I am slightly changing the format for my write up this week. I will narrow down players to more of a core group of guys. If players aren’t listed here it doesn’t necessarily mean they are bad plays. It just means I will not have a ton of exposure to them. Obviously, studs like Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham and Le’Veon Bell are always in play. If I really don’t like a high-end player this week, I will mention I am fading them. I will list some of the top tiered options and a few value plays or players I may have a few shares of. The players are the ones I will have the most exposure to in my main lineups.
Usually, I will do 3-5 main lineups depending on the site. For example, on DraftKings I like to play the King of the Beach qualifiers. These are five entry max tournaments. I will make five main lineups and use them in the KOB and then enter them in regular GPPs. If you are mass entering tournaments, say 10-20 up to 150 lineups, I still suggest building around a core of players. Then mix in other players around your core group. Here are my favorite GPP plays of the week.
QUARTERBACKS – Have some shares of Big Ben now, Rodgers, Prescott, Wilson, and also little Palmer
Aaron Rodgers more shares on DraftKings – It’s Aaron Rodgers do I need to get deep here? One of, if not the best fantasy quarterback is in play every week. I do like his price on DK better than Fanduel.
Dak Prescott – If you like Rodgers, it’s hard not to like Dak. He should have to throw the ball to keep up with the Packers. Prescott has scored 22 and 23 Fanduel points the past two weeks, where I like his price of $7700. Can pair him with Dez Bryant this week, as he finally isn’t going to be shadowed by a top cornerback.
Russell Wilson – Wilson is the second highest priced QB on Fanduel this week at $8000. However, that’s $1500 less than Rodgers. After a dismal start to the season, he has bounced back the past two weeks scoring 33 and 27 FD points. The Rams defense is decent, but nothing scary. I also think the Rams will move the ball on the Seattle defense. With a shaky running game for the Seahawks, Wilson should do well this week.
Lower priced targets
Jacoby Brissett is the Optimizer special. Eli Manning, Tyrod Taylor, Brian Hoyer
RUNNING BACKS – Adding Kareem Hunt if on Fanduel main, mixing him in some pivot off Bell
Le’Veon Bell – Bell roared back with a vengeance last weekend and if you played him you got him for only 10% ownership. He scored 37 DraftKings points on 41 touches! Some quarterbacks don’t even throw the ball 40 times a game. Jacksonville has a much-improved defense, but Bell is matchup proof. If they continue to give him the ball 30-40 times I don’t see how you don’t use him.
Ezekiel Elliott – I can see Zeke having a good game this week even if the Cowboys are trailing. He has been much more involved in the passing game this season. He’s got 16 catches on 19 targets so far through the first four games, one of them going for a score.
Todd Gurley, more on Fanduel – I love Gurley’s price on Fanduel at only $7800. He’s only the fifth most expensive and $1700 less than Bell and $1100 less than Zeke. Yet at this point is performing better than both of them. He’s scored 25 or more Fanduel points every week this season. I am hoping people see he is playing against Seattle and think he is in a bad matchup. Would love to get him lower owned than he should be.
Will have some shares mainly on DraftKings
Carlos Hyde and Frank Gore – I don’t mind either of these guys going up against each other this weekend. Gore is facing his former team the 49ers and is only $4400 on DraftKings. Hyde has a good ceiling facing the Colts defense, which is always what we look for in GPPs.
Ameer Abdullah – Abdullah had 20 carries last week and is averaging 16.5 carries a game on the season. He’s only $4700 on DK, though still in play at $6000 on Fanduel. I love running backs that get the touches and he is one of the few lower priced options who is getting that many carries. He also has three catches in three of the four games he has played.
D. Murray, B. Powell, M. Lynch, L. Blount, J. Stewart
WIDE RECEIVERS – D. Adams supposed to play, little lower exposure to Cobb
Randall Cobb – With Ty Montgomery and Davante Adams most likely out, Randall Cobb becomes the next best option besides Jordy Nelson. Nelson tends to score more touchdowns at home though. Cobb, I really like on Fanduel at only $6600. The optimizer agrees having him projected as the 8th highest scoring receiver. At the $2000 savings from Nelson, Cobb is a steal this week.
Dez Bryant – Pairing Bryant and Prescott will be a popular choice that I like this week. Dez has seen a litany of tough cornerbacks to start the year. He finally gets a good matchup against the Packers. Look for him to break out this week versus cornerback Kevin King. It’s interesting that Dez is more expensive than Cobb on DK where he is $7800 compared to Cobb at only $6600. But on Fanduel Cobb is $200 more expensive than Dez. I will probably mix my exposure on each site with more Bryant on FD and more Cobb on DK.
T.Y. HIlton – The San Francisco defense has allowed a ton of fantasy points to wide receivers this year. Hilton gets a juicy matchup versus Rashard Robinson. His price is affordable as well at only $6000 on DraftKings. He is more expensive on Fanduel where I will have much less exposure.
DeAndre Hopkins on Fanduel main – I just can’t get away from the number of targets Hopkins is getting. He’s had 49 through four games and seven or more catches in each. Houston has a tougher matchup this week in general, but not necessarily Hopkins. If Terrance Mitchell playing against him DeAndre should have the advantage. He will be in some of my Fanduel lineups for a late-night hammer.
Jaron Brown is straight up mispriced on Fanduel at the minimum of $4500. Here is a guy who has had 11, 6, and 12 targets in the three games he has played. That equated to 9, 9 and 14 Fanduel points. In case you don’t want to do the math that’s over 10 points a game. Last week he caught eight balls for 105 yards. How is he the same price as guys like Pharoh Cooper, Jared Abbrederis, ArDarius Stewart, and Kaelin Clay (yea I tried to find guys with interesting names), and guys that are on IR! I am not saying he is going off for 20+ points. But give me 14.5 like last week at min price and I will be happy.
Will have some exposure
D. Parker, J. Landry, G. Tate, K. Allen, R. Mathews, S. Shepard, D. Baldwin, L. Fitzgerald
Lower priced targets/Punt plays on DraftKings
Kenny Stills, Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin, Trent Taylor
TIGHT ENDS – Like paying up for Kelce on Fanduel main if can fit him in, if not sticking with these guys
Charles Clay – Clay has been getting a bunch of targets, catching five passes on seven last week for 112 yards. With Jordan Mathews out now, he will continue to be Tyrod Taylor’s favorite receiving option. The Bills passing game leaves a lot to be desired and Clay is the only good choice outside of LeSean McCoy.
Austin Seferian Jenkins – The Browns gave up two touchdowns last week to the Bengals Tyler Kroft. I could see a similar situation this week with ASJ. He is only $3500 on DraftKings and is in a great spot this weekend. He’s caught 9 of his 10 targets in two games this year. Though he hasn’t scored yet, he should have a good chance to do so this week.
Evan Engram – The rookie tight end is off to a great start. He’s got 30 targets for 200 yards and a touchdown so far. Usually rookie tight ends do not do well, but he is bucking that trend. The Giants running game has been non-existent. Also, the wide-outs for the Giants have tough matchups versus the Chargers cornerbacks. Look for Eli Manning to rely on the speedy tight end once again.
Will have some exposure
Julius Thomas – he is only $2800 on DraftKings
Martellus Bennett vs. Jason Witten – If you want to get a share of the GB/Dallas game for cheap. The optimizer really likes these guys as well.
DEFENSE – Jets and Raiders all over my lineups, with some Lions sprinkled in
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Jacksonville – Though expensive, I like the Steelers at home versus Blake Bortles.
Cleveland Browns vs. New York Jets like both – I don’t mind playing either of these two defenses in this matchup. Neither offense is very good and I could see this being a sloppy game. Even if the offenses score points, there will opportunities for sacks and turnovers.
Oakland Raiders vs. Baltimore Ravens – Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense has really struggled this season. I have heard several people mention how not one receiver on the team is on pace for 500 yards. Flacco has been bad, throwing six interceptions including two each of the last two games. The Raiders defense has played better than expected and should be in a good spot to get fantasy points. Call it reverse-homer, as I am a Ravens fan, but this is my favorite defense of the week for the price by far.
Maybe a few shares
Philadelphia Eagles – The front seven should easily be able to get to Carson Palmer. However, they are going to be a popular play
KICKERS – Fanduel only – Butker, Elliot, Tucker have in a lot of lineups
Pick one that fits your lineup. Who the heck knows. If I must… Harrison Buttkicker (it’s really Butker) is min price at $4500 playing in the night game for K.C. Usually pick kickers from games with good weather or in domes and with high over/unders. Again, I like Ryan Succop and Justin Tucker as his price has dropped to $4800. Both kickers in the Dal/GB game, Dan Bailey and Mason Crosby are in play if you are paying up.
