Daily League Bargains: Week Eight
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Week eight offers some excellent values on FanDuel, especially in the backfield. Let’s shine a spotlight on some of them.
Keep in mind that these suggestions are made for GPP (Guaranteed Prize Pool) tournaments with more than 50 participants where players are looking for bargains to fill out their lineups after already inserting their “studs” for the week. Many of them are risky plays and shouldn’t necessarily be considered in head to head or 50/50 games.
Quarterback
Kyle Orton, QB BUF
If you’re looking to save some money under center this weekend on FanDuel, the options aren’t especially appealing. If you’re looking for a big boom-or-bust play though, Orton ($7,200) may be your guy. He’s been relatively consistent since taking over for E.J. Manuel, putting it in the air 42 times per game and averaging 296.7 yards per contest. He’s also tallied two touchdown passes in each of the last two weeks.
This week, Orton and the Bills travel to the Meadowlands to take on the Jets. New York’s defense has been awful as the league’s worst defense against quarterbacks so far this year, allowing 257 yards per game and a league high 18 touchdowns through the air.
Orton is a very risky play, but he could prove to be a steal if he’s able to take advantage of the Jets’ leaky pass defense for a few scores on Sunday.
Carson Palmer, QB ARI
Since returning from injury, Palmer ($7,400) has completed 50 of 75 passes (66.7%) for 503 yards and four touchdowns while tossing just one interception in two games. He’s locked in right now and this week he gets to take on the Eagles at home where he’s thrown multiple touchdowns in six of his last seven games.
Philadelphia is giving up 278 yards per game through the air and has allowed 13 passing touchdowns so far this year and multiple passing scores in five of six games. Palmer should be a lock to toss at least a couple touchdowns this weekend and is a good bet to surpass 300 passing yards.
Other Options: Colt McCoy ($6,100) and Teddy Bridgewater ($5,400)
Running Back
Justin Forsett, RB BAL
[inlinead]Forsett ($6,700) has been a regular on this list over the last month or so and was solid, but not spectacular against Atlanta’s awful run defense in week seven. He’s without a doubt the lead runner in Baltimore and this week gets another tasty matchup against Cincinnati so he makes the list once again.
The Bengals have been absolutely ravaged on defense with injuries to Vontaze Burfict, Rey Maualuga, Emmanuel Lamur and Leon Hall. Those four players represent three of Cincinnati’s starting linebackers and their best run supporting defensive back. Without them in week seven, the Bengals’ defense allowed 506 yards to the Colts – 243 of which to running backs. They also allowed Ahmad Bradshaw to find pay dirt twice.
Forsett should be in for a very nice game against Cincinnati’s “B team” run defense.
Tre Mason, RB STL
Mason ($6,000) has easily been the most impressive tailback for the Rams over the last couple weeks. He was the lead dog for St. Louis in week six against the Seahawks, handling the rock 18 times for 85 yards and a score. He hasn’t been used much in the passing game and has to face the Chiefs’ run defense this week that has yet to allow a rushing touchdown, but Mason should be in line for at least 15 touches and is explosive enough to become the first running back to find the end zone this year against Kansas City. He’s a risky play, but could be a nice value as well.
Jerrick McKinnon, RB MIN
One of my favorite values this week is McKinnon ($5,800), who was impressive against Buffalo’s tough run defense in week six. He carried 19 yards for 103 yards and although he didn’t find the end zone, he out-touched fellow back Matt Asiata 21-7 and was on the field for 40 plays, compared to just 27 for Asiata.
It’s clear the Vikings’ coaching staff sees McKinnon as their primary ball carrier and this week they face Tampa Bay’s putrid run defense. The Buccaneers have given up 39.4 fantasy points per game to tailbacks over their last two games. McKinnon could be in for a monster game and will likely be in most of my GPP lineups. I could easily see 100-plus yards and at least one score for the rookie tailback.
Bryce Brown, RB BUF
It’s not very often that you’ll be looking at a player that has been a healthy scratch for seven straight weeks for your FanDuel roster, but that’s exactly what you should be doing going into week eight. Brown ($5,500) has a tough matchup against the Jets in what should be his first start of the season, but he should get a lot of touches on Sunday and has proven in the past that he can be effective.
Other options: Joique Bell ($7,300), Ben Tate ($7,000) and Travaris Cadet ($5,300)
Wide Receiver
Brandon Marshall, WR CHI
Suggesting Marshall ($7,400) as a bargain has very little to do with his matchup in week eight. The Bears face the Patriots (who rank second in the league against the pass) in Foxboro on Sunday. It has far more to do with his nose-diving salary. His name should be listed among the top-six receivers in most weeks but he has just the 17th highest salary in week eight.
After last week’s embarrassing loss to the Dolphins at home, Marshall reportedly yelled at his BFF Jay Cutler in the locker room. In the past, these things seem to get ironed out on the field with Cutler force feeding his star wide out. It’s just a hunch, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Marshall post a stat line in the neighborhood of eight catches for 150 yards and a score or two.
Michael Floyd, WR ARI
Floyd ($6,500) has been far more impressive with Carson Palmer than without him so far in 2014. In their three games together, he’s posted at least 12.2 points in each game and they’ve now connected for two touchdowns in three games. This week they get to face the Eagles defense that has been better of late but are still very susceptible to the long ball. My guess is that somebody gets open deep for the Cardinals for a long score and my bet is its Floyd. If you’re like me and feel like the Arizona passing attack is due for a big game, pairing him with his quarterback would free up a lot of cap space to roster some top salaries at other positions.
Eric Decker, WR NYJ
Even after the addition of Percy Harvin, Decker ($6,300) is far and away the best weapon the Jets have in the passing game. Although he’s yet to tally more than 74 receiving yards in a single game this year, he’s struggled with a strained hamstring and finally looks to be completely healthy.
The Jets will have to air it out this weekend against the Bills number one ranked run defense and now that Harvin is in the fold, Decker should see less defensive attention. That all could add up to a nice day for Decker on Sunday.
Davante Adams, WR GB
The Packers’ matchup with the Saints looks to be a shootout. In fact, Vegas has it as the highest scoring game this weekend with the over/under set in the mid-50s. Those who want to get a piece of that action but don’t want to pay the high price of Jordy Nelson ($8,800), Randall Cobb ($8,400), Aaron Rodgers (10,000) and Drew Brees ($9,100), could look towards Adams ($5,400) on Sunday night. He’s hauled in touchdowns in two of the last three weeks.
Adams is a risky play as he’s been held to just a single catch twice in the last three weeks (although both of them went for scores) but he’s going to have a big game at some point as the defense gives all their attention to the more well-known Packers receivers. If it happens to come this week and you happen to have him in your lineup, you’ll have a monster advantage on the competition due to his low price and even lower ownership percentages.
Other Options: Marquez Colston ($6,700), Andrew Hawkins ($6,000), Greg Jennings ($5,500) and Martavis Bryant ($4,800)
Tight End
Jordan Reed, TE WAS
Last week I featured Reed ($5,200) in this space and he disappointed a bit by catching just five balls for 54 yards on six targets against the Titans. This week he gets another prime matchup when he faces the Cowboys on Monday Night Football. In seven games this year, Dallas has given up 77 receiving yards per game and seven touchdown catches to tight ends. Second stringer Niles Paul may take part of that production, but Reed should see six to ten targets and get some red zone looks with third stringer Colt McCoy drawing the start this week for Washington.
Zach Ertz, TE PHI
Ertz ($5,400) is another regular in this article. He’s not playing as many snaps as his fantasy owners would but like Reed, has a dynamite matchup this week against the Cardinals, whose defense is allowing 6.6 catches and 78.4 yards per game to tight ends on the season. Ertz is a risky play due to his lack of playing time, but has definite upside.
Other options: Owen Daniels ($5,500) and Scott Chandler ($5,100)
Follow me on Twitter for more daily nuggets as well as lineup advice: @dmeylor22
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