Last weeks $55K lineup destroyed the $60K lineup, so I hope you had more of those guys and outside of besides LeSean McCoy, avoided the other Lions and Eagles that participated in the Battle of Hoth. Remember, these are just some of the plays that I find enticing. I wouldn’t exclusively play guys just from this list. So mix and match some of the lineups you prefer and good luck this weekend.
And if you haven’t signed up yet for Daily Fantasy, go over to FanDuel now. You can even play for free if you want.
Quarterbacks
Nick Foles @ PHI ($9,200)
Once again, if you’re going to pay for a top QB this week, it should be on Foles. The average game for opposing quarterbacks that have visited the dome in Minnesota this year has been 24-37 for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Every quarterback with the exception of Daily Satan, Eli Manning, has posted 20 or more points in the Metrodome (it will always be the Metrodome).
Matt Ryan vs WAS ($7,500)
Ryan is solid value this week for those who don’t want to go full cheap quarterback. He’s been a much better player at home (10 TD / 1 INT), throwing for at least 250 yards in every week except the Seattle game. Washington has allowed multiple touchdown passes in five of the past seven games.
Kirk Cousins @ ATL ($5,100)
The other quarterback in this game, Cousins, will likely be in the majority of daily lineups this weekend and for good cause. The average weekly finish for quarterbacks playing in Atlanta is 6.8, with all six-gun slingers have finished as a weekly top 12 scorer (Geno Smith is on this list).
Wildcard Play; EJ Manuel @ JAC ($6,200)
Who wants to play a quarterback coming off a 18-33, 184 yard performance with four interceptions? Manuel is a solid tourney play that many won’t have the stones to play, however. The Jags have been incredibly tough to run on, allowing only 70.8 yards per game on the ground over the past five weeks, forcing teams to throw heavy on their weak secondary. The Jags have allowed over 20 fantasy points to the quarterback position in four of those five weeks (Brandon Weeden is on this list).
Running Backs
Shane Vereen @ MIA ($7,600)
Since Vereen returned in week 11, he is fifth in the league in targets (45). Not out of all running backs, but the entire league. That’s more than Calvin Johnson or Jimmy Graham. His 33 receptions are tied with Andre Johnson for second over that stretch. The next closest running backs in those categories are Le’Veon Bell (28 targets) and Matt Forte (21 catches). He’s also carried the football eight or more times in three of the four games since coming back.
Zac Stacy vs NO ($6,700)
Stacy buyers get a discounted price since he’s coming off of two horrible matchups (at San Fran and at Arizona), but don’t let those performances scare you away. He’s still a lock for solid volume and the Saints run defense is brutally bad on the road. Without their Dome Field advantage, which allows their defense to fly off of the snap, the Saints are surrendering nearly 40 more rushing yards per game (135.2)on the road than they do at home (96.4). Stacy will be a big part of the offense Sunday if the Rams intend to keep this one close.
Pierre Thomas @ STL ($6,100)
As C.D. Carter pointed out, Thomas has been universally discounted as well. Another player fresh off of his two worst games of the season (Seattle and Carolina), Thomas should bounce right back this week against the Rams. Thomas had at least 80 totals yards and a dozen touches in his previous seven contests before those two games. He also has at least four receptions in six straight and has handled 46 percent of the Saints backfield carries this season.
Wildcard Play: Chris Ogbonnaya vs CHI ($4,500)
Even though the Browns don’t run, someone has to receive some carries with Willis McGahee out. If you’re going to receive only a handful carries, they might as well come against the Bears. Silent G already plays 46 snaps per game (11th most of all backs), so he should find his way to decent floor this weekend for those looking to save big time salary.
Wide Receivers
Brandon Marshall @ CLE ($8,400)
Even though Alshon Jeffery has outperformed Marshall over the past month, Marshall is the Bears wideout you want this weekend. Marshall should avoid Joe Haden for the most part this Sunday since he spends a healthy chunk of his time running routes from the slot. Per Pro Football Focus, Marshall runs 43.9 percent of his routes from the inside, and has scored five of his nine TD’s from the slot. Haden has only played 26 total snaps covering the slot, leaving Buster Skrine to contend with Marshall. Add to the mix that Marshall gets the return of bromance Jay Cutler, and he should earn his WR1 status and then some.
DeSean Jackson @ MIN ($6,900)
Jackson was a weekly legit top 12 receiver to start the season, but since Nick Foles has taken over, his stock has slipped a little. He has just one 100 yard game over his past eight and hasn’t seen more than six targets since week eight (with Matt Barkley). This should be a week that he finally gets to pop off as nobody in the Minnesota secondary can match his speed on a fast track. In his career on turf, DJax averages 84.3 yards per game (up from his career 70 YPG average) and in his one game this season on turf (at New York) he put up 132 yards and a score on seven receptions.
T.Y. Hilton vs HOU ($5,300)
In his first two games without Reggie Wayne on the field, Hilton caught 14 passes for 251 yards and three scores, providing a false sense of him finishing the season with those numbers as a weekly occurrence. In the four games since, he’s totaled just 17 grabs for 135 yards and zero scores. The good news is he owns the Texans, scoring in all three career meetings and topping 100 yards twice. Houston has also allowed a 70 yard receiver in six of their past seven games, so Hilton should bounce back this week.
Wildcard Play: Stevie Johnson @ JAC ($4,900)
My wildcard receiver creates a wildcard stack if needed. I detailed why Johnson should dominate in the slot this weekend against the Jags interior secondary in this week’s Trust or Bust. He comes at a nearly basement level price and should deliver value even without a score.
Tight Ends
Vernon Davis @ TB ($6,100)
Davis has scored in four consecutive games and still comes attached to a high ceiling. Tampa defends tight ends pretty solidly, but has had trouble with the more athletic ones (Greg Olsen, Jimmy Graham) they’ve faced. For a modest price tag, Davis will have an opportunity to stay hot.
Greg Olsen vs NYJ ($5,800)
Speaking of Olsen, he draws a fantastic play this weekend in the Jets. New York has allowed eight top 12 tight ends this season, including seven to reach over 50 yards receiving. Olsen has five or more receptions in four consecutive games, leading the Panthers in targets (36) over the past month.
Delanie Walker vs ARI ($4,800)
It’s no surprise that once Walker went down, Ryan Fitzpatrick immediately turned back into a pumpkin. Since Walker left the Indy game with a concussion, Fitzy has thrown only two scores and four interceptions while completing 55.7 percent of his throws after completing 71.8 percent of his passes for five touchdowns with zero picks in the three games prior. A big part of that was due to the fact he leaned on Walker, who had 19 receptions for 199 yards and two touchdowns in those games. Paired with a matchup against a visiting tight end friendly Cardinals defense, he’s the best cheap option available.
Wildcard Play: Tony Gonzalez vs WAS ($5,300)
As many Ryan owners will use Roddy White this week, Gonzalez could be the sneaky stack attack play with him. He’s topped 50 receiving yards only once over his past five games, but has scored in his past two and gets a more than favorable matchup. Washington has allowed five top 12 tight ends over their past seven games, including four to score and four to reach 50 yards through the air.
My Lineups:
|
$60K |
|
|
Kirk Cousins |
$5,100 |
|
LeSean McCoy |
$10,400 |
|
Shane Vereen |
$7,600 |
|
Calvin Johnson |
$9,900 |
|
DeSean Jackson |
$6,900 |
|
TY Hilton |
$5,300 |
|
Delanie Walker |
$4,800 |
|
Alex Henery |
$5,000 |
|
Colts DST |
$5,000 |
|
$55K |
|
|
Kirk Cousins |
$5,100 |
|
Shane Vereen |
$7,600 |
|
Zac Stacy |
$6,700 |
|
Calvin Johnson |
$9,900 |
|
Torrey Smith |
$6,000 |
|
Stevie Johnson |
$4,900 |
|
Delanie Walker |
$4,800 |
|
Alex Henery |
$5,000 |
|
Colts DST |
$5,000 |
Stats used were provided from ProFootballFocus, Pro-Football-Reference, NFLData.com.
