QUARTERBACKS
Kirk Cousins – This is supposed to be a high scoring game in prime time Sunday night. Cousins played well last year in the spotlight and the Raiders defense doesn’t scare me. He plays better at home and should finally connect with Terelle Pryor this week. You can pair him with Pryor, Jamison Crowder or even roll naked versus the Raiders.
Matt Stafford – A good matchup at home versus the Falcons secondary. You can also play him naked this week or pair him with Marvin Jones, Golden Tate, Eric Ebron, or even Theo Riddick. The Lions running game leaves a lot to be desired and Stafford should have to throw the ball to keep with Atlanta.
Cam Newton – Facing the Saints defense at home, Newton is in a great spot this week. If he doesn’t get it done against New Orleans, then he is never going to have a big game. I could see him running in a score, as well as throwing for a few touchdowns. Another QB you can play naked, or pair with Kelvin Benjamin or Devin Funchess.
HIGH RISK/HIGH REWARD
Andy Dalton – Dalton and the Bengals offense has yet to score a touchdown this season. That will change this week with a new offensive coordinator at the helm. Add that to the not so good Packers secondary and Dalton and the Bengals should finally find the end zone. He is super cheap on both sites and will give you some salary relief if you are looking to spend up elsewhere.
Other QBs in play – Aaron Rodgers, though I am nervous about his offensive line. Derek Carr in what is supposed to be a high scoring affair. Marcus Mariota is at home versus a Seattle defense that isn’t as good as it has been. Matt Ryan is a good play, though nervous that the Falcons keep the ball on the ground with Devonte Freeman and Tevin Coleman.
Value QBs – Deshone Kizer, Andy Dalton
RUNNING BACKS
Le’Veon Bell – I don’t see Bell being held in check for three weeks straight. The first two games of the season were kind of like his preseason, as he didn’t play this summer. He still got 27 carries last week and four catches for 31 touches. That should continue this week and he will score for the first time this year. Fire him up in all formats.
Marshawn Lynch – Lynch has looked good his first two games coming back after a year off. He should continue to be involved in the offense especially if the game stays close. The Redskins defense does not scare me and I could see him breaking a long one. Look for him to get back in the end zone again Sunday night in prime time.
Jay Ajayi – The Dolphins looked committed to running ball last week, feeding Ajayi the rock 28 times for 122 yards. He also caught two balls out of the backfield for a total of 30 touches. I am bullish on Ajayi this season. He gets to go against the hapless Jets this weekend and should have a monster game. Be careful though, as he has been limited at practice this week. Will update Sunday morning.
HIGH RISK/HIGH REWARD
LeSean McCoy – McCoy should go low owned this week going up against the Broncos defense. People will look at last week and how they shut down Zeke. That game got out of hand early, and the Cowboys gave up. McCoy is the kind of running back that can get it done versus any team he faces. He also has the ceiling we are looking for to take down a GPP. I will have some shares of Shady on Sunday.
Other RBs in play – C.J. Anderson, Ty Montgomery, I. Crowell, D. Freeman, M. Gordon
RB – T. Coleman, J. Stewart, J. Rodgers, Jordan Howard is only $4900 on DraftKings.
WIDE RECEIVERS
A.J. Green – The Bengals have looked horrible on offense so far through two games. So bad that they fired their offensive coordinator already. If the Bengals are going to keep this game close, they will need to throw the ball. Green seems to be everyone’s darling play this week and I am on board. If the new coordinator is smart, he will get his best player the ball as much as he can.
Terelle Pryor – I am going back to Pryor one more time this week. If you like narratives, he is playing against the team that drafted him in primetime. I think this is the week he breaks out versus a shaky Raiders defense.
Keenan Allen – Allen faces the Chiefs on Sunday in a division game at home. The Chiefs defense is a little banged up with safety Eric Berry out. It looks like Allen is fully recovered from last year’s injury and is getting the targets we expected. He has 10 in each of his first two games catching 14 of the 20. His touchdown upside will always be limited but it is hard to ignore all those targets.
HIGH RISK/HIGH REWARD
Desean Jackson – I am going back to DeSean this week especially on DraftKings at only $4600. He just missed a touchdown last week, as he was held on the play and still almost caught the ball. With Xavier Rhodes locking down Mike Evans, Jackson should get his fair share of targets. He is a boom or bust type of player, but when he booms he can win you a tournament.
Other WRs in play – A. Cooper, M. Crabtree, J. Crowder, A. Jeffrey, M. Bryant, T.Y. Hilton
Value WRs – J. Matthews, E. Decker, R. Matthews, D. Funchess, M. Jones, R. Higgins
TIGHT ENDS
Jared Cook – If you want a piece of the primetime game at lower ownership, Cook is your best bet. Of all the offensive players in this game, he should be the lowest owned with most people flocking to Crabtree, Cooper and Lynch. The Redskins don’t cover the tight end well and I could see him getting in the end zone this week.
Zach Ertz – Once again he will be the chalk play at tight end and he deserves to be. He is off to a great start and the Eagles lack offensive weapons. Ertz is averaging 60 snaps a game, basically he is out there the whole time. Look for another good game this week versus the Giants who were just beat badly by Eric Ebron last week.
HIGH RISK/HIGH REWARD
Jack Doyle – I think he will be highly owned this week at his cheap price of $3600 on DK. He is in a good spot as Cleveland doesn’t defend the tight end well. He caught all 8 of his targets last week for 79 yards. It is still a bad offense though, so he is not a lock in my mind.
Other TEs in play – E. Ebron, M. Bennett,
Value TEs – E. Dickson, C. Brate, O.J. Howard, Zach Miller
DEFENSE
New England Patriots – Should be one of the chalk defenses this week facing the Texans at home. The Patriots defense always seems to step up against bad offenses. Bill Belichick will have something up his sleeve to confuse the rookie Desean Watson. A turnover that leads to a touchdown, like a pick 6, is possible.
Miami Dolphins – Streaming defenses against the Jets this year will continue to be popular for the foreseeable future. They are the most expensive defense on Fanduel, so I don’t see me going there this week. However, if you have the money left over, they are a good option.
Philadelphia Eagles – Until the Giants show us something, keep playing defenses against them.
Other Defenses in play – Colts and Browns face off against each other with two bad offenses, should lead to sacks and turnovers. Steelers play a bad Bears team.
HIGH RISK/HIGH REWARD
Tennessee Titans – As bad as the Seattle offense has been the first two games makes the Titans a viable play at home. The Seahawks rank 27th of 32 in offense so far. The offensive line has not improved and the Titans like to blitz. I could see them racking up some sacks and a couple turnovers as well.
Value Defenses – Titans, Bills
KICKERS
Pick one that fits your lineup. Who the heck knows. If I must… Ryan Succop is min price at $4500. Usually pick kickers from games with good weather or in domes and with high over/unders. Some I like this week are Giorgio Tavecchio, Matt Bryant and Duston Hopkins who is only $4600.
