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $8,400

It’s been a frustrating season for Beckham and the Giants offense. He’s still put up some big yardage totals, but he entered Week 10 with just two touchdown receptions. A matchup against the 49ers turned out to be just what the doctored ordered with the Giants scoring 27 points and Beckham hauling in two scores. Even though he finished with four receptions for 73 yards, his day actually could have been even better since he had 11 targets.

A surprising as this may be, Beckham actually has as many targets as Jones does. Having Eli Manning as his quarterback is going to continue to limit his upside, but that doesn’t mean you should shy away from him at this lofty price. The Bucs have been horrible against the pass, allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game (292) and the most passing touchdowns (23). As long as the Giants offensive line can keep Manning upright, he should look Beckham’s way enough to make him a safe option.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 - Wide Receivers

Alshon Jeffery vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $6,300

Jeffery had a quiet performance against the Cowboys last week with only four catches for 48 yards. On the bright side, he received eight targets and was on the field for 97 percent of their offensive snaps. New wide receiver Golden Tate wasn’t involved much in his debut with the team, only appearing on the field for 29 percent of their snaps. That number seems likely to rise as he gets more familiar with their offense, but it’s clear that Jeffery is still their top option at the position moving forward.

Tight end Zach Ertz will eat into Jeffery’s production from time to time, but Jeffery has four touchdowns in just six games and has a career-high 63.5 percent catch rate. The Eagles offense has had its struggles, but they will likely have to throw a lot Sunday to keep up with the Saints. That could lead to a banner performance from Jeffery since the Saints allow the second-most passing yards per game (296).

Kenny Golladay vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Ford Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $5,800

The trade of Tate to the Eagles opens up an even larger role for Golladay. He was great in Week 10 against the Bears, catching 6 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Marvin Jones (knee) also had to depart that game early, which led Golladay to receive a season-high 13 targets. Golladay has now been on the field for 90 percent of the Lions offensive snaps his season, which is tops among their skill position players.

Jones is luckily just dealing with a bone bruise in his knee, but his status is still in question for this contest against the Panthers. If he can’t play, Golladay is going to be extremely busy. Even if Jones is able to take the field, Golladay is going to be heavily involved due to Tate no longer being in town. The Panthers have struggled in the secondary, allowing the second-most touchdown passes through the air (22).

Larry Fitzgerald vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $5,600

The first two games with Byron Leftwich as the Cardinals offensive coordinator has provided immediate dividends for Fitzgerald. After receiving 41 targets across seven games with Mike McCoy at the helm of their offense, Fitzgerald has received 22 targets over two games since. He’s made the most of his added opportunities, posting 14 receptions, 152 yards, and a touchdown.

Another encouraging sign for the Fitzgerald is that he was on the field for at least 96 percent of the Cardinals offensive snaps in the two weeks under Leftwich. He had logged no more than 87 percent of their offensive snaps in three of his previous four contests. The Raiders get virtually no pressure on opposing quarterbacks and have allowed 21 passing touchdowns, potentially setting up Fitzgerald for a big game.

Tre’Quan Smith vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,000

With the Saints putting up 51 points last week, it is surprising that Smith wasn’t even targeted once in that contest. He was on the field for 68 percent of their offensive snaps, which was more than any other wide receiver, including Michael Thomas (61 percent). Don’t expect him to out snap Thomas moving forward, but last week illustrates the potential that Smith could have if the Saints decided to throw more passes his way.

The Saints just signed Brandon Marshall to provide some depth at wide receiver, but Smith should still be their second best option at the position moving forward. His lack of targets is concerning, which is why you should only consider him in tournament play. However, if this game turns into a shootout, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Smith provide value at this dirt cheap price.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 - Wide Receivers

Mike Evans vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,300

It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Evans. He received 10 targets in Week 9, but only caught one pass for 16 yards. He managed to post 51 yards in Week 10 but caught only three of six targets. This brief rough stretch is especially surprising considering how well he played with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback to start the year. Don’t expect him to struggle like this for the remainder of the season, but this isn’t a good opportunity for him to turn things around against the Giants. They’ve dealt away a couple of their key defenders, but they still have cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who has helped them allow just 12 passing touchdowns this season. At this lofty price, Evans is awfully risky.

Tyrell Williams vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $4,800

After four touchdowns across his previous three games, Williams was finally shut out of the end zone by the Raiders in Week 10. He’s only received 36 targets all season, so a lot of his value depends on him scoring touchdowns. With Keenan Allen the top option at wide receiver for the Chargers and Melvin Gordon thriving in the backfield, don’t expect Williams to receive a significant jump in targets anytime soon, either.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

With the Vikings and Texans on byes and the Steelers and Giants both playing in prime time games, a lot of the top talent at wide receiver won’t be available for the main slate in DFS for Week 10. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players to target, and some to possibly avoid, as you create your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 - Wide Receivers

Michael Thomas vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,100

Thomas got off to a blistering start this season with at least 10 targets and 10 receptions in each of his first three games. During that stretch, he had a total of 398 yards and three touchdowns. His production dropped off significantly starting in Week 4 but he rebounded to post 211 yards and a touchdown Sunday in a shootout against the Rams. It’s no coincidence that he received 15 targets, which were his most in a game since Week 4.

The Saints have a great running back duo of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram, which could limit Thomas’ production from time to time if the Saints take a run-heavy approach. This could end up being a blowout against a far inferior Bengals team, but don’t shy away from Thomas just because there could be a lot of run calls in the second half. The Bengals allow the most passing yards per game (319) in the league, making Thomas a great option in cash games.

Keenan Allen vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,100

Although Allen hasn’t been as productive as he was last year, it was going to be hard to duplicate the 159 targets that he received in 2017. The good news is he still has 66 targets through eight games, 10 of which came in Week 9 against the Seahawks. Normally a good defense against the pass, the Seahawks allowed Allen to rack up six receptions for 124 yards.

One area of disappointment for Allen has been his lack of touchdowns. He found his way into the end zone in Week 1 but hasn’t scored since. That’s a significant stat for someone who had six touchdowns last year. This could be the week he breaks that streak, though, with the Raiders tied for the second-most passing touchdowns allowed (19) in the league. In their first meeting this season, Allen was plenty involved with eight catches on nine targets for 90 yards.

Tyler Boyd vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $7,500

The Bengals found themselves in a high-scoring affair with the Bucs in Week 7, leaving Boyd with a team-high 10 targets. He sure made the most of his opportunities, catching nine passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. After posting 225 total receiving yards across 10 games last year, Boyd already has three games with at least 100 receiving yards this season.

Boyd had already worked his way into a significant role, but he’s now the Bengals top wide receiver with A.J. Green (toe) out for at least two games. Even with Boyd’s emergence, Green is still leading the team with 76 targets, so that’s a lot to make up for. This Bengals might also be forced to throw a ton to keep up with the Saints high-powered offense, potentially setting up Boyd for another monster day.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 - Wide Receivers

Mike Evans vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $7,000

The Bucs scored 28 points against the Panthers in Week 9 and Evans received 10 targets. He must have dominated, right? Unfortunately for his sake, and for the sake of everyone who played him in DFS, Evans actually had a disastrous performance with one catch for 16 yards. That marked the first time this season that Evans has finished with fewer than five receptions and 58 yards in a game.

Don’t overact to one fluky performance. The fact that Evans received 10 targets is the key takeaway. Across the first four games in which Evans received at least 10 targets this year, he averaged 7.3 receptions and 125.6 yards. He scored three total touchdowns in those games, as well. The Redskins have been great against the run this year, but their pass defense is suspect. Both sites dropped Evans’ price tag after last week’s dud, leaving a prime opportunity to take advantage of for your entry.

Cooper Kupp vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $6,400

Kupp had sat out the previous two games due to a knee injury, but he was able to take the field Sunday against the Saints. He certainly wasn’t eased back into action as he was on the field for every one of the Rams offensive plays. Even with so many weapons around him, Kupp had another valuable performance with five receptions on six targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. Although he’s only played in seven games, Kupp has already set a new career-high with six touchdowns.

It was great to see Kupp at full go in his first game back. He’s had a couple of games this season where he’s had to leave early due to injury, one of them was against these same Seahawks in Week 5 due to a concussion. Despite only playing 55 percent of the snaps in that contest, Kupp still finished with six catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. At this very reasonable price, Kupp is a great option to consider.

Larry Fitzgerald vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,400

The Cardinals offense has been horrible for most of the year, which has really put a cap on Fitzgerald’s upside. After receiving at least 145 targets in three straight seasons, Fitzgerald only had 41 targets across his first seven games. The Cardinals mercifully fired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, which immediately provided positive results for Fitzgerald. In his first game with Byron Leftwich at the helm of their offense, Fitzgerald had eight receptions on 12 targets for 102 yards and a touchdown against the 49ers.

With a bye in Week 9, the Cardinals had even more time to get their new offense up to speed. Leftwich has already stated that he wanted to get Fitzgerald and David Johnson more involved, so don’t be surprised if you see dramatically better production from both players over the second half. Week 10 stands out as an opportunity for Fitzgerald to shine against a Chiefs defense that has allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game (303).

Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,000

The Packers seemed pretty well set at wide receiver heading into the year with the trio of Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, and Geronimo Allison. As a result, Valdes-Scantling was relegated to a very limited role out of the gate. After injuries started to mount, the Packers had no choice but to turn to their young receiver for production. Not only has he held his own, but Valdes-Scantling has shined in his added playing time with at least 101 receiving yards in two of his last three games.

Valdes-Scantling was already pressing for more snaps, but he has a secure role now with Allison being placed on IR earlier this week. Cobb might carry more name recognition, but Valdes-Scantling could be the Packers number two wide receiver for the rest of the year. With Aaron Rodgers throwing him passes, he’s hard to pass up in tournament play at this cheap price.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 - Wide Receivers

T.Y. Hilton vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $5,700

The Colts scored 42 points against the Raiders in their last game Week 8, but Hilton was pretty quiet with only one catch on five targets for 34 yards. That marked the fourth time in his six games that Hilton has finished with 50 or fewer receiving yards. The Jaguars defense hasn’t been as formidable this year, but they’ve still allowed the fewest passing yards per game (190). They’ve only allowed nine touchdown passes, as well, leaving Hilton as a very risky option.

Randall Cobb vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $4,900

Cobb started out the season with 142 yards against the Bears in Week 1, but he has a total of 116 yards across four games since. If it wasn’t for the injury to Allison, there was an argument to be made for Valdes-Scantling to receive more playing time over Cobb. Cobb should be on the field plenty moving forward, but he might not get a ton of passes thrown his way with all of the other options that Rodgers has. If you want to take a chance on a cheap Packers receiver, Cobb is not the one you want.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 7 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

If you’re playing the main Sunday afternoon slate in DFS for Week 7, some of the key players who won’t be available at wide receiver include Antonio Brown, Davante Adams, Julio Jones, and Tyreek Hill. With so much of the top talent not at your disposal, the week might be more difficult to navigate than most. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players to target, and some to possibly avoid, as you create your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 7 - Wide Receivers

Adam Thielen vs. New York Jets
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $8,600

There has been no slowing down Thielen. He’s posted at least 100 receiving yards in all six games and with four touchdowns, he’s already matched his mark from all of last season. His 81 total targets also lead the NFL, nine ahead of the player with the second most, Antonio Brown. Add in his league-leading 712 receiving yards and Thielen has not only been one of the most reliable receivers in DFS, but he’s also been one with an extremely high upside.

It’s pretty easy to make an argument for Thielen to be in your lineup every week. The Jets doesn’t exactly provide an imposing matchup after they allowed Andrew Luck to throw for 301 yards against them with T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle on the sidelines. Thielen will eat up a significant portion of your budget, but he’s been worth every penny through the first six weeks.

Robert Woods vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $7,000

While Todd Gurley was chewing up the Broncos defense on the ground last week, Woods was hurting them in the receiving game with seven catches on 10 targets for 109 yards. It marked the second time this season that Woods received at least 10 targets in a contest and the third time in the last four weeks where he posted at least 100 yards. The Rams offense has been more explosive, helping Woods average 87.3 yards per game compared to 65.1 last season.

If anyone was concerned that the addition of Brandin Cooks would have a negative impact on Woods’ production, those concerns can be put to bed. Woods could be even more involved Week 7 with Cooper Kupp out with a knee injury. The 49ers are tied for the eighth-most passing yards allowed per game (279) and have allowed 14 passing touchdowns compared to just one interception, potentially setting up Woods for a big game.

Brandin Cooks vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $7,100

It’s hard to deem Cooks’ campaign with the Patriots last year as a disappointment, but his 57% catch rate was the lowest mark of his career. He had a chance to shine as their top wide receiver, especially with Tom Brady throwing passes his way. The Rams have more talent at wide receiver, but their depth hasn’t slowed down Woods, who is averaging career-highs in yards per reception (18) and receiving yards per game (84.2).

Even though Woods is going to get plenty of targets, the absence of Kupp is going to benefit Cooks, as well. With how porous the 49ers secondary has been this season, both of the Rams’ top two receivers are strong plays this week. If you are looking for any sort of a differentiator between the two, Woods has three touchdowns compared to just one for Cooks. Regardless, both players warrant cash contest consideration.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 7 - Wide Receivers

Michael Crabtree vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $5,100

Crabtree was a huge addition for a Ravens team that severely lacked talent at wide receiver last year. He might be in the later stages of his career, but he entered 2018 with at least eight receiving touchdowns in each of the last three seasons. The Ravens have wasted no time making him an important part of their offense, giving him a team-high 55 targets. He’s coming off of his best game with the team, catching six of nine targets for 96 yards and a touchdown against the Titans.

Crabtree might not have the big-play ability that fellow receiver John Brown does, but he’s tied with tight end Nick Boyle for the most red zone targets (six) on the team. This could be one of the Ravens more productive offensive performances of the season since the Saints have allowed the third-most passing yards per game (298), making Crabtree an excellent option to target.

Jarvis Landry vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $7,300

The change at quarterback from Tyrod Taylor to Baker Mayfield hasn’t helped Landry’s value in the early going. Across the first three games of the season, Landry caught 20 of 37 targets for 278 yards. In three games since, he’s only hauled in 11 of 29 targets for 115 yards. The low point came in Week 6 because even though he received nine targets, he only had two receptions for 11 yards.

If there was ever a game for Landry and Mayfield to get on the same page, this is it. Mayfield is battling an ankle injury, but he’s expected to take the field. The Bucs have allowed the most passing yards per game (356) and are tied for the most passing touchdowns allowed (16) despite already having their bye week. Landry’s recent inconsistencies make him more of a tournament play than a cash play, but he does have a path to significant production Sunday.

Taylor Gabriel vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Soldier Field
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $4,700

Gabriel’s career with the Bears started off with a whimper, recording 89 total receiving yards through the first three weeks. However, he was one of the main beneficiaries of the Bears 48-point explosion in Week 4, catching all seven of his targets for 104 yards and two touchdowns. To put that performance into perspective, he had one touchdown all of last season with the Falcons. The good news is that he followed up that strong outing with another big game in Week 6, hauling in each of his five targets for 110 yards.

The Bears have a good defense, but it’s no easy task facing the Patriots when Brady has a full complement of weapons. They may give up more points than they are accustomed too, potentially forcing Mitch Trubisky to throw the ball more in an effort to keep pace. With Gabriel’s explosive speed, he has the potential to turn any reception into a significant gain. At this price, he’s hard to pass up based on his upside.

Jermaine Kearse vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,100

The Jets have what they hope to be their quarterback of the future in Sam Darnold. He’s had some expected highs and lows through the first six games, but it’s clear that he’s quickly developed a good relationship with receiver Quincy Enunwa, who received 37 targets across the Jets first four games. However, Enunwa hasn’t been healthy the last two weeks, opening the door for Kearse to catch nine of 10 targets for 94 yards in Week 6.

Enunwa has already been ruled out for Week 7 and the Jets could be even thinner at receiver with Terrelle Pryor dealing with a groin injury. If Pryor can’t play either, that’s going to leave Kearse and Robby Anderson with expanded roles. Even if Pryor does play, this is still a favorable matchup for Kearse to provide value. The Vikings have been stout against the run, but they’ve been susceptible to giving up yards through the air.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 7 - Wide Receivers

Michael Thomas vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $7,900

Thomas was a monster over his first three games, recording 38 receptions on 40 targets for 398 yards and three touchdowns. However, in the following two contests, he posted a combined eight catches on nine targets for 121 yards. This is not a great opportunity for him to put up a rebound performance since the Ravens are tied for the fewest passing yards allowed per game (188) in the league. If you want to pay up at wide receiver, go with Thielen over Thomas.

Cole Beasley vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $3,900

The Cowboys have a tremendous running back in Ezekiel Elliott, but their lack of talent at wide receiver has led them to average the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (172). However, they had an unexpected 40-point performance against the Jaguars last week in which Beasley hauled in nine of 11 targets for 101 yards and two touchdowns. That was especially surprising since it came on the heels of a one-catch, eight-yard game in Week 5. He’s still cheap on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel is outrageous.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

Through the first two weeks of the season, there have been 25 instances where a wide receiver has finished with at least 100 yards in a game. Not only have they been racking up yardage, but 13 wideouts have at least two touchdowns so far. There should be plenty of productive performances this week, as well, so let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players to target, and some to possibly 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 3 - Wide Receivers

Michael Thomas vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $8,900

Thomas has been dominant through the first two weeks, hauling in 28 of 30 targets for 269 yards and three touchdowns. While his 93.3% catch rate is certainly not sustainable, the amount of passes he is getting thrown his way is going to remain high. He received 121 targets in his rookie season and followed that up with 149 targets last year, which was tied for sixth-most in the NFL.

The Falcons haven’t allowed much production from wide receivers so far, but they haven’t exactly faced a ton of talent. Week 1 brought a matchup against an Eagles team missing their top wideout in Alshon Jeffery due to injury. Last week they faced the Panthers, who have some promising young talent in Devin Funchess and D.J. Moore, but they are still trying to establish themselves as reliable options. Expect Thomas to have a high floor considering his massive role in the Saints offense, especially since his seven red zone targets are the second most in the league this year.

Stefon Diggs vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $7,700

Diggs had a fairly quiet performance in Week 1 with only 43 receiving yards, but he still received six targets and scored a touchdown. He had a massive game Sunday against the Packers, catching nine of 13 targets for two touchdowns. He’s quickly developed a strong relationship with Kirk Cousins, who has already thrown for 669 yards through two games. Case Keenum did a nice job for the Vikings last year, but Cousins presents a higher-upside quarterback for Diggs and the rest of the Vikings receivers.

This stands out as a great matchup against the Bills, who are one of the worst teams in the league and have problems keeping their offense on the field. They also don’t have the strongest secondary and even went through the debacle of Vontae Davis retiring at halftime last week. There is some concern that the Vikings will be running the ball a lot during the second if this game gets out of hand, but Diggs should still get enough opportunities to provide significant value.

Tyreek Hill vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,500

The Chiefs offense looks like a video game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been amazing out of the gate, throwing 10 touchdown passes without an interception. He also has a 69.1% completion rate. He has plenty of weapons around him, but Hill might be the most dangerous. Hill has shown his big-play ability often through the first two weeks, totaling 259 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. He’s averaging 21.6 yards per reception.

The 49ers will have their hands full with the Chiefs offense. They are coming off a poor showing against the Lions where they allowed Matthew Stafford to throw for 347 yards and three touchdowns. Both Golden Tate and Kenny Golladay finished with at least 89 receiving yards in that contest. This should be another high-scoring game when you consider how poorly the Chiefs defense has played, as well, so don’t hesitate to add Hill to your lineup.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 - Wide Receivers

Will Fuller vs. New York Giants
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $5,900

Fuller missed Week 1 due to a hamstring injury, which was a big blow to the Texans offense. He returned in style for Week 2, catching eight of nine targets for 113 yards and one touchdown. His presence has made a huge difference for Deshaun Watson who has averaged 35.4 fantasy points per game in his career in games that Fuller has played compared to just 17.4 fantasy points per game without him.

The Giants have done a nice job limiting receiving yards this year, but they haven’t exactly faced two offensive juggernauts in the Jaguars and Cowboys. They have a strong cornerback duo of Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple, but they don’t have much depth past those two players. Apple is currently dealing with a groin injury and it looks like a real possibility that he won’t be able to play this week. If he can’t, the Giants are going to be hard-pressed to slow down Fuller. He’s a lock for me if Apple sits, but Fuller can still provide value even if Apple is ultimately able to play.

Nelson Agholor vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,100

Agholor only had 33 receiving yards in Week 1, but his role in the Eagles offense was clear as he hauled in eight of 10 targets. He received another 12 targets last week and was able to cash that in for eight receptions, 88 yards, and a touchdown. The Eagles were dealt another injury at receiver during that game as Mike Wallace suffered a leg injury that has since landed him on IR.

Jeffery’s status for Week 3 is still uncertain, but if he doesn’t play, Agholor is again going to get all the targets he can handle. He’ll also be catching passes from Carson Wentz for the first time this season. Although Wentz will be playing for the first time in nine months after suffering a torn ACL, the Eagles have been very calculated with his recovery and held him out until they felt comfortable that he was completely healthy. Wentz might be a little rusty, but Agholor still has plenty of upside at this price.

Marquise Goodwin vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,500

The 49ers offense was expected to take a significant step forward with Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm for an entire season. One of his most talented weapons is Goodwin, who unfortunately suffered a quad injury Week 1. Although he did return to that game, the injury forced him to miss Sunday’s contest against the Lions. While it’s still unclear if he will play in Week 3, it’s encouraging that he was a limited participant in practice Wednesday.

Goodwin has a tremendously high ceiling. His full-season pace based on the five games that Garoppolo started last year would have put him at 138 targets, 93 receptions, and 1,229 yards. If he can return for Sunday, the sky is the limit against the horrid Chiefs secondary that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers through two games.

Dede Westbrook vs. Tennesee Titans
Stadium – TIAA Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,600

The Jaguars lost Marquise Lee to injury before the season began, dealing a tough blow to their wide receiver group. Westbrook and Keelan Cole have emerged as their top-two options so far with Westbrook receiving at least five targets in both games this year. He’s averaging 14.9 yards per reception and has already scored a touchdown after reaching the end zone only one time all last year.

In an impressive win against the Patriots last week, the Jaguars threw the ball 45 times. Some of that had to do with the fact that running back Leonard Fournette sat with an injury. With Fournette likely back this week, don’t be surprised to see them run the ball more. Even if that’s the case, Westbrook is still a cheap option worth considering for your entry because the Titans have allowed the second-most yards (469) to opposing wide receivers.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 - Wide Receivers

Keenan Allen vs. Los Angeles Rams
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,300

There is no question that Allen is one of the focal points of the Chargers offense. Over the first two games of the season, he’s recorded 14 catches on 19 targets for 175 yards and a touchdown. When healthy, he’s one of the best receivers in the league. However, this is a very tough matchup against the Rams and their stingy secondary that is led by Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. No wide receiver has posted more than 28 receiving yards against them this year. Considering the cost required to add Allen to your entry, it might be best to spend your money elsewhere.

Sterling Shepard vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,500

The Giants have a lot of talented skill players on offense, which was going to limit Shepard’s involvement, to an extent. To make matters even worse, their porous offensive line has left Eli Manning with very little time to work in the pocket. They aren’t moving the ball well or scoring many points, which has led Shepard to only eight catches and 72 yards through the first two weeks. Until they show more signs of life on offense, taking a chance on one of their secondary pass-catching options like Shepard seems like an unnecessary risk to take.

 

NFL Divisional Round DFS Strategy: Advice, Picks, Sleepers for Draftkings, Fanduel Playoff Tournaments

by Chris Tierney - cstcst 0 Comments

*Chris Tierney – cstcst*

NFL Divisional Round DFS Strategy: Advice, Picks, Sleepers for Draftkings, Fanduel Playoff Tournaments

If you’re playing DFS this weekend don’t get fancy.  Who is going to win the game and how?  Answer these questions for yourself prior to constructing anything from a lineup perspective.  Making more than one lineup?  Alter who will win and how a bit and construct again, all while keeping a similar core lineup.

As Demarcus Robinson and Josh Hill demonstrated last weekend, roughly one obscure player POPS in each playoff game.  It will likely take having one of these guys on your squad to take down a large GPP.  Rostering players such as these are a true dart throw and the risk often outweighs the reward.  My dart throws this week are Vance McDonald and Corey Davis.  Both guys can make the big play and both have decent matchups.  The Jags have a great defensive backfield and are also adept at rushing the passer.  Quick hitting plays to the TE and RB are two ways to attach a defense like the Jaguars.  Vance McDonald made some big plays for the 49ers last season and has seen his role expand down the stretch after being injured for much of the season.  Corey Davis’s role continues to expand in the Titans passing game.  He had a serviceable game last weekend and faces another spotty secondary this week in a game where his offense will likely have to throw the football.

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.

 

 

Atlanta (-3.5, 41) at Philadelphia

NFL Divisional Round DFS Strategy: Advice, Picks, Sleepers for Draftkings, Fanduel Playoff Tournaments

On paper, this sure looks like a 26-13 or thereabouts Falcons win.  They are a veteran-led group with an improving defense who is accustomed to the pressures of the playoffs.  Paper doesn’t mean much come kickoff.  This will be an interesting game and it will be roaring in Philly.  There are some interesting options here but this game isn’t where the majority of my focus will be this weekend.

DFS Chalk:  Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Zack Ertz, Devonta Freeman

DFS Value: Nick Foles, Nelson Agholor, Tevin Coleman, Mohamed Sanu, Jay Ajayi

 

Tennessee at New England (-14, 48)

NFL Divisional Round DFS Strategy: Advice, Picks, Sleepers for Draftkings, Fanduel Playoff Tournaments

This game has the opportunity to shoot out.  Will the real New England defense please stand up?  Statistically, they’ve been one of the worst units in the NFL this season but they’ve bowed their backs when it mattered most, allowing them to take the Division and home-field advantage yet again.  Tennessee’s pass defense has been a sieve which shines a light upon his Greatness and his favorite Tight End.  I think New England wins here, but I think it will be more difficult than many expect.  The Titans gained some confidence last weekend and I expect their offense to have some success.  I think there are a bunch of players worth rostering in this game.  Remember, Belichick likes to neutralize one aspect of his opponent’s offense.  That has to be the Tennessee running-game right?  #gametheory – Tennessee passing attack is interesting to me in GPP situations.  The return of Hogan should lighten the targets to Cooks here.

DFS Chalk: Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Dion Lewis, Delanie Walker, Derrick Henry  

DFS Value: Corey Davis, Eric Decker, James White, Rex Burkhead, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, Rishard Matthews

 

Jacksonville at Pittsburgh (-7, 41)

NFL Divisional Round DFS Strategy: Advice, Picks, Sleepers for Draftkings, Fanduel Playoff Tournaments

Sunday should be the fun day for this weekends slate and kicks off with a very interesting matchup in Pittsburgh.  If Ryan Shazier were healthy, I’d think this was a slam dunk Steelers victory.  As we all now, he sadly is not (keep on getting well Ryan!), and the Steelers run defense has not looked the same.  They’ll copy the Bills blueprint and load the box with eight men.  Will Nathan Hackett trust Blake Bortles here?  Will they allow him to attack this Steelers defense down the field with Lee, Hurns and Westbrook?  That is likely their plan and without something like it, they’ll be cleaning out their lockers early next week.  The Steelers offense has the tough chore of the Jaguars defense.  The Jags will slow the Steelers down some here, but the Jags offense has to apply pressure to this Steelers team.  An upset here wouldn’t shock me but I think this is perhaps the most interesting matchup of the playoffs thus far and will be telling about the Steelers Championship hopes.

DFS Chalk: Big Ben, LeVeon Bell, Leonard Fournette, Antonio Brown, Juju Smith-Schuster

DFS Value: Vance McDonald, Dede Westbrook, Mercedes Lewis, Marqise Lee

 

New Orleans at Minnesota (-4.5, 46.5)

NFL Divisional Round DFS Strategy: Advice, Picks, Sleepers for Draftkings, Fanduel Playoff Tournaments

Like our Carolina | New Orleans call last week, this is the one with the best opportunity to shoot out and could be a thrilling final game to the weekend.  The Vikings are legit, but so are the Saints.  Both of these teams are formidable on both sides of the ball and both teams have offensive players who can score from anywhere on the field.  I prefer Minnesota here but as anyone who follows the NFL knows, the Saints offense is capable of moving 85 yards in two or three plays at any time.

DFS Chalk: Case Keenum, Adam Thielen, Stephon Diggs, Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara

DFS Value: Latavius Murray, Jerick McKinnon, Kyle Rudolph, Ted Ginn, Brandon Coleman, Josh Hill

 

Top GPP Stacks:

NFL Divisional Round DFS Strategy: Advice, Picks, Sleepers for Draftkings, Fanduel Playoff Tournaments

1a: Case Keenum, Jerick Mckinnon, Stephon Diggs, Michael Thomas

2a: Tom Brady, James White, Rob Gronkowski, Corey Davis

 

NFL DFS: Best Lineup Stacks for Wild Card Playoff Weekend DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Football

by Chris Tierney - cstcst 0 Comments

*Chris Tierney – cstcst*

NFL DFS: Best Lineup Stacks for Wild Card Playoff Weekend DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Football

Welcome to Wild Card weekend! The stakes ramp up on Saturday as the 2018 edition of the NFL playoffs open in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon. There are some intriguing matchups this weekend which we’ll dive into each a little bit below. 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.

 

Tennessee at Kansas City (-8.5, 44)

NFL DFS: Best Lineup Stacks for Wild Card Playoff Weekend DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Football - Lineuplab.com

Vegas Implied Final Score:

Kansas City 26
Tennessee 18

Key Injuries:

  • Demarco Murray has been ruled out meaning Derrick Henry will get the majority of touches out of the backfield for the Titans.
  • Albert Wilson was nicked up during the win over Denver but all signs point to him playing this week.

DFS Chalk:  Kareem Hunt, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Derrick Henry, Alex Smith, Chiefs Defense

DFS Value: Eric Decker, Delanie Walker, Albert Wilson, Corey Davis, Marcus Mariota

Kansas City has gotten well over the past four weeks after a four-game losing streak nearly derailed their season.  The teams they beat during this winning streak?  The Raiders, Chargers, Dolphins and Broncos.  One winning record out of the bunch.  The Titans also stumble into the playoffs having lost three of their final four.  Two of those came in Western time zones in hard fought games against Arizona and San Francisco, and they also dropped a close contest at home to the Rams before clinching this spot last week at home against Jacksonville.  This matchup looks evenly matched on paper and while chilly, the forecasted 28-degree weather is not awful for offensive players.

 

Atlanta at Los Angeles (-6.5, 48.5)

NFL DFS: Best Lineup Stacks for Wild Card Playoff Weekend DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Football - Lineuplab.com

Vegas Implied Final Score:

Los Angeles 27.5
Atlanta 22

Key Injuries:

  • There are no injuries of significance to monitor in this game.

DFS Chalk: Todd Gurley, Robert Woods, Rams Defense, Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu

DFS Value: Sammy Watkins, DeVonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Austin Hooper

The biggest DFS decision of the week is whether to fade Todd Gurley, who finished the Regular Season as the top RB in Fantasy Football.  He is very expensive across all formats this weekend and has certainly earned his price tag.  He will feature on Saturday and his success or lack thereof will likely dictate GPP formats before Sunday games even kick off.  Early projected ownership reports have a majority not paying the massive price tag.  Personally, I’ve yet to decide which way I’ll end up going but this is likely the central decision to Wildcard DFS.  Gurley would need to hit the 25-30 point mark to return GPP value, which while doable, is hardly something to bank on.  The Rams defensive weakness is against the run game and I expect the Falcons to attempt to control the ball and play keep away from the Rams in this one.  The Rams are legit and are a very dangerous offense capable of taking what the defense gives them.

 

 

Carolina at New Orleans (-7, 48.5)

NFL DFS: Best Lineup Stacks for Wild Card Playoff Weekend DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Football - Lineuplab.com

Las Vegas Implied Score:

New Orleans 27.25
Carolina 21.25

Key Injuries:

  • The Saints tight end situation is a bit murky, and while a complete potential flier, it might be worth paying attention to.

DFS Chalk: Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara, Greg Olsen, Michael Thomas

DFS Value: Cam Newton, Christian McCaffery, Ted Ginn, Mark Ingram

In our opinion, this sets up as the most interesting game on the weekend slate.  These two teams met the first weekend in December with New Orleans prevailing by 10 points.  In that game, the Saints ran for 148 yards and Brees threw for 269 yards with Kamara accounting for over 120 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 14 touches.  In that game, the Panthers defense was visibly frustrated with their inability to wrap up Kamara.  The Panthers will have one focus this week and that will be limiting and tackling the Saints lightning bolt offensive weapon.  That could open the rest of the field for Brees and his wideouts, which sure seems like a good GPP route.  Of course, the Panthers are a talented team very capable of winning and moving on here.  Cam is scrambling once again, which makes him an elite option.  While the Panthers are lacking at the WR position, Christian McCaffery and a healthy Greg Olsen make up for it.  This game is a coin flip and brings plenty of fantasy options with perhaps the best chance of ‘shooting out’.

 

 

Buffalo at Jacksonville (-9, 39.5)

NFL DFS: Best Lineup Stacks for Wild Card Playoff Weekend DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Football - Lineuplab.com

Las Vegas Implied Score:

Jacksonville 23.80
Buffalo 16.30

DFS Chalk: LeSean McCoy (if healthy), Leonard Fournette, Jags defense

DFS Value: Kellan Cole, Blake Bortles, Dede Westbrook

LeSean McCoy is likely to give it a go on his bum ankle, and without his presence, the Bills are a tremendous longshot to even threaten the Jaguars in this spot.  Many are down on the Jags after a rough finish that saw them drop two in a row to end the season.  The Jags are an interesting team heading into the postseason and they do two things well that win Championships.  They have the best talent on defense in the AFC and can run the football.  The game script here should allow Fournette and the Jags defense to shine all while awarding a home fan base that hasn’t seen a home playoff game in a decade.  On paper, the Jags sure look like a team that no one wants to host in the Divisional Round.

 

OVERALL:

NFL DFS: Best Lineup Stacks for Wild Card Playoff Weekend DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Football - Lineuplab.com

Top DFS Chalk Selections: Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville, Todd Gurley, RB, LA Rams, Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City

Top GPP / Value Selections: Christian McCaffery, RB, Carolina, Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta, Austin Hooper, TE, Atlanta, Eric Decker, WR, Tennessee

Top GPP Contrarian Stack: Cam Newton, Christian McCaffery, Greg Olsen

 

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations – Wild Card Weekend

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations – Wild Card Weekend

 

The NFL regular season is over, with your season-long fantasy leagues in the rearview mirror along with it. Luckily the fun continues in DFS with the Wild Card Weekend. While there are far fewer options to choose from for your entry, that doesn’t mean there still aren’t some great players to pick from. 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 - Wild Card Weekend

Jared Goff vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
DraftKings = $6,700
FanDuel = $8,500

Goff made major strides in his second season in the NFL, throwing for 3,804 yards and 28 touchdowns. Not only did he improve his completion percentage by over seven percent to 62.1%, but his seven interceptions in 15 games this season matched his entire total in only seven games last year. He finished off the season strong, throwing at least two touchdowns in five straight games. There are few easy defenses when you get to the playoffs, but the Falcons have trouble creating turnovers as their eight interceptions during the regular season were tied for the third-fewest in the league. It’s tough to count on such a young quarterback making his first playoff appearance, but it’s hard not to rely on Goff considering his excellent regular season.

Alex Smith vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $6,300
FanDuel = $7,800

While he had a bit of an up and down season, Smith finished with a career-high 26 touchdown passes. He continued to do an excellent job limiting turnovers, throwing only five interceptions. He also threw for at least 4,000 passing yards for the first time in his career, finishing with 4,042 despite sitting out Week 17. The Titans were prone to allowing scores through the air this season, finishing tied for the fifth-most passing touchdowns allowed (27) in the league. That mark was also the most of any team that made the playoffs. While Smith’s upside may not be as high as Goff’s, he might be one of the safer bets to reach value this week.

Blake Bortles vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – EverBank Field
DraftKings = $6,000
FanDuel = $7,600

That’s right, Blake Bortles lead his team to the playoffs. Bortles saw both his passing yards and touchdown passes decline this season, but he also attempted 102 fewer passes than he did last year. It made a big difference in the turnover department, throwing a career-low 13 interceptions. He played poorly Week 17 against the Titans but had thrown at least two touchdown passes in four straight games entering that contest. He’s been excellent at home this season, throwing 15 touchdowns and only five interceptions at EverBank Field compared to only six touchdowns and eight interceptions on the road. Viable cheap options are hard to come by in the playoffs, but Bortles can save you a few dollars while still having upside.

**RUNNING BACKS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations - Wild Card Weekend

Leonard Fournette vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – EverBank Field
DraftKings = $7,400
FanDuel = $8,100

Fournette received a lot of hype heading into this season and did not disappoint, rushing for 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns in only 13 games. He showed he can be a weapon in the passing game as well, hauling in 36 of 48 targets for 302 yards. The Bills have struggled to defend the run this season, allowing the fourth-most rushing yards per game (124.6) and the most rushing touchdowns (22) in the league. At this reasonable price, Fournette is almost a must-start against the Bills.

Devonta Freeman vs. Los Angeles Rams
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
DraftKings = $6,300
FanDuel = $7,000

Freeman did not finish the regular season on a high note, rushing for 59 yards on 22 carries over the final two weeks combined. He salvaged Week 17 by posting nine receptions for 85 yards and one touchdown against the Carolina Panthers, marking the second time in the last three weeks that he had at least 69 receiving yards. He has split backfield duties with Tevin Coleman this year, limiting his value to an extent. The Rams did finish the regular season tied for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns allowed (15) in the league, so Freeman is an option to consider in a potentially high-scoring game.

Derrick Henry vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $6,000
FanDuel = $6,500

DeMarco Murray (knee) sat out Week 17, leaving Henry as the featured running back. While he only rushed for 51 yards on 28 carries, the volume was the key. He turned his one reception into 66 yards and a touchdown, making for an excellent final line. The Chiefs allowed the eighth-most rushing yards per game (118.1) and were tied for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns allowed (15) in the league, leaving Henry with great upside at this price. Murray has already been ruled out for this game, making Henry one of the best value plays this week.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations - Wild Card Weekend

Michael Thomas vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
DraftKings = $7,800
FanDuel = $8,300

Thomas had an excellent season for the Saints, finishing in the top-six in the league in targets (149), receptions (104) and receiving yards (1,245). He played well in his previous two games against the Panthers this year, posting at least 70 receiving yards and one touchdown in both contests. To no surprise, he received at least eight targets in both games. Based on the volume he receives on a weekly basis, Thomas is an excellent option for your entry.

Tyreek Hill vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $6,800
FanDuel = $7,700

Hill’s big play ability is unquestioned, finishing the season tied for the tenth-highest yards per reception average (15.8). He received 105 targets overall, which was second most on the team to Travis Kelce (123). The next closest wide receiver was Albert Wilson with 63 targets, so Hill is clearly Smith’s favorite weapon amongst wideouts. With his big-play ability and heavy volume, Hill has the potential to put up a monster game any given week. The price is right to roll with him based on the Titans struggles to defend the pass.

Mohamed Sanu vs. Los Angeles Rams
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
DraftKings = $5,600
FanDuel = $5,800

While Julio Jones gets all the hype in Atlanta, Sanu had 67 receptions on 96 targets this season. He also finished with five receiving touchdowns, which were two more than Jones had. The amount of targets Sanu gets gives a boost to his value as he averaged at least 10.5 yards per reception for the fourth straight season. The Rams scored the most points in the NFL this year, so the Falcons may have to let it fly to keep up. Sanu’s reasonable price makes him in an intriguing option in the first round of the playoffs.

Eric Decker vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $3,500
FanDuel = $4,800

The Titans passing attack has been terrible this season but Decker gets his opportunities to produce, receiving at least five targets in each of the final five games of the regular season. The problem is the bad Titans offense doesn’t give many chances to score, hauling in only one touchdown pass this year. This week presents an interesting opportunity for Decker as the Chiefs tied for the fourth-most net passing yards allowed per game (247) in the league. There aren’t a lot of really cheap options to choose from, but Decker might be worth a look in tournament play.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations - Wild Card Weekend

Travis Kelce vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $7,100
FanDuel = $7,700

Kelce is the best option on the slate at tight end and it’s not even close. He continues to get tremendous volume, seeing at least seven targets in seven of his last eight games. While volume has been there throughout his time with the Chiefs, he cashed it in this season for a career-high eight touchdowns. The Titans had trouble defending tight ends this year, averaging the tenth-most yards to the position (853). If you can work him into your budget, he’s a safe option for production.

Charles Clay vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – EverBank Field
DraftKings = $4,000
FanDuel = $5,500

No one is going to confuse Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor as being an elite passing quarterback. He didn’t throw for at least 300 yards in any game this season and posted eight games with less than 200 passing yards. When he does throw the ball, Clay is one of his favorite options. Clay has received at least eight targets in each of the last three games, cashing that in for 15 receptions and 169 receiving yards. Viable cheap options at tight end aren’t easy to come by with so few games this week, but Clay is an option if you can’t pay up for Kelce.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations - Wild Card Weekend

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – EverBank Field
DraftKings = $4,400
FanDuel = $5,600

The Jaguars defense had an elite fantasy season, finishing in the top five in sacks, interceptions, fumble recoveries and points allowed. To top it all off, they scored eight touchdowns. They get a great matchup this week against a Bills team that finished with the 11th-fewest points scored and tied for the seventh-most sacks allowed during the regular season. Pay up for the Jaguars in the Wild Card Round.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $3,400
FanDuel = $4,800

Speaking of teams with struggling quarterbacks, Marcus Mariota took a major step backward in 2017. After throwing 26 touchdown passes and only nine interceptions last year, Mariota threw 13 touchdowns compared to 15 interceptions this season. Mariota really struggled on the road, throwing only five touchdown passes compared to 11 interceptions. If you want to save a little money at defense, the Chiefs are also primed to provide value.

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Wild Card Round

by Cesar Becerra 0 Comments

*Cesar Becerra*

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Wild Card Round

We’ve made it through another NFL season! I hope you had as much fun as I’ve had during the NFL. But don’t put the brakes on the train quite yet! We still got a few more weeks of NFL DFS, and it doesn’t get any juicier than this Wild Card Week. 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.

 

Pricing is INCREDIBLY tight this week with very little value across the board and plenty of places we’d want to spend money. Barring any last minute breaking news, there isn’t many core value plays to help open up your lineup like we saw in week 17. Let’s get into our breakdown.

** Demarco Murray has been ruled out ** Bump up Derrick Henry for touch projections.

Vegas

We have four games on the slate, and they are Falcons at Rams (48), Saints at Panthers (47.5), Titans at Chiefs (44.5), and Bills at Jaguars (39.5). ATL/LA and CAR/NO both have respectable game totals that you would like to target, while the BUF/JAX game leaves a lot to be desired with a total below 40 points.

The Rams and Saints lead the way with implied team totals of 27.5. The Chiefs (26.5) and Jags (24) aren’t far behind. It’s interesting how none of these games have a spread less than a touchdown. The Rams and Falcons have the closest spread at 5.5, but that line started at 5, which indicates betters are putting more money on the Rams and the line could push the Rams to up over a touchdown favorite. Per usual, check back with Vegas Insiders on Sunday morning for the latest Vegas data.

Quarterbacks

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Wild Card Round

Cam Newton ($6,500) – Cam is the safest play for cash games on this short four-game slate. Cam has a rushed the ball 50 times over his last four games and had accumulated 239 yards (4.8 YPC) with a touchdown. What’s more encouraging is the red zone opportunity Cam is getting rushing the ball. Cam has 12 red zone rushing attempts over these same four games, which shows that if the Panthers get down to the goal line, there’s a good chance Cam is going to score. This matchup is far from ideal as the Saints’ corners are far more talented than the Panthers receivers. But If Cam can get give you 11 DK points through the ground and another 220 and a touchdown through the air you’ll be satisfied he didn’t kill you like he killed many in Week 17.

Drew Brees ($6,400) – By this point in the season, it’s been well documented that Brees doesn’t have the same ceiling as he’s had in the past. But considering he’s implied to score a slate-high 27.5 points and is a home favorite, I don’t mind using Brees as a hedge to the Saints running backs. The Panthers ranked 4th in the league to opposing running backs and 22nd in aFPA to opposing QB (32nd aFPA vs. WR). This screams pass funnel, and I like a Brees pivot off the two-headed monster in the backfield for New Orleans.

Marcus Mariota ($5,500) – Mariota is my value play worth considering. The Chiefs are an 8.5 point favorite (tied for slate high) so that could force the Titans to throw more than they would like. Murray has already been ruled out, so I will be interested to see if they work Henry and Mariota out of the Wild Cat formation, which could increase Mariota’s rushes. The Chiefs ranked 23rd in aFPA to opposing Quarterbacks, so if Mariota is given the opportunity, he should be able to reach his value at $5.5K.

QB Rankings:

Newton

Brees

Goff

Ryan

Mariota

Smith

Bortles

Taylor

 Running Back:

 Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Wild Card Round

Todd Gurley ($9,700) – Gurley is the most expensive player on the slate. While the matchup seems far from ideal with the Falcons ranking 1st in aFPA to opposing running backs, Gurley is in a prime spot to reach value based on his ability to catch balls out of the backfield. The Falcons allowed the most receptions (107) and fifth most receiving yards (802) to running backs this season. Gurley finished in the top 5 of both categories and should eclipse 150 total yards. Gurley also benefits from being a home favorite with a team projected to score the most amount of points on the slate. Gurley might be too expensive for some in cash games given the excess of running back options. But he’s a prime candidate to be the highest scoring player on the slate with 68.5 DK points in his last two games.

Leonard Fournette ($7,400) – Fournette is the matchup play of the week. He’s a home favorite going up against the Bills defense that ranked dead last in aFPA to running backs during the regular season. Fournette also comes in as the fifth highest-priced running back and is the most affordable of the stud running backs. Fournette has 14 receptions in his past four games, but only has 129 yards (9.2 YPC). He doesn’t have the reception upside as Gurley, Kamara, McCoy, or Hunt but that’s why he’s priced lower.

Derrick Henry ($6,000) – With DeMarco Murray out, Henry is in line for another heavy workload day considering the Titans like to run their offense with a run-first mentality. Henry touched the ball 29 times for 117 yards and one score. Those numbers look great on the box score, but when you factor in that Henry only got two targets last week, it could be a little deceiving. If you erase the one catch Henry had for a 66-yard touchdown; you’re looking at a running back that had 5.1 DK points on 28 touches. This is extremely worrisome when you also factor in that the Titans are 8 point underdogs on the road and only implied to score 18 points. Henry might be the best point per dollar play in terms of touches, but the matchup is far from ideal.

RB Rankings:

High Tier

Gurley

Hunt

Fournette

Kamara

McCoy

Mid-Range

Henry

McCaffrey

Ingram

Freeman

Value:

Coleman

Tolbert * If McCoy is out *

Wide Receiver

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Wild Card Round

Michael Thomas ($7,800) – Thomas has 55 targets in the past six games, averaging just over 9 targets per game. In that same span, Thomas has 39 catches (70% catch rate) for 492 yards (82 yards/game) and 3 touchdowns. Thomas is going up against the Panthers who ranked 32nd in aFPA to opposing wide receivers. See Adam Levitan’s tweet below for the most recent production for WR’s 1 against the Panthers secondary. Thomas is the safest high priced option, but will likely need to score to reach value.

Robert Woods ($6,600) – Since I’m likely going to play Thomas in my lineups, I’m probably going to avoid the other chalk wide receiver Tyreek Hill ($6,800). And if I’m staying in that price range I like pivoting to Woods. Since returning from a shoulder injury that kept him out for 3 weeks, Woods has regained his spot as the primary receiver in the Rams offense. In his two games back, Woods has received 15 targets and has turned that into 9 catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. While the production isn’t great, with two full weeks to prepare for this game, expect Sean McVay to work Woods back into the passing game plan. I love getting exposure to Woods mainly because I’m not rostering Goff but I will be rostering Gurley and Woods to get all the exposure of the Rams passing game.

Eric Decker ($3,500)/Corey Davis ($3,600) – Value is really tough to come by on this slate, and you’ll likely need to find a receiver close to min salary to be happy with your lineup. I prefer Decker over Davis and Albert Wilson ($3,300). Let the others flock to Wilson and inflate his ownership because of his 19 targets in the past two games. However, it’s worth noting that last week he played with the Chiefs B-Team, so he was given all the targets (11). I like Decker over Davis because Davis hasn’t been the same since returning from injury. In the past four games, Decker is out targeting Davis 32 to 26 while playing the same amount of snaps (76%). The Chiefs ranked 26th in aFPA to opposing wide receivers, and Decker leads the wide receivers in targets in their last four games.

WR Rankings:

High

Thomas

Julio

Woods

Hill

Funches

Mid-Range

Sanu

Ginn

Matthews

Kupp

Value

Decker

Davis

Tight End

 Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Wild Card Round

It’s really difficult to find the salary to pay for Travis Kelce ($7,100). You have to decide if you want Kelce or a top-tier wide receiver but unfortunately, that forces you to play value wide receivers, and I see more value at the tight end position than a receiver. Because we’re so limited in value, this could be a week that we see two tight ends in a lot of lineups.

Delanie Walker ($4,700) – Walker is a nice mid-range tight end that could find his way in your lineups. He has 29 targets in his past four games and has turned that into 16 catches for 131 yards and one touchdown. This week he goes up against the Chiefs who rank 13th in aFPA. Walker would need to find the end zone to make value, but he has a respectable floor compared to the other options.

Austin Hooper ($2,900) – Hooper will be a popular value option at tight end. He doesn’t do anything that wow’s the box score (13 targets in last four games). But he’s a value play below $3K that will see 2-6 targets and is going up against the Rams who ranked 20th in aFPA to tight ends. It’s nothing special, but at least you won’t be the only one rostering him this week.

Marcedes Lewis ($2,500) – Again like I said, value is scarce, so I’m giving you an extra tight end I’m considering. Lewis is not a target monster by any means (8 in last four games). But I’m encouraged by his team market share of receiving touchdowns (23.8%), which is second among all tight ends behind Kelce. In the red zone, Lewis has a 40% touchdown rate per target (4 TDs to 10 targets). At 2.5K all he needs is to catch a touchdown. It’s a shot in the dark, but that’s how you have to build lineups this week.

TE Rankings:

Kelce

Walker

Olsen

Clay

Lewis

Hooper

Defense

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Wild Card Round

Los Angeles Rams ($2,700) – The Rams are the best defense for value playing at home against a Falcons team that is only implied to score 21 points. They are cheap enough to take a risk on and have the second highest sack percentage (9%) on the slate behind the Jags (11%).

DST Rankings:

Jags

Rams

Chiefs

Bills

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Week 16

by Cesar Becerra 0 Comments

*Cesar Becerra*

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Week 16

We’re down to the final two weeks of the regular season, that means that we’ll have to monitor team reporters much closer than we usually would have to on Sunday morning. We could see instances where teams that have already clinched playoff berths/bye rest regulars. And we can also see a situation like the Packers where Aaron Rodgers was placed on IR after Green Bay was eliminated from postseason contention.

This applies more next week (week 17) than this week. But we could see a case where the Eagles get a little conservative if they clinch a first-round bye (PHI clinch a first-round bye with Vikings loss on Saturday). Let’s dive right in.

With no more Thursday Night or Sunday Night games, we are left with two Saturday games and two Monday Night games this week, but none of those games are on the Draftkings main slate. The Draftkings main slate features a 12-game slate and is Sunday only games.

Vegas

The Draftkings main slate has only one game with a game total over 50. The Falcons visiting the Saints line is currently sitting with a 52.5 over/under. The next games with the highest game totals are the Rams at Titans (48), Seahawks at Cowboys (47), Bills at Patriots (47), and Panthers at Bucs (46.5). Outside of those five games, no other game has a total over 45 points.

Regarding implied team totals, they are headlined by several of the teams I mentioned above. The Pats (29.75) and Saints (29) lead the way with over a four-touchdown implied total, but the Panthers (28.25), Rams (27.25), and Chiefs (27) are not that far behind. Some other teams with decent team totals are the Cowboys (26), Chargers (24.5), Lions (24). The Falcons (23.5) and Jags (23) round out the top ten of teams with the highest implied total.

In terms of game script, we have three teams that are double-digit favorites. The Pats are 12.5 points favorites at home against the Bills. The Chiefs are 10.5 point home favorites against the Dolphins. And lastly, the Panthers are 10 points favorites over the Bucs (this line is very interesting because the line initially opened at Panthers (-4) and has since moved 6 points). Outside of those huge favorites, the Chargers (-6.5), Bears (-6.5), and Rams (-6.5) all opened up as more than a touchdown favorite, but have since dipped below.

All this Vegas Data was taken as of Wednesday night, so I strongly suggest checking back on Vegas Insiders on Sunday morning.

Quarterbacks

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Week 16

Quarterback pricing is relatively even this week. The top 11 quarterbacks are all priced within $1,000 of each other with Russell Wilson ($7,000) leading the way and Dak Prescott ($6,000) rounding out the lower 6k range.

Drew Brees ($6,500) – It’s tough to choose between the top 5 priced quarterbacks, they are all in pretty good spots. I think due to recency bias Cam will be the most popular among that tier. I’m hedging from the slightly higher owned Cam for a cheaper Drew Brees. I like Brees for the $300 savings from Newton and the fact that his game has a higher game total (52.5 vs. 46.5) as well as a closer spread (-5.5 vs. -10). The Falcons and Saints games have traditionally turned into a shootout over the last three seasons, and Brees has crushed each time. Brees is a perfect 3 for 3 at exceeding his salary at home against the Falcons in their last 3 meetings at the Superdome. I know that the Saints have transitioned to a running team with their 2-headed monster, but I like taking my chances with Brees against Atlanta who ranks 20th against QB in aFPA. I get it that Cam has the safer floor, but when Brees is in the right matchup, he has the highest ceiling of any QB in the league.

Dak Prescott ($6,000) – There’s no mistake about it, Prescott has been awful without Zeke. But now the Cowboys finally get Zeke back after a six-game suspension, so that brings Prescott and the Cowboys offense back into play. Prescott is a home favorite facing a Seahawks defense that ranks 15th in aFPA to opposing QBs. The matchup is far from ideal, but if you’re looking to take a flyer on a quarterback with nice rushing upside, Prescott is your guy. I don’t like him as much as the next guy I mention, but if you’re looking at this salary range, I like his rushing upside.

Kirk Cousins ($5,400) – Yes, this is a bad matchup on paper against the Denver Broncos. But the Broncos aren’t the same feared defense that they were in the past. The Broncos rank in the bottom 5 in the league in passing touchdowns allowed (26) on the season. They still rank atop the league in passing yardage allowed (189) but are at the bottom 6 in the league in interceptions forced (8). Teams are throwing the least against the Broncos (418 attempts), yet 6 of the last 7 QBs to face the Broncos have met salary expectations. The lone exception is Josh McCown who was injured early in the game. I’m not saying you should start Cousins with 100% confidence, but Cousins is at his lowest price of the season and should air it out at least 30 times. Cousins has had some big games at home this season, so I think I’ll take a flyer on him for tournaments.

Cash:

C. Newton, R. Wilson, D. Brees, A. Smith, T. Brady

GPP:

(all of above) K. Cousins, D. Prescott, B. Bortles, M. Stafford

Running backs

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Week 16

Kareem Hunt ($8,400) – Everyone will pay up for Gurley after his 48 point eruption game. Gurley is always in play, so I won’t write him up for the rest of the season.  But a pivot off Gurley to save a few hundred bucks is Hunt. Hunt is only a $600 discount, so it’s nothing too crazy, but Hunt is slowly starting to look like how he started off the season. In the last two weeks under a new play caller, Hunt has absolutely smashed. Hunt in his last two games, Hunt has 24 and 25 carries in each game. In those two games, Hunt has 12 targets and 10 receptions totaling 73 yards. Overall he’s scored 3 touchdowns in his last two games, and now he faces the Dolphins who rank 29th in aFPA to opposing running backs. Hunt is a huge home favorite (-10.5) and in another nice spot this week.

Devonta Freeman ($6,500) – Barring any news about Tevin Coleman, Freeman is shaping up to be the highest owned running back on the slate. Freeman is coming off of his best game of the season where he touched the ball 27 times and totaled 194 yards with one rushing touchdown. Freeman’s workload is expected to remain the same, and he’s facing the Saints in which he has killed throughout his career. The Falcons are road underdogs, but this game should stay close, and Freeman could see another 5 targets in a game that has the highest potential to shoot out.

James White ($4,100) – Searching for value, we might have to land on the headache of the Patriots backfield. It’s always a mystery with what Bill Belichick will do with his trio of running backs, but this week we get some clarity. Rex Burkhead will be inactive, and Mike Gillislee ($3,900) is expected to be active for the first time in 5 weeks and should see all the goal-line work. That leaves Dion Lewis ($6,000) and James White ($4,100) in store to get the work in before the Pats reach the 5-yard line. White has seen a fair share of snaps with 45% over the last two games and has also received the most targets in the past four games (15). White figures to see an improved role out of the backfield and will continue to get targets. I like taking a flyer on him at his $4,100 price tag over Lewis.

Cash:

T. Gurley, K. Hunt, D. Freeman, M. Gordon, G. Bernard, A. Kamara, C. McCaffrey.

GPP:

(all of above), E. Elliott, L. McCoy, L. Fournette, P. Barber, J. White

Wide Receiver

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Week 16

A.J. Green ($6,700) – Michael Thomas ($7,600) is likely the highest owned receiver and for a good reason. A.J. Green is a nice pivot off the high priced Thomas. Once again, Green finds himself below 7k, but this time he’s a much better matchup than last week. Green faces the Lions defense that ranks 24th in aFPA to opposing wide receivers. Erasing last week’s tough matchup with Xavier Rhodes, Green is still seeing close to double-digit targets on average and is seeing 30% of the team’s targets. Green has had a somewhat disappointing season so far, but he always has the potential to go off for 20+ points. Green should come in at single-digit ownership and would be a nice pivot off the heavily owned Thomas.

Larry Fitzgerald ($6,800) – Fitz has 10 targets in 2 of the last 3 games for the Cardinals. This week Fitz goes up against the Giants secondary that is very depleted. The Giants rank 31st in aFPA to wide receivers and the Cards are home favorites. Fitz is a bit discouraging considering that Drew Stanton will be under center, but Fitz will continue to see the majority of the targets from the receiving corp.

Josh Doctson ($3,500) – A value GPP shot in the dark is Josh Doctson. I mentioned in the quarterback section that the Broncos rank in the bottom 5 in the league at allowing passing touchdowns. If you are going to take a shot with Cousins, you should consider stacking him with Doctson. Doctson may not be the possession receiver that Jamison Crowder ($5,000) is, but Doctson leads the team with 33% touchdown percent in the red zone. Doctson doesn’t have a safe floor but has a pretty decent ceiling. If he could find the end zone and catch 3-4 balls, he’ll smash value.

Cash:

M. Thomas, K. Allen, J. Jones, A. Green, L. Fitz, J. Crowder, C. Kupp, R. Matthews, D. Thomas, K. Cole, D. Westbrook,

Gpp:

(All of above), T. Hill, J. Landry, D. Funches, M. Evans, D. Bryant, M. Jones, M. Goodwin, J. Gordon, P. Richardson,

Tight End

Eric Ebron ($3,300) – Ebron has been pretty good since the beginning of November. In his last 7 games, Ebron has 40 targets (5.7/gm) and has 32 catches. That’s good enough for an 80% catch rate. During that span, Ebron also has a pair of touchdowns. This week Ebron is going up against the Bengals who rank 29th in aFPA. In a slate that has very little value, I like Ebron to save some salary.

Antonio Gates ($2,500) – Hunter Henry was placed on IR earlier this week, which signals more opportunity for old man Gates. Gates is the bare minimum and provides salary relief to the roster in studs at other positions. Last week Gates caught his lone red zone target for a 10-yard touchdown. At $2,500 you don’t need much to get four times salary.

Cash:

T. Kelce, E. Ebron, A. Gates, G. Olsen, T. Kroft

GPP:

(All of above), R. Gronkowski, G. Celek

Defense

Draftkings NFL Cash & GPP Lineup Daily Fantasy Football Week 16

Carolina Panthers ($3,100) – The Panthers have been on a tear their last two games creating turnovers. In the previous two games against the Packers and Vikings, they have accumulated 9 sacks, 2 fumbles, and 5 interceptions. This week they are huge 10 point favorites at home against the Bucs who are allowing defenses to outscore their implied points projection every time in the past 3 weeks.

Cash:

Panthers, Jacksonville, New England, Kansas City,

Gpp:

(all of above) Arizona, Washington

 

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 16

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 16

With only two weeks left in the regular season, that also means only two weeks left with a full slate of options in DFS. Let’s take full advantage this week and try to bring home the big bucks. Put your favorite daily fantasy football recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.

**QUARTERBACKS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 16

Russell Wilson vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
DraftKings = $7,000
FanDuel = $9,000

The only team that seems to be able to slow down Wilson lately is the Los Angeles Rams. In two games against them, he’s only averaged 170 passing yards and one passing touchdown. In his last eight games against other teams, he’s averaging 288 passing yards and 2.6 passing touchdowns. He’ll get to face the Cowboys in Week 16, a team tied for the third-most touchdown passes allowed (26) in the league. With a more favorable opponent on tap, look for Wilson to rebound with a big performance.

Blake Bortles vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
DraftKings = $6,500
FanDuel = $7,600

If you play in season-long fantasy leagues, how crazy is it that Bortles might be one of the quarterbacks you are most confident in starting down the stretch? He’s been rolling of late, throwing for at least 268 yards and two touchdowns in three straight games. All three were homes games, but he’s not facing one of the tougher secondaries in the league on the road in San Francisco on Sunday. While Bortles has been turnover prone in his career, the 49ers have the third-fewest interceptions (seven) in the league this year. If you don’t want to pay up for Wilson, Bortles is someone to consider.

Drew Stanton vs. New York Giants
Stadium – University of Phoenix Stadium
DraftKings = $4,500
FanDuel = $6,000

Stanton started two games earlier this season before suffering a knee injury and played fairly well, throwing for at least 201 yards and one touchdown in both games. He’ll return to the starting lineup Week 16 with Blaine Gabbert being benched due to his struggles. Normally you wouldn’t want to look at Stanton, but he gets the Giants this week. The Giants defense is riddled with injuries, especially in the secondary. While Stanton is certainly not as talented, backup quarterback turned starter Nick Foles threw for four touchdowns against the Giants last week. He will only cost you the minimum, so he might be worth the risk in tournament play.

**RUNNING BACKS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 16

Le’Veon Bell vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $9,900
FanDuel = $9,300

Bell likely has the highest floor of any running back in DFS based on his role in both the rushing and passing games. He put that on full display Week 15 against the Patriots, cashing in 24 rushing attempts and six targets for 165 total yards and one touchdown. He has at least 100 total yards in six straight games, scoring five touchdowns over that stretch. With Antonio Brown (calf) out for Week 16, he should have an even bigger role in the offense. Don’t overthink this one, Bell is an elite option again this week.

Dion Lewis vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $6,000
FanDuel = $6,700

Lewis continues to see a steady role in the Patriots rushing attack, recording at least 10 carries in eight of his last nine games. He had a solid performance against these same Bills in Week 13, rushing 15 times for 92 yards. The Patriots will likely be without Rex Burkhead (knee) this week, who rushed for two touchdowns in that game. While James White will probably take on some added work with Burkhead out, it’s reasonable to think Lewis might not lose as many carries near the goal line like he has to Burkhead. The price is right to consider Lewis again this week.

C.J. Anderson vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
DraftKings = $5,500
FanDuel = $6,200

Anderson had his best game of the season last week, rushing 30 times for 158 yards. The volume was key as he has rushed for at least 81 yards in four of the five games that he received at least 20 carries in this season. The Redskins are not good against the run as they have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game (123.4) in the NFL this season. It’s been a lost year for the Broncos, but Anderson has enough promise to warrant adding to your entry for Week 16.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 16

Michael Thomas vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
DraftKings = $7,600
FanDuel = $8,200

Thomas was expected to have an even larger role in the Saints offense this year with Brandin Cooks being traded to the Patriots and he has delivered, receiving the fifth-most targets (136) in the league. Although he only has five touchdowns, three of them have come in the last three games. His 1,085 receiving yards are sixth-most among all receivers, so he has tremendous upside even in weeks where he’s not scoring touchdowns. He hauled in 10 of 14 targets for 117 yards and one touchdown in Week 14 against these same Falcons on the road, so expect another big game at home this week.

DeAndre Hopkins vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $8,400
FanDuel = $8,100

It’s amazing to think about the numbers Hopkins has been able to put up with all the injuries the Texans have suffered at quarterback. He’s the focal point of their offense, receiving at least 13 targets in three straight games. Although he only had four catches Week 15, he made the most of them by posting 80 yards and one touchdown. It doesn’t matter who will be throwing him passes Sunday, Hopkins still has great upside.

JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $6,400
FanDuel = $7,000

The Steelers lost Antonio Brown (calf) during Week 15, leaving Smith-Schuster to finish with six receptions for 114 yards. With Brown already ruled out for Week 16, Smith-Schuster will likely occupy a bigger role in Pittsburgh’s passing attack. The Texans allow the sixth-most net passing yards per game (248) and are tied for the second-most passing touchdowns allowed (27) in the league, which could mean excellent numbers from Smith-Schuster this week.

Keelan Cole vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
DraftKings = $4,700
FanDuel = $5,300

Cole destroyed the Texans last week, posting 186 receiving yards and one touchdown. Marqise Lee (ankle) missed the game, opening up Cole to receive a season-high nine targets. Lee might not be able to return this week, which would likely mean more targets for Cole again. The 49ers aren’t great at defending the pass as they have allowed the fourth-most passing touchdowns (25) in the league. Cole definitely gets a boost in value if Lee doesn’t play, but he should still be considered even if Lee returns based on this price.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 16

Rob Gronkowski vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $7,400
FanDuel = $8,400

There are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and Gronk crushing the Bills. He destroyed them again in Week 13, recording nine catches for 147 yards. In 12 career games against the Bills, he has 960 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. With 18 receptions and 325 receiving yards over his last two games, don’t hesitate to pay up for him based on this juicy matchup.

Antonio Gates vs. New York Jets
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $2,500
FanDuel = $4,500

The Chargers lost a big weapon in their offense this week as Hunter Henry (abdomen) was placed on injured reserve. Henry had received at least five targets in four straight games entering Week 15, posting two touchdowns over that stretch. With Henry now out, Gates has an opportunity to finish the season on a high note. He has developed a great relationship with quarterback Philip Rivers over the years, so he has an added advantage over many backups in similar situations. The Jets have allowed eight touchdowns to tight ends this season, leaving Gates with potential at this cheap price.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 16

Los Angeles Chargers vs. New York Jets
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $3,700
FanDuel = $4,900

The Jets weren’t exactly a juggernaut on offense, to begin with, but have taken a step backward with the loss of starting quarterback Josh McCown (hand). Bryce Petty was terrible last week against the Saints, completing only 19-of-39 passes for 179 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He’s already been named the starter again for Week 16, which is great news for the Chargers defense. The Chargers have 11 interceptions in their last six games, so things could get ugly for Petty and the Jets in a hurry.

Detroit Lions vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
DraftKings = $2,900
FanDuel = $4,600

The Lions defense has been excellent of late, recording five sacks, five interceptions, and three fumble recoveries in their last two games. They get to face a Bengals team playing out the string in Week 16 that has lost by a combined score of 67-14 over their last two games. It was so bad in Week 15 that the Bengals benched Andy Dalton for A.J. McCarron. With little promise on offense for the Bengals, look for the Lions to provide plenty of value for your entry.