It's that time of the week, when we look at the best bargain at each position. If you're playing in a regular league, these guys should be largely available, and are great fliers if you don't have a rock-solid option. For daily leaguers, we're using FanDuel prices for consistency:
QB Nick Foles ($6,500) -- Dirt cheap and available in 83% of ESPN leagues, Foles is facing a Steelers team that gave up 27 fantasy points to Tom Brady and, more to the point, 26 to Colin Kaepernick--largely garbage-time points. Expect Foles to have little choice but to air it out to his array of middling receivers, leading to 20+ fantasy points.
RB Fred Jackson ($6,000) -- Marshawn Lynch is a game-time decision, so the value of this pick hinges somewhat on his availability. If he sits, Jackson is a must-start in nearly 100% of fantasy leagues and is an incredible daily league plug-in in a brutally easy matchup vs. a paper-thin Bears D. Even if Lynch gives it a go, expect FJax to get 12+ touches--particularly when the game's out of reach in the second half. He's good for 8+ or 15+ fantasy points, depending on whether Lynch starts.
WR Aaron Dobson ($5,000) -- You can't get much cheaper/deeper than Dobson, who's available in 98% of ESPN leagues. I normally hesitate to pounce on a guy who's coming off a surprisingly good game (in this case, seven catches for 87 yards, thanks to Tom Brady's surreal 59 pass attempts). But the Jags have no shot to contain a clicking-on-all-cylinders Patriots offense, and Dobson is making a case for becoming New England's third or fourth receiving option. He has 10+ point potential, and if he fares well, he'll become a terrific pickup and streaming starter going forward.
TE Jared Cook ($5,400) -- I want to say Jimmy Graham, but that would go against the point of this list--to offer deeper bargains. That said, Graham will score 18+ fantasy points this week. His grumble-campaign this week will force Seattle to appease their prized offseason acquisition, feeding him 8-12 times for 100+ yards and at least one score. I haven't been so confident about a prediction all season, so take that for what it is. But back to Cook: As noted above with Foles, he should benefit from seeing plenty of looks in a game where St. Louis will be forced to play catch-up. 8+ points is a reasonable projection.
K Nick Folk ($4,600) -- The thriving Jets are facing the reeling Eagles at home. Folks should get 3+ field goals, thanks to an offense that will consistently be "good-not-great, but good enough."
DST Browns ($4,600) -- A great case could be made for the comparably valued Jets D, who appear almost impenetrable at times. But let's go a bit deeper with the Browns, whose defense is well positioned to keep Oakland's limited offensive weapons (Murray and Cooper) in check.
I want to reiterate that Jimmy Graham will win people a lot of money this weekend, and will help a lot of teams win their league games. If you're in the latter camp, be prepared to trade him for top dollar on Monday.
QB Nick Foles ($6,500) -- Dirt cheap and available in 83% of ESPN leagues, Foles is facing a Steelers team that gave up 27 fantasy points to Tom Brady and, more to the point, 26 to Colin Kaepernick--largely garbage-time points. Expect Foles to have little choice but to air it out to his array of middling receivers, leading to 20+ fantasy points.
RB Fred Jackson ($6,000) -- Marshawn Lynch is a game-time decision, so the value of this pick hinges somewhat on his availability. If he sits, Jackson is a must-start in nearly 100% of fantasy leagues and is an incredible daily league plug-in in a brutally easy matchup vs. a paper-thin Bears D. Even if Lynch gives it a go, expect FJax to get 12+ touches--particularly when the game's out of reach in the second half. He's good for 8+ or 15+ fantasy points, depending on whether Lynch starts.
WR Aaron Dobson ($5,000) -- You can't get much cheaper/deeper than Dobson, who's available in 98% of ESPN leagues. I normally hesitate to pounce on a guy who's coming off a surprisingly good game (in this case, seven catches for 87 yards, thanks to Tom Brady's surreal 59 pass attempts). But the Jags have no shot to contain a clicking-on-all-cylinders Patriots offense, and Dobson is making a case for becoming New England's third or fourth receiving option. He has 10+ point potential, and if he fares well, he'll become a terrific pickup and streaming starter going forward.
TE Jared Cook ($5,400) -- I want to say Jimmy Graham, but that would go against the point of this list--to offer deeper bargains. That said, Graham will score 18+ fantasy points this week. His grumble-campaign this week will force Seattle to appease their prized offseason acquisition, feeding him 8-12 times for 100+ yards and at least one score. I haven't been so confident about a prediction all season, so take that for what it is. But back to Cook: As noted above with Foles, he should benefit from seeing plenty of looks in a game where St. Louis will be forced to play catch-up. 8+ points is a reasonable projection.
K Nick Folk ($4,600) -- The thriving Jets are facing the reeling Eagles at home. Folks should get 3+ field goals, thanks to an offense that will consistently be "good-not-great, but good enough."
DST Browns ($4,600) -- A great case could be made for the comparably valued Jets D, who appear almost impenetrable at times. But let's go a bit deeper with the Browns, whose defense is well positioned to keep Oakland's limited offensive weapons (Murray and Cooper) in check.
I want to reiterate that Jimmy Graham will win people a lot of money this weekend, and will help a lot of teams win their league games. If you're in the latter camp, be prepared to trade him for top dollar on Monday.