Week 6 DFS Flex Plays DraftKings 2016

By Armando Marsal
Armando Marsal On DraftKings, there is a flex spot which allows you to take different approaches in your lineup construction. Our goal every week is to find you some solid options that fit in the flex position and provide some nice upside. Let’s dive right into some flex targets for this week.

Running Back

Theo Riddick $5,300 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Riddick is coming off of his second two touchdown game of the season and continues to have a big role in the passing game. He is averaging 6.4 targets and 5.2 receptions per game. He accounts for 16.9 percent of the Lions target share and 36.8 percent of the red zone targets. He faces the Rams who are giving up 141.2 total yards per game to running backs and have surrendered five touchdowns. They are also allowing +1.6 points above expectations to opposing running backs, per Fantasy Labs. Riddick offers a safe flor and has displayed his upside a couple times this season, which is why he makes a lot of sense at this reasonable price.

James White $4,100 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
White caught four of his six targets for 63 yards in Week 5 against the Browns, which was the most receiving yards he has had all season. It comes to no surprise that this occurred in Tom Brady’s first game back, as White was very efficient at the end of last season in the passing game with Brady under center. White played in 48 percent of the offensive snaps in the last game, which was the most of all Patriots running backs. He is averaging 4.8 targets per game, but has received 11 targets in the last two contests. He should continue to be a big part of the passing game, which provides a stable floor and at this price, makes it more attainable to hit value.

Wide Receiver

Will Fuller $5,900 vs. Indianapolis Colts
If you have taken my advice on Fuller this season, you have hit on him each time and after not playing him last week, I am going back to the well this week. Fuller had a tough matchup in Week 5 against the Vikings and his box score reflected on that as he caught one of his six targets for four yards. This week’s matchup is much better as he faces the Colts who are giving up 15.4 receptions and 188 receiving yards per game to opposing receivers, to go along with three touchdowns. DeAndre Hopkins will have his hands full with Vontae Davis, so Fuller could get some extra looks. As it is, he is averaging eight targets per game and accounts for 21.5 percent of the Texans target share. In home games, he is averaging 5.3 receptions, 97.3 yards, and 23.1 DraftKings points. In addition, it is where he has scored his two touchdowns. Everything is lining up for a solid outing from Fuller.

Michael Thomas $4,300 vs. Carolina Panthers
Thomas has been peppered with 20 targets in the last two games and has played in more than 75 percent of the offensive snaps in each of those games. In Week 3 Willie Snead was sidelined and in that game Thomas played in 89 percent of the offensive snaps and received 11 targets, catching seven passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. In Week 4 when Snead returned, Thomas still played in 77 percent of the offensive snaps and was targeted nine times. In that game he caught four passes for 44 yards and scored a touchdown. This week the Saints host the Panthers in what is projected to be the highest scoring game of the week with an implied 53 point total. Carolina has been a tad more vulnerable in the air than in years past as they are giving up 170.2 receiving yards per game to opposing receivers and have surrendered four touchdowns. At this price and with his recent volume, there is no reason why Thomas does not hit value, and he also offers the upside to 4-5X his salary making him a viable tournament option.

Tight End

Gary Barnidge $3,300 at Tennessee Titans
There is one thing that has stood out to me about Barnidge when I looked into his numbers and that is with each week that has passed this season, he has seen more targets. He currently averages 5.6 targets per game and accounts for 16.5 percent of the Browns target shares, but if you look at it from a week-to-week basis, it is clear that he is more involved. In Week 1 he received two targets, in Week 2 he got five targets, in Week 3 it was six targets, in Week 4 he was targeted seven times, and last week he was peppered with eight targets. He has topped 12 fantasy points in three consecutive games and has been one of the few consistent producers on this offense. He is too cheap for what he offers, making him a bargain as well.

Good luck to all this week. For any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me on the Twitter machine: @Armando_Marsal