QUARTERBACKS
Matt Ryan $8,700 - Ryan has attempted over 40 passes in 4 of the Falcons first 5 games so far this year and also has 3 sets of 3 touchdown games. This week he gets to play against the Bears in one of the highest total over/under games on the week and has a prime matchup at home. On paper this looks to be a game where Ryan can break into the 300+ passing yard range and come away with multiple touchdowns.
Russell Wilson $8,400 - You have to love the Week 6 prospects for Russell Wilson after his dominant fantasy performance on Monday Night against Washington. He is showing once again that he is the leader of the Seahawks team and can do it all with his arm and legs. He couldn't ask for a better matchup this week than a clash between the Cowboys. Although the Cowboys look to be a more rounded team overall than most thought at the start of the season, their defense still gives up plenty of big plays to the opposing teams offense. Wilson has a great price at $8,400 that he should easily double his value and be closer to the 20+ FanDuel fantasy points.
Nick Foles $8,100 - The Sunday Night game between the division rival New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles looks to be one that you want to target a few offensive players from. Foles has yet to have his big fantasy game so far in 2014 but at the same time he has led his team to an impressive 4-1 record. He is going to have to be looked upon more in this divisional game to get the Eagles into the endzone and get the win against the Giants. Foles has thrown the ball at least 37 times in each of the Eagles first 5 games and with LeSean McCoy struggling lately it is hard to see those pass attempt numbers going down for Foles.
Value Plays: Colin Kaepernick $7,800, Eli Manning $7,200, Teddy Bridgewater $5,900
RUNNING BACKS
Marshawn Lynch $9,200 - The Seahawks are coming off of a short week and now get to play a Cowboys team at home that have surprised people with their 4-1 record. They are going to want to get the ball into the hands of their two best players in Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch and control the clock and tempo of the game right from the start. Lynch should see plenty of opportunities near the goal line and it would be hard to see him not get into the endzone at least once on the day.
Matt Forte $9,000 - Forte looks to be in the best situation out of any players this week. In fact he may just be in the best situation for any players so far this season with a perfect fantasy matchup against the Falcons. Forte is averaging 7.2 receptions a game this season and last game he saw a ridiculous 12 receptions for 105 yard receiving and a touchdown. Forte has yet to find the endzone on the ground this season but has more than made up for that with his additional stats through the air. With a tough schedule to start the season on the ground it looks like a matchup agains the Falcons weak run defense is exactly what Forte needs to help get things turned around. Look for a massive day on the ground and through the air for Forte this week.
Le'Veon Bell $8,600 - Bell has yet to have a bad fantasy day so far this season and it is hard to see that changing against the Browns this week. The Steelers are still looking to find their identity this season and for them to come out and establish the run game against the Browns would be a good start for them this weekend. Bell has showed that he can do it all for the Steelers so far this season, compiling 688 total yards and averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
LeSean McCoy $8,000 - McCoy had somewhat of a bounce back week agains the Rams last week running for 81 yards on 24 carries. He had a fumble in that game and after that he looked to have more patience and ran the ball hard up the middle and started to find some holes that he has been lacking the two week previous. McCoy is still hard to just plug into your cash games at this point but at a $8,000 price point and a Primetime Sunday Night matchup against the Giants you have to consider putting a little trust back into rostering him once again.
Value Plays: Andre Ellington $7,200, Brenden Oliver $6,200, Darren McFadden $5,700
WIDE RECEIVERS
Jordy Nelson $8,500 - There is a certain chemistry that Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson have so far this season and that has become evident with the 52 targets that Nelson has seen through the first 5 games so far. After only catching one pass last week (66 yard touchdown) in a blowout, look for Nelson to be the focal point of the passing game once again against a modest Dolphins secondary. Rodgers is looking in Nelson's direction early and often and Nelson in turn has delivered with some great fantasy numbers.
Jeremy Maclin $8,000 - So far in 2014, Maclin has seen 58 targets from Nick Foles and has turned them into a 26/440/4 statline. A 5/80/1 statline is looking like an every week occurance with Maclin so far in 2014 and I don't see the Giants shutting him down this week so similar to those numbers is another real possibility for Maclin.
Brandon Marshall $7,900 - Marshall has struggled with production the past 3 weeks but at the same time he has also been battling injuries. With a decent price point and a great matchup against the Falcons he could be looking at a big game and is especially attractive with the projected high over/under score.
Victor Cruz $6,800 - The Giants offense is slowly becoming more rounded and Eli Manning has looked much better in 2014. Victor Cruz is always going to be the main WR in New York and Cruz has always come to play against the Eagles in his career. Last year in two games against the Eagles, Manning targeted Cruz 22 total times for 12 receptions and 124 yards. Look for Cruz to see around 8-10 targets and in a game that is sure to have plenty of points scored, he would be hard pressed not to find the endzone.
Golden Tate $6,400 - Tate is the main weapon for Matthew Stafford right now with Calvin Johnson banged up. Tate has totalled 31 receptions for 451 yards and a touchdown so far this season and at the $6,400 price point he looks to be great value this week to run out as your WR3. He is pretty safe bet to grab 5-6 catches for 70+ yards and has a real chance of finding the endzone against a questionable Vikings defense.
Value Plays: Mohamed Sanu $6,000, Andrew Hawkins $5,300, Torrey Smith $5,300
TIGHT ENDS
Julius Thomas $8,200 - The Broncos have played 4 games this season and Thomas has 7 touchdowns so far. He is currently on pace for 28 touchdowns and although that number may seem a bit ridiculous you have to remember who is throwing him the ball on every play. Peyton Manning has a certain trust for Thomas and is going to continue to look in his direction anytime the Broncos are in the redzone. The Jets allowed Antonio Gates to grab two touchdowns last week, so for Thomas to get 1 or 2 touchdowns this week seems very likely.
Antonio Gates $6,200 - Rivers is going to continue to feed Gates as he is his most trusted receiving option. With Keenan Allen struggling this season with a nagging groin injury, Gates has stepped up his game and has been every bit a top 5 TE option in 2014. The Raiders look to be a team that the Chargers will be able to make plays on and Gates should be right in the middle of the offense once again.
Value Plays: Zach Ertz $5,200, Heath Miller $5,000
KICKERS
Nick Novak $5,200 - Novak has a nice matchup agains the Raiders and if the Chargers get a big lead in this game he could be looking at 2 or 3 second half field goals alone. For the kicker position you are looking to get double digit points and predicting a 10+ point performance from Novak against the Raiders seems very likely.
Brandon McManus $5,000 - The Broncos showed some good faith in McManus as they stuck by him and released their former Pro Bowl kicker in Matt Prater. The Broncos should be able to put up some points against a struggling New York Jets secondary and McManus himself should have plenty of opportunities to add 3 points to the score board.
Value Play: Robbie Gould $4,600
DEFENSE
San Francisco 49ers $5,300 - Everyone was questioning the 49ers defense heading into the season and now with two straight solid defensive performances against the Eagles and Chiefs they have a chance to really unload against the Rams on Monday Night. It is hard to find an outright top defense this weekend but the thought of having the 49ers in play on a Monday Night is well worth the $5,300 FanDuel price tag.
Tennessee Titans $5,100 - It is the same theme every week, just pick on the Jaguars and play what ever defense they face each and every week. This week it is the Titans turn to unload on the Jaguars and at $5,100 it is not that hard to fit them into your lineup.
Value Plays: Detroit Lions $5,000, Denver Broncos $5,000
SUGGESTED ROSTER ($60,000) - Cash Games
- QB Teddy Bridgewater MIN (vs DET) $5,900
- RB Matt Forte CHI (at ATL) $9,000
- RB Le'Veon Bell PIT (at CLE) $8,600
- WR Jordy Nelson GB (at MIA) $8,500
- WR Victor Cruz NYG (at PHI) $6,800
- WR Golden Tate DET (at MIN) $6,400
- TE Zach Ertz PHI (vs NYG) $5,200
- K Robbie Gould CHI (at ATL) $4,600
- D Denver Broncos (at NYJ) $5,000