DFS

When building GPP tournament lineups, a barbell approach to roster share is key for achieving tournament winning upside through differentiation. We explore a few unique stack possibilities to get that leverage off the popular Cowboys and Chiefs stacks this week. With a few exciting games in the late window, late swap possibilities become a critical consideration for a few underlooked QB plays.

Joe Burrow is a good example of the reason we put so much stock into team and game totals. This year, efficiency is the name of the game. Now in a game with a large total, we’re expecting that volume to jump up a bit, while ideally maintaining that same efficiency resulting in a huge day for fantasy. Ja’Marr Chase’s 17 Deep Targets rank No. 5 while his 41.9-percent Air Yard Share ranks No. 4. He’s consistently making big plays down the field and can break a slate any week.

Unfortunately, D.J. Moore has failed to record a double digit finish in fantasy points since this time and his red hot start to the season where he averaged over 22 fantasy points per game is looking like a mirage. But wait, that mirage in the desert may actually be the waterhole that you have been searching for. Moore is still averaging over 70 Air Yards the past four weeks and has the chance to play with potentially his most productive quarterback this season in Cam Newton.

Emmanuel Sanders has underwhelmed since Buffalo’s Week 7 bye averaging only 5.7 Fantasy Points Per Game in the three games after the bye. However, he is averaging almost 100 Air Yards per game since the bye and is tops in the league with a 18.3 Average Target Distance. Look for Sanders to haul in a long touchdown at some point. When he does you will want him in your tournament lineup.

The High Value Touch DFS Index is here to help you find the best plays for the dollar in DFS. This is done by looking at leaders in Carries Inside The 10-Yard Line Per Game and Targets Inside The 10-Yard Line Per Game and comparing their prices on DraftKings and FanDuel to create a rating. We look at these touches close to the end zone because touchdowns lead to fantasy points, and fantasy points lead to cashing our lineups in DFS!

Unfortunately for most of these running backs, they do not have enough of a floor to rely on cash but are tournament viable depending on the size of the contest and how many lineups one plays. A.J. Dillon is a cash game play this week and one of the better values on the slate!

A bounce back week is on tap for the Bills when they face off against a “division rival” in the Jets and Emmanuel Sanders will continue to be heavily involved in this get right right matchup. He has made the most of the opportunity with 17.5 (No. 1 among qualified WRs) Average Target Distance and 17.1 (No. 6) Yards Per Reception. Most importantly, he has hit 52 receiving yards in six out of eight games this season.

Seattle’s horrific rush defense will yield over 44.5 rushing yards to A.J. Dillon this weekend. Dillon has at least a 30-percent Snap Share in five games since Week 4, and he has hit this line in four out of five of those games. If this trend continues, then I would take the OVER on this line up to 46.5 rushing yards.

Game-log bros might fade the Colts after seeing the Jags skunk the Bills in Week 9 but don’t be worried. The Jaguars 49-percent Pass Success Rate allowed (No. 3) and No. 32 ranked Pass DVOA is the path of least resistance for a Colt’s team with a high 29 point implied team total (No. 4). The Jaguars are allowing 21.4 DKPt to quarterbacks (which is also our median projection). Stack Carson Wentz with Michael Pittman with a James Robinson runback to be unique.

Chris Godwin gets the PFF No. 1 graded WR/CB matchup facing the Football Team defense. The issue here is his foot injury that has caused him to miss practice all week. He plays in the early set of games though, so we’ll know ahead of time whether to pivot. If he goes, he’s near a lock play given the matchup and game total (30.5). If he misses, Mike Evans is a very strong play.

Pending injury news, the common structure this week should include one elite running back, paired with one of the free squares, and a game stack around it in the wide receiver slots. This generally presents an either/or question for you to consider in each lineup. Would you rather pair one of the top-owned game-stacks with a unique running back construction? Or would you rather stack an under the radar game and give yourself the chance to play any running backs you wish?

I always say in this column that my goal is to submit lineups that require the fewest number of correct assumptions to win. It is not uncommon to see situations such as last week where a high-ceiling stack such as the Chargers is less than five-percent owned in a small field. Because you are correlating one under-owned decision, you can play far more chalk-pieces around it. I’m playing three-four under-owned players, but it’s all correlated to one singular outcome. This is always my favourite way to play small-fields.

There are some great running backs I’d love to play in the DFS Week 10 matchups, but the pricing makes it difficult. However, if you think Washington can come back firing after a bye, then a contrarian play could pay off tremendously. Taylor Heinicke offers rushing upside, so you don’t need to stack a bunch of players around him. In fact, I might argue you can run him naked. However, J.D. McKissic or Terry McLaurin will likely play a role in his success; meanwhile, don’t forget about DeAndre Carter. 

With fantasy gamers chasing the high point total in the Chargers Vikings game, find a way to get exposure without eating chalk through the Vikes passing game. Justin Jefferson is excelling this year in the red zone and on deep passes; sounds exactly like what you’re looking for in GPPs. Also, consider fading the recent struggles and going back to Josh Allen with one of the highest implied team totals for the week.

The High Value Touch DFS Index is here to help you find the best plays for the dollar in DFS. This is done by looking at leaders in Carries Inside The 10-Yard Line Per Game and Targets Inside The 10-Yard Line Per Game and comparing their prices on DraftKings and FanDuel to create a rating. We look at these touches close to the end zone because touchdowns lead to fantasy points, and fantasy points lead to cashing our lineups in DFS!

Leonard Fournette and Ezekiel Elliott (if healthy) are cash game viable this week from this list. James Robinson is an interesting tournament play away from Fournette if he is healthy, and Mike Davis is someone to cross off your player pool list as his elevated ranking is based on the first several weeks of the season more than anything else.

The Elijah Moore breakout is here! Moore finished as the WR1 in week nine posting seven receptions for 84 yards and two touchdowns scoring 27.4 fantasy points. Moore also led the Jets with 93 Air Yards in week nine. While the rookie’s breakout may be stymied by the return of Corey Davis to the lineup, Moore remains a viable play in all formats with the hopes that he will continue to see the field and continue to see a similar Hog Rate as the aforementioned Davis.

Jakobi Meyers has posted three consecutive games under double digit fantasy points and hasn’t finished as a top 24 wide receiver on the week since week four. However, he continues to see significant target volume in the Patriots offense averaging 8 targets per game. Still without a touchdown on the season and an unlikely bet to score this week, Meyers remains a salary saving cash game play.