FanDuel Bargains: Week 16

Dan Meylor

bridgewaterInevitably every year, the dynasty season ends. For some of us it’s happened a couple weeks too early. Luckily though, we can all play on FanDuel and still feed the fantasy football craving. And even get a free DLF Premium Subscription in the process for those new to FanDuel.

Whether you’re new to daily fantasy football or you’re veteran, let’s get a jump on the week as we try to identify some bargains for this week’s slate of games.

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

Kirk Cousins, QB WAS

Cousins ($7,500) is incredibly inconsistent but has been putting up numbers of late, averaging 23.43 fantasy points per game over the last month and scoring at least 22 points in three of the last four weeks. Coming off a game where he threw four touchdowns and ran for another against the Bills, he now gets a matchup with the Eagles, who have been better against opposing quarterbacks of late but still ranks among the worst in the league against the position.

Cousins is a risky play, but has the chance to go off against Philadelphia on Saturday night.

Teddy Bridgewater, QB MIN

I’ve recommended Bridgewater ($6,600) in the past only to be burned but this week should be different. Coming off the best fantasy performance of his career where he lit up the Bears for 32.94 fantasy points with 231 passing yards and five total touchdowns, he now gets a Giants defense that allows more passing yards per game (316.6) than any other defense in the league and a whopping 28 touchdown tosses.

Rostering Bridgewater always brings risk as he’s disappointed in good matchups in the past. But at a bottom of the barrel price tag, he’s worth the risk.

Other Options: Alex Smith ($6,800), Brandon Weeden ($6,300) and Zach Mettenberger ($6,000)

Running Back

Frank Gore, RB IND

Gore ($6,000) has scored double digit fantasy points just once in the last five weeks and hasn’t had more than 60 rushing yards in a game over that span. That shouldn’t keep daily players from considering him however.

Gore and the Colts’ running game has a tasty matchup against the Dolphins on Sunday and over the last couple weeks, Miami has been just what the doctor has ordered to get a struggling running game going. They allowed a season best 29.0 fantasy points to Javorius Allen in week 13 and a massive 33.0 fantasy points to Danny Woodhead last week.

Gore is still getting all the touches in Indy and should be a big part of the Colts’ game plan this week. He’s one of my favorite bargains as an RB2 this week.

Cameron Artis-Payne, RB CAR

The latest out of Carolina indicates Jonathan Stewart isn’t likely to suit up this week. That news points to a likely running back by committee for the Panthers once again but it was Artis-Payne ($5,600) that was most impressive a week ago which should put him in line to start against the Falcons. Atlanta has struggled all year at defending opposing running backs, allowing a league high 18 rushing touchdowns.

Artis-Payne is a risky play, but has multi-touchdown upside in a great offense at a rock bottom price on FanDuel which makes him worth consideration this week.

Karlos Williams, RB BUF

After LeSean McCoy went down with a torn MCL last week, Williams ($5,300) split carries with Mike Gillislee ($5,300) but it was Williams’ first game back from injury so the Bills’ coaching staff were likely limiting his playing time. That shouldn’t be the case this week as Williams is easily the more talented of the two tailbacks. With a quality matchup against the Cowboys, who rank among the five worst teams in the league at stopping opposing running backs, Williams is a solid bargain in week 16. [inlinead]

For the record, I’ll also be hedging against a potential injury aggravation for Williams by rostering Gillislee in a few places as well. Anybody playing multiple lineups should consider doing the same.

Christine Michael, RB SEA

Michael ($5,500) was the Seahawks’ lead runner a week ago, averaging 5.4 yards per carry on 18 totes compared to 4.8 yards per carry on nine carries by Bryce Brown ($5,000). He looked explosive in his return to Seattle and should continue to get a majority of the workload for the Seahawks going forward.

Seattle should be nursing a lead at home against the Rams so it’s likely Russell Wilson will be turning and handing the ball off often. Michael should see 16-plus touches and has a good chance at finding the end zone this week which makes him a great bargain.

Other Options: David Johnson ($7,300), Charcandrick West ($6,700), James White ($6,600) and whoever starts for the Jaguars, T.J. Yeldon ($6,400) or Denard Robinson ($6,400) if they’re healthy.

Wide Receiver

Martavis Bryant, WR ARI

Bryant ($7,200) has been extremely involved recently, catching 21 passes for 250 yards and a score over the last few weeks. That should continue again on Sunday as he takes on a Baltimore defense that has been awful at stopping opposing wide outs all year and has given up more touchdowns to the position than any other defense in the league.

Bryant always carries the potential to score multiple touchdowns but that chance goes up drastically this week against such a horrible pass defense. He’ll be in many of my lineups this week.

DeSean Jackson, WR WAS          

Jackson ($6,800) is coming off a big game, catching six passes for 153 yards and a touchdown against the Bills. Although he’s still nursing a knee injury, he finally looks like the explosive playmaker fantasy owners have been waiting to see all year. That comes just in time to return to his old stomping grounds in Philadelphia.

The Eagles’ pass defense has been absolutely dreadful all year and the last time Jackson played in the City of Brotherly Love he ripped the Eagles for 117 yards and a touchdown on five catches. I’d expect the same kind of line out of him this week.

Kamar Aiken, WR BAL

Despite the lack of talent under center for the Ravens, Aiken ($6,600) has been solid, catching at least five passes in each of the last seven games. Coming off his biggest performance of the year where he caught eight passes for 128 yards and a score against the Chiefs, Aiken now gets to take on the Steelers.

Pittsburgh is absolutely dreadful against the pass and Aiken is all the Ravens’ passing game has. He’ll be peppered with targets throughout the game on Sunday and is an excellent bargain this week.

Stefon Diggs, WR MIN

Diggs ($6,000) has been in a bit of a funk of late but hauled in a pair of touchdowns last week against the Bears and has a great matchup this week against the Giants, who have struggled to defend quality route runners throughout the year. The Vikings have relied heavily on Diggs to get open all season and should continue to do so this week.

Other Options: Jarvis Landry ($7,000), Jeremy Maclin ($6,900), Jordan Matthews ($6,400), Michael Floyd ($6,300) and Dorial Green-Beckham ($5,700)

Tight End

Julius Thomas, TE JAX

Thomas ($6,500) has been active of late, scoring a touchdown in four of the last five games. Now he’ll get a matchup against the Saints, who are the worst defense in the league at defending the tight end, giving up six catches, 81 receiving yards and 15.34 fantasy points per game to the position.

Although he’s listed at the fifth highest price at the position, Thomas still has the potential to be a bargain this week considering his involvement of late as well as the cupcake matchup he gets on Sunday.

Other options: Benjamin Watson ($5,600) and Kyle Rudolph ($5,000)

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dan meylor