In short weeks like this, we have to attack the slate differently. As Fast Eddie Fear said that really stuck with me, you have to let go of traditional rules on these small player pools.
For example, on Thanksgiving, my favorite two wide receiver options were Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate. On a typical week, I would avoid two wide receivers on the same team because it caps my upside and in the converse I would have too much salary invested in one part of one offense. If you stacked Matt Stafford with Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate that beautiful turkey day, you broke the bank, even though thought process laws were clearly violated. This week is of the same ilk.
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There is one clear target game for DFS purposes and that is the Cardinal Packer showdown hosting a tasty 50 point over/under with Arizona favored by 7. At least half of the players in your lineups should come from this game.
David Johnson vs GB
Contrary to last week’s running back shenanigans, we are served up a rested high profile workhorse back in a game with a high over under of 50 on one of the top 3 potent offenses in the NFL. Don’t try to be cute here, Johnson is the clear number one play on the week. Lock him in each lineup and move on.
James Jones @ AZ
This game will be the one to target this week, offering the most fantasy football goodness available. Jones didn’t get in the end zone last week, but still led all Packers pass catchers in receptions and yards with 7 catches for 81.
Carson Palmer vs GB
Palmer averaged 23.9 fantasy points per game in the regular season and has the best match up on the board this week outside Peyton Manning, and you aren’t going there (just don’t).
Peyton Manning vs PIT
Ok, go there. He is the cheapest quarterback in the player pool starting this week, and could have a decent game against the Pittsburgh secondary, yielding fifth most pass yards per game. The lower price allows one to unlock other high-end options in other places. I prefer Palmer over him and even Rodgers, but if you need the savings, he’s there on the cheap.
Michael Floyd vs GB
If we throw out the week 17 game where Michael Floyd played through a knee injury and only caught one of four targets for 16 yards, he has developed as the most consistent high floor, high ceiling option in the Arizona receiver core, having five 100 yard games in the seven games before said injury. He runs most of his routes on the right side of the field, where the banged up Sam Shields will attempt to slow him down, and very likely not succeed. He is also the cheapest way to access the highest team total in the week.
Travis Kelce @ NE
Mini Gronk is the chalk of the week at the tight end position. Gronk gonna Gronk, but KC is the best team against tight ends in the league, so I would rather look on the other side of the ball at Zeus. Jeremy Maclin is questionable and if he does go may be limited, leading to an increased role for Kelce.
Featured Image Credit: By Andrew Campbell (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
