FanDuel Studs and Duds of Week 6
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Welcome to the sixth 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.com
Expensive Studs
WR Odell Beckham Jr vs BAL, $8300, 36.2 pts
-8 receptions, 222 receiving yards, 2 TD, 1 FUM
If the company that makes kicking nets doesn’t sign Beckham as a spokesman soon, I am going to be severely disappointed. After an injury scare early in the game, Beckham seemed to be having fun again and roasted the Baltimore Ravens secondary for two long touchdowns. He accounted for more than half of the Giants’ receiving yards and led the team with 10 targets. Once he returns from a trip across the pond to face the Los Angeles Rams, it should be smooth sailing for the second year wideout as he’ll return on his high price tag.
RB LeSean McCoy vs SF, $8200, 33.2 pts.
-2 receptions, 2 receiving yards, 140 rushing yards, 3 TD
Another player that scared owners with a possible injury, McCoy returned to feast on one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Since firing their offense coordinator, the Bills’ have made Shady the focus in their offense as he’s averaged over 18 carries and 23.7 fantasy points per game. Through 6 weeks, the team leads the NFL in both YPC and rushing yards. McCoy is the most expensive RB this week at $9000 against a poor Miami Dolphin run defense. Between the matchup and tear he’s been on, there’s very little worry that he’ll underperform.
TE Rob Gronkowski vs CIN, $8400, 25. 7 pts.
-7 receptions, 162 yards, 1 TD
All is right now that Tom Brady is back. The last two weeks Gronkowski has had over 100 yards receiving and was tied for the lead in targets on Sunday. At 6’6″, 265, he’s a matchup nightmare for any defender. Watching him just toss smaller cornerbacks to the side is similar to how I play against my younger cousins during the Super Bowl halftime show. He’ll be the most expensive TE every week for the rest of the year and I wouldn’t ever hesitate to use him.
QB Drew Brees vs CAR, $8500, 32.6pts.
-465 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
QB Cam Newton vs NO, $8900, 26.9 pts.
-322 passing yards, 2 passing TD, 1 rushing yard, 1 rush TD
Value Studs
RB Terrance West vs NYG, $6500, 26.3 pts.
-4 receptions, 36 receiving yards, 87 rushing yards, 2 TD
Many laughed at the offseason hype that West could take the starting job in Baltimore, well, it’s safe to say West is having the last laugh now. For the second week in a row West was far and beyond the best running back on the team, getting 23 carries on Sunday. It’s clear that the job is his and his $500 price raise this week shows that FanDuel thinks so too. At $6900, I would be hesitant to use him in against a New York Jets run defense that had only relinquished 342 rushing yards before David Johnson.
WR Golden Tate vs LA, $6400, 26.8 pts.
-3 rushing yards, 8 receptions, 165 receiving yards, 1 TD
After averaging just 26.6 receiving yards a game, Tate exploded for 165 yards on Sunday while also leading the team his targets. His 165 yards were 31 more yards than he’s had the first 5 Weeks of the season. I’m not buying into a Tate resurgence just yet. RB Theo Riddick (5th on the team in targets) and Eric Ebron (4th on the team in targets) were both out on Sunday, limiting Matthew Stafford’s passing options. If Tate can continue when both of those players return to the lineup, then I might revisit. Until then, however, I’m avoiding his $6600 price tag.
RB Jay Ajayi vs PIT, $5800, 33.2 pts.
-1 reception, 3 receiving yards, 204 rushing yards, 2 TD
The big news Sunday morning was that RB Arian Foster was active. The bigger news is that he finished with just 3 carries for 3 yards. Second-year back Ajayi erupted for 204 rushing yards on a whopping 25 carries. Much like Tate, this was an incredible performance but I’m still not trusting Ajayi yet. Before Sunday, the team didn’t even have 400 rushing yards on the year. He absolutely earned a chance to take over the starting job, but at $6400 against the Buffalo Bills’, I’m taking a wait and see approach.
RB Jonathan Stewart vs NO, $6300, 20.5 pts
-85 rushing yards, 2 TD
QB Marcus Mariota vs CLE, $7600, 27.7 pts.
-284 passing yards, 64 rushing yards, 3 passing TD, 1 INT
WR Terrelle Pryor vs TEN, $7000, 24.3 pts.
-3 rushing yards, 9 receptions, 75 receiving yards, 2 TD
Super Bargain Studs
WR Kendall Wright vs CLE, $4500, 23.3 pts.
-8 receptions, 133 yards, 1 TD
The good news: Wright plays on a team where the No.1 receiver role is up for grabs. His performance on Sunday highlighted by a 48-yard touchdown could easily put him in the running for the job. The bad news: The Titans are a run first team and for good reason. They have the best run blocking offensive line in the league and RBs DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry are thriving. Wright was also the first 100-yard receiver this year. I actually like him at $5000 this week against a horrid Indianapolis Colts defense. If you are spending the big bucks on other running backs or wide receivers, Wright could be a nice, cheap third WR.
QB Case Keenum vs DET, $6500, 29.5 pts.
-321 passing yards, 7 rushing yards, 3 passing TD, 1 rushing TD, 1 INT
I’m sure No. 1 pick Jared Goff was real excited on the sidelines as he watched Keenum have the game of his life against the Detroit Lions. Before throwing an interception late in the 4th quarter, Keenum was on another level. He finished the day completing 27 of 32 pass attempts for a 126.7 quarterback rating. This game was clearly an outlier as he’s failed to even reach 20 fantasy points all year. His inconsistency makes me hesitate to plug him into my lineup but if he performs well next Week in England, he could be an intriguing play moving forward.
TE C.J. Fiedorowicz vs IND, $5100, 17.5 pts.
-6 receptions, 85 receiving yards, 1 TD
Over the last 3 games, Fiedorowicz has averaged almost 13 fantasy points per game. His role has blossomed as he’s outplayed fellow tight end Ryan Griffin but both have drawn more than 5 targets the last three weeks. If Fiedorowicz can continue to outproduce Griffin, it’s hard to see the two to continue to split snaps. He’ll be in the national spotlight on Monday night next week but has a great matchup in Week 8 against the Detroit Lions.
WR Michael Thomas vs NO, $5400, 16.3 pts.
-5 receptions, 78 receiving yards, 1 TD
WR Cameron Meredith vs JAX, $5400, 16.8 pts.
-11 receptions, 113 yards
Duds
WR Allen Robinson vs CHI, $8600, 6.4 pts.
-3 receptions, 49 receiving yards
For the fourth time this season, Robison was held under 60 receiving yards. In 2015, Robinson had only 5 such games all year. He has still been able to put up decent production, but nowhere near where it should be to justify his high price tag. This Sunday will be his last chance to prove he can still be the receiver that finished fourth in fantasy WR scoring last year. Despite his struggles, I think Robinson is worth the gamble on Sunday at $8400. The Oakland Raiders are by far the worst defense in the NFL and it’s the first Jaguars home game in two weeks. Many might be fading on Robinson which makes him a high risk, high reward tournament play.
WR T.Y Hilton vs HOU, $7900, 6.4 pts.
-3 receptions, 49 receiving yards.
For the first time in Hilton’s career, the Houston Texans finally found a way to stop him. In Hilton’s 8 games against the Texans, he’s averaged 97 yards a game with 6 TDs. This also marked the first game this season where Hilton failed to get 10 targets. But not to worry as he still received 9 and suffered only his second game under 10 fantasy points. At $7800 this week against the Tennessee Titans, Hilton should see his usual 10 plus targets and be worth his relatively high price.
QB Aaron Rodgers vs DAL, $8800, 13.7 pts.
-294 passing yards, 7 rushing yards 1 TD, 1 INT
Boy, it’s time to sound the alarm in Green Bay. For the third time this season he finished with less than 19 fantasy points. Rodgers is 25th in the league in completion percentage and passing yards. He hasn’t been anywhere close to the type of production you expect for his price. In a pass-happy league, it can be easy to find a cheap quarterback with a great matchup. Rodgers will not be in any of my lineups until he can consistently prove he’s turned it around.
WR Antonio Brown at MIA, $9700, 4.50 pts.
-4 catches, 39 yards, 6 rushing yards
RB Carlos Hyde vs BUF, $7300, 5.2 pts.
-52 rushing yards
QB Russell Wilson vs ATL, $8400, 10.7 pts.
-270 passing yards, 7 rushing yards
RB T.J Yeldon vs CHI, $6700, 3.1 pts.
-1 reception, 5 receiving yards, 21 rushing yards
QB Derek Carr vs KC, $7900, 11.8 pts.
-255 passing yards, 8 rushing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
The new prices are already out for Week 7!
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