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 1 – TE & DEF/ST
For our last positional breakdown of the Week 1 DFS slate, we’ll examine both some tight ends and defenses/special teams to target for your lineup.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – Running Backs
After breaking down the quarterback position Monday, it’s time to dive into the running backs worth considering for Week 1. Whether you are looking to spend big or save at the position, there are viable options for both strategies.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 – Running Backs
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
The Chiefs and Rams will be facing off on Monday Night Football, taking away two of the top running back options for the main Sunday slate of DFS in Week 11. There are also six teams on a bye, which hurts the overall depth at the position. Let’s dive into to schedule to see which options are still on the board. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
CASH CONTEST OPTIONS
Saquon Barkley vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,700
The Giants won their second game of the season against the 49ers in Week 10 with Barkley reaching 100 total yards. His 20 carries were a season-high, but his five targets were the first time he had received fewer than 10 targets since Week 5. The Giants offensive line has been one of the worst units in the league, which has limited Barkley to 3.4 yards-per-carry or fewer in four of his last five games.
Barkley’s touchdown upside will remain somewhat limited due to the Giants terrible offense, but this could be a week for him to shine against the Bucs since they are tied for the third-most rushing touchdown allowed (12) in the league. They’ve also allowed 473 yards and three touchdowns through the air to opposing running backs. With Barkley’s heavy workload, he makes for an excellent option in cash contests.
Melvin Gordon III vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings =$8,900
Gordon has yet to receive 20 carries in a game this season, but that hasn’t stopped him from being one of the most consistent fantasy contributors. He was excellent against the Raiders on Sunday, turning 18 carries into 93 yards. After recording 3.9 yards-per-carry last year, Gordon has posted 5.4 yards-per-carry this season. Not only did Gordon excel on the ground in Week 10, but he also turned five receptions in 72 yards and a touchdown.
With his most recent touchdown, Gordon has now found his way into the end zone at least one time in every game since Week 1. He’s also just 31 targets away from matching his mark from all of 2017. This is a matchup to exploit against the Broncos, who have allowed 4.8 yards-per-carry. Gordon won’t come cheap, but his workload and efficiency make him hard to pass up.
Christian McCaffrey vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – Ford Field
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,000
The Panthers were beaten soundly by the Steelers last week, but McCaffrey still had a productive game with 138 total yards. He also accounted for all three of their scores, compiling one rushing touchdown and two through the air. He only found his way into the end zone once across his first five games but has seven total touchdowns over three games since.
McCaffrey has one of the highest floors among running backs based on his ability to contribute in both the running and passing attacks. He’s been on the field for 96 percent of the Panthers offensive snaps this season, which is tops among their skill players. That type of usage could set him up with a tremendous opportunity to thrive against the Lions, who have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game (132.7).
GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS
David Johnson vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,500
It took until Week 10, but Johnson finally had his first hefty stat line of the season against the Chiefs. Not only did he 98 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, but he also caught seven of nine targets for 85 yards and another score. The rushing yards are obviously important, but it was just as encouraging to see Johnson so involved in the passing game. After receiving 120 targets in 2016, Johnson only had 32 targets across his first eight games.
The change at offensive coordinator might salvage Johnson’s season. After the Cardinals had a bye week to install Byron Leftwich’s new scheme, Johnson looked like the fantasy star that we all know and love. This is another juicy matchup for him against the Raiders, who allow the third-most rushing yards per game (141). His price is already starting to climb, but it’s still low enough for him to have plenty of upside.
Doug Martin vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,500
To say this season has been a disappointment for the Raiders would be a huge understatement. After losing 20-6 to the Chargers last week, their record now stands at 1-8. Their defense hasn’t been good, but it’s hard to win many games when you score 1o points or fewer in four of your last five contests. With Marshawn Lynch (groin) on IR, Martin has received the bulk of their carries. It’s no surprise that he hasn’t scored a touchdown, but he has rushed for at least 61 yards in two of their last three games.
Martin is likely to continue to receive the majority of the carries for the Raiders, but he’s not going to be as involved in the passing attack as Jalen Richard. With the Raiders often down big in games, that doesn’t always work in Martin’s favor. However, even with the Cardinals improved play last week, they still have a ways to go before they can be considered as a dangerous offensive team. The game flow might work in Martin’s favor, which could lead him to a big day since the Cardinals allow the fourth-most rushing yards per game (140.3). They’ve also allowed 13 rushing touchdowns, so this is as good of an opportunity as any for Martin to finally reach the end zone.
Alex Collins vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,400
Collins emerged as the Ravens top running back last year, but his workload has been limited this season. He’s finished with 12 carries or fewer in seven of nine games and hasn’t been much of a factor catching passes out of the backfield, either. That’s not likely to change now with Ty Montgomery coming over from the Packers. Add his 3.7 yards-per-carry to his limited attempts and you get a running back who doesn’t seem all that appealing on the surface.
There are plenty of factors working against Collins in terms of his snap count, but he may still be someone to take a chance on in tournament play. He has managed to record six rushing touchdowns, four of which have come across his last four games. The Bengals have also been atrocious against the run, allowing the second-most yards per game (141.2) and 11 rushing touchdowns. He’s strictly a tournament play option, but this matchup leaves him with some intrigue.
Dion Lewis vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $4,800
The Titans pulled off possibly the biggest shocker of Week 10 with a commanding 34-10 win over the Patriots. It was sweet revenge for Lewis against his former team, but he didn’t exactly shine with 57 yards on 20 carries. The silver lining is the 20 carries, which marked his second straight week with at least 19 rushing attempts. His previous season-high was 16 carries back in Week 1.
Derrick Henry is the Titans preferred option when they get in close, which is the main reason why Lewis only has two total touchdowns. The good news is that he’s significantly out snapped Henry, playing at least 73 percent of their offensive snaps in three of the last four games. Lewis is also the far superior option in the passing game, which is one of the main reasons why he could be someone to play in Week 11. The Colts haven’t played all that poorly against the run, but they’be allowed 71 receptions and 571 receiving yards to running backs.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Lamar Miller vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,600
Miller has had his moments, but he’s largely struggled to provide consistent production. After posting back-to-back games with at least 100 rushing yards, Miller laid an egg in a favorable matchup against the Broncos in Week 9 by turning 12 carries into just 21 yards. That marked his fourth game of the season that he finished with 3.5 yard-per-carry or fewer. The Redskins have allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game (90.9), potentially setting up Miller for another subpar performance.
Adrian Peterson vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,500
All things considered, Peterson didn’t play that poorly behind a makeshift offensive line in Week 10, rushing 19 times for 68 yards against the Bucs. The problem is, that might be close to best case scenario for him moving forward based on all of the injuries to the line. The Texans have allowed a league-low 3.6 yards-per-carry and just three rushing touchdowns, so there isn’t much of a case to be made for playing Peterson on Sunday.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 6 – Wide Receivers
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Reader-only special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
The Giants, Chiefs, and Packers all won’t be part of the main slate for DFS in Week 6, but there are still plenty of great wide receiver options to help you bring home some money. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players to target, and some to possibly avoid, as you create your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
CASH CONTEST OPTIONS
A.J. Green vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,000
Green topped 100 receiving yards for the first time this season during Week 5, hauling in six of 10 targets for 112 yards. Although his yardage totals haven’t always been great, Green has received at least eight targets in all five contests. This is nothing new for Green considering he has never received fewer than 100 targets in a season during his career. That’s especially impressive since he has played 13 or fewer games in a season twice.
The Bengals offense has been much improved, which has helped Green record five touchdowns. While he only had 12 total touchdowns the last two seasons, Green had recorded at least 10 scores in three of the previous four campaigns before that stretch. The Steelers have allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game (296) and are tied for the most passing touchdowns allowed (13), leaving Green with a high floor Sunday.
Adam Thielen vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel – $8,600
DraftKings = $8,500
Simply put, Thielen is a target machine. His 66 targets are tied for the league lead with Antonio Brown and his 47 receptions are more than any other player. The problem for Thielen last year was that he received plenty of passes thrown his way, but he was only able to convert them into three touchdowns. He’s already matched that mark this season to go along with at least 105 yards in each contest.
There are few sure things in DFS, but Thielen has one of the highest floors of any receiver in the league. The Vikings offense has been explosive with Kirk Cousins at the helm, resulting in them attempting the third-most passes in the league. The Vikings might get up big in this game against the inferior Cardinals, but Thielen will still get plenty of opportunities to provide value.
Julio Jones vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $7,900
The drought continues for Jones. He has failed to find the end zone this season and has scored just three touchdowns total since the start of the 2017 season. He had his worst performance of the year in Week 5, catching five of nine targets for 62 yards. On the bright side, it was the fourth time this season that Jones has received at least nine targets.
Jones’ lack of touchdowns might scare some people away from using him at this price. However, this is a stellar matchup against the Bucs. They have allowed the most passing yards per game (358) and are tied with the Steelers for the most touchdown passes allowed (13) despite only playing four games. When these two teams met in Atlanta last year, Jones exploded for 12 catches on 15 targets for 253 yards and two touchdowns. This is as good an opportunity as any for Jones to find the end zone.
GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS
Tyler Boyd vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $6,000
Boyd was flying high heading into Week 5 against the Dolphins having posted at least 91 receiving yards in three straight games. He was heavily involved with seven targets, but he was only able to turn that into four catches for 44 yards. He also failed to score a touchdown for the second straight week against a Dolphins defense that has only allowed six scores through the air all season.
Although his results last week were a disappointment, it was encouraging to see him receive so many targets. He and Green are actually tied for the team lead with 43 targets each. After them, the next two players with the most targets are both injured in Giovani Bernard (21) and Tyler Eifert (19). With how poorly the Steelers defense has played against the pass this season, there is plenty of room for both Green and Boyd to be productive Sunday.
Mohamed Sanu vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,800
The sexy names in the Falcons wide receiver corp are Jones and emerging rookie Calvin Ridley. While they might grab all the headlines, don’t sleep on Sanu. He had another big game last week against the Steelers with 73 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. It marked the second time in the last three weeks that Sanu found the end zone and the fourth time in five games that he has received at least six targets.
Sanu has been on the field for 81% of the Falcons offensive plays this season, which is second-highest on the team only to tight end Austin Hooper. By comparison, Ridley has only been on the field 61% of the time. Ridley might have the highest touchdown upside and Jones may receive more targets, but Sanu can provide value in his own right. Considering how cheap he is on both sites, he could be a great option against the porous Bucs secondary.
Keke Coutee vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,600
The Texans have two excellent wide receivers in DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller. Both are having great seasons with quarterback Deshaun Watson back from a torn ACL. Another player who is starting to emerge for the Texans is Coutee, who missed the first three games due to a hamstring injury. He debuted in style Week 4 against the Colts, catching 11 of 15 targets for 109 yards. He followed that up with six catches on seven targets for 51 yards and a touchdown Week 5.
Can Coutee keep up this kind of production playing alongside two other great receivers? Well, working in his favor is the fact that the Texans run a lot of three-receiver sets. That has resulted in Coutee being on the field for 82% of the teams offensive plays since his return. His upside isn’t nearly as high as that of Hopkins or Fuller, but it doesn’t have to be for him to be a viable option in tournament play at this price.
Chester Rogers vs. New York Jets
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,500
The Colts were extremely thin on pass-catching options for Week 5 with both T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle out due to injury. Rogers was heavily involved, as a result, catching eight of 11 targets for 66 yards. Doyle was out for Week 4, too, and Hilton was also injured during that game, which helped Rogers catch eight of 11 targets for 85 yards.
Injuries will be a problem for the Colts again for Week 6 with both Hilton and Doyle unlikely to play. Eric Ebron has helped make up for the loss of Doyle, but the Colts wide receiver trio of Rogers, Ryan Grant, and Zach Pascal are left to fill the significant void created by Hilton’s absence. Rogers hasn’t shown to have big-play upside, but 22 targets across two games in certainly encouraging for his potential output Sunday.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Allen Robinson vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,700
The Bears badly needed to add talent at wide receiver during the offseason, resulting in Robinson being their prized acquisition. He posted 10 catches on 14 targets in Week 2, but only accumulated 83 yards. He has yet to top 100 receiving yards in a game this season and has finished with 61 or fewer receiving yards in three of four contests. The Dolphins have done a great job keeping opposing receivers out of the end zone, leaving Robinson with little upside.
Corey Davis vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – Nissan Stadium
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,800
Davis followed up his monster performance Week 4 against the Eagles with just four catches on six targets for 49 yards last week against the Bills. Considering he has 62 receiving yards or fewer in four of five games, that game against the Eagles is more of an outlier than anything else. The Ravens have allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (215), so don’t expect Davis to be overly productive.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3 – Running Backs
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
One of the themes of Week 2 was running backs racking up catches for their respective squads. Three of the top four leaders in receptions for Week 2 were runnings backs and all three of them finished with at least 80 receiving yards. There are plenty of great matchups for running backs again in Week 3, so let’s dig into the position to see where you can gain the edge in DFS. 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
Alvin Kamara vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $9,500
Kamara had another fairly quiet performance on the ground in Week 2, rushing 13 times for 46 yards against the Browns. However, he was heavily involved in the passing game, catching all six of his targets for 53 yards. Through the first two games, Kamara already has 15 receptions on 18 targets. He was a monster in the passing game last year, as well, hauling in 81 or 100 targets for 826 yards.
Week 3 brings a great matchup against a Falcons defense that suffered a significant loss when linebacker Deion Jones was placed on IR. Christian McCaffrey took advantage of his absence last week, catching 14 of 15 targets for 102 yards. Kamara may not get a ton of carries again, but his tremendous upside as a receiver makes him one of the best running back options available in DFS.
Saquon Barkley vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,600
The Giants looked awful offensively Sunday night against the Cowboys. Their offensive line once again had trouble protecting Eli Manning, who has clearly lost a step at this stage of his career. Manning looked to have his head on a swivel in the pocket, often checking down to Barkley to avoid the oncoming pass rush. The end result was Barkley catching 14 of 16 passes thrown his way. He didn’t have a lot of room to run, though, accumulating only 80 receiving yards. He also couldn’t get much going on the ground, carrying 11 times for 28 yards.
The Giants have talented playmakers on offense, but their offensive line and the poor play of Manning might limit some of them from reaching their full potential this year. The one positive for Barkley is that he should receive plenty of targets from Manning as he tries to quickly get the ball out of his hands. Barkley has shown an ability to force missed tackles and he can break off a big play at any moment, which gives him a high floor most weeks.
Jordan Howard vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $6,500
Howard didn’t exactly shine on Monday Night Football against the Seahawks, rushing 14 times for 35 yards. He’s failed to score a touchdown yet this year, but his involvement in the passing game has been promising. He received 32 targets in 2017, but he’s already had nine passes thrown his way across two games, hauling in eight of them for 58 yards. The Bears have another talented pass-catcher out of the backfield in Tarik Cohen, but he’s received only five targets so far.
Week 3 brings a great matchup that could potentially lead to a breakout performance from Howard. The Cardinals offense has looked terrible this year, often putting them in a big hole early. This has resulted in their opponents running the ball a lot late in games. The Cardinals haven’t provided much resistance, allowing 256 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs.
GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS
Chris Thompson vs. Green Bay Packers
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $6,300
Thompson may not get a lot of press, but he’s one of the best pass-catching running backs in football. He proved it again in Week 2 against the Colts, catching 13 of 14 targets for 92 yards and a touchdown. He’s quickly developed a strong relationship with Alex Smith, resulting in him receiving 21 targets through the first two weeks. While Adrian Peterson was brought in to help offset the loss of Derrius Guice, Thompson’s significant role with the team remains unquestioned.
Peterson took a step backward from his 96-rushing-yard performance in Week 1, but part of that was because the Redskins were playing catchup against the Colts. Peterson ended up with 15 fewer carriers than he had in the first week. Going up against the high-powered Packers offense could force the Redskins to throw more passes in this game, as well, making Thompson a great option to target for your entry.
Giovani Bernard vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $5,900
Joe Mixon couldn’t make it through Thursday Night Football unscathed and underwent a procedure to remove a small particle from his knee over the weekend. The surgery isn’t expected to sideline Bernard for too long, but he won’t be able to suit up Sunday against the Panthers.
Bernard started two games last season that Mixon also missed due to injury. One of them was a tough matchup against the Vikings where he finished with only 43 total yards, but he did score a touchdown and receive 14 carries to go along with five targets. He accumulated 130 total yards in his other start against the Bears. The Panthers have allowed 4.9 yards per carry across their first two games this season, leaving Bernard with a high ceiling considering his expected role and price in DFS.
Matt Breida vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $5,400
The 49ers were dealt a crushing blow when they lost Jerick McKinnon to a torn ACL before the season even started. In his absence, Breida and Alfred Morris became the lead duo in their backfield. After an unfavorable matchup versus the Vikings in Week 1, Breida rebounded in a big way Sunday against the Lions. He only carried the ball 11 times, but he ran for 138 yards and a score.
Another encouraging sign for Breida in Week 2 is that he received four targets. This could be a high-scoring game against the Chiefs explosive offense, which may force the 49ers to throw more than usual. The Chiefs have given up 261 receiving yards on 21 receptions to running backs so far this year. If he continues to play like he did last week, he could break away from Morris, who has averaged 3.3 yards per carry.
Corey Clement vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,300
The Eagles could be very thin at running back this week. Darren Sproles missed Week 2 with a hamstring injury and his status for this game against the Colts is still in doubt. Jay Ajayi also briefly left Sunday’s game with a back injury, but there have been reports that he might not be able to play this week. The Eagles already promoted Josh Adams from their practice squad, which isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement for the prospects of Ajayi and Sproles taking the field.
Clement played well in Week 2 with Ajayi limited, finishing with 85 total yards and a touchdown. If Ajayi ultimately does not play in this contest, Clement should see a significant boost in value. If Sproles is also ruled out, the potential value you could receive from Clement at this might be too hard to pass up.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
LeSean McCoy vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,100
McCoy is really the only significant weapon the Bills have on offense. They have a hard enough time scoring points, to begin with, but now McCoy is dealing with a rib injury heading into Week 3. He’s listed as questionable right now, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s forced to miss at least this contest. Even if he does play, he’ll be at less than 100% against one of the best defenses in the NFL. Stay far, far away from McCoy when crafting your lineup.
Derrick Henry vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – TIAA Bank Field
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,400
Henry had the potential to become the lead running back for the Titans after the departure of DeMarco Murray, but the addition of Dion Lewis put a damper on his value. They have basically split the carries through two games with Henry getting 28 rushing attempts compared to 30 for Lewis. Lewis is clearly their preferred option as a pass-catcher, though, as he has nine targets compared to just one for Henry. There’s just not enough upside here with Henry to warrant taking a chance on him against the Jaguars stingy defense.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – TE/DEF/ST
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
The NFL season is finally here! Along with it comes another exciting year of daily fantasy football. We’ll be doing things a little differently as we look to help you fatten your wallet. We’ll be churning out four articles a week, including one each for quarterbacks, runnings backs, wide receivers and a combined piece for tight ends and defenses/special teams.
In each article, we’ll highlight some players to target for cash or GPP contents. We’ll also discuss players to avoid as your 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
Rob Gronkowski vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $6,900
Gronkowski was able to stay relatively healthy last year and he put up big numbers as a result. He caught 69 of 105 targets for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns. He also received 21 red zone targets, second to only Jimmy Graham (27) among tight ends. In the last four seasons that Gronkowski has played at least 14 games, he has at least 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns in each of them.
While he’s always one of Tom Brady’s top targets, Gronkowski will likely be leaned on even more so with Julian Edelman suspended for the first four games of the season. Outside of Chris Hogan, the Patriots are extremely thin at wide receiver. For a Week 1 schedule that has so many viable cheap options at running back and wide receiver, this might be the time to pay up to get Gronkowski into your lineup.
Delanie Walker vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $4,900
Walker is as steady as they come at tight end. He’s logged at least 100 targets, 60 receptions and 800 receiving yards in four consecutive seasons. His three touchdowns last year were a bit of a disappointment, but the struggles of quarterback Marcus Mariota led to some down numbers for most of the Titans pass catchers. Mariota threw just 13 touchdowns the entire season.
The Titans still don’t have a ton of great weapons on offense, but they did bring in Dion Lewis to form a solid duo out of the backfield with Derrick Henry. They also should see some improvement from second-year receiver Corey Davis. That might help take some of the attention away from Walker by opposing defenses. Considering Walker received at least five targets in all but one game last year, he has one of the highest floors at the tight end position.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $3,800
This seems like the chalk play of the week. The Bills offense looks simply atrocious outside of LeSean McCoy. Nathan Peterman will be their starting quarterback after he threw one touchdown and five interceptions in two starts last year. They are extremely thin at wide receiver, as well, which doesn’t exactly help Peterman’s cause. The Ravens were excellent at creating turnovers last year with 22 interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries. Don’t overthink this one, play the Ravens.
GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS
Jordan Reed vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,000
Reed has never played more than 14 games during a season in his career. In four of his five years in the league, he’s played 12 games or fewer. More injuries ruined his 2017 campaign, resulting in him playing just six games. He wasn’t productive when he was on the field, either, averaging 35.2 yards per contest.
The good news is that Reed looks to be healthy heading into Week 1. The Redskins managed his workload throughout training camp and during the preseason, but he’s not listed on their injury report for this game. Although he’ll be playing with a new quarterback in Alex Smith, Reed is one of the best pass-catching options on the Redskins roster. It’s not often that you get the opportunity to roster him at such a reduced price, so this might be an opportunity to pounce on.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,200
Seferian-Jenkins entered the league with a lot of promise after being selected 38th overall in the 2014 draft by the Buccaneers. Off-the-field issues prevented him from fulfilling his potential with the Buccaneers, ultimately leading him to become a member of the Jets. He played a career-high 13 games for the Jets last year, catching 50 of 74 targets for 357 yards and three touchdowns.
The Jaguars badly needed to add talent at tight end, ultimately leading them to take a chance on Seferian-Jenkins. He gets a great matchup right out of the gate against a Giants defense that allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends last year and looks to be soft in the middle of the field again this season. Seferian-Jenkins is dealing with a core injury right now, but if he’s cleared to play, he has an excellent opportunity to outproduce his price point.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $2,800
The Chiefs certainly have plenty of talent on offense, led by Kareem Hunt, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce. They have turned over the reins at quarterback to Patrick Mahomes, their promising first-round pick from 2017. Mahomes has a great arm and could be in store for a productive NFL career, but he gets a tough assignment Week 1 on the road against a Chargers defense that can create pressure with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. They did lose cornerback Jason Verrett due to a torn Achilles, but they still have an extremely talented secondary. Don’t be surprised if the Chargers create a couple of turnovers in this game.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Evan Engram vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,700
The Giants were decimated by injuries at wide receiver last year, which sometimes left Engram as their best pass-catching option. He had a promising rookie campaign, overall, catching 64 of 115 targets for 772 yards and six touchdowns. The Giants are healthy at wide receiver heading into Week 1 and added talented rookie running back Saquon Barkley to their backfield, so Engram might not see a ton of targets come his way. Add in the fact that he is playing the stingy Jaguars defense and he’s risky at this price.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $3,100
The “Legion of Boom” era is officially a thing of the past in Seattle. Not only did they lose Richard Sherman this offseason, but Sheldon Richardson and Michael Bennett are also gone from their defensive front. They did receive some encouraging news when Earl Thomas ended his holdout Wednesday, but it’s unclear if he’ll be able to play at full capacity considering his last-minute arrival. The Broncos improved significantly at quarterback with Case Keenum and also added promising rookie running back Royce Freeman during the offseason, leaving the Seahawks as a defense to avoid for your entry.
Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 14
*Mike Barner*
Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 14
There are some great matchups for Week 14 of the NFL, including the Minnesota Vikings against the Carolina Panthers and the Philadelphia Eagles against the Los Angeles Rams. While those should be exciting, let’s try to add even more excitement to your weekend by coming away with some money in daily fantasy football. Put your favorite recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.
**QUARTERBACKS**
Alex Smith vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $6,500
FanDuel = $8,200
After a couple of rough games, Smith and the Chiefs offense came alive against the New York Jets Sunday after head coach Andy Reid relinquished play-calling duties to their offensive coordinator. Smith finished with one of his best games of the season as he threw for 366 yards and four touchdowns to go along with 70 rushing yards. While the rushing yards came on one long run, it was encouraging to see Smith regain his early season form with the passing game. Week 14 brings a great matchup against a Raiders defense that he torched for 342 yards and three touchdowns earlier this season. That shouldn’t be much of a surprise as the Raiders have allowed 20 passing touchdowns this year while hauling in only one interception. Look for Smith to keep his improved play going for at least one more week.
Derek Carr vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $6,400
FanDuel = $7,700
Considering Carr was without Amari Cooper (concussion/ankle) and Michael Crabtree (suspension) last week, the fact he was still managed to throw for 287 yards and a touchdown is noteworthy. Crabtree will return this week, giving Carr a big weapon back even if Cooper isn’t healthy enough to play. Carr had his best game of the season against the Chiefs in Week 7 when he threw for 417 yards and three touchdowns. The Chiefs have struggled to defend the pass all season, allowing the fifth-most net passing yard per game (253) in the league. This could be a high scoring affair that benefits both quarterbacks Sunday.
Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Houston Texans
Stadium = NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $5,500
FanDuel = $7,000
Although he didn’t throw a touchdown, Garappolo’s first start for the 49ers had to be considered a success as he threw for 293 yards against a Chicago Bears defense that is tough against the pass. Garoppolo has already been named the starter for Week 14 and probably will start for the rest of the season. Sunday brings a favorable matchup against a Texans defense that has allowed the third-most passing touchdowns (23) in the league. He may not have the best weapons around him, but his opponent Sunday gives him value at this price.
**RUNNING BACKS**
Le’Veon Bell vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – Heinz Field
DraftKings = $9,100
FanDuel = $8,800
Bell has been a monster in the passing game of late, totaling 26 receptions on 31 targets for 251 yards in his last three games. While his numbers are down overall from last year, it’s pretty hard to argue against playing a guy averaging 129.9 total yards per game. The Ravens have shown to be an excellent defense against the pass, but they are middle of the pack in terms of defending the run. Bell torched them for 186 total yards and two touchdowns in Week 4, so roll with him again this week.
Rex Burkhead vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $5,900
FanDuel = $6,400
Burkhead has scored five touchdowns over the last four games, finally establishing a big role in the Patriots offense. While best known for his pass catching abilities, he has still received at least 10 carries in three of his last four games. The Patriots will be without all-world tight end Rob Gronkowski due to a suspension this week, leaving a huge hole in their passing attack. Expect Burkhead to fill some of that void, making him an even better option for your lineup this week.
Kenyan Drake vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $5,400
FanDuel = $6,200
Drake was the featured back last week with Damian Williams (shoulder) out against the Denver Broncos. Drake cashed in his opportunity, rushing for 120 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries. He also showed value in the passing game, hauling in three of five targets for 21 yards. Williams is questionable at best for Week 14, so Drake could be in for another heavy workload. While going up against the Patriots high-powered offense leads most opposing teams to have to throw a lot to catch up, Drake should still provide value based on his role.
**WIDE RECEIVERS**
Tyreek Hill vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $7,100
FanDuel = $7,800
Hill was the main beneficiary of Smith’s improved play last week as he went off for 185 yards and two touchdowns. It marked Hill’s third game with at least 100 yards this season and fifth with at least six receptions. One of those came against the Raiders earlier this season when he had six catches on eight targets for 125 yards and a touchdown. With the Raiders struggles to defend the pass already detailed, don’t be surprised if Hill goes off again this week.
Marvin Jones Jr. vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
DraftKings = $6,800
FanDuel = $7,000
Jones had a respectable performance Week 13 as he recorded four receptions on eight targets for 90 yards. While some may have considered it a let down based on his recent big games, you shouldn’t as he had to face the tough Ravens passing defense. There are no such worries this week against a Buccaneers team that allows second-most net passing yards per game (267) in the league. Jones had five touchdowns in four games heading into last week, so don’t be surprised to see him get back to his scoring ways in Week 14.
Kenny Stills vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $4,900
FanDuel = $5,700
While the Dolphins are in the bottom-seven in the NFL in points scored, Stills can still provide you with value. Not only does he have at least 67 receiving yards in three of his last four games, but he has also received at least six targets in six of his last seven games. With the Dolphins often down big, they turn to the pass to play catch up. Expect them to throw a lot this week in an effort to keep up with the Patriots. As a result of team’s playing from behind, the Patriots defense has actually allowed the fourth-most net passing yards per game (255) in the league. At this reasonable price, Stills is someone you should consider this week.
Marquise Goodwin vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $5,100
FanDuel = $5,700
Goodwin played well in Garoppolo’s first start as he hauled in all eight of his targets for 99 yards. It actually marked his fourth-straight week with at least 68 receiving yards. With the 49ers lacking talent at wide receiver, Goodwin has already set career-highs in targets (70), receptions (35) and receiving yards (677) this season. With all of the poor quarterback play the 49ers have had, expect his 50% catch percentage to increase with Garoppolo now at the helm. Considering the favorable matchup the Texans present, Goodwin could be an excellent value play.
**TIGHT ENDS**
Evan Engram vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $6,000
FanDuel = $6,600
Engram has been the main beneficiary of all the injuries the Giants have suffered at wide receiver, putting together an excellent rookie campaign. He’s become a target monster as he’s had at least seven passes thrown his way in six of the last seven games. Playing in an offense that really struggles to score, Engram has an impressive six touchdowns this season. He’s developed a nice relationship with Eli Manning, so Manning regaining his starting spot Sunday should only help Engram’s cause. Manning may have some extra motivation after being benched last week, so Engram could be in for a big performance.
Jason Witten vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $4,700
FanDuel = $5,800
Witten has owned the Giants historically, hauling in 153 catches for 1,548 yards and 14 touchdowns in 29 career games against them. He was excellent against them Week 1 when he recorded seven receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown. Although the Giants have been better at defending the tight end the last two weeks, they are still among the worst in the league on the season as a whole. With the success Witten has had against them, he could be a nice cost-effective option if you can’t afford Engram.
**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – StubHub Center
DraftKings = $3,600
FanDuel = $5,100
The Chargers defense has provided excellent value of late, posting nine sacks, 10 interceptions and two fumble recoveries over their last four games. That’s not good news for the Redskins, who have been decimated by injuries across their offense. The Redskins showed signs of all their injuries catching up with them last week as they could only score 14 points against the Cowboys. This should be another strong performance by the Chargers defense Sunday.
Tennessee Titans vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – University of Phoenix Stadium
DraftKings = $3,200
FanDuel = $4,800
The Titans have put up a few ugly defensive performances this season, but they have righted the ship some the last two weeks against bad offenses in the Colts and Texans. Week 14 brings another struggling offense in the Cardinals who are missing several key players. If it wasn’t bad enough with Carson Palmer (arm) out, Adrian Peterson (neck) couldn’t play Week 13 and may not be able to play this week either. If he can’t go, the Cardinals are going to really struggle to score. The price is right to take a chance on the Titans if you want to save a little money on defense.
Fantasy Football Playoff Strategy – Waiver Wire Targets
*Mike Barner*
Fantasy Football Playoff Strategy – Waiver Wire Targets
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While it may be hard to believe, we are already heading into Week 11 of the NFL season. In many fantasy leagues, that means only four more weeks of games will be played until the fantasy playoffs start Week 15. Some of you may already have an eye towards the playoffs or may have even clinched a birth. Congratulations if that’s the case.
If you are in a position to make the fantasy playoffs, you want to start taking a look at the matchups now to see where you can gain an edge. Making the right add on the waiver wire now could be the difference in bringing home the championship in your league or falling short of reaching the ultimate goal. Here are some players at each position who are still available in many leagues who have favorable matchups weeks 15 and 16.
**QUARTERBACKS**
Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers offense has not been good this season as they enter Week 11 with the eighth-fewest points scored in the NFL. That being said, Rivers is still having a respectable season with 2,263 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. After throwing 21 interceptions last year, Rivers has done a much better job of limiting turnovers as he has only thrown seven picks this season. Week 15 brings a favorable matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs as they have allowed the sixth-most net passing yards per game (259). Week 16 brings an even better matchup against the New York Jets as they are tied for the most passing touchdowns allowed (20). Rivers is still available in 43% of ESPN leagues, so see if your league is one of them if you need help at quarterback.
Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Flacco’s recent body of work is discouraging as he has thrown for less than 200 yards in three of his last four games. However, one of those games was a blowout win where he wasn’t needed much. Another was against a tough Minnesota Vikings defense on the road. He will get to face the Browns Week 15, who are tied for the second most passing touchdowns allowed (19). Week 16 also brings a great matchup against an Indianapolis Colts defense that is allowing the second most net passing yards per game (275). Flacco is still available in 92% of ESPN leagues, but he will have added value when it counts the most.
**RUNNING BACKS**
Kenyan Drake, Miami Dolphins
When the Dolphins traded lead running back Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles, it was expected that Drake would split the backfield duties with Damien Williams. While Williams has been more involved in the passing attack, Drake has established himself as the more valuable fantasy asset of the two. Since Ajayi’s departure, Drake has 151 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards, and one touchdown over two games. The Dolphins will take on the Buffalo Bills Week 15, who have allowed the most rushing touchdowns (14) this season. Week 16 brings a juicy matchup against the Chiefs as they have allowed the fourth most rushing yards per game (131.1). Drake is not only a great option for the fantasy playoffs, but you want him for the rest of the season in general. He is still available in 43% of ESPN leagues.
Danny Woodhead, Baltimore Ravens
Woodhead was expected to have a significant role in the Ravens offense heading into the season, but he was hurt in the first game and placed on injured reserve. He is eligible to return now and could be back on the field in a week or two, giving him plenty of time to shake off the rust before the fantasy playoffs. With the Ravens favorable fantasy schedule already outlined above, Woodhead is someone you want to target on waivers, especially in PPR leagues. He is still available in 61% of ESPN leagues.
Dion Lewis, New England Patriots
It almost makes me sick to my stomach thinking of relying on a Patriots runnings back during the fantasy playoffs. However, with all the injuries in the NFL this season and the Patriots favorable schedule, it might be the prudent move to make. Lewis has been more involved in the offense of late as he has at least 11 carries and 44 yards in each of the last four games. He has also scored two rushing touchdowns across those four games. The Patriots face the Pittsburgh Steelers Week 15, who are in the bottom half of the NFL in terms of yards-per-carry allowed (4.2) this season. Week 16 brings a great matchup against the aforementioned porous Bills rushing defense. Lewis is still available in 63% of ESPN leagues.
**WIDE RECEIVERS**
Marqise Lee, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars rely heavily on Lee as he has received at least 10 targets in three of the last four games. He has largely produced, hauling in at least 55 receiving yards in all four of those game. With Allen Robinson out for the season, Lee will continue to have a significant role. Week 15 brings a matchup against the Houston Texans, who are also tied for the second most passing touchdowns allowed (19). They face the San Francisco 49ers Week 16, who are right behind the Texans with 18 passing touchdowns allowed. Lee is still available in 57% of ESPN leagues, so go pick him up.
Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans
Davis’ promising rookie season was put on hold after Week 2 due to injury. Expected to be a major part of the offense, he received 10 targets Week 1. Now healthy, he received another 10 targets Week 10. He only hauled in 4 of them for 48 yards, but the volume is the key. His best matchup of the fantasy playoffs comes Week 15 against the 49ers. While he does face a tougher Los Angeles Rams defense Week 16, the Titans might need to throw the ball a lot to keep up with the Rams high-scoring offense. Davis is still available in 66% of ESPN leagues and provides nice upside.
Taylor Gabriel, Atlanta Falcons
Gabriel is the third wide receiver behind Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu, limiting his value. He only has 23 receptions, 303 receiving yards, and one touchdown this season. Not exactly someone who screams waiver target right? Well if you are in a deep league, he might be the wise add to make. He will get the opportunity to take advantage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 15 as they have allowed the fourth-most net passing yards per game (266). While Week 16 brings a matchup against a much-improved New Orleans Saints defense, the game is in New Orleans. The Saints could be racking up points in a hurry, causing Atlanta to rely heavily on their passing attack. Gabriel is still available in 89% of ESPN leagues and could be a valuable pickup for your squad.
**TIGHT ENDS**
Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers
Putting Olsen in any waiver wire article at the start of this year would have seemed ludicrous. However, he was dropped in many leagues after being placed on injured reserve with a foot injury earlier in the season. He is eligible to return Week 12 and all indications are that he will be ready. With Kelvin Benjamin now in Buffalo, Olsen is going to be a target monster. He’d have value regardless of who is playing but does have nice matchups against the Green Bay Packers Week 15 and the Buccaneers Week 16. He is still available in 49% of ESPN leagues. Go get him now while you still can.
Jermaine Gresham, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have dealt with significant injuries to both running back David Johnson and quarterback Carson Palmer, severely limiting their offense. Backup quarterbacks often like to use their tight end as a security blanket, which has been the case in Arizona. In two games with Drew Stanton at the helm, Gresham has a total of 10 targets, seven catches, 87 yards and two touchdowns. The Cardinals face the Washington Redskins Week 15 and the New York Giants Week 16, two of the worst teams at defending tight ends. He’s still available in 99% of ESPN leagues and has upside if you need help.
**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals defense doesn’t have the easiest of tasks Week 15 against the Redskins, but Week 16 is a great matchup against the Giants. Only three teams have scored fewer points than the injury-riddled Giants. Two widely-owned fantasy defenses that have bad matchups Week 16 include the Saints against the Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks against the Dallas Cowboys. You might not want to start the Cardinals Week 15, but they could be more valuable Week 16 than those two teams. The Cardinals are still available in 53% of ESPN leagues.
Washington Redskins
Normally, starting the Redskins wouldn’t be on your radar as they are in the bottom half in terms of fantasy points scored. However, they have crazy good matchups in the fantasy playoffs. They get the banged-up Cardinals Week 15 and the Denver Broncos Week 16, another team who struggles to score. To top it off, both games are in Washington. They are still available in 86% of ESPN leagues and could be a difference maker in your league.
NFL Lineup Daily Fantasy Football: Week 3 Cash and GPP Plays
We close the book on Week 2 of the NFL season after a relatively chalky NFL slate. We saw several of the obvious plays hit like Tom Brady, Ty Montgomery, Melvin Gordon, Keenan Allen, and even Coby Fleener all hit value
Now we transition to Week 3, which opens up as an unusual ten home teams as current underdogs. The Patriots, Eagles, Panthers, Titans, and Packers are the only home teams that are favored in the main slate. That doesn’t exactly say everything about the slate quite yet; it just means ownership may be more spread out than what we’ve seen the first two weeks. So without further or do, let’s dive in.
Quarterbacks
Matt Ryan (DK $7,100, FD $8,500) – One of the first things I look for when looking into Quarterbacks are team implied totals. Matt Ryan comes in after a dominant performance against the Packers on Sunday Night Football with an implied team total of 26.75 against the Lions. That’s good enough for third highest on the slate behind only the Patriots and the Raiders. The Lions are currently 12 worst in the league by averaging 236 passing yards per game and are averaging 40 passing attempts allowed per game. This game originally opened up with a 48.5 o/u and has since moved to 50.5, which is good enough for the second highest total of the week. The game is on the road for the Falcons, and Ryan is known for performing better at home, so there is a reason to temper expectations. But in a matchup against an improved Lions offense with a secondary bad secondary, the game flow could mean Ryan will a lot of opportunities to chuck the ball.
Matthew Stafford (DK $6,200, FD $7,900) – Pivoting to the other side of the ball, Stafford has done reasonably well his first two weeks against the Cardinals and the Giants. Two opponents that are tougher on paper than his matchup this week. Stafford comes into the week as a 3 point underdog and with an implied team total of 23.75. Stafford is returning home where he threw for 4 touchdowns and 292 yards in Week 1 against a good Cardinals secondary. Out of all the games this week, this Lions/Falcons game is my favorite for quarterback points.
Kirk Cousins (DK $6,100, FD $7,600) – Cousins has been disappointing the first two weeks. He had a disappointing game on the road against the Rams and was mediocre against the Eagles in the opening week. This week could potentially be a rebound spot for Cousins. He’s at home facing a Raiders defense that has been overachieving the first two weeks of the season. The Raiders are averaging only 200 passing yards per game and have only allowed two passing touchdowns on the year. Last year the Raiders were one of the worst secondaries in the league and did very little to improve that unit this offseason. Oakland does have one of the league’s best offenses in the league, which explains the high o/u at 54 (highest of the week). Give me a low-owned Kirk Cousins against a weak secondary at home, even as a 3 point underdog.
Value QB
Andy Dalton (DK $5,100, FD $6,800) – Andy Dalton has been terrible the first two weeks. In fact, the entire Bengals offense has as they are 1 of 2 teams (49ers) that have yet to find the end zone this season. That being said, Dalton has had two difficult matchups after facing the Ravens and the Texans on a short week. The Bengals opened the week as a 10 point underdog on the road against the Packers, but have since narrowed the line to +8.5. Aaron Rodgers is without a doubt looking to light up the scoreboard after getting run over by the Falcons (again) on national TV, so I expect Dalton to have plenty of garbage time opportunities to throw the ball.
Running Backs
Le’Veon Bell (DK $8,800, FD $8,700) – To say Bell has been disappointing the first two weeks is an understatement. He’s been so disappointing that Elliott eclipsed him as the most expensive running back on this week. But this week could be the week we get Bell at depressed ownership and in a bounce-back spot. He doesn’t quite check all the boxes going up against an improved front seven in Chicago, but the Steelers are 7 point favorites. We saw Bell get 27 rushes last week and also 4 targets, so the volume is much improved after that bizarre first week. We all know Big Ben’s struggles on the road, yet the Steelers are still are implied to score 26 points. This should be a get well spot for Bell.
CJ Anderson (DK $5,800, FD $6,900) – Anderson is way too cheap on DK at 5.8k. The Broncos have shown that Anderson is the feature back while Jamaal Charles has only found his way on the field in passing situations. Anderson owns 70% of the Broncos rushing attempts after two weeks and has produced just under 200 yards (199). He also has 4 catches on 6 targets, which adds to his value on DK. The Broncos are a 3 point favorite against the Bills in a game that could feature both running backs with their pedestrian passing games and minimal projections. Anderson is projected as the third best running pack (point per dollar) on LineupLabs.
Isaiah Crowell (DK $4,800, FD $6,600) – If you drafted Crowell as I did in season long or redraft leagues, you’re probably frustrated with the thought of playing him in DFS. But the truth is, if there is ever a spot to play Crowell, it might be this week. Crowell is facing a Colts defense whose defensive line may have more holes than swiss cheese. This game has one of the lowest totals on the week and rightfully so as both teams have young offenses. Crowell does have the luxury of running behind the best offensive line in the league per PFF.com, so this could be a breakout week for Crowell.
GPP Flyer
Mike Gillislee (DK $5,700, FD $6,800) – Probably the better site to play him is on FD since he’s so touchdown dependent, but that’s exactly why he’s a shot in the dark. Gillislee has scored 4 touchdowns in the first two weeks. He leads the league in rushes inside the 5-yard line, converting each 4 of his carries into touchdowns. Although Gillislee is touchdown dependent, he does own 59% of the market share of rushes out of the Patriots backfield. The Pats are the biggest favorite of the week (13.5), and at home so Gillislee should get a shot at a cheap TD.
Cash game plays not noted above: M. Gordon, K. Hunt, J. Ajayi, T. Montgomery.
GPP Flyers: L.McCoy, D. Freeman, C. McCaffrey
Wide Receivers:
AJ Green (DK $8,100, FD $ 7,500) – I talked about Green’s quarterback up top. I like the idea of targeting this game from the Bengals passing attack with the likelihood that they will be playing catch-up for the majority of the game. Green currently accounts for 30% of the Bengals’ targets through the first two games of the season. He’s seen 18 targets and has caught 10 of them for 141 yards. He has yet to find the end zone, but as I mentioned with Dalton, they have had two tough matchups. This week they go up against a Packers secondary that got torched by Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu in really what was only one-half of competitive football. The Packers rank 18th in the league in FP allowed to opposing WR by allowing 18 points through the first two weeks. I can see Green getting one, possibly two touchdowns in garbage time.
Michael Crabtree (DK $7,400, FD $7,700) – I really thought that Amari Cooper was going to peak this season and Crabtree was going to begin declining. That clearly wasn’t the case last week when Crabtree scored 3 times on 6 targets, while Cooper only saw 5. I still think this may happen, but at least for this week, Crabtree might be the play over Cooper again. The big reason is that I expect Josh Norman to spend most of his time against Cooper, which would leave Crabtree lined up against Bashaud Breeland who currently has a PFF grade of 67.2. If Crabtree does face Breeland throughout the game, he should be able to find the end zone again.
Value
Rashard Higgins (DK $4,000, FD $5,100) – Higgins got a lot more playing time once the Brown’s top receiver Corey Coleman left the game. Coleman was eventually placed on IR and Higgins looks to be the biggest beneficiary from the move. Higgins got 11 targets from Kizer and caught 7 for 95 yards last week.
Devin Funchess (DK $4,200, FD $4,800) – With the injury to tight end Greg Olsen, Cam Newton will have to find someone over the middle of the field to dump the ball off. Per PFF.com, Funches is expected to lineup in 2 and 3 wide receiver sets against P.J. Williams. Williams is by far the Saints worst graded corner (42.7) in a secondary that has gotten torched by Brady and Bradford to begin the season. With Olsen out that’s going to open up more targets for the Panthers passing attack. I expect McCaffrey to see an uptick in targets but Funches should also benefit from Olsen’s absence.
** Devonte Adams is practically a free square if Nelson and Cobb are out **
GPP Flyer
DeAndre Hopkins (DK $6,200, FD $ 7,500) – Similar to Green’s situation, Hopkins is likely to find his team chasing a high-powered offense. Hopkins is currently third in the NFL in targets with 13 and also leads the NFL in team target market share 54.2%. It’s amazing how Watson just continues to chuck the ball Hopkins way. The Pats are currently 29th in the league against WR by allowing an average of 27.6 points to opposing wideouts. Hopkins is GPP only because Belichick is notorious for taking away the opposing team’s best weapon, which is Nuke.
Other Middle/Top Tier Options: M. Evans (GPP), K. Allen (Cash), D. Baldwin (GPP), T. Hill (Cash)
Tight End
For the first time this season there isn’t a clear-cut chalk tight end that will be heavily owned in cash games. At least for now. Below are a few of the best options when considering price per dollar spent.
Martellus Bennett (DK $4,400, FD $ 5,600) – Bennett is the tight end that I’m watching pretty closely. As I’m writing this Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb have missed practice early in the week after leaving last week’s game against the Falcons. If one or neither of these players play that leaves plenty of targets up for grabs for the Packers, pass catchers, and I expect Bennett to be a beneficiary. Last week Bennett saw 11 targets with both Nelson and Cobb out of the game. Bennett would face a Bengals defense that ranked 30th in the league against tight ends last season.
Jack Doyle (DK $ 3,600, FD $5,300) – Doyle may be the heaviest owned TE on the week considering many DFS players will stick to recency bias and save their money by using Doyle as their value play. Doyle is certainly cheap and is coming off of a nice outing with Colts’ new quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Brissett targeted Doyle 8 times last week and Doyle caught every one of those targets and gained 79 yards to lead the team in receiving.
GPP Flyer
Jordan Reed (DK $5,400, FD $ 6,700) – Reed is limited to a tournament play only because he has missed practice early this week. Reed is listed as questionable which is likely to drive down his ownership. I already expressed my interest in the ‘skins offense in the QB section and I think adding Reed to a game stack for this Sunday night hammer could lead to a big payoff. Reed is among the top 5 TE in targets this season accounting for 20% of the team’s targets.
Cash game plays not noted above: Z. Ertz, T. Kelce, E. Ebron
Gpp Flyer: R. Gronkowski, D. Allen (if Gronk is inactive)
Defense
With 10 home teams as current underdogs ownership is likely to be spread out at defense.
New England Patriots (DK $3,800, FD $4,900) – The Patriots are at home facing the Texans who are implied to score a slate low 15.25 points. According to Vegas, they seem like the safest play. The issue is that they’re the most expensive option on DK and 4th most expensive on FD. If you’re able to fit them in your lineups, you probably should. Belichick will without a doubt have a scheme to unravel rookie QB Deshaun Watson
Tennessee Titans (DK $ 2,700, FD $4,300) – If you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel on defense I won’t blame you. As we get deeper in the week, I find myself justifying using the Titans for a few reasons. They’re home favorites (-3), Russell Wilson’s terrible home/road splits, and the Seahawks’ team total has dropped from 20.25 to 19.75. The Seahawks haven’t got their offense going this season and were lucky to survive a home game against the 49ers. The Titans like to control the clock by running the ball which could limit possessions, which limits scoring