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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 14 – Quarterbacks

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

If you didn’t make the playoffs in your season-long fantasy football league, the fun isn’t over yet. Every week is a new opportunity to bring home some cash in DFS. Let’s examine some quarterbacks to target and avoid as you craft your lineup for Week 14. 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 14 - Quarterbacks

Ben Roethlisberger vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $6,800

The Steelers were involved in a shootout against the Chargers last week, ultimately losing 33-30 at home. Roethlisberger did throw for two touchdowns, but he had just 281 yards. That marked the first time since Week 9 that he had thrown for fewer than 300 yards in a game. He was also picked off again, leaving him with six interceptions across his last three games. The good news is that he attempted 45 passes and has at least 40 pass attempts in nine of 12 games.

Roethlisberger’s interceptions are up this year, but so are his touchdowns and passing yards per game. His touchdowns numbers are still much better at home (16) than on the road (10), but he is averaging 350.5 passing yards per game on the road. The Raiders struggle to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and have allowed the most passing touchdowns (29) in the league, leaving Roethlisberger with a very high floor in this contest.

Drew Brees vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $6,600

It’s tough for the road team to win on Thursday Night Football, but the Saints laid an egg offensively against the Cowboys by scoring 10 points last week. Brees was as much to blame as anyone, throwing for just 127 yards to go along with one touchdown and one interception. The fact that he attempted just 28 passes didn’t help his cause, but he had four touchdowns across only 22 pass attempts the previous week against the Falcons.

Believe it or not, Brees has now thrown for fewer than 200 yards in a game three times this season. The Saints have a great running back duo of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram, which doesn’t always leave Brees with a ton of passing attempts. He has largely made up for that lack of volume, though, with 30 touchdowns. When the Saints and Bucs squared off in Week 1, Brees had 439 yards and three touchdowns. Considering the Bucs have allowed the second-most touchdowns through the air (28), expect Brees to have a big bounce-back performance.

Philip Rivers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $6,500

The Chargers big win on the road against the Steelers last week has them riding high as they approach a spot in the playoffs. Rivers was right at the forefront of their victory, throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns. He’s only thrown for at least 300 yards one time across his last five games, but he’s thrown at least two touchdown passes in every game this season.

The loss of star running back Melvin Gordon (knee) was significant for the Chargers, but there is hope that he might not be out for too long. Even if he does return for Week 14, this is a prime spot to use Rivers in DFS. The Bengals injuries on offense might grab all the headlines, but their defense has been atrocious, allowing the second-most passing yards per game (280) to go along with 26 passing touchdowns.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 14 - Quarterbacks

Jameis Winston vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $6,200

Winston’s second stint as the Bucs quarterback this season has been significantly better than his first. He came through with another strong performance in Week 13 against the Panthers, throwing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. His 66.7 percent completion percentage wasn’t anything to write home about, but it was key that he didn’t throw an interception. After being plagued by turnovers throughout his career, Winston has yet to be intercepted across two games since regaining a starting role.

It should be noted that his last two games have come against the 49ers and Panthers, both of which have their holes in pass coverage. The Saints aren’t exactly defensive juggernauts, though, since they have allowed the third-most passing yards per game (279). This game being played at home is also a big plus for Winston considering how well the Saints play in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. His turnover history always leaves him with some risk, but there is also upside here in tournament play.

Baker Mayfield vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $5,800

Week 13 against the Texans was not one of Mayfield’s finer performances. He did throw for 397 yards, but he had only one touchdown and three interceptions. That broke a streak of five-straight games with at least two touchdowns and two straight games without an interception. With only 13 points, it also marked the first time in the last three games that the Browns failed to score at least 21 points.

A lot of Mayfield’s struggles last week might have just been because the Browns were on the road against the red-hot Texans, who have won nine straight. Mayfield gets a much easier task this week at home against the Panthers, who have allowed 27 touchdowns through the air. Mayfield’s pass attempts are sometimes limited due to how well Nick Chubb is running the ball, but he’s still someone to consider based on this matchup.

Josh Allen vs. New York Jets
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $5,500

Allen only completed 54.6 percent of his passes against the Dolphins last week, finishing with 231 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. However, he did a ton of damage with his legs, running for 135 yards on nine carries. This comes on the heels of rushing for 99 yards in Week 12 against the Jaguars. He actually has almost as many rushing touchdowns (four) as he does passing touchdowns (five) this season.

Lamar Jackson of the Ravens might grab all the headlines, but Allen’s ability to rack up rushing yards should not go unnoticed. He still has a lot of improving to do in the passing game and he might not be a consistent contributor in that area until next season. This is an opportunity to target him in DFS, though, considering how poorly the Jets have played. They’ve lost six straight games, one of them was 41-10 against the Bills when Matt Barkley was at quarterback.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 14 - Quarterbacks

Tom Brady vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $5,800

The Patriots are loaded at running back with Sony Michel, James White, and Rex Burkhead all finally healthy. They haven’t needed to rely as much on the arm of Brady, leaving him to throw a total of four touchdowns across his last five games. The Dolphins are one of the worst teams in the league against the run, so the Patriots might not need Brady to throw much in Week 14, either. He’s not overly expensive on either site, but it still might be best to avoid him for your entry.

Matthew Stafford vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $5,200

The wheels have come off for the Lions. They are 1-5 over their last six games, which included brutal matchups against the Seahawks, Vikings, Bears, and Rams. The Cardinals might not have a good record, but they have allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (220). Stafford has a total of four touchdown passes and five interceptions in his last five games, leaving him with very little upside despite his cheap price.

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.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - TE/DEF/ST

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.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - TE/DEF/ST

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

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - TE/DEF/ST

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 – Running Backs

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

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

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Running Backs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Running Backs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Running Backs

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

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

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

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

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 – Quarterbacks

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

The stretch run of the NFL season is here. There are no teams on a bye in Week 13, leaving a bevy of quarterbacks to choose from in DFS. Let’s examine some players to target 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.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Quarterbacks

Patrick Mahomes vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $9,500
DraftKings = $7,600

The last time we saw Mahomes on the field was in Week 11 during that thrilling game against the Rams. He had a monster performance with 478 yards and six touchdowns. Believe it or not, that was actually his second game of the season with six passing touchdowns. The only downside to his performance was that he turned the ball over a total of five times with three interceptions and two fumbles.

The Chiefs enjoyed a bye for Week 12 and now face a much easier opponent in the Raiders. Even though this could become a blowout in which Mahomes isn’t required to throw the ball much late in the game, that doesn’t mean he won’t be very productive along the way. The Raiders get virtually no pressure on opposing quarterbacks and are tied for the second-most passing touchdowns allowed (25) in the league.

Cam Newton vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $6,600

After starting out the season 6-2, the Panthers have lost three straight games. They suffered a tough loss to the Seahawks at home last week, but it was still another productive performance from Newton. He completed 25 of 30 pass attempts for 256 yards and two touchdowns while also chipping in 63 yards on the ground. That marked the fourth time in the last five games that’s posted a completion percentage of at least 72.4 percent and his 10th straight contest with at least two touchdown passes.

Newton gets a stellar matchup this week against a bad Bucs secondary that has allowed the most passing touchdowns (26) and the sixth-most passing yards per game (274). They did play well against the 49ers last week, but facing Nick Mullens and his depleted wide receiver group isn’t exactly a herculean task. The Panthers hung 42 points on the Bucs when these two played each other in Week 9, a game in which Newton had 247 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Jared Goff vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – Ford Field
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $6,400

As impressive as Mahomes was during their matchup, Goff was just as good with 413 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and one score on the ground. That marked his second game with at least 400 passing yards this season and the third time in his last four contests that he threw for at least three touchdowns. It’s also important to note that he has just one interception across his last five games.

The Rams also had the luxury of a bye last week and will now travel to Detroit to face a Lions team that is in line for another disappointing year at 4-7. They don’t give up a ton of yards through the air, but the Lions have allowed 24 passing touchdowns compared to just four interceptions. This also has the makings of a potential blowout, but Goff is still a great option in cash contests due to his touchdown upside.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $6,300

After struggling to score at the beginning of the season, the Seahawks have produced at least 27 points in each of their last three games. Wilson had his best game of the year in Week 12, throwing for 339 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers. That was the first time he topped 300 passing yards in a game, but it was also his seventh-straight contest with at least two touchdowns.

The Seahawks have a run-heavy offense, which sometimes doesn’t always lead to huge yardage totals from Wilson. However, that hasn’t stopped him from throwing for 25 touchdowns, leaving him with a great chance to throw for at least 30 scores for the third time in his career. The 49ers have allowed 23 passing touchdowns and picked off just two passes all season, so expect Wilson to thrive in this contest.

Jameis Winston vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,000

Things couldn’t have gone much better for Winston in his return as the starting quarterback last week against the 49ers. He completed 76.3 percent of his passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns while adding 24 rushing yards. Maybe the most important stat is that he wasn’t intercepted for the first time this season.

The Bucs beat the 49ers comfortably, holding them to just nine points. Don’t expect their defense to play nearly as well against the Panthers, which should require Winston to throw the ball more to keep up. The Panthers are vulnerable through the air having allowed 25 touchdown passes, although it is a bit concerning for Winston that they also have 11 interceptions. His history with turnovers makes him a bit risky, but he still has enough upside to make him a viable option in tournament play.

Lamar Jackson vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $5,900

He didn’t exactly face a tough opponent in the Raiders, but Jackson helped lead the Ravens to another win in Week 12. His passing numbers weren’t stellar, completing 14 of 25 attempts for 178 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. However, he continued to dominate with his legs, rushing 11 times for 71 yards and a touchdown. Through two starts, Jackson has an insane 190 rushing yards.

The Ravens quarterback situation is one to monitor closely. Joe Flacco (hip) has still not been cleared to return, which could lead Jackson to start again in Week 13. Even if Flacco is healthy enough to play, there is no guarantee he regains his starting job. There have already been reports that the Ravens might use both quarterbacks in games. If Flacco is out against the Falcons, this is a great opportunity for Jackson since the Falcons have allowed the seventh-most rushing yards (205) and three rushing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Quarterbacks

Matt Ryan vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $5,600

The Falcons couldn’t pull out a win against the Saints last week, but Ryan still played well with 377 yards and two touchdowns. Ryan gets the benefit of playing this game at home and has some great weapons at wide receiver, but this is not a very favorable matchup against a Ravens team that allows the second-fewest passing yards per game (203). Ryan might not be a total flop and isn’t priced overly high on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel is less than appealing.

Case Keenum vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $5,200

On the surface, this might stand out as a great matchup against a Bengals defense that couldn’t be playing much worse. They’ve allowed the second-most passing yards per game (292) and were just destroyed by the Browns. However, Keenum is having a poor season with 13 touchdown passes compared to 10 interceptions. He hasn’t thrown for at least 300 yards in a game since Week 6 and has thrown for 205 yards or fewer in back-to-back contests. If you want to take a chance on a cheap option in tournament play, look elsewhere.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 – TE/DEF/ST

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

The tight end position could receive a significant boost in Week 12 with Rob Gronkowski (back/ankle) expected to play for the first time since Week 8. 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

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 - TE/DEF/ST

Zach Ertz vs. New York Giants
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $6,400

Last week was about as ugly as it could get for the Eagles. Their defense was destroyed by the Saints and their offense looked completely inept, resulting in a 48-7 loss. Even Ertz, who is normally immune to any shortcomings the rest of the offense might have, finished with just two catches for 15 yards. He only had three targets, which is crazy considering he had 16 the previous week and hasn’t had fewer than six in any game this year.

Chalk Week 11 up to basically a worst case scenario for Ertz. He’s already had seven games with at least 10 targets, so he’ll continue to have one of the highest floors of any tight end. When the Eagles faced the Giants in Week 6, Ertz caught seven of nine targets for 43 yards and a touchdown. The Giants defense has traded away a couple of key players since then, setting up Ertz with the potential for an even better performance in their rematch.

George Kittle vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,200

It hasn’t mattered who is throwing passes to Kittle so far this season. He’s emerged as one of the best tight ends in fantasy despite playing for an offense that is riddled with injuries and very short on talent. He lit up the Giants for nine receptions and 83 yards in Week 10, setting a season-high with 10 targets. That marked the third time in the last four games that he has received at least eight targets.

Kittle is a strong play against most teams, but this really stands out as a game for him to exploit a terrible Bucs defense. They’ve struggled in just about every facet of the game, including allowing 747 yards and five touchdowns to opposing tight ends. Even though his price has climbed significantly, Kittle is still a great option for cash contests.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,000

The Jaguars were locking down the Steelers for the majority of their game last week, but couldn’t hold on at the end. The Steelers stormed back from a 16-0 deficit to beat them, 20-16. Facing the Steelers is no easy task, but the Jaguars defense looked primed for a big game with three interceptions and two sacks before ultimately letting the team down.

It was going to be difficult for the Jaguars to replicate the stellar defensive numbers that they compiled last year, so it’s not all that surprising that they have regressed to an extent. They have allowed at least 20 points in six straight games, including two contests where they allowed at least 30 points. Their sack numbers are down, but they have still held opponents to the third-fewest passing yards per game (210). If there was ever a week for them to get back to their dominant form, this is it against a Bills offense that has been anemic for the majority of the season.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 - TE/DEF/ST

Nick Vannett vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $2,700

The Seahawks are riding the high of taking down the Packers in Week 11. Their run-heavy offense came through for them again with Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny, and Mike Davis combining for 155 yards and a touchdown. Vannett wasn’t very involved, catching just one of two targets for 17 yards. If there was a silver lining from his performance it was that he was on the field for 60 percent of the Seahawks offensive snaps.

There is certainly plenty of risk involved with Vannett. The Seahawks don’t throw the ball much, which has resulted in Vannett receiving three targets or fewer in three of his last four games. However, during that four-game stretch, he also showed his upside with six catches, 52 yards, and a touchdown in Week 9 against the Chargers. This matchup couldn’t be any better against a Panthers defense that allowed a whopping nine touchdowns to tight ends, so don’t overlook Vannett in tournament play.

Cameron Brate vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $3,600

Brate has largely been an afterthought in the Bucs offense behind O.J. Howard. He’s only received 17 targets all season compared to 48 for Howard. However, Brate will have the position all to himself now after Howard injured his ankle last week and was placed on injured reserve.

The Bucs are lucky to have such a talented backup in Brate. He’s shown an ability to be a major contributor in the past, hauling in 14 touchdowns across the previous two seasons. Even with his limited workload this year, he’s found his way into the end zone three times. Not only is Brate a hot pickup if you play in season-long fantasy, but he’s a great option in DFS for Week 12 at such a cheap price.

Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $2,700

The Bills have come crashing back down to Earth after finally ending their long playoff drought last year. Their offense is significantly devoid of talent and injuries haven’t helped their cause, either. However, they headed into their bye riding the high of a demolishing of the Jets in which the defense had three sacks and two interceptions. The Jets don’t exactly have a lot of weapons on offense and were without Sam Darnold (foot), but the Bills still held them to 10 points.

If there has been a bright spot for the Bills, it’s been their defense. They’ve allowed the fewest passing yards per game (202) and the 10th-fewest rushing yards per game (99.8). The Jaguars finally have star running back Leonard Fournette healthy, but Blake Bortles has been awful. They’ve only scored an average of 14.7 points across their last six contests, so this could be an opportunity to roll with the Bills defense if you’d like to save a little money at the position.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 - TE/DEF/ST

Evan Engram vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,200

Engram didn’t exactly shine last week against the Bucs, finishing with two catches for 66 yards. He only received two targets and was on the field for just 32 percent of the Giants offensive snaps. The problem for Engram is that the Giants have a lot of talent around him. With Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquan Barkley the clear leaders of their offense, Engram doesn’t always get a ton of passes thrown his way. The Eagles have only allowed 370 yards and two touchdowns to tight ends, making Engram an unappealing option in DFS.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $3,300

The Ravens are certainly not someone to avoid based on their matchup. The Raiders have had trouble scoring points and are running out of healthy players. Despite this looking like a prime spot to use the Ravens, it might not be as great as you think. The Ravens had a crazy 11 sacks against the Titans in Week 6, but they only have three sacks across four games since. They also have just five interceptions, which is the sixth-fewest in the league. You’ll have to pay up to get them into your lineup, so it might not be a wise choice based on their inability to provide sacks and turnovers.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 – Wide Receivers

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

The Chiefs and Rams being on byes take away some of the top wide receivers for Week 12, but there are still some great options that stand out at the position in DFS. Let’s highlight a few across the price scale that are worth considering. 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 12 - Wide Receivers

Antonio Brown vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $8,700

The Steelers were down 16-0 against the Jaguars on Sunday but stormed back for a big win on the road. Brown wasn’t exactly efficient by catching five of 13 targets, but he turned in a season-high 117 receiving yards and a touchdown. The yardage total is especially impressive when you consider how well the Jaguars have defended against the pass this season. They’ve allowed just 14 passing touchdowns, as well.

The Broncos aren’t exactly a pushover, either, but they have given up 18 touchdowns through the air. Brown not only leads the Steelers with 109 targets but that mark also ranks third in the entire league. Add in his 11 touchdown receptions and he has one of the highest floors of any receiver in DFS, especially during a week with Tyreek Hill and the Rams receivers unavailable.

Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $8,800

The Giants regrouped during their bye week and have now won two straight games for the first time since December of 2016. They scored at least 27 points in both wins with Beckham leading the charge for their receiver group. After catching four passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns in Week 10, Beckham followed that up with four receptions for 74 yards and another touchdown in Week 11.

Likely the biggest reason for the Giants offensive explosion has been their opponents. They faced the 49ers and Bucs, who have combined to allow 46 touchdown passes. The Eagles overall numbers aren’t nearly as bad, but their secondary is decimated right now by injuries. That led the Saints to score 48 points against them in Week 11. Eli Manning is no Drew Brees and this game is at home for the Eagles, but this is a matchup where Beckham could feast.

Mike Evans vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,700

The Bucs were in catch-up mode against the Giants last week, which helped Evans put up some big numbers during the second half. He finished the game with six catches for 120 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. The Bucs will be making yet another quarterback change for this contest, but Evans certainly has a long-standing relationship with Jameis Winston, so don’t expect it to negatively impact his value.

The thing you love about Evans is that you know he’s going to have plenty of opportunities to produce. Not only is he the Bucs top wide receiver, but their defense gives up a ton of points. This requires their offense to throw a lot to try and keep pace. This is a matchup to exploit against a 49ers secondary that has allowed 21 touchdown passes and recorded just two interceptions all season.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 - Wide Receivers

Tyler Boyd vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $6,000

Boyd was the Bengals primary pass catcher again in Week 11 with A.J. Green (toe) on the sidelines. He received 11 targets in that contest, marking his second-highest total of the season. However, he wasn’t able to cash in on his opportunity, catching just four passes for 71 yards. He also failed to score a touchdown for the second straight week, which is somewhat surprising since Green missed both of those contests.

Green will likely return for Week 12, which might actually be a good thing for Boyd. He’ll no longer be the focal point of the opposing team’s defense, setting him up with a better chance to shine against lesser cornerbacks. The Browns do have 13 interceptions this year, but they’ve also allowed the third-most passing yards per game (288). While not a completely safe option at this price, Boyd could be in line for a bounce-back performance.

Doug Baldwin vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of American Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,100

Baldwin is going to need to make a late push if he’s going to get at least 100 targets for the fourth straight season. Injuries left him to start off slowly, but he’s finally showing signs of turning things around with some improved health. He had his best performance of the year in Week 11, catching seven of 10 targets for 52 yards and a touchdown. That marked the first time he’s received double-digit targets in a game and his first touchdown.

If Baldwin really is past his injury issues, he could be in for a monster finish. One of the more encouraging stats from his Week 11 performance is that he received three red zone targets. The Panthers haven’t given up a ton of yards through the air, but they have allowed the fourth-most passing touchdowns (23). This might be the time to take advantage by putting Baldwin in your lineup before his price starts to climb.

Larry Fitzgerald vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,000

Is there anyone happier than Larry Fitzgerald that the Cardinals made a change at offensive coordinator? Other than David Johnson, probably not. In three games since Byron Leftwich took over, Fitzgerald has compiled 26 targets, 16 receptions, 175 yards, and three touchdowns. Across his first seven games, he had a total of 41 targets, 26 receptions, 255 yards, and one touchdown.

It should be noted that his increased production could also be a product of an easier schedule. He has played the 49ers, Chiefs, and Raiders across his last three contests, none of which defend the pass well. Facing the Chargers won’t be as easy with them allowing 15 touchdown passes compared to 10 interceptions. With that being said, Fitzgerald should still see enough volume to at least be worth considering in tournament play.

Marquise Goodwin vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,600

There are few people who were as high as I was on Goodwin heading into this season. He was coming off of a great 2017 campaign and looked poised to break out with Jimmy Garopplo at quarterback. However, injuries hit the 49ers early and often, the most significant of which was losing Garoppolo to a torn ACL. Goodwin has battled plenty of his own injury concerns, leaving him with just 17 catches for 339 yards.

If you’re looking for a silver lining with Goodwin, he does have four touchdown receptions. He also caught four passes for 69 yards against the Giants in Week 10 and has now had the benefit of a bye week to rest up. If there was ever a game for him to break out, this is it. The Bucs have allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game (282) and are tied for the most touchdown passes allowed (25), making Goodwin an extremely appealing option at this price.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 - Wide Receivers

Keenan Allen vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $7,100

This is more about Allen’s matchup than anything else. He’s playing really well right now with touchdowns in back-to-back games and he has 87 targets already. However, the Cardinals boast a strong secondary that contains star cornerback Patrick Peterson. They’ve allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (218), making Allen a risky option at this price. I’d much rather roll with Mike Evans if you looking for someone in a similar price range as Allen.

Golden Tate vs. New York Giants
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $4,800

After barely playing in Week 10 against the Cowboys, Tate was on the field for 71 percent of the Eagles offensive snaps in Week 11. He didn’t put up a great performance, though, with five catches for 48 yards on eight targets. The Eagles are still working him into their offense, but even in the best case scenario, he’s likely their third receiving option behind Zach Ertz and Alshon Jeffery. His price on DraftKings isn’t terrible, but he seems like a reach based on his price on FanDuel.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 – Quarterbacks

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

With two of the top offensive teams in the Chiefs and Rams on a bye, two of the top quarterback options won’t be available in Week 12.  Add in three Thanksgiving games and primetime matchups that include the Packers and Texans and the position is thinner than usual for the main Sunday slate in DFS. Let’s examine some of the options still on the board that could help you come away with a winning 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 12 - Quarterbacks

Cam Newton vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $6,200

Newton doesn’t always rack up a ton of passing yards, but he posted a season-high 357 yards through the air during Sunday’s loss to the Lions. He also had three passing touchdowns, which helped make up for his season-low two rushing yards. Known for his ability to pad his stats on the ground, Newton has actually only carried the ball a total of four times across his last two contests. He had 21 carries over two games before that stretch.

After laying an egg Week 1 against the Cowboys, Newton has thrown at least two touchdown passes in nine straight games. He’s only two away from his entire mark in 2017. Add in his four rushing touchdowns and he has a tremendously high floor. The Seahawks started out the year defending the pass well, but they’be shown some holes of late, allowing 878 yards and six touchdowns through the air across their last three games.

Andrew Luck vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $6,400

The Colts came away with their fourth straight victory in Week 11 to even their record at 5-5. Luck picked apart the Titans, completing 23 of 29 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns. The Colts have been blowing out opponents during their recent winning streak, which has somewhat put a damper on Luck’s yardage totals. However, he posted a completion percentage of at least 71 percent and thrown at least three touchdowns in each of the four games.

After sitting out all of 2017, the fact that Luck has 29 touchdowns across his first 10 games is incredibly impressive. He has been a bit turnover prone with nine interceptions, but he has only thrown one pick across his last four games. The Dolphins have 15 interceptions compared to 18 touchdown passes allowed this season, but this still isn’t a situation to shy away from using Luck. If the Colts are going to continue to be successful, it will be on the strength of his throwing arm.

Russell Wilson vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $5,600

The Seahawks have been able to get a few extra days of rest after completing a comeback win against the Packers on Thursday Night Football. Russell threw for 225 yards in that game and has only topped 250 passing yards in a game one time this season. In fact, he’s still looking for his first 300-yard performance. However, he logged two touchdowns in that contest and has now thrown for at least two scores in every game but one this year.

The only negative with Wilson is that the Seahawks run-heavy scheme is going to limit his passing attempts. On the plus side, he’s made the most of his opportunities by posting a 66.2 percent completion percentage that is the second-highest mark of his career. The Panthers have allowed the fourth-most passing touchdowns (23) in the league, leaving Wilson with an excellent opportunity for another multi-touchdown performance.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 - Quarterbacks

Jameis Winston vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,000

The Bucs are a mess. After starting out the season 3-2, they’ve now lost four consecutive games. They haven’t been able to settle on a starting quarterback, which is one of the big reasons for their struggles. Ryan Fitzpatrick started Sunday against the Giants but was pulled after throwing three interceptions. Winston, who previously lost the starting job due to his own interception issues, came on in relief and threw for 199 yards and two touchdowns.

With how poorly Fitzpatrick has played the last two weeks, Winston will get the starting nod in Week 12. Interceptions will continue to be a concern, but he’s shown plenty of potential when on the field. This is also a favorable matchup for him considering the 49ers only have two interceptions all season. Ironically, the only team with fewer is the Bucs with just one pick. The 49ers have also allowed 21 passing touchdowns, which is tied for the sixth-most in the league.

Baker Mayfield vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $5,500

The last time we saw Mayfield on the field was in Week 10 against the Falcons. The Browns pulled off the upset win in large part because of an excellent performance from running back Nick Chubb. Mayfield was only required to throw the ball 20 times due to their success on the ground, but he completed 17 of those passes for 216 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.

After getting their bye in Week 11, the Browns enter this game well rested and ready to take on a Bengals team that has allowed the second-most passing yards per game (296). Mayfield has thrown at least two touchdown passes in four straight games and completed at least 67.7 percent of his passes in three of those contests, so don’t be surprised if he takes advantage of the Bengals’ porous secondary Sunday.

Nick Mullens vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,400

The 49ers were on a bye in Week 11 after suffering a loss to the Giants in Week 10. Mullens had a largely disappointing performance, throwing for 250 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. However, the Giants aren’t as bad defensively as their 3-7 record might lead you to believe. They’ve only allowed 14 passing touchdowns all season, which is tied for the fourth-fewest in the league. They’ve also recorded 10 interceptions.

Mullens retained the starting quarterback job despite his struggles in that game and is now set for an excellent matchup against the Bucs. The Giants have been terrible offensively for most of the season but hung 38 points on the Bucs in Week 11. The Bucs are tied for the most touchdown passes allowed (25) and have just the one interception that I mentioned earlier, making Mullens an intriguing option to consider in tournament play.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 - Quarterbacks

Andy Dalton vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $5,300

Dalton didn’t play well during a Week 11 loss to the Bengals, completing only 52.8 percent of his passes for 211 yards. He sorely missed A.J. Green (toe), but he might get him back on the field Sunday. Green’s return would certainly help Dalton, but Dalton has thrown for more than 248 yards only once in his last six contests. With nine touchdowns across that six-game stretch, he hasn’t provided a ton of value. The Browns have 13 interceptions compared to just 16 touchdown passes allowed, making Dalton a very risky play.

Case Keenum vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $4.700

The Broncos sure miss Peyton Manning. They’ve struggled to find a productive quarterback since his retirement, but they had hoped to finally solidify the position with the addition of Keenum. However, Keenum has not been able to build on his strong 2017 campaign with the Vikings, throwing 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with his new squad. The Steelers have allowed the seventh-fewest passing yards per game (227), so stay far, far away from Keenum.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 – Wide Receivers

*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.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

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 11 – Quarterbacks

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

We’re back up to six teams on a bye for Week 11, but at least this will be the last week that more than two teams will be on a bye. The Packers, Chiefs, Rams, and, Seahawks all play primetime games, making the main Sunday slate in DFS even more thin at quarterback. Let’s dive into the position to see where value can still be found. 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 - Quarterbacks

Cam Newton vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – Ford Field
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $6,200

The Panthers were blown out on the road Thursday night, but at least they get some extra rest for Week 11. Newton completed 79.3 percent of his passes in that contest, but for only 193 yards. The Steelers also bottled him up on the ground, holding him to 10 yards on two carries. Newton was able to somewhat salvage his line with two touchdown passes, which marked his eighth straight game with at least two scores through the air.

Being the road team on Thursday night is tough, let alone having to face the Steelers. Newton and the Panthers get a much easier matchup this week against the Lions, even though it’s also on the road. The Lions have done a good job limiting passing yards, but they’ve given up 19 touchdowns through the air. They’ve also had troubles forcing turnovers with just three interceptions. The passing yards still might not be great for Newton in this contest, but his touchdown upside still leaves him as a good option in cash contests.

Drew Brees vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $6,500

The Saints demolished the Bengals 55-14 in Week 10. It’s no surprise that Brees was spectacular, completing 22 of 25 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns. He even chipped in a rushing touchdown, giving him a great overall line despite not playing the entire fourth quarter due to the lopsided score.

While that game wasn’t close, this should be a much more competitive matchup against the Eagles. Brees could be lined up for a big performance with the Eagles allowing the 10th-most passing yards per game (266). It won’t help their cause that they just lost cornerback Ronald Darby to a torn ACL, either. This game being played at home also favors Brees. In four games at the Superdome, Brees has 12 touchdown passes and is averaging 347.8 yards per game. Across five games on the road, he has nine touchdowns and is averaging 242 yards.

Carson Wentz vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $6,300

In one of the more surprising games of Week 10, the Eagles lost at home to the Cowboys. Wentz played well in the defeat, throwing for 360 yards and two touchdowns. He did throw an interception, but it was only his third of the season. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering he only threw seven picks across 13 games last year.

One noticeable improvement for Wentz this season has been his completion percentage. After completing 60.2 percent of his passes last year, that mark stands at 71 percent through seven games. That’s helped his passing yards per game jump to 306.9 compared to 253.5 last year. The Saints have allowed the second-most passing yards per game (296), leaving Wentz with the potential for another great performance Sunday.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 - Quarterbacks

Deshaun Watson vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $5,700

The Texans squeaked out a close two-point win over the Broncos in Week 9. Then, they were able to enjoy the victory during their bye in Week 10. Watson hasn’t been able to keep up his crazy touchdown rate from his rookie season, but he’s still posted 17 passing touchdowns across nine games. He’s even increased his passing yards per game from 242.7 last season to 265.4 this year.

The loss of Will Fuller to a torn ACL could have been a big blow to Watson’s value, but the Broncos helped mitigate that by adding Demaryius Thomas in a deal with the Broncos. The Texans bye certainly came at the right time since Thomas will now have had extra time to familiarize himself their offense and develop a rapport with Watson. If you want to beat the Redskins, the way to do that is through the air. They are allowing the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game (90.9), but the eighth-most passing yards per contest (270).

Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $5,600

What an odd performance from Fitzpatrick against the Redskins in Week 10. He completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 406 yards, so he should have finished with a monster stat line. However, he failed to record a single touchdown and was picked off twice. Across the previous three games in which Fitzpatrick finished with at least 400 yards this season, he had a total of 11 touchdown passes.

The goods news for Fitzpatrick is that he’s held onto the starting quarterback job for at least another week. With how poorly their defense has played, he’s going to continue to be forced to throw a lot to try and keep pace in games. The Giants defense has certainly been better than their offense, but they traded away a couple of key players in Damon Harrison and Eli Apple. Don’t expect Fitzpatrick to be shut out on touchdowns again in this contest, leaving him as a tournament play with upside.

Eli Manning vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $5,200

The Giants finally put another game in the win column with a defeat of the 49ers on Monday night. Manning wasn’t particularly sharp despite the victory, completing 61.3 percent of his passes for just 188 yards. However, he made up for it by recording a season-high three touchdown passes. That was even more shocking when you consider he had eight touchdown passes all year entering Week 10.

Manning will get another chance to shine against the Bucs, who have allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game (292). This could be another one of Manning’s better touchdown performances of the season, as well, with the Bucs allowing the most touchdown passes through the air (23) in the league. It’s hard to trust Manning at this stage of his career, but he’s priced so cheap that he might be worth taking a chance on in tournament play.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 - Quarterbacks

Ben Roethlisberger vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – TIAA Bank Field
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $5,800

Roethlisberger destroyed the Panthers in Week 10, throwing for 328 yards and five touchdowns. He failed to complete just three passes all game and didn’t throw an interception for the third time in his last four contests. It’s hard to be too down on him coming off of a stat line like that, but the Jaguars have allowed the fewest passing yards per game (201) and have given up only 12 passing touchdowns. Roethlisberger’s price on DraftKings is reasonable, but he’s awfully risky at his price on FanDuel based on this matchup.

Andy Dalton vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $5,000

Simply put, Dalton was a disaster against the Saints. He really missed having his start receiver in A.J. Green (toe), finishing with just 153 passing yards and one touchdown. The Saints also picked him off twice, which was just the second time all season that Dalton has thrown at least two interceptions in a game. Dalton got off to a hot start, but he now has 229 passing yards or fewer in three of his last four contests. The Ravens have one of the best pass defenses in the league, so stay far, far away from Dalton with Green set to miss Week 11.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 – TE/DEF/ST

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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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

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 - TE/DEF/ST

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

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 - TE/DEF/ST

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

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 10 - TE/DEF/ST

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.