Here at Roto Street Journal, we fancy ourselves as fantasy addicts. Fantasy football has evolved into something much more than your standard league draft. With the opportunity to enter new lineups every week through Daily Fantasy Sports, the RSJ will be giving you the best plays for your lineups, in order to win you some cash. From the high-priced superstars, to the penny stock sleepers, we have you covered to piece together the optimal lineup week by week.
Note:
- Standard DraftKings salaries are used when creating these lineups.
- The Thursday Night and Monday Night Football games are excluded from tournament play
Quarterbacks
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Top Shelf
- Cam Newton ($8,100) – This is assuming that Newton is cleared to play. If that’s the case, Cam has the best possible matchup against the putrid Saints in the dome. He could honestly put up 40.
- Tom Brady ($7,700) – The eggplant man returned and blessed us all with his presence to the tune of 30+ points. Now in his first game at home of the season, you can expect Brady to be even more fired up that last week. That crowd is going to be NUTS, and Tom will feed right off it.
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Retail Price
- Russell Wilson ($6,900) – After torching the Jets in Week 4 and having a week to rest his ankle, Wilson takes on Atlanta at home. The Falcons have a pretty bad defense, and you have to like Seattle any time they play at home.
- Derek Carr ($6,500) – Carr has lifted the Raiders to new heights this season and looks to continue that trend against the Chiefs. He’s put up 20+ points in every game, minus his stinker in Tennessee. Ride the hot hand of Carr at home.
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Bang For Your Buck
- Alex Smith ($5,700) – If you really need flexibility,Smith could be an interesting play. He’ll have low ownership and could fall behind on the road in Oakland. The Raiders have a susceptible secondary and have allowed many points to opposing QBs.
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My Pick
- Marcus Mariota ($6,100) – Make it four weeks in a row picking against the Browns defense for me. Mariota exploded for 30 points last week against Miami and now gets Cleveland at home in a plus matchup. He’s starting to heat up as a passer, and his legs are just gravy ontop of what could be a big day.
Running Backs
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Top Shelf
- Le’Veon Bell ($7,900) – Bell is pretty much a lock for 20+ points every week based on the way Pittsburgh has used him in the receiving game. Miami is awful against the run, making it that much easier for Bell to rack up points this week.
- Demarco Murray ($7,700) – Speaking of scoring 20+ points every week, Murray has actually done that for Weeks 1-5. He should have no problem doing it again Sunday versus the lowly Browns.
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Retail Price
- Jordan Howard ($6,200) – As I predicted, Howard had a HUGE game as the featured back against Indy. He should continue to see a high volume of touches, and running on the Jaguars shouldn’t be a difficult task.
- Carlos Hyde ($5,100) – Hyde continues to be lost to DK pricers as he still sits in the 5k range. He’s been averaging 20 points per game, and I think he will greatly benefit from Colin Kaepernick being named the starter. Those read options will work right in his favor against a Bills defense that just gave up 18 points to Todd Gurley.
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Bang For Your Buck
- Ryan Mathews ($4,900) – The key here is that Mathews is healthy and ready to run. He’s averaging about 16 ppg in the three games he’s been healthy, and now gets a very favorable matchup against Washington.
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My Pick
- LeSean McCoy ($6,900) – Shady has been a man possessed scoring 20+ in his last three contests. He gets a home matchup against the 49ers who rank 31st in run defense this year. Feed the beast. I’m salivating.
Wide Recievers
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Top Shelf
- Antonio Brown ($10,000) – I probably shouldn’t even include him here because it’s too obvious. Brown is amazing and will be good for 20+ every week. You know exactly what you’re getting every Sunday.
- Allen Robinson ($7,800) – Robinson has seen double digit targets in three of four games this year and has found the endzone in back to back contests. QB Blake Bortles is starting to build rhythm, which starts by feeding Robinson the ball. TY Hilton went for 10-171-1 last week against the Bears, so I would expect Robinson to churn and burn that secondary.
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Retail Price
- Randall Cobb ($6,000) – Cobb will benefit from Jordy Nelson receiving majority of the seconday’s attention. Dallas has done a great job limiting opposing teams #1 receiver, but have struggled to handle the secondary receivers. Enter Cobb coming off his best game of the season while playing at home in Lambeau.
- Will Fuller ($5,900) – Fuller has arguably been the Texans most productive receiver thus far. His elite speed has made him such a dangerous weapon, and playing against the Colts secondary is a plus matchup this week.
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Bang For Your Buck
- Sammie Coates ($4,700) – Coates should be a pretty popular play after exploding last week for 35 points. He’s got another plus matchup at Miami so there’s a good chance last week wasn’t just a flash in the pan.
- Kamar Aiken ($3,000) – With Steve Smith likely out nursing an ankle injury, Aiken should fill right into the coveted slot role. The Giants have struggled covering the slot, and Aiken was very good last year when Smith was out with injury.
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My Pick
- Doug Baldwin ($6,500) – Dougie Fresh has been lights out at home, scoring 24 and 33 points in two contests. Now going against the Falcons secondary, Baldwin draws a plus matchup that his QB should look to exploit and shred all game.
Tight Ends
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Top Play
- Greg Olsen ($7,000) – Olsen has been consistenly solid this year and now draws a beautiful matchup against the Saints. He’s QB proof whether Cam Newton or Derek Anderson ends up under center as he will put up big numbers either way.
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Value Plays
- Delanie Walker ($5,500) – Walker is my pick this week to stack with Mariota after connecting for a big touchdown last week. Now Walker faces Cleveland who is dead last against tight ends. Last week both Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett combined for a stat line of 11-176-3. BUY! BUY! BUY!
- Jimmy Graham ($4,900) – Graham has really turned it on since fully returning from injury putting up 20 points in back to back games. As previously mentioned, the Falcons defense is ripe for picking apart, and Graham could find himself in the end zone multiple times.
Defenses
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Top Play
- Buffalo Bills ($3,700) – Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills. Rex and company are hot, winning three straight and now face the 49ers at home who are now starting Kaepernick. He can be very turnover prone, which would play nicely into Buffalo’s hands.
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Value Plays
- Tennessee Titans ($3,300) – Picking against the Browns usually works out well when looking at defenses. With Josh McCown still unlikely to start, it appears Cody Kessler will be able to start under center once again. Music to our ears.
- New England Patriots ($3,200) – The Patriots usually do a good job of limiting the opponents top weapon (AJ Green) so the Bengals could hav difficulty moving the ball. Jeremy Hill is banged up, and the Pats usually stop the run quite well. Add in that it’s Brady’s return home, and Gillette will be rocking.
- Detroit Lions ($3,000) – Here’s a stretch play mostly being picked for Case Keenum on the road. The Lions had 7 points last week at home against Philly, so I would think they could score more against a weaker Rams offense.
