Last week I mentioned injuries
as one of the biggest draws used by the daily fantasy sports sites
as to why you would want to be drafting a new team each week. Another
is the concept of bye weeks. Take a look at your season long roster.
Even if you have been able to avoid the injury bug, you might be
stuck starting a bottom tier quarterback or WR5 this week because
there are six teams on bye. Depending on your draw, you might be
looking at a 30% chance of winning with your season-long team this
week. Good thing you have found DFS and will still have something
to realistically cheer for on Sunday. The only effect bye weeks
have on daily fantasy leagues is the ownership percentages of some
players might be a bit higher due to fewer options. If you have
ever played with a truncated schedule (early only, afternoon only,
primetime games, etc) you might have experienced this already. Those
higher percentages do not mean a whole lot in the cash games as
you still want to have solid players with a high floor. The percentages
play out a little bit more in the tournaments as you try to find
some of the high-scoring contrarian plays. There are still 26 teams
to choose from so these gems can still be found.
Before we look into the players that will help you this week,
let’s check how the odds makers see the games playing out.
- N.Y. Giants (21.25) at Washington (24.75)
- Miami (22.5) vs. Oakland (18.5) in London
- Green Bay (25.75) at Chicago (24.25)
- Buffalo (19) at Houston (22)
- Tennessee (19.25) at Indianapolis (26.75)
- Carolina (18.75) at Baltimore (21.75)
- Detroit (23.25) at N.Y. Jets (21.75)
- Tampa Bay (18.75) at Pittsburgh (26.25)
- Jacksonville (15.75) at San Diego (28.75)
- Philadelphia (22.5) at San Francisco (28)
- Atlanta (25) at Minnesota (22)
- New Orleans (28) at Dallas (25)
- New England (24.25) at Kansas City (20.75)
On bye: Cincinnati, Cleveland,
Denver, St. Louis, Arizona, Seattle
Philip Rivers will be an attractive play
in DFS this week.
Quarterbacks Drew Brees
(9,200/9,300) Brees is on the road where his splits are
not the best, and he did not do as well as expected last week
at home. Do not let that scare you off though as Dallas has given
up six passing touchdowns this year and Brees has a high floor.
Colin Kaepernick (8,100/7,600) Kaepernick is at home
versus the second worst defense against quarterbacks in a game
that is projected to be one of the highest scoring of the week.
Philip Rivers (8,400/7,700) Rivers is at home versus
the worst defense against quarterbacks. You might think San Diego
will shift to a conservative run approach if they get out to a
big lead, but look what Luck did against the Jaguars last week.
San Diego has the highest projected team total this week.
Teddy Bridgewater (5,900/5,700) If you are looking to
get tricky in a tournament, Bridgewater at home against the Falcons
is a nice cheap option.
Running Backs
Matt Forte (8,600/7,800) Forte has played 97% of
the offensive snaps this season. The Packers have the fifth-worst
defense versus running backs. If you are looking for a chalk play,
Forte is a good option.
Lamar Miller (6,900/6,200) With Moreno still on the shelf
due to injury, look for Miller to get 20 plus touches against
a weak Oakland defense.
Donald Brown (6,300/5,400) Brown is a great volume play
this week with Mathews and Woodhead both out with injuries.
DeAngelo
Williams (5,700/3,900) Williams (thigh) is coming back from
injury, as Jonathan Stewart (knee) and Mike Tolbert (leg) will
be sitting out. He does not have the best match up against Baltimore
but he should see a good amount of volume with Cam Newton also
dinged up. At this price he is a decent value play.
Khiry Robinson (4,900/4,800) Robinson disappointed us
last week with only 69 yards but he did have 18 carries. With
that volume against the Dallas defense, the price is right.
Wide Recievers
Antonio Brown (8,400/7,800) Brown is a PPR monster
against one of the worst defenses versus wideouts. If you have
the money, Brown should treat you right.
Michael Crabtree (7,000/6,400) Crabtree gets a favorable
matchup in a game with the highest projected totals. With Vernon
Davis most likely back, Crabtree may not see the 11 touches he
did last week but he will have plenty of opportunities.
Vincent Jackson (6,800/5,100) Jackson does not have the
most favorable matchup but with Glennon under center he should
see quite a few targets and maybe even another garbage time touchdown.
Brandin Cooks (6,200/5,300) Cooks has seen the most offensive
snaps of any Saints wideout and will benefit from a good matchup
against Dallas.
Steve Smith (6,100/5,600) Smith has been Flaccos
favorite target this year and he should benefit from the loss
of Pitta.
Tight Ends
Jimmy Graham (8,200/7,500) Again this week, I will
be paying up for Graham wherever I have the cap space. Dallas
is dreadful versus the tight end.
Martellus Bennett (6,000/5,700) Bennett is second in
the league in targets, catches and touchdowns for the tight end
position. At a nice price drop from Graham, Bennett is an attractive
play.
Antonio Gates (5,800/4,400) – Coming off a 1-catch performance,
Gates should bounce back nicely against Jacksonville and is at
a decent price.
Defenses
Detroit (4,700/3,100)
Washington (4,500/3,000) – if you are playing with Thursday
games
Miami (5,200/3,100)
Good luck this week!
Suggestions, comments? E-mail
me or follow me on
Twitter.
|
