It’s here! Fantasy football season is back and stretching on the sidelines as it gets ready to mature into its full form from the woeful preseason. Redraft season long fantasy football has come a long way since its inception, and it has evolved into a far more addictive, profitable, gut wrenching, and satisfying, mutant super breed, of week to week DFS. Daily fantasy Sports are man to the ape of traditional leagues and are where I play most of my volume. Breaking down the season into 17 weeks and even some playoff contests is incredible and there are so many pros. There is always next week! Your season is never lost. One can play any players they want, based on a set salary, and that brings a whole new dimension to the game in terms of ownership percentage awareness and price value based decisions. I recommend everyone tries it out. You can start small, get a feel for it, and decide if it is for you.
Here’s the info for the NFL $10M Millionaire Maker daily fantasy football contest at DraftKings:
o $10 million prize pool
o $2 million first place prize
o Only $20 to enter
– NFL $1M Play-Action
o $1 million prize pool
o $100,000 first place prize
o $3 to enter or FREE with first deposit
Chalk Board Material:
DeMarco Murray($6700) vs ATL
The offensive player of yesteryear is facing the 12th worst rush defense in terms of yards per game last season. He is running behind a better offensive line and is in a very productive offense that runs more plays than any other team per game coming in at 70.7 per game in 2014. Murray is severely underpriced on DK.
This game also has the highest Vegas total of the week at 55. Vegas knows things. Don’t question it. The score board is getting lit and there will be multiple fantasy targets in this game.
Eddie Lacy($7500) vs CHI
Fat Eddie is facing a middling Chicago Bears rushing defense, with the best quarterback in the league manning the helm, against the 3rd worst passing defense last season. Aaron Rodgers will be moving the ball comfortably down the field, setting up red zone looks for Lacy. The Packers also may lean on Lacy more than usual due to the Jordy Nelson season ending injury and Randall Cobbs shoulder issue. This face off is tied for the highest over under of the week at -7 in favor of Green Bay. With such a large spread I expect Lacy to get a high volume of work, running the clock, with the Packers expected to be leading.
Sam Bradford($6900) vs ATL
He has looked immaculate in preseason and gets the perfect matchup to start the year versus last years worst pass defense. A lot of people will have a wait and see approach on Bradford, but now is the time. No fear. His ownership and price will be way up after this week going forward.
Calvin Johnson($8500) vs SD
General perception seems to be down on megaton this year and I could see him being the lowest owned of the top tier WRs facing a top 5 pass defense of last season. It doesn’t matter. Calvin gonna Calvin. He is still the best play making wide receiver in the league and can beast on any corner going.
Jordan Matthews ($7200) vs ATL
Yes, I am beating a drum with the Eagles logo on it. The all around worst defense in the league yields production to all lead dogs of opposing squads. This guy had been showing off all preseason, high pointing catches, kicking butts, and taking names. The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Jeff McLane reports that it’s “clear” that Jordan Matthews is the Eagles’ best receiving option, and “the team plans on making him the focal point of the passing offense.”
Julio Jones ($9300) vs PHI
Do I need to convince you of this one? Undisputed beast who had the 3rd most targets per game last year at 10.9. Julio enters the season with new offensive coach Kyle Shanahan, who will have Jones manning the legendary X role. Roddy White is injured having elbow surgery about 2 weeks ago. The running game is a dumpster fire. Julio Jones is the strength of their team and they lean on him heavily week to week. In the house of Falcons he is the support beam holding up the roof. The Eagles gave up the 2nd most yards per game through the air last season.
Indiana Jones Plays:
Andy Dalton($6100) vs OAK
You have to be able to differ yourself in large field GPPss and playing a guy like Dalton in a great matchup is how you do it vs. a bottom-half pass defense. The public thinks he is hot trash. Abuse that perception. The offense is loaded at all positions and A.J. Green is healthy this year.
Chris Ivory($4100) vs CLE
The man in green steps to the worst run defense of a season ago. This is daring due to workload concerns, but if he gets the rock fantasy points are gonna roll. They want to pound the ball on the ground and supposedly he will be getting work in the passing game this season. ESPN Jets reporter Rich Cimini believes Chris Ivory is “primed for a career year.” Hopefully that begins with this week. Unbelievable price on Draftkings.
Shane Vereen($4200) vs DAL
This pick will take some faith because Vereen is entering a new offense on a new team with a new quarterback. He is slated as the passing down back, but I believe he will get a lot more work than that. I can see Eli Manning dumping the ball off to Shane Vereen early and often in the quick hitting Ben McAdoo offense. The matchup is mid tier with Dallas having the 8th best rushing defense a season ago. The unknown is always scary, but Indiana Jones plays don’t back down. They pick up their whip, grab their hat, and walk right into that temple of DFS doom. This matchup is tied for the second highest total of the week at 51.5.
Delanie Walker($3400) vs TB
The best option in the passing game rarely comes in the form of a tight end. Walker is that. He faces the Tampa Bay defense hosting the defense that last year was 7th worst in pass yards per game at 255.6. Delanie will have better quarterback play this year and averaged 9.6 fantasy points per game last year, good for 7th best in the league. He should cost more and will as the season progresses. This is risky because of the rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota is starting in his first regular season NFL game.
Tyler Eifert ($3500) vs OAK
This will be his lowest price of the season. He has a rapport with Dalton, as seen in the preseason, and will likely enter the season as the number 2 receiving option in a potent offense. According to Bengals.com, “nobody has been able to cover” Tyler Eifert “since training camp began last week.” Bengals.com‘s Geoff Hobson notes that Andy Dalton seems to throw to Eifert “whenever he’s in a jam or needs a big play,” a sign the duo is developing trust and an on-field rapport. Finally healthy, Eifert has a chance to finish second on the Bengals in passing-game targets this season, behind A.J. Green. Steal on DK
ACL Tartare
Davante Adams($4400) vs CHI
An extremely productive college player entering a large role in the NFL’s most efficient offense, will always be a great play. Adams will be replacing Jordy Nelson post ACL tear. He will be slated for a lot of work and faces Chicago’s 3rd worst passing defense of the prior year. It also helps Randall Cobb is dealing with a sprained AC shoulder joint, which may lead to more targets for Adams.
Warning: Davante Adams will be very highly owned, especially on Draftkings, and advantage can be found in a GPP by fading him.
Devin Funchess($3800) vs JAX
This pick is the most daring of them all, but also boasts the far and away best upside at its price. Last year, Kelvin Benjamin had 9 targets per game as a rookie. Benjamin has now tore his ACL, and Ron Rivera has said Funchess will be filling his role. The Panthers face Jacksonville, yesteryears’ 13th worst passing defense. Funchess may have a high ownership.
Featured Image Credit: By emeybee (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
