Daily League Bargains: Divisional Round

Dan Meylor

wilson

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Last week was a good one for bargains on FanDuel. Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco were my top quarterbacks and both did well. The article last week also featured Jonathan Stewart, Dan Herron, Torrey Smith, Martavis Bryant and even Mike Tolbert who all scored. I had plenty of lineups that featured many of them and did quite well. Hopefully you did too. Let’s keep things going in the divisional round.

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

Russell Wilson, QB SEA

If salary weren’t part of the equation, Wilson ($8,200) probably wouldn’t be my favorite option this weekend considering Aaron Rodgers ($9,700) should tear apart the Cowboys and both Andrew Luck ($9,600) and Peyton Manning ($9,100) should put on a show in the Mile High City on Sunday afternoon. With that said however, Wilson will have a great chance to be one of the bargains of the week regardless of position.

On top of being efficient and doing an excellent job protecting the ball throughout the season, Wilson had a remarkable year on the ground. He accounted for 849 rushing yards (53.1 per game) and had six games with more than 70 rushing yards. Those numbers along with the six rushing touchdowns he added throughout the season account for nearly as many fantasy points as if he’d have thrown two more touchdowns in every game this year.

The Carolina rush defense has been stout over the last three weeks, giving up a total of just 139 yards on 46 carries (3.02 YPC) to tailbacks and allowing only one touchdown on the ground over that stretch. While it’s true that they haven’t faced a rushing attack as strong as the one in Seattle, the way to beat the Panthers will be through the air and with Wilson using his legs.

I certainly wouldn’t blame you for paying up for Rodgers, Luck, Manning or Tom Brady ($9,100). But if you’re looking for a discount under center, Wilson is clearly the best option. I’d be surprised if he didn’t go off on Saturday night in front of the 12th man.

Another Option: Joe Flacco ($7,800)

Running Back

Jonathan Stewart, RB CAR

[inlinead]Stewart ($6,500) was among my favorite plays a weak ago despite him taking on Arizona’s tough run defense and he came through with flying colors, accounting for 123 rushing yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Many may stay away from him this week going into Seattle but that’s all the more reason to own him considering he’s dominating the touches in the Carolina backfield over the last five weeks with more than 20 per game and with ownership numbers so low, you could gain a big advantage by rostering him.

The Seattle run defense has been great over the second half of the season but Carolina’s running game has been just as good over the last six weeks. It will be a tough task to do it again at Century Link Field but I wouldn’t put it past Stewart to outperform his modest salary.

LeGarrette Blount, RB NE

Putting any Patriots runner into a lineup is a risk but when the playoffs come to Foxboro, Bill Belichick likes to run the ball with a veteran that he can trust to wear out a defense. That guy is Blount ($5,700), who has averaged 4.7 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns in five games since returning to New England.

The Ravens’ tough run defense wasn’t tested on the ground last week but gave up very good fantasy days to Arian Foster (16.6 fantasy points) and Terrance West (17.2) over the last two weeks of the regular season. Blount should be in line for 15-plus touches and any goal line opportunities in the divisional round. He’ll be many of my tournament lineups this weekend.

Ronnie Hillman, RB DEN

While C.J. Anderson ($8,700) looked to have a firm hold of the tailback job heading into week 17, Hillman ($5,700) actually got more carries than him (15-13) in their matchup with the Raiders which has brought up speculation that there could be a timeshare in Denver. Anderson also hasn’t been relied on much as a pass catcher since taking over for the Broncos which is a role that Hillman has looked good in throughout the season.

While it’s certainly not a lock that he gets more touches than Anderson again this week versus the Colts, it could happen – particularly if the game turns into a shootout or if the Colts get a lead. Even if it’s a tight game, the Broncos have shown a commitment to the running game over the last six weeks and their offense could easily support two tailbacks. Considering the discount you can get on Hillman, he may get you the most bang for your buck in the Denver backfield.

Another quality cheap option: Dan Herron ($6,100)

Wide Receiver

Torrey Smith, WR BAL

Smith ($7,000) was listed here a week ago and although he didn’t have a huge game with just 28 receiving yards, he did come through with a touchdown catch so he didn’t kill anybody that played him. That’s exactly what his season has been like as he has yet to post a 100-yard game on the season but has hauled in a dozen touchdowns over the last 14 weeks.

The younger of the two Smith’s has been outperformed by Steve Smith Sr. ($6,600) for much of the year but considering how involved in the offense he is (25 targets over the last three weeks) and how much Flacco is looking for him in the red zone, Torrey once again is an excellent option this weekend. Players should also keep in mind that in three career games against New England, Smith has averaged 92 yards per game and caught three total touchdowns. He could easily reach those numbers again on Saturday afternoon.

Doug Baldwin, WR SEA

If you’re planning on putting Wilson in your roster and want to pair him with a pass catcher, Baldwin ($5,900) is your guy. He easily led the Seahawks in targets (90), receptions (66) and receiving yards (825) and his numbers have gotten better towards the end of the year as he caught 18 passes for 306 yards and a touchdown on 26 targets over the last four weeks of the season.

He’s a risky play due to his inconsistency but if you’re with me on Wilson having a big day, getting his top target for less than $6,000 as your WR3 isn’t a bad game plan – especially considering he won’t be owned by very many.

Cole Beasley, WR DAL

Last week I was convinced Beasley ($5,300) would be the Cowboys’ bargain wide out to own but it was Terrence Williams ($5,800) that came down with a pair of touchdowns. Nonetheless Beasley caught four passes for 63 yards and nearly scored. On top of that, he was once again among the Cowboys’ leaders in targets with eight and is playing more with every week that passes.

This week at Lambeau, it’s hard to believe that Aaron Rodgers and company won’t be able to put up points so the Cowboys will be forced to have to keep up. If that happens and Beasley continues to see the field, he could be in line for another busy day out of the slot.

Williams will likely be higher owned this week after his big game but I’d rather go with a guy that won’t be considered by most players like Beasley.

Other options: Brandon LaFell ($6,800) and Donte Moncrief ($5,500)

Tight End

Julius Thomas, TE DEN

With his price now dipping as low as that of Jason Witten, Thomas ($5,500) was the easiest player to add to this list. Although he’s hauled in just three passes for 63 yards in three games since returning from an ankle injury, he’s still one of the premiere tight ends in the league, playing in one of the league’s best offenses.

The last time he played the Colts, Thomas exploded for 104 yards and three touchdowns on seven catches. While I don’t expect that output due to the lingering effects of his bulky ankle, I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see him post five catches for 75-plus yards and a score after his week off and at his price, that’d be a bargain.

If you’re not going to go with Rob Gronkowski ($7,900) who could also prove to be a steal at that price, Thomas is the most obvious top choice at tight end. But many others will be thinking the same thing.

Richard Rodgers, TE GB

Last week I suggested Eric Ebron in this space as a bottom of the barrel option and it didn’t turn out. This week I’m going to try again with fellow rookie tight end Rodgers ($4,600).

Everything out of Green Bay suggests Rodgers has earned the trust of the Packers’ coaching staff as well their MVP quarterback that shares the same last name. In Green Bay’s must win matchup with the Lions in week 17, both Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers proved it. Rodgers played nearly half the Packers’ offensive snaps and caught all five of his targets for 40 yards.

Putting Rodgers in a lineup is a monster risk considering he could lay an egg but if you’re looking for a super cheap option that will owned by nearly nobody to stick into your lineup, you could do much worse.

Another option: Coby Fleener ($5,400)

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dan meylor