FanDuel Studs and Duds of Week 8
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Welcome to the eighth 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
WR Dez Bryant vs PHI, $7300, 19.3 pts.
-4 receptions, 113 receiving yards, 1 TD
Well, look who’s back. Bryant pretty much looked like his old self on Sunday night, playing for 69 of the team’s 77 snaps. He received a team-high 14 targets, but only hauled in 4 of them. Before going down with an injury, the team wanted to focus on Bryant getting the ball more and his 14 targets solidify that game plan. He’s the 4th most expensive receiver at $7800 and I like him against a horrendous Cleveland Browns defense.
WR Amari Cooper vs TB, $7500, 29.3 pts.
-12 receptions, 173 receiving yards, 1 TD
After catching just 4 passes for 29 yards last week, Cooper exploded for his 3rd game with over 120 receiving yards in the last 4 weeks. His 12 catches were a team high but still trailed fellow receiver Michael Crabtree in targets. He finally seems to be turning it around after a slow start to the season. Despite his great game, I’m staying away from him this week at $7700 against the Denver Broncos. The Broncos have only allowed a league leading 2 touchdowns to wide receivers all year.
TE Jordan Reed vs CIN, $6800, 20,4 pts.
-9 receptions, 99 receiving yards, 1 TD
Playing for the first time since Week 5, Reed seemingly picked up right where he left off. His 13 targets and 9 catches were tied with Jamison Crowder for the team lead. When “Rule 86” is healthy there’s no questioning the guys’ talent. In his last 3 games, he has at least 10 targets and 8 receptions. He seems to be reconnecting with QB Kirk Cousins once again and after his bye week, I would still use him at his high price.
QB Tom Brady vs BUF, $8700, 30.10 pts.
-315 passing yards, 15 rushing yards, 4 passing TD
QB Aaron Rodgers vs ATL, $8800, 33.84 pts.
-246 passing yards, 60 rushing yards, 4 passing TD, 1 2-PT
Value Studs
RB Jonathan Stewart vs ARI, 22.5 pts.
-1 receptions, 25 receiving yards, 95 rushing yards, 2 TD, 1 FUM
For the second week in a row Stewart found the end zone not once, but twice. He had a season-high 25 carries and 25 receiving yards. While you won’t see that amount of receiving yards often, his high volume of carries should be familiar. When healthy, Stewart gets fed the rock consistently. He’s not a player you’re ever truly excited to plug into your lineup but with the number of carries and potential goal line opportunities, he always has some upside. I feel $6400 this week in Los Angeles is fair enough price for me to put him into my lineup.
WR Jamison Crowder vs CIN, $6200, 21.2 pts.
-9 receptions, 107 receiving yards, 1 TD
Do the Washington Redskins have a new No.1 WR? Sure looks like it to me. Crowder was tied for the team lead in targets and receptions early Sunday morning in London. The last two games Crowder has at least 7 catches and over 100 receiving yards. After a bye and a matchup against Minnesota, there’s a lot to like about Crowder moving forward. If he continues to get the same amount of looks in Week 10, he has to be on your radar the rest of the year.
TE Tyler Eifert vs WAS, $5600, 20.7 pts.
-9 receptions, 102 receiving yards, 1 TD
Another tight end returning with authority, Eifert looked like the TE1 he was all last year. His 102 receiving yards was almost a career high and is a great sign moving forward. Last season he was somewhat boom or bust, heavily relying on touchdowns. If Eifert can maintain the high yardage volume, he will be a much more reliable option. After his bye week, I’d be comfortable throwing him in my FanDuel lineups.
QB Derek Carr vs TB $7800, 35.82 pts.
-513 passing yards, 13 rushing yards, 4 passing TD, 1 FUM
RB Theo Riddick vs HOU, $5900, 23.3 pts.
-8 receptions, 77 receiving yards, 56 rushing yards, 1 TD
WR Mohamed Sanu vs GB, $5600, 18.9 pts.
-9 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD
Super Bargain Studs
WR J.J. Nelson vs CAR, $4500, 23.9 pts.
-8 receptions, 79 receiving yards, 2 TD
If this is the first time you’ve ever heard of Nelson, it most certainly won’t be the last. After a breakout game, head coach Bruce Arians confirmed that he will replace Michael Floyd in the wide receiver rotation. After the bye, there’s a chance his price will shoot up for a juicy matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. My only worry is that there are just so many mouths to feed in Arizona that it might be difficult to pick which games Nelson is the man.
WR Chris Hogan vs BUF, $5200, 17.1 pts.
-4 catches, 91 receiving yards, 1 TD
As well as Tom Brady is throwing the ball, it’s hard to see this offense slowing down at all. Hogan caught all four targets, highlighted by a 53-yard touchdown. I would not expect this kind of production from Hogan weekly. He has 3 games over 11 fantasy points but has 5 games under 6 fantasy points. In the right matchup, Hogan could be a nice dart throw play but he won’t be much more than that.
QB Dak Prescott vs PHI, $7100, 27.28 pts.
-287 passing yards, 38 rushing yards, 2 passing TD, 1 rushing TD, 1 INT
Just like his FanDuel price, Dak-mania is on the rise. He had his best fantasy game of the season by far, shining on the national primetime stage. His 27 point performance was 10 points higher than his average of 17 fantasy points per game. He’s already been named the Week 9 starter and I love him this week against Cleveland for his $7600 price tag. One thing to watch out for is his high ownership percentage in big tournaments.
WR Tyreek Hill vs IND, $4800, 19 pts.
-5 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD
QB Josh McCown vs NYJ, $6400, 20.64 pts.
-341 passing yards, 10 rushing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 2 INTs
Duds
RB Latavius Murray vs TB, $6200, 9.6 pts.
-5 receptions, 23 receiving yards, 48 rushing yards
While Murray may be leading the Raiders backfield, it’s not by much. Scoring two touchdowns last week and receiving 18 carries, backups DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard were much more involved this week. Murray is no longer the guy in Oakland, he’s just the lead guy in an RBBC. He’s going to be a risky play through the rest of the season and doesn’t have much value if he doesn’t score. Much like Cooper, I’m taking a hard pass at $6000 against the Denver Broncos.
WR Marvin Jones vs HOU, $7400, 4.8 pts.
-3 receptions, 33 receiving yards
After his 35 point performance in Week 3 at Lambeau Field, Jones has eclipsed 10 fantasy points just 2 times. Despite getting 7 targets, Jones struggled against the Houston Texans, only catching 3 of them. With TE Eric Ebron and RB Theo Riddick back, QB Matthew Stafford has the opportunity to spread the ball around a little bit more. He might be the team’s No.1 receiver but he’s now caught in a crowded bunch of pass catchers. At $7200 this week I’m saying thanks but no thanks as the team travel to Minnesota.
WR DeAndre Hopkins vs DET, $7600, 6.4 pts.
-4 receptions, 44 receiving yards
Can we say it now? Hopkins is going to come nowhere near the type of production he had last year. Many believed he would turn it around with an easy schedule the rest of the way but I just don’t see it. He only has 1 game over 100 receiving yards, and 6 games under 60 receiving yards. There’s no other excuse aside from the quarterback play of Brock Osweiler. He has 25 more targets than anyone on the team and has been heavily targeted as of late but the production just isn’t there. Yet another player on bye this week, I’d be hesitant to spend the money on him even though he has two great matchups out of the bye.
QB Cam Newton vs ARI, $8300, 12.3 pts.
-212 passing yards, 43 rushing yards
WR Julio Jones vs GB, $9200, 4.4 pts.
-3 receptions, 29 receiving yards
TE Jimmy Graham vs NO, $6700, 4.9 pts.
-3 receptions, 34 receiving yards
QB Russell Wilson vs NO, $8200, 9.1 pts.
-253 passing yards, 11 rushing yards, 1 INT
WR T.Y. Hilton vs KC, $7800, 2.5 pts.
-1 reception, 20 receiving yards
TE Greg Olsen vs ARI, $7400, 1.6 pts.
-1 reception, 11 yards
The new prices are already out for Week 9!
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