Header Image - PICK LIKE THE PROS
PICK LIKE THE PROSLineup Lab is an advanced MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL daily fantasy lineup optimizer for Fanduel, Draftkings, and Yahoo. Pros use a DFS optimizer, so why don't you? Pick like the pros. Use the worlds most advanced projections and optimization techniques. Join today, and start winning!
start winning

Tag Archives

5 Articles

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 – TE/DEF/ST

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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

There are six teams on a bye for Week 11, but there are still a lot of quality options available at tight end in DFS. Let’s dig into the position to see which players to target across the price scale. 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 11 - TE/DEF/ST

Zach Ertz vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $6,600

The Eagles suffered a disappointing loss to the Cowboys last week, but that didn’t stop Ertz from having a monster performance. He hauled in 14 of 16 targets for 145 yards and two touchdowns. That marked his fourth game this season with at least 100 yards and the fourth time in the last five contests that he has found his way into the end zone at least one time.

With at least 10 targets in all but two of his games this season, Ertz will continue to have a tremendously high floor. The Eagles did add wide receiver Golden Tate at the trade deadline, but Ertz is clearly Carson Wentz’s preferred option in the passing game, so don’t expect his workload to drop off anytime soon. The Saints have been terrible against the pass this year, but they’ve actually done a good job slowing down opposing tight ends. Don’t let that scare you away from Ertz, though. If the Eagles are going to have any chance of keeping up with the Saints offense, it will likely be on the shoulders of Ertz.

Greg Olsen vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – Ford Field
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,000

Olsen didn’t have his best game in Week 10, catching four passes for just 40 yards. He was only on the field for 79 percent of the Panthers offensive snaps, which was his lowest mark since returning from a foot injury. On a positive note, he did get six more targets and has received at least five targets in four of the five games since his extended stint on the sidelines ended.

His foot injury is something that Olsen is going to continue to have deal with for the remainder of the season. The Panthers have taken a cautious approach with him in practice leading up to games, which has helped him stay on the field, so far. He’s been logging a ton of snaps, overall, and had scored a touchdown in three straight games entering last week, which gives him a nice floor to work off of in cash contests. The Lions haven’t played poorly in pass coverage, overall, but they have allowed 477 yards and four touchdowns to tight ends.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,400

The Chargers had a creampuff matchup against the Raiders last week and certainly didn’t disappoint by holding them to six points. They only forced one turnover, but they did record four sacks. That marked the fourth time in the last five games that the Chargers recorded at least three sacks, bringing their total to 26 for the season. That mark places them inside the top-10 in the league in that category.

You can only play who is on your schedule, which has certainly been kind to the Chargers. They recently faced the Raiders (twice), Seahawks, Titans, and Browns, keeping their opponents under 20 points in each of those contests. This is another great matchup against a Broncos team that has only scored more than 27 points in a game one time all season. They’ve also allowed quarterback Case Keenum to be sacked 24 times already.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 - TE/DEF/ST

Austin Hooper vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,500

It was an ugly loss for the Falcons last week against the Browns, but Hooper finished with one of his best games of the season. He was targeted 11 times in the game, catching 10 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. The yardage total certainly left a lot to be desired, but the volume was the key. Hooper has received at least 10 targets in three of his last five games and is already up to 55 for the season. He finished with 65 targets total in 2017.

Hooper has been a bit hit or miss, which is why he should be on your radar in tournament contests as opposed to cash games. The good news is that he’s been on the field for 82 percent of the Falcons offensive snaps, which is tops among all of their skill position players. The Cowboys have allowed 53 receptions, 511 yards, and four touchdowns to tight ends, potentially setting up Hooper for another one of his more valuable performances.

Evan Engram vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,100

The Giants may stink offensively, but it’s certainly not due to a lack of weapons. That excess of talent, combined with the poor play of their offensive line and Eli Manning, has left Engram with a lot of games in which he hasn’t done all that much. Even in one of their better offensive games of the year in Week 10 against the 49ers, Engram received just five targets. He caught four of them for 46 yards, which was sadly his second-highest yardage total in a game so far.

If there was ever a game for Engram to have a breakout performance, this is it. The Bucs have been destroyed by opposing tight ends, allowing 51 receptions, 669 yards, and five touchdowns to the position. The Giants made even more changes to their offensive line in Week 10, which proved to at least give Manning a little more time in the pocket. If they can hold up again this week, Engram could be able to expose this soft spot in the Bucs’ coverage.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $3,100

All things considered, the Cardinals held up pretty well against the Chiefs last week. They still lost, but they limited the explosive Chiefs offense to 26 points, which was the first time the Chiefs scored fewer than 30 points since Week 4. They weren’t able to create any turnovers, but the Cardinals did record five sacks. Although they haven’t forced a turnover in either of their last two contests, the Cardinals do have at least four sacks in four of their last five games.

As tough as their matchup was last week, things swing back in their favor dramatically against the inept Raiders who have scored 10 points or fewer in four of their last five contests. The Cardinals have one of the better pass defenses in the league and the Raiders don’t have many weapons left on offense after Marshawn Lynch was placed on IR and Amari Cooper was traded to the Cowboys. At an even cheaper price than the Chargers, the Cardinals also provide significant upside.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 - TE/DEF/ST

Eric Ebron vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,300

What a strange performance from Ebron last week against the Jaguars. He was only on the field for 38 percent of the Colts offensive snaps, leaving him with just three targets. However, he cashed two of them in for touchdown receptions and even had another touchdown on a rare rushing attempt. Even though Ebron has been a touchdown machine this year, Jack Doyle is back now and eating into his opportunities. In both games since returning from injury, Doyle has been on the field for at least 73 percent of their snaps. The Titans haven’t allowed a single touchdown to tight ends this year, so if Ebron can’t find his way into the end zone again, he is left with very little production potential.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $2,500

I’m not sure I understand why the Colts are priced this high on FanDuel. They’ve allowed at least 26 points in five of their last six games and haven’t recorded a sack in three of their last five contests. They did hold the Bills to three points in Week 7 but come on, it was the Bills. The Titans have looked much better offensively of late with at least 28 points in back-to-back games, so this isn’t exactly a favorable matchup. Even at their more reasonable price on DraftKings, it still might be best to avoid the Colts.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*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.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

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 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*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

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 - Running Backs

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

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 - Running Backs

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

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 - Running Backs

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 11 – Quarterbacks

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*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.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

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.

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 11

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. Here are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.

Starters With Favorable Matchups

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 11

Luis Severino, New York Yankees: at DET, at NYM

The Yankees potent lineup gets the majority of the headlines, but Severino is just as important as anyone on the team. He put together a breakout campaign in 2017, finishing with a 2.98 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 10.7 K/9. He’s been even better through his first 12 starts this year with a 2.31 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 10.6 K/9. His average fastball velocity is 98.2 mph and he has thrown a first-pitch strike to an impressive 70.1% of the batters that he has faced. The Mets are tied for the fourth-fewest runs scored (230) in baseball and the Tigers lineup has been middle of the pack, leaving Severino with the potential for an extremely valuable week.

Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals: vs. MIA, at CIN

Martinez has not pitched in almost a month due to a strained lat, but he will be activated from the disabled list Tuesday. He had a sparkling 1.62 ERA before the injury, but his 3.35 FIP and .237 opponents BABIP indicate he has been a bit lucky. The FIP is still good, though, and he’s only allowed one home run in 50 innings. His first start of the week comes against a Marlins team that has scored the fewest runs (196) in baseball. The Reds are certainly better offensively, but Martinez has already faced them twice this year, throwing 13 scoreless innings while recording 18 strikeouts. Get him right back into your lineup.

Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs: vs. PHI, vs. PIT

Hendricks isn’t a big strikeout pitcher with a 7.6 K/9 for his career. He doesn’t walk many hitters and does a good job keeping runners off base in general, which has helped him quietly become a very successful pitcher. He’s off to another good start this year with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He doesn’t get hit hard often, allowing more than three earned runs in a game only one time this season. The Phillies are in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored and while the Pirates have scored more runs, Hendricks has held them to four runs in 11 innings in their first two meetings this year.

Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels: vs. KC, at MIN

Tropeano missed the entire 2017 season after having Tommy John surgery and hasn’t made more than 13 starts in a season during his career. He’s been able to make eight starts so far this year, posting a 3.80 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. His 4.91 FIP and 1.6 HR/9 are a bit concerning, limiting his upside over the course of the season. This is setting up to be a nice week for him, though, against the Royals and Twins as neither team scores a ton of runs. He has already faced both teams once this season, throwing 6.2 scoreless innings and recording six strikeouts against the Royals while allowing three runs to go along with two strikeouts in six innings against the Twins. Tropeano is still available in 82% of Yahoo! leagues and is a viable streaming option.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 11

Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks: at SF, at COL

Godley isn’t off to a great start with a 4.38 ERA and a 4.44 FIP through 11 outings. His success last year was in large part due to his 1.14 WHIP, which has ballooned to 1.54 this year. His .316 BABIP allowed isn’t much higher than his career mark, which is not good news for his value moving forward. His first matchup this week against the Giants is not bad, but his second outing in Coors Field could be a nightmare. That game alone is a reason to keep him on your bench in Week 11.

Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres: vs. ATL, at MIA

It’s been another underwhelming season for Richard, who has a 4.74 ERA and a 4.14 FIP in 12 starts. His 1.31 WHIP isn’t terrible, but he has very little strikeout upside with a 5.9 K/9 for his career. His second start this week against the Marlins is a great matchup, but don’t get too excited about him as a streaming option. The Braves are not only tied for the fourth-most runs scored (293) in baseball, but they also have the highest OPS against lefties (.806). Since he likely won’t provide a lot of strikeouts even in his start against the Marlins, it might be best to avoid him altogether.

Jason Vargas, New York Mets: vs. BAL, vs. NYY

Vargas won a career-high 18 games for the Royals last year and made the All-Star team for the first time. He moved to the Mets in the offseason but he has been limited to six starts due to injury. He was hammered in his first three outings but hasn’t given up a run in two of his last three starts. One of those came against the Braves, which is particularly impressive considering their success against lefties. Even with his recent success, you still want to stay away from streaming him this week. The Orioles aren’t exactly imposing, but the Yankees have the second-highest OPS against lefties (.799) and can still do a ton of damage even without the luxury of having the DH playing at Citi Field.