Monday/Thursday 10/16/17
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (Titans -7, O/U 46.5)
Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders (Chiefs -2.5, O/U 47)
Quarterback
Marcus Mariota or Jacoby Brissett – These are the two quarterbacks that I will have exposure to on this small slate. Mariota is the best quarterback on the slate, but coming off an injury and sounds like he is still a little banged up. Brissett has a good price and find myself using him to upgrade at other positions. I have no interest in David Carr at this point. If you wanted to play Alex Smith on DraftKings I would be fine with it, but not on Fanduel.
Running Back
Demarco Murray – Demarco is the best option at running back based on his price. He is $6800 on Fanduel and only $5200 on DK. If Mariota isn’t his normal self, they should lean on Murray more this week. There has been talk of Derick Henry taking on more of the workload. I won’t buy it until I see it. Murray still played over 80% of the snaps last week. I don’t see it suddenly going to 50-50 split.
Kareem Hunt – The only stud on the slate, he is priced way up on Fanduel at $10,300. He is reasonable still on DK at $8800. Coming off his worst rushing performance of the year, I could see fading him at his price on Fanduel. He did have 5 catches for 89 yards yesterday to help somewhat salvage his day.Unfortunately, there aren’t any options to pivot to at his talent level.
Marshawn Lynch – Probably will pair him with Demarco if not paying up for Hunt.
Frank Gore and Marlon Mack – Lower priced options to help pay up elsewhere
Wide Receiver
T.Y. Hilton – Best wide receiver option on the slate. Get him in your lineups.
Rishard Matthews and Eric Decker – I have been touting Matthews all season and he has only come through once. He should have a good day versus the Colts secondary. Decker has been pretty quiet so far on his new team. His price is still super low though, and this may be the week he finally scores.
Michael Crabtree – He has been a touchdown machine so far this year. My favorite option from Thursday night’s game.
Donte Moncrief – Lower priced, lower owned option
Fade – Tyreek Hill – I would maybe play him if pairing him up with the Chiefs defense. With the emergence of Hunt and Travis Kelce being the main passing option, Hill has yet to have a huge game this season. On DraftKings if deciding between him and Hilton who is the same price, I am playing Hilton who has less competition for touches.
Tight End
Travis Kelce – We finally have a small slate that all four tight ends are in play. Obviously, Kelce is one of the super star tight ends in the NFL and is always in play for me. Though with roster construction this week, I am landing on one of the other three starter more often.
Delanie Walker – Walker is $1500 and $1600 less expensive than Kelce. I like him in this spot this week. He has yet to score a receiving touchdown this season. (He scored on a running play earlier in year). I think this is the week he gets in the end zone.
Jared Cook and Jack Doyle – Neither has the ceiling that Kelce and Walker have, but are lowered priced options at tight end. If trying to fit in higher priced players at the other positions, using one of them is the way to do it.
Defense
Tennessee Titans – If not playing Brissett, the Titans are my favorite defense. Don’t even mind playing them in the same lineups as Mariota.
Kansas City Chiefs – Since I am playing Brissett in some lineups, I don’t want to play the defense versus my quarterback. Therefore, I will pair him with one of the Thursday night teams. The Chiefs always have the added bonus of Hill returning a kick.
Kicker
Ryan Succop and Adam Vinatieri are the two kickers I will be using in most of my lineups. Though this is another week all four kickers are in play.
