Daily Optimized Lineup: Week One

Editor’s Note: We’re going to be bringing you an unprecedented amount of content this year during the season, mostly dynasty related. However, seeing the explosion of DFS games, we’ll also be ramping up our Daily coverage, similar to last season. Even if you don’t play in DFS games, these articles can help you in making lineup decisions or judging current value of your dynasty assets.

Like the start of every new season, hope springs eternal in fantasy and the daily format isn’t immune to that optimism. Dynasty League Football is once again teaming with daily fantasy leader FanDuel this season to provide our readers and daily players out there with the best information available to use in the most competitive games in the industry. Every week, our writers TheFFGhost and George Kritikos will share two lineups that they feel should be highly competitive in any of FanDuel’s 50/50 contests. Without further ado, lets jump right in because we’ve been without football for too long.

Let’s get to it with TheFFGhost kicking things off!

Quarterback – Tyrod Taylor – $5,000

This one is too easy. Putting Taylor in your lineup just frees up so much money that could be spent elsewhere. When you factor in the high likelihood the Bills will be playing from behind most of the game, you’ve got yourself a great candidate for a high volume of passing attempts and even some possible garbage time stat padding. Beware though, it’s pretty likely Taylor is going to be on a lot of people’s radar given the low price and high likelihood he will out-produce his price point.

Projected Stat Line – 21 completions, 250 passing yards, 6 rushes, 35 rushing yards, two total touchdowns

Running Back – Matt Forte – $8,800

There are a few reasons to like Forte’s matchup this week despite his high price tag. First, Green Bay gave up the seventh most rushing yards to opposing offenses last year. This seems a bit odd considering teams would usually need to pass in order to keep up with the Packers high octane offense, however, that little nugget plays well into Forte’s value. Second, with the departure of Brandon Marshall, the injury to his assumed replace Kevin White and the very murky news regarding an injury to Alshon Jeffery, the Bears’ offense is left without a whole lot of trusted pass catchers. When you consider the fact Forte was actually the player with the most receptions on the Chicago offense last year, you can read a bit between the lines and see that whichever way the Bears decide to go, Forte should benefit.

Projected Stat Line – 15 rushes, 90 rushing yards, six catches, 60 receiving yards, two total touchdowns

Running Back – Benny Cunningham – $5,100

This is more about getting value elsewhere in the lineup than actually believing Cunningham will have an amazing game. I mean, do any of us really believe he’s going to have an incredible performance? No, but he should well outperform his price with Todd Gurley not yet ready to suit up and Tre Mason nursing an injury that’s likely to keep him out of the game. Cunningham should have his fill of work against a generally stingy Seahawks defense. Nonetheless, he should well outperform his price point and allows us to really stock up at a few other positions.

Projected Stat Line – 15 rushes, 75 rushing yards, three catches, 30 yards, one total touchdown

Wide Receiver – Julio Jones – $9,000

Here’s where things start getting really good. Julio Jones is already a stud, everyone knows that. However, this week he is poised to enter a matchup that should be an absolute shootout. The Eagles defense gave up the third most passing yards last season for an average of 265 yards per game. They also gave up the third most passing touchdowns last season as well. The general consensus of those in the know is that this game should be the highest scoring of the week as well. With all that in mind, why wouldn’t I want a piece of this game, especially when I can afford to get arguably the best weapon in the contest?

Projected Stat Line – seven catches, 130 yards, one total touchdown

Wide Receiver – Odell Beckham Jr. – $8,900

Here’s another game that should be very high scoring. Every year it seems as if the Cowboys and Giants just play a bit harder when they face each other. This year we get to see this timeless classic played to kick off each team’s season. So for the Giants, not much has changed from last season. Cruz is still out, the offense is essentially the same crew that took the field last season and Odell Beckham Jr. is still an absolute beast. The last time he faced the Cowboys, Beckham hung an incredible 10-catch, 146 yard, two receiving touchdown day on them. While he won’t quite reach those height this game, I see absolutely no reason why he won’t do an excellent job this time around.

Projected Stat Line – seven catches, 115 yards, one total touchdown

Wide Receiver – Dez Bryant – $8,700

I told you this was getting good. How many lineups do you think will be able to start three of the top wide receivers in the game and still field excellent, high upside players elsewhere? Not many. In Dez Bryant, you get the flip side to Beckham’s value. The Giants/Cowboys matchup should produce a lot of aerial fireworks as both teams absolutely love to pass. When you account for the massive step down Dallas should expect to see in their rushing game, you start to see how Bryant could be a big benefactor of that regression. Additionally, the Giants gave up the third most passing yards per game to opposing offenses last season which just makes this matchup even juicier. In their two meetings last season, the Cowboys were able to depend on Bryant for an average stat line of eight receptions, 119 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown – not too shabby at all!

Projected Stat Line – six catches, 90 yards, one total touchdown

Tight End – Austin Seferian-Jenkins – $4,700

There is reason to believe Seferian-Jenkins could be ready to take a nice step forward this season, starting with this game. First, he’s fully healthy this season, something he wasn’t even close to last season. Second, with a rookie quarterback, it isn’t hard to imagine a huge target close to home like Seferian-Jenkins becoming Jameis Winston’s new best friend. Finally, with Mike Evans nursing a hamstring injury, Tampa Bay may just want to use him as a decoy for the time being, freeing up a few more looks for him come Sunday. There is definitely some risk here, but all he needs is one touchdown to really make him worth it.

Projected Stat Line – thee catches, 40 yards, one total touchdown

Kicker – Matt Bryant – $5,000

I’m going to overpay a little bit in order to get myself another piece of the juicy Atlanta-Philadelphia matchup. At worst, Bryant should be getting several extra point attempts. However, his upside is pretty good considering the Falcons are going to need to put points on the board anyway they can to keep up with the Eagles – that screams opportunity for Bryant to have a really nice outing.

Projected Stat Line – three field goals, three extra points

Defense – Carolina Panthers – $4,800

Carolina gets their expansion brethren to open the season this year and things couldn’t possibly be better for the Panthers. First, despite some retooling in the off-season this year, Jacksonville is still a long way from fielding all that competitive of a team. The Panthers, on the other hand, gave up the fifth fewest passing yards last year, the 12^th fewest rushing yards and managed the fifth most sacks per game. Oh, did I mention the Jaguars hand out sacks like candy on Halloween? Jacksonville averaged 4.4 sacks surrendered a game last year. It looks to be a long day for Bortles and company this Sunday.

Projected Stat Line – 10 points allowed, three sacks, two turnovers

Let’s hand it over to George Kritkos for his take on the Opening Week of the NFL.

Quarterback – Tyrod Taylor – $5,000

He will be highly owned given the price but provides tons of versatility when filling out the remaining lineup. The matchup with the Colts will likely see him running often and probably playing from behind. Large range of outcomes here, not for the faint of heart.

Projected Stat Line – 18 completions, 200 yards, 9 rushes, 40 yards, two total touchdowns

Running Back – Eddie Lacy – $8,500

Chicago gave up the 11^th most fantasy points to running backs, including 89 receptions (eighth most in 2014). The personnel changes sound nice for the Windy City defense, but Green Bay needs Lacy after the Jordy Nelson injury and Randall Cobb ailing. Expect a heavy workload.

Projected Stat Line – 19 rushes, 95 yards, three catches, 30 yards, two total touchdowns

Running Back – Lamar Miller – $7,300

Washington was a tough matchup last year for running backs (28^th in points allowed) but I suspect he outperforms his price (18^th at the position). I would be surprised if the Dolphins try to limit him below 15 touches given Davante Parker’s injury and the likelihood the team is ahead early.

Projected Stat Line – 16 rushes, 80 yards, three catches, 25 yards, one touchdown

Wide Receiver – Calvin Johnson – $8,500

I try not to be a #TallWR card holder but when the 6’5” freak Calvin Johnson plays against a pair of corners who are 5’10” and 5’9”, it’s hard not to think the jump ball will be there. He should be a target hog, as usual, with tremendous touchdown upside.

Projected Stat Line – seven catches, 105 yards, two touchdowns 

Wide Receiver – Julio Jones – $9,000

I saw the price tag, but this is expected to be the highest scoring game of the week against a defense that has been beaten deep frequently. Byron Maxwell may shadow Julio and is paid like a top corner…he isn’t one. Expect Shanahan to feed his monster.

Projected Stat Line – eight catches, 110 yards, two touchdowns

Wide Receiver – Jordan Matthews – $6,800

Again, this is the projected highest scoring game of the week. I have heard the downside of the Philadelphia passing game: only 37% of their touchdowns were passes. Trust me, they will need a few in this game and plenty of yards to keep up.

Projected Stat Line – six catches, 80 yards, one touchdown

Tight End – Greg Olsen – $5,900

Someone has to catch passes from Cam Newton. Olsen plays an average defense against tight ends (17^th in fantasy points allowed in 2014) and is capable of beating linebackers or safeties regularly. Volume trumps game pace here.

Projected Stat Line – six catches, 65 yards, one touchdown

Kicker – Brandon McManus – $4,500

This was the only piece of the Denver-Baltimore game I was willing to invest in. The Broncos should score a lot of points here and maybe even stall in the red zone a few times.

Projected Stat Line – two field goals, three extra points

Defense – New York Jets – $4,400

Playing Cleveland in week one and matching Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie against whichever receivers the Browns still have on the roster is unfair. Oh, the Jets were also fourth against fantasy runners before they added Leonard Williams. They will be just fine.

Projected Stat Line – 13 points allowed, three sacks, two interceptions, one fumble recovery

[ad5]