Rounding out our position breakdowns for Week 3 brings us to tight ends and defenses/special teams. With some heavily lopsided games on the docket, we could see several defenses put up gaudy numbers.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 – TE/DEF/ST
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
Zach Ertz and George Kittle are both playing in primetime games during Week 10, taking two of the top tight ends off the board in DFS. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players, and defenses/special teams, to target or avoid as you create your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
CASH CONTEST OPTIONS
Travis Kelce vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,000
The Chiefs scored 37 points against the Browns in Week 9, marking their fifth straight game with at least 30 points. To no surprise, Kelce again played an integral role in their success, catching seven of nine targets for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Kelce had gone a stretch of three consecutive games without a score, but he’s recorded three touchdowns across the last two weeks.
Even though the Chiefs have a ton of talent on offense, Kelce leads the team with 79 targets. His 14 red zone targets are also the most on the team, leaving him with plenty of opportunities to rack up fantasy points. The Cardinals defense has been tough against the pass, but that shouldn’t scare you away from playing Kelce. He’s the clear top option at tight end, so don’t hesitate to pay up for him in cash games.
O.J. Howard vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,300
The Bucs have had an unsettled quarterback situation this season, but whether Ryan Fitzpatrick of Jameis Winston has started, Howard has still had plenty of success. The Bucs suffered yet another loss in Week 9 against the Panthers, but they managed to score 28 points. Howard was a big part of their offensive production, hauling in four of six targets for 53 yards and two touchdowns. After a slow start in terms of touchdowns, Howard now has four scores across his last four contests.
Howard has certainly put to rest any concerns about fellow tight end Cameron Brate limiting his production. Outside of a Week 4 matchup against the Bears when Howard had to leave early due to an injury, Howard has been on the field for a higher percentage of snaps than Brate in every week. With the Bucs porous defense often putting their offense in situations where they have to throw a lot to keep up, Howard should remain a great option against the Redskins.
New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $3,400
One of the ugliest games in Week 9 had to be the bout between the Jets and Dolphins. Scoring was hard to come by on both sides, which was particularly impressive for the Jets defense considering their offense couldn’t move the ball at all, often putting them in a hole field position wise. They failed to force a turnover, but they did record four sacks, marking the fourth time they’ve posted at least four sacks in a game this season.
Week 10 brings the dream matchup against the Bills. If you’re looking for a good cash option in just about any week, check to see who is playing the Bills. The Bills aren’t sure who is going to start at quarterback in this game, but regardless of who it is, none of their options are all that appealing. They have very little talent on offense, anyway, setting up the Jets defense for possibly their best performance of the season. If Nathan Peterman is ultimately the one who draws the start, the sky is the limit for the Jets.
GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS
David Njoku vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,200
After a disastrous Week 8 where he didn’t receive a single target against the Steelers, Njoku was due for a bounce-back performance. It wasn’t an eye-popping outing, but Njoku caught four of five targets for 53 yards in Week 9. That’s much more in line with his season averages since he had received at least six targets in all but one game before Week 8.
The Browns allowed 37 points to the Chiefs on Sunday, which forced them to throw a lot in an attempt to come back. The Falcons aren’t nearly as explosive as the Chiefs are, but they’ve scored at least 31 points in a game five times this year. The Browns should be forced to pass plenty in this contest, as well, potentially setting up Njoku for a productive day considering the Falcons have allowed 42 receptions for 434 yards and three touchdowns to opposing tight ends.
Jordan Reed vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,400
The decision to move on from Kirk Cousins and bring in Alex Smith at quarterback hasn’t worked out very well in terms of passing production for the Redskins. Cousins had 27 touchdowns and averaged 255.8 passing yards per game last year, but Smith only has nine touchdowns through eight games and is averaging 233.4 passing yards per contest. Of course the year Reed is finally healthy, the Redskins bring in a less explosive passer.
Reed is currently dealing with a neck injury, but everything so far points to him playing against the Bucs. Although he hasn’t recorded more than 43 receiving yards in any of his last five games, Reed could be a sneaky option to consider for your entry. The Bucs defense has been terrible, in general, but they’ve really been hammered by opposing tight ends, allowing 618 yards and five touchdowns to the position.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $3,500
The Chargers had to travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks in Week 9, but their defense played well by holding them to 17 points. That marked the fourth straight game in which the Chargers have held their opponents to under 20 points. They also sacked Russell Wilson five times and have a total of 14 sacks during their recent run of success.
It’s hard to pass up on the Jets against the Bills, but if you decide to, the Chargers might be the next best option to consider. The Raiders offense hasn’t been great for the majority of the season and is even worse now after the traded Amari Cooper to the Cowboys and lost Marshawn Lynch to a groin injury. When these two teams met earlier this season, the Chargers had three sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery while holding the Raiders to 10 points. Look for them to thrive again Sunday.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Eric Ebron vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $3,500
Ebron really stepped up for the Colts when they were decimated by injuries, specifically during an extended absence for Jack Doyle. Doyle was able to return to the field in Week 8 and ended up playing 73 percent of the Colts offensive plays. Ebron saw his usage plummet as he was only on the field for 22 percent of their plays. In the first two games that Dayle played this season, he was on the field for at least 94 percent of their plays in both contests. On the other hand, Ebron was never on the field more than 45 percent of the time. Now that Doyle is back, Ebron’s upside is severely limited.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,300
Yes, the Cardinals offense has been a mess this year. However, the majority of their struggles came with offensive coordinator Mike McCoy at the helm. Even though the Cardinals didn’t look much better when they scored 18 points against the 49ers in Week 8, new offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich had the benefit of a bye in Week 9 to help install his offensive scheme. The Cardinals still have some weapons in David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, so this isn’t a slamdunk matchup for the Chiefs defense to excel. Since they don’t come at much of a discount over the Jets or Chargers, it might be best to avoid the Chiefs.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 – TE/DEF/ST
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
Six teams on a bye for Week 9, dealing a significant blow to the options at tight end in DFS. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players, and defenses/special teams, to target or avoid as you create your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
CASH CONTEST OPTIONS
Travis Kelce vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $6,600
Kelce came through for the Chiefs in their win over the Broncos in Week 8, catching six of 10 targets for 79 yards and a touchdown. With that performance, Kelce now has at least five receptions in seven consecutive games and at least eight targets in six of those contests. He only has four touchdowns this year despite the Chiefs explosive offense, but his 80.3 yards per game is the highest mark of his career.
If you are prepared to pay a premium at tight end, Kelce is the safe route to take. He leads the Chiefs with 70 targets, which actually ranks inside the top-15 in all of football. The Browns have only given up two touchdowns to opposing tight ends, but they have allowed 44 receptions to them, which is tied for fifth-most in the league. This game has the potential to get out of hand for the Browns early, so expect Kelce to be heavily involved in yet another offensive explosion for the Chiefs.
O.J. Howard vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of American Stadium
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,300
Howard only received four targets in Week 8, but he made the most of his opportunities by catching all of them for 68 yards and a touchdown. The score was Howard’s second in his last three games, giving him a total of three for the season. His targets have been a bit up an down, but that hasn’t stopped Howard from recording at least 54 receiving yards in six of seven games. The only contest where he didn’t reach that mark was in Week 4 against the Bears when he had to leave early due to injury.
One major plus about the Bucs offense is that their defense often puts them in an early hole that they have to try and pass their way out of. The Bucs are making a change back to Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback, but that shouldn’t impact Howard negatively considering how well the two played together when Jameis Winston was suspended to start the year. The Panthers have allowed 545 yards and five touchdowns to tight ends, making Howard a great option at this reasonable price.
Chicago Bears vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,100
The Bears only allowed 10 points to the Jets in Week 8, but they didn’t force a single turnover. That’s saying something considering Jets quarters Sam Darnold has 10 interceptions. They also recorded just one sack, which can mostly be attributed to the absence of Khalil Mack (ankle). The Bears had started out strong in that area this year, recording at least four sacks in each of their first four games.
Whether or not Mack returns for this game, you still want to play the Bears defense. The Bills offense is already a mess, but due to injuries to Josh Allen (elbow) and Derek Anderson (concussion), it looks like Nathan Peterman will once again be their starting quarterback. Peterman has thrown four picks across only 32 pass attempts this year, so don’t hesitate to pay up for the Bears, even at this expensive price for a defense.
GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS
Greg Olsen vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Bank of American Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,700
Olsen continues to battle his way through a foot injury, but he’s been on the field for at least 97 percent of the Panthers offensive snaps the last three games. He only has 10 receptions for 109 yards during that stretch, but he has found his way into the end zone in both of the last two weeks. The Panthers will continue to take a cautious approach with him in practice leading up to Sunday but expect him to be on the field a lot once again.
Even though Olsen has been one of the most consistent tight ends in the league, his upside is limited by his injury. That makes him somewhat of a risky play, but this could be a matchup to exploit. The Bucs have not only allowed the second-most passing yards per game (318), but they’ve allowed 542 yards and four touchdowns to opposing tight ends.
David Njoku vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,600
Talk about a rough week for Njoku. The Browns had plenty of problems scoring points against the Steelers, ultimately losing 33-18. Njoku has been a big part of their offense, but he didn’t receive a single target Sunday. He may have been hampered by a knee injury that has limited him in practice leading up to Week 9, but he was on the field for 84 percent of their offensive snaps.
Don’t panic over one bad game from Njoku. He had received at least six targets in all but one game leading up to Week 8 and had four straight games with at least 52 receiving yards. With the likelihood that the Browns are going to have to throw a lot to keep up with the Chiefs, Njoku is going to get targets Sunday if he’s healthy enough to play. With there being no indication so far that he won’t be able to suit up, he’s a great option in tournament play.
Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $3,000
The Texans hung 42 points on the Dolphins in Week 8, but they did allow them to score 23 points of their own. The Texans defense had been on a streak of allowing 16 points or fewer in three straight games, but those were three outstanding matchups against the Cowboys, Bills, and Jaguars. Outside of games versus the Patriots and Colts, the Texans really haven’t been faced with many offensive juggernauts this year.
The schedule continues to fall in their favor for Week 9 against a Broncos team that just traded away receiver Demaryius Thomas. Case Keenum has not played well since coming over from the Vikings and the Broncos haven’t protected him, either, resulting in 22 sacks. To put that into perspective, Keenum was sacked 22 times all last season. If you don’t want to pay up for the Bears, the Texans are another viable option to consider.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Austin Hooper vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $3,800
Hooper isn’t priced poorly on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. It’s likely inflated due to his performances in Weeks 5 and 6 where he combined for 18 receptions on 22 targets for 148 yards and a touchdown. However, over his other five games, he has a total of 15 receptions on 19 targets for 173 yards and a score. Buyer beware, especially against a Redskins team that has only given up 292 receiving yards to tight ends.
Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $3,200
The Panthers might explode offensively against the Bucs, but their defense could be in for a struggle. The Bucs throw the ball a ton and have some great offensive weapons. Fitzpatrick can be turnover prone, but he also had 11 touchdown passes across his first three games. This isn’t exactly an appealing price for the Panthers, either, so it might be best to avoid them altogether when crafting your lineup.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 8 – TE/DEF/ST
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
Even with four teams on a bye for Week 8, the tight end position has several excellent options available in DFS. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players, and defenses/special teams, to target or avoid as you create your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
CASH CONTEST OPTIONS
Travis Kelce vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $6,800
Kelce had another impressive performance last week against the Bengals, catching all five of his targets for 95 yards. He just missed posting 100 yards for the fourth time this season, but he has now caught at least five passes in six straight games. With his 60 targets and 563 receiving yards, he’s well on his way to his third straight season with at least 100 targets and 1,000 receiving yards.
This could actually be the best year yet for Kelce as his 14.8 yards per reception and 80.4 yards per game would both be the highest marks of his career. With a major upgrade at quarterback in Patrick Mahomes over Alex Smith, the Chiefs offense is demolishing the league. Kelce’s three touchdowns are a bit disappointing, but he’s still a great option in cash contests based on his role in this explosive offense.
David Njoku vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,600
Njoku doesn’t exactly pile up yards, but he does have at least 52 receiving yards in four straight games. He’s proven to be an important part of the Browns passing game, receiving at least six targets in all but one game. Although it took him a while to find the end zone, he has a touchdown in back-to-back contests.
Njoku has added opportunities to provide value because he has been on the field for 83 percent of the team’s offensive snaps, second only to Jarvis Landry (94 percent). With the departure of Josh Gordon, the Browns don’t have a ton of talent at wide receiver outside of Landry. The Steelers have been destroyed by opposing tight ends, allowing 46 receptions for 478 yards and three touchdowns to the position. If you don’t want to pay up for Kelce, Njoku is also one of the safer options based on this matchup.
Chicago Bears vs. New York Jets
Stadium – Soldier Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,100
The Bears defense looked like a powerhouse to start the year, allowing an average of 16.3 points across their first four games. All that changed in Week 6 when they gave up 31 points to the Dolphins, of all teams. They followed that up by allowing 38 points to the Patriots. On a positive note, they did force six turnovers across those two contests.
One area of concern for the Bears is that after recording at least four sacks in each of their first four games, they only had one in the two games where they gave up all those points. Part of that is because Khalil Mack is battling an ankle injury, which still might hinder him in Week 8. The Jets offense is decimated by injuries right now and Sam Darnold has thrown 10 interceptions, so they are still a top option even with their recent struggles.
GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS
Trey Burton vs. New York Jets
Stadium – Soldier Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,800
Being involved in a shootout with the Patriots last week certainly paid off for Burton, who had a season-high 11 targets. He hadn’t received more than six targets in any of the previous five games. Not only did he get plenty of passes thrown his way, but he took full advantage of the opportunity by catching nine of them for 126 yards and a touchdown. It marked Burton’s third straight game with a touchdown and his fourth score of the season, overall.
The Bears signed Burton to a big deal in the offseason, and even though his 325 receiving yards aren’t stellar, he has been on the field for 82 percent of their offensive snaps. That’s second only to Allen Robinson (88 percent). His five red zone targets are second only to Robinson and Tarik Cohen, who have seven each. Burton’s touchdown dependency makes him a bit of a risky play, but the Jets have allowed three touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season.
O.J. Howard vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $3,900
Howard received a season-high nine targets in Week 7, leading to five receptions for 67 yards. Outside of Week 4 when he injured his knee against the Bears, Howard has finished with at least 54 receiving yards in each of his other five contests. The Bucs do have another talented tight end in Cameron Brate, but Howard is clearly their top option at the position. Brate has only been on the field for 39 percent of their offensive plays while Howard has been on the field 59 percent of the time.
With how poorly the Bucs play on defense, they often get involved in high scoring contests where they have to abandon the running game. That certainly provides a boost in value for Howard, who has a matchup to exploit in Week 8 against a Bengals team that has allowed the third-most receiving yards (521) to opposing tight ends.
Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,200
If you just look at the final score of the Cardinals’ 45-10 loss to the Broncos in Week 7, it doesn’t exactly instill a ton of confidence for playing their defense in Week 8. However, the Broncos returned two interceptions for touchdowns, so the drubbing wasn’t all the fault of the Cardinals defense. Josh Rosen through threw total interceptions in that contest, which didn’t do any favors for his defense.
The Cardinals are terrible against the run, allowing the most rushing yards per game (148.3) in the league. The 49ers are a bit banged up in their backfield with Matt Breida dealing with an ankle injury. Even if he does play, it’s an injury that has plagued him at times this year, so he’s no guarantee to make it through the entire contest. Their quarter C.J. Beathard has shown flashes of promise, but he’s thrown at least two interceptions in three of his four starts. The Cardinals had four sacks, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions against the 49ers in Week 5, so they might be worth the risk in tournament play.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Jordan Reed vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,500
In a somewhat surprising turn of events, Reed is still healthy heading into Week 8. He’s already played in six games this year, matching his total from last season. The problem is, he hasn’t been productive with just 22 receptions for 268 yards and one touchdown. His total of 35 targets isn’t a terrible number, but his 62.9 percent catch rate is the lowest mark of his career. The Giants traded away a couple of their better defensive players in Eli Apple and Damon Harrison this week, but Reed still might not be worth the risk for your lineup.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $2,800
The Ravens defense hasn’t given up a lot of points this year, so this might not stand out as a team to avoid. However, they haven’t been great at creating turnovers with just five interceptions and two fumble recoveries, total. They’ve also recorded one or no sacks in three of their seven games. The Panthers are tied for the fifth-fewest sacks allowed (10) and Cam Newton has only thrown four picks, potentially leaving the Ravens with very little upside Sunday.