It takes a lot to beat an opponent. Beating many? Even harder. No, we’re not talking hundreds or thousands of competitors, but when faced with the task of topping dozens of potential victors decision-making becomes all the more crucial. Luck drops so that wisdom can rise. There’s a proper description for that, but rather than write it out I thought I’d let ol’ President Dubya narrow it down to one word.
Eeeexactly. Strategery. And you’ll need a lot of it to win a 55-man league in DFS. Listen, fantasy football is filled with luck. In my completely uneducated opinion thrown about all willy-nilly, I’d presume around 54% of fantasy football is luck. However, there’s a reason that the same people continually compete in your leagues and rake in stacks through daily fantasy. Ingenuity. Resourcefulness. Persistence. Which, once again, is encompassed by the word: strategery (quit trying to auto-correct my spelling, damn it!).
Each week we offer a 55-man Razzball only FanDuel Contest that pays out the top-12 finishers. Think you’re good enough to operate beyond just luck and work your way to the prize? Then put your money where your fingertips are and enter the $5 Contest for Week 11!
Last week, only 25 joined, but it’s a guaranteed payout, so the odds were highly in your favor if you entered. Here’s a quick review of the Week 10 Contest:
- 60% of owners went with DeAngelo Williams ($7,600) and Allen Robinson ($7,500) in the contest. Worked out for you with Robinson; not so much with the disappointing Williams.
- You didn’t need to spend big on a DEF to do well in Week 10, as is the case with most weeks. Both Pittsburgh ($4,600) and Tampa Bay ($4,000) found their way into multiple prize-entries.
- Jordan Reed paid off at his price tag ($5,800) for the TE position. He scored just behind Rob Gronkowski, but you paid 37% more for Gronk. He’ll be the top option each week, but if you choose to go cheaper, you need to hit, like Reed did, and almost half the contestants were thankful (48% owned).
- Middle-tier WR dominated the scoring. Guy like Michael Crabtree, Brandin Cooks, and Martinis Bryant all yielded a huge return, while the most expensive options, outside of Antonio Brown, had mediocre games, at best.
- Jay snuck into the money with 7.2 points from A.J. Green on Monday night. Cardiac Kid.
Congrats to @crack for placing 1st and taking home $60. I finished 2nd in the contest… so heed the advice and try to top me in Week 11! Here are the smart plays to consider:
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr, OAK – $7,700: Like last week, and every week, the best strategy for a 55-man league is to select players that have a solid floor with a good chance to boom into top 5 territory at their position. Last week we went with Tom Brady (because…why not?), but in Week 11 I’ll take the QB who actually outscored Brady over the past 4 weeks. Sure, it may be by only .4 points, but all that means is you can find great production quite cheaper than the top options. Carr gets to face a Detroit defense giving up 33 ppg since Week 5, and ranks 30th in fantasy against QBs.
Honorable Mention: Tyrod Taylor, BUF – $7,200
Running Backs
Devonta Freeman, ATL – $9,100: It’s rare that I’ll spend top dollar on a RB, but Freeman poses too tempting of an option in Week 11. He’s worth every penny here, as the Falcons are coming off a bye and the visiting Colts have given up a TD/game to opposing RBs. Even when Freeman struggles on the ground, like he did against San Fran before the bye, he makes up for it with his receptions (8/67/1 in Week 9). He’s been under 20 touches just once since taking over the starting gig in Week 3, giving him the highest floor of any player this week.
Charcandrick West, KC – $7,100: In his past three games West eclipsed 275 yds rushing, 20 carries in each contest, and at least one score. In Week 10 he torched the best defense in the league, Denver, for 161 total yards and two scores. The Chiefs offense is run through him, just as it was his injured predecessor, Jamaal Charles. Look for another 20 carries as a floor, with multiple looks through the air against a very weak Chargers defense. How weak? They’re the worst team in the NFL vs. opposing RBs. It won’t be all quiet on the Western front Sunday.
Honorable Mention:Â Danny Woodhead, SD – $6,400
Wide Receivers
Michael Crabtree, OAK – $6,500: A top 15 option priced outside the top 20 is the definition of what you look for in contests this size. Crabtree has four scores in his past four games and averages just shy of 10 targets per contest. Pairing him with Carr means double the benefit of the Lions matchup, but even if you don’t go with his QB, Crabtree’s a lock given his price tag.
Danny Amendola, NE – $6,100: Teammate Brandon LaFell gets the biggest price bump due to Julian Edelman‘s broken foot, but Amendola is more primed to fill the vacant role in the Patriot offense. He’s been a sneaky PPR-play for years, snagged 10 balls last week, and should be the top waiver wire claim in your seasonal leagues. He’s way too cheap not to take advantage of the .5PPR scoring and Brady’s penchant for finding his slot, possession receiver often. Oh, and there’s the Buffalo secondary that’s given up 12 TDs. That would be bonus to the volume of targets he’ll receive.
Stevie Johnson, SD – $5,600: The #1 WR in San Diego is still vastly underpriced for the targets he should receive. This price tag is based on what he’s done, but similar to teammate Danny Woodhead’s value, he’ll outperform it. While the redone looks may go to Antonio Gates, it’s easy to see Johnson getting 10+ targets in this matchup against a weak Chiefs D. Don’t take their 4 INT performance against Peyton Manning as the new norm for the KC secondary; they’re 31st against WR in fantasy, giving up at least one TD in all but one game.
Honorable Mention:Â Mike Evans, TB – $8,000
Tight Ends
Rob Gronkowski, NE – $8,400:Â Like last week, I’m ponying up for Gronk again. He’s even more expensive than in Week 10 ($8,000), but the matchup is just too juicy. Like a jersey girl’s sweatpants from 2005 juicy. And that’s right up Gronk’s alley. He eclipsed 100 yds with a TD in Week 2 vs. the Bills. Now he’s at home, and the Patriots receiving corps is hurting. Look for Brady to find his favorite target often in the Monday night affair.
Honorable Mention: Jason Witten, DAL – $5,500 (Romo’s back!)
Kickers
Sebastian Janikowski, OAK – $4,600:Â Ugh. I gotta pick one again? Don’t take the bait of wasting precious dollars on an expensive kicker. The gap between the top option and the bottom is a matter of a few points. But…if IÂ have to take one (which, obviously, I do) then I’ll go with the most enigmatic kicker in the NFL; a claim that literally no one cares about. The Raiders offense has scored very well lately, though, so Janikowski shouldn’t have any trouble posting some points as the Raiders score on a poop Detroit defense. Yep. (Insert poop emoji here)
Honorable Mention: Dustin Hopkins, WAS – $4,500Â
Defense & Special Teams
Arizona – $4,800: While I’d imagine Seattle’s DEF has the best shot at points, given the San Francisco offense rolling Blaine Gabbert out as QB once more, I can’t find the cash to make that one work. The Cardinals, while they haven’t scored in double digits since Week 5, have the best shot at bringing back a solid return in Week 11. The Bengals offense has sputtered lately as Andy Dalton has come back to earth a bit, and has surrendered 9 sacks and 3 INTs in the past 3 games.
Honorable Mention:Â Carolina – $4,900
Good luck in the Week 11 tilt!
You can follow Matt on Twitter.
