Sorry Eli Manning, I don’t feel sorry for you.
The crybaby who didn’t want to play for the Chargers is no longer the Giants’ quarterback, and I am perfectly OK with that.
But to replace him with Geno Smith with rookie Davis Webb available to play?
I mean, I think Davis Webb, a Texas Tech transfer, is a human statue whose size and arm strength overshadow his lack of ability to play QB, a la Brock Osweiler 2.0.
But he’s got to be better than Geno?
Right?
I don’t know, it feels like Ben McAdoo knows he is on his way out and he made this decision in spite of the Giants’ organization – a big F U so to speak.
Speaking of that Giants/Raiders game quickly. It’s such a disappointing game to play for DFS. Crabtree is out and so is Janoris Jenkins, Amari Cooper also is unlikely to play. Eli is now benched, so it’s hard to say whether you can trust Geno to accurately get the ball to Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram. These two offenses get terrible defenses, but the offensive options seem limited based on precipitating factors from the past week.
This is going to be an interesting week. On paper, there doesn’t look to be a running back you feel like you have to pay up for, unless you want to continue to ride the Alvin Kamara train. If injury news falls our way, there are a ton of cheap RB options that are top-notch value plays. But then you probably wouldn’t be surprised to see a player like Leonard Fournette or Todd Gurley (or even Kamara), smash this week. There’s lots of value at QB as well and even some at WR. Tight End might actually be worth paying up for, defense as well.
So far, I have liked my lineups paying down at RB and paying up at receiver and tight end. I think roster construction and ownership could be very spread out based on the pricing on DraftKings. Whatever decisions you make this week, I hope DailyOverlay was able to help, especially if you make some big bucks.
Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @hotdogdailyDFS.
Here are this week’s position rankings plus the guys I like thereafter.
Quarterback
- Tom Brady
- Cam Newton
- Jameis Winston
- Philip Rivers
- Case Keenum
Running Back
- Todd Gurley
- Carlos Hyde
- Leonard Fournette
- Mark Ingram
- Jordan Howard
Wide Receivers
- DeAndre Hopkins
- Mike Evans
- Davante Adams
- Julio Jones
- Demaryius Thomas
Tight End
- Rob Gronkowski
- Hunter Henry
- Evan Engram
- Delanie Walker
- Jared Cook
Defense/Special Teams
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- LA Chargers
- New England Patriots
- Baltimore Ravens
- Detroit Lions
Cam Newton – QB – Carolina Panthers – $6,800
Analysis: With Cam Newton rushing more and him being the main focal point of this Carolina offense, the Panthers’ Superman offers a super high floor against the Saints defense, which has been banged up. Missing both Ken Crawley and Marshon Lattimore last week against the Rams, the Saints gave up 354 yards passing and two TDs to Jared Goff. Crawley is expected back, but Lattimore hasn’t practiced all week. I would definitely bump my love for Cam down a notch should both play and both expected to be as close to fully healthy as possible, but even then, Cam offers a safe floor with his red zone usage (3 rushing TDs past 6 games) and rushing upside. He has a solid possession receiver in Devin Funches, speedsters on the outside and a running back that can break a big play at any time through the passing game. There are so many ways Cam can score and if the Saints secondary is still banged up, couple that with their awful run defense, and we have a great spot for Carolina to score points.
Carlos Hyde – RB – San Francisco 49ers – $5,900
Analysis: The Jimmy G era begins in San Francisco this week as the NIners take on the Bears. Hyde is a usage monster in this offense already and what better way to acclimate himself to an offense in his first start with his new team than to throw lots of short, high percentage passes. That’s where Hyde can really flourish, especially since he has target totals of 13, 11 and 9 in three of the past four weeks. This play has more to do with the high-target share than his rushing touches, though the Bears have allowed 160+ yards on the ground in two of the last three weeks. San Fran is a high-paced team and lacks receiving weapons for Jimmy G, so Hyde feels like a great cash game lock due to hsi number of touches and passing game usage. You are getting an RB with WR 1 usage.
Mike Evans – WR – Tampa Bay Bucs – $7,100
Analysis: Jameis Winston returns and that bodes well for his favorite receivers – Mike Evans. We are almost under the $7K range for a guy who consistently gets 8-12 targets per week. I am in love with this TB/GB game overall and the secondaries have everything to do with it. If I am wrong about Evans and a few other guys on the Index this week in this game, I am going to have a pretty tough week I imagine. Anyway, Evans gets the banged up GB secondary, which is fourth overall in fantasy points allowed to wideout. They have allowed 13 TDs to opposing wideouts and more than 200 yards four times. Evans hasn’t scored in four weeks and didn’t at all while Winston was gone.
DeAndre Hopkins – WR – Houston Texans – $7,500
Analysis: Can you see me licking my chops? No. Well I am. Hopkins is my overall favorite play on the entire slate. Facing the Tennessee Titans and without Will Fuller in the mix, Hopkins is set up for another high-target, high-volume game as the Titans are 7th overall in fantasy points allowed to receivers this season. They have given up 15 TDs this season and have allowed multiple WR TDs in 5 games. Granted it was Watson at the helm in these two teams first meeting, Hopkins did have 10 catches on 12 targets for 100+ yards and a score. Since Watson’s injury, Hopkins’ targets are 16, 14, 9 and 10. He’s parlayed those numbers into 25 catches for 398 yards and 2 TDs. The only concern here is him having to catch balls from Tom Savage, but Savage has shown that Nuk is his go-to guy and he’s not afraid to pepper him with targets.
