FanDuel Studs and Duds of Week 11
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Welcome to the eleventh edition of Studs & Duds! You may be familiar with The Fantasy Footballers’ Studs and Duds segment. This will take a closer look at who shined and who disappointed specifically in pricing and scoring the week before. If you’re new to DFS all together, read the The Beginner’s Guide To FanDuel DFS. First, we’ll take a look at the Expensive Studs; guys who were worth the big bucks. Second, the Value Studs; guys you got at a decent price, good value. Third, I’ll highlight the Super Bargain Studs; guys who were studs in a big way at little cost to you. Then, last and least, we’ll look at the Duds; guys who really disappointed relative to their cost.
All prices and point totals are from FanDuel.
Expensive Studs
RB David Johnson vs MIN, $8300, 31.5 pts.
-7 receptions, 57 receiving yards, 103 rushing yards, 2 TD
This guy has won a lot of people money this year. Johnson recorded his third 30-plus point performance on Sunday and was the lone bright spot in a tough game for the Arizona Cardinals. The last time Johnson had less than 12 fantasy points was Week 17 of last year. His floor is absolutely absurd and his ceiling is about as high as it can be. Week in and week out you should feel confident paying the high price of $9500 for Johnson, especially against the sub-par defense of the Atlanta Falcons.
WR Dez Bryant vs BAL, $7400, 23 pts.
-6 receptions, 80 receiving yards, 2 TD
After one of the most emotional performances of the year last week, Bryant followed up this week with an even bigger game to honor his late father. He has scored over 19 fantasy points in 3 of the last 4 weeks. In that same span, he’s also led the team in targets, recording a whopping 14 in Week 8. Nationally the Cowboys may be touted as QB Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliott’s team but Bryant’s talent is undeniable. He’s poised for a huge end to his season and I would feel comfortable paying for him every week except the team’s trip to Minnesota in Week 13.
WR T.Y. Hilton vs TEN, $7900, 18.2 pts.
-5 receptions, 97 receiving yards, 1 TD
Hilton once again led the Colts receiving core in every statistical category. He’s been tremendous all year, posting double-digit fantasy points in all but 3 games so far. He’s also on pace for career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Whenever Andrew Luck is on the field it’s a guarantee that Hilton will find passes coming his way all game long. The key phrase; when Andrew Luck in on the field. As most would assume, I would not trust Hilton if Luck misses any time with his concussion. Backup Scott Tolzien has a career 1:5 TD to INT ratio along with a sweet spin move (check my Twitter for the gif). I’ll only pay his $8,100 price tag if Luck is throwing him the ball.
RB Le’Veon Bell vs CLE, $9100, 30.1 pts.
-8 receptions, 55 receiving yards, 146 rushing yards, 1 TD
QB Tom Brady vs SF, $9300, 28.4 pts.
-280 passing yards, 12 rushing yards, 4 passing TD
Value Studs
QB Kirk Cousins vs GB, $7600, 27.4 pts.
-375 passing yards, 4 rushing yards, 3 passing TD
Oooowwweee, Cousins was dropping dimes on Sunday Night Football, throwing for 3 touchdowns for the second time this season. Everything seems to be falling into place for him to have another huge end to his season. With players like DeSean Jackson and Jordan Reed returning from injury, and Jamison Crowder emerging as a legitimate threat, Cousins has a plethora of weapons to throw to. Over the last 9 games of the season last year he averaged just over 24 fantasy points per game, dropping back-to-back 40 point performances in Weeks 15 and 16. I wouldn’t be stoked to use him at $7400 this week against Dallas as I’m waiting until he gets a juicy matchup to feast upon.
WR Julian Edelman vs SF, $6100, 18.9 pts.
-8 receptions, 77 receiving yards, 12 rushing yards, 1 TD
In his return to his hometown (sort of), Edelman was force fed the ball with a team and season high 17 targets. We’re finally starting to see the Edelman we fell in love last year. In Tom Brady’s first two weeks back, Edelman averaged just 4.5 receptions a game, since then he’s averaged 7 receptions a game. With tight end Rob Gronkowski out, it doesn’t surprise me that Edelman is the one seeing those extra looks. I expect much of the same next week and will have him in some lineups at $6400 against the New York Jets.
TE Eric Ebron vs JAX, $5400, 16.6 pts.
-3 receptions, 70 receiving yards, 1 rush yard, 1 TD
Ever since returning from injury, Ebron has been a key part to the Lions offense. In the three games since he’s returned, he’s averaged 12.9 fantasy points per game, hitting double-digits in every single one. He’s also had at least 5 targets in each of those games as well. I won’t be using him this week against Minnesota but he’s someone to absolutely consider down the road when the matchups get sweeter.
RB Tim Hightower vs CAR, $6000, 24.9 pts.
-8 receptions, 57 receiving yards, 69 rushing yards
WR Doug Baldwin vs PHI, $6700, 18.4 pts.
-4 receptions, 104 receiving yards, 15 passing yards, 1 passing TD
QB Marcus Mariota vs GB, $7500, 25.6 pts.
-301 passing yards, 16 rushing yards, 3 passing TD
Super Bargain Studs
RB Rob Kelley vs GB, $5400, 31.7 pts.
-137 rushing yards, 3 TDs
In his entire career at Tulane University, Kelley had never run for over 100 yards. So naturally, what does he do? Only run for 137 and 3 touchdowns in the national spotlight. In his 66 carries this year he’s averaging almost 5 YPC and has 321 yards. Since being named the starter, Kelley has had at least 10 fantasy points in each game. His $5700 price is a nice deal for someone who could get upwards of 20 touches despite a tall task in Dallas on Thursday.
RB Rashad Jennings vs CHI, $5600, 21.4 pts.
–5 receptions, 44 receiving yards, 85 rushing yards, 1 TD
Old man strength is back. Jennings dominated the Giants backfield in a comeback win for the New York Giants, out-touching rookie Paul Perkins 26-6. Not only is he a good down field runner but a definite threat out of the backfield as a pass catcher. I love me some Jennings next week and FanDuel does too, boosting his price by $1000 to $6600 against Cleveland. We just saw Le’Veon Bell torch the Browns defense for over 140 on the ground and 50 through the air. I have no doubt Jennings can return on his new price both as a pass-catcher and a runner.
QB Colin Kaepernick vs NE, $7000, 19.44 pts.
-206 passing yards, 32 rushing yards, 2 passing TD
Not only did Kaepernick need ice for his arm after the game on Sunday but also ice for the burn he received from Scott Hansen on Red Zone about his decision to not vote. Joke’s aside, fellow FootClan writer Ben Cummins dove deeper into why Kaepernick might be criminally underused (if you’re not following Ben, do it. Seriously). Through 5 games Kaepernick is averaging 19.9 fantasy points per game but being priced as QB14. Whatever Chip Kelly is doing seems to be working and when it’s not, Kaep makes it up in garbage time. My eyes have been opened from the narrative that Kaepernick shouldn’t be used in fantasy and at $7200 this week he provides a nice, cheap option.
TE Jared Cook vs WAS, $4500, 17.5 pts.
-6 receptions, 105 receiving yards, 1 TD
WR Pierre Garcon vs GB, $5700, 20.6 pts.
-6 receptions, 116 receiving yards, 1 TD
Duds
Arizona Cardinals Receivers vs MIN;
Michael Floyd, $4900, 3.1 pts.
-2 receptions, 21 receiving yards
J.J. Nelson, $5800, .5 pts.
-1 reception, 0 receiving yards
John Brown, $5900, 0 pts.
-o receptions, 0 receiving yards.
For all three receivers, that’s a grand total of 3 receptions for 21 yards. Floyd and Nelson were both tied with 5 targets, while Brown was close behind with 4. All three have had shining moments this year and all three have had their share of mistakes. Nonetheless, trying to guess who the Cardinals number two receiver is going to be each week is not a game I want to be playing. With all three priced from $5600 to $5100 this week, I’m saying thanks but no thanks despite a nice matchup.
TE Martellus Bennett vs SF, $5200, 1.9 pts.
-1 reception, 14 receiving yards
With fellow tight end, Rob Gronkowski sidelined many felt Bennett was a must start against a poor San Francisco defense. Unfortunately, the team focused on featuring receivers Julian Edelman and Malcolm Mitchell. If you haven’t learned this already, you need to know that Bill Belichick hates your fantasy football team. He will pick out a weakness in the opposing defense to exploit all game long and let’s say, Bennett, isn’t part of the game plan, you can almost guarantee a dud. On the other side, if your player is a big part of the game plan, they will be fed the ball to your heart’s desire. What I’m trying to say is I’d just chalk this up to Bennett just not being part of the game plan. The team clearly likes him as there are reports of them attempting to extend his contract, and I like him at $5500 on FanDuel, especially if Gronk is out again.
QB Matthew Stafford vs JAX, $7900 11.1 pts.
-267 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 INT
After forcing himself into the MVP conversation in the first half of the season, Stafford has seemed to hit a second half slump. Since his bye in Week 10 he has yet to score over 20 fantasy points in a game, averaging just 14 fantasy points per game. Need I remind you, he has all his weapons back and healthy. Unfortunately, you don’t get any fantasy points for comeback wins or else you’d be starting this guy every week. I’d stay away from him on Thanksgiving against Minnesota but I like him to bounce back against New Orleans and Chicago the following weeks.
TE Tyler Eifert vs BUF, $6300, 5.2 pts.
-4 receptions, 36 yards
RB Jeremy Hill vs BUF, $5900, 7.3 pts.
-2 receptions, 1 receiving yard, 62 rushing yards
RB Ty Montgomery vs WAS, $5200, 5.2 pts.
-3 receptions, 27 receiving yards 17 rushing yards
QB Ben Roethlisberger vs CLE, $8400, 8.68 pts.
-167 passing yards
WR Davante Adams vs WAS, $7600, 5.7 pts.
-3 receptions, 42 receiving yards
WR Marvin Jones vs JAX, $6500, 2 pts.
-1 reception, 15 receiving yards
The new prices are already out for Week 12!
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