Los Angeles Rams at Dallas Cowboys 1:05 p.m. EST
The Rams’ offense really only has two viable options for fantasy purposes: WR Cooper Kupp and WR Puka Nacua. Kupp probably scores the most points, but Nacua could be the better DFS value. I expect the Rams to be playing from behind for most of this game and Stafford may throw it 40+. times which means he could get sacked a ton. RB Darrell Henderson does look like he has juice left, but splitting carries with Royce Freeman really takes away his value. Play Kupp or Nacua as the comeback in Dallas stacks.
Dallas comes in off a bye week, and they have a chance to get their offense rolling. At first glance, I really like WR CeeDee Lamb to get 100 yards receiving and he will be a centerpiece in many of my DFS lineups. RB Tony Pollard also projects well, as the Steelers had two rushing touchdowns vs. the Rams’ defense last week. TE Jake Ferguson is my tight end sleeper of the week. I think he reaches double-digit fantasy points and could be a great anytime touchdown bet for those who like to participate in wagering.
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers 1:05 p.m. EST
The Vikings are coming into Lambeau off a short week after a big Monday Night win vs. the 49ers. It was an impressive performance by QB Kirk Cousins and a coming-out party for WR Jordan Addison. TE T.J. Hockenson was heavily targeted but the most impressive part of the Vikings’ win was the offensive line, which made holes for the running backs and kept the QB clean. The Vikings should have the edge up front running the ball, as the Packers allow 4.5 yards per carry. Who do you turn to at running back? Cam Akers and Alexander Mattison split carries last week, and then Ty Chandler was out there to catch a pass. I can’t see either scoring enough points to win a DFS tournament. Now, to the passing game, I know it looked really good against the 49ers, but the Packers may bring a different dynamic. Before we go gung-ho with Addison, we have to see the status of CB Jaire Alexander. If Alexander is a go, then we should pivot to WR K.J. Osborn as I think Addison’s production will be limited. If Alexander is out, then Addison should remain the prime target. T.J. Hockenson should be a DFS target regardless of the situation, as he has had 20 targets over the past two weeks.
The Packers’ offense hasn’t been very good, and they struggled for a half against a bad Denver defense. They did look better in the second half, but they haven’t been consistent for several games. On paper, it looks as though they have another soft matchup vs. the Vikings’ defense, but there are going to be several concerns. The Vikings are solid vs. the run which means the Packers are going to need contributions from their passing game. The Vikings do rank near the bottom vs. the pass, but they have also played some top-notch quarterbacks and receivers. Green Bay doesn’t have that, and to make matters worse, WR Christian Watson is injured again. Who is going to step up? I think they will need to use a quick passing game because the Vikings blitz more than anyone. They will try to get QB Jordan Love to throw a pick or two. So, the passing game will rely on Love’s recognition and ability to make the right reads. Who does Love make the right reads to? TE Luke Musgrave suffered an ankle injury and will most likely be out this week, and Watson rolled an ankle but appears optimistic to play. My money is on WR Romeo Doubs, who has scored 18-plus fantasy points in half of the Packers’ games and has a good chance to do at least that this week. RB Aaron Jones has been excellent against the Vikings but, as mentioned, the Viking run defense has vastly improved, His fantasy value will depend on his role in the passing game and if he scores a TD. On the bright side, his DFS ownership should be low, and I could see a 20-point game.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers 1:05 p.m. EST
Who do you really like outside of WR Christian Kirk and RB Travis Etienne? The Jaguars’ offense has been underwhelming outside of those two. I keep asking myself if WR Calvin Ridley is ever going to show back up. I think there is a chance here as the Steelers will give up yardage to one of these receivers. His DFS price is coming down, but at this point, I have to favor Kirk here. TE Evan Engram hasn’t scored a TD yet this season, and I won’t bank on him to get one here. QB Trevor Lawrence is much better in real-life football than fantasy football, but there will be weeks we can try to turn to him, just not this one. Etienne just keeps on chugging and finds the end zone, no matter the matchup. He has scored two touchdowns in three games straight, so the odds are good that he scores in this one.
The Steelers have better players than we think, but they are hamstrung by their offensive coordinator. The offense is predictable, making them easy to defend. They are way too conservative, and I think they should just let QB Kenny Pickett rip it, especially now that WR Diontae Johnson is back. I think Johnson is the DFS play here as he was gaining confidence by the fourth quarter. I think he is good for seven or eight catches and will be great if the Steelers are playing from behind. I do like WR George Pickens, as he has been stepping up his game, so I think it’s a good idea to have one or the other in DFS as they are cheap and one should score. I can’t play anyone from the Steeler running game, even though both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren scored last week. The Jaguars are just too good against the run, and these backs haven’t been as involved in the passing game as I would like.
Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers 1:05 p.m. EST
This could be a sneaky high-scoring game. The Panthers are one of the worst vs. the run, so RB Dameon Pierce has an excellent opportunity to finally do some damage. I know he hasn’t produced as of yet, but the matchups have been bad. He is an explosive player who can score from anywhere on the field. I am playing him with confidence at his cheap DFS price. QB C.J. Stroud has been excellent, but if the running game is working, I don’t think he will put up enough numbers to win a tournament. I expect either WR Nico Collins or WR Tank Dell to have a good game, with my lean toward Dell. TE Dalton Schultz has reached double digits in three straight games and may go unnoticed in DFS.
As for the Carolina Panthers, I can only think of WR Adam Thielen. He has been tremendous with back-to-back 11-catch performances. He is QB Bryce Young’s go-to guy, and he is matchup-proof because he runs great routes and he can line up anywhere. He is almost a must-play for me, as I can’t see him being limited here. RB Miles Sanders is practicing in full. He has been underwhelming, but I think he is a candidate to score, and if he does catch some passes, then I think he gets close to 20 fantasy points. We just have to hope RB Chuba Hubbard stays out of his way.
New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts 1:05 p.m. EST
Much like I think about Thielen for Carolina, I think about RB Alvin Kamara. He is getting so much volume that he can smash the slate. I don’t think QB Derek Carr can throw the ball downfield, making him check down to Kamara over and over again, so I think the trend continues. Receivers Chris Olave or Michael Thomas are decent options, but considering how Carr has been playing injured, I don’t know if either can do enough to win a tournament.
The Colts scored two long TDs last week that were flukey. The first was when WR Josh Downs got by the Cleveland defense as they had stopped for a split second expecting a whistle on an offside. The other was when the Browns missed two tackles that allowed Michael Pittman to take it to the house. I know you can’t take it away, but don’t expect that type of luck here. I do still like Downs in this one. The Saints are not good covering the slot, so I expect he is the go-to guy for QB Gardner Minshew. I have no interest in Pittman as he will draw CB Marshon Lattimore, who is one of the best in the game. RB Jonathan Taylor is getting more and more reps and is starting to look like his old self again. He is a man of interest but will need to catch six passes and reach the end zone, which I think he can do. RB Zack Moss is still taking carries away, but I think Taylor will start to dominate the touches.
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins 1:05 p.m. EST
WR Kendrick Bourne has been winning DFS players money, and he should have a chance to continue that here. The Dolphins’ secondary isn’t that good right now, and I expect the Pats to be playing from behind. The opportunity should be there, and I expect close to 20 points if he reaches the endzone. RB Rhamondre Stevenson is dirt cheap and has had 11 receptions over his past two games. If we can get that up to seven catches in a game where the Pats should be playing catchup, then we are talking about a DFS gem. It’s going to take guts to play him. The Dolphin defense isn’t very good against the tight end, but I’m not trusting in any underwhelming Pats’ tight end.
The Dolphins gave us a little bit of a scare this week when WR Tyreek Hill was listed as questionable, but he returned to practice on Thursday. He was still listed as limited, but I think he will be a full go, as he really wants 2,000 receiving yards badly. I know his price tag is high, but he averages a whopping 34 points at home and the Patriots have nobody who can cover him. WR Jaylen Waddle is an excellent real-life receiver and would be an excellent fantasy receiver if not for Hill. His price tag makes it extremely difficult to get him into your lineup. RB Raheem Mostert has been limited this week, but I think that is just for precaution. I do worry that if the Dolphins pull away he will be lifted fairly early. Also, I think this is the week that RB Jeff Wilson pecks at his volume a bit, so I can understand playing Mostert, but he’s not at the top of my list. If for any reason Mostert suffers a setback and can’t play, Wilson becomes a free square.
New York Jets at New York Giants 1:05 p.m. EST
The only player from the Jets that I am excited to play would be RB Breece Hall. It is a good matchup on paper, and he should get 20+ touches. I am worried that the Giants have been playing better defense and will stack the box. They don’t have to respect the Jets’ passing game, so a decent performance by QB Zach Wilson could go a long way toward Hall’s success by getting the Giants to play back a bit.
It looks as though QB Tyrod Taylor will be back as the Giants’ starting quarterback as Daniel Jones has not been cleared for contact. The passing offense does look much better with Taylor, but this week he isn’t facing a terrible pass defense. The Jets present with a solid pass rush and some of the best corners in the league. They are fully rested, and I do expect the Jets to bottle the Giants up here. RB Saquon Barkley and TE Darren Waller have good matchups on paper and appear to be the Giants’ only hopes.
Atlanta Falcons at Tennessee Titans 1:05 p.m. EST
This should be an ugly game, as it is QB Desmond Ridder vs. QB Will Levis. I think the weapons on both sides could be about average, but I don’t think this game blows up at all. I think Atlanta WR Drake London is worth a shot, as the Titan secondary isn’t very good. On the flip side, WR DeAndre Hopkins will be low-owned and I could see Levis taking some shots to him deep. I am avoiding RB Derrick Henry, which is always risky. The Atlanta defense will find its way into many of my lineups.
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commander 1:05 p.m. EST
The Eagles are in a great spot here, and I think will be heavily owned. QB Jalen Hurts to WR A.J. Brown has been a great tandem for five weeks straight and should again this week against a horrible Commander pass defense. We will need Hurts to throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns, as I don’t think he will get the rushing yards that we are accustomed to. He was a little bit gimpy and pulled up on runs vs. Miami. He is still good enough to evade defenders and create, though. As mentioned, Brown has been the best option, but WR DeVonta Smith is in position for a big game himself. He should be lower-owned and has a much cheaper price, but be warned, you do get what you pay for. However, I have to believe he has a breakout game coming. TE Dallas Goedert is also in a great spot and can be a DFS focus. He definitely will be in some of my Philly stacks. D’Andre Swift is an average option. I think we can find better backs on the slate.
I am only interested in WR Terry McLaurin for the Commanders. I think he is a great player to bring back in Eagle stacks and can be a one-off in other lineups. I think the Commanders play from behind and he will get tons of targets. If they aren’t playing from behind, then I think he is having a good game. On paper, TE Logan Thomas is in an excellent spot, but how many times has he been and not produced? I will pass here.
Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks 4:05 p.m. EST
First off, who is going to play running back for the Browns? Kareem Hunt is back to practice, and he should be the starter with Jerome Ford most likely out. Seattle is a solid defense, but they will give up some yards on the ground. Hunt’s biggest appeal, though, comes from receiving, and if he can catch six balls, he becomes a DFS darling. Seattle’s pass defense has greatly improved with the returns of CB Devon Witherspoon and S Jamal Adams, making the check down a much more likely possibility. Also, linebackers Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks are dealing with injuries. Losing Wagner would be a huge loss and would make Hunt a much better option. TE David Njoku could benefit as well. As for the receivers, I think there are better weeks ahead. I expect this to be a scrummy type of game.
As for Seattle, I think they are all a little overpriced. You play your studs in Seasonal, but I don’t think RB Kenneth Walker has that breakout game, even though the optimizers love him. WR D.K. Metcalf has a tough matchup, WR Tyler Lockett disappoints, and with Metcalf back I don’t expect much from Jaxon Smith-Njigba. I think QB Geno Smith is going to be under a lot of pressure and it would not shock me if he gets sacked five times.
Baltimore Ravens at Arizona Cardinals 4:25 p.m. EST
Everybody from the Ravens should be in play here. QB Lamar Jackson should put up 20+ points. I don’t know if he will put up another 30, but it wouldn’t surprise me. WR Zay Flowers was used early last week but disappeared as the game became a blowout. He could break 100 yards if the game stays close. TE Mark Andrews is in play despite the Cardinals’ good rating against tight ends, as they did give up six catches to Darren Waller several games ago. RB Gus Edwards could have a good game, but remember, nine of his fantasy points came on an 80-yard reception, which most likely won’t happen this week.
The only way I will play any Cardinals is if QB Kyler Murray gets the start. He has been practicing in full, which would make WR Marquise Brown a viable option and WR Michael Wilson a sneaky pick. We may not know until mid-afternoon on Sunday, so let’s hope for some good team reporting going forward.
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos 4:25 p.m. EST
This is a rematch from Week 6, when the Chiefs won 19-8 but the game was not as close as the score. I expect the same type of domination but the Chiefs to score in the 30s in this one. What is nice about the Chiefs is that we can limit them down to four players to focus on. QB Patrick Mahomes should throw for close to 300 yards and three TDs. TE Travis Kelce has the highest ceiling at his position and could be worth his high price. He is a must in any Mahomes stack. WR Rashee Rice continues to improve week by week and RB Isiah Pacheco has been solid; either can be used as a double stack.
The Broncos’ offense is really just dull. They aren’t very consistent but they do have two players worth considering. WR Courtland Sutton has scored in two straight games and has outplayed Jerry Jeudy. He could be the go-to guy in a game where they should be playing from behind. RB Javonte Williams got the bulk of the running back touches and should be a top-10 fantasy back going forward. He needs to reach the end zone, though, to be DFS-worthy. His price is cheap enough to be a flyer here.
Cincinnati Bengals at San Francisco 49ers 4:25 p.m. EST
I wonder if the Bengals can take a page out of the Vikings’ playbook and just dominate the 49ers through the air. Considering the Bengals’ offensive line woes, I would say no. I suspect this is a game in which the 49ers defense gets back on track. I do like WR Ja’Marr Chase to a degree, but I can’t trust WR Tee Higgins, and I definitely do not want to play RB Joe Mixon.
As for the 49ers, it appears as if QB Sam Darnold will start for the injured Brock Purdy, making him the paydown option of the week. There are enough weapons there that he can throw for over 200 yards and two touchdowns. Not to mention, he is agile enough to get 20-30 yards rushing himself. RB Christian McCaffrey is expensive, but he is the most dominating fantasy back in football. I would play him in about a third of my lineups. There are plenty of pay-down options to fit him in. WR Brandon Aiyuk was off to a great start last week and then vanished during the second half. He will have to be a focus with WR Deebo Samuel out. I think the play, though, is TE George Kittle. The Bengals stink vs. the tight end, and he is going to be needed with the receiving corps being short-handed. Look for seven for 70 and a TD from him.
