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FanDuel Quick Picks for Week 2 NFL DFS

Week 1, or the information week as I often think of it, is complete. The information accrued is essential for not only week 2, but for the entire season. Things change rapidly in the NFL. If you won last week that’s great, but Fanduel has a funny way of humbling you quickly. Here are this week’s Quick Picks for Fanduel tournament contests with a little bit of an updated format.

3 New Things I learned Last Week:

#1 – Derek Carr may not have scored many touchdowns in week one, but he looked poised and the breakout season is very real.

#2 – The Browns are even worse than I thought they would be. Just ugly.

#3 – The Rams offense is predictably too one dimensional so curb your enthusiasm (new season is coming out!) on Gurley.

3 Things I already knew and were confirmed:

#1 – Antonio Brown can not be stopped.

#2 – The Colts secondary is awful and their offensive line can not protect Luck. They should not let him play vs. Denver this week.

#3 – If you are sure which Chiefs RB will get a majority of the snaps then take that RB.

Rapid Fire:

Player I gotta have this week – Odell Beckham Jr. – WR – Giants ($9400) Saints rank 29th against the pass and last year Odell torched them last year to the tune of 8-130-3 TDs. I’d pay the price for him because I see value elsewhere and you don’t want to miss the party.

Cheap player I’ve talked myself into all week long and firmly believe he will do wellstrong></ Jesse James – TE – Steelers ($4500) Last year Heath Miller did very well in the two meetings (20-171 combined) against the Bengals. In his debut as a starter last week, Jesse James caught 5 of his 7 targets for 31 yards and no TDs. The Bengals defense will do a better job on the other Steeler skill players than the Redskins did leaving James an opportunity for a big day at a small price.

Value Play – Michael Crabtree – WR – Raiders ($6200) This game should be offensively entertaining right from the start. The Falcons gave up four TDs to Winston last week at home and will be even worse traveling across the country to take on a determined Raider squad who will not be taking their foot off of the gas. I see no reason to spend the extra $1700 on Amari Cooper when there’s a good chance at $6200 Crabtree will put up similar or better numbers. For reference, Crabtree caught 7 of 9 targets for 87 yards last week.

Player I’d stay away from – Adrian Peterson – RB – Vikings ($8200) There are just so many more enticing options at RB this week. Also,the Packers are very good at stopping the run and historically very good at limiting Adrian Peterson (last year 112 rushing yards in two games). A slight ankle injury and questions at the QB position add to the troubles here.

“The Sure Thing” (if there is such a thing) – AJ Green – WR – Bengals ($8900) The challenge isn’t deciding whether Green should be in your lineup this week, rather, figuring out a way to squeeze him and Beckham into the same lineup. Jesse James’ salary will help you do that! His stats last week were awesome catching 12 of his 13 targets for 180 yards and a TD. Historically, he does well vs. the Steelers. Last year he went 11-118-1 at Pittsburgh and 6-132-1 at home. This rivalry has grown and the best players tend to rise up in that atmosphere.

The Longshots:

Trevor Siemian – Broncos – QB – ($6400) The Broncos can do whatever they want to the Colts. It would behoove them to let Siemian get a confident boost by throwing 4 TDs and running in for one.

Bears D – ($4,400) They held their own vs. the Texans on the road last week while registering 2 sacks and an interception. Carson Wentz might be a little shaky in his first road game and might cough up a few picks and/or fumbles. Bears are a great way to help you fit multiple high-priced players at the other skill positions.

Phillip Dorsett – ($5500) Colts should be trailing for most of this game. Dorsett has some great speed creating a challenge for even the best defenses in the league. If Luck isn’t knocked out of this game due to injury early on Dorsett could rack up some big time points.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and best of luck this week!

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Fanduel Quick Picks 2016 Week 1

FANDUEL QUICK PICKS FOR WEEK 1 NFL DFS

By Brian Quick

Praise Jesus football is back! That was a scary seven months. While fantasy football leagues with your old buddies, new buddies, and work buddies is fun I can’t lie to myself anymore. DFS leagues are way more interesting. Week one can be very tricky as there are so many unknowns. I always like to look at fantasy drafts from a year prior just to see how much has changed in just one year. I muse at watching my cohorts with their cheat sheets at drafts knowing that the names on that sheet are mostly in the wrong order. Nobody knows what unknowns will emerge. That’s what makes fantasy sports so compelling. Below will be some Quick Tips for Fanduel Tournament Style Competitions.

PLAYER PICKS FOR WEEK 1

Quick Tip #1 – Derek Carr – QB – $7700 – The Saints were ranked 31st out of 32 NFL teams in defense last year. While I believe the Saints D will be better this year (can’t really be worse) this game still should be a wide open offensive show. If Drew Brees sets a strong offensive pace then Derek Carr should match or exceed him.

Quick Tip #2 – Lamar Miller – RB – Houston ($7600) – Lamer Miller finally escapes the chaos of Miami for a better situation in Houston. Expect the Bears to be messy on both sides of the ball. Miller is a three down back and could score on multiple occasions as the Texans set the tone for what should be a strong season for them. This might be the cheapest you see Miller all year so make sure you’re a buyer this week.

Quick Tip #3 Todd Gurley – RB – Rams ($8900) You pick Todd Gurley because he’s a stud and he’s going to destroy Chip Kelly and the 49ers defense. The niners were ranked 29th against the run last year and I have no idea how they are going to stop Gurley at any point during the night. Imagine if you don’t take Gurley and you are ahead of lots of people who have him. That will be a terrible feeling going into that late game on Monday night knowing you will wake up the next day having been usurped by so many Gurley owners. Take him and never look back.

Quick Tip #4 – TJ Yeldon – RB -Jaguars – ($6100) Yeldon will have to split time with Chris Ivory but should have plenty of opportunities to perform against a weaker Packers run defense. If Aaron Rogers has the Packers offense rolling then Yeldon will catch passes as the Jags try to keep up with the pace. His price tag is low enough to fit him into lineups with some other high priced players with enough upside to make sense.

Quick Tip #5 -Spencer Ware – RB – Chiefs – $5400 Jamaal Charles is most likely OUT for this Sunday making Ware at this price almost an automatic play. The Chargers ranked 27th against the run last year and the Chiefs love to run the ball. While there may be some intrusions by West and Davis, Ware should be the lead back and do the most damage.

THE LONGSHOTS

Below are 5 longshots that have a chance to hit this week along with a small blurb about each one and their Fanduel price. Adding any one of these guys is like adding a longshot into horse racing exacta or trifecta.

Robert Griffin III – QB – $6900 – I’m covered by the “longshots” title so I can put anyone I want here including RG III. I can see the storyline now about how RGIII makes his return with 4 TDs vs. the Eagles. He didn’t look terrible in the preseason. A short TD to Barnidge, a deep one to Coleman, Duke Johnson breaking a screen pass for a long TD, and a rushing TD of his own is fathomable.

Isaiah Crowell – RB – Browns (5,700) – This is the start of my “play guys vs. the Eagles” strategy. The Eagles ranked dead last in defense against the run last year and they are clearly a rebuilding franchise. I’m intrigued by Duke Johnson too, but Crowell is cheaper and should get more touches. More touches vs. the Eagles mathematically makes sense as the better choice.

Dwayne Allen – TE – $5500- He’s going to play a lot because the Colts need him to block and help out that O-Line. Will he be able to be productive as a pass catcher? A good Luck manages to find his tight end. Allen also has a history of scoring on week 1.

Giants D – $4400 – Giants’ rebuilt defense better be able to create turnovers from Cowboy rookies at key positions.

Tyler Boyd – WR – $5600 – I’m not worried about Brandon Lafell ahead of him on the depth chart. I’d like to think that on the varsity level of the NFL the best players play the most. The Jets will spend their efforts controlling AJ Green leaving Jet fans to wonder who the heck this Boyd guy is catching all of these passes. Keep an eye on him anyway as the year progresses.

Enjoy that feeling this Sunday morning. You know exactly what I’m talking about. Make sure there are no kid’s birthday parties to attend etc. etc. It is your day and you deserve it. Don’t let anyone try to tell you differently. Thank you once again for taking the time to read this. Remember, this is early week advice, so make sure you read up as the week goes on and make necessary changes to your lineups before game times. Please follow me on twitter @QuickRotoTips.

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FanDuel Quick Picks for Week 10

FANDUEL QUICK PICKS FOR WEEK 10 NFL DFS

By Brian Quick

Hey Fanduelers, all eight of you in South Dakota that are still allowed to play by law. We are coming to the legal crossroads of DFS and history is not on our side. Unless of course that history is the American revolution but that took a lot of work. We play fantasy football for a reason. We are all too busy, lazy, and tired to play real sports. Will we organize and revolt if they take it all away from us? Thanks to the internet we can! Let us revolt from the comfort of our own reclining chairs when the time comes in the near future. I encourage all of you to reach out to your politicians and let them know that DFS may not be perfect but it’s our way of life. Would our founding fathers have shown off their skill by selecting D’Angelo Williams and Antonio Brown last week? Your damn right they would and they wouldn’t let the British stop them from playing DFS. Why should we?

PLAYER PICKS FOR WEEK 10 Tournament Style

Quick Tip #1 – Aaron Rodgers – QB – Packers – ($9200)
I don’t love spending big on a QB because it’s the easiest position to find value at. However, I don’t love the matchups that the mid-tier QBs have and I’m tentative to take either of the two long shots that I will mention below. I was deciding between Tom Brady vs. the Giants porous secondary or a mad Aaron Rodgers vs. a god-awful Lions team at home. I’m going with Rodgers because I expect him to put up huge numbers with ease. The Packers can’t fool around as they’ve lost two games in a row. They will come out and blow away the Lions and they won’t take their foot off of the gas. Rogers will complete less passes than last week but his yardage numbers should go up and his TDS should range between 3-5. I expect a 400+ yard game with 4 TDs. You have to pay the price but that’s OK as I see value at other positions.

Quick Tip #2 – Todd Gurley – RB – Rams ($9200) –
Taking the top two most expensive players seems crazy but trust me, the value picks are there are great value picks in the WR category and for your second RB. Gurley faced a tough Vikes D last week and still post respectable numbers of 89 rushing yards and TD to go with 3 catches for 20 yards. The Bears have actually been better than I thought they’d be but this will be a back to back road game for them in a short week. This is where we see the bad bears. They just won’t be able to contain Gurley and I can see him breaking big run after big run.

Quick Tip #3 James Starks – RB – Packers ($6000)
 Value. Eddie Lacy stinks. James Starks is the man. If you wasted a pick on Lacy or spent a lot of money on him in an auction draft it is just another reminder why FanDuel is so popular. Starks is going to put up all sorts of numbers this week as the Packers have their way with the Lions. Last week Starks caught 6 passes for 83 yards and a TD, while rushing for 39 yards on 10 carries. The carries are going to go up, the TDs are going to go up, and the passing yards should be the same. ALL FOR $6000! This offsets some of the Rogers (or Brady) and Gurley investment.

Quick Tip #4 – Martavis Bryant – WR – ($6500)
Landry Jones likes to throw to Bryant more than Antonio Brown. Take a look back to weeks 6 and 7 where Jones threw to Bryant for 3 TDs and especially week 6 where they torched the Cardinals D for 137 yards. All the while Antonio Brown wasn’t doing much. To me, this is like getting Antonio Brown for $6500 assuming Landry Jones doesn’t fall apart. It’s a home game vs. the Browns so he should be ok. Great Value.

Quick Tip #5 – Davante Adams – WR – Packers ($5800)
 Adams is the guy that needed to step up and be Jordy Nelson. Last week he caught 7 of his 11 targets for 93 yards. He is finally healthy and his value was so bad that he is only back up to $5800. This is his breakout week. He fits so nicely in lineups and his upside this week makes it hard to contain my excitement.

THE LONGSHOTS

Below are 5 long shots that have a chance to hit this week along with a small blurb about each one and their Fanduel price. Adding any one of these guys is like adding a long shot into horse racing exacta or trifecta.

Landry Jones – QB – $6200 – I’m going to play him in one lineup because I think at that price it’s worth it for the few bombs to Bryant.

Kirk Cousins – QB – $6500 – The Saints give up ridiculous amounts of passing yards and TDs. They’ve done that at home the past two weeks. What are they going to be like on the road? Tempting to take Cousins.

Rueben Randle – WR – $5700- I assume that Belichick will take Odell Beckham Jr. out of this game. I believe the Giants will be trailing and playing catchup all day. This could be one of those once every year huge games for Randle.

Jordan Reed – TE -$5800 – In my mind he is going to do what Delane Walker did to the Saints last week. In reality, he will get hurt in the first quarter and disappoint me yet again.

Pierre Garcon – WR – $6400 – If my plan to use players playing the Saints awful defense fails I can live with that. Last week he caught four passes on eight targets for 70 yards. I want to use Desean Jackson but feel he’s one hamstring tweak from doing nothing. Garcon is the safer bet here.

Thank you once again for taking the time to read this. Remember, this is early week advice, so make sure you read up as the week goes on and make necessary changes to your lineups before game times. Please follow me on twitter @QuickRotoTips.

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FANDUEL QUICK PICKS FOR WEEK 9 NFL DFS

FANDUEL QUICK PICKS FOR WEEK 9 NFL DFS

By Brian Quick

Hey Fanduelers, I hope you didn’t step on any injury land mines last week as many players went down in a crazy week. I also hope you chose to play Drew Brees or Eli Manning last week. Not that I offered any such advice in my early thoughts last week. I only play those guys on their four interception weeks. Some guys (Marvin Jones) just torture me relentlessly. Things are not great over here as my wife wanted to take me out of playing Fanduel after week 8, but I talked her into letting me stay in the game and pitch week nine. What could go wrong?

PLAYER PICKS FOR WEEK 9

Quick Tip #1 – Ben Roethlisberger – QB – Steelers – $8300
Big Ben was a little off in his first game back but I love the matchup this week at home against a Raiders Defense that allows the most passing yards per game this season. The much improved Raiders offense could make this a back and forth scoring fest that you want to be part of. Last week Ben attempted 45 passes, completing 28 of those for 262 yards and a TD. Laveon Bell being done probably doesn’t impact Ben too much because D’Angelo Williams does a great job as well including catching passes. With a week under his belt to shake off the rustiness look for Roethlisberger to put up some big numbers this week.

Quick Tip #2 – DeAngelo Williams – RB – Steelers ($6500) – This is going to be a popular play this week so if you don’t like taking players in your lineup that are used in a high percentage of lineups then he’s not for you. For me, the price is just too damn good to pass up. Last week he had 9 carries and rushed for 71 yards against a pretty darn good defense. He also caught 4 passes for 39 yards all as a replacement after Bell went down. He was good when Bell was out, 29 points at home vs. the 49ers, and he will be good the rest of the way.

Quick Tip #3 Ronnie Hillman – RB – Broncos ($6400)
 The Colts are excruciating to watch each week. The Broncos Defense is going to tear them apart this week. You can take either Broncos RB and probably get good value from both. I’m going to choose Hillman because he is the starter which guarantees a few more carries. Last week Hillman carried the ball 19 times for 60 yards and two TDs with one reception for a loss. He missed some time in the third quarter which allowed CJ Anderson to also put up productive stats. Monitor this situation closely during the week but if Hillman’s injured thigh is fine and he is the starter then go with him.

Quick Tip #4 – New England Patriots – D – ($4900)
I’m going to miss you Rams Defense but the Patriots value here is too good to pass up. Kirk Cousins may have more completions to Pats Cornerbacks then he will to his own receiving corps. The Patriots will score often which will put their D on the field for scoring chances. The defense that last week held the red hot Dolphins offense to 7 points and sacked the QB 5 times while picking off 2 passes. $4900 fits nicely in any lineup.

Quick Tip #5 – Antonio Brown – WR – Steelers ($8700)
I am all-in on the Steelers this week. I’ve already mentioned how the Raiders give up the most passing yards per game in the NFL. I want the QB, his favorite WR, and the value RB who catches passes. This is the last time Brown will be under $9000 and early in the year I was playing him successfully no matter what his price was. Some people have gotten used to not playing him in their lineups. This may be the last week before he explodes again and everyone is on board. Last week he put up a modest 6 catches for 47 yards and a TD. I’m looking for a return to the 9-195-1 line from early September.

THE LONGSHOTS

Below are 5 long shots that have a chance to hit this week along with a small blurb about each one and their Fanduel price. Adding any one of these guys is like adding a long shot into horse racing exacta or trifecta.

Tavon Austin – WR – $5700 – A great game last week and he’s still really cheap. I consider him a home run hitter. He’s either going to hit a couple of homers or strike out 4 times. Even his bad weeks lately have been 8 or 9 points. There’s good value here.

Davante Adams – WR – $5100 – Yes the Panthers Defense is good but Aaron Rogers is going to be very determined coming into that game after his performance on national tv last week. Josh Norman will not be covering him so he could be a sneaky play as he has fallen completely off the fantasy radar. Worth a gamble in a lineup or two.

Melvin Gordon – RB – $6100- Is a breakout game coming? The Chargers are committed to him and the Bears D is shaky allowing the 8th most rushing yards per game this season. Last week he had 18 carries for 54 yards and caught 5 passes. Monday night games are a nice time to break out.

Jameis Winston – QB -$6700 – On one of those Saints passing TDs last week it looked like the Giants had nobody on the field. The Giants passing D gave up 7 TDs last week. Let’s say they only give up 4 this week. Winston is a nice play for those who don’t like to spend on a QB.

Jeremy Langford – RB – $6400 – The Chargers have given up 100 yards to a rusher in six straight games. Matt Forte should be out affording Langford plenty of touches and a possible 100 yards rushing.

Thank you once again for taking the time to read this. Remember, this is early week advice, so make sure you read up as the week goes on and make necessary changes to your lineups before game times. Please follow me on twitter @QuickRotoTips.

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FANDUEL QUICK PICKS FOR WEEK 8 NFL DFS

FANDUEL QUICK PICKS FOR WEEK 8 NFL DFS

By Brian Quick

Hey Fanduelers, week 8 and the World Series is upon us. Let’s get right to it. Here are your FanDuel quick picks for tournament style contests.

PLAYER PICKS FOR WEEK 8

Quick Tip #1 – Todd Gurley – RB – Rams – $8100 – I am going to ride the Gurley train for as long as I can. I know in most tournaments Gurley was used in a ridiculous amount of lineups. That is annoying but if you don’t use him then you could be behind 50% plus of the people. I’m using him again this week as I expect him to dominate the 49ers. I also see the Rams Defense torturing Colin Kaepernick and the Rams running the ball a lot with a nice comfortable lead. Last week Gurley rushed for 128 yards with 2 TDs and even caught 4 passes for 35 yards. He can do it all and you should base your week 8 lineups around him for this is probably the last week you can buy him for under $9000.

Quick Tip #2 – Mike Evans – WR – Tampa Bay ($7800) – Finally, the Mike Evans week I’ve been waiting for all season. He’s here to stay and I like his price as it is about $1000 less than the top names. The Falcons should put up lots of points forcing the Bucs to throw a ton playing come from behind. Evans had 12 targets and 8 receptions for a total of 164 yards with a TD. I expect his targets to go up this week into DeAndre Hopkins territory. I can see him doing what Hopkins has done in all the weeks prior to this past week.

Quick Tip #3 Chris Johnson – RB – Arizona ($7300)
 It is so painful to type Chris Johnson’s name here. I’m playing a game called “follow the RB who plays the Brown’s defense”. I would also suspect that many people won’t play Chris Johnson because it’s just so hard to believe he’s good again. So what you get is a RB that should dominate a terrible run defense on a team that should be up a lot of points and run a lot with the lead. Last week he registered 18 carries and gained 122 yards while adding one TD. I wonder if I have the stomach to keep him in my lineups through deadline time on Sunday.

Quick Tip #4 – Rams Defense – D – ($5100)
I’m gladly paying the $600 fare hike for the Rams D this weekend. They should have been $5100 last week and were not. They should be $5300 this week but I’m paying whatever it is. Many people will take the Falcons D, Cardinals D, or the Jets D (don’t do it). I think the Falcons/Bucs game is going to be one of those crazy divisional games with back and forth scoring. I think the Jets going out west after an emotional loss to the Pats is going to end badly for the Jets. I like the Cardinals D and think they are a safe play. Which brings us back to my favorite D..the Rams. I can’t wait until they sack Colin Kaepernick 7 times, force 3 fumbles, intercept 3 passes, and run back 2 punts. Last week’s 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles with recoveries, and one DTD was good for 25 FanDuel points. Sign me up for a repeat performance.

Quick Tip #5 -TY Hilton ($7700) or Donte Moncreif ($6400)- WR – Colts – Wait until later in the week to find out which WR Panther stud cornerback Josh Norman will be covering and then choose the WR he’s not. Last week TY Hilton went 4-150, was targeted 15 times, had two monster catches for TDs while Moncreif had a quiet game until he salvaged his week by scoring a late TD. The Colts look bad, their running game is useless, so expect Andrew Luck to run around trying to make plays through the air.

THE LONGSHOTS

Below are 5 longshots that have a chance to hit this week along with a small blurb about each one and their Fanduel price. Adding any one of these guys is like adding a longshot into horse racing exacta or trifecta.

Charles Sims – RB – $5100 – If the Bucs/Falcons game goes as I see it the Bucs will be throwing a lot. Sims is their past catching back and he is quite productive at that. In a catch up situation, or even collecting garbage time points, I’m going to use Sims in a lineup or two this week. Before last week he had three weeks in a row of 12 plus points. Not bad for $5100.

Kendall Wright – WR – $5900 – Sure the Titans offense is dreadful, but have you seen the Texans defense?! The Texans have the look of a team that has completely given up. The Titans will have to pass after Hopkins catches his three TD passes and Wright could be a sneaky play. He did have a respectful 8 targets last weeks, 4-48, and a TD.

Khiry Robinson – RB – $5200- 14 carries and 2 TDs last week. I think the Giants are in trouble on the road this week with their ever disappearing run defense. The vulture will annoy you if you choose Ingram instead.

Marvin Jones – WR – $5400 – He seems real cheap at this price coming off of a 9 catch 12 target performance his last time out. He screws me every time I play him but that doesn’t mean he will screw you.

Duke Johnson – RB – $5800 – The Browns are going to be losing and Duke Johnson is going to be catching passes. He caught 7-73 last week so expect the same or better this week. If he can just squeeze out a TD somehow he’d be a great value for you.

Thank you once again for taking the time to read this. Remember, this is early week advice, so make sure you read up as the week goes on and make necessary changes to your lineups before game times. Please follow me on twitter @QuickRotoTips.

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Fanduel Quick Picks for Week 5 in NFL DFS

Fanduel Quick Picks for Week 5 in NFL DFS

By Brian Quick

It’s been a scandalous couple of days for Draft Kings and Fanduel. The last thing I wanted to see was employees of either winning big prizes with potential inside information. The public’s trust is essential to the survival of either company so I fully expect this to be handled correctly by the companies. There is too much profit at stake to risk the integrity of the games. With a current ban on playing for employees this may be the best week ever to play as many lineups and tournaments as possible. Therefore, we must really concentrate. It may be our only chance to win big. Here are this week’s Quick Picks for FANDUEL TOURNAMENT LINEUP CONSTRUCTION. (Editor’s note:  I was always aware of employees playing and thriving in the DFS industry and it has been a bit of a sore subject.  I think Ethan Haskell is a very good player and did nothing wrong when he took second in a millionaire maker for FD.  The problem is the narrative that can be created after he inadvertently sent out data for DraftKings while doing his duties as DKPlaybook’s Editor. It’s a shit storm and things could get ugly for a while as talking heads like Mike Francesa and Keith Olberman have joined the offensive.  Heck, even Steven King took a shot at both companies on Twitter.)

PLAYER PICKS FOR WEEK 5

Quick Tip #1 (Player Pick) – Jamaal Charles – RB – Chiefs ($9100) – I usually tend to spend big on WRs and find value plays at RB but this week I encourage you to make the investment on Jamaal Charles. The Chiefs have had a tough two game stretch where they were on the road vs. two very good teams in the Packers and Bengals. Jamaal Charles performed well in both of those games and the Chiefs are primed to release some pent up frustration on a suspect Bears defense. Last week Jamaal rushed for 75 yards on just 11 carries and added 6 catches for 70 yards. This week he could double the rushing numbers and add two touchdowns providing you with a solid foundation of points.

Quick Tip #2 (Player Pick) – Mike Evans – WR – Bucs ($7500)
It’s time to play guess the Tampa Bay WR that will do well this week. Many people will go with Vincent Jackson after last week’s performance which is why you should consider Evans. Last week, he still had 8 targets, which shows Jameis Winston’s interested, but was held in check by wind driven rain and a great corner. He is due for a big week.

Quick Tip #3 (Player Pick) – Alex Smith – QB – Chiefs ($6900)
 Anyone can tell you to pick Tom Brady this week. I like the value here of Alex Smith vs. a Bears D on the road that has already given up 10 receiving touchdowns this year. Smith is coming off of a 31-45 performance for 386 yards last week but failed to find the endzone. He’ll have no problems finding the endzone this week although his yardage numbers will be down. Picture a screen pass to Jamaal for a 65 yard touchdown and a couple more to Maclin and Kelce. The Chiefs aren’t going to be messing around in this game and they will do whatever is necessary for a lopsided victory. Smith is a good play if you’re going expensive at other positions.

Quick Tip #4 (Player Pick) – Justin Forsett – RB – Ravens ($7200)
Coming off of a 27 carry 150 yard performance last week Forsett will go up against a Cleveland defense at home that is bad against the run. Combine that with the fact that Flacco has very few options to throw to and you’re looking at a Forsett perfect storm.

Quick Tip #5 (Player Pick) – Todd Gurley – RB – Rams ($6700) Gurley looked awesome in the second half of the Rams/Cards game this weekend as he introduced himself to the fantasy football world. 19 carries for 146 yards vs. a very good defense was impressive. Now, if you’re the Rams and you have a good defense, what would be your game plan vs. Aaron Rogers and the Packers? The plan should be to pound the ball with Gurley and keep Rodgers off of the field. The price here is nice and the return could be special.

THE LONGSHOTS

Below are 5 longshots that have a chance to hit this week along with a small blurb about each one and their Fanduel price. Adding any one of these guys is like adding a longshot into horse racing exacta or trifecta. They also will not be used in a majority of lineups especially since fanduel and draftking employees are not playing this week (wink wink).

CJ Spiller – RB – $5500 – Doubling down on CJ for this week too. That 80 yard TD run may be a sign of things to come. However, he is still a long shot until his role is more defined or he gets more touches. I expect a high scoring event in Philly this weekend.

Kamar Aiken – WR – $5800 – 7 targets for 77 yards and a touchdown last week. If Steve Smith is out this week, Aiken at this price should be in.

Chiefs D – D – $4600- It certainly hasn’t been pretty this year for the Chiefs D, but to be fair, they’ve only had one home game thus far at Arrowhead. In that game, they came up with 3 sacks, 1 INT, and 1 TD vs. Peyton Manning and the Denver offense. This week they have Jake Cutler and the Bears. If you’re spending elsewhere, this is not a bad fit.

Dontrelle Inman – WR – $5100 – Basically, he’s one of two healthy WRs for Phillip Rivers going into week 5, although you’ll have to monitor the availability of Malcolm Floyd and Stevie Johnson. If both of those guys are out on Sunday then Inman is a steal at this price vs. the Steelers.

Willie Snead – WR – $5300 – 6 targets for 89 yards last week. Let’s face it, he’s been better than Brandin Cooks this year and will go up against a weak Eagles’ secondary in a game that should be high scoring. If Brandin Cooks was $5300 would you use him in lineups?

Thank you once again for taking the time to read this. Remember, this is early week advice, so make sure you read up as the week goes on and make necessary changes to your lineups before game times. Please follow me on twitter @QuickRotoTips and feel free to offer feedback or to blame me if you take some of my advice and it all goes terribly. Good Luck.

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FanDuel Quick Picks for NFL Week 3

FanDuel Quick Picks for NFL Week 3


By the time it takes you to read this article countless numbers of Americans will have already been exposed to millions upon millions of FanDuel and DraftKings commercials today. I told my mother, aged 67, that I won some money playing Fanduel, and she knew what I was talking about! It is a full-fledged revolution, and in this writer’s opinion, second only to the one in 1776. The purpose of my articles are two-fold. One is to provide some philosophical insight into behavioral tendencies of FanDuel players. I will study my own behavior as well as the behaviors of the FanDuel community. Why was I so high on Austin Seferian-Jenkins last week? What is my obsession with David Johnson on the Cardinals? These behaviors are often destructive in FanDuel and I’m sure you exhibit some of them too. My second purpose is to provide you with FanDuel tips early in the week so that you can begin to make your plan. For me, it’s a week long process. It starts Tuesday morning, usually in the one place I can lock the door sit down and have some quiet time (you Dads out there know exactly where I’m talking about). There is always a follow up session later in the day, sometimes three or four depending on what I eat for dinner that day! I will present to you every Wednesday players that have caught my eye based on matchups, price value, and observations made from the prior week. I hope you will react to my “Quick Picks” and challenge me. Doing so, will only make both of our lineups better. Thank-you for taking the time to read.

Quick Tip #1 (behavioral) – When playing in a Thursday FanDuel tournament pick only one Thursday player or none at all. I’ve noticed the impulsivity of FanDuel players. That same impulsivity lies within you as well. Scenario: There is a Thursday night game and you want to watch it but in your other fantasy leagues you don’t have any players. What do you do? You load up a FanDuel lineup with Thursday night players so that you have something to watch and get excited about. Suddenly, Rueben Randle looks like a great bargain. In your head he is finally having his breakout game and you remember seeing an article in the newspaper (online of course, not an actual newspaper) that Eli wants to get him more involved. They just released Preston Parker, more targets for Rueben! Fast forward to later that night, Rueben has 2 catches for 17 yards and you are stuck with him. Let other people load up on Thursday players. You can basically eliminate from contention all those that do.

Quick Tip #2 (Player Pick) – Let TE Jordan Reed ($5300) be your only player chosen from the Thursday night game. This will take extreme discipline as you will want to take Odell Beckham Jr. after he torched the Redskins last year and is coming off of a great week. If he’s your guy, by all means take him. However, you should be aware that the Redskins pass defense has been really good thus far, and they are a much more physical team than the Giants are. Back to Jordan Reed, Kirk Cousins has targeted him a team leading 17 times, weeks one and two combined, and he’s played 85% of snaps. Last week he did well against a formidable Rams Defense to the tune of 6 targets, 6 catches, and 82 yards. He is clearly Kirk Cousins favorite target in the air with Desean Jackson out of action. The Giants defense is terrible at stopping opposing teams’ tight ends as they were torched by both Dallas TE’s and Jacob Tamme last week. At $5300, I think you can get Travis Kelce production at a cheaper price.

Quick Tip #3 (Behavioral) – Stop picking random stud performers from last week thinking they will repeat their performance. Try to think of each week as an entirely new entity all by itself. Isn’t that why we like FanDuel in the first place? Last weeks’ failures are gone but so are the successes. You missed out on Larry Fitzgerald. Pick him this week and you will lose. What you’re really missing though is the key information. The Bears are really bad and will continue to get worse each week. They are on 2-3 year plan and most of that plan does not involve their current terrible players. Try to find a starter or two that play the Bears each week.

Quick Tip #4 (Player Pick) – I’m not afraid to pay for my defense in FanDuel because that separates winning teams from losing teams. I like the Seahawks Defense at $5300. Any time I’ve ever won money in FanDuel I’ve always had a great performing defense. If you’ve been overlooking defenses and just fitting in whatever money you can afford at the end you must stop immediately. The Seahawks are 0-2, Jimmy Graham is running his mouth, and they are going to take out all of their frustration on the Bears at home. Jay Cutler is out, although I almost prefer Mr. Turnover to be playing, Jimmy Clausen is in, and none of that matters anyhow because the Hawks D will score you lots of points this week. The Arizona Cardinals Defense scored 18 FanDuel points against them last week in Chicago. Just imagine what the Seahawks will do to them this week.

Quick Tip #5 (Player Pick) – What can Brown do for you? Ah, the inevitable Antonio Brown pun. It works too well not to use. The first thing I do with my FanDuel lineups is go click on Antonio Brown and insert him into my lineup. I’m going to stick with that until Martavius Bryant comes back because I may want to see if there is any hinderance to Brown’s stats. There probably won’t be. Antonio Brown is the model of consistency. I love having him in all my lineups for that guaranteed 20+ point total. Last week he was used in 26% of FanDuel lineups. I generally like to find guys that are used in less lineups, for example, DeAngelo Williams was used in only 4.3% of lineups last Sunday. Pure Gold. With Antonio Brown I look at it this way. If he’s owned by 26% of the people, 74% are NOT using him. Since FanDuel roughly pays out on the top 25%, I’m using Antonio Brown every week because I feel like I have an advantage over 74% of the people. This is the math they should be teaching in our public schools! Last week Antonio Brown rewarded me with a wonderous 9-195-1 line. Have him in all of your lineups every week.

THE LONGSHOTS
I’d like to end my article each week with a few long shots suggestions. Metaphorically speaking, these are the 50-1 shots in horse racing. Below are 5 longshots that have a chance to hit this week along with a small blurb about each one and their Fanduel price.

Fred Jackson – RB – $6000 – I wish he was cheaper but he’ll fit in nicely if you load up on stud WRs. Everyone is going to get a piece of that Chicago Bears pie and I could see Jackson racking up garbage time points.

David Johnson – RB – $6000 – He’s a man-child. This may be your last week to get him cheap. I know Ellington is coming back but he’s a little guy destined to get hurt over and over again. I wouldn’t hesitate to use him as my RB #2

Nelson Agholor – WR – $5300 – Very cheap and he should be that cheap. The guy has done very little. I’m expecting a little Jets letdown this week combined with some Chip Kelly desperation to get things right. Revis should be on Jordan Matthews so maybe Nelson breaks through. He did have a semi-respectable 6 targets last week.

Tyler Lockett – WR – $5000 – Maybe this longshot breaks a long TD. Who on the Bears can catch him?

Ryan Mallet – QB – $6300 – He had a respectable week last week. He’s cheap and a few touchdowns to DeAndre Hopkins and he can be a nice value play.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to read this. Please follow me on twitter @QuickRotoTips and feel free to offer feedback or to blame me if you take some of my advice and it all goes terribly.

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Top 20 Dynasty Fantasy Basketball Targets in the 2015 NBA Draft

Top 20 Dynasty Fantasy Basketball Targets in the 2015 NBA Draft

dangelo-russell

  1. Karl-Anthony Towns – Kentucky – Towns is a kid I have heard a ton about for a long time.  He’s from right around the corner here in New Jersey and I thought people were exaggerating when they talked about his ability to shoot the ball and move at his size.  Well they weren’t being “homers’ when they talked about him that’s for sure.  He has great length and and enough athleticism to become a top shot blocker and rebounder in the NBA and the skill to score inside or out whenever he gets the ball.  The upside for scoring with blocks thrown in is too good to pass up as the best Fantasy Basketball Draft target in this draft.
  2. D’Angelo Russell – Ohio State – Russell is as slick as they come.  He has great handles with pin-point accuracy when he fires his passes.  If he lands in a place where the big men don’t have stone hands he could be a top six point guard out of the gates.  His defense does need a bit of work, but what point guard was all world coming out of college after just one year.  His length and body type should make it easy for him to catch up in that area as he continues to fine tune his jumper.
  3. Kristaps Porzingis – Latvia – Porzingis is the type of player that is worth the risk associated with drafting a European player on upside in fantasy drafts.  His slight build will hold him up his first few seasons in the NBA, but his height at 7’1″ and shooting skills make him someone who could end up being the best player in this draft.  He has very nice athleticism to along with his size and from what I’ve seen he really enjoys being aggressive on both sides of the ball.  His aggressiveness on defense was especially nice to see as he can be a weapon when going for blocks.
  4. Jahlil Okafor – Duke – Okafor is one of the best low-post scorers to come out in the draft in a long time.  He can score twenty and grab eight rebounds a night with out getting one ounce better at the next level.  For him to be a great fantasy asset he will have to become an even more aggressive rebounder and figure out a way to use his smarts to protect the rim.  People talk about him like he’s Enes Kanter, but in reality I think he can develop a bunch on the defensive side of the ball.
  5. Emmanuel Mudiay – China (Via-USA) – Mudiay is a guy I really like.  I loved him coming out of high school and thought he had a chance to be the top player in this draft.  He has the size and athleticism that you just can’t teach a player.  He also has blazing quickness which makes him a threat to break down a defense at will.  His issue has been his jump shot, but I have heard conflicting reports on how it looked in China, with some reports saying it didn’t get better, while others said it looked retooled and solid enough to make defenses respect it.  He is a fit with the Lakers, 76ers and the Knicks, but he may slide if they all pass on him for others in the top four.  He can play shooting guard, but I think that would put too much pressure on his jump shot at an early stage.
  6. Justice Winslow – Duke – I love wings who can shoot the ball and defend.  Why?  Because those type of players are always on the court.  In today’s NBA you need wings that can lock down the opposing team’s best scorers and space the floor with a real 3-point shot threat to open up your offense.  Winslow can do both really well already.  He came in a little shorter than most thought, but I’m not as worried about that as others as he has the body type and strength to still guard the small forward position.
  7. Mario Hezonja – Croatia – Hezonja is the player you need to add if you need 3-point shooting and scoring.  He doesn’t seem to be athletic enough to cover the really quick wings int he NBA and that scares me for his playing time.  If he lands on a team with a player that can switch off to cover the better offensive player and hide him a bit defensively than he’ll be a steal with his shooting and scoring prowess.
  8. Devin Booker – Kentucky – Booker is a knock down shooter with ideal body length to play the shooting guard position in the NBA.  He even has nice strength on his frame for his age where I think he will compete right away for a starting spot.  His game has been compared to Klay Thompson‘s so it’s worth taking him around this area if you need 3 point shooting and scoring.
  9. Willie Cauley-Stein – Kentucky – Cauley-Stein has an NBA ready skill when it comes to shot blocking and defending the rim as he enters the NBA.  he will rebound because of his elite length and athleticism, but will he score enough to make him a big time fantasy asset.  I’m not sure if we can project him to be Dion Jordan type dominant, but he could be Tyson Chandler-esque.  If he ends up on a team that runs the floor he could put up huge rookie numbers while he learns how he fits into an NBA offense.
  10. Myles Turner – Texas – Turner is a player that probably should be a lot higher on this list, but I found myself putting him here because of his slight build.  He can shoot the ball and is an excellent help defender so he should crack a rotation right away, but big minutes will be tough to come by until he can put some muscle and weight on.  If you need to gamble on a scoring big man on your team I would take Turner in this spot.
  11. Stanley Johnson – Arizona – Stanley Johnson is a bit of a conundrum for me.  He is physically strong and decently athletic, but I’m not sure he is quick enough to guard NBA Small Forwards.  His body type makes for an interesting fit defensively, but he has skills, if not inconsistent, to score in many ways on the offensive side of the ball.  He is actually projected to go in the draft right in the area where he could see a lot of early playing time.
  12. Trey Lyles – Kentucky – I really love Lyles’s feel for the game.  He has soft hands and nice passing ability and can score and rebound.  Defensively he will hold his own and he should be a nice addition to any team as a potential starting power forward in the future.  If he had better length and could actually play the five in the NBA he would have more value, but if he lands on a team with a big need at PF he could pay dividends early.
  13. Sam Dekker – Wisconsin – Dekker has nice size at 6’9″  and can score the basketball.  Sometimes guys get a knock because of how well they fit into their college system and this may be the case with Dekker.  If he lands in the right spot he is a guy who should see a lot of playing time as long as he can guard the SF spot in the NBA.
  14. Cameron Payne – Murray State – Payne is an all around point guard who has the ability to be special.  I like his speed and handle and his vision for passing.  As always it will come down to if he can defend the position at only 6’2″ in the NBA, but I think he will be fine.  If he lands on a point guard needy team you have to be happy.  If he lands as a back-up to Russel Westbrook well than he’s a stash.
  15. Bobby Portis -Arkansas – Portis is a finished product.  He is going to score and rebound and hustle his butt off.  He is not going to block a ton of shots, but he will contribute just because he will be in the tough areas all the time.  I can see him being a double double type of player int he right system or a rotational power forward who can help you when injuries hit.  Safe pick IMO.
  16. Frank Kaminsky – Wisconsin – Kaminsky can score the basketball in many ways.  He has goofy and effective low post moves that remind some of a goofier Kevin McHale and he has a shot that can go all the way out to the three point line.  He will compete on defense and is smart about positioning and blocking out for defensive rebounds.  He’s the type of guy who could find himself in and out of rotations based on his shooting and defense so I gave him a bit of a knock, but I do like him.  In the right system he could move all the way up to 10th overall in my rookie mocks.
  17. Kevon Looney – UCLA – Looney is going to need to have his hip fixed so he will be a draft and stash for a year, but he has enough upside that he is worth it.  He has excellent size and a nice inside outside game to be a featured player at the Power Forward Position down the road.  Love the upside with a stash pick this late.
  18. Kelly Oubre – Kansas – Oubre has the ideal slasher size for a small forward at 6’7″ and just over 200 pounds.  If he can learn the NBA game and get NBA strong he has a ton of potential.  At this point you need to gamble on future upside and Oubre is worth it to me.
  19. Joseph Young – Oregon – All I hear about the kid is that no one can stay in front of him and he’s got a shot and range to go with it.  I like those things especially late in fantasy rookie drafts where players start to become single category types.  If young lands in the right spot he could be a steal.
  20. Justin Anderson – Virginia – Anderson has a great body type and game to guard the big wings in the NBA.  He also has the potential to be a nice floor spacer with a 3 Point shot and good enough athleticism to finish.  He has to work on his handle and passing, but he could be a guy that contributes a lot more than we think because of his ability to stay on the floor.

Other who were under consideration are the point guards Jerian Grant of Notre Dame, Delon Wright of Utah (Great size and wing span) and Tyus Jones of Duke and shooting guards R.J. Hunter of Georgia State and Rashad Vaughn out of UNLV.  There are a few Power forward rotational types that could find themselves with nice fantasy appeal if they land on a PF needy team like Jarell Martin out of LSU and Cliff Alexander of Kansas.

In all, this crop of Fantasy Basketball Rookie prospects are a bit top heavy.  I would weigh the top four to six picks heavily over the rest of the draft.  If someone was trying to move up for say pick 11 to pick 4 it would take a haul to get up there.  Forget about trading out of the top three in this year’s Dynasty Fantasy Basketball Rookie Drafts.
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Fantasy Football Leagues: Which One To Choose

Fantasy Football Leagues Come in All Shapes and Sizes

From “Redraft” to “Pirate” I’m here to tell you about all your options.

2013 Keeper fantasy Football Draft

Keeper Leagues

Did you ever draft a player and wish he could be the corner stone of your team for years and years?  Of course you have, unless you’re like the guy in my keeper league that only shows up to bum cigarettes and complain about his marriage.  If you’re like him you always take the wrong player in the first round and are constantly wanting to throw all of your players back in the draft.

I, for one, love keeper leagues.  You get all the benefits of being a strong redrafter with the added bonus of building your teams around a singular fantasy asset.  If you’re lucky you may even have a double keeper league and you can turn that keen late round drafting eye into multiple championships.  For example, in my double keeper league players like Alfred Morris, Randall Cobb, and Danny Amendola were kept as 10th round keepers this year.

Dynasty Leagues

If you want a real challenge you should try and join an existing dynasty league and try and build a perennial loser into  a champion.  This type of fantasy championship is so satisfying that you may find yourself joining every dynasty league you can.  It would be as if you were a Raider fan and suddenly Al Davis left the team to you in his will.  You show up to work and realize the team was mismanaged for years and you won’t be competitive for years.  You make shrewd move after shrewd move until suddenly you go from cellar dweller to championship contender.

If that seems like too much work you can always join a dynasty startup league where you can draft your team and keep them for ever.  If you are a good dynasty drafter you can both compete for a championship in season 1 and build for the future at the same time.  The best thing about dynasty leagues is that trade talk is year round.  Players and picks are always on the block and every off season move by teams around the league are checked over with a fine tooth comb. It takes a different breed to be a dynasty owner as it takes serious dedication.  If you are only a casual fantasy football player please don’t join a league because you will just end up quitting.

Redraft Standard Leagues

Standard scoring is going the way of the dodo bird in most fantasy circles, but you better be ready for a different way of valuing players if you are invited to join a standard league.  yardage and touchdowns are the only thing that matters.  You need players that get in the endzone and rack up the yardage no matter how they get it.  For instance if you took Darren Sproles in the second round of a standard draft you may get a Bronx cheer from the league.

Redraft PPR leagues

I would call this the “Cadillac of fantasy football leagues”.  Just like Hold ’em is to the poker world now, PPR leagues are just assumed when talking about redraft values.  Players like Darren Sproles and Wes Welker have been on more winning teams because of their big reception totals then players like Stevan Ridley and Dwayne Bowe.  These leagues a re dime a dozen and after a summer of doing rankings I can do a draft blind-folded.

Best Ball Leagues

You can do “just draft” best ball leagues or “manage” best ball leagues.  With either option you draft a team and the best at their respective positions are used as starters.  In “just draft” formats you are helpless against injuries and can not use the waiver wire or trades for reinforcements.  In “manage” best ball formats you can still make pickups and trades, but the pressure of starting or sitting you best players is taken away.  These leagues are the best for work leagues and small buy in leagues.  There is nothing more awkward than yelling at your boss on a message board for starting a player on a bye.

Survivor Style Leagues

Most of these leagues are done as best ball and for small buy ins.  You draft a team and hop you don’t score the least amount of points each week.  The lowest scoring team is dropped each week until there is only one winner.  Some survivor style leagues drop the lowest total score each week including the previous weeks’ totals.  These are great leagues to do with a group of friends that can only stay in touch over the internet.  You do a slow e-mail based draft through a site like MyFantasyLeague and when it’s all said and done only one of you comes out on top.

Pirate Leagues

This is my first year participating in a pirate league and I can tell you that a close week 1 matchup will have you on the edge of your seat.  The idea of the league is that you plunder the team that you beat head to head each week.  To the victor goes the spoils as they say.  My week 1 matchup literally wasn’t decided until the 4th quarter of the last Monday night game around 1:00 AM ET.  If I had lost I would have been forced to give up Doug Martin or Demaryius Thomas and be forced to take back the owner’s worst player at the same position.  Luckily Owen Daniels pulled out a last minute win for my team and now I have a shiny new LeSean McCoy to show for it.  Just for week 1 edge of your seat purposes I say you have to try this format next year.  It’s like being in a fantasy championship every week.

IDP Leagues

I like IDP leagues for the sheer fact that it makes you pay attention to the NFL as a whole.  You need to keep track of defensive players just as much as offensive players.  I usually participate in at least two IDP leagues a year and prefer leagues where you start up to five defensive players.  These leagues are usually won by the people that understand football inside and out.  I personally love seeing great defensive players being put up on the board right next to their offensive counterparts.

2QB Leagues

I have been in 2QB leagues for years and have never been more excited about playing in these types of leagues.  The position is so deep this year that you can finally forego drafting a quarterback in round two of a 12 team league and still get a very good QB2 in the third round.  If you are sick of watching your friends wait until the 8th round of a draft and still getting a quality starting quarterback then I suggest you change your league to a 2QB league.

Auction Leagues

I’m not sure there is anything more fun than an auction draft.  From purposely bidding up your friends as they chase their favorite players to watching yourself get stuck with a player you never wanted in the first place.  The varied strategies are the best thing about auction drafts as teams can go the “studs and duds” route,”the wait and see what’s left” route or the slow and steady route.  No where else can you start your draft off with Adrian Peterson and Calvin Johnson and then go out for a beer.

If you know of any other types of leagues please feel free to comment at the bottom and let me know so i can add it to my list.

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Times are Tight

Unbelievably Week 9 of the NFL season is in the books.  Some of your fantasy football teams are sailing smooth seas into the playoffs while others are putting out may-day calls as your teams hit some rough waters.  For the owners who were not lucky enough to snag one of the elite tight ends, consistent tight end play has become the slow leak that is bringing down your ships.  Before you put on your life vest and take the plunge overboard, I will help you find the tight end that can make all the difference.  First, let us take a look at who you do not want in your starting lineups.

Time to ride the pine

Jermichael Finley

Jermichael FinleyAnother week goes by without a hint of Finley living up to TE1 potential.  I do not know if he frustrates fantasy owners, Packer fans, or Mike McCarthy more.  This past week, he had a good matchup against a team that he has had success against in his career. (2009 playoffs, where he looked like the next great tight end to hit the league)  Unfortunately for the Packers and fantasy owners, he once again looked like a shadow of his former self.

Finley’s production, as well as his targets, has steadily gone down since Week 1.  While we can make excuses for him such as his shoulder injury sustained against the Rams or the lack of a deep threat with Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson missing time, it is his stone hands that are holding him back.  According to his coaches, Finley passes the eye test in the weight room as well as on the practice field.  But when game time comes along, he disappears.  For some perspective, in Week 1 Finley had 11 targets and seven catches.  Over the past three weeks COMBINED he has had only ten targets  even without Jennings and Nelson on the field.  Time to permanently bench, or dare I say drop, this former phenom.

Jacob Tamme

Tamme has not become Peyton Manning’s security blanket as many of us had thought would be the case.  He has become a fringe player, seeing the field roughly fifty percent of the time, and losing out on targets to Joel Dreesen among others. Tamme is at best a bye week fill in, but not the borderline TE1 some thought he could be.

Kyle Rudolph

Rudolph was a hot pick up to start the year as he was catching touchdowns at an alarming rate.  As Rudolph crashed back to earth the past few weeks, so have many fantasy teams out there. While Rudolph cannot be blamed for Christian Ponder’s poor play, he can be looked at as nothing more than a redzone threat going forward.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Vernon Davis

While some fantasy owners might have become frustrated with Vernon Davis over the last few weeks, I implore Vernon Davisyou to stay the course.  While Vernon Davis’ production and targets are down, his problems are more about how the defenses in the league are playing him then his inconsistency as a pass catcher.  Davis’ first few weeks seemed to build on the momentum he and Alex Smith built up with last year’s brilliant playoff run.  The last two weeks his lack of opportunities has had you scratching your head.  I see Davis’ production jumping up to low to mid TE1 coming off the bye week as Harbaugh and company had plenty of time to find a way to get their most dynamic offensive player more involved.

Antonio Gates

Antonio Gates has been inconsistent mainly because of poor quarterback and offensive line play, but he and Philip Rivers have a history of playing well down the stretch.  With Gates being the healthiest he has been in years, he may be a trade target for the savvy fantasy owner.

Possible trade targets

My top trade targets for the stretch run are Vernon Davis in all non-PPR leagues and Antonio Gates in all leagues.  Jermaine Gresham is also on my radar as a nice TE2 target that can be had for very little in most formats.  The only thing holding Gresham back is the Bengals’ lack of a running game.  With a running game and more play-action looks at the goal-line, Gresham could develop into a TE1.  Greg Olsen also has some upside if you can get him on the cheap.  With Carolina going back to a power running game, Olsen should see increased targets and production.

The waiver wire is where most championships are won and lost and this year will be no different

Waiver wire targets

Heath Miller

Miller has probably been scooped up by now, but on the off chance that he is available, do not hesitate.  Ben Roethlisberger was not speaking in hyperbole when he said he would get him to the Pro-bowl this year.  No other Steeler has benefited more from Hines Ward’s retirement than Miller.  He has become the preferred possession receiver as well as a bona fide touchdown hound near the goal-line.   Even blocking another GM from gaining points by dropping a fifth wide receiver such as Sidney Rice or Santana Moss will be worth the satisfaction as he/she is forced to start Dustin Keller, Anthony Fasano, or Marcedes Lewis.

Brandon Myers

Brandon MyersCan you name the tight end that had the most targets two out of the last three weeks?  I am waiting.  As you could have guessed, it’s Brandon Myers.  Myers is Jason Witten without the run after the catch.  He is a big target who runs crisp routes and has soft hands.  He might be this year’s Jake Ballard after all is said and done.  The thing I like about him most is that he never comes off the field.  He is a good (not great) inline blocker and can split out and body up on safeties.  I am a little concerned with McFadden’s injury, but not enough to pull Myers from my list.

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