With the fantasy football season over, chances are you looking for something to takes its place. Not only will creating a Draft Kings lineup for Wild Card Weekend help fill that void in your heart, but it will also make the games a lot more interesting to watch if your favorite team is hitting the links instead of the gridiron. My strategy for creating a DFS playoff lineup is to realize which studs are worth the money and find those under-the-radar players with high breakout potential. Thus, here are my value plays for this weekend:
Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger ($7,200)
Yes, Big Ben did struggle when the two teams met in Week 6, but don’t expect lighting to strike twice in the same place. Let’s not forget that Roethlisberger was forced to play a majority of that game injured. After sitting Week 17, a well rested Big Ben should piece apart a Miami defense that yielded the fourth most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Feel comfortable spending the money on Roethlisberger, as he has dominated when playing at Heinz Field throughout his career.
Eli Manning ($6,100)
Playoff pedigree, my friends. Sure Eli had a rough season, but he is a different animal come playoff time. Specifically, he has owned the Packers and Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau in the playoffs. It’s worth mentioning that the Packers’ defense has allowed the second most passing yards in the league this year. The stage is set for Manning to continue his playoff dominance.
Matt Moore ($5,100)
If you’re trying to save money at quarterback, then Matt Moore is your best option. In the four games he has played this season, Moore has recorded a 105.6 passer rating and an 8:3 TD:INT ratio. Pittsburgh’s defense has struggled throughout the season and has allowed an average of 242.6 passing yards per game, which places them in the bottom half of the league. If this game goes as expected and the Steelers jump out to a big lead, the volume will be there for Matt Moore to rack in some garbage time points.
Running Backs
Le’Veon Bell ($10,300)
Sure, Le’Veon Bell is coming at a hefty price this week, but rightfully so. Bell is an integral part of the Steelers’ offense and will receive a ton of touches, just as he did throughout the regular season. Whether its on the ground or through the air, Le’Veon is a sure bet to feast on a below-average Miami defense. Bell is worth his price and should be inserted in all lineups this week.
Lamar Miller ($6,100)
Miller received no injury designation leading up to Saturday’s contest and is expected to start for the Texans. He has had his struggles, but Miller did rush for 1,073 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games this year. With inept Brock Osweiler back at quarterback, I’m expecting the Texans the lean heavily on their run game. More so, the Raiders have surrendered an average of 18.5 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this year.
Paul Perkins ($4,100)
Perkins is another really cheap option that offers breakout potential. His snap count and touches have seen an increase in recent weeks. In Week 17, Perkins looked to be the clear number one running back- over Rashad Jennings- as he became the first Giants running back to reach the century mark in yards this year. Perkins is expected to start Sunday against a Packers defense that has lost their ability to shut down the run throughout the season.
Wide Receivers
Odell Beckham Jr. ($9,100)
See Eli Manning section. OBJ will be the primary beneficiary if Eli Manning plays to a high standard. Beckham is steeply priced, but he should be worth it against a team he put up 17 fantasy points against in Week 5.
Golden Tate ($6,300)
Tate has scored double digit fantasy points in six consecutive weeks now and has been a favorite target of Matt Stafford’s. The main reason behind my pick here is my lack of confidence in an Earl Thomas-less Seahawks’ defense. It may sound silly, but Earl Thomas was the glue that kept this defense together. Without him, they have struggled in recent weeks. The Seahawks are a top rated defense, but I believe Tate will be up for the challenge as he will be out for blood against his former team.
Eli Rogers ($4,000)
Rogers is peaking at just the right time to be a possible breakout candidate for this weekend. Over his last three games, he has averaged five catches and 73.3 yards per game. His most recent snap count had him on the field for 76% of the Steelers’ plays. Lining up as the number two receiver behind Antonio Brown, Rogers should reap in the benefits of Big Ben’s success.
Tight Ends
Jared Cook ($3,600)
Cooks has out-snapped Rodgers over the Packers final six regular season games and seems to have developed a good rapport with Aaron Rodgers. The Giants have been stringent to opposing wide receivers this year, but have been a middle of the pack team at defending opposing tight ends. With Aaron Rodgers throwing you the ball, you have to like your chances.
C.J. Fiedorowicz ($4,200)
The Raiders are ranked in the bottom half of the league at defending opposing tight ends and Fiedorowicz has averaged 8.9 fantasy points per game this year. It’s also worth mentioning that his best games have come with Brock Osweiler at quarterback. Being a shaky passer, Osweiler will rely on his safety blanket of a tight end.
