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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*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 some 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

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Wide Receivers

A.J. Green vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $7,300

Green had a poor season by his standards in 2017. He finished with 1,078 receiving yards and eight touchdowns but caught only 75 of his 143 targets. He averaged just 67.4 yards per game, well below his career average of 80.5 yards per contest. After posting a catch percentage of at least 65.2% in back-to-back seasons, his 52.4% catch rate last year was the lowest mark of his career.

The good news is Green is clearly still the top option in Cincinnati and is going to get a ton of passes thrown his way. He’s never received fewer than 100 targets in a season, including in 2016 when he played just 10 games. The Colts have the worst secondary in the league according to Pro Football Focus, so Green could get off to a monster start in Week 1.

Keenan Allen vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,500

Allen entered 2017 having played nine games in the last two seasons combined. He has a ton of talent but needed to stay healthy to live up to lofty fantasy expectations. Everything finally came together, resulting in him playing all 16 games. He put up excellent numbers, catching 102 of 159 targets for 1,393 yards and six touchdowns. He led all wide receivers with 24 targets inside the red zone as well.

The Chargers added a promising young receiver in Mike Williams in the draft last year and while he’s healthy after battling his own injury problems in 2017, Allen is still far and away the top option for Philip Rivers. His high volume of targets gives him a high floor and his upside is tremendous for Week 1 against a Chiefs secondary that enters the season ranked 28th by Pro Football Focus.

Chris Hogan vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $6,100

Hogan had a hard time staying on the field for the Patriots last year, ultimately playing in just nine games. He finished with a career-low 57.6% catch percentage, but his 48.8 receiving yards per game was the highest mark of his career. He also finished with five touchdowns after scoring four across 15 games in 2017.

Hogan enters Week 1 as the Patriots clear top option at wide receiver due to the suspension of Julian Edelman. Most of his competition for targets will likely come from Rob Gronkowski and the combination of James White and Rex Burkhead catching passes out of the backfield. Hogan might not have the same upside as Green and Allen, but he still is a high-floor option considering his price on both sites.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Wide Receivers

John Ross vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $3,900

With the Bengals searching for another wide receiver to take some of the pressure off of Green, they selected Ross with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft. However, Ross missed training camp due to shoulder surgery and battled injuries throughout the season. Amazingly, he’ll enter 2018 in search of his first career reception in the NFL.

Ross is healthy now and showed a lot of promise in the preseason, including a spectacular reception where he faked out a couple of Bills defenders after making a catch on his way into the end zone. He will have to compete with Tyler Boyd for targets and tight end Tyler Eifert is surprisingly healthy heading into Week 1, but Ross still might be worth the risk in tournament play against the Colts porous secondary.

Danny Amendola vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $4,200

Amendola had one of the best seasons of his career last year, catching 61 of 86 targets for 659 yards. Although he’s had some injury issues during his nine seasons in the league, he’s recorded a catch percentage of at least 70% and averaged at least 10 yards per reception in three straight years.

Amendola left the Patriots to sign with the Dolphins during the offseason. They don’t exactly have a bunch of elite receivers in DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, and Albert Wilson, so Amendola should make an immediate impact. Parker reportedly won’t play in this game due to a finger injury, which should open up even more targets for Amendola. He doesn’t carry much touchdown upside, but Amendola could still provide value.

Cole Beasley vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of American Stadium
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $3,600

Beasley had a breakout season in 2016, finishing with 75 receptions on 98 targets for 833 yards and five touchdowns. He had a spectacular 76.5% catch percentage in what was Dak Prescott’s first season in the NFL, setting up what appeared to be an excellent quarterback-wide receiver relationship. However, his volume took a major hit last year, resulting in just 36 catches on 63 targets for 314 yards.

The Cowboys have a reworked wide receiver corps, so Beasley may have the best working relationship with Prescott out of the group. That could bode well for him to have a bounce-back season, especially early on while Prescott tries to gain an increased comfort level with the likes of Allen Hurns and Michael Gallup. Don’t be surprised to see Beasley fairly active in this contest.

Keelan Cole vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $3,800

The Jaguars have a suffocating defense, but they’ll need their offense to improve this season if they are going to bring home a Super Bowl title. They have already been dealt a tough blow at wide receiver, losing Maqise Lee for the season due to a knee injury. In his absence, Cole, Dede Westbrook, and Donte Moncrief will vie to be Blake Bortles top pass-catching option.

Cole only hauled in 42 of 83 targets last year, but he averaged 17.8 yards per reception. Over three games that Lee was sidelined at the end of the regular season, Cole had a combined 17 receptions on 30 targets for 327 yards. The Giants are thin at cornerback outside of Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple and have been susceptible to giving up big plays in the middle of the field. With Cole likely to see some work out of the slot, he makes for an intriguing option.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Wide Receivers

Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $7,000

Beckham has had an exceptional start to his NFL career, logging at least 90 catches, 1,300 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in each of his first three seasons. However, like many of his teammates, Beckham’s campaign was cut short last year due to injury. He is healthy heading into Week 1 and just signed a huge five-year extension that erased any doubts about his future with the Giants. Big things are likely on the horizon for Beckham this season, but he could get off to a slow start against star cornerback Jalen Ramsey. At this price, he’s too much of a risk for me.

Marquise Goodwin vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,600

Goodwin was finally able to put together a healthy season in 2017, finishing with 56 receptions on 105 targets for 962 yards. His full-season pace based on the five games that Jimmy Garoppolo started would have put him at 138 targets, 93 receptions, and 1,229 yards. He’s someone you’ll likely want to have in your lineup more often than not but stay away from him this week against the stingy Vikings defense.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*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 highlight some 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

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Running Backs

Alvin Kamara vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $8,500

Selected in the third round of the 2017 Draft, there wasn’t a lot of buzz around Kamara heading into last year. The Saints already had the productive Mark Ingram on their roster and had also added Adrian Peterson. However, Kamara wasted no time making a name for himself, ultimately forcing his way into a prominent role. He finished with 728 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns on only 120 carries. If that wasn’t impressive enough, he also hauled in 81 of 100 targets for 826 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

The Saints will be forced to ride Kamara out of the gate with Ingram serving a four-game suspension. They did bring in Mike Gillislee after he was cut by the Patriots, but don’t expect him to get many carries. The Buccaneers could be tough against the run this season, but with Kamara’s heavy workload and ability to contribute in the passing game, he still has a very high floor.

Melvin Gordon vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $6,800

Gordon was a workhorse for the Chargers in 2017, rushing 284 times for 1,105 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had his best season in the passing attack, catching 58 of 83 targets for 476 yards and four touchdowns. Although Austin Ekeler showed some promise in the preseason, Gordon is certainly going to get all the carries he can handle again this year.

Gordon draws a great matchup Week 1 against a Chiefs defense that allowed the eighth-most rushing yards in the NFL last year. They were also tied for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns allowed. They likely won’t be much better this season, either, with Pro Football Focus ranking them 31st against the run.

Alex Collins vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $5,600

Collins wasn’t able to find a role with the Seahawks, who drafted him in the fifth round in 2016. He joined the Ravens after being released and was part of a running backs group that included Terrance West, Danny Woodhead, and Javorius Allen. Injuries and ineffective play quickly vaulted Collins into a prominent role. He didn’t let his opportunity go to waste, finishing the season with 212 carries, 973 rushing yards, and six touchdowns. The one drawback was that he wasn’t overly involved in the passing game, catching 23 of 36 targets for just 187 yards.

The Ravens head into this year with the intent of giving Collins a significant workload once again. Week 1 brings a contest against a Bills team that is starting Nathan Peterman at quarterback and is lacking talent at wide receiver. They may have a hard time putting points on the board, which could lead to plenty of carries for Collins if the Ravens get up big early and try to run out the clock. Don’t count on him to catch many passes out of the backfield, but Collins still has a floor high at this reasonable price.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Running Backs

Royce Freeman vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,500

The Broncos moved on from C.J. Anderson this offseason, selecting Freeman in the third round of the draft. He was a star at Oregon, averaging 5.9 yards per carry and recording 60 rushing touchdowns over four seasons.

Freeman showed promise during the preseason and enters Week 1 at the top of the Broncos depth chart at running back. Devontae Booker will likely be their preferred option in passing situations, but he’s only averaged 3.6 yards per carry during his NFL carrier. The Seahawks lost both Sheldon Richardson and Michael Bennett during the offseason and enter 2018 with the 24th ranked defense against the run according to Pro Football Focus.

Duke Johnson Jr. vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,700

Johnson doesn’t see much action in the running game, rushing just 82 times for 348 yards in 2017. His value comes from his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. He set career highs last year in targets (93), receptions (74), receiving yards (693) and receiving touchdowns (three).

The Browns underwent a major overhaul during the offseason, adding Tyrod Taylor, Jarvis Landry, Carlos Hyde and Nick Chubb to their offense. There are certainly more mouths to feed, but Taylor is also a significant improvement over the quarterbacks Johnson played with last year. Hyde figures to lead the Browns rushing attack, but Johnson should still catch enough passes to warrant consideration for your entry.

James White vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,000

The Patriots had a lot of depth in their backfield last year with White, Dion Lewis, Rex Burkhead, and Gillislee. White doesn’t normally get many carries as he’s a better weapon catching passes. Even with the crowded bunch, White caught 56 of 72 targets for 429 yards and three touchdowns.

Lewis has moved on to the Titans, but the Patriots drafted Sony Michel in the first round and signed Jeremy Hill to further bolster their running back group. Michel has battled a knee injury during the preseason and while he still may return for Week 1, it would be surprising to see him have a significant role. Burkhead is dealing with a knee injury of his own, but it appears he’ll be ready to go for this game. Even if he does play, expect White to be heavily involved in the passing game with the Patriots lack of depth at wide receiver due to the Julian Edelman suspension.

Jordan Wilkins vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $3,700

The Colts finished tied for the fifth-worst yards per carry (3.7) in the NFL last year. They were led by Frank Gore, who had 961 rushing yards on 261 carries. With Gore now a member of the Dolphins, the starting running back job is up for grabs in Indianapolis.

One option to possibly start was Robert Turbin, but he’s currently serving a four-game suspension. Another candidate is Marlon Mack, but he might not be able to play Week 1 due to a hamstring injury. If he can’t go, Wilkins will likely get the opportunity to start. He’ll lose some carries to Nyheim Hines and/or Christine Michael, but neither of them is an overly impressive runner. The Bengals will be without key run defender Vontaze Burfict due to another suspension, making Wilkins possibly worth the risk in tournament play at his dirt cheap price.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Running Backs

Le’Veon Bell vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $9,400

There is no doubt that Le’Veon Bell is one of the elite running backs in the NFL. The problem is his contract dispute with the Steelers. As of the writing of this article, Bell had still not reported to the team. Even if he does report before Sunday, he’s cutting it very close in terms of game preparation. He participated in his first practice the Monday before Week 1 in 2017 and finished with a season-low 10 carries in that game. At this lofty price, Bell is too much of a risk.

Saquon Barkley vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $6,700

The Giants underwent significant organizational changes after a disastrous 2017 campaign riddled with injuries and poor play. They ended up with the second pick in the draft as a result and ultimately decided to select Barkley instead of a successor to Eli Manning. Barkley is an elite talent who projects to have a strong season behind an improved offensive line. He’s dealt with a hamstring injury during the preseason, but he’s declared himself completely healthy heading into this game. However, he has to face a loaded Jaguars defense that enters ranked seventh against the run by Pro Football Focus. There will be plenty of weeks where you want to include Barkley in your entry, but I don’t think this is one of them.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – Quarterbacks

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*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 that work for cash or GPP contents. We’ll also highlight some players to avoid as your craft your lineup. Also, 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 1 - Quarterbacks

Tom Brady vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $7,200

Brady had another stellar campaign in 2017, finishing with 4,577 passing yards and 32 touchdowns. It marked the sixth time in the last seven seasons that he finished with at least 4,100 yards with the only time he didn’t reach that plateau being the 2016 season when he played only 12 games due to a suspension. He also threw just eight interceptions, marking his fourth-straight season with less than 10 picks.

There has been a lot of talk heading into Week 1 about the Patriots lack of wide receivers with Julian Edelman suspended. Chris Hogan will lead that unit for now, but Brady still has star tight end Rob Gronkowski at his disposal. He also has excellent pass-catching running backs in James White and Rex Burkhead. He’ll get a favorable matchup right out of the gates against a Texans defense that allowed the second-most fantasy points per game last year to opposing quarterbacks. They did add safety Tyrann Mathieu during the offseason, but their secondary is still ranked 25th by Pro Football Focus. Brady is a safe bet to have a productive Week 1.

Drew Brees vs. Tampa Bay Buccanneers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $6,800

The Saints turned to a more run-heavy offense last season, which resulted in a down performance from Brees. He had a stellar 72% completion percentage, but his 536 pass attempts were his lowest mark since 2009. He also threw just 23 touchdown passes, breaking a streak of nine consecutive seasons with at least 30. On a positive note, he only threw eight interceptions, his fewest since 2004.

The Saints’ running game last year was led by the two-headed monster of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. Ingram will be suspended for the first four games of the season, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the Saints relied a little more on the passing game to help spell Kamara. The Saints not only have star wideout Michael Thomas, but they also added Cameron Meredith to go along with Ted Ginn Jr. A healthy Ben Watson could be a sneaky valuable weapon at tight end, as well. The Buccaneers have the 31st ranked secondary according to Pro Football Focus, leaving Brees with a high floor for this contest.

Cam Newton vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $6,900

Although Newton’s 59.1% completion percentage last year was a significant improvement from 2016, it still resulted in his fourth straight season with a completion percentage under 60%. His 3,302 passing yards were his lowest total since 2014 and he threw 16 interceptions compared to 22 touchdowns. He was a tremendous weapon in the rushing attack, though, gaining a career-high 754 yards on the ground. He also finished with six rushing scores and has at least five rushing touchdowns in every season of his career.

Part of the reason for Newton’s poor passing numbers last year may have been due to his lack of weapons. Greg Olsen missed much of the season due to injury and the Panthers were very thin at wide receiver. Olsen enters this season healthy and they added Torrey Smith and rookie D.J. Moore to go along with the emerging Devin Funchess at wide receiver. While Newton might not have as high of a ceiling as Brady and Brees, his ability to run the ball gives him a high floor most weeks.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Quarterbacks

Philip Rivers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,400

Rivers is still posting big numbers as he enters his 16th season in the NFL. He finished 2017 with 4,515 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 10 interceptions. He also attempted at least 570 passes and had a completion percentage of at least 60% for the fourth straight season. If you play season-long fantasy, he’s one of the more underrated safe bets to provide valuable numbers at the quarterback position.

He enters this season with plenty of weapons around him. Keenan Allen has been one of the best wide receivers in the league and promising young wide receiver Mike Williams is finally healthy heading into this year, providing Rivers with another big red zone target. The Chargers lost Hunter Henry to a torn ACL, but just brought back Antonio Gates, who has developed a great relationship with Rivers over their long careers together. The Chiefs were tied for the eighth-most fantasy points allowed per game to opposing quarterbacks last year and might be even worse in 2018 after trading star cornerback Marcus Peters to the Rams.

Andy Dalton vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $5,800

Dalton had what may have been the worst season of his career last year. He averaged a career-low 207.5 yards per game and his 59.9% completion percentage was his worst mark since his rookie campaign. He only had 15 combined interceptions in 2015 and 2016, but he threw 12 picks last year.

The Bengals offense could be better this season with Joe Mixon looking to break out in his second season in the league. They still have star receiver A.J. Green to go with an emerging John Ross, who opened some eyes in the preseason. Don’t be surprised if they have a huge Week 1 against the Colts, who have the league’s worst secondary according to Pro Football Focus. At this cheap price, Dalton has the potential to provide significant value.

Case Keenum vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,100

Keenum earned a starting role with the Vikings last year and helped lead them into the playoffs. Although his 3,547 passing yards wasn’t off the charts, he had a 67.6% completion percentage to go along with 22 touchdown passes and just 7 interceptions. The Vikings made a big splash bringing in Kirk Cousins during the offseason, which ultimately resulted in Keenum joining the Broncos.

Keenum had two extremely talented pass catchers with the Vikings in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. He’ll see a downgrade at that position with the Broncos, but Demaryius and Emmanuel Sanders are still a formidable duo. They also drafted the very promising Courtland Sutton and should have a solid rushing attack with Royce Freeman and Devontae Booker. The “Legion of Boom” era is a thing of the past in Seattle as their secondary looks susceptible this year, especially with Earl Thomas still holding out. Even if Thomas does return to the team before this game, Keenum still has some upside in tournament play.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Quarterbacks

Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $5,700

Jimmy Garopplo started off his career with the 49ers in style. He only played in six games, five of which were starts, but he averaged 260 yards per contest. His seven passing touchdowns weren’t great, but he had a 67.4% completion percentage and showed a glimpse of what many believe is a bright future in the NFL. However, he draws a tough matchup this week against a very stout Vikings defense that allowed the fewest points in the NFL last year.  There will be plenty of weeks that you want to roll with Garoppolo for your entry, but this might not be one of them.

Patrick Mahomes II vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $6,000

The Chiefs dealt Alex Smith to the Redskins to replace Cousins, handing over the reins to Mahomes. Selected 10th overall in the 2017 draft, it was only a matter of time before Mahomes took over the starting quarterback job. He has a big arm with talented playmakers around him including Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Kareem Hunt, which should serve him well. However, he could be turnover prone and may go through some growing pains. Although cornerback Jason Verrett has already been lost for the season with a torn Achilles, the Chargers still have an extremely talented secondary and an excellent pass rush anchored by Joey Bosa. I’d much rather take a chance on someone like Dalton rather than Mahomes if you want to go with a cheap quarterback in tournament play.