DFS Gut Plays week 16 2017

By JJ Buck

If you’re reading this, you are amid a whirlwind of fantasy opinion and statistic overload. With this article we are looking at matchups that standout after a quick look over of the schedule and prices; going with your gut. Sometimes the obvious play is the best and sometimes it burns us. Here we’ll look at Draft Kings (DK) and Yahoo Sports (YS). As always, be sure to know the scoring settings; DK is PPR scoring opposed to .5 PPR for Yahoo.

Quarterbacks

Nick Foles – Philadelphia – (DK $6,300 – YS $30)

As I deal with the sting that was Golden Tate’s dud and Antonio Brown’s calf injury that ended my main leagues season last weekend, it’s all about the DFS for me this weekend. Foles first start this season produced four touchdowns as the Eagles needed every one of them against the Giants. I don’t expect Doug Pederson to limit Foles this week as he needs to keep building chemistry with the first team offense. That should help alleviate any worry about how competitive the Raiders are on Monday night. (PHI -9.5, O/U 47.5)

Matthew Stafford – Detroit – (DK $6,200 – YS $31)

Cincinnati is moving on from Marvin Lewis and who knows what they bring to the table Sunday. There’s only one team with worse rushing statistics than the Bengals this season and that is the Lions. If we can get two touchdowns and no interceptions, that’ll be a nice, stocking stuffer for Stafford. (DET -4.5, O/U 43.5)

Running Backs

Melvin Gordon –L.A. Chargers – (DK $7,200 – YS $36)

I will have a lot of exposer to Gordon this week on Draft Kings as he’s the ninth highest priced RB on the Sunday/Monday slate. I like the matchup as the Chargers travel to New York and the Wisconsin product should feast on the Jets. Gordon’s yards per-carry (3.8) have been iffy as it’s all about the volume. The boost comes when Phillip Rivers involves him in the passing game. (LAC -7, O/U 42.5)

Christian McCaffery – Carolina – (DK $6,400 – YS $23)

We’ve all talked about attacking the Tampa Bay secondary this season and that just means their defense is bad. Atlanta rushed for 201 yards on Monday night and that plays right into the Panthers hands. McCaffery totaled 136 total yards against the Packers last week and shouldn’t have a problem approaching that mark this Sunday. (CAR -10, O/U 46.5)

Duke Johnson Jr. – Cleveland – (DK $4,500 – YS $16)

A PPR favorite this season, Johnson is in another positon to soak up a lot of targets underneath as the Browns visit a pesky Bears squad. He’s been a non-factor in the rushing game this season (22-yards game), but somehow has found a way to only score under 10-points four times this year. (CHI -6.5, O/U 38)

James White – New England – (DK $4,100 – YS $15)

Will the Super Bowl hero emerge from the darkness? With Rex Burkhead sidelined, White has a chance to recoup some value this weekend. We know how effective he can be and there shouldn’t be any issues with White raising his snap count this weekend. (NE -12, O/U 47)

Wide Receiver

Marvin Jones Jr. (DK $6,400 - YS $25) – Golden Tate – Detroit – (DK $6,300 – YS $22)

Jones has filled the big play roll for the Lions this season as he’s averaged over 20-yards per-catch the last three weeks. Tate is all about the targets. After back-to-back weeks with eight receptions the golden domer caught three-of-five last weekend. Both are good stacking partners with Stafford this weekend. (DET -4, O/U 44)

Josh Gordon – Cleveland – (DK $6,300 – YS $21)

The one thing DeShone Kizer can do is feed the beast. Gordon has 27 targets through three games and even if the Bears bracket him, triple team him, Kizer is still putting it up for grabs. The price is right on Yahoo. (CHI -6.5, O/U 38)

Cooper Kupp – L.A. Rams – (DK $5,300 – YS $21)

A trip to Tennessee means Todd Gurley faces the third best rushing defense (87.2) in the NFL. Jared Goff will need to open them up and Kupp is in position to eat as Robert Woods and Sammy Watkins occupy the Titans secondary down field. (LAR -7, O/U 47.5)

Kendall Wright – Chicago – (DK $3,800 – YS $14)

It’s week 16, let’s get crazy. Wright has soaked up 24 targets the last two weeks catching 17 of them. Wright has become a security blanket for Mitchell Trubisky, in what should be a sloppy close game. (CHI -6.5, O/U 38)

DK Reception Filler – Jarvis Landry ($6,300)
YS Touchdown Maker – Doug Baldwin ($27)

Tight Ends

Greg Olsen – Carolina – (DK $5,200 – YS $22)

The foot held up and Olsen slid right back into his role as Cam Newton’s top target; 9-116-1 on 12 targets. Devin Funchess is nursing a shoulder injury and Olsen should get all the volume he can handle as they gear up for the postseason. (CAR -10, O/U 46.5)

Jimmy Graham – Seattle – (DK $4,700– YS $20)

Graham’s one catch for minus one yard sums up the day Seattle had against the Rams. The form is not there, but the opportunity is. A trip to Dallas, playoff hops on the line, and Russell Wilson running in circles to create offense. (DAL -5, O/U 47.5)

Yahoo Cup Review

120.68 points scored Week 15; 2,714 place out of 392,912 entries.
QB – Dak Prescott – (15.68) – A rushing touchdown helped ease the two interceptions.
RB – Kenyan Drake – (20.30) – Ajayi who? Drake is building himself into a high pick in ’18.
RB – Devonta Freeman – (27.90) – We were all about the Monday night game.
WR – Jordy Nelson – (4.30) – It’s all Aaron Rodgers fault.
WR – Dez Bryant – (6.50) – This is my fault.
WR – Mike Evans– (16.40) – Boom, first touchdown since week seven.
TE –O.J. Howard– (9.50) – Left the game after getting hurt on his TD reception.
Flex – Dede Westbrook – (3.10) – Wrong Jag’ receiver this week.
DEF – Vikings – (17.00) – Cincy had no chance.

Odds from VegasInsider.com