FanDuel Studs and Duds of Week 5
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Welcome to the fifth 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 FanDuel 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
QB Tom Brady vs CLE, $8700, 29 pts.
-406 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 14 rushing yards
Yes, it’s true, we can finally stop hearing about deflated footballs. Brady is back and he looked like he hasn’t missed a step. He carved up Cleveland’s secondary for over 400 yards and 3 touchdown passes. There’s really not much else to say about one of the greatest quarterbacks to play the game. He’s the highest priced quarterback next week at $9000 and you can bet your bottom dollar he’s going to want to light it up in front of the hometown crowd next week.
RB Le’Veon Bell vs NYJ, $8600, 19.9 pts.
-9 receptions, 88 receiving yards, 66 rushing yards
Another player returning from suspension, Bell has averaged 20.1 points in his first two games without even scoring a touchdown. In his first week back he rushed for over 144 yards. In his second week, he caught 9 passes for 88 yards, proving he’s one of most versatile backs in the NFL. Everyone in FanDuel will be targeting Bell this week as he takes on the 32nd ranked Miami Dolphins’ rush defense. Due to his favorable matchup and the expected high ownership, he might not be the best contest play, but he should have a huge game next week.
QB Philip Rivers vs OAK, $8300, 26.4 pts.
-359 passing yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs
No weapons? No problem. After losing two of his favorite targets in Keenan Allen and Danny Woodhead, Rivers has still managed to be the sixth highest scoring QB this season. He has thrown touchdowns to 7 different Chargers receivers. His price has steadily been rising and expect the same in the near future. Three of his next five matchups are extremely favorable in the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, and Miami Dolphins. Rivers can be trusted in those type of games but stay clear of him in his two meetings with the Denver Broncos.
WR Antonio Brown vs NYJ, $9600, 18.3 pts
-9 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD
RB Ezekiel Elliott vs CIN, $7900, 30.6
-3 receptions, 37 receiving yards, 134 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Value Studs
RB Jordan Howard vs IND, $7200, 23.8 pts.
-3 receptions, 45 receiving yards, 118 rushing yards, 1 TD
Howard didn’t just run wild against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, he’s running away with the starting job for the Chicago Bears. With Jeremy Langford out, Howard has only rushed for over 100 yards in each of his two starts. It’s clear that the coaching staff is impressed with the fifth round pick out of Indiana. At $7700 this week against Jacksonville, Howard should continue his streak of 100-yard games once again.
RB Tevin Coleman vs DEN, $5900, 24.3 pts.
-4 receptions, 132 receiving yards, 31 rushing yards, 1 TD
Bad news? Teammate Devonta Freeman dominated the carries on Sunday with 23 compared to Coleman’s 6. Good news? Coleman was tied for the team high in targets. Coleman will without a doubt he a factor in the best offense in football. Even if Freeman continues to dominate carries, Coleman will get production in the passing game. His price doesn’t change at all in another tough matchup in Seattle. At $5900, his big play ability could be worth a gamble.
RB Theo Riddick vs PHI, $6200, 23.8 pts.
-6 receptions, 33 receiving yards, 49 rushing yards, 2 TDs
After losing both Ameer Abdullah and Dwayne Washington, the Lions had no choice but to feature Riddick against the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. He’s been boom or bust so far this season, with two 20-plus point performances, and three games under 10. Two things I love about Riddick; his red-zone targets and his use in the passing game. The Lions have done a great job creating opportunities for Riddick to score within the 20. With no real end zone threat with the departure of Calvin Johnson and injury to Eric Ebron, Riddick will continue to be used near the goal line. Secondly, despite being the leading rusher, his real value comes in the passing game where he’s second on the team in targets. If Washington is out again, at $6600 Riddick won’t be my favorite, but he always has the ability to score.
WR Amari Cooper vs SD, $7200, 24.8 pts.
-6 receptions, 138 receiving yards, 1 TD, 1 2-PT
RB Matt Asiata vs HOU, $5800, 17.6
-3 receptions, 46 receiving yards, 55 rushing yards 1 TD
WR Tyrell Williams vs OAK, $6500, 20.2 pts.
-5 receptions, 117 receiving yards, 1 TD
Super Bargain Studs
WR Sammie Coates vs NYJ, $5300, 28.9 pts.
-6 receptions, 139 yards, 2 TDs
It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times. Coates exploded against the New York Jets and seemed to have become what many had hoped in the offseason. He was tied for first on the team in targets with Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell but also suffered 5 drops, including a couple would-be touchdowns. Despite his struggles, it looks like he finally might have the same sort of production as Martavis Bryant did last year. FanDuel believes the same thing as they raised his price $1100 to $6400 this week against the Miami Dolphins. Between his speed, his matchup, and the offense he’s on, I have no problem spending the extra cash.
WR Cameron Meredith vs IND, $4500, 22.1 pts
-9 receptions, 130 receiving yards, 1 TD, 1 FUM
If you thought Meredith would lead the team in targets with 12, then my hat is off to you. A true sleeper, the 6’3″ Meredith stepped up with Kevin White out and both Eddie Royal and Alshon Jeffery hobbled. He pulls a nice matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a much-expected price boost. QB Brian Hoyer has thrown for over 300 yards the last 3 games so there’s no question that the volume is there. If White is out again, I like Meredith to see a bunch of targets once again.
QB Marcus Mariota vs MIA, $7000, 30.5 pts
-163 passing yards, 60 rushing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
The flying Hawaiian had by far his best game of the year against a struggling Miami Dolphins team. Mariota contributed 60 of the team’s 235 total rushing yards. His upside is extremely limited because of the success of the team’s running game as he only threw for 163 yards. His $7600 price tag this week is too much for me, especially with quarterbacks like Carson Wentz (@WAS) and Brian Hoyer (vs JAX) costing less.
WR Adam Thielen vs HOU, $4900, 18 pts.
-7 receptions, 127 receiving yards, 1 TD
TE Hunter Henry vs OAK, $5400, 14,9 pts.
-3 receptions, 74 receiving yards, 1 TD
Duds
WR Julio Jones vs DEN, $8900, 3.9 pts.
-2 receptions, 29 receiving yards
From expensive stud to dud, Jones has been extremely boom or bust the last four weeks. From over 100 and a touchdown in Week 2, to 1 catch for 15 yards in Week 3, to 12 catches for 300 yards and a score in Week 4, to 2 catches for 29 yards this past Sunday. The potential seems to be there as he has 41 targets so far but the production is just not there. No matter how hot quarterback Matt Ryan has been, I still wouldn’t trust Jones in Seattle this weekend. His $8500 is way too expensive for me.
RB Lamar Miller vs MIN, $7800, 2.9 pts.
-1 reception, 4 receiving yards, 20 rushing yards
This was one dud that many expected going up against arguably the best defense in the NFL. Through 4 games, Miller still has yet to find the end zone but still is in the top 5 in rushing attempts. With QB Brock Osweiler struggling to move the offense, naturally, Miller is going to struggle as well. However, I am here to say that there is light at the end of the tunnel. This week is the week that Miller will find the end zone and repay owners for his $7900 price tag. The Indianapolis Colts are the fourth worst fantasy defense against the run and just gave up 118 yards to rookie Jordan Howard. Sunday night football, book it, Miller will have his first breakout game.
WR Jarvis Landry vs TEN, $7500, 4.5 pts.
-3 receptions, 28 receiving yards, 2 rushing yards
Usually one of the most consistent fantasy players, it wasn’t Landry’s fault he only had 3 receptions. QB Ryan Tannehill looked awful, completing 12 passes for 191 yards and two interceptions. Landry was uncharacteristically held under 7 catches for the first time this season. At his new discounted price of $6900, Landry could pay big dividends in a game that the Dolphins will be playing catch up in.
RB C.J. Anderson vs ATL, $8000, 7.7 pts.
-3 receptions, 21 receiving yards, 41 rushing yards
QB Eli Manning vs GB, $7700, 11.1 pts
-199 passing yards, 1 TD
WR A.J. Green at DAL, #8700, 5 pts.
-4 receptions, 50 yards
WR Julian Edelman vs CLE, $7000, 6 pts.
-5 receptions, 35 yards
The new prices are already out for Week 6!
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