If you're 2-8 and still care about fantasy football, you're (a) hyper-competitive and angling for a 5-8 season, and/or (b) competing in DFS. If you're in the latter camp, this weekly column is (hopefully) for you.
QB Matthew Stafford ($6,800 Fan Duel) -- Was torn this morning between Stafford, the comparably priced Eli Manning, and the much more expensive Drew Brees. To maximize upside elsewhere, I'm going with Stafford and hoping for 16+ points.
RB Melvin Gordon ($8,700) -- On paper, a no-brainer. Denver's awful against the run, and Gordon's been an RB1 in seven of his eight contests.
RB David Johnson ($7,900) -- On the assumption Arizona hangs 21+ on Oakland, I like Johnson's odds.
WR Amari Cooper ($6,600) -- Cooper is a fantasy dream-crusher. He's also occasionally useful. As Dak Prescott continues to feed him 8-10 times a game -- and against Atlanta's poor pass D -- Cooper is worth the risk.
WR Kenny Golladay ($6,400) -- No Marvin Jones. Golladay could match last week's 13 targets and *should* be a WR2 as Detroit throws everything at Carolina to keep their nearly-faded playoff dreams alive.
WR Larry Fitzgerald ($5,900) -- I'm not confident any wideout in the $4,500-$5,500 range will exceed WR3/4 production. So the higher-upside Fitz gets the call.
TE Vernon Davis ($4,800) -- Strongly considered the cheaper Luke Willson, or downgrading a receiver to reach for my favorite bargain tight end, Jonnu Smith. But Davis gives me nice upside for very little cost, and it helps Houston's defense is better against WRs than TEs.
WR Michael Thomas ($8,800) -- You knew there had to be another big name in this lineup. Thomas is as reliable as they come.
DST Cardinals ($4,000) -- Until the Raiders show a shred of NFL-caliber execution, their opponents will continue to be must-start DSTs. Arizona looks like an ultra-affordable top-5 option.
Good luck today.
QB Matthew Stafford ($6,800 Fan Duel) -- Was torn this morning between Stafford, the comparably priced Eli Manning, and the much more expensive Drew Brees. To maximize upside elsewhere, I'm going with Stafford and hoping for 16+ points.
RB Melvin Gordon ($8,700) -- On paper, a no-brainer. Denver's awful against the run, and Gordon's been an RB1 in seven of his eight contests.
RB David Johnson ($7,900) -- On the assumption Arizona hangs 21+ on Oakland, I like Johnson's odds.
WR Amari Cooper ($6,600) -- Cooper is a fantasy dream-crusher. He's also occasionally useful. As Dak Prescott continues to feed him 8-10 times a game -- and against Atlanta's poor pass D -- Cooper is worth the risk.
WR Kenny Golladay ($6,400) -- No Marvin Jones. Golladay could match last week's 13 targets and *should* be a WR2 as Detroit throws everything at Carolina to keep their nearly-faded playoff dreams alive.
WR Larry Fitzgerald ($5,900) -- I'm not confident any wideout in the $4,500-$5,500 range will exceed WR3/4 production. So the higher-upside Fitz gets the call.
TE Vernon Davis ($4,800) -- Strongly considered the cheaper Luke Willson, or downgrading a receiver to reach for my favorite bargain tight end, Jonnu Smith. But Davis gives me nice upside for very little cost, and it helps Houston's defense is better against WRs than TEs.
WR Michael Thomas ($8,800) -- You knew there had to be another big name in this lineup. Thomas is as reliable as they come.
DST Cardinals ($4,000) -- Until the Raiders show a shred of NFL-caliber execution, their opponents will continue to be must-start DSTs. Arizona looks like an ultra-affordable top-5 option.
Good luck today.