Four 40-bombs (.5 PPR) last week! And I guessed none of them! What a disappointing week.
Well, that’s not exactly true. I had DeShaun Watson (41.7 points) as my top honorable mention, and although Jacoby Brissett didn’t live up to fantasy expectations, he sure did lead a solid game to get the win over Kansas City. And Kyler Murray, who was the 14th-most expensive option, scored the sixth-most (25.4) of any QB.
And though I was missing Aaron Jones (45.7), I did mention that it was a good week to stick with your studs as I listed Christian McCaffrey (44.7), Dalvin Cook (22.7), and David Johnson (17.1), all of which were top-12 totals. Will Fuller (46.7) wasn’t one of my recommendations, but Michael Thomas (35.7) sure was.
All in all… not bad, could use some work. I’m thinking Week 6 is a good time to return to Week 3 status where we were topping the DFS leaderboards. Let’s dig in.
Because DraftKings and FanDuel offer different prices for certain players and have a different cash total overall, one option may be better for a certain app than for the other app, and that will be noted. The first price is their DraftKings cost, and the second is the FanDuel cost.
Quarterback
Gardner Minshew II ($5,000/$6,900)
Uncle Rico can f***in’ play. He’s the real deal. He had a Wentz-esque, Mahomes-ian pass rush avoidance and touchdown that made me rewind NFL Redzone and get real close to the TV screen to make sure I actually saw Minshew’s play. This week, against a defense that suffers against opposing pass attacks, Minshew is a shew-in for a good play. He costs less than Andy Dalton, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo, Teddy Bridgewater, Baker Mayfield, Aaron Rodgers, Jared Goff, and Philip Rivers… and scores more fantasy points than Andy Dalton, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo, Teddy Bridgewater, Baker Mayfield, Aaron Rodgers, Jared Goff, and Philip Rivers week-in and week-out.
Could I have worded that differently? Yes. But my point remains the same: he’s undervalued. Criminally undervalued. And he should post another strong line in Week 6.
Other options: Kyler Murray ($6,500/$7,700); Deshaun Watson ($6,700/$8,400)
Running Back
Derrick Henry ($6,100/$6,700 – more worth it on FanDuel)
Here’s the gut pick of the week. I just have a feeling that Henry is primed to explode this week, but I also have some supporting evidence to back it up. Though the altitude in Denver is always somewhat of a concern for opposing teams, it hasn’t mattered so far this season. Leonard Fournette and the Jaguars ran for 269 yards against them in Week 4, and this just feels like a similar type of game. Both mediocre teams trying to find their way, with a slight edge to the Titans for their potential explosiveness on both sides of the ball that Denver seems to lack. Henry also has completely eliminated any contention for his role in the backfield, as he is almost a guarantee for 20 touches. He’s yet to have a massive game other than Week 1 (which came in big part due to a 75-yard fluke reception), and it just feels right. For a price that places him on the same level as opposing RB Phillip Lindsay, I’m going with El Tractorcito.
Kenyan Drake ($4,400/$5,600)
I despised Kenyan Drake in drafts this year. I avoided him at all costs and grimaced when other people drafted him in the sixth round and threw away what could have been an important pick. And so far, I’ve been right. But this grueling matchup against the powerhouse Washington Redskins makes me think that he could have a nice little anomaly game. Kalen Ballage might not play and Drake may finally get the touches that he deserves. Even if he doesn’t get an overwhelming amount of carries, he’s been able to work efficiently and pick up big chunks throughout his career. For a pretty low price, I like Drake as a sleeper.
Others: Le’Veon Bell (FanDuel only – $6,800); Carlos Hyde ($4,400/$6,000)
Wide Receiver
DJ Chark Jr. ($5,500/$6,500)
The connection between Chark and Minshew is a real thing. It doesn’t look like it’s just a fluke. Chark is the No. 5 receiver in fantasy football, and though regression may occur at some point, it also may not. Seriously. They link up on deep balls in perfect synchronization. Even if Marshon Lattimore takes on Chark, which he may not do because of Dede Westbrook’s presence, Chark should get plenty of looks against a vulnerable Saints secondary. Minshew and Chark create a picture-perfect stack that won’t do all that much damage to your wallet.
Jamison Crowder ($4,000/$5,400)
In return for paying, well, pretty much nothing, you can have the Jets’ best receiving option going into a matchup with a returning Sam Darnold, a hopeful Jets offense, and a struggling Dallas defense. Crowder may not light up the box score with any astounding stats, but he had 14 catches in Week 1 with Darnold under center. Even 10 points from Crowder, which could be obtained as easily as six catches for 40 yards, would be worth it at his current asking price.
Other Options: Larry Fitzgerald ($6,100/$5,600); Adam Thielen ($6,700/$7,200); Keenan Allen ($7,000/$7,300)
Tight End
Austin Hooper ($5,000/$6,400)
The Cardinals defense stinks, and Hooper has been the most reliable target for Matt Ryan. Yes, even more consistent than Julio Jones. He has six or more catches in all but one game this season, and the Cardinals have been especially vulnerable against tight ends this season (save for Tyler Eifert’s disappointing showing last week). Though he’s priced up alongside guys like Ertz and Kittle, he seems to be the most worth-it of the three.
Other options: The big guns: Travis Kelce ($7,000/$7,500) and, if he plays, George Kittle ($5,200/$6,500)
Defense
Kansas City Chiefs ($2,500/$3,400)
This one is going to be a shootout, but the correlation between offensive shootouts and opportunities for turnovers is a very identifiable and positive one. Deshaun Watson isn’t perfect by any means, and though I expect him to have a good game, he could be sacked a lot, could turn the ball over a few times, and could be forced into uncomfortable situations where he has to throw the ball in order to keep up with the Chiefs. This is one pick that could come back to bite me. If risk-taking isn’t for you, then some other options are the Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams.
