FanDuel Bargains: Week Ten
We’ll get right to the week ten bargain hunting.
Keep in mind that these suggestions are made for large field GPP (Guaranteed Prize Pool) tournaments, 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
Eli Manning, QB NYG
Manning ($7,400) is a becoming a regular on this list but until his price goes up where it belongs, he’ll stay here. The Giants have a tough matchup against the Patriots this week, but that may work in Manning’s favor – at least from a fantasy perspective. New York’s defense has struggled of late, so New England is sure to once again light up the scoreboard. That should put Manning in catch up mode.
Though a lot of his points may come in garbage time, he has a good shot at throwing 40-plus passes and that kind of volume from a quality quarterback is usually a fantasy gold mine – no matter who’s playing defense.
Kirk Cousins, QB WAS
Cousins ($6,500) certainly isn’t a special talent and shouldn’t be targeted by daily players very often. This week may be the week to do it though.
The Saints have allowed an average of 336.4 passing yards and a total of 17 touchdown passes over the last five weeks and have given up more fantasy points to quarterbacks than any other defense on the year. Although Cousins is no Andrew Luck, Matt Ryan or Eli Manning (who have all torched the New Orleans defense in recent weeks) he certainly has an opportunity to put up good numbers.
Having thrown more than one touchdown in a game just once on the season, Cousins is extremely risky. But if he plays well, those who rostered him on FanDuel will have saved a lot of cap space to put talent around him.
Other Options: Sam Bradford ($7,300), Matt Cassell ($6,300) if you believe he’ll continue to chuck it up to Dez Bryant, and Landry Jones ($6,200)
Running Back
Darren McFadden, RB DAL
Despite being one of the most heavily involved tailbacks in the league over the last three weeks, McFadden ($7,000) still carries a very reasonable price tag. Now thrust into a full time role, he’s touched the ball more than 28 times per game over the Cowboys’ last three games. Although he’s averaged just 16.7 fantasy points per game over that span, it’s only because he’s found the end zone once in that span. With that kind of work load, it’s bound to change.
Although his matchup is only so-so against an improved Buccaneers run defense, McFadden should continue to get it done both as a runner and pass catcher. He’s a good bet to outperform his salary this week in Tampa Bay.
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LeGarrette Blount, RB NE
With the news that Dion Lewis is out for the season with a torn ACL, some daily players will be looking to Brandon Bolden ($5,900) because he caught a few passes last week and may be in line to replace Lewis in passing situations going forward. That’s getting too cute.
Blount ($6,900) saw more snaps last week (47) than he had in any game this season and ended up carrying the ball 29 times for 129 yards and a touchdown against the Redskins. That kind of usage should continue this week against the Giants, who have struggled to slow down power rushing attacks all season.
Blount is my favorite bargain play at running back this week. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the last time we see his price tag under $7,000 on FanDuel.
Doug Martin, RB TB
After back to back modest games, Martin ($6,700) has seen his price tag dip back below $7,000 just in time for a tasty matchup against the Cowboys. Dallas is ranked 27th in the league, allowing 25.81 fantasy points to tailbacks on the season and just got ripped by DeMarco Murray for 161 yards from scrimmage and a score.
Although Martin hasn’t looked over the last two weeks like the tailback who posted three consecutive 100-yard outings earlier in the season, he’s sure to get the first chance to gash the Cowboys. With the way their front seven has played recently, there should be plenty of room to run – particularly if linebacker Sean Lee misses time with his second concussion of the season.
James Starks, RB GB
If you recall from a week ago, Eddie Lacy ($6,000) was listed in this space. Five carries for 10 yards and a lost fumble later, he’s off the FanDuel radar. Due to ineffectiveness and an injury to his groin however, his replacement looks like a very intriguing option.
Starks ($6,000) has easily been the most impressive tailback in Green Bay this season and it appears even if Lacy is active, he should be in line to get a majority of the work again this week. Facing the Lions defense that has allowed the tenth most fantasy points to opposing running backs on the season and more rushing touchdowns (14) than any other team in the league, Starks should have a very nice game at a modest salary.
Other Options: Jeremy Langford ($6,200), Karlos Williams ($6,100) and Antonio Andrews ($6,000)
Wide Receiver
Demaryius Thomas, WR DEN
Despite having a relatively down season to this point due to only finding the end zone once, Thomas ($7,900) has a matchup that should help him get back on track. The Kansas City defense has allowed more receptions (15.3), receiving yards (215.3) and fantasy points per game to wide receivers (39.61) than any other defense in the league.
Thomas also just happens to regularly save his best for the Chiefs defense. Over his last seven games against Kansas City, he’s averaged 5.4 catches for 97 yards and hauled in four touchdowns. He should be a lock to breeze past those numbers once again in week ten.
It’s not often that Thomas is listed as a bargain but it’s also quite rare that his price tag dips below $8,000. Daily players should take advantage of it while it lasts.
Brandon LaFell, WR NE
LaFell ($6,200) has been getting more and more use with each game that has passed since he returned from a foot injury a few weeks ago. Coming off his best outing of the season where he caught five balls for 102 yards against the Redskins, he should be back on the radar for daily players going into a nice matchup against a Giants’ secondary that has been torched by wide receivers over the last two weeks to the tune of 497 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 35 catches.
He’s a risky play. But if you want a piece of New England’s high octane passing attack and don’t want to pay up for Tom Brady ($9,100), Julian Edelman ($8,000) or Rob Gronkowski ($8,000), LaFell is your guy.
DeSean Jackson, WR WAS
I know I recommended Jackson ($6,000) a week ago and he disappointed with only three catches for just 15 yards, but that was against the Patriots in his first week back. This week he gets to face the Saints’ Swiss cheese pass defense. New Orleans has allowed the second most 20-plus yard catches (38) in the league and the most receptions of 40 yards or more (11).
The Redskins’ offense has been as boring to watch as any in the league with a mundane running game and a check down passing attack. That should all change with a date with the Saints and Jackson back in the fold.
Tavon Austin, WR STL
The Rams have finally figured out how to use Austin ($6,000). Over his last five games, he’s touched the ball 37 times (24 receptions, 13 rushes) and found pay dirt four times. While he depends on big plays for his fantasy production and that production seems to come in waves, this week presents a good opportunity for him to have one of those games.
Playing the Bears’ defense that hasn’t been able to stop anybody and ranks among the worst teams in the league when it comes to giving up fantasy points to receivers, Austin is a high risk, high reward option in week ten.
Other Options: Allen Robinson ($7,500), Michael Crabtree ($6,400), Davante Adams ($5,800) and Kamar Aiken ($5,400)
Tight End
Jordan Reed, TE WAS
I know it’s odd to have a third Redskin on this list, but any passing attack taking on the Saints needs to be mentioned at least that many times. Reed should be targeted early and often on Sunday and should be the most likely to get chances in the red zone among Washington pass catchers.
Other options: Eric Ebron ($5,300) and Kyle Rudolph ($4,700)
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