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QUARTERBACKS
Drew Brees $10,000 - Peyton Manning looks tempting also but at such a high salary he makes it harder to pull the trigger. Drew Brees has the high salary but he also leaves some room for other positions and he plays in a must win game this week.
Nick Foles $9,600 - The Eagles offense is rolling and the trend will likely continue as they get to play the Cowboys awful defense that can't seem to cover anyone down the field. Foles price is high but in a week where there is so many uncertainties this playoff type of game is one that you want to load up on players.
Cam Newton $8,500 - Newton is at a very reasonable price right now and he can do it all on the field with both his arm and his legs. A 20+ point game out of Newton this week is not out of the question as it is a big game for the Panthers that can clinch them a first round bye.
Value Plays: Philip Rivers $7,900
RUNNING BACKs
LeSean McCoy $9,400 - This is the week where you are going to want to spend money at the RB position. The four RB's I have listed all have very strong matchups and are all battling with their teams for a playoff spot. McCoy brings the most all around fantasy appeal as he can do it all with his elusiveness, speed, quickness, catching and even his goal line carries. It will be hard to find a reason to leave McCoy out of your lineup this weekend.
DeMarco Murray $8,700 - The Cowboys are in a very desperate position right now and with Romo done for the year they are going to have to rely on Murray more than ever in this must win home matchup against the Eagles. Murray came up really big last week against Washington as he had one rushing touchdown and the game winning receiving touchdown.
Matt Forte $8,500 - After McCoy, Forte is my favorite pick on FanDuel this week. He offers a complete game in his ability to find the hole and to catch out of the back field. The Bears are in for a fight against the Packers and they are going to have to use their offensive weapon in Forte often.
Eddie Lacy $8,400 - Lacy is a little bit banged up currently but it is going to take a lot for him to miss this division title battle. He has been the best offensive rookie this year and when Aaron Rodgers went down with an injury the Packers basically put the ball in Lacy's hands at every opportunity to give them a fighting chance. Rodgers is confirmed ready to return and that only insures that Lacy will have more room to run against a Bears run defense that is near the worst in the entire NFL.
Value Plays: Ryan Mathews $7,400, Shane Vereen $6,200, Alfred Morris $6,200
WIDE RECEIVERS
Josh Gordon $9,200 - Despite missing the opening two games due to a suspension, Gordon has been the NFL's best WR this year. That is saying a great deal as the Browns QB situation is a mess and there is not much talent that is getting him the ball. The Steelers secondary is beatable and for the Browns to have a chance in this game they are going to have to look to Gordon at every opportunity possible.
DeSean Jackson $7,800 - The fact that Jackson gets to play a Dallas secondary that has been brutal over the second half of the season almost makes this pick look automatic. It seems as McCoy is going to get his production as well so to have a QB/RB/WR combo from the same team seems odd and would most likely fail. Not the case with the Eagles over the second half of the season, they are getting the ball to their star players and they are making big plays. There is a ton of fantasy points to be had in this Cowboys versus Eagles game.
Antonio Brown $7,600 - Next to Josh Gordon, Antonio Brown has been in the talks as well as one of the top WR's in football this year. In PPR formats he is a must and this year he has even added to his touchdown scoring ability and has had a nose of the end zone. The Steelers are looking to finish off the year strong with a win at home and an 8-8 record.
Keenan Allen $6,600 - The connection that Rivers and Allen have made with each other this season has been great. Rivers continues to trust and target Allen at every opportunity and Allen usually makes the most of it and makes the tough catches and shows great ability after the catch. The Chargers have a slim chance to still sneak into the playoffs and will be playing desperate and looking to put up a lot of points in the process.
Jordy Nelson $6,000 - With Aaron Rodgers back under center things in Green Bay are looking up. Nelson once again has fantasy relevance and at a bargain price. Look for Rodgers to rely on Lacy and the running game but also for some quick throws underneath to Nelson.
Value Plays: Marques Colston $6,000, Roddy White $5,900, Torrey Smith $5,800, Greg Jennings $5,800, Riley Cooper $5,500, Kendall Wright $5,500
TIGHT ENDS
Jimmy Graham $7,600 - The Saints are at a place where they control their own playoff destiny and with a home game against Tampa Bay they will be looking to put up a lot of points in doing so. Graham continues to be a decent priced top TE and has some major potential to put up one of his monster type games as Brees is going to look to him and target him over and over throughout the game.
Martellus Bennett $4,800 - Despite getting blown out by the Eagles last Sunday night, Bennett still had a very productive game and this week the Bears are in a must win situation and they will look to get all weapons in their offense involved early and often. Bennett comes at a bargain bin price of only $4,800 and he could be a top 5 TE option on the day.
Value Plays: Antonio Gates $4,500
KICKERS
Matt Prater $5,600 - Prater seems to always find my best plays of the week as he plays in an offense that seems to always have the potential to put up 40+ points each week. With a game against the Raiders things could get ugly by half time and Prater may have 2 or 3 chances for field goals in the second half alone.
Steen Hauschka $5,000 - The Seahawks are still trying to lock up the top seed in the NFC and will be in for a good defensive battle against a tough Rams team that never seems to quit. The Rams could stop the Seahawks short of the endzone a few times and force them to settle for field goals.
Value Play: Shayne Graham $5,000
DEFENSE
New England Patriots $5,200 - The Patriots did some damage on defense last week against the Ravens and have the same type of opportunity to put up big numbers this week as they are home to the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots are looking to wrap up one of the top two seeds in the AFC to claim a first round bye and will not be looking to take it easy on the lowly Bills.
Miami Dolphins $5,000 - The Dolphins defense looked like a solid play last week against the Bills as well and they came out flat. This week they battle the Jets who have been known to turn the ball over on offense and we should see a rebound from last week's poor defensive stats as the Dolphins still have a chance to make the playoffs with a win and some help elsewhere.
Value Plays: Philadelphia Eagles $5,100
SUGGESTED ROSTER ($60,000)
- QB Nick Foles PHI (at DAL) $9,600
- RB LeSean McCoy PHI (at DAL) $9,400
- RB Matt Forte CHI (vs GB) $8,500
- WR DeSean Jackson PHI (at DAL) $7,800
- WR Riley Cooper PHI (at DAL) $5,500
- WR Brandon LaFell CAR (at ATL) $4,500
- TE Antonio Gates SD (vs KC) $4,500
- K Steven Hauschka SEA (vs STL) $5,000
- D New England Patriots (vs BUF) $5,200
