It wasn’t the prettiest of Week 1’s in the NFL with several teams searching to find a rhythm on offense. However, we still had some monster receiving performances, including surprising ones by Sammy Watkins and Marquise Brown. Who will be in the winning DFS lineups for Week 2?
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 – Running Backs
Even though it’s only been one week, the running back landscape across the league has already been impacted by a few key injuries. That leaves us with some added value plays to consider for Week 2 in DFS.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 – Quarterbacks
Now that the dust has settled on the opening weekend of action in the NFL, it’s time to quickly turn the page and focus on Week 2. We have several intriguing quarterback options across the price scale, setting us up to deploy a few different strategies.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – TE & DEF/ST
For our last positional breakdown of the Week 1 DFS slate, we’ll examine both some tight ends and defenses/special teams to target for your lineup.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – Wide Receivers
While we didn’t see several of the top-tier wide receivers play much during the preseason, most of them should be ready to go for Week 1. There are a lot of juicy matchups to exploit, so let’s highlight some of the best ones to consider.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – Running Backs
After breaking down the quarterback position Monday, it’s time to dive into the running backs worth considering for Week 1. Whether you are looking to spend big or save at the position, there are viable options for both strategies.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – Quarterbacks
The long wait is finally over! The month of September is here, and with it, comes the start of the NFL season. That also means we have some DFS fun to partake in. Let’s start out by breaking down the quarterback position for Week 1.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations – Conference Championships
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
And then there were four. The NFL brings us the Conference Championships this weekend with the top four teams set to face off for a chance to play in the Super Bowl. It also means this will be our last opportunity to play anything other than single-game contests in DFS. Let’s discuss some players who stand out at each position based on their matchups. Of note, there will be no breakdown for defense/special teams. The reason is all four of these teams have great offenses, so don’t overthink the position. Just play whichever team fits into the slot after you’ve selected your offensive players. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our NFL Lineup Optimizer to help you build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
QUARTERBACKS
Patrick Mahomes vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $6,600
The Chiefs scored 31 points last week, so Mahomes must have shined, right? Well, not exactly. He did complete 65.9 percent of his passes for 278 yards and did not throw an interception. However, he also didn’t throw a touchdown pass for just the second time this season. Luckily, he chipped in a rushing touchdown, but it was still a disappointing state line, overall. He’ll look to rebound against the Patriots, who allowed 29 passing touchdowns during the regular season. The Chiefs also might be forced to throw the ball more to keep up with the Patriots’ offense, setting up Mahomes to potentially have a nice bounce-back performance.
Tom Brady vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $5,800
This game between the Patriots and Chiefs should be the more fantasy-friendly contest despite the potential for playing in cold conditions. The Chiefs allowed the second-most passing yards per game (273) during the regular season and Brady torched them for 340 yards in Week 6. Even though Brady doesn’t have the benefit of playing this game at home, the potential for a shootout makes him an appealing option if you don’t want to pay up for Mahomes.
RUNNING BACKS
James White vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $5,400
Technically, White is a running back. However, he didn’t receive a single carry last week against the Chargers. That didn’t stop him from having a monster game, though, as he caught 15 of 17 targets for 97 yards. While the 17 targets seem like a crazy number, White actually had four games during the regular season in which he received at least 10 targets, so it’s not as outlandish as you might think. The Chiefs allowed the fifth-most receiving yards (895) to opposing running backs during the regular season, leaving White with tremendous upside once again.
Sony Michel vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $5,600
One of the reasons why White didn’t carry the ball against the Chargers is because Michel was eating them up on the ground. He finished the game with 24 carries for 129 yards and three touchdowns. The lopsided score certainly helped with his workload, but don’t expect him to slow down in his second meeting with the Chiefs this season. The last time they played each other, Michel piled up 106 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. The Chiefs allowed the sixth-most rushing yards per game (132.1) during the regular season, setting up Michel with the potential for another monster performance.
Damien Williams vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $6,400
Everything went right for Williams last week against the Colts. He received a season-high 25 carries with Spencer Ware (hamstring) once again inactive and made the most of his opportunities by piling up 129 yards. He also recorded a rushing touchdown and caught five of six targets for an additional 25 yards. With teams having to focus so much on the Chiefs’ passing game, it’s hard to slow down Williams, as well. They also move the ball up and down the field so well that Williams is left with plenty of scoring opportunities. Even if Ware returns this week, expect Williams to receive the bulk of the carries once again.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Michael Thomas vs. Los Angeles Rams
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,200
Thomas entered last week with an extremely favorable matchup against an injury-riddled Eagles’ secondary. He certainly didn’t disappoint, catching 12 of 16 targets for 171 yards and a touchdown. The 16 targets were very encouraging to see because the Saints have been known to spread the ball around at times this season. Even though this isn’t as favorable of a matchup, Thomas had no problems against the Rams in Week 9 when he recorded 12 receptions on 15 targets for 211 yards and a touchdown. He’s by far the best receiving option on the Saints and stands out as the wide receiver with maybe the highest upside of anyone in action Sunday.
Julian Edelman vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $6,600
The Patriots suffered a significant loss when Josh Gordon had to leave the team. Rob Gronkowski has appeared to be a shell of his former self, which has required them to lean even more heavily on Edelman. He was plenty involved last week against the Chargers, catching nine of 13 targets for 151 yards. He now has a total of 52 targets across their last five games. Edelman stands out as a stellar play against the porous Chiefs’ defense.
Phillip Dorsett vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $3,900
With only two games, viable cheap options are few and far between. However, your budget won’t allow you to load up on stars, so you need to take chances somewhere. Dorsett might be a risk worth taking after he caught four of five targets for 51 yards and a touchdown last week. He now has a touchdown in back-to-back contests and doesn’t receive a ton of attention from opposing defenses since they have to try and slow down Edelman, Gronkowski, Michel, and White. If he finds his way into the end zone again here, he could be a difference maker in DFS.
TIGHT ENDS
Travis Kelce vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,100
If there was ever a week to pay up for Kelce, this is it. The other options outside of him are not very exciting. He came through with seven catches for 108 yards last week after totaling at least 100 yards in a game five times during the regular season. Expect the Patriots to try and key in on shutting him down, but he receives so many targets that his floor is still exceptionally high. The Patriots also allowed eight touchdowns to tight ends during the regular season.
Rob Gronkowski vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $4,100
It looks like Gronkowski’s days in the NFL are numbered. He’s having a hard time getting open and isn’t nearly involved offensively as a result. He only had one target last week, marking his third straight game with three or fewer targets. The clear choice at tight end is Kelce, but if you decide you want to load up elsewhere, Gronkowski is a dart throw with some upside since the Chiefs were destroyed for 1,067 yards and 10 touchdowns by tight ends in the regular season.
Author Bio:
Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on ESPN Radio and DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations – Divisional Round
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
With Wild Card Weekend in the books, the NFL moves on to the Divisional Round of the playoffs this week. There will be some excellent offenses in action, which could set up for a high scoring weekend in DFS. Let’s discuss some players who stand out at each position based on their matchups. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our NFL Lineup Optimizer to help you build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
QUARTERBACKS
Patrick Mahomes vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $7,000
The Chiefs couldn’t have asked for anything more from Mahomes this season. He not only brought them back to the playoffs in his first season as a starter, but he threw for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns. There were some concerns heading into the season that Mahomes could be prone to throwing interceptions, but that never really came to fruition as he finished with only 12 picks. He had the highest floor of any quarterback in DFS, throwing for at least two touchdown passes in all but two games. With the Chiefs running game still dealing with the loss of Kareem Hunt, their chances of advancing to the next round rest squarely on Mahomes’ shoulders. Look for him to come through with another productive outing.
Nick Foles vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $5,400
Foles and the Eagles are at it again. They went on the road last week and knocked off a tough Bears team, 16-15. Foles carried over his playoff success from last year, throwing for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Yes, he threw two interceptions, as well, but his overall stat line is still impressive considering his opponent. Now he’ll get to face a Saints team that tied for the third-most passing yards allowed per game (269) during the regular season. At this cheap price, rolling with Foles in tournament play is a viable option.
RUNNING BACKS
Ezekiel Elliott vs. Los Angeles Rams
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $8,200
The Cowboys don’t have a great offense, but Elliott can cover up a lot of holes. He was the key to their win over the Seahawks last week, carrying the ball 26 times for 137 yards and a touchdown. He was also plenty busy in the passing game, catching four of five targets for an additional 32 yards. With at least 100 total yards in nine straight games, Elliott is a safe bet to be productive. The Rams’ defense has had their problems stopping the run and ended the regular season allowing the most yards-per-carry (5.1) in the league.
Marlon Mack vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $5,800
Andrew Luck grabs a lot of the headlines for the Colts, and rightfully so. His return to form is the main reason that they have been successful. However, Mack was just as important last week against the Texans, rushing for 148 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. He’s now logged at least 24 carries in three of their last four games, averaging 135.3 yards. He’s also had a nose for the end zone, scoring at least one touchdown in five straight contests. The Chiefs allowed the sixth-most rushing yards per game (132.1) and tied for the third-most rushing touchdowns allowed (19) this year, setting up Mack with another opportunity to shine.
Darren Sproles vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,400
Oddly enough, Sproles received more carries than any other Eagles’ running back last week against the Bears. He turned his 13 carries into just 21 yards, but that workload says something about how the team views him within their offense. He was on the field for 56 percent of their offensive snaps, compared to 41 percent for Wendell Smallwood and one percent for Josh Adams. With how well the Saints have stopped the run this year, it’s hard to see any of their running backs rushing for a lot of yards. However, the Eagles might have to throw a lot to keep up with the Saints offense, so that game script would seem to favor Sproles. Even at this late stage of his career, he is still a dangerous pass catcher out of the backfield. If you’re looking for a cheap option in tournament play, Sproles has some upside.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Michael Thomas vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $7,900
Overall, Thomas had a spectacular season with 125 receptions on 147 targets for 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns. However, a lot of his damage came early in the year. He was fairly quiet down the stretch, posting 49 yards or fewer in four of his last six contests. The Saints spread the ball around quite a bit, which sometimes didn’t leave Thomas with a ton of opportunities. With that being said, don’t let that shy you away from deploying him this week. The Eagles secondary is a mess and was torched by Allen Robinson for 10 receptions, 143 yards, and a touchdown last week. Nothing against Robinson, but he’s not in the same league as Thomas. The Eagles have their work cut out for them.
Alshon Jeffery vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $5,800
The return of Foles at quarterback has done wonders for Jeffery. Before Foles took over in Week 15, Jeffery only had two games all season with at least 80 receiving yards. However, with Foles at the helm, he reached that mark three times across four contests. Considering how banged up the Eagles’ defense is and how well the Saints play at home, there is a good chance that the Eagles are going to have to score a lot to keep this game close. That should lead to plenty of targets for Jeffery.
Dontrelle Inman vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,800
T.Y. Hilton stands out as by far the best receiving threat on the Colts. Behind him, they haven’t really had a consistent producer. Inman hasn’t received a ton of opportunities, but he enters this contest with a touchdown in each of his last three games. He received a total of 15 targets during that stretch and was on the field for 70 percent of the Colts’ offensive snaps last week, highest among all other wide receivers behind Hilton. With how poorly the Chiefs’ defense has played, don’t overlook Inman if you need a cheap option in tournament play.
TIGHT ENDS
Eric Ebron vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $5,500
Ebron was only on the field for 49 percent of the Colts’ offensive snaps last week, but that didn’t stop him from catching another touchdown. Even though his yardage production has been hit-or-miss, he’s still a great option in DFS based on his touchdown production. This is about as juicy of a matchup as it gets against a Chiefs team that allowed 1,067 yards and 10 touchdowns to tight ends this year.
Rob Gronkowski vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,600
Are we seeing the demise of Gronk? He scored just three touchdowns during the regular season, marking the first time in his career where he scored fewer than eight touchdowns during a season in which he played at least 10 games. His 52.5 receiving yards per game was also the second-lowest mark of his career. His upside isn’t what it once was, but he’s still an important part of the Patriots’ offense. Ebron is the safe pick, but if you’re looking to save some even more money at tight end, Gronkowski is a viable option during such a limited slate.
DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS
Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $3,000
The Rams defense can give up some points, but that doesn’t mean they are a bad option. They finished with 18 interceptions during the regular season, which tied for the third-most in the league. They also posted 41 sacks, led by star tackle Aaron Donald. The Cowboys are by no means an offensive juggernaut, even with one of the best running backs in the league on their team, setting up the Rams with the potential to be one of the better defensive plays of the weekend.
New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $2,600
The Chargers running back situation is concerning. Melvin Gordon has been banged up down the stretch and suffered another knee injury last week against the Ravens. He returned to that contest and is expected to play this week, but he might not be 100 percent healthy. Austin Ekeler was ineffective as he battled a groin injury last week, rushing 11 times for just 29 yards. Playing in Gillette Stadium in the playoffs is no easy task, so it’s hard to imagine this being one of the better offensive performances of the year from the Chargers.
Author Bio:
Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on ESPN Radio and DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations – Wild Card Round
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
The NFL regular season has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean the fun has ended in DFS. The Wild Card round of the playoffs brings two days worth of DFS contests. Let’s highlight some players at all positions across both days to see who could help you bring home some money. 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.
QUARTERBACKS
Andrew Luck vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $6,400
After sitting out all of 2017, the Colts couldn’t have asked for much more from Luck this season. He helped lead them back into the playoffs with one of the best years of his career, throwing for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns. He destroyed the Texans is two previous meetings, throwing for a combined 863 yards and six touchdowns. The Texans allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game (260) in the league during the regular season, so it’s no surprise that Luck has had success against them. It’s no easy task playing on the road in the playoffs, but this is still a favorable opportunity for Luck to be productive.
Lamar Jackson vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $5,800
The Ravens won six of seven games after Jackson took over as their starting quarterback, propelling them into the playoffs. Traditional passing numbers are certainly not his forte, which left him to throw for fewer than 200 yards in six of his starts. Most of his value comes from his ability to run the ball. The Ravens give him plenty of opportunities to make his mark in that department, which enabled him to turn 147 carries into 695 yards and five touchdowns. The Chargers did hold him to 39 rushing yards in Week 16, but he countered with throwing for 204 yards and a touchdown. Being a rookie quarterback in the playoffs can be a challenge, but with his ability to run and this game being play at home, his floor is high enough to warrant considering him for your entry.
RUNNING BACKS
Ezekiel Elliott vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,000
The Cowboys offense wasn’t very productive this season, which left Elliott to record just six rushing touchdowns. However, that didn’t stop him from piling up 304 carries for 1,434 yards. They also turned to him much more frequently in the passing game, which resulted in Elliott finishing with career-highs in targets (95), receptions (77), receiving yards (567) and receiving touchdowns (three). With his immense workload, he may have the highest floor of any running back in play this weekend.
Chris Carson vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,800
The Seahawks love to run the ball and settled on Carson to be their lead running back. He finished with six games with at least 100 rushing yards, including each of his last three contests. He also found his way into the end zone five times across his last four games. Even though this is a tough matchup against a stout Cowboys’ run defense, Carson didn’t struggle against them in Week 3 when he rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown. If you don’t want to pay up for Elliott, Carson also has a very high floor.
Gus Edwards vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $4,200
Not only did the Ravens make a change at quarterback, but they also made Edwards their starting running back. Alex Collins had a disaster of a year and eventually ended up on IR with a foot injury. With teams trying to contain Jackson on the ground, it has made things difficult to also key on Edwards. Since being named the starter in Week 12, Edwards has amassed 539 yards and a touchdown on 105 carries. His contributions are virtually non-existent in the passing game, but that doesn’t mean you should be avoiding him this week, especially at his cheap price on DraftKings.
WIDE RECEIVERS
DeAndre Hopkins vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,700
Hopkins is battling an ankle injury, but all signs point to him playing Saturday. He couldn’t have performed much better down the stretch, posting 31 receptions for 421 yards and two touchdowns across his last three games. He finished with 11 touchdowns, overall, marking the third time in the last four seasons that he has reached that threshold. The Colts held him to 36 yards in Week 14, but he still salvaged his line with a touchdown. In Week 4, he torched them for 169 yards and another score. Look for him to have another big performance Saturday.
Tyler Lockett vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $5,300
With how often the Seahawks like to run the ball, it doesn’t necessarily equate to good things for their receivers. Lockett still had by far the best season of his career in large part because he posted 16.9 yards per reception. He was also one of their main scoring threats, finishing with 10 touchdowns receptions. To put that into perspective, he had nine total touchdowns across the first three years of his career. His price on FanDuel isn’t exactly a bargain, but he really stands out as a great option on DraftKings.
Allen Robinson II vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Soldier Field
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,600
The Bears had a horrible wide receiver group in 2017, so addressing the position during the offseason was critical. Robinson was their big haul, even though his numbers don’t exactly jump off the page. He was limited to 13 games, but the Bears held him out in Week 17 to make sure he’d be healthy for the playoffs. The Eagles’ secondary has been hit hard by injuries, which contributed to them allowing the third-most passing yards per game (269) during the regular season. Robinson still led the Bears with 94 targets despite missing three games, so he should have a large enough role to be worth considering this week.
TIGHT ENDS
Eric Ebron vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $5,200
Simply put, Ebron had a crazy season for the Colts. His role looked cloudy heading into the year, but injuries to Jack Doyle quickly thrust him into a prominent role. The Colts also don’t have great wide receivers outside of T.Y. Hilton, which further increased their reliance on Ebron. He came through in a huge way, registering 13 touchdown receptions. He found the end zone in both games against the Texans, as well, making him a prime target in DFS at the tight end spot.
Mark Andrews vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium = M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $3,500
Even though the Ravens don’t throw the ball a lot with Jackson at the helm, Andrews has actually been productive down the stretch. Across his last three games, he’s caught eight of 11 targets for 168 yards and a touchdown. That score came against the Chargers. None of the Ravens’ wide receivers stand out as appealing options for this game, but Andrews is someone to at least consider in tournament play if you want to save money at tight end.
DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS
Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $3,000
The switch to Jackson was one of the main reasons why the Ravens were so successful down the stretch, but don’t forget about their stellar defense, either. They were stout throughout the year, allowing the fifth-fewest passing yards per game (210) and the fourth-fewest rushing yards per contest (82.9). They also chipped in 43 sacks and 12 interceptions, making them a great option in DFS. They held the Chargers to 10 points in Week 16 and could once again be tough in their rematch at home.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $2,300
If you’re looking for a cheap defense to roll the dice on in tournament play, going with the Colts isn’t all that crazy. They finished with 15 interceptions this season and allowed only 21 scores through the air. They also allowed the eighth-fewest rushing yards per game (101.6). Texans’ quarterback DeShaun Watson was sacked a whopping 62 times this year, including 11 times in two games against the Colts. Even if they give up some points, the Colts defense could still provide value, overall, at their cheap price on both sites.
Author Bio:
Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on ESPN Radio and DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat.