In our second week partnering with DraftKings, owners will have a better feel for the scoring and pricing system. This week, there’s plenty of values to find in terms of pricing. Some players are (in my opinion) overpriced, opening up plenty of opportunities to get some steals this week with just two teams on bye.
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Quarterback: Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (NYG) - $7,200
In a week that Andrew Luck costs $9,700 against a good Bengals defense, and when Drew Brees is $8,100 against a great Lions defense, Romo is a steal for this price. He’s averaging just three fantasy points less than Brees this season, and is facing a Giants team that just allowed Nick Foles to throw for 248 yards and two touchdowns. Romo has thrown just two interceptions in his past five games, and although the Cowboys might be a run-first team now, Romo to Dez Bryant will never stop being an effective combination.
Running Back: Ben Tate, Cleveland Browns (JAX) - $5,300
I spent far less money on running backs this week to stack up on receivers, but Tate is still an effective play this week against a terrible Jaguars team. Jacksonville has allowed the second most fantasy points to running backs this year, per our fantasy against rankings (paid subscription required). In Tate’s past two games, he’s carried the ball 47 times, and just scored two touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Despite the presence of Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West in Cleveland, Tate is the go-to guy in the rushing game, and I expect the Browns to be up early against Jacksonville. Tate will be a lock for at least 20 carries.
Running Back: Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens (ATL) - $5,600
The only team to allow more fantasy points to running backs than the Jaguars? The Atlanta Falcons. Forsett has separated himself as the No. 1 back in Baltimore, and has even more value with his receiving ability about the backfield. DraftKings awards a point per reception, and up until last week, Forsett had at least three receptions in each of his first five games. He also just had his first 100-yard rushing game, showing that he can get it done in multiple ways.
Wide Receiver: Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina Panthers (GB) - $5,600
Benjamin is currently being examined for a concussion, so pay attention to his status as the week goes on, but if he plays, Benjamin is a great value for being $1,400 cheaper than Mohamed Sanu. Benjamin has had games of six, seven and eight receptions this season and has four double-digit point games. He’s also the ninth most targeted wide receiver, per our advanced metrics, and has scored four touchdowns in six games.
Wide Receiver: Malcom Floyd, San Diego Chargers (KC) - $4,800
Floyd is the best value at any position this week. In a week where Mike Wallace costs $5,900 and Cecil Shorts is $5,400, you can’t go wrong with Floyd. He has been a more effective receiver this season than Keenan Allen, and just had his first 100-yard game (he was two yards short of another one in Week 3). The Chiefs are allowing over 34 points to receivers per game.
Wide Receiver: Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (BAL) - $7,800
Jimmy Smith has been have a great year for the Ravens, but the rest of the secondary is awful, and Jones will have a huge day against Baltimore, making him worth the money. The Ravens are allowing the second most fantasy points to receivers, and Jones has been the most targeted receiver in the league, averaging 11.5 targets per game. Jones already has three 100-yard games, including a 168-yard performance in Atlanta’s destruction of the Buccaneers. He hasn’t scored a touchdown since then, but Jones has been so effective it’s tough to pass him up.
Tight End: Jordan Cameron, Cleveland Browns (JAX) - $4,600
I’m piling on the Jaguars again, who have allowed the second most points to tight ends this season. Jacksonville outside linebacker Geno Hayes has allowed the fourth most yards per coverage snaps among 4-3 outside linebackers who have played at least 50 percent of their team’s snaps, per Pro Football Focus. Corners Will Blackmon and Dwayne Gratz are both allowing a quarterback rating higher than 101 to opponents who throw at them. Cameron just had his breakout game against the Steelers, and I expect him to carry that momentum over to this week.
Flex: Julian Edelman, New England Patriots (NYJ) - $6,000
Edelman came through for me last week after picking him for my flex spot, catching nine passes for over 90 yards. His 19 points from last week could certainly be approached once again against a Jets team that is now without Dee Milliner, their best player in the secondary. Edelman has been targeted the eighth most times and has four games of 17 points or more in DraftKings leagues.
Defense: Cleveland Browns (JAX) - $3,000
Again, this is more about the Jaguars than anything, but it’s never a bad idea to play a defense against that offensive line. No opposing defense has scored less than 10 points when facing the Jaguars and they’ve allowed 16 sacks. Blake Bortles has thrown seven interceptions in his four games, and just four touchdowns. Jacksonville hasn’t been able to do anything on offense, and Paul Kruger and co. along the front seven should have big days.