QUARTERBACKS
Peyton Manning $10,400 - The over/under total for this game is set at 58 points and there is no secret what Manning has been able to accomplish over the first 7 weeks of the season. He moves the ball up and down the field and into the endzone with ease and to help matters even more this weekend he gets a home game against a Washington defense that has allowed a lot of touchdowns. The price remains as one of the highest on FanDuel but Manning also delivers each week and is well worth it if you can find the money to get him into your lineup.
Robert Griffin III $8,800 - Just like Manning having a great matchup, his competition this week also has a fantastic matchup. Griffin has been getting stronger the past couple of weeks and his game is getting back closer to what it was in his rookie campaign. He is going to have to be at his best on Sunday and will have plenty of opportunities to dual with Manning drive for drive. He may actually have a little more value if Denver gets out to an early lead as he will have to make up ground and throw the ball even more than usual.
Michael Vick $8,000 - The Eagles offense really struggled last weekend with Nick Foles under center against a tough Cowboys defense. Michael Vick, healthy or not will get the start this weekend against a vulnerable Giants team that finally got their first win last week (in ugly fashion). This game has one of the higher over/under's at 51.5 and looks to be a high flying, high scoring game with Vick back in the lineup. He is at a nice price of $8,000 and makes an interesting GPP tournament play.
Value Plays: Eli Manning $6,800, Terrelle Pryor $6,800
RUNNING BACKS
Marshawn Lynch $8,600 - Lynch has a few nice things going for him this weekend and is my top choice for RBs. His salary is high at $8,600 but it is still not in the same ball park as Charles, Peterson, and McCoy. He has a fantastic matchup against the Rams on Monday night and is almost a sure thing to pick up at least one touchdown. He has been getting all the goal line carries for the Seahawks and has been getting a heavy dose of total carries each week as well. Even in the past when the Seahawks have looked to be a heavy favorite and have control of the game, they continued to use Lynch throughout the game and allowed him to put up some big numbers.
Knowshon Moreno $7,700 - Pairing Moreno with Peyton Manning is a pretty good bet as the over/under and point spread show that Denver will put up some big points and are a heavy favorite. It is a safety net that allows you not to worry about any of Manning's touchdowns being vultured by the running back, and if Denver jumps out to a bigger lead and take the foot of the gas, you know you have the running game to fall back on and pick up some big fantasy points.
Frank Gore $7,400 - Gore is the best value play of the weekend as he plays a soft Jacksonville defense and is sure to see a full workload of carries and looks out of the backfield. His salary at $7,400 suggest a RB2 but he is clearly a top 5 RB this week and like Lynch is almost a sure thing to find the endzone.
Eddie Lacy $6,800 - The Packers passing offense have been taking some hits in the injury department and they are being forced to take some of the pressure off of Aaron Rodgers and lean more on their rushing attack as they showed last week and Lacy delivered with a strong performance. This week the matchup is even better for Lacy and at a value price tag he is a very strong option to consider as one of your starting RBs.
Value Plays: Le'Veon Bell $7,000, Darren Sproles $6,600, Giovani Bernard $6,100
WIDE RECEIVERS
Demaryius Thomas $8,200 - Picking a Denver WR is always dangerous as you never exactly know which one to start each week. The truth is, it almost never matters as Manning sees the whole field like no other QB and will find each one of his WRs throughout the game. Thomas has the highest ceiling out of all the WRs as he has the big play ability everytime the ball is thrown in his direction. If the game against Washington starts to turn into a high scoring back and forth battle, he is going to be counted on even more than normal and should see a large amount of targets and opportunities.
Pierre Garcon $6,700 - Garcon seems to be a weekly player that always finds his way on the weekly plays of the week article and rightfully so. He is always priced decently and always seems to have a friendly matchup and this week is no different. With Griffin looking more and more like his 2012 self (pre-injury), he is going to continue to look for Garcon on both short and long passes and let him be one of the key players in putting points up for Washington.
Antonio Brown $6,700 - Brown is seeing a ton of targets so far this year and his only drawback so far is his ability to get touchdowns. This week against the Raiders there should be some touchdowns scored and as the Steelers best offensive weapon it is a good bet that he gets one of them. His salary is very modest and he makes for a very solid WR play.
Eric Decker $6,500 - Just like Thomas, Decker has the NFL's most effective QB throwing him the ball and is never one to play favorites and not spread the ball out over the field. Decker had a nice game last weekend and in doing so you would have thought his FanDuel salary would have been on the rise, but it didn't budge at all. It might be the last week that you can use him at his modest $6,500 price tag.
Denarius Moore $5,400 - Moore continues to improve as the year has went on and is building a nice rapport with QB Terrell Pryor. Coming off a bye and being on a team that has little pressure on them, the big play ability is going to be there this weekend and Moore should have some very nice opportunities downfield.
Value Plays: Brandon Gibson $5,200, Golden Tate $5,000, Kenny Stills $4,600
TIGHT ENDS
Rob Gronkowski $7,600 - Gronkowski showed his dominance in limited fashion last week, and with one week in the books without any setbacks he will continue to move forward and get better and play more. The Patriots are desperate to have a receiving option around the goal line. If healthy Gronkowski gives Tom Brady one of the best red zone targets in the entire NFL. He is a must start.
Tony Gonzalez $5,600 - Gonzalez is a great play this week and comes at a low salary. With Julio Jones and Roddy White out last week, everyone was expecting Gonzalez to be the guy and have a huge game, and he failed to do so. He has a great chance to redeem himself this weekend with a matchup against the Cardinals who have been very lenient against opposing TEs.
Jordan Reed $5,400 - Last weekend was Reed's coming out party as he is finally getting involved in the Washington offense. He is also one of the key contributors to QB Robert Griffin III getting back on track and opening up the field. Defenses are going to have to account for Reed now and open up things for Griffin down the field allowing him to find the open man.
Value Plays: Jeff Cumberland $4,500
KICKERS
Garrett Hartley $5,400 - The Saints can move the ball very quickly and also play in a dome where that works to Hartley's advantage. He is going to have opportunities to kick PATs and FGs making him a top kicking option.
Alex Henery $5,000 - With Michael Vick back the Eagles offense is once again going to be able to move the ball, and with Henery kicking so consistently this year so far, he is going to be trusted to kick FGs when the opportunity arises.
Value Play: Dan Bailey $5,000
DEFENSE
San Francisco 49ers $6,500 - This is the highest price a defensive team has reached so far on FanDuel, but it might be well worth it as the 49ers are starting to get their dominance back on defense and this week get a Jacksonville team that is a mess and can't seem to find the endzone.
Seattle Seahawks $6,000 - After losing Sam Bradford for the season, the Rams hopes for the 2013 season were shot. The offense is going to struggle to gain yards against the league's top defense, and this one could get ugly quickly.
Value Plays: New Orleans Saints $5,100
SUGGESTED ROSTER ($60,000) - HEAD TO HEAD & 50/50
- QB Peyton Manning DEN (vs WAS) $10,400
- RB Frank Gore SF (at JAC) $7,400
- RB Eddie Lacy GB (at MIN) $6,800
- WR Pierre Garcon WAS (at DEN) $6,700
- WR Antonio Brown PIT (at OAK) $6,700
- WR Denarius Moore OAK (vs PIT) $5,400
- TE Tony Gonzalez ATL (at ARI) $5,600
- K Dan Bailey DAL (at DET) $5,000
- D Seattle Seahawks (at STL) $6,000
SUGGESTED ROSTER ($60,000) - TOURNAMENTS
- QB Robert Griffin III WAS (at DEN) $8,800
- RB Frank Gore SF (at JAC) $7,400
- RB Eddie Lacy GB (at MIN) $6,800
- WR Pierre Garcon WAS (at DEN) $6,700
- WR Antonio Brown PIT (at OAK) $6,700
- WR Eric Decker DEN (vs WAS) $6,500
- TE Tony Gonzalez ATL (at ARI) $5,600
- K Alex Henery PHI (vs NYG) $5,000
- D San Francisco 49ers (at JAC) $6,500
