A couple of times this year I have mentioned how some DFS players
love including players from Thursday night games in their lineups.
This can work out if done sparingly and strategically, but often
times you will see lineups stacked full of players from this game.
My strategy is to involve myself in a few contests with a Thursday
start deadline, just so I can go against some of these suboptimal
lineups. When a game plays out similar to how it did last week,
it can provide a huge advantage going into the weekend. If you recall,
Cincinnati was a six-point favorite at home last week and fell flat
against the visiting Cleveland Browns. All of the Cleveland running
backs found the end zone but the game total was still under the
Vegas line. There were many entries that had excess exposure to
the Bengals nearly eliminating themselves before the Sunday games
even started.
Looking to this week, we have the second lowest total on the
board playing in the Thursday night game. While there are not
a lot of big fantasy names playing, you can bet that there will
be quite a few people making cases to get some Bills and Dolphins
in their lineup on Thursday night. If you are reading this before
the Thursday night game starts, get your lineup in and take advantage
of these rosters. For a website like DraftKings, you can put in
a dummy lineup and go back and change it prior to Sunday. At FanDuel
or other websites that lock once the first game starts, make sure
you have your best Sunday lineup ready to go. Here are a few ideas
that can help you create those rosters.
Las Vegas scoring lines for Week 11:
- Buffalo (18.25) at Miami (24.25)
- Houston (19.25) at Cleveland (22.25)
- Minnesota (21.75) at Chicago (24.75)
- Philadelphia (24.25) at Green Bay (30.25)
- Seattle (20.5) at Kansas City (22)
- Atlanta (22.5) at Carolina (24)
- Cincinnati (21.5) at New Orleans (29)
- Tampa Bay (18.75) at Washington (26.25)
- Denver (29.75) at St Louis (20.75)
- San Francisco (23.75) at NY Giants (19.75)
- Oakland (17.25) at San Diego (27.75)
- Detroit (19.75) at Arizona (21.75)
- New England (27.25) at Indianapolis (30.25)
- Pittsburgh (26.5) at Tennessee (20.5)
Bye: Baltimore, Dallas, Jacksonville, NY Jets
Salaries: (FanDuel/DraftKings)
Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers
(10,100/9,400) Rodgers is well rested after playing a
half a football and throwing 6 touchdowns last week. The Packers
have the highest team total and are at home where they have averaged
41.5 points per game this season. Pay up for Rodgers against a
banged up Eagles secondary on short rest.
Ben Roethlisberger (8,300/7,200) Big Ben disappointed
a lot of people last week who were hoping for another six-touchdown
performance. Look for him to bounce back this week against Tennessee
on Monday night.
Mark Sanchez (6,900/5,800) Sanchez has a tougher matchup
on the road in Green Bay than his game against the Panthers last
week. His price is still depressed and his value is there for
this projected shootout.
The Titans rank 7th in fantasy points allowed
to RBs.
Running Backs
LeVeon
Bell (8,600/7,200) Bell has seen a reduction in touches
the last couple of weeks but look for him to get 20-plus again.
Justin Forsett carved up the Titans defense last week and Bell
should do much of the same on Monday night.
Jerick
McKinnon (5,500/4,800) McKinnon has been doing a lot of
the work in the middle of the field and Asiata has been vulturing
the touchdowns. For that reason, McKinnon is a better tournament
play hoping he can break one into the end zone. He is still getting
plenty of touches and that makes him a value at these prices.
Jeremy
Hill (6,500/4,500) Recommending Hill comes with a couple
of caveats this week. This is a much better play if Giovani Bernard
(hip) is out again, which it appears he will be. Hill should still
see plenty of touches if Bernard is in, but it reduces his value.
Also, I would tend to use Hill at his DraftKings price rather
than this FanDuel price.
Bishop
Sankey (5,300/4,100) Truth be told, I am cringing a little
bit as I write about Sankey. His stat lines have not been impressive
and investors are still looking for his breakout game. That said,
he has been seeing a volume of carries and is worth a shot in
your tournament lineup.
Wide Recievers
Antonio
Brown (9,000/7,800) There is a bit of a theme this week
going with Steelers against the Titans on Monday night. Brown
is coming off a down week, not getting in the end zone and fumbling
twice. He still saw 9 targets for 8 catches and 74 yards. This
week he will get back on track likely facing Blidi Wreh-Wilson
and the Titans defense.
Julio
Jones (8,200/7,000) Jones has not been able to reach the
end zone since Week 2. He is averaging double-digit targets and
should see more of the same is week against a poor Carolina secondary.
Anquan
Boldin (6,900/6,100) Boldin had nearly identical stat lines
over the last two weeks hauling in 6 catches for over 90 yards
and a touchdown. Last week he was targeted 15 times and even had
4 drops or those results could have been even better. That volume
with his current price makes Boldin a good value this week.
Tight Ends
Jimmy
Graham (7,900/7,000) Graham logged 10 catches on 13 targets
and hauled in two touchdowns last week. This week he faces Cincinnati
who is giving up top ten production to opposing tight ends. Paying
up for Graham this week is a wise investment.
Antonio
Gates (6,700/5,000) Gates continues to see five-plus targets
a week and is one of Rivers favorite targets in the red zone.
Gates saw 8 targets and scored a touchdown last time against Oakland
in Week 6.
Larry
Donnell (5,200/3,900) If you are looking to save a little
money at this position, look at Donnell. Without Patrick Willis
in the middle of the 49ers defense, Donnell should find more room
to work, much like Jimmy Graham did last week.
Defenses
Pittsburgh (5,300/3,200)
Miami (5,300/3,400)
Denver (5,200/3,000)
Good luck this week!
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