It’s that time of year. I’m marathoning Aaron Sorkin’s “Sports Night” (“You do love draft day.” “To an admittedly psychotic extent.”) and we finally have enough data to start reasonably playing the matchups in daily fantasy games like this week’s Razzball FanDuel (Almost) freeroll (just click that link to sign up – just a $1 entry fee). So this week’s picks all have a common thread: their opponents are in the top third of the league in most fantasy points scored against them by position this year…
Alex Smith ($6,600 vs. BUF): …which leads to the sort of thing where I lead off my advice by picking the 49ers QB who isn’t Colin Kaepernick. I can’t really believe it either. But even with Mario Williams, the Bills are giving up a whopping 33 points a game. That schedule includes the Jets and Browns, so we’re talking The Surreal Life levels of awful here. Smith will benefit.
Jackie Battle ($5,400 at NO): Ryan Matthews apologists will give an over-exaggerated Scary Movie-like shriek at this one, but facts are facts: Sometimes coaches do dumb things with their players and their workloads. There’s no reason to think 1) That Norv Turner will stop channeling his inner Shanahan and shut down Battle any time soon or 2) That New Orleans is good and the Chargers won’t be running clock in the second half of this one.
Reggie Bush ($6,900 at CIN): I guess? It’s tough to find cheap RBs this week. Peterson, Lynch, and Foster have good matchups this week, you know….
Domenick Hixon ($4,700 vs. CLE): I’m going to be honest, I had no idea his first name wasn’t Dominick. It’s like those people who spell Caleb with a K. Or how Kristen somehow mysteriously morphed into Kirsten over the years. Kirsten, really? That’s the best you can do? Anyways, Hakeem Nicks is out this week, which opens up Hixon as a deep-sleeper. The price is right for that though, so get your fantasy team spayed or neutered.
Andrew Hawkins ($5,400 vs. MIA): Being the #3 option of your offense isn’t that bad when you’re facing the Dolphins. First, the Miami secondary has been incredibly generous to opposing wideouts this year, and second, Cincinnati just might be bad enough they’re trailing in the second half and must air it out.
Demaryius Thomas ($6,200 at NE): Sure, the Patriots defense has improved compared to last year, but they’re still giving up a healthy output to opposing receivers. With Peyton Manning finally looking like, well, Peyton Manning, again, this could be the week Thomas has a huge breakout.
Tony Gonzalez ($5,900 @ WSH): Tony Gonzalez is still (tied to be) the highest-scoring tight end on FanDuel. And he’s got a good matchup. And for some reason that’s as foreign to me as the whole Brony phenomenon, still costs less than six thousand dollars there. Why? Don’t ask that question, just slot him into your lineup.
Justin Tucker ($5,200 at KC): Tucker is like Jenna Fischer in the first two seasons of The Office – you don’t know where she came from, but once you got a look at her, how could you imagine life without her? Tucker has been on fire as a rookie, and the Ravens have the perfect offense to capitalize. The Chiefs defense might just help, too.
Houston DEF ($5,200 at NYJ): The Jets are terrible. Don’t spend too much time on this one, make like Nike and just do it.
