Hitting on value plays is the key to cashing in DFS on FanDuel. These cheap players allow you to pay up for the best RBs that have the highest floor/ceiling combinations. It isn’t always easy to identify these “lineup makers”, but through advanced stats and metrics, we can find those reliable plays that casual fans will overlook. Let’s see who we can identify this week.
Josh Johnson, QB: $6500
Running QBs have the cheat code. These guys have the ability to get free fantasy points, raising their floors and ceilings. Washington QB Josh Johnson got 10 fantasy points from his legs last game and he didn’t even start.
Now Johnson is slated to start against the Jaguars. Pretty vaunting defense, right? Wrong. Guess what team has given up the most rushing yards and touchdowns to opposing QBs on the season? The Jaguars. He is nearly minimum priced coming off of a top-5 week. Hit the lock button.
Chris Ivory, RB: $4500
Bill’s RBs have not been good fantasy assets this year. That is primarily due to the fact that none of them have been able to consistently capture a strong opportunity share. With LeSean McCoy likely out with a hamstring injury, Chris Ivory will be able to just that.
The Lions have been stout ever since acquiring Damon Harrison from the Giants, but the Bills are sixth in the NFL in team run plays per game with 29.2. We can conservatively project Ivory for a 60 percent opportunity share, giving him about 18 carries and three targets. At the “stone-min” RB price, Ivory is an easy lineup maker.
Kenneth Dixon, RB: $5700
Ravens HC John Harbough stated that RB Kenneth Dixon‘s role would grow this coming week. Dixon is the most complete RB on the team, as evidenced by his 42.4 (92nd-percentile) College Dominator Rating and his 9.8% (69th-percentile) college target share. He can handle a massive workload on the ground and through the air, and it sounds like he’ll get the chance to prove it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Eat51km_M
Backfield-mate Gus Edwards offers zero in the passing game and continues to have one of the worst Juke Rates among RBs, as we pointed out two weeks ago. His opportunities and fantasy points have been trending down. This is the week that Dixon takes over the backfield.
Willie Snead, WR: $5000
Ravens WR Willie Snead is remarkably consistent. He has posted double-digit fantasy points in 9/12 weeks and has caught at least five balls for 50 yards in eight games this season. While his upside is severely limited (zero 100-yard games, one TD), he offers a solid floor for a cash lineup. Snead is at home against the Bucs 27th-ranked secondary.
Taylor Gabriel, WR: $5100
If you like to live dangerously, Taylor Gabriel is your guy. Gabriel has seen a team-leading 22 percent target share over the last four weeks and has seen no fewer than seven targets over that span. The Packers give up the third-most fantasy points on FanDuel to wide receivers. Furthermore, Gabriel will avoid standout rookie Jaire Alexander and will face Bashaud Breeland. He is #80 in PlayerProfiler’s CB rankings.
Vance McDonald, TE: $5500
The Patriots have a slow defense. We have seen this all season, as any speed has torched them. Enter Vance McDonald‘s 86th-percentile Speed Score. McDonald is a good athlete with elite after-the-catch ability. He’ll be able to shake free from the slow Patriots LBs and run away from their safeties. He doesn’t have a safe floor, but his ceiling is massive if Big Ben is on at home.
Vernon Davis, TE: $5300
Vernon Davis will be the chalk with Jordan Reed out. Add in Josh Doctson‘s questionable availability due to a concussion and you’re looking at a massive target share for the most athletic TE we’ve ever seen. He’s a solid cash staple with slate-breaking big play ability.
