December 24th 2016
Saturday morning Edition
DFS Week 16 Core 4
For those of us that can’t get enough fantasy football playing in season long leagues, luckily we have DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports). If you’re as enthusiastic as I, you love DFS as much as the season long redraft leagues and these days we have plenty of options to play.
My choice this week is Fan Duel, a personal favorite; lots of games, big contests, with big prizes. Playing in the weekly game is no easy task, there may be a science to it, but even Newton would be challenged to figure it out. Sometimes playing is like throwing darts in the dark.
If you are game to play in any of the weekly contests, you must know navigating through matchups, tendencies, and injuries is hard enough, but be restricted by a salary cap and well, the challenge is set.
This week I am building my lineups around a core of four players, my “Fantastic Four” if you will; QB-Cam Newton, RB-Jordan Howard, WR-DeAndre Hopkins, and TE-Greg Olsen.
Cam has been off this year, by his MVP standards from last season, but he is still Cam and last week he may have found his groove again. The Panthers quarterback may have only completed 56% of his passes, but he passed for 300 yards and two scores. This week he draws the Falcons, worst defense versus opposing quarterbacks; 28 touchdowns allowed (2nd most), 282 yards passing allowed per game (2nd worst). This is a great matchup at home for Cam and his $7,900 salary is more than inviting.
Teaming up with Cam to double-down is Panthers tight end Greg Olsen. He is one of Cam’s favorite targets and over the past 7 games Olsen has been targeted no fewer than 7 times in all but one game, and that came back in week 12 when he was targeted just five times. Olsen has a great matchup this week against a Falcon defense that allows the 4th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Back in week 4 Olsen turned in a stat line of 6 receptions for 76 yards and a score. Fantasy owners can expect similar numbers today for the tight end that is priced at only $6,800.
In the backfield, my third anchor of this marvel fantasy team is Bears running back Jordan Howard. The rookie runner has been one of the bright spots of the Bears offense this season already topping the 1,000 yard rushing mark. This week he faces a defense (Redskins) that has been one of the worst against the run over the past four weeks. In that span the Redskins have allowed the 4th most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Howard has been solid the past 7 games topping 100 yards of offense in each, adding five rushing touchdowns. Fantasy owners can expect the fantasy bargain at $7,200 Howard to see at least 20 touches today.
Lastly, my fourth anchor is Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. With new blood under center last week Hopkins saw 17 targets which he turned into 8 receptions for 87 yards. If he can see somewhere around 10 targets today, he should have little trouble matching his output last week and may even find the end zone. The Bengals have been stingy versus opposing wide receivers this season, but Hopkins did register a stat line of 5 catches for 57 yards and a score last season. At just $6,600 this week, he’s a fantasy play worth building my team around.
That’s My Take
~David G. Ortega
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