An already thin tight end position is even worse in Week 4 with George Kittle and the 49ers on a bye. We’ll have to dig a little deeper at the position, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t find some fantasy gold.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 – TE & DEF/ST
Our last deep dive of Week 2 in the NFL brings us to tight ends and defenses/specials teams. While not the sexiest of positions, they can be the difference between just coming in the money and taking home one of the larger prizes.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 – Wide Receivers
It wasn’t the prettiest of Week 1’s in the NFL with several teams searching to find a rhythm on offense. However, we still had some monster receiving performances, including surprising ones by Sammy Watkins and Marquise Brown. Who will be in the winning DFS lineups for Week 2?
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 – Running Backs
Even though it’s only been one week, the running back landscape across the league has already been impacted by a few key injuries. That leaves us with some added value plays to consider for Week 2 in DFS.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 17 – WR, TE, DEF/ST
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
After discussing some quarterbacks and running backs who could be in line for big performances, it’s time to highlight some wide receivers, tight ends and defenses/special teams to target in Week 17. 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.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Antonio Brown vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,700
The Steelers late-season collapse has left them needing to win in Week 17 and get some help to make the playoffs. That’s great news for DFS purposes because that means it will be business as usual for Brown and the rest of their starters. Brown destroyed the Saints last week, catching 14 of 19 targets for 185 yards and two touchdowns. He’s been a touchdown machine, in general, totaling a career-high 15 scores for the season. The Bengals have allowed the second-most touchdown passes (31) and the third-most passing yards per game (276) in the league, so look for Brown to thrive again Sunday.
Julian Edelman vs. New York Jets
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $7,600
Edelman was certainly busy last week with Josh Gordon no longer with the Patriots, catching six of 10 targets for 70 yards and a touchdown. He’s received at least 10 targets in six of his last eight games and should be locked in for a huge role again Sunday. The Patriots haven’t had much to play for in the last week of the regular season in recent years, but they do this week as they are still trying to secure a first-round bye. They even have an outside chance of clinching home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Jets have allowed the seventh-most passing yards per game (255), making Edelman an excellent target.
Kenny Golladay vs. Green Bay Packers
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $6,600
The Lions have struggled to put points on the board, scoring 17 points or fewer in each of their last five games. Golladay hasn’t found his way into the end zone in any of those contests, but that doesn’t mean that you should ignore him in DFS. He’s their top receiving option right now and he still gets plenty of targets. He only had six catches for 58 yards last week against the Vikings, although he did receive 15 targets. The Packers have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers, so this could be a great opportunity for Golladay to end his season on a high note.
Jordy Nelson vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,900
Nelson was a valuable contributor in the Raiders defeat of the Broncos last week, catching seven of 10 targets for 75 yards. With the Raiders lacking talent at wide receiver due to injuries and the trade that sent Amari Cooper to the Cowboys, Nelson has been one of their main pass-catching weapons. He had plenty of success against the Chiefs in Week 13, posting 10 receptions for 97 yards. Considering how poorly the Chiefs continue to play defensively, this is a prime spot to deploy Nelson in tournament play.
TIGHT ENDS
Travis Kelce vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $7,200
Back-to-back losses have put the Chiefs in a position where they still need to win Sunday to clinch their division and gain home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If they don’t win, then they are going to need a lot of help to achieve both feats. That sets them up to play this game like normal, which is great news for Kelce. He’s only posted 115 receiving yards and no touchdowns across their two losses, but he gets an excellent matchup against the Raiders, who have allowed 998 yards and nine touchdowns to tight ends this year. The last time these two teams met, Kelce torched the Raiders for 12 receptions, 168 yards, and two touchdowns.
Evan Engram vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $5,300
Injuries have put a damper on Engram’s second season in the league, but he’s come on strong with Odell Beckham Jr. (quadriceps) out. Across the three games that Beckham has missed, Engram has 17 receptions for 239 yards. The Cowboys have nothing left to play for in Week 17, so they might rest some of their top defensive players in preparation for the playoffs. The Giants are only playing for a high draft pick, so they might not rush Beckham back for this contest, either. If Beckham sits, Engram has plenty of upside.
C.J. Uzomah vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $3,500
This disaster of a season is finally getting ready to come to an end for the Bengals. They’ve limped their way to the finish line, losing most of their best skill players on offense. With few options left to throw to, Uzomah caught four of his five targets for 49 yards and a touchdown last week against the Browns. It seems unlikely that the Bengals would push wide receiver Tyler Boyd (knee) to play Sunday, so his absence would once again likely create an expanded role for Uzomah. That would be significant for his production potential since the Steelers have allowed 881 yards and seven touchdowns to tight ends this season.
DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS
Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $3,700
The Seahawks have nothing left to play for having already secured a Wild Card spot. That might lead them to rest several players on both sides of the ball, but this is still a spot to consider deploying them in DFS. The Cardinals have been one of the worst offenses in the league, scoring 14 points or fewer in four of their last five games. They’ve also allowed quarterback Josh Rosen to be sacked at least two times in each of those five contests.
New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $2,100
The Cowboys have already clinched the NFC East and don’t have the ability to secure a first-round bye, so this is a meaningless contest for them. This is a prime opportunity for them to rest some of their starters, especially Ezekiel Elliott, who already has 304 rushing attempts. If he and quarterback Dak Prescott sit for some or all of this contest, the Giants defense has a chance to excel at home against the Cowboys’ backups.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 17 – QB & RB
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
The last week of the NFL regular season is here. Every team plays Sunday, so there are a ton of options to choose from in DFS. Here are some quarterbacks and running back who stand out as potential difference makers. 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.
QUARTERBACKS
Patrick Mahomes vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $9,500
DraftKings = $7,100
The Chiefs have lost back-to-back games, so they still need to win Sunday to clinch the AFC West and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. That’s great news for DFS purposes since it keeps one of the most potent offenses in the league in play. Despite their recent struggles as a team, Mahomes still has at least two touchdown passes in 10 straight games, boosting his total to 48 for the season. This is a stellar matchup for him against the Raiders, who have allowed the most touchdown passes (34) in the league. The first time these two teams met, Mahomes threw for 295 yards and four touchdowns.
Ben Roethlisberger vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $7,000
With four losses across their last five games, the Steelers find themselves needing to win this game against the Bengals and get a little help to make it into the playoffs. Luckily their part at least sets up well for them to succeed, getting to play at home against the injury-riddled Bengals. Roethlisberger’s home and road splits haven’t been as drastic this season, but he has 18 touchdown passes over seven home games compared to 15 scores across eight games on the road. Not only is the Bengals’ offensive limping heading into their contest, but their defense is tied for the second-most touchdown passes allowed (31) and has allowed the third-most passing yards per game (276).
Josh Allen vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $6,000
The Patriots did a good job bottling up Allen on the ground in Week 16, holding him to 30 yards on five carries. Allen again provided inconsistent production through the air, completing 20 of 41 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Week 17 brings a much easier matchup for him at home against the Dolphins. When these two teams faced off in Week 13, Allen turned nine carries into 135 yards. He also posted his only multi-passing touchdown performance of the year in that game, so he’s at least someone to consider in tournament play.
Derek Carr vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $5,100
It’s been a lost season for the Raiders, but they’ve actually won two of their last three games down the stretch. Even though they won last week against the Broncos, Carr was held in check, finishing with just 167 passing yards. It should be noted, though, that he only needed to attempt 26 passes with the Raiders jumping out to a big lead early. Prior to that quiet performance, Carr had totaled six touchdown passes and no interceptions across his previous three games. In fact, Carr hasn’t thrown a pick since Week 5. The Chiefs continue to have a swiss-cheese-like secondary, which leaves Carr with significant upside. He certainly had plenty of success against them in Week 13, throwing for 285 yards and three touchdowns.
RUNNING BACKS
Damien Williams vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $6,100
Spencer Ware (hamstring) was unable to take the field again last week, setting up Williams to lead the Chief’s backfield. He logged 73 percent of their offensive snaps, finishing with 103 rushing yards on 13 carries. He also caught all seven of his targets for 37 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs do need to win this game as previously discussed, but it shouldn’t exactly be an overwhelming task against the far inferior Raiders. They might not rush Ware back into action, so if he sits, Williams again has significant upside. It’s definitely a favorable matchup with the Raiders allowing the third-most rushing yards per game (143.3).
Chris Carson vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $6,500
The Seahawks have already clinched a wildcard spot, so they don’t really have anything left to play for. That makes rolling with their offensive players a bit of a risky proposition, especially considering the potential blowout factor against a horrid Cardinals squad. Carson does come into this game extremely hot, rushing for 325 yards and four touchdowns across his last three games. Despite not being on the field for more than 59 percent of the Seahawks’ offensive snaps during any of those games, Carson still received at least 22 carries in each contest. The Cardinals allow by far the most rushing yards per game (153.1), so adding Carson to your entry might be a risk worth taking.
Elijah McGuire vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,300
With Isaiah Crowell (toe) out for the season, McGuire is the main man in the Jets’ backfield. He hasn’t been efficient in his two starts, turning 32 carries into just 77 yards. However, he has scored a rushing touchdown in both contests and even chipped in a receiving score last week against the Packers. The Jets also like to use him in the passing game, giving him nine targets over that two-game stretch. Don’t expect his efficiency to improve drastically against the Patriots, but he should get enough volume to once again be a viable option.
C.J. Anderson vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $5,400
The Rams decided to hold out Todd Gurley (knee) in Week 16, which opened up a starting role for Anderson. He just joined the team a couple of weeks ago, but that didn’t stop him from turning 20 carries into 167 yards and a touchdown. The Rams are still looking to clinch a first-round bye, but this shouldn’t be an overly challenging game playing at home against the 49ers. If Gurley isn’t completely healthy, it makes little sense to play him. If he does play, it also makes little sense to give him a ton of work. Anderson isn’t all that cheap anymore, but he could still provide value Sunday.
Doug Martin vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,400
The Raiders have pretty evenly split snaps in their backfield between Martin and Jalen Richard since Marshawn Lynch (groin) was lost for the season. Martin had his best performance last week against the Broncos, carrying the ball 21 times for 107 yards and a touchdown. While his yardage totals haven’t always been great, he has found his way into the end zone in four of his last five games. The Chiefs allow the fifth-most rushing yards per game (132.5), leaving Martin with some appeal in tournament play based on his cheap price.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 15 – WR, TE, DEF/ST
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
We’ve already discussed some of the top plays at quarterback and running back for Week 15 in DFS, so now let’s dive into the rest of the positions and target some of the best options to consider. 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.
WIDE RECEIVERS
JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $8,000
Smith-Schuster came away with another monster performance last week against the Raiders, catching eight of 12 targets for 130 yards and two touchdowns. With opposing defenses focusing their efforts on Antonio Brown, Smith-Schuster has been able to record seven games with at least 100 receiving yards this season. In fact, he has 91 receptions and 1,234 yards compared to 86 receptions and 1,063 yards for Brown. However, Brown has the edge in touchdowns with 12 compared to six for Smith-Schuster. This could be a high-scoring game against a Patriots offense that finally has a healthy complement of skill players, leaving Smith-Schuster with a high floor once again.
Tyler Boyd vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $5,700
It’s hard to get too excited about the Bengals’ passing attack with both Andy Dalton (thumb) and A.J. Green (foot) on the shelf. Jeff Driskel hasn’t exactly played well since taking over for Dalton, throwing for 406 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception over two games. Boyd hasn’t been able to find his way into the end zone, but he has been active with nine catches for 149 on 14 targets during that stretch. This is a favorable matchup against a Raiders defense that has allowed the most passing touchdowns (31) in the league, making Boyd a viable option despite Driskel’s lackluster play.
Robert Foster vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,300
The Bills were already extremely thin at wide receiver when they decided to release both Kelvin Benjamin and Andre Holmes. Zay Jones is now their top receiver, but Foster also has a much larger role. He logged 96 percent of the Bills’ offensive snaps in Week 14, catching seven of eight targets for 104 yards. Actually, that marked the third time in the last four games where he racked up at least 94 yards. Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen isn’t a very accurate passer, but the amount of targets that Foster should receive makes him a viable cheap option in tournament play.
Jordy Nelson vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,200
Nelson seems to be over his battle with a knee injury, logging at least 90 percent of the Raiders’ offensive snaps in each of their last three games. He couldn’t get much going against a tough Ravens defense in Week 12, but he’s amassed 16 receptions for 145 yards across his last two games. With the Raiders short on talent after trading away Amari Cooper, Nelson received 18 targets during their last two contests. The Bengals allow the fourth-most passing yards per game (274) in the league, leaving Nelson as an intriguing cost-effective option for your entry.
TIGHT ENDS
Rob Gronkowski vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $5,800
When Gronkowski is healthy, his upside is off the charts. The problem is, that’s been a rare occurrence this season. The good news for the Patriots is that he’s healthy right now and might be peaking at the time of the year when it matters the most. He made quick work of the Dolphins last week, catching all eight of his targets for 107 yards and one touchdown. That was his first 100-yard game since Week 1. Although he only has three touchdowns this season, two of them have come in the last three weeks. The Steelers have allowed 853 yards and seven touchdowns to tight ends, potentially setting up Gronkowski for another dominant performance.
Jared Cook vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,600
With the Raiders short on options at wide receiver, Cook has become one of the main weapons in their passing game. He’s already set career-highs in receptions (61), receiving yards (825) and touchdowns (six) with three games still to go. His last two games have been especially productive, catching 14 of 18 targets for 216 yards and a touchdown. Opposing tight ends have racked up 771 yards and seven touchdowns against the Bengals this year, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down Cook.
C.J. Uzomah vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $3,600
Uzomah hasn’t been overly productive with Driskel at the helm the last two weeks, catching eight of 10 targets for 70 yards. However, of all the healthy skill players that the Bengals have left, Uzomah being on the field for 85 percent of their offensive snaps is the second-highest mark on the team behind Boyd. The Raiders have been the worst team in football at defending tight ends, allowing 961 yards and nine touchdowns to the position. At this cheap price, Uzomah’s high snap rate makes him an intriguing tournament option.
DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – TIAA Bank Field
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $3,400
If you play in season-long fantasy, the demise of the Jaguars’ defense should serve as a reminder to never pay up for defenses early in drafts. They’ve regressed significantly after being one of the most stout units in the league last year, including allowing 30 points to the Titans in Week 14 and 24 points to the Bills in Week 12. Their sacks are down significantly and they haven’t been forcing a lot of turnovers, either. Despite all of that, they are still a great option in Week 15 against a Redskins team that has been decimated by injuries to the quarterback position. It’s to the point where Josh Johnson will start this game. To put that into perspective, prior to his relief effort of Mark Sanchez in Week 14, Johnson hadn’t thrown a pass in the NFL since 2011.
New York Giants vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $2,600
The Giants are coming on strong down the stretch, but it might be a case of too little, too late for their playoff chances. Not only are they scoring more points, but their defense has 10 sacks, five interceptions, a fumble recovery and two touchdowns across their last two games. That came against a Bears team starting Chase Daniels at quarterback and the aforementioned dumpster fire that is the Redskins’ quarterback situation, but at least they took care of business. The Titans offense isn’t exactly an offensive juggernaut, either, averaging just 19.3 points per game, leaving the Giants a viable option in tournament play.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 15 – QB & RB
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
Week 15 brings a bit of an odd schedule in the NFL with two games being played on Saturday. That leaves fewer options to choose from for the main Sunday slate in DFS, but there are still plenty of great players available. Let’s highlight some quarterbacks and running backs that could help you finish the day a winner. 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.
QUARTERBACKS
Ben Roethlisberger vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Heinz Field
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $6,600
Roethlisberger injured his ribs last week against the Raiders but was able to return late in the game. Considering he was on the sidelines for a good chunk of the contest, his 282 passing yards and two touchdowns resulted in a pretty good performance. All indications right now are that he plans to take the field in this matchup against the Patriots. Roethlisberger is averaging more passing yards per game on the road this year, but he has 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions across seven road games compared to 16 touchdowns and four interceptions over six games at home. The Patriots have allowed 26 touchdowns through the air, potentially setting up Roethlisberger for another meaty stat line.
Russell Wilson vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $6,700
What a disaster of a performance from Wilson against the Vikings in Week 14. He completed only 10 of 20 passes for 72 yards and one interception. The Seahawks run the ball a ton, which does somewhat limit Wilson’s upside. He’s been able to provide value in DFS mostly based on his ability to provide touchdowns, throwing for at least two scores in all but two games this season. Look for him to get back on track in Week 15 against a bad 49ers’ secondary that is tied for the third-most passing touchdowns allowed (28) in the league and has recorded just two interceptions.
Josh Allen vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $5,800
Allen did not have a good passing game in Week 14 against the Jets, completing 18 of 36 passes for 206 yards and two interceptions. He failed to throw for a touchdown yet again and only has five across nine games. However, he continued to do damage with his legs, rushing nine times for 101 yards and a touchdown. Across his last three games, Allen has 335 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. His lack of talent at wide receiver and overall inexperience may continue to leave him with lackluster passing stats, but his ability to accumulate yards on the ground makes him someone to consider in tournament play.
Derek Carr vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $5,400
The Raiders pulled out a shocking win against the Steelers last week and Carr was one of the main reasons for their success. He finished with 322 passing yards and two touchdowns, leaving him with eight touchdowns and no interceptions across his last four games. That’s pretty impressive considering two of those games were against the Ravens and Cardinals. He’ll face a much easier task in Week 15 against the Bengals, who have allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game (274) to go along with 27 passing touchdowns. At his cheap price on both sites, he might be worth considering despite the lack of playmakers around him.
RUNNING BACKS
Ezekiel Elliott vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,000
The Cowboys earned a huge divisional win against the Eagles in Week 14. It’s no surprise that Elliott played well in the victory, rushing 28 times for 113 yards. Not only that, but he caught 12 of his season-high 13 targets for an additional 79 yards. He’s become a significant weapon in the Cowboys’ passing attack this season, receiving 81 targets through 13 games. That gives him immense upside considering he has gained at least 100 yards on the ground in seven games this year, as well. The Colts have been one of the better teams against the run, but facing Elliott is a completely different animal. He still makes for a safe option in cash contests.
Joe Mixon vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $6,100
With Andy Dalton (thumb) and A.J. Green (foot) out for the year, the Bengals offense is a shell of its former self. They turned to Mixon to lead their attack in Week 14, giving him a season-high 26 carries. He certainly didn’t disappoint with 111 yards and a touchdown. With fewer weapons to catch passes for the Bengals, Mixon also hauled in five of his six targets for 27 yards. He’s rushed for at least 82 yards in each of the last three games and should get all the work he can handle again in Week 15. That’s great news since the Raiders allow the second-most rushing yards per game (144.5).
Doug Martin vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $4,700
To say Martin was inefficient last week against the Steelers would be an understatement. He was heavily involved with 16 carries but turned them into just 32 yards. Luckily, he somewhat salvaged his performance with a touchdown. The silver lining here was the significant workload that he received and the fact that his touchdown marked his third score across the last three games. The Raiders should continue to give him the bulk of the carries Sunday, which could lead him to a valuable performance since the Bengals have allowed the most rushing yards per game (148.1) and second-most rushing touchdowns (17).
Dalvin Cook vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $6,500
The Vikings offense was awful against the Seahawks on Monday, scoring just seven points. That leaves them with 17 total points over their last two games. Cook was one of the few players who had a respectable performance in Week 15, accumulating 83 total yards and a touchdown. It was also encouraging to see him on the field for 77 percent of the Vikings’ offensive snaps compared to just 20 percent for Latavious Murray. The Dolphins are tied for the third-most rushing yards allowed per game (139.5), leaving Cook as an excellent target in tournament play, especially based on his price on FanDuel.
Jeff Wilson Jr. vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $4,600
Wilson was plenty involved in Week 14 filling in for the injured Matt Breida (ankle), logging 86 percent of the 49ers’ offensive snaps. He only had two targets thrown his way, but he did carry the ball 23 times for 90 yards. Breida has battled various injuries throughout the season and his status for Week 15 is still very much in doubt. If he is unable to play, Wilson would likely again handle the bulk of the work in the 49ers’ backfield. The Seahawks don’t give up a ton of yards on the ground, overall, but they do allow five yards-per-carry, which is tied for the third-most in the league.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 – TE/DEF/ST
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
Another tight end option is off the board with Jack Doyle (kidney) on IR, but the position is still fairly deep with no teams on a bye during Week 13. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players, and defenses/special teams, to target or avoid as you create your DFS entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
CASH CONTEST OPTIONS
Travis Kelce vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $7,000
The high-scoring affair between the Chiefs and Rams certainly resulted in a productive performance from Kelce. He received a season-high 14 targets, catching 10 of them for 127 yards and a touchdown. That marked Kelce’s fifth game of the year with at least 10 targets and the fourth time he compiled at least 100 yards. He’s also reached the end zone four times across his last four contests.
Kelce was already one of the best tight ends in the league, but his production has risen to the next level with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. He already has 67 receptions for 914 yards across 11 games after finishing with 83 catches and 1,038 yards all of last season. Even with all the weapons that the Chiefs have on offense, he still leads the team with 101 targets. Kelce is expensive, but he also has the highest floor of anyone at his position.
Jared Cook vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,700
This season can’t end soon enough for the Raiders. They lost again in Week 12 to the Ravens, marking their sixth loss in their last seven games. They allowed 34 points, which didn’t exactly do their injury-depleted offense any favors. Cook is one of the best pass catchers that they have left, but he caught only two of his five targets for 32. He did somewhat salvage his performance, though, with one of those catches resulting in a touchdown.
Even with their lack of talent at wide receiver, Cook hasn’t been on the field for more than 62 percent of the Raiders offensive snaps in any of their last five games. On the bright side, he does have three touchdowns during that stretch, two of which have come across his last two games. The Raiders might be forced to throw the ball a lot to keep up with the Chiefs, whose defense has actually allowed the most receiving yards to opposing tight ends (812) in the league. This could be a matchup to exploit with Cook.
Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,400
The Seahawks won last week against the Panthers, but their defense did not play well. Christian McCaffrey ate them alive, leading the Panthers to score 27 points. The Seahawks did grab an interception, but they failed to record a sack for the first time this year. With that performance, the Seahawks have now allowed at least 24 points in three consecutive games.
Even though Week 12 wasn’t great, this is about as good of a matchup as you can get for the Seahawks defense. The 49ers only scored nine points against a horrible Bucs defense in Week 11 and will again roll with Nick Mullens at quarterback. After his impressive debut against the Raiders, Mullens has four interceptions and two touchdowns across his last two games. Add in the fact that the Seahawks are at home and they have the potential to be the chalk defense play in DFS.
GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS
David Njoku vs. Houston Texans
Stadium = NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,300
Njoku has been battling a knee injury but had the benefit of a bye in Week 11. That allowed him to log 67 percent of the Browns offensive snaps in Week 12, resulting in him catching all five of his targets for 63 yards and a touchdown. He’s already surpassed his totals in targets, receptions and receiving tards from his rookie season and could be in line for a productive finish with the changes the Browns have made to their coaching staff.
The key for Njoku for this game against the Texans will be his health. The Browns have continued to take a cautious approach with him in practice, but all indications are that he will be fine for Sunday. The Texans generally have good numbers defending against the pass, but they’ve had trouble with tight ends, allowing 725 yards and six touchdowns to the position. At his reasonable price on both sites, Njoku makes for a great option in tournament play.
Cameron Brate vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $3,700
Brate has had a limited role in the Bucs offense, but all that changed when O.J. Howard (ankle/foot) was lost for the season. In his first game as the team’s top tight end, Brate was on the field for 70 percent of their offensive plays in Week 12. The only skill player with a higher percentage was wide receiver Mike Evans (79 percent). He wasn’t overly involved with just four targets, but he did catch three of them for 26 yards and a touchdown.
The yardage total last week wasn’t what you were hoping for from Brate, but the key is how often he was on the field. The Bucs also won 27-9, so it’s not like they had to throw the ball a lot late in the game. They’ll face a much tougher task this week against a Panthers team that scored 42 points on them in Week 9. One way to attack the Panthers is through the use of the tight end as they have allowed 713 yards and nine touchdowns to the position.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – TIAA Bank Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $2,600
The strength of the Colts is quarterback Andrew Luck and their offense, but their defense hasn’t been as bad as initially predicted at the start of the season. While their performance in Week 11 against the Dolphins wasn’t a total flop, it wasn’t great, either, with them allowing 24 points and recording just one sack.
These two teams just faced off in Week 10 but under very different circumstances. Leonard Fournette will have to miss their rematch due to a suspension and the Jaguars have benched Blake Bortles at quarterback. Having Carlos Hyde and T.J. Yeldon does somewhat help offset the loss of Fournette, but Cody Kessler doesn’t exactly instill a lot of confidence at quarterback. If you want to save a few bucks at defense, the Colts are at least worth considering.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Jimmy Graham vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,000
Graham is dealing with a fractured thumb, but he still managed to play last week against the Vikings. However, he was only on the field for a season-low 42 percent of the Packers offensive plays. He finished with just two catches for 34 yards on four targets and will have to deal with the injury again Sunday. The Cardinals defense has done a good job slowing down tight ends already, so this is a situation to stay far away from with Graham.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $2,800
The Ravens took advantage of the Raiders poor offense last week, recording three sacks and returning a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Add in their punt return touchdown and the Ravens came through in a big way. However, they did still allow 17 points and those were their first defensive and special teams scores of the season. This will be a much tougher task on the road against a Falcons team that averages 30 points a game at home.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 – Wide Receivers
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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There are no more bye weeks left this season, leaving a packed schedule for Week 13 in the NFL. The Saints, Steelers, and Chargers all playing in primetime does take a few of the top-tier wide receivers out of the equation for the main Sunday slate in DFS, but there are still plenty of great options. Let’s dive into the position and highlight some players to consider, and avoid, as you craft your lineup. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
CASH CONTEST OPTIONS
DeAndre Hopkins vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,200
With their win over the Titans in Week 12, the Texans have now won each of their last eight games. Even though they pulled out the victory, Hopkins had a quiet performance by his standards. He only received six targets, which tied the mark for his fewest in a game this season. He did haul in five of them for 74 yards but failed to score a touchdown for the first time since Week 5.
The Texans scored 34 points against the Titans, but it wasn’t exactly a great matchup for Hopkins considering the Titans allow the eighth-fewest passing yards per game (230) in the league. Things swing much more in his favor against the Browns, who allow the fourth-most passing yards per game (284). With his stellar touchdown upside, Hopkins makes for a great option in cash contests despite his lofty price tag.
Tyreek Hill vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $9,100
There have been few regular season games as exciting as the matchup between the Chiefs and Rams was in Week 11. The two teams combined for an insane 105 points and Hill was certainly heavily involved in the action, catching 10 of 14 targets for 215 yards and two touchdowns. His 21.5 yards per reception actually marked the fifth time this season that he finished a game with at least 20 yards per reception.
The Chiefs have a lot of talented players, but Hill is one of the main reasons why their offense is so explosive. Not only does he have blazing speed, but he’s an excellent route runner. He already has 11 receiving touchdowns this year, which is only two away from tieing his mark from his first two seasons in the league, combined. The Raiders are tied for the second-most passing touchdowns allowed (25), leaving Hill with tremendous upside once again.
Adam Thielen vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $8,000
After recording at least 100 receiving yards in each of his first eight games, Thielen had cooled off with 88 total receiving yards across two games heading into Week 12 against the Packers. That proved to be just the matchup that he needed to get back on track, catching eight of nine targets for 125 yards and a touchdown. In two games against the Packers this season, he had 20 receptions, 256 yards, and two touchdowns.
It was only a matter of time before Thielen got hot again, especially since his 124 targets are second in the league only to Julio Jones (125). Thielen has also taken a significant step forward in the touchdown department with eight of them this year after posting nine across the last two years, combined. The Patriots have allowed the eighth-most passing yards per game (270) to go along with 22 passing touchdowns, so don’t be surprised if Thielen comes away with another highly productive afternoon.
GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS
Julian Edelman vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $7,100
The Patriots had no problem putting away the Jets in Week 12, which may have been part of the reason why Edelman received a season-low five targets. It should also be noted that this was tight end Rob Gronkowski’s first game since Week 8. Even with his lack of involvement, Edelman still came away with four receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown.
Edelman has only played in seven games this year, but he already has 61 targets and has been on the field for 88 percent of the Patriots offensive snaps. He even has three touchdowns, matching his mark from all of last season. The Patriots have their full complement of weapons right now, which is going to make things tough on opposing defenses. Even with more mouths to feed, Edelman is going to get enough targets to warrant consideration in tournament play.
D.J. Moore vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $5,600
With Devin Funchess (back) out for Week 12, Moore was on the field for 92 percent of the Panthers offensive snaps and received a season-high nine targets. He made the most of his opportunity, hauling in eight passes for 91 yards. His rookie campaign got off to a quiet start, but Moore has now received 22 targets across his last three games.
This has the potential to be a monster game from Moore. If Funchess is unable to return, Moore will again receive all the work he can handle. The Bucs have one of the worst secondaries in the league, allowing 274 passing yards per game to go along with a league-high 26 touchdowns through the air. He’s not overly expensive on either site, making Moore a prime target to outproduce his price point if Funchess sits.
Courtland Sutton vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,200
The Broncos scored 24 points against the Steelers last week, but Sutton was very quiet with one catch on three targets for 14 yards. The Broncos did most of their damage on the ground, which led Case Keenum to attempt just 28 passes. He wasn’t that accurate, either, with only 15 completions. If you’re looking for a silver lining from Sutton’s performance, he was at least on the field for 74 percent of their offensive snaps.
The trade of Demaryius Thomas to the Texans seemed like a prime opportunity for Sutton’s production to take off. He’s certainly spending more time on the field, but he only has seven receptions for 149 yards across his last three games. If there was ever a time for him to have a breakout performance, this is it. The Bengals are having a hard time slowing anyone down right now and have allowed the second-most passing yards per game (292) to go along with 25 passing touchdowns.
Seth Roberts vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,000
Just about nothing has gone right for the Raiders this year. They’ve traded away a couple of their best players and have also been decimated by injuries, especially at wide receiver. Roberts is one of the few healthy players they have left standing at the position. Even so, he only received three targets in Week 12 against the Ravens, catching two of them for 54 yards.
This game could get ugly in a hurry against the Chiefs. If that’s the case, the Raiders are going to be throwing the ball a lot in an effort to make a comeback. The Chiefs have allowed the most passing yards per game (297), so even though the Raiders don’t have a lot of weapons, they might be able to move the ball some. Roberts doesn’t have a ton of touchdown upside, but there is some appeal here for tournament contests at this cheap price.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Allen Robinson II vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,700
The Bears still won in Week 12 without Mitch Trubisky (shoulder), but Robinson wasn’t very productive with two receptions on four targets for 37 yards. He was one of their key offseason acquisitions, but Robinson doesn’t always have a ton of fantasy value with 39 yards or fewer in four of his last six games. It looks like Trubisky will be unable to play again Sunday, potentially leaving Robinson with another quiet performance.
Sammy Watkins vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,400
Watkins was able to take the field in Week 11 despite dealing with a foot injury, but he only logged five snaps. Even though the Chiefs are coming off of their bye week, Watkins is still battling the injury and didn’t practice Wednesday. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to push him to play a lot of snaps Sunday against a bad team in the Raiders, so stay far, far away from him in DFS, even if he is active.