FanDuel Bargains: Week 16
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 judge the current value of your dynasty assets.
Over the next 17 weeks (and into the post-season), I’ll be highlighting some of the best bargains on the best daily site in the industry, FanDuel.
Keep in mind that these suggestions are 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 reflect good choices for head-to-head or 50/50 games. Rankings courtesy of ESPN
Quarterbacks
Blake Bortles, QB JAC ($6,200)
There is no doubt Blake Bortles has looked more like a bust than someone to take seriously at the quarterback position. He is good when it comes to garbage time, and the Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves in that position a lot. This week, the Jaguars will take on the Tennessee Titans. Last time he faced them, he passed for 337 yards and three touchdowns.
Tennessee also loves to give up points in a bunch. They are 28th in points allowed to quarterbacks, and have allowed 17 FanDuel points to eight of their last nine opponents. If this isn’t enough, the Titans allowed Alex Smith to take them out. Bortles does turn out good performances against weaker defenses, topping 20 FanDuel points five times. The question is how much can he get Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee involved in the offense.
Matt Barkley, QB CHI ($6,300)
Matt Barkley has been performing well for the Chicago Bears. Last week in a frigid atmosphere, he threw for 362 yards and two touchdowns. On the flip side, he did toss four interceptions. Chicago is going to give him every chance to succeed, as he is performing well enough, and there is no other pressing reason to pull him. Over the last few weeks he is the third highest rated passer according to PFF.
This week he faces the Washington Redskins defense that is the 26th against the pass, allowing 260 yards per game. They can get after the quarterback as they are fifth with 36 sacks. He is going to want to get both Cameron Meredith and Alshon Jeffrey involved.
Running Backs
Jay Ajayi, RB MIA ($6,700)
Jay Ajayi has struggled the last couple of games. He has not had more than 12.1 FanDuel points over the last six games. The offensive line is letting him down and he has faced some tough defenses (ranking third, tenth and first). The line is getting healthier and should open more holes for him.
They will be facing the Buffalo Bills this week, that struggle against the run (27th). Le’Veon Bell ran all over them as did Latavius Murray before that. With Matt Moore behind center, the Dolphins are going to try to exploit their defensive front. Ajayi should benefit.
Frank Gore, RB IND ($6,000)
It’s hard to tell how old Frank Gore is. The way he plays the game you wouldn’t think he was 33 years old, based on the volume he gets for the Colts. He is getting 20.2 touches per game over his last six and is getting stronger as the season goes on. He just went over the 100 yard barrier for the second time this season.
This week Gore will see a soft defensive front against the Oakland Raiders. They allow the 11th-most fantasy points to running backs on a per game basis. This game is projected to be high scoring with the over/under set at 53.5 points. With Andrew Luck moving the team downfield, Gore should get plenty of opportunities. Let’s just hope he doesn’t get robbed by Robert Turbin like last week.
Wide Receivers
Michael Crabtree, WR OAK ($6,200)
Michael Crabtree is still the focal point of the Raiders passing attack regardless of how he is performing over the last few weeks. He has seen seven targets or more in seven of the last eight games and ten or more in four of those. He has the most targets, receptions, and receiving touchdowns on the Raiders, yet is priced $1,000 cheaper than Amari Cooper.
This week he will face the Indianapolis Colts and their poor defense. As mentioned with Gore, this game should have many fireworks for Christmas Eve. Now it will be up to Derek Carr to get him the ball instead of Cooper.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR HOU ($6,600)
DeAndre Hopkins has struggled with the poor play of Brock Osweiler and the expansive offense from a year ago. Last week, the Houston Texans had enough of the poor play by Osweiler and sent in Tom Savage. Hopkins saw his targets increase right away, as he saw 15 of them by the end of the game.
Last week may have been the start of the return of Hopkins, who has struggled to see consistency.
If Savage is truly locked in on Hopkins, we should see his production start to resemble what it did last season. At this price, that would be a tremendous value.
Cameron Meredith, WR CHI ($5,500)
Cameron Meredith makes a solid play this week, especially if you want to team him up with Matt Barkley. He has seen 21 targets, caught 15 balls and has 176 yards over his last two games. Alshon Jeffery will be up against Josh Norman, leaving Meredith open to doing his thing. He will be against the awful Bashaud Breeland, who is ranked 95th out of the 120 defensive backs graded by PFF.
Tight End
Coby Fleener, TE NO ($4,700)
The tandem of Drew Brees and Coby Fleener work much better at home than they do on the road. Fleener puts up about six more points than he away from New Orleans. Another bonus is Josh Hill is now on injured reserve and his season is over. With Hill out, it has increased the volume for Fleener over the last two games.
The Saints take on the Buccaneers this week and they are tough against the tight end position. This game should be red hot with points however, which means Fleener should get plenty of targets. With his price tag, he should easily match that total.
- FanDuel Bargains: Week Three - October 1, 2017
- FanDuel Bargains: Week Three - September 24, 2017
- FanDuel Bargains: Week Two - September 17, 2017
