By Dave Hunter
The Hunter Report - DFS Week 16
I love this time of the year. It’s Christmas, with New Year’s Day just around the corner. There’s copious amounts of football, both NFL and college bowl games. There’s even NBA and NHL to dig into, which I absolutely love in the DFS realm. It’s the season of “Everything Sports”, and if you’re a sports-nut you’re salivating and enjoying the bountiful fruits of the season even as we head towards Week 16.
Fortunately, the NFL DFS season continues on after the regular season, as I really do get super-geeky with my DFS-play come playoff time, although I need to keep my mind in the present.
With that in mind, I’m looking to at least lock-in a Top 10 finish in the NFL $22 FantasyFeud.com/FootballDieHards.com Season League, so I really need to come through over the next two weeks.
Check out my lineup from Week 15, where I scored 148.42 points for 14th place out of 46 teams. The weekly winner goes to “BROWNELF”, who netted 186.26 points:
QB – Carson Palmer, ARI (14.96)
QB – Matthew Stafford, DET (22.06)
RB – Eddie Lacy, GB (2.3)
RB – Jeremy Hill, CIN (13.1)
WR – Ted Ginn, CAR (23.5)
WR – Doug Baldwin, SEA (18.5)
TE – Antonio Gates, SD (11.8)
FLEX – Kamar Aiken, BAL (22.8)
FLEX – Jarvis Landry, MIA (9.4)
DEF – Minnesota Vikings (10)
It’s hard to believe that 148.42 points only gets me 14th place. There’s been a lot of crazy scoring by players lately, with NFL defenses really backpedaling of late. Of course, I got cute with my RB slots again, thinking Eddie Lacy was back and was going to give me producing numbers. Yeah, what the heck was I thinking?
Check out the yearly standings for yourself. I’m “TheRolyPolyBoy” and I climbed one spot to 12th place overall out of 46 teams for the year in the NFL $22 FantasyFeud.com/FootballDieHards.com Season League:
https://www.fantasyfeud.com/lounge.aspx#lid=826497&lrid=1609828
QUARTERBACK
Top Level
Ben Roethlisberger, PIT @ Baltimore Ravens ($148,700) – Big Ben should wreck here. The matchup is fantastic and he’s got Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant to toss to. I love Big Ben this week, even at the price tag of almost $150 K.
Other choices: Cam Newton @ Atlanta Falcons ($153,400); Blake Bortles, JAC @ New Orleans Saints ($142,900)
Mid-Range
Alex Smith, KC vs. Cleveland Browns ($128,800) – Consistency, running ability, and Jeremy Maclin as a prime target. It all adds up to a lovely day for Smith facing the Browns. The price is a bit iffy, but that’s okay considering the other QB options in Week 16. Don’t be afraid to roster Smith in the right lineup.
Other choices: Jay Cutler, CHI @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($125,900); Teddy Bridgewater, MIN vs. New York Giants ($124,400)
Value
Jimmy Clausen, BAL vs. Pittsburgh Steelers ($110,100) – If you got a chance to watch the Ravens last Sunday, you saw that Clausen was incredibly confident and productive for the Ravens in a situation where they needed help. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for the win last week but Clausen is an under-the-radar play this week facing a Steelers’ pass defense that has been porous in 2015.
Other choices: Blaine Gabbert, SF @ Detroit Lions ($118,300)
Over-Value
Aaron Rodgers, GB @ Arizona Cardinals ($140,200) – Blah. I’m not into paying $140-plus for Rodgers going up against a solid pass defense. Rodgers also has to deal with a very inconsistent wide receiver unit. I’m passing here.
RUNNING BACK
Top Level
DeAngelo Williams, PIT @ Baltimore Ravens ($126,600) – For the season, the Ravens are been pretty good against the run; however, Williams touches the ball frequently for the Steelers, both as a rusher and receiver out of the backfield. I expect at least one TD from Williams facing the Ravens, who have given up 336 rushing yards to opposing RBs over the last three games.
Other choices: Charcandrick West, KC vs. Cleveland Browns ($125,400); Doug Martin, TB vs. Chicago Bears ($122,600)
Mid-Range
Matt Forte, CHI @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($117,300) – The Buccaneers ain’t bad against the run, so don’t expect Forte to rack up 100 yards. Still, I see 80 yards and at least one TD for Forte. Plus, you have to consider his receiving skills, which are huge in DFS play where points are awarded for catches.
Other choices: Todd Gurley, STL @ Seattle Seahawks ($113,500)
Value
Denard Robinson, JAC @ New Orleans Saints ($109,900) – Please watch the injury news on Robinson as the week progresses. If it’s looking like he’s a “Probable” designation, then I’m all-in on him. The Saints are awful against the run and whoever is pushing the rock downfield for the Jaguars they are going to rack up points. I love this play if Robinson is healthy.
Other choices: Darren McFadden, DAL @ Buffalo Bills ($101,300)
Over-Value
David Johnson, ARI vs. Green Bay Packers ($131,900) – To me this is an obvious choice as an over-value option at RB. Mainly, this price is super-inflated due to Johnson’s crazy Sunday night game against the Eagles. I just don’t expect him to produce enough to be worth the $131.9 K price tag.
WIDE RECEIVER
Top Level
Antonio Brown, PIT @ Baltimore Ravens ($151,800) – Brown will cost you highly against your cap, but he’s worth every penny in this matchup facing a Ravens pass defense that has given up 9 TDs to wide receivers over the last four games played. Can you say “Cha-Ching!”? I’m okay forking over the dough for Brown in this one.
Other choices: Allen Robinson, JAC @ New Orleans Saints ($144,800); DeAndre Hopkins, HOU @ Tennessee Titans ($140,400); Martavis Bryant, PIT @ Baltimore Ravens ($135,600)
Mid-Range
Sammy Watkins, BUF vs. Dallas Cowboys ($121,200) – Watkins is a potential superstar WR in 2016, and he’s laying the ground work now. Maybe a bit of complaining to management helps, eh? Since Watkins complained to upper management about his lack of attention in the Bills offense, he’s been outstanding. I dig the matchup as well here.
Other choices: Jeremy Maclin, KC vs. Cleveland Browns ($118,300); Brandin Cooks, NO vs. Jacksonville Jaguars ($113,200); Calvin Johnson, DET vs. San Francisco 49ers ($113,200)
Value
Golden Tate, DET vs. San Francisco 49ers ($99,200) – Sort of a gut call here, but Tate has been getting plenty of attention from Matthew Stafford. Plus, Calvin Johnson hasn’t exactly been 100 percent these days. Something is amiss with Johnson, so Tate’s value climbs.
Other choices: Kamar Aiken, BAL vs. Pittsburgh Steelers ($98,100); Ted Ginn, CAR @ Atlanta Falcons ($95,200)
Over-Value
Doug Baldwin, SEA vs. St. Louis Rams ($132,100) – Don’t get me wrong, I love what Baldwin has done of late. Dude has been a superstar; however, I don’t think he’ll climb the superstar ladder this time around. The Rams are no cake-walk on defense. I’d steer clear here.
TIGHT END
Top Level
Rob Gronkowski, NE @ New York Jets ($138,800)
Mid-Range
Julius Thomas, JAC @ New Orleans Saints ($107,200)
Value
Will Tye, NYG @ Minnesota Vikings ($72,300)
Over-Value
Greg Olsen, CAR @ Atlanta Falcons ($114,200)
Good luck in Week 16! Feel free to stalk me on Twitter: twitter.com/@TheRolyPolyBoy