FanDuel Bargains: Week 12
Traditionally, Thanksgiving brings us the four F’s – family, friends, food and football. Now though, we can make it five F’s, adding FanDuel to the fun. With so many of us looking forward to playing the three game holiday slate on Thursday, this week I thought it’d be fun to feature a Thanksgiving special at each position.
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
Brian Hoyer, QB HOU
The latest out of Houston points to Hoyer ($7,100) getting back under center following a concussion. That news comes just in time for a matchup against the worst pass defense in the league, New Orleans.
The Saints have allowed more fantasy points per game to quarterbacks than any other defense, giving up more touchdowns (28) and the second most passing yards per game (308). Over their last three games, they’ve allowed 14 touchdown passes and even made the talent that is Kirk Cousins look like an all-pro – allowing four touchdown tosses and 324 passing yards to the Redskins’ signal caller.
Going into week ten when he sustained the concussion, Hoyer had thrown multiple touchdowns in five consecutive games and 12 touchdowns over the five-week stretch. Also putting up strong yardage numbers (269 per game) over the span, he’s been a productive fantasy quarterback when healthy. That should continue in week 12 and as the 16th highest priced quarterback, he’s the best bargain of the week under center.
Thanksgiving Special: Matthew Stafford, QB DET
Those looking for a bargain at quarterback on Thursday might may turn to Sam Bradford ($6,700) because he’s the lowest priced starter at the position. That would be a mistake though, as Bradford hasn’t thrown multiple touchdowns since mid-October and the Lions’ defense has looked better against the pass of late.
If you’re intent on finding a bargain in Thursday’s slate, consider Stafford ($7,200) who has struggled for the most part this season but has a tasty matchup against the Eagles, who have allowed 10 touchdown passes over the last three weeks and got ripped by Jameis Winston Sunday to the tune of 246 passing yards and five scores.
Stafford’s numbers on the year may keep many from rostering him on FanDuel this week, but daily players should keep in mind that he seems to save his best for the Lions’ yearly holiday matchup. He’s averaging 387 passing yards per game over the last three Thanksgiving Day games and has tossed seven touchdowns over that span. He’s a risk, but a nice matchup and a solid recent history on Thanksgiving make him an interesting option this week.
Other Options: Marcus Mariota($7,000) and Brock Osweiler ($6,400) and Matt Schaub ($6,200) if you’re feeling especially risky
Running Back
Chris Ivory, RB NYJ
Ivory ($7,000) has struggled over the last handful of weeks, rushing for just 219 yards on his last 81 carries (2.70 YPC). Nonetheless, he’s looked better in spurts over the last couple weeks and has an excellent matchup this week against the Dolphins.
[inlinead]Miami has allowed the second most fantasy points per game (26.38) to running backs on the year and has given up big games to tailbacks over each of the last five weeks, giving up 27 points to Arian Foster in week seven, 20.2 points to Dion Lewis in week eight, 23 points to Karlos Williams and 18.9 to LeSean McCoy in week nine, 14.9 to DeMarco Murray in week ten, and 16.4 points to Darren McFadden last week.
On top of all that, Ivory had a career game in week four against the Dolphins, racking 166 rushing yards and a touchdown while piling up 22.6 fantasy points. He’s on the short list to be the top backfield bargain on FanDuel in week 12.
T.J. Yeldon, RB JAX
Yeldon ($6,500) has been playing through a foot injury over the last couple weeks but looked good last Thursday night against the Titans. With the extra few days to rest, he should be close to full health for the Jags’ matchup against the pathetic Chargers’ run defense.
No defense has given up more fantasy points per game to opposing running backs (27.29) than San Diego, who is coming off a game where they were gashed by Spencer Ware ($6,100) for 96 rushing yards and two scores on just 11 carries. Yeldon is a good bet to get 15-20 carries and with that workload in a truly great matchup, he’s a good bet to finish as a top-10 option at the position.
Thomas Rawls, RB SEA
Rawls ($6,300) was a workhorse in week 11, touching the ball 33 times for 255 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the 49ers. With news that Marshawn Lynch is likely to miss potentially the next month, Rawls is in line to keep the job for the foreseeable future.
Despite a tough matchup against Pittsburgh’s highly-rated run defense, Rawls should get the ball early and often both as a runner and as a receiver. The tough matchup will likely scare a lot of daily players off, but running as hard as he did last week with a monstrous workload, I won’t be one of them.
Thanksgiving Special: Eddie Lacy, RB GB
Like many of you, I’ve been burned by Lacy ($6,500) multiple times this year. His up and down season has been mostly down but he’s coming off his best game of the year, running for 100 yards on 22 carries against the Vikings’ stout run defense.
This week, Lacy and the Packers get the Bears, who are coming off a game where they allowed 102 rushing yards to Ronnie Hillman. Although Chicago has been above average against the run for much of the year and Lacy will have a short week of prep, he should have the chance to have a big game on Thanksgiving.
Other Options: Jonathan Stewart ($7,100) on Thanksgiving, Chris Johnson ($6,800) and Javorius Allen ($6,300)
Wide Receiver
Larry Fitzgerald, WR ARI
If you’re looking for the potential for elite production at receiver and don’t want to pay elite prices, Fitzgerald ($7,400) is your guy. With 27 catches for 304 yards over the last three weeks, he and quarterback Carson Palmer are clicking on all cylinders and get a cupcake matchup against the 49ers defense, who have struggled against opposing wideouts throughout the season.
Fitzgerald went off for 134 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches in week three against San Francisco. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him put up similar numbers again on Sunday.
Danny Amendola, WR NE
Amendola ($6,100) was highly owned a week ago after the loss of Julian Edelman to a broken foot. Posting nine catches for 117 yards against the Bills on Monday night, he would have had more if not for an inadvertent whistle in the third quarter and a knee injury a few minutes later.
Playing a Denver defense that is among the best in the league should keep his ownership levels down and it’s unknown at this point how serious his injury is, but with a low price tag and Tom Brady throwing him the ball he just may be worth the risk if he’s able to suite up.
Travis Benjamin, WR CLE
If you’re looking for a high upside bargain as your WR3, consider Benjamin ($5,600) against the Ravens. Baltimore is allowing more fantasy points per game (38.41) than any other defense in the league and has struggled against deep threats throughout the season.
Benjamin started off hot on the season but hasn’t found the end zone since week three. I expect that to change this week against the Ravens awful pass defense.
Thanksgiving Special: James Jones, WR GB
After three consecutive down games, Jones ($5,800) had a strong one on Sunday against the Vikings where he hauled in six passes for 109 yards and a touchdown to go along with a two-point conversion. Still getting looked to regularly in the red zone by Aaron Rodgers, as well as on the occasional deep ball, he’s a boom or bust option that has the upside to go off for multiple touchdowns at any time.
Facing the Bears, who he scored twice on in week one, Jones is a low floor/high ceiling WR3 on Thanksgiving night.
Other Options: Sammy Watkins ($6,800), Donte Moncrief ($5,900), Cecil Shorts ($5,600) and Stevie Johnson($5,500)
Tight End
Delainie Walker, TE TEN
Despite having a top-five salary at the position, Walker ($6,100) qualifies as a bargain this week due to his massive workload of late as well as a dynamite matchup against the Raiders in week 12. With at least six catches in five of the Titans’ last six games, he’s averaging 6.5 grabs and 78 receiving yards per game over that span and established himself as Marcus Mariota’s favorite target. Add to that a date with an Oakland defense that has given up the second most fantasy points per game to tight ends (15.64) and allowed at least one touchdown to the position in all but two games (and would have allowed another last week if not for a drop by Eric Ebron in the end zone.)
Walker is the best tight end option this weekend for those looking to fade Rob Gronkowski ($8,400).
Thanksgiving Special: Richard Rodgers, TE GB
With the limited options at tight end on Thanksgiving, those looking to fade Greg Olsen ($6,400) and save some will have to risk going with a question mark. Rodgers’ ($5,200) fantasy value depends solely on if he can find the end zone but he’s getting regular looks in the red zone as he’s scored in two of the last three games and had another taken away against the Vikings on Sunday.
Yes, it’s another Thanksgiving bargain from the Green Bay offense and obviously, playing all three Packers would be risky. But with all their prices down due to the offense’s struggles of late and a nice matchup against the Bears on a big night in which Brett Favre’s number will be retired, Green Bay should have a good game. This is should be an excellent week to play your Packers.
Other options: Austin Seferian-Jenkins ($5,100) if he finally suites up for the Bucs.
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