Get your popcorn ready, because we are rolling out dimes here on the DFS NFL Playbook this week. Unlike last week’s fiasco, in which pretty much every stud player not named Le’Veon Bell disappointed us, we don’t have many top-tier players to choose from this week because they are all out injured. This benefits those of us who have paid attention all season and know the skills certain backup players bring to the table. Thus, we are in a good spot enteri🌜ng this week in seasonal and, especially, in daily fantasy.
The formula seems easy to un🦹derstand: Lock in the mid-level QB, pay up for the elite-level RBs and blend the mid-tier and value WRs to form the winning lineups. Sounds easy, right? Well, it is. So enough of my talk, let’s get to this week𝔉s plays:
QB, Philip Rivers, Chargers, vs. Raiders
FanDuel: $7,800
DraftKings: $6,200
FantasyAce: $6,650
Breakdown: The loss of Melvin Gordon only will help Rivers throw the ball more in what I project as the highest scoring game of ♔this week. The more the Raiders score, the more Rivers will throw. He dropped 359 yards and four TDs on Oakland earlier this year and put up 336 yards and three TDs against them last year at home.
QB, Matt Ryan, Falcons, vs. 49ers
FD: $8,500
DK: $7,300
FA: $7,300
Breakdown:
QB, Tyrod Taylor, Bills, vs. Browns
FD: $7,600
DK: $5,700
FA: $6,500
Breakdown:
QB, Joe Flacco, Ravens, vs. Eagles
FD: $7,400
DK: $5,700
FA: $5,850
Breakdown:
QB, Derek Carr, Raiders, at Chargers
FD: $7,900
DK: $6,300
FA: $6,450
Breakdown:
RB, David Johnson, Cardinals, vs. Saints
FD: $9,800
DK: $10,100
FA: $6,650
Breakdown: Ever notice how David Johnson always seems to have an ama🔯zing matchup? Well, he does once again this week, and he is my choice if you are going to pay top dollar for a RB this week. Le’Veon Bell is also a great play, but ownership and matchup pushes me in the D.J. direction this week.
RB, Kenneth Farrow, Chargers, vs. Raiders
FD: $6,000
DK: $4,400
FA: $4,500
Breakdown: Most obvious choice on the board. Farrow will lead the Chargers in touches this week and is going up against the third-worst defense in yards per carry and seventh-worst in rushing yards allowed per game. I am hoping the news of a possible split with Ronnie Hillman will scare off enough people to this RB, who very likely could hit three or four tim🅰es his salary value.
RB, LeSean McCoy, Bills, vs. Browns
FD: $9,000
DK: $8,900
FA: $6,100
Breakdown:
RB, LeGarrette Blount, Patriots, at Broncos
FD: $6,300
DK: $5,000
FA: $4,950
Breakdown:
RB, Carlos Hyde, 49ers, at Falcons
FD: $7,000
DK: $5,900
FA: $5,200
Breakdown:
RB, DeMarco Murray, Titans, at Chiefs
FD: $7,400
DK: $6,900
FA: $5,550
Breakdown:
RB, Devonta Freeman, Falcons, vs. 49ers
FD: $7,700
DK: $6,700
FA: $5,700
Breakdown:
RB, Isaiah Crowell, Browns, at Bills
FD: $5,500
DK: $4,100
FA: $4,300
Breakdown:
WR, Mike Evans, Buccaneers, at Cowboys
FD: $8,200
DK: $8,300
FA: $5,850
Breakdown: I’m going to keep using Evans until he gets back on track to his 15-plus target ways. The Buccaneers are playing for their division and playoff life every week now, and when the going gets touไgh💃, as its expected to in Dallas, the tough throws the ball up to Evans.
WR, Stefon Diggs, Vikings, vs. Colts
FD: $6,300
DK: $6,200
FA: $4,650
Breakdown: We’ve been waiting on this matchup for Diggs for more than a month now. He is at home going up against journeyman CB Darryl Morris. Before going down with a knee injury in Week 10, Diggs 🥃was tearing it up — averaging 14 targets, 11 receptions and 107 yard🎶s over his previous three games. I fully expect him to get back on that track this week.
WR, Michael Crabtree, Raiders, at Chargers
FD: $6,000
DK: $5,900
FA: $4,800
Breakdown: The Crabtree whisp👍erer says to all, “Play the Crab” this week. He will be lining up against the Chargers “other” corner while Amari Cooper does battle with Casey Heyward. Love the discounted salary here too, and don’t worry about his questionable status as Crabtree absolut💙ely will be active.
WR, Odell Beckham Jr., Giants, vs. Lions
FD: $8,600
DK: $8,000
FA: $6,500
Breakdown:
WR, Mike Wallace, Ravens, vs. Eagles
FD: $5,900
DK: $4,800
FA: $4,400
Breakdown:
WR, Sammy Watkins, Bills, vs. Browns
FD: $6,100
DK: $5,900
FA: $4,750
Breakdown:
WR, Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals, vs. Saints
FD: $7,200
DK: $7,000
FA: $4,850
Breakdown:
WR, Dez Bryant, Cowboys, vs. Buccaneers
FD: $7,500
DK: $6,800
FA: $5,150
Breakdown:
WR, Davante Adams, Packers, at Bears
FD: $6,900
DK: $6,100
FA: $5,100
Breakdown:
WR, Dontrelle Inman, Chargers, vs. Raiders
FD: $5,500
DK: $5,100
FA: $4,300
Breakdown:
WR, Mohamed Sanu, Falcons, vs. 49ers
FD: $5,300
DK: $4,900
FA: $4,250
Breakdown:
TE, Ladarius Green, Steelers, at Bengals
FD: $5,600
DK: $3,700
FA: $4,150
Breakdown: Green isn’t a volume play TE, but he is a big-play threat at the position — which is practically impossible to find outside of him. The Bengals never guard the TE well and ꦯhave a real problem against speedy TEs, which plays directly into Green’s hands.
TE, Travis Kelce, Chiefs, vs. Titans
FD: $6,900
DK: $5,900
FA: $4,900
Breakdown:
TE, Kyle Rudolph, Vikings, vs. Colts
FD: $5,800
DK: $4,300
FA: $4,600
Breakdown:
TE, Delanie Walker, Titans, at Chiefs
FD: $6,100
DK: $3,900
FA: $4,600
Breakdown:
TE, Antonio Gates, Chargers, vs. Raiders
FD: $5,300
DK: $4,100
FA: $3,900
Breakdown:
TE, Will Tye, Giants, vs. Lions
FD: $4,500
DK: $2,900
FA: $3,500
Breakdown:
K, Kai Forbath, Vikings, vs. Colts
FD: $4,500
DK: N/A
FA: N/A
Breakdown: A minimum-priced kicker at home with th𒆙e third-worst red-zone offense.ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ That is a terrific combo for a DFS kicker
K, Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders, at Chargers
FD: $4,900
DK: N/A
FA: N/A
Breakdown: Pay up for the big leg of Janikowski in the game ﷽that I believe will feat⛦ure the most points of the entire week.
K, Josh Lambo, Chargers, vs. Raiders
FD: $4,600
DK: N/A
FA: N/A
Breakdown: If you need to save a couple hundred bucks, just move to the other side of this game and use Josh Lambo🍒 at home.
K, Justin Tucker, Ravens, vs. Eagles
FD: $5,200
DK: N/A
FA: N/A
Breakdown: Tucker is the best kicke🍷r in the NFL when you combine accuracy and leg strength༺. He always is a great play in DFS, too, if you can afford his salary.
K, Robbie Gould, Giants, vs. Lions
FD: $4,500
DK: N/A
FA: N/A
Breakdown: This game ver🀅y likely🌺 could turn into a field goal fest. Either Matt Prater or the minimum priced Robbie Gould will do.
D/ST, Buffalo Bills, vs. Browns
FD: $5,100
DK: $3,700
FA: $3,300
Breakdown: Any ꧋D/ST against the Browns is in a good♈ spot. Especially when they are at home and favored by 10-plus points.
D/ST, Houston Texans, vs. Jaguars
FD: $5,000
DK: $3,800
FA: $2,800
Breakdown: The Texans make big plays on defense, and Blake Bortles always 🔜is wil🥂ling to oblige in that department.
D/ST, Baltimore Ravens, vs. Eagles
FD: $4,700
DK: $3,100
FA: $2,950
Breakdown: The Ravens playing the Patriots in Foxborou🌊gh last week and going home to face the Eagles is like swinging the baseball bat without the doughnut.
D/ST, New York Giants, vs. Lions
FD: $4,600
DK: $2,900
FA: $2,900
Breakdown: The Giants’ defense just keeps getting better every week.ꦇ Matthew Stafford is not nearly as effective on the road, plus he is playing with a torn ligament in his throwing hand. This one could get real ugly for the Lions’ offense.
D/ST, Minnesota Vikings, vs. Colts
FD: $4,500
DK: $3,500
FA: $2,900
Breakdown: The Colts will 🔴be without three of their five starting offensive linemen and two of their main WRs this week. The Vikings will be able to get to Andrew Luck and cause some damage in the interim.
D/ST, Jacksonville Jaguars, at Texans
FD: $4,100
DK: $2,600
FA: $2,500
Breakdown: Basically a fr🥂ee defense that shouldn’t be too bad since Brock Osweiler is a turnover machine.
Jeff Mans is the head of content at and host of the “The Fantasy Alarm Show” on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. To get all you need to learn, play and win daily fantasy sports, get the DFS Playbook PRO from FantasyAlarm.com.