The main Sunday afternoon slate is going to look very different for Week 7. The Chiefs, Eagles, Cowboys, Patriots and Browns are all either playing in a prime time game or are on a bye, taking some of the more prominent quarterbacks off the table.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 6 – Wide Receivers
Despite four teams being on a bye, Week 6 still brings a loaded group of high-end wide receiver options. Not only that, but there are several cheaper players who could provide significant value.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 6 – Running Backs
The running back landscape for Week 6 in DFS is going to be very different. If you’re playing in the main Sunday afternoon slate, Christian McCaffrey, Aaron Jones, Marlon Mack and James White are just a few of the names who won’t be at your disposal either because their team is on a bye or they are playing in a prime time game.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5 – Wide Receivers
The main Sunday afternoon slate in DFS for Week 5 is missing some key names with the Chiefs, Browns and Rams all among the teams who won’t be available.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2 – Wide Receivers
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 – 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 for Week 14 – Quarterbacks
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
If you didn’t make the playoffs in your season-long fantasy football league, the fun isn’t over yet. Every week is a new opportunity to bring home some cash in DFS. Let’s examine some quarterbacks to target and avoid as you craft your lineup for Week 14. 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
Ben Roethlisberger vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $6,800
The Steelers were involved in a shootout against the Chargers last week, ultimately losing 33-30 at home. Roethlisberger did throw for two touchdowns, but he had just 281 yards. That marked the first time since Week 9 that he had thrown for fewer than 300 yards in a game. He was also picked off again, leaving him with six interceptions across his last three games. The good news is that he attempted 45 passes and has at least 40 pass attempts in nine of 12 games.
Roethlisberger’s interceptions are up this year, but so are his touchdowns and passing yards per game. His touchdowns numbers are still much better at home (16) than on the road (10), but he is averaging 350.5 passing yards per game on the road. The Raiders struggle to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and have allowed the most passing touchdowns (29) in the league, leaving Roethlisberger with a very high floor in this contest.
Drew Brees vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $6,600
It’s tough for the road team to win on Thursday Night Football, but the Saints laid an egg offensively against the Cowboys by scoring 10 points last week. Brees was as much to blame as anyone, throwing for just 127 yards to go along with one touchdown and one interception. The fact that he attempted just 28 passes didn’t help his cause, but he had four touchdowns across only 22 pass attempts the previous week against the Falcons.
Believe it or not, Brees has now thrown for fewer than 200 yards in a game three times this season. The Saints have a great running back duo of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram, which doesn’t always leave Brees with a ton of passing attempts. He has largely made up for that lack of volume, though, with 30 touchdowns. When the Saints and Bucs squared off in Week 1, Brees had 439 yards and three touchdowns. Considering the Bucs have allowed the second-most touchdowns through the air (28), expect Brees to have a big bounce-back performance.
Philip Rivers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $6,500
The Chargers big win on the road against the Steelers last week has them riding high as they approach a spot in the playoffs. Rivers was right at the forefront of their victory, throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns. He’s only thrown for at least 300 yards one time across his last five games, but he’s thrown at least two touchdown passes in every game this season.
The loss of star running back Melvin Gordon (knee) was significant for the Chargers, but there is hope that he might not be out for too long. Even if he does return for Week 14, this is a prime spot to use Rivers in DFS. The Bengals injuries on offense might grab all the headlines, but their defense has been atrocious, allowing the second-most passing yards per game (280) to go along with 26 passing touchdowns.
GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS
Jameis Winston vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $6,200
Winston’s second stint as the Bucs quarterback this season has been significantly better than his first. He came through with another strong performance in Week 13 against the Panthers, throwing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. His 66.7 percent completion percentage wasn’t anything to write home about, but it was key that he didn’t throw an interception. After being plagued by turnovers throughout his career, Winston has yet to be intercepted across two games since regaining a starting role.
It should be noted that his last two games have come against the 49ers and Panthers, both of which have their holes in pass coverage. The Saints aren’t exactly defensive juggernauts, though, since they have allowed the third-most passing yards per game (279). This game being played at home is also a big plus for Winston considering how well the Saints play in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. His turnover history always leaves him with some risk, but there is also upside here in tournament play.
Baker Mayfield vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $5,800
Week 13 against the Texans was not one of Mayfield’s finer performances. He did throw for 397 yards, but he had only one touchdown and three interceptions. That broke a streak of five-straight games with at least two touchdowns and two straight games without an interception. With only 13 points, it also marked the first time in the last three games that the Browns failed to score at least 21 points.
A lot of Mayfield’s struggles last week might have just been because the Browns were on the road against the red-hot Texans, who have won nine straight. Mayfield gets a much easier task this week at home against the Panthers, who have allowed 27 touchdowns through the air. Mayfield’s pass attempts are sometimes limited due to how well Nick Chubb is running the ball, but he’s still someone to consider based on this matchup.
Josh Allen vs. New York Jets
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $5,500
Allen only completed 54.6 percent of his passes against the Dolphins last week, finishing with 231 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. However, he did a ton of damage with his legs, running for 135 yards on nine carries. This comes on the heels of rushing for 99 yards in Week 12 against the Jaguars. He actually has almost as many rushing touchdowns (four) as he does passing touchdowns (five) this season.
Lamar Jackson of the Ravens might grab all the headlines, but Allen’s ability to rack up rushing yards should not go unnoticed. He still has a lot of improving to do in the passing game and he might not be a consistent contributor in that area until next season. This is an opportunity to target him in DFS, though, considering how poorly the Jets have played. They’ve lost six straight games, one of them was 41-10 against the Bills when Matt Barkley was at quarterback.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Tom Brady vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $5,800
The Patriots are loaded at running back with Sony Michel, James White, and Rex Burkhead all finally healthy. They haven’t needed to rely as much on the arm of Brady, leaving him to throw a total of four touchdowns across his last five games. The Dolphins are one of the worst teams in the league against the run, so the Patriots might not need Brady to throw much in Week 14, either. He’s not overly expensive on either site, but it still might be best to avoid him for your entry.
Matthew Stafford vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $5,200
The wheels have come off for the Lions. They are 1-5 over their last six games, which included brutal matchups against the Seahawks, Vikings, Bears, and Rams. The Cardinals might not have a good record, but they have allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (220). Stafford has a total of four touchdown passes and five interceptions in his last five games, leaving him with very little upside despite his cheap price.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 11 – Wide Receivers
*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
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
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
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.