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This weekly article will focus on Fanduel.com cash games where being above-average is the phrase that pays. With tournaments and low-probability setups, a unique lineup and making bold decisions make for a quality entry. With cash games, the mantra shifts to ‘avoiding the suck’ as the annual David Dodds strategy article outlines. In a 100-player Double-Up game, finishing No.1 or No.45 pays the same. Cash games like this are the mutual funds of daily fantasy games: grind week by week and end the season with a hearty profit, minimizing the risk of losing a bankroll along the way. At a minimum, playing cash games round out a high-variance daily player’s portfolio.
Here are some general player selection guidelines:
HIGH-OWNERSHIP PLAYERS
The beautiful thing about the regular slate of Thursday games is opportunity to see a sampling of the ownership rates for weekend players. In high-leverage tournaments, having a few common players is not a preferred strategy. Here in 50/50 and Double-Up land, it is a strong play. Players owned by at least 20% of the teams indicate they are universally-coveted and strong plays to finish with a positive value-to-cost ratio.
HIGH-VOLUME PLAYERS
A rogue long touchdown or goal line carry can propel a tournament player to victory on Monday Night Football, going from a donated entry fee to a big pay day. In the cash games arena, an insulated floor of expected targets, carries, and passes keeps daily players in the hunt by Sunday and Monday night. While the top overall score in the group is unlikely, being above the cash out line is a positive expected value scenario.
BEST MATCHUPS
In addition to high-ownership and high-volume opportunities, the best cash game plays center around the best matchups of the week. That is a two-fold proposition as the Vegas lines (point spread and over/under) give an indication of likely game flow and fantasy points allowed can turn typical middling options into top value plays. When combining high-ownership, high-volume, and positive matchups, the optimal plays for the week reveal themselves.
Digging through a nearly 5,000 entries between two Double-Up contests that closed Thursday night, here are the most-owned FanDuel players at each position this week:
*Players on at least 10% of teams included, salary following player name, best matchup indicates top tier in positional points allowed by opponent*
LAST WEEK'S MOST COMMON LINEUP
- Eli Manning, 15.7 points
- LeVeon Bell, 14.3 points
- Rashad Jennings, 8.2 points
- Antonio Brown, 10.9 points
- Kelvin Benjamin, 3.3 points
- Brian Quick, 23.2 points
- Travis Kelce, 8.5 points
- Shayne Graham, 12 points
- Detroit, 11 points
QUARTERBACKS
- 16% - Eli Manning, 7200
- 16% - Peyton Manning, 10200
- 11% - Matt Ryan, 8700
- 10% - Russell Wilson, 8400
The Manning brothers have ideal matchups. Matt Ryan gets a shootout over/under in the home tilt against the Bears. Russell Wilson is a high-floor option any given week and a likely positive game-script at home against Dallas.
RUNNING BACKS
- 36% - Branden Oliver, 6200
- 24% - Andre Williams, 6300
- 20% - Matt Forte, 9000
- 12% - Andre Ellington, 7200
- 11% - LeVeon Bell, 8600
Oliver exceled last week in relief and is in line for double-digit touches against Oakland. Andre Williams another beneficiary due to a starter's injury. Matt Forte finishes the top tier of highly-owned options against Atlanta. LeVeon Bell is a comfortable high-floor RB1.
WIDE RECEIVERS
- 41% - Golden Tate, 6400
- 16% - Mohamed Sanu, 6000
- 15% - Jordy Nelson, 8500
- 14% - Julio Jones, 9000
- 13% - Alshon Jeffery, 7700
- 13% - Demaryius Thomas, 9100
- 12% - Antonio Brown, 8900
- 11% - Steve Smith, 7200
- 11% - Brian Quick, 6300
Golden Tate is the clear choice here with Calvin Johnson on the mend and Reggie Bush is likely out as well. Mohamed Sanu will be a riser into the weekend with A.J. Green's injury. Jordy Nelson and Julio Jones are safe floor options as well as Alshon Jeffery in the same Atlanta-Chicago high over/under.
TIGHT ENDS
- 20% - Martellus Bennett, 5900
- 13% - Delanie Walker, 6000
- 11% - Antonio Gates, 6200
- 10% - Julius Thomas, 8200
Martellus Bennett is coming off a down week and has an affordable price. The Jaguars are a target matchup for any skill position and Delanie Walker stands to benefit this week.
KICKERS
- 33% - Robbie Gould, 4600
Just one kicker on the list this week. The combination of high-scoring expectations in Atlanta and the discount price tag make Gould the clear choice at kicker to save a few bucks for other positions.
DEFENSES
- 24% - Denver, 5000
- 12% - San Diego, 5600
The Jets may run the wildcat by the end of the likely blowout against Denver. The Raiders are a good matchup for any defense, especially the clock-controlling Chargers this week.
