Every week, I’ll be presenting some of the best value plays of the week, for both Fanduel and DraftKings. If you’re going to enter a successful lineup, you’re going to need some good, lower priced players to offset the salaries of some of the high-priced studs, who get you the big numbers. I wouldn’t go completely overboard with these players, but one or two, sprinkled through your lineups, will make your salary money stretch a lot further.
As the season moves along, value gets a little harder to find and most is based on injuries to starters. If the starter is questionable (or even doubtful) to play, make sure to confirm they’re out prior to kickoff.
QB Jay Cutler (FD $6,700 /DK $5,300) or Brian Hoyer (FD $6,000 /DK $5,000) The Chicago Bears guard their injury news like state secrets, so it’s hard to get a good read early in the week who will be playing. My gut tells me it will be Hoyer, you scores 18.38 FD points against Dallas last week at a modest salary. The Lions have the 32nd ranked pass defense according to Football Outsiders and are allowing opposing QBs 26.47 FD points per game to opposing QBs. The game has a 46.5 O/U with the Bears 3 point underdogs.
RB Jordan Howard (FD $5,600/ DK $3,700) The 5th round Bears rookie played well last week after starter Jeremy Langford was injured, running for 45 yards on 9 carries and hauling in 4 of his 6 targets for 47 yards. Although he lost a fumble, his snaps should be secure as 3rd team RB Ka’Deem Carey is also injured and the Bears signed the ultimate plodder in Joique Bell to back him up. The Lions aren’t much better against the run, ranking 27th.
RB Cameron Artis-Payne (FD $5,700 /DK $3,400) We like to target running backs in games in favorable match-ups, with high O/Us, in which their team is favored. Artis-Payne gained 47 yards on 12 carries last week against the Vikings in a game the Panthers lost. He’ll get a better matchup versus the Falcons 29th ranked run defense. Dollar for dollar I like Howard a bit more, as he’s more involved in the passing game and QB Cam Newton is the de facto goal line back, but if the game goes according to Vegas, (50.5 pt O/U, Carolina -3) Artis-Payne should get plenty of carries.
WR Terrelle Pryor Sr (FD $7,000 /DK $4,300) This one is a DraftKings special. Pryor had an amazing stat line against the Dolphins last week, completing 8 of his 14 targets for 144 yards, rushing 4 times for 21 yards and a TD, while completing 3 passes for 35 yards for a whopping 34.9 DK pts. While won’t catch the Redskins off guard after this performance, Washington’s pass defense isn’t exactly stellar, giving up over 301 passing yards per game and allowing an average of 37.9 FD pts per game to opposing WRs.
WR Jamison Crowder (FD $6,000 /DK $4,200) Crowder is leading the Redskins WRs with 25 targets this season and has found the end zone in his last 2 games. He’s one of QB Kirk Cousins‘ favorite targets on 3rd down, as well. The matchup is solid as well, the Browns are allowing over 38 FD points per game to opposing WRs and the game has a decent 45.5 point O/U.
WR Cole Beasley (FD $5,200 /DK $3,900) Beasley’s salary has risen $700 on DraftKings, but only $100 on FanDuel. He’s been over 10 FD points per game and has yet to find the end zone, something that will change eventually. Beasley actually leads the Cowboys with 25 targets this season and has developed a nice chemistry with QB Dak Prescott. The game features a 46 point O/U and the 49ers defense has not been playing well since shutting out the Rams in Week 1, having allowed a combined 83 points over their last 2 games.
TE Kyle Rudolph (FD $5,600 /DK $3,400) Rudolph has developed a nice chemistry with QB Sam Bradford and is finally living up to his potential. He been targeted 26 times on the season (18 by Bradford) and has 14 completions for 166 yards and 2 TDs. With Adrian Peterson on the shelf and the Giants ranked 7th versus the run, look for the Vikings to attack their 22nd ranked pass defense.
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