Welcome to the DFS Watch List for NFL Week 9!
Well, #FANation, it looks like you were in great hands with Jon Impemba last week. Upon returning from my trip, I learned of a number of big winner in DFS and as you will see below, the fantasy points were definitely flowing.
Apologies for the Wednesday publishing of the Watch List, but I am steadily working my way back into the swing of things as catching up from being off for a full weekend of football takes some work, especially with all of the injuries we saw. Several teams have a lot to sort out for their depth charts and we're going to have to pay very close attention to what is happening at practices across the league. Transitioning from Week 8 to Week 9 is going to be a lot of work and it's going to take a lot of insight to find which injury replacements are worthwhile and which ones aren't.
Before we move forward, let's take a quick look back…
So what exactly did last week's Playbook deliver? As always, we like to check in to ensure we remain on the right path.
Scoring The Playbook Week 8
High Value across the board is the theme for the Playbook & Dart Board for week 8. Twenty-six of the forty-two players returned a 2X+ Value driving consistency throughout all lineups made with this analysis. Here are some highlights:
- Nine of fourteen wide receivers in the Playbook produced 2X+ Value with an average Value of 3.1
- Four players returned a rare 5X+ Value: Michael Carter (6.57), Michael Pittman (5.77), AJ Brown (5.00), and Dan Arnold (5.29).
- Defenses averaged 8 points
- Dart Board had two players delivering 3X+ Value
- The highest score that could be made from only the Playbook players was 231.7
For any newcomers this week:
“If you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.”
We take this adage to heart when it comes to playing NFL DFS. The Fantasy Alarm Playbook isn’t just about handing you a list of players and a lineup to use each week. It is designed to help you learn to be a better DFS player. It’s about teaching you the process used in selecting which players to scout and, eventually, which ones to use.
Therefore, we will begin each week with the Weekly NFL DFS Watch List which is designed to keep tabs on marquee names, chalk plays and, of course, the weekly bargains who may not see the same coverage and exposure. This piece will be continuously updated throughout the week, based on the most recent news and injuries which means you may see a name or two removed as we get closer to kick-off. You may also see a few late-week additions who pique our interest for some reason too, and by the end of the week, this Watch List will eventually become your Playbook. Again, it’s about teaching you the process.
Also remember, the DFS Watch List focuses on the Sunday Main Slate. We cover Thursday, Monday and Sunday Night Football via Showdown slate coverage.
Pos (Click to sort ascending) | Player (Click to sort ascending) | Matchup (Click to sort ascending) | DK (Click to sort ascending) | FD (Click to sort ascending) |
---|---|---|---|---|
QB | Josh Allen | BUF @ JAC Sun 1:00 | 8200 | 9000 |
In what is likely the biggest no-brainer for Week 9, we've got the uber-talented Josh Allen taking on one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL right now. The numbers against the Jags don't look too bad (278.1 pass yards per game with 11 passing touchdowns allowed), simply because they're just as bad against the run as they are the pass. But, rest assured, Allen will get his work in this week and he'll probably run one in as well. Easy pick for cash games and should also be a good GPP play since the Bills don't like to use their ground game. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
QB | Justin Herbert | LAC @ PHI Sun 4:05 | 7000 | 7600 |
People are really down on Herbert right now which is one of the reason I will likely lean on him fairly heavily in GPP tournaments this week. He struggled this past week against Bill Belichick and prior to the bye he had some issues against the Ravens. Is that a reason to write him off? Absolutely not and definitely not against the Eagles. Sorry, folks, but thrashing the Lions doesn't make Philadelphia a good team and we watched earlier as opposing QBs posted both strong and efficient games against them. Sometimes you need a short memory in football, especially when playing DFS. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
QB | Joe Burrow | CLE @ CIN Sun 1:00 | 6800 | 7600 |
Was the loss to the Jets Burrow's fault? No it wasn't and his numbers for fantasy were actually pretty good. Blame it on the defense, blame it on the three-straight road games, whatever, but Burrow should immediately warrant your attention this week against Cleveland. The Browns may only be allowing 220 passing yards per game, but they've given up 17 passing touchdowns and opposing QBs have a 100.2 passer rating against them. Overall, the Cleveland defense has been good, but you can neutralize their pass rush and beat them through the air. Watch, as Burrow does just that this week. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
QB | Tua Tagovailoa | HOU @ MIA Sun 1:00 | 5800 | 7300 |
The last time I recommended Tua in the Watch List and Playbook, he put up 33.5 fantasy points against a bad Atlanta defense. Now he gets an even worse Texans defense and we're right back on him. The Dolphins have now lost seven-straight and they're going to be desperate for a strong performance and a win here. With the trade deadline passing and Tua fully entrenched as the team's starting QB, perhaps the weight of the world comes off his shoulders and allows him to connect with his weapons and grab a win against a very soft opponent. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
QB | Jordan Love | GB @ KC Sun 4:25 | 4400 | 6000 |
Well now this ought to be interesting. Yes, that's right, we're looking at Love this week as the news broke Wednesday morning that Aaron Rodgers has tested positive for COVID and will be out for this week. The Chiefs pass defense has allowed almost 270 yards per game with 15 passing touchdowns and opposing QBs have put together a 103.3 passer rating against them. That's a pretty decent match-up for what could be the biggest game/audition of his career. The Packers have been waiting to see exactly what Love will bring to the table and this could be a very telling moment once we see how much Matt LaFleur opens up the Playbook for him. And this price…? I mean….come on! Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
RB | Alvin Kamara | ATL @ NO Sun 1:00 | 8200 | 9400 |
This is actually a perfect match-up for the Saints who are going to have to rely very heavily on Kamara this week now that Jameis Winston has torn his ACL and the starting QB spot is up in the air. Not only do the Falcons give up just over 125 rushing yards per game, but they also rank 19th in DVOA against running back pass plays. The Saints added Mark Ingram to take some of the weight off Kamara, but he is still the more dynamic player and will be the one they give the ball to the most. Even if Atlanta tries to stack the box, you can expect a big day here. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
RB | Austin Ekeler | 7900 | 9000 | |
Again, I'm not buying this Eagles team following a big game against the Lions and Ekeler will be a major reason why. Even in a game they lost to the Patriots, Ekeler still managed 124 all-purpose yards and found his way into the end zone. The Eagles have given up 123.5 rushing yards per game, nine rushing touchdowns and are allowing just over 52 yards per game to running back pass-plays. Even with just a normal game-plan, Ekeler should thrive. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||
RB | Devontae Booker | LV @ NYG Sun 1:00 | 5900 | 6300 |
We'll have to watch the status of Saquon Barkley, but with the Giants having a Week 10 bye, the assumption here is that they will play it safe and give him another two weeks to recover from his ankle injury. Especially since Booker has been a respectable replacement. And this is certainly not a tough match-up as the Raiders are giving up 131.3 rushing yards per game and have coughed up eight rushing touchdowns on the year. It also helps that Booker has been a fine pass-catcher and the Raiders rank 20th in DVOA against running back pass-plays. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
RB | Boston Scott | TEN @ LA Sun 8:20 | 5200 | 6300 |
Yeah, I know…I said I wasn't buying the Eagles, but I would be remiss if I didn't investigate Scott against one of the worst run defenses in the league. When the Chargers rebuilt their defense, they focused way more on stopping the pass than the run and the results are evident with almost 160 rushing yards per game allowed thus far. They've also given up nine rushing touchdowns on the year. If Nick Sirianni continues to run the ball, Scott should find plenty of room this week. The only question we really have to ask is whether or not we can trust that Sirianni won't screw things up. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Partly cloudy | ||||
RB | Myles Gaskin | MIN @ BAL Sun 1:00 | 5800 | 6100 |
This is a tough one, because Gaskin has become that guy who, if you start him, he vanishes and if you leave him out, he finds a way to excel. This match-up against the Texans is a soft one and one in which he should perform well, if he's given the ball enough. Houston has allowed a league-high 14 rushing touchdowns this season and they're giving up 148.1 rushing yards per game. He just needs some volume to perform, really. Just give the guy 15 touches and he'll easily earn his price. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
WR | Davante Adams | NYJ @ IND Thu 8:20 | 8200 | 9000 |
We'll obviously be keeping a close eye on the COVID situation in Green Bay, but the latest reports say Adams should return to practice on Thursday That should give him and Jordan Love enough time to connect and build a stronger on-field rapport. The Chiefs rank 28th in DVOA against the opposing No. 1 wideout, giving up 81 receiving yards per game to them, so Love just needs to get the ball into his hands and we should have a strong game still. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Partly cloudy | ||||
WR | Tyreek Hill | HOU @ MIA Sun 1:00 | 7900 | 8500 |
With Jaire Alexander on IR, the Packers have been struggling in coverage in a major ay. They don't have anyone with the speed to keep pace with Hill and probably aren't going to have much success bracketing him, knowing Travis Kelce is all over the field and Mecole Hardman is starting to blossom. He's coming off a big game against the Giants, has two touchdowns in his last three games and will be looking to continue with that momentum this week. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
WR | Ja'Marr Chase | CLE @ CIN Sun 1:00 | 7600 | 7900 |
Your impending offensive rookie of the year continues to perform as a top receiver and should probably remain a fixture in your lineups, at least until the DFS sites start pricing him at the elite level. Though he didn't have an explosive game against the Jets, he still managed to find his way into the end zone for the seventh time this season. The Browns secondary has had its issues all season long and they're allowing the third-most receiving touchdowns in the league (17). Chase remains a strong play week after week. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
WR | Hollywood Brown | GB @ KC Sun 4:25 | 6000 | 7700 |
You've got to love this match-up against a soft Vikings secondary for Brown's first game off the bye. He's got six touchdowns in seven games, has three double-digit target weeks and two 100-yard performances this season. He continuously gets open downfield and Lamar Jackson routinely hits him for a long score. Expect more of the same this week. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
WR | Stefon Diggs | HOU @ MIA Sun 1:00 | 7700 | 7600 |
Diggs is just getting warmed up after a slow start to the season. He scored just one touchdowns through the first five games, but now has scores in back-to-back efforts and should have no issues against the Jaguars. In fact, the Jags actually rank 23rd in DVOA against the opponent's WR1 and are allowing an average of 72.3 receiving yards per game to them. Look for him and Josh Allen to continue their touchdown streak as the Bills look to take control of the entire AFC. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
WR | Keenan Allen | CHI @ PIT Mon 8:15 | 6700 | 7000 |
While the Eagles aren't giving up a whole lot of yards through the air, their DVOA rankings against individual receivers is juts not strong. Maybe it's because they've allowed 14 touchdowns through the air this season? Probably. Allen is coming off another strong game against the Patriots where he saw double-digit targets for the fourth time this season and found his way into the end zone for the first time in four games. Philadelphia doesn't handle the slot receiver all that well which lines up nicely for another strong effort from Allen. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Clear | ||||
WR | Amari Cooper | BUF @ JAC Sun 1:00 | 5700 | 6900 |
While it doesn't have a direct impact on the secondary, the Broncos lost the heart and soul of their defense when they trade Von Miller to the Rams. That kind of a move, even after a surprising win over Washington can deflate a team immensely. The Broncos were dealing with coverage issues anyway as they rank 27th in DVOA against the opposing WR1 and will have to deal with Cooper who is coming off a fantastic game where he caught 8-of-13 targets for 122 yards and a touchdown. With Dak Prescott likely back under center, things could get even more exciting for Cooper this week. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
WR | Jaylen Waddle | HOU @ MIA Sun 1:00 | 5600 | 6100 |
We've seen Tua lean on his old college teammate before and this match-up against the Texans could put the two in the limelight once again. Houston ranks 28th in DVOA against the opposition's WR2 and are allowing almost 60 yards per game to them. Waddle is definitely more of a possession receiver and those short, quick timing routes should afford him a ton of opportunities against a suspect defense. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
WR | Jakobi Meyers | LV @ NYG Sun 1:00 | 5200 | 5500 |
One of these days, this guy is going to get into the end zone and this week against Carolina could be that day. Meyers sees an average of eight to nine targets per game and he's going up against a Panthers secondary that ranks 31st in DVOA against the opposing No. 1 receiver and allows an average of 74.4 receiving yards per game to them. We obviously like him more on DK with the full-point PPR and he's probably still a better cash game play than he is for GPP tournaments. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
WR | A.J. Green | ARI @ SF Sun 4:25 | 4700 | 5700 |
The 49ers have done well against the opposition's No. 1 receiver, but rank 29th against the No. 2. With DeAndre Hopkins getting extra time to rest his hip, you can bet San Francisco is going to key in one him, leaving Green to do his things against the mediocre coverage. Obviously, we're going to have to watch the health of Kyler Murray as well. His ankle is causing him some issues and we all know that when he's not at 100% the game suffers dramatically. UPDATE – Green was just placed on the COVID/reserve list and will now need to return two negative COVID tests 24 hours apart before being activated from the COVID list, assuming he is vaccinated. If he is out, a pivot to Christian Kirk will be in the mix here. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Mostly cloudy | ||||
TE | Mike Gesicki | CLE @ CIN Sun 1:00 | 4900 | 6500 |
After back-to-back strong efforts, Gesicki was held in check by Buffalo in Week 8. Things go back to semi-normal this week with a match-up against a super-weak Houston team that struggles to cover the tight end. In fact, the Texans allow the eighth-most fantasy points to the position and are likely to give up some yards and a possible score against him this week. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
TE | Dallas Goedert | LAC @ PHI Sun 4:05 | 4500 | 6200 |
The Chargers defense is allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to the tight end position and rank 30th in DVOA against them, allowing an average of 72.5 receiving yards per game. We'd like to see Nick Sirianni run the ball more, but if he's going to want to pass heavily, Goedert should be the one who becomes the primary beneficiary. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
TE | Evan Engram | BUF @ JAC Sun 1:00 | 3800 | 5100 |
Engram found his way into the end zone for the first time this season on Monday Night Football which means people may start paying him some attention. With a match-up against the Raiders, he's sur to have decent ownership. But it won't be in vain as the Raiders rank 26th in DVOA against the position, allow 73.9 receiving yards per game to them and allow the fourth-most fantasy points per game. He just might be worth the cost finally. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
TE | Jared Cook | LAC @ PHI Sun 4:05 | 3300 | 5200 |
On the other side of this Eagles/Chargers game, we've got Philly struggling against the tight end position as well. They rank 19th in DVOA, but are still allowing almost 60 yards per game to them and they give up the third-most fantasy points per game to them. Cook was quiet in this past week's match-up against the Patriots, but had two touchdowns in the three weeks prior to the bye. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
TE | Tyler Conklin | NYJ @ IND Thu 8:20 | 3000 | 5200 |
The Ravens continue to bleed points to the tight end position each week and, even after the bye, still give up the most fantasy points per game to the position. They rank 22nd in DVOA and are allowing almost 80 yards per game to them. Conklin has seen at least five targets in four of his last five games and while he's only gotten into the end zone once, still remains as a decent, inexpensive option. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Partly cloudy |
Josh Allen, QB | ||||
In what is likely the biggest no-brainer for Week 9, we've got the uber-talented Josh Allen taking on one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL right now. The numbers against the Jags don't look too bad (278.1 pass yards per game with 11 passing touchdowns allowed), simply because they're just as bad against the run as they are the pass. But, rest assured, Allen will get his work in this week and he'll probably run one in as well. Easy pick for cash games and should also be a good GPP play since the Bills don't like to use their ground game. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Justin Herbert, QB | ||||
People are really down on Herbert right now which is one of the reason I will likely lean on him fairly heavily in GPP tournaments this week. He struggled this past week against Bill Belichick and prior to the bye he had some issues against the Ravens. Is that a reason to write him off? Absolutely not and definitely not against the Eagles. Sorry, folks, but thrashing the Lions doesn't make Philadelphia a good team and we watched earlier as opposing QBs posted both strong and efficient games against them. Sometimes you need a short memory in football, especially when playing DFS. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Joe Burrow, QB | ||||
Was the loss to the Jets Burrow's fault? No it wasn't and his numbers for fantasy were actually pretty good. Blame it on the defense, blame it on the three-straight road games, whatever, but Burrow should immediately warrant your attention this week against Cleveland. The Browns may only be allowing 220 passing yards per game, but they've given up 17 passing touchdowns and opposing QBs have a 100.2 passer rating against them. Overall, the Cleveland defense has been good, but you can neutralize their pass rush and beat them through the air. Watch, as Burrow does just that this week. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Tua Tagovailoa, QB | ||||
The last time I recommended Tua in the Watch List and Playbook, he put up 33.5 fantasy points against a bad Atlanta defense. Now he gets an even worse Texans defense and we're right back on him. The Dolphins have now lost seven-straight and they're going to be desperate for a strong performance and a win here. With the trade deadline passing and Tua fully entrenched as the team's starting QB, perhaps the weight of the world comes off his shoulders and allows him to connect with his weapons and grab a win against a very soft opponent. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Jordan Love, QB | ||||
Well now this ought to be interesting. Yes, that's right, we're looking at Love this week as the news broke Wednesday morning that Aaron Rodgers has tested positive for COVID and will be out for this week. The Chiefs pass defense has allowed almost 270 yards per game with 15 passing touchdowns and opposing QBs have put together a 103.3 passer rating against them. That's a pretty decent match-up for what could be the biggest game/audition of his career. The Packers have been waiting to see exactly what Love will bring to the table and this could be a very telling moment once we see how much Matt LaFleur opens up the Playbook for him. And this price…? I mean….come on! Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Alvin Kamara, RB | ||||
This is actually a perfect match-up for the Saints who are going to have to rely very heavily on Kamara this week now that Jameis Winston has torn his ACL and the starting QB spot is up in the air. Not only do the Falcons give up just over 125 rushing yards per game, but they also rank 19th in DVOA against running back pass plays. The Saints added Mark Ingram to take some of the weight off Kamara, but he is still the more dynamic player and will be the one they give the ball to the most. Even if Atlanta tries to stack the box, you can expect a big day here. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Austin Ekeler, RB | ||||
Again, I'm not buying this Eagles team following a big game against the Lions and Ekeler will be a major reason why. Even in a game they lost to the Patriots, Ekeler still managed 124 all-purpose yards and found his way into the end zone. The Eagles have given up 123.5 rushing yards per game, nine rushing touchdowns and are allowing just over 52 yards per game to running back pass-plays. Even with just a normal game-plan, Ekeler should thrive. Game Type: CASH & GPP | ||||
Devontae Booker, RB | ||||
We'll have to watch the status of Saquon Barkley, but with the Giants having a Week 10 bye, the assumption here is that they will play it safe and give him another two weeks to recover from his ankle injury. Especially since Booker has been a respectable replacement. And this is certainly not a tough match-up as the Raiders are giving up 131.3 rushing yards per game and have coughed up eight rushing touchdowns on the year. It also helps that Booker has been a fine pass-catcher and the Raiders rank 20th in DVOA against running back pass-plays. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Boston Scott, RB | ||||
Yeah, I know…I said I wasn't buying the Eagles, but I would be remiss if I didn't investigate Scott against one of the worst run defenses in the league. When the Chargers rebuilt their defense, they focused way more on stopping the pass than the run and the results are evident with almost 160 rushing yards per game allowed thus far. They've also given up nine rushing touchdowns on the year. If Nick Sirianni continues to run the ball, Scott should find plenty of room this week. The only question we really have to ask is whether or not we can trust that Sirianni won't screw things up. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Partly cloudy | ||||
Myles Gaskin, RB | ||||
This is a tough one, because Gaskin has become that guy who, if you start him, he vanishes and if you leave him out, he finds a way to excel. This match-up against the Texans is a soft one and one in which he should perform well, if he's given the ball enough. Houston has allowed a league-high 14 rushing touchdowns this season and they're giving up 148.1 rushing yards per game. He just needs some volume to perform, really. Just give the guy 15 touches and he'll easily earn his price. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Davante Adams, WR | ||||
We'll obviously be keeping a close eye on the COVID situation in Green Bay, but the latest reports say Adams should return to practice on Thursday That should give him and Jordan Love enough time to connect and build a stronger on-field rapport. The Chiefs rank 28th in DVOA against the opposing No. 1 wideout, giving up 81 receiving yards per game to them, so Love just needs to get the ball into his hands and we should have a strong game still. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Partly cloudy | ||||
Tyreek Hill, WR | ||||
With Jaire Alexander on IR, the Packers have been struggling in coverage in a major ay. They don't have anyone with the speed to keep pace with Hill and probably aren't going to have much success bracketing him, knowing Travis Kelce is all over the field and Mecole Hardman is starting to blossom. He's coming off a big game against the Giants, has two touchdowns in his last three games and will be looking to continue with that momentum this week. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Ja'Marr Chase, WR | ||||
Your impending offensive rookie of the year continues to perform as a top receiver and should probably remain a fixture in your lineups, at least until the DFS sites start pricing him at the elite level. Though he didn't have an explosive game against the Jets, he still managed to find his way into the end zone for the seventh time this season. The Browns secondary has had its issues all season long and they're allowing the third-most receiving touchdowns in the league (17). Chase remains a strong play week after week. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Hollywood Brown, WR | ||||
You've got to love this match-up against a soft Vikings secondary for Brown's first game off the bye. He's got six touchdowns in seven games, has three double-digit target weeks and two 100-yard performances this season. He continuously gets open downfield and Lamar Jackson routinely hits him for a long score. Expect more of the same this week. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Stefon Diggs, WR | ||||
Diggs is just getting warmed up after a slow start to the season. He scored just one touchdowns through the first five games, but now has scores in back-to-back efforts and should have no issues against the Jaguars. In fact, the Jags actually rank 23rd in DVOA against the opponent's WR1 and are allowing an average of 72.3 receiving yards per game to them. Look for him and Josh Allen to continue their touchdown streak as the Bills look to take control of the entire AFC. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Keenan Allen, WR | ||||
While the Eagles aren't giving up a whole lot of yards through the air, their DVOA rankings against individual receivers is juts not strong. Maybe it's because they've allowed 14 touchdowns through the air this season? Probably. Allen is coming off another strong game against the Patriots where he saw double-digit targets for the fourth time this season and found his way into the end zone for the first time in four games. Philadelphia doesn't handle the slot receiver all that well which lines up nicely for another strong effort from Allen. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Clear | ||||
Amari Cooper, WR | ||||
While it doesn't have a direct impact on the secondary, the Broncos lost the heart and soul of their defense when they trade Von Miller to the Rams. That kind of a move, even after a surprising win over Washington can deflate a team immensely. The Broncos were dealing with coverage issues anyway as they rank 27th in DVOA against the opposing WR1 and will have to deal with Cooper who is coming off a fantastic game where he caught 8-of-13 targets for 122 yards and a touchdown. With Dak Prescott likely back under center, things could get even more exciting for Cooper this week. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Jaylen Waddle, WR | ||||
We've seen Tua lean on his old college teammate before and this match-up against the Texans could put the two in the limelight once again. Houston ranks 28th in DVOA against the opposition's WR2 and are allowing almost 60 yards per game to them. Waddle is definitely more of a possession receiver and those short, quick timing routes should afford him a ton of opportunities against a suspect defense. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Jakobi Meyers, WR | ||||
One of these days, this guy is going to get into the end zone and this week against Carolina could be that day. Meyers sees an average of eight to nine targets per game and he's going up against a Panthers secondary that ranks 31st in DVOA against the opposing No. 1 receiver and allows an average of 74.4 receiving yards per game to them. We obviously like him more on DK with the full-point PPR and he's probably still a better cash game play than he is for GPP tournaments. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
A.J. Green, WR | ||||
The 49ers have done well against the opposition's No. 1 receiver, but rank 29th against the No. 2. With DeAndre Hopkins getting extra time to rest his hip, you can bet San Francisco is going to key in one him, leaving Green to do his things against the mediocre coverage. Obviously, we're going to have to watch the health of Kyler Murray as well. His ankle is causing him some issues and we all know that when he's not at 100% the game suffers dramatically. UPDATE – Green was just placed on the COVID/reserve list and will now need to return two negative COVID tests 24 hours apart before being activated from the COVID list, assuming he is vaccinated. If he is out, a pivot to Christian Kirk will be in the mix here. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Mostly cloudy | ||||
Mike Gesicki, TE | ||||
After back-to-back strong efforts, Gesicki was held in check by Buffalo in Week 8. Things go back to semi-normal this week with a match-up against a super-weak Houston team that struggles to cover the tight end. In fact, the Texans allow the eighth-most fantasy points to the position and are likely to give up some yards and a possible score against him this week. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Dallas Goedert, TE | ||||
The Chargers defense is allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to the tight end position and rank 30th in DVOA against them, allowing an average of 72.5 receiving yards per game. We'd like to see Nick Sirianni run the ball more, but if he's going to want to pass heavily, Goedert should be the one who becomes the primary beneficiary. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Evan Engram, TE | ||||
Engram found his way into the end zone for the first time this season on Monday Night Football which means people may start paying him some attention. With a match-up against the Raiders, he's sur to have decent ownership. But it won't be in vain as the Raiders rank 26th in DVOA against the position, allow 73.9 receiving yards per game to them and allow the fourth-most fantasy points per game. He just might be worth the cost finally. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Jared Cook, TE | ||||
On the other side of this Eagles/Chargers game, we've got Philly struggling against the tight end position as well. They rank 19th in DVOA, but are still allowing almost 60 yards per game to them and they give up the third-most fantasy points per game to them. Cook was quiet in this past week's match-up against the Patriots, but had two touchdowns in the three weeks prior to the bye. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
Tyler Conklin, TE | ||||
The Ravens continue to bleed points to the tight end position each week and, even after the bye, still give up the most fantasy points per game to the position. They rank 22nd in DVOA and are allowing almost 80 yards per game to them. Conklin has seen at least five targets in four of his last five games and while he's only gotten into the end zone once, still remains as a decent, inexpensive option. Game Type: CASH & GPP Weather: Partly cloudy |