Daily League Bargains: Wild Card Weekend
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With only a four game slate to choose from, finding bargains on Wildcard Weekend could be a bit tricky. No matter, let’s see if we can uncover some gems so we can all fit the high salaries of Andrew Luck, DeMarco Murray, Antonio Brown and Dez Bryant into our lineups.
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
Ben Roethlisberger, QB PIT
Although Roethlisberger ($8,500) is listed as the third highest priced option under center, he represents the best value on the board this weekend. Over the last five weeks Big Ben has completed 65% of his passes for 336 yards per game and eight touchdowns and the last time he faced off with the rival Ravens in Pittsburgh he scorched them for 340 passing yards and six touchdown tosses.
With the possibility that Le’Veon Bell could miss the game or be limited, there’s certainly a chance the Steelers will have to air it out early and often and that could mean a big day for Big Ben. All things considered, the lure of Luck ($9,700) and to a lesser extent Tony Romo ($8,800) will be enticing but the savings that Roethlisberger can offer along with the prime matchup against Baltimore’s weak albeit slowly improving pass defense will put him in many of my tournament lineups this weekend.
Joe Flacco, QB BAL
If you’re looking for a bit bigger discount under center than Big Ben, you may have to look no farther than the other sideline. While I’m certainly not wacko for Flacco ($8,200), the matchup looks quite nice for the former Blue Hen. The only quarterback that didn’t throw multiple touchdowns against the Steelers over the last 11 weeks (that’s right, 11) was captain check down, Alex Smith. Flacco has been serviceable over the last month, throwing for multiple scores in four of the five weeks. He’s worth consideration this weekend purely due to the matchup but other options in the same price range like Cam Newton ($8,300) or Matthew Stafford ($8,000) may be just as attractive.
Bottom of the barrel option: Ryan Lindley ($6,700)
Running Back
Jonathan Stewart, RB CAR
I’ve been riding Stewart ($6,500) over the last month or so and it finally cost me last week when he carried just 13 times for 49 yards against the pathetic Falcons. Due to the Panthers jumping out to a commanding lead, they didn’t have to lean on Stewart as much as they have over the last few weeks but that will likely change this week. The Cardinals have been one of the best run defenses in the league throughout the season but have allowed back-to-back 100-yard rushers over the last two weeks as Marshawn Lynch scorched them for 113 yards and a pair of scores in week 16 and Frank Gore pounded out 144 yards on Sunday.
Stewart should be in line for 20-plus touches this week in what should be a low scoring matchup. At his price, that makes him the best bargain in the backfield on FanDuel this weekend.
Theo Riddick, RB DET
With the Cowboys hanging 86 points on opposing defenses over the last two weeks, it’s hard to see their wildcard matchup with Detroit being anything but a high scoring affair. If that’s the case, the Lions will be forced to throw early and often and Riddick ($4,800) will likely get a chance to catch a few passes. Playing him is a big risk and you’re likely hoping for a touchdown grab in garbage time, but if he comes through you’ll save a wad of cash to get Murray ($9,000) or another high priced option into your lineup.
Mike Tolbert, RB CAR
Like Riddick, Tolbert ($4,500) is another high risk option that won’t cost you much but can free up a lot of salary cap space. He’s gotten seven carries in each of the last two weeks but if you roster him this week it’s only because he’s the preferred choice in the backfield around the goal line. If he comes through with a score or two at his rock bottom price, he’ll prove to be one of the best bargains of the week.
Another cheap option: Dan Herron ($5,400)
Wide Receiver
Torrey Smith, WR BAL
[inlinead]Smith ($7,100) has been one of the Ravens’ biggest playmakers over the second half of the season, catching seven touchdowns over their last eight games despite dealing with an injured knee. Now finally getting to full strength just in time to make a splash in the postseason, he’s hauled in three touchdowns over the last two weeks. Some may look to the elder Steve Smith ($6,400) due to the savings he offers, but paying up for Torrey is far more likely to pay off as he seems to be getting in sync with Flacco at just the right time.
Cole Beasley, WR DAL
If you’re going to fit guys like Antonio Brown ($9,200) or Calvin Johnson ($9,000) into your lineup and take down a tournament this week, you’ll have to find a big discount at your third receiver spot. One of my favorite low-cost options this week is Beasley ($5,600), who led the Cowboys in targets a week ago with nine. This week Dallas takes on a Detroit defense that is coming off a game where they were ripped to the tune of ten catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns to slot receivers last week in Green Bay.
While Beasley surely doesn’t match Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb from a skill standpoint, the Dallas coaching staff is sure to have noticed the openings in the middle of the field against the Lions on Sunday. I wouldn’t be surprised if they take advantage of that with Beasley this weekend.
Martavis Bryant, WR PIT
If you can’t fit Brown into your lineup this week (or you simply want to stack Steelers), Bryant ($5,600) may be a good option considering his price tag. As I mentioned when talking about Roethlisberger, the Ravens’ defense has been bad against the pass for most of the year. He’s been quite inconsistent over the last few weeks but has made some big plays on double moves throughout his rookie season. With the way the Baltimore defensive backfield has been banged up this year, nobody should be shocked to see Bryant scorch them for a long score this week.
Other shots in the dark: Lance Moore ($4,500) and Jeremy Ross ($4,500)
Tight End
Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, TE IND
Allen ($5,000) sat out last week so if he doesn’t play this week, Fleener ($5,500) makes for a great option but early word out of Indy suggest Allen will be good to go against the Bengals. Cincinnati has been better of late against the tight end but the last time they faced the Colts in week seven, Fleener caught four passes for 64 yards and Allen went for 52 yards on three grabs and a touchdown. Although the Bengals have allowed just one touchdown to a tight end since that point, it’s a good bet that one of the Colts’ pass catching tight ends will find pay dirt this weekend. The trick is, which one? Personally, I’ll be building the rest of my lineup first and rostering the one that fits in my cap. It’s a dart throw.
Eric Ebron, TE DET
While it’s true that Ebron ($4,500) has had a bit of a disappointing rookie season, he’s been playing a tad better of late and has been a bigger part of the Lions’ offense over the last month of the season. He’s been targeted 23 times over the last five weeks and although he’s turned those targets into just 11 grabs for 123 yards, he’s getting looks in a pass happy offense that will likely need to air it out to keep pace with the Cowboys this week. He’s a risk like most of the players listed here, but the price is as low as it gets and he has a chance to put up numbers.
Another options Heath Miller ($5,000)
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