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QUARTERBACKS
Andrew Luck $10,100 - Well if you are going to pay top dollar for a QB it has to be Peyton Manning right? That is not the case this week as Andrew Luck has shown he is matchup proof and can put up huge fantasy numbers in any game scenario. He is coming off a 6 game stretch that has seen him complete at least 25 passes for at least 300 yards and pass for 17 touchdowns and run another in on the ground. If you are looking for a safe cash game play at QB, Andrew Luck is your guy this week against the Giants on Monday Night Football in a game where he should be able to air the ball out often.
Russell Wilson $8,600 - What step down from Luck this week would be Russell Wilson who has added a lot of value with his running ability of late. In the last 4 games he has rushed for 275 yards and 3 touchdowns in what equals an average of 11.3 FanDuel points a game just on his rushing totals alone. With the Seahawks struggling lately a matchup against the Raiders at home has the feeling of a game that the Seahawks can win big and make a statement on offense.
Colin Kaepernick $7,800 - The 49ers still give you the feeling that they haven't totally opened up their offense just yet and have held back some production for their star players on offense. Kaepernick has had an up and down average season at best so far in 2014 but a home matchup against the Rams might just be answer for him to get things rolling for the 49ers in the second half of the season. In Week 6, Kaepernick had his best game of the season against the Rams posting 343 passing yards, 3 touchdowns and 37 yards on the ground. At only $7,800 this week Kaepernick is the best value play at the QB position and should easily double his value.
Value Plays: Robert Griffin III $7,200, Teddy Bridgewater $5,900
RUNNING BACKS
LeSean McCoy $7,800 - It is true that McCoy has been a frustrating player to own this year and has been in the RB2 category all season long when we are used to playing him as a high end RB1. Over the past 3 games, McCoy has been running much better, finding the open lanes and taking the yards that are in front of him. In those 3 games he has rushed for 313 yards on 67 carries (4.67 yards per carry), and added 9 receptions. A game against the lackluster Texans run defense seems like a good turning point for McCoy and his season and if he sees 20+ carries once again you have to like your chances of him finding the endzone for the second time this season. Yes, you just read that correctly, McCoy has only one touchdown on the season and it came back in Week 2 against the Colts.
Andre Ellington $7,700 - Ellington continues to see a high volume of touches over the past couple of games compiling 47 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown and also added 9 receptions for 86 yards. This week the Cardinals hit the road to take on the Cowboys for a big NFC matchup with first place on the line. Look for the Cardinals to try to control the game on the ground and Ellington will once again see a heavy dose of touches.
Jeremy Hill $5,200 - Hill's value is directly related to the health status of Giovani Bernard for Week 9's matchup against the Jaguars. If Bernard is ruled out, Hill is an instant plug and play at his $5,200 price and should easily double his value and would likely see 20+ touches against a not so good Jaguars defense. Hill rushed 10 times for 25 yards and caught 4 passes for 28 yards last week against the Ravens.
Value Plays: Alfred Morris $6,800, Shane Vereen $6,600
WIDE RECEIVERS
Antonio Brown $9,000 - Brown is just a machine as far as producing fantasy points on a week to week basis. On the year he is averaging 7.5 receptions a game to go along with 106.5 receiving yards a game and 7 total touchdowns in 8 games. He is an easy decision to roster as your WR1 but he does come with a high price tag of $9,000.
Keenan Allen $6,700 - Allen is starting to pick up where he left off last season and over the past 2 games he has saw 23 targets and ended up with a 15/131/1 statline. He is a nice option as a midrange WR and one that probably not a lot of other DFS players will be on. I am banking on a 10 target game for Allen once again and a second straight game with a touchdown is not out of the question.
Jeremy Maclin $8,400 - Maclin is coming off a career best game with 12 receptions 187 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Cardinals and will once again be seeing a high volume of targets from Nick Foles against the Texans. Maclin is averaging 11 targets a game through 7 games so far this season and another game of 10+ targets is very likely for Maclin.
T.Y. Hilton $8,100 - My main theme of choosing WR's in fantasy is who is seeing the most targets and Hilton is right up there with Brown and Maclin and has 78 targets on the season and has exploded over the past 3 games with a 22/485/2. Don't over think Hilton this week and get him in any lineup you are also rostering Andrew Luck and sit back and enjoy the Monday Night Game as you watch your DFS scores increase as the game goes on.
Larry Fitzgerald $6,900 - Fitzgerald is coming off his best game of the season with a 7/160/1 statline and gets to play against a suspect Cowboys secondary this week for a battle for first place in the NFC. As the big name WR prices increase, Fitzgerald at $6,900 is a bit of a value play and a nice option as a WR3.
Value Plays: Michael Crabtree $6,700, Rueben Randle $6,400, Anquan Boldin $6,300,
TIGHT ENDS
Rob Gronkowski $7,900 - If you had Gronkowski rostered last week you probably won yourself a nice chunk of change with his 9/149/3 performance. With the Broncos coming to town the Patriots are going to be looking for the Brady/Gronkowski combo often to try to control the game and find the endzone.
Jason Witten $5,700 - Witten had his best game of the year against Washington on Monday Night with a 5/70/1 statline and now he gets a Cardinals defense that has a history of playing the TE position rather softly. If you are not paying up for Gronkowski or Julius Thomas, Witten makes for a nice cash saving option.
Value Plays: Jordan Reed $5,500, Zach Ertz $5,400
KICKERS
Steven Hauschka $5,000 - Hauschka has 5 straight games of at least 2 field goals made and gets a cake walk matchup against the Raiders at home. Hauschka might be in line for a 3-4 field goal type of game as the Seahawks run away with this game in the second half.
Cairo Santos $4,800 - The Chiefs get the lowly Jets this week and Alex Smith and the offense should have very little trouble moving the ball against the Jets and Santos should be in line for 2 or 3 field goal opportunities.
Value Play: Nick Novak $4,700
DEFENSE
Philadelphia Eagles $5,000 - The Eagles defense has surprised this year and have been very productive at getting to the QB and creating turnovers. The Eagles do give up a lot of points to their opponents but they make up for it with their turnovers and the threat of Darren Sproles in the return game.
Washington Redskins $4,800 - Washington seems to be playing with a little bit of extra heart the past couple of weeks and a road matchup against the Vikings could keep the train rolling and the defense could be a big part of that success.
Value Plays: Cleveland Browns $4,800
SUGGESTED ROSTER ($60,000) - Cash Games
- QB Andrew Luck IND (at NYG) $10,100
- RB LeSean McCoy PHI (at HOU) $7,800
- RB Jeremy Hill CIN (vs JAC) $5,200
- WR T.Y. Hilton IND (at NYG) $8,100
- WR Keenan Allen SD ( at MIA) $6,700
- WR Rueben Randle NYG (at NYJ) $6,400
- TE Jason Witten DAL (vs ARI) $5,700
- K Steven Hauschka SEA (vs OAK) $5,000
- D Philadelphia Eagles (at HOU) $5,000