DFS & Sports Betting Tools, Exclusive Content, and Expert Chat
GET STARTED TODAY
 
DFS & Sports Betting Tools, Exclusive Content, and Expert Chat
GET STARTED TODAY
 
Home / NFL / Page 8
Tag:

NFL

Week 5 of the NFL season wraps up tonight with Monday Night Football. And we get a good one tonight as two potential playoff teams square off in the Saints and Chiefs. We had a solid weekend as several of our experts were bullish on QB Lamar Jackson and Joe Flacco, which helped immediately turn your lineups into a green screen. So we’ll look to cap off a great weekend with another money-making strategy article for this big showdown in KC. Below is my top DFS showdown picks and strategies for DraftKings and FanDuel, helping you build winning lineups.

For a deeper dive into general showdown rules, make sure to check out David Jones’s “Daily Fantasy Football Showdown: Strategy for Building Winning Lineups” article. It’s essential reading for anyone crafting MME lineups, as player salary and team dynamics can impact each game’s approach.

Link: https://windailysports.com/daily-fantasy-football-showdown-strategy/

Note on Quarterbacks:

I will not write up the quarterbacks because the wide receiver and tight end section tend to cover the matchups. The QB rankings are at the bottom of the article. 

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Running Back

The Chiefs deploy a top-notch rushing defense. They allow the 5th lowest rushing yards per game and are ranked #3 in rush defense DVOA. Even more important, they allow the fewest fantasy points (DraftKings) to running backs. And it’s not like RB’s are doing damage in the pass game either, as they’ve allowed just 12 receptions to running backs, which is tied for fewest in the league coming into Week 5. As we know, a big part of RB Alvin Kamara’s game is his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. So that’s an important stat to consider.

But the good news for Kamara is that he’s almost matchup proof. And that’s due to a high volume of usage, as Kamara has 97 touches in 4 games (24.5/game). And he leads the league with an 82% snap count over the first four weeks.

Therefore, regardless of the matchup, Kamara is a must play on most of your builds tonight. Backup RB Jamaal Williams did see 5 touches last week but has seen just 13% of the snaps this season.

Tier 1: Bijan Robinson

Tier 2: Jamaal Williams

Wide Receiver

The Chiefs are solid against WR’s too but do have some holes that can be exploited in the defensive backfield. For one, they rank just 17th in pass defense DVOA. Secondly, they’ve allowed four receiving TD’s to WR’s this season as well as 42 receptions. And according to PFF, the Chiefs rank 20th in the NFL in pass coverage. So there are points to be had in the passing game for the Saints.

DB Trent McDuffie has been very good for the Chiefs this season and has kept #1 WR’s, like Zay Flowers and Ja’Marr Chase, to minimal yardage games. On the other side, Jaylen Watson has been good too but susceptible to big plays.

After a slow Week 1, when he wasn’t needed, Chris Olave has turned it on. In the last three games he’s hauled in 18 of his 22 targets for 254 yards and 1 TD. The Saints #2 WR, Rashid Shaheed, has more targets than Olave on the season (25 to 24) and has averaged more fantasy points (13.5 to 13.3). No other Saints receiver has more than 4 catches on the season as they focus on the RB’s and TE’s outside of Shaheed and Olave.

Tier 1: Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed

Tier 2:

Punts: Mason Tipton

Tight End

The Chiefs have been vulnerable against TE’s this year as they’ve allowed the most fantasy points per game to that position. IN fact, they are one of only two teams to allow over 300 yards receiving to TE’s this season (going into Week 5). We can all remember the big game that Isaiah Likely had in Week 1, which was followed up by a 7 reception 91 yard performance by Cincy TE Mike Gesicki.

With Taysom Hill out, I like Johnson to see the field over 50% of the snaps. Backup TE Foster Moreau could be considered for salary relief but being that Johnson is only $400 more, I’d focus on the starter for my builds.

Tier 1: Juwan Johnson

Tier 2:

Punt/Fadeable: Foster Moreau

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Running Back

The Chiefs are ravaged by injuries to key offensive players, especially at the RB position as lead Isaiah Pacheco is still on the IR with a broken leg. While they preferred to survive his absence with rookie RB Carson Steele, he has developed a case of fumble-itis resulting in his demotion last week. Instead, the Chiefs have turned to castoff Kareem Hunt who led the team with 14 carries last week against the Chargers. Clyde Edwards-Helaire has not been activated per this writing, so it looks to be Hunt then Samaje Perine with a sprinkle of Carson Steele if needed.

The Saints rank 8th in rushing defense DVOA and 19th in PFF’s rushing defense grading. Excluding Week 1 and 2, where the Saints blew away teams and forced them into passing, the Saints have allowed 260 yards rushing and an average of 6.5 yards per carry. So there is room to run against New Orleans, especially in more competitive game environments like the one predicted tonight.

Tier 1: Kareem Hunt 

Tier 2: Samaje Perine

Wide Receiver

The Chiefs suffered another devastating injury last week this time to star WR Rashee Rice. The jury is still out to what the extent of his injury is. But it’s certain that he’ll be out a minimum of four week as he was officially placed on the IR last week.

Which means the KC receiving corps is where you have to be right tonight as I expect an unknown, or lowly owned, player to be the hero of the slate. The Saints have a strong defensive backfield led by CB Marshon Lattimore. But it’s Patrick Mahomes who can dissect any good defense. His passing numbers have been down of late, but he’s still the best in the game and has enough weapons to make big plays tonight.

I prefer the rookie, Xavier Worthy, the most as they use him in many different ways including the run game. After that it’s a crap shoot. But keep an eye on WR Justin Watson who saw the 3rd most targets last week and has the trust of Mahomes. Other names that need to be on your radar are Justyn Ross and Nikko Remigio, as both took snaps with the first team in practices this week with Mecole Hardman sitting out with a knee injury.

Tier 1: Xavier Worthy

Tier 2: Justin Watson, JuJu Smith Schuster, Sky Moore

Tier 3/Cheap Options: Justyn Ross, Nikko Remigio

Tight End

We’re waiting for our first Travis Kelce breakout game of the season. And after watching what Eagles TE Dallas Goedert did against New Orleans, I’m betting that comes tonight on MNF. Kelce showed signs of life last week as he brought in 7 catches on 9 targets. To put that in perspective, he had just 8 receptions combined in the first 3 weeks. And the Saints, as alluded to with Goedert, have allowed the 4th most fantasy points to TE’s this year.

Of note, Noah Gray saw four targets last week as the Chiefs did run many 2 TE sets with Rice injured.

Tier 1: Travis Kelce

Tier 2: Noah Gray

FanDuel MVP and DraftKings CPT Picks—FNF Showdown 

I want a high-usage player at MVP on FanDuel like Alvin Kamara, Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce. I’m passing on Derek Carr at the MVP position because he’s not playing the Panthers or Cowboys (averaged 9 fantasy points in weeks not playing Carolina and Dallas). Remember, you need the highest-scoring player, not the best value. The salaries do not change from flex to MVP on FanDuel, so the value at the MVP is not a priority. Take the points up top. 

On DraftKings, you look for the best “value” in the mid to high price range. And in this case, that looks to be on the high price range side. I’ll look at Kamara and Kelce as my favorites but my two favorites outside of those are Shaheed and Worthy.

FanDuel

FanDuel MVP Tier 1: Alvin Kamara, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes

FDMVP Tier 2: Kareem Hunt, Chris Olave, Xavier Worthy

FDMVP Tier 3: Rashid Shaheed, Juwan Johnson 

DraftKings

DraftKings CPT Tier 1: Travis Kelce, Alvin Kamara

DK CPT Tier 2: Xavier Worthy, Rashid Shaheed, Kareem Hunt

DK CPT Tier 3: Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson, Patrick Mahomes

DK CPT Punt: Justin Watson

Flex Rankings Tier 1:

  • Travis Kelce
  • Alvin Kamara
  • Xavier Worthy
  • Patrick Mahomes
  • Kareem Hunt
  • Chris Olave
  • Juwan Johnson
  • Rashid Shaheed

Flex Rankings Tier 2: (Don’t play more than 1 Tier 2 or Tier 3 guys)

  • Derek Carr
  • Noah Gray
  • Justin Watson
  • JuJu Smith-Schuster
  • Harrison Butker
  • Blake Grupe
  • Saints D
  • Chiefs D

Punts/Fadeable: (Don’t play unless desperate)

  • Justyn Ross
  • Sky Moore
  • Nikko Remigio

Best Rules for the slate:

  • Play at least one stud RB, likely both. Both have tough matchups, but both teams also lack a full arsenal of WR’s. So they will use the RB’s in the passing game as much as possible.
  • Travis Kelce is my favorite player of the night due to the Saints issues matching up with TE’s. And Kelce’s knack to step up in big game (i.e. prime time).
  • If you play Kelce and Xavier Worthy then you’ll need to find space for Mahomes.
  • I like Juwan Johnson a lot, and he’s good salary relief if building around the Chiefs passing game.
  • Don’t be afraid to play one of the Chiefs less heralded WR’s. I’m leaning Justin Watson as my favorite of the group. But both Remigio and Ross are intriguing and if play if we get news that one is starting.
  • Only play 1 QB, or none. I prefer Mahomes over Carr. I don’t think there’s enough points scored to play both QB’s (total is 43)
  • Both Kickers are in play – Total is 43 and the weather is calm. Kicking game could be a factor tonight.
  • Consider one defense in a 4/2 or 5/1 roster alignment

Favorite prop for the game: TBD

Now that you finished reading the MONDAY NIGHT SHOWDOWN article make sure to check out our YouTube Channel for constant content for every game and slate in the NFL this season and hop in our Discord Expert Chat.

Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@dgloeck) and my other content that is part of the WinDailySports family.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Week 5 of the NFL season continues with a bang as the Cowboys take on the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh In this article, I’ll share my top DFS showdown picks and strategies for DraftKings and FanDuel, helping you build winning lineups.

For a deeper dive into general showdown rules, make sure to check out David Jones’s “Daily Fantasy Football Showdown: Strategy for Building Winning Lineups” article. It’s essential reading for anyone crafting MME lineups, as player salary and team dynamics can impact each game’s approach.

Link: https://windailysports.com/daily-fantasy-football-showdown-strategy/

Note on Quarterbacks:

I will not write up the quarterbacks because the wide receiver and tight end section tend to cover the matchups. The QB rankings are at the bottom of the article. 

Dallas Cowboys

Running Back

The Steelers have been the best team against the run this season, only allowing 228 rushing yards in the first four games. Pittsburgh has also allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs at 16 DK. The Dallas backfield is a bit of a mess through four weeks. Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott have seen touches at running back and have had some work coming out of the backfield as receivers.

Last week Dowdle slowly began to pull away as the main running back for the Cowboys as he had 15 more snaps and saw six more carries. Dowdle also caught his first touchdown pass on his only catch. Heading into Sunday Night, my lean would be Dowdle since he is starting to see more work and is the much younger running back. But that being said I am not jamming either into my lineups as Pittsburgh is great against running backs. If you are running multiple lineups then you can fit Dowdle and Elliott into some, but in SE neither is a priority as I would rather focus on the passing game. 

Hunter Luepke and Deuce Vaughn have both seen snaps over the first two weeks, but they are both fades for me unless you are trying to max out one of the 150.

Tier 1: Rico Dowdle

Tier 2: Ezekiel Elliott

Punts/Fades: Hunter Luepke. Deuce Vaughn

Wide Receiver

Pittsburgh has been good against wide receivers this season. They are allowing the ninth fewest DK points to opposing wide receivers at 28. A big reason why Pittsburgh has been great against wide receivers is their ability to keep them out of the end zone. They are tied for sixth in touchdowns allowed with only 2. The secondary will face their toughest test so far this week as CeeDee Lamb has been great this season.

The top guy for the Cowboys is Lamb. Lamb is top 20 in the NFL in receiving yards (316), receptions (20), touchdowns (2), and YAC (154). Lamb is a must-play on name alone, but this week is a lock because of his matchup as well. He sees a target on 29.9% of his routes and is now going up against Beanie Bishop who is allowing the most points per route to opposing wide receivers of all of Pittsburgh’s corners. Lamb’s targets should see a slight uptick as well and Cooks has been placed on IR so Dallas will be down a good receiver.

The other player who will see an uptick in work is Jalen Tolbert. Through the first four weeks, he was seeing a target on 12% of his routes and getting .27 fantasy points per route. He was tied with Cooks with 19 targets in the first four weeks, but should now benefit from the 4.8 targets that are free now that Cooks isn’t playing. 

Jalen Brooks might be worth a punt this week. Brooks has played 23% of the Cowboys snaps and has seen seven targets. While he only moves up to WR4 with Cooks gone, the $600 savings from Turpin make him a slightly better punt for me.

Tier 1: CeeDee Lam

Tier 2: Jalen Tolbert

Punts/Fades: Jalen Brooks/KaVontae Turpin

Tight End

The Steelers have been okay against tight ends this season. They have given up the 18th most DK to opposing tight ends at 8.6. They have allowed 13 receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Jake Ferguson leads the tight end room in every statistical category. Over the past two weeks, he has more targets than CeeDee Lamb who has 15, meanwhileFerguson has 18. Unfortunately, he is priced higher this week than he was last week. My priority will still be Lamb, but Ferguson is my second favorite pass catcher for Dallas.

You can also take a chance with Luke Schoonmaker if you need a salry. He is priced at $1600 on DK and has played at least 30% of Dallas’s snaps every game. He didn’t see a target last week so he is more of a punt play if making more than one lineup.

Tier 1: Jake Ferguson

Tier 2: Luke Schoonmaker

Pittsburgh Steelers

Running Back

The Cowboys have not been good against running backs this season. They have allowed 419 rushing yards and six touchdowns. They are also allowing the third most fantasy points to opposing running backs at 30.9. The Cowboys are also struggling to stop running backs catching out of the backfield. They are allowing the sixth most receiving yards to running backs at 187 and a touchdown.

Najee Harris is a priority for me this week. One reason is because of how bad the Cowboys have been against the run. But the other reason is because he is the last man standing right now. Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson have both been ruled out. So Pittsburgh is left with Harris and Aaron Shampklin. Harris should see the majority of the workload alongside Justin Fields, who can run, and Shampklin might only see the field to give Harris a breather. Jonathan Ward has also been added to the active roster but his role on this team is unknown so he is an easy fade unless you are maxing out the 150 where a handful of lineups with him isn’t terrible.

Tier 1: Najee Harris

Punts/Fades: Aaron Shampklin/Jonathan Ward

Wide Receiver

The Cowboys have been okay against wide receivers this season. They are ranked 19th in DK points allowed per game at 32.6. They have allowed 50 receptions for 576 yards and three touchdowns. 

The leading wide receiver for Pittsburgh is George Pickens. Pickens is leading the Steelers with 207 snaps played, 29 targets, 20 receptions, 284 yards. But he has yet to score a touchdown this season. Pickens will draw the attention of the Cowboy’s best cornerback, Trevon Diggs. Diggs has been good at limiting opposing wide receivers to only .18 fantasy points per route. While that will normally make me hesitant to use a wide receiver against him, Pickens seems to found a connection with Fields. 

There is a large difference in price between Pickens and the Steelers number two wide receiver, Van Jefferson. Jefferson has struggled in the early part of the season, only averaging .43 yards and .1 fantasy points per route run. But he should see better numbers as he should lineup across Caelen Carson who has been the Cowboy’s weakest link in the secondary. Carson is allowing .4 fantasy points and 1.91 yards per route to opponents. At $3200 on DK Van Jefferson is one of my favorite value plays.

The Steelers also have Calvin Austin but he is a fade for me against the Cowboys. Austin will be going up against Jourdan Lewis who has similar numbers to Diggs this season. It would take a huge play for Austin to hit value at his price.

Tier 1: George Pickens

Tier 2: Van Jefferson

Fade: Calvin Austin

Tight End

Dallas has been great going up against tight ends. They give up the seventh fewest points to opposing tight ends, 6 DK. Tight ends have 11 receptions, and 112 yards, and have failed to score a touchdown against the Cowboys in the first four weeks.

Pat Freiermuth is the Steeler’s top tight end. He has 20 targets in the first week which is the second most only behind Pickens. His $6600 price makes him slightly less of a priority for me as the Cowboys have been so good against tight ends. I will be avoiding the other two Pittsburgh tight ends, Washington and Pruitt, as neither should see much action unless Freiermuth gets hurt.

Tier 1: Pat Freiermuth

Punt/Fade: Darnell Washington, MyCole Pruitt

FanDuel MVP and DraftKings CPT Picks—SNF Showdown 

I want a high-usage player at MVP on FanDuel like a quarterback or a workhorse running back. You need the highest-scoring player, not the best value. The salaries do not change from flex to MVP on FanDuel, so the value at the MVP is not a priority. Take the points up top. 

On DraftKings, you look for the best “value” in the mid to high price range. 

FanDuel

FanDuel MVP Tier 1: CeeDee Lamb, Najee Harris

FanDuel MVP Tier 2: Dak Prescott, Justin Fields

FanDuel MVP Tier 3: George Pickens, Jake Ferguson

DraftKings

DraftKings CPT Tier 1: CeeDee Lamb, Najee Harris, Justin Fields

DraftKings CPT Tier 2: Dak Prescott, George Pickens, Jake Ferguson

DraftKings CPT Tier 3: Rico Dowdle

DraftKings CPT Punt: Jalen Tolbert

Flex Tier 1:

  • CeeDee Lamb
  • Najee Harris
  • Justin Fields
  • Dak Prescott
  • George Pickens
  • Jake Ferguson
  • Rico Dowdle
  • Jalen Tolbert
  • Pat Freiermuth
  • Van Jefferson
  • Ezekiel Elliott

Flex Tier 2/Punts:

  • Steelers D/ST
  • Cowboys D/ST
  • Calvin Austin III
  • Brandon Aubrey
  • Chris Boswell
  • Luke Schoonmaker
  • Jalen Brooks
  • KaVontae Turpin
  • Aaron Shampklin
  • Hunter Luepke

Best Rules for the slate:

  • Play at least 1
    • CeeDee Lamb and/or Najee Harris
    • Dak Prescott and/or Justin Fields
  • Don’t play more than 1 defense.
  • Don’t play more than 2 skill positions against your defense.
  • Don’t play a kicker against your defense
  • Don’t play your MVP QB against the opposing defense
  • Stack your kicker with at least one skill player, someone has to move the ball down the field

Favorite prop for the game: Justin Fields 50+ Rushing Yards (+100)

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Week 4 hung us with our first negative outcome of the season as surprising contenders, looking at you Minnesota and Washington, kept up their winning ways. Eventually, we will see regression with these teams but they have proven they are here to stay for the 2024 season. In the first weekend for byes, we look to a shorter slate to make our rebound and get back to, or over, 0.500. Looking at the Win Daily team, we have so many tools available to get your lineups set and bring home some big wins. You’ll see our NFL pre-lock show tomorrow and the projections and lineup optimizers are available for all our members.

As for Survivor, it’s been tough sledding but if you’re sill alive there are picks to be made and potential to bring home a big payday.

NFL BETS WEEK 5 (2024 SEASON RECORD: 7-9)

MIAMI DOLPHINS +1 at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

I wasn’t sure if it could get any worse for Miami after they were dominated in Seattle in Week 3. The addition of Tyler Huntley gave hope that the so-called offensive mastermind would be able to flip the switch quickly and have the Dolphins clicking on all cylinders. But then Monday night happened and we saw an absolute embarrassment of a performance as Miami put up just 184 total yards against Tennessee and lost 31-12. While I have major question marks about the Fins coaching staff, they still have premium talent on offense and some big names defensively. So I’m hopeful that a beatdown on national TV will inspire a group of proud men to make the necessary changes, starting this week in New England.

The Dolphins also have some good news as they are supposedly getting back RB Raheem Mostert, OL Terron Armstead and DB Kendall Fuller for this game. And the Patriots recently lost the key to their offensive line as C David Andrews is out with a shoulder injury.

I expect the Dolphins to slow this thing down to a halt and attack with their running game now that they have Mostert healthy and he can shed some of the load. The Patriots are having significant issues at RB (Stevenson fumbling) and OL, which the Dolphins should take advantage of and create havoc on QB Jacoby Brissett. I’ll bank on an ugly game but one where Huntley pulls out some magic late and is able to lead the Dolphins to a GW FG.

LA RAMS +3.5 vs GREEN BAY PACKERS

Jordan Love made his return last week and almost brought the Packers back from 21 points down to beat the Vikings. He led the Pack on three touchdown scoring drives in the 4th quarter which gives hope that GB is back to the way they played last year when they made the Divisional Round of the NFC playoffs.

However, I’m backing the Rams today as they gear up to play just their 2nd home game of the season. Yes, the Rams are banged up especially at WR as Cooper Kupp will miss his 3rd straight game. But they still have Matthew Stafford and Kyren Williams, and Green Bay’s D has struggled this year ranking 19th in team defense DVOA and is allowing 23 points per game.

The main reason I’m backing LA is twofold. First, Green Bay has some dissention in the room as they have suspended WR Romeo Doubs for not showing up to practice this week. His omission from mandatory practice was due to him questioning his role in the offense. And secondly, when the Packers beat the Rams 20-3 last season, that marked the single lowest point total and yards gained in HC Sean McVay’s career. I’m sure he’s circled that and is chomping at the bit to ensure that doesn’t happen again. And as we speak, 71% of the bets and 80% of the money are backing the Pack setting this up for a big fade the public play.

CINCINATTI BENGALS +2.5 vs BALTIMORE RAVENS

Everyone saw the Ravens demolition of Buffalo on Sunday Night Football. It got so bad that Mitch Trubisky had to play a few series for the Bills as they threw up the white flag early in the 4th quarter. The most surprising part was Baltimore’s ability to run the ball as they gained an eye-opening 271 yards on the ground. We all know the Ravens are the best running team in the league, but to average 8.0 yards/carry against an NFL team for an entire game is impressive.

And those optics, are exactly why I like the Cincinatti Bengals today. The Bengals picked up their first win of the season last week in Carolina. The outcome was somewhat predictable, but the way they did it was surprising. The Bengals had their best rushing output of the season racking up 141 yards on the ground. RB Chase Brown broke out with 80 yards rushing and two TD’s. Being able to show a balanced offense will be a huge key to the Bengals getting back in the AFC North race.

Back to the optics, almost everyone will back the Ravens here as they have been on primetime in three of the four weeks to start the season. People have seen them almost beat KC, then dominate both Dallas and Buffalo. The eye test says the Ravens are great, and that’s what the public will back. We’re seeing 82% of the bets and 71% of the money on Baltimore.

And remember, the Bengals season ended at Baltimore last year when Joe Burrow went down with a wrist injury. Cincy had taken a 10-7 lead but learned quickly after a short TD throw that Burrow’s hand/wrist was severely injured. That spelled doom for that game and the rest of the season. Additionally, there is urgency with Cincinatti as falling to 1-4 could completely derail their season again. Getting to 2-3 and owning the tiebreaker against Baltimore would go a long way in getting back into the division race.

HOUSTON TEXANS -1 vs BUFFALO BILLS

It’s revenge day for someone today when the Bills travel to Houston to face the Texans. And I’m leaning on WR Stephon Diggs to have the last laugh. There has been much said about the relationship between QB Josh Allen and Diggs, and the two made a split this offseason as Diggs was shipped off to Houston. We’ve seen Allen perform admirably so far, with just 1 turnover in four games. But he is missing Diggs, as no Buffalo WR averages more than 57 yards receiving per game.

For Houston, last week’s comeback against Jacksonville was thrilling to say the least. But it did show another week of underwhelming results from the offense as they had only 17 points until the final drive. They are averaging just 19.9 points per game this season. But a win like that can be inspiring and I expect the offense to show some extra burst today as they have motivation and momentum on their side.

The public also backs Buffalo today with 69% of the bets coming in on the road team.

SURVIVOR PICK

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The Gmen played tough against the Cowboys but managed just 5 FG’s. They struggle to score and that will be a factor today in the upper Northwest as the Seahawks are averaging 25.3 points per game..

Now that you finished reading the NFL BETS & SURVIVOR POOL PICKS article make sure to check out our YouTube Channel for constant content for every game and slate in the NFL this season and hop in our Discord Expert Chat.

Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@dgloeck) and my other content that is part of the WinDailySports family.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Welcome to my NFL Daily Fantasy Sports guide for this Sunday’s games! In this article, I’ll walk you through my strategic approach for selecting top players and crafting optimal lineups to give you a winning edge in NFL DFS for 2024. I’ve thoroughly analyzed each game and position to highlight the best plays and explain the reasoning behind my selections.

*I’ll be updating this article on Sunday morning if there are any changes. Be sure to check back for the most current and accurate DFS plays.

Sunday Update:

  • My top RBs are Mason, Jacobs, Henry and Sermon
  • Fading Walker
  • Having a growing concern with the Jacksonville game due to the weather
  • Sutton has moved up the board for me
  • Dalton Schultz at TE if you do not have a Texan
  • Mark Andrews pays off
  • Jayden Daniels has been added to the pool

Quarterback 

Joe Flacco 

It feels like either the Colt’s pass game or run game (Trey Sermon) will make the optimal. The Jaguars on the other side are set up nicely to score points so I want to lean into the Colt’s pass game as I think there is a good chance they are trailing and have to abandon Sermon to some extent in the 4th quarter. Flacco has looked more than competent as a passer in the first game with the Colts and certainly at the end of last season with the Browns. The Jaguars are ranked dead last in defensive DVOA. This includes being last (32nd) in DVOA against the pass and 11th against the run. They have also been the third-worst team making a tackle in the open field which gives more encouragement one of his receivers can bust open a big play. 

Others to consider:

  • Jordan Love
  • Lamar Jackson
  • Trevor Lawrence: I like his pass catchers so I guess I like him in GPPs 
  • Brock Purdy

Running Back 

Best Pay Ups that don’t need much explanation. The combination of skill, volume, and matchup makes them clear top options. They are listed in order of preference. 

  • Derrick Henry
  • Kyren Williams
  • Jordan Mason
  • Kenneth Walker

Josh Jacobs

In Week 1 he had a bad matchup against the Eagles. In Week 2 he crushed with 32 carries and 151 yards, he just didn’t get in the endzone. In Week 3, Jordan Love was out and the offensive plans changed. In Week 4, the Packers fell way behind and his rushing attempts were scripted out. In Week 5, it is all lining up nicely for Josh Jacobs. Love is back, and two of the three starting receivers from Week 1 are out. Jacobs also gets to take on a Rams team that is 31st in DVOA against the run and has allowed the single most rushing yards (524) in the league. He makes for an excellent pivot off the Packers pass game (not that Reed and Wicks are bad plays). All we need is for the game script to go Jacobs’s way for more rushing opportunities, and honestly, that is the most likely scenario. 

Alexander Mattison

Let me take you back to the year 2022 when Dalvin Cook was ruled out and we all lock-buttoned Alexander Mattison at a deflated salary in every DFS lineup we made. Those were the good old days. Then last season happened and he was a major letdown. The same thing could be said for Tony Pollard when he got opportunities with Zeke out or limited. They were both explosive backups that didn’t prevail in their new roles last season. Well, Pollard is having a bit of a resurgence. Could the same be true for Mattison? Perhaps, even though it is a difficult matchup. The Broncos are ranked 5th in DVOA against the run while allowing only one rushing TD. The thing is that the Raiders may just be forced to try and establish the run, and maybe, just maybe, Mattison breaks one. The Broncos are going to take Jacoby Meyers out of the game, and DeVante Adams is already out of there, so they really have no choice but the see what Mattison has left in the tank. I am willing to let him hurt me one more time or win me a bunch of money.

Trey Sermon

I am typically a Sermon hater but I was watching some recent film on him and he looked surprisingly spry. I don’t hate the play as much as I thought I would. He is certainly safer than Tyrone Tracy.

Antonio Gibson

Gibson is in line to start for the Patriots with Rhamondre Stevenson losing his job, for at least a week, due to fumbling issues. The Dolphins are bad at defending the run, allowing 29 DraftKings points per game to the position. They have allowed 472 rushing yards through 4 games and a league-high 7 rushing touchdowns. Gibson has looked pretty good in a limited run for New England. He has the 10th-highest YPA for running backs (5.2) and should be used in the passing game.  

Tyrone Tracy

I am considering him as a fill-in for Devin Singletary ONLY based on his salary of $4,300. He likely sees the majority of starter snaps, but I am not so sure that is going to be a high number. In his last season in the NCAA, he averaged just over 10 carries per game and 1.7 receptions per game. He is apparently a converted wide receiver but I have seen no evidence of it by simply checking his receiving statistics in college. The matchup is bad. Seattle is ranked 7th in DVOA against the rush. He is only worth a dart throw in large-field GPPs because he is so cheap. That’s all. 

Others to consider:

  • James Cook
  • Jerome Ford

Wide Receiver 

Indianapolis Colts

One thing we know about Joe Flacco is he will stand in the pocket and pepper his top pass catchers. This pass game for the Colts be a larger focus than usual with Jonathan Taylor sitting out and Trey Sermon getting the start. Passing is certainly going to be the easiest way to move the chains. The Jags allow the 4th most receptions and 5th most fantasy points to receivers, but to be transparent they also haven’t been great at stopping the run. Michael Pittman runs a relatively even split on the outside, while Joshua Downs absorbs 94% of the slot routes. Jarrian Jones covers the slot, while Ronald Darby and Montaric Brown occupy the outside. There is not a bad matchup on paper for either of the receivers. The mid-range price tag on both Pittman and Downs put them firmly in play. 

Stefon Diggs

I am going to run it back with Diggs this week against his former team, the Buffalo Bills. The narrative is not the only reason of course although that is a real motivator, especially after Josh Allen’s public “dig” at Diggs two weeks ago. We still have a Houston team that is going to need to throw it with Joe Mixon out. Plus we have much tougher matchups on the outside for Tank Dell and Nico Collins (not that it appears to matter). Diggs runs out of the slot in 64% of his routes. The Bills slot corner allows 2.67 YPRC. This is the second-worst rate in the entire league for starting corners. Diggs should eat early and often in this one, which you know he has had circled on his calendar. 

Green Bay Packers

The Los Angeles Rams are ranked 31st in DVOA against receivers. They are ranked 12th against the WR 1 and 31st against the WR 2. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are out. Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks are going to be the two main receivers who benefit. Both played over 75% of snaps last week, and that was with Romeo Doubs in. Reed gets most of the slot routes (87%) and has shown the most promise when given the expanded opportunity so he is my preferred receiver. That being said, I am perfectly fine landing on Wicks if I do not have the extra $1,500 to get Reed. 

Brian Thomas Jr. 

Although I do like the primary slot matchup for Kirk, I will lean more toward Brian Thomas Jr. against the Colts who run a ton of zone coverage. Thomas’s primary matchup is going to be against Jaylon Jones on the right side of the field for about 60% of snaps. Jones allows by far the most air yards and YPRC on the Jags. 

Side note: Evan Engram is not expected to play. 

Rome Odunze

DJ Moore is going to be shadowed by Jaycee Horn in his “revenge game” who has been solid. Keenan Allen will get the majority of the slot routes, which are covered by Troy Hill, who is allowing less YPRC than Jaycee Horn. Most of the production against the Panther secondary comes at the expense of Mike Jackson who will swap sides with Horn and primarily be on Rome Odunze. He allows over twice as much production as Horn per target. I don’t love Rome, but on paper, he has the best matchup. That is unless DJ Moore is in Caleb Williams’s ear begging for a ton of targets against his old team. 


Courtland Sutton

I have been convincing myself it is time to buy low on Bo Nix after his very tough schedule to start his career. However, there is really no reason to play him and just not play his top pass catcher Sutton. If Bo has a good day, Sutton certainly will have a better one. 

Others to consider/mix in MME

  • DK Metcalf
  • Deebo Samuel 
  • Amari Cooper
  • Xavier Legette 
  • Courtland Sutton
  • Tee Higgins
  • Rashod Bateman
  • Tee Higgins
  • Tutu Atwell
  • Jordan Whittington
  • Keon Coleman
  • Mack Hollins

Tight End 

Brenton Strange

Evan Engram is not expected to play so we get another opportunity to play Brenton Strange. He has been consistent (for a tight end), in somewhat difficult matchups. He gets to take on the Colts this Sunday, who are much worse against tight ends than the Texans, Bills, and Browns who he has recently seen. The Colts allow 14.7 fantasy points to the position per game. They have allowed 2 receiving TDs this season to tight ends, whereas the three teams I mentioned above have allowed a combined 2 receiving tight ends (one at the hands of Strange). 

Tucker Kraft

I have a really hard time chasing points at tight end, especially when they are chalk but it is hard to deny that it is a good spot for Kraft at only $3,500.  

Best Spend ups:

  • Dalton Kincaid
  • Brock Bowers

Others to consider:

  • Mike Gesicki 
  • Dalton Schultz
  • Mark Andrews: Salary play, “cold check”
  • Theo Johnson 

Again, I will update this article if anything changes. Be sure to come back and check for the most up-to-date plays. I can already tell you I will be adding another running back in the morning.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Week 4 of the NFL season wraps up tonight with Monday Night Football. And we have another special one tonight as the NFL gives us two Monday night games for our viewing, and betting, pleasure. Therefore, this article will take a right turn from its normal form where we focused solely on showdowns. Instead, we’ll look at the combined two game slate and see if we can build a strategy to bring home a winning lineup in a classic format. I’m still providing showdown thoughts at the end of the article for those looking at the typical one game builds. With that said, let’s dive into two intriguing matchups featuring the Titans and Dolphins in the early game and the Seahawks at the Lions slated for the normal MNF time slot.

Remember there are different strategies for DraftKings and FanDuel, so ensure you keep that in mind when building your winning lineups.

For a deeper dive into general showdown rules, make sure to check out David Jones’s “Daily Fantasy Football Showdown: Strategy for Building Winning Lineups” article. It’s essential reading for anyone crafting MME lineups, as player salary and team dynamics can impact each game’s approach.

Link: https://windailysports.com/daily-fantasy-football-showdown-strategy/

NOTE: The totals in the two games tonight are 10 points apart. We have the Titans/Dolphins set at 37 points while the Seahawks/Lions are at 47 points. That’s important to note as we’ll want to be a little heavy on the later game tonight based on point scoring potential at 30% higher than the Titans/Dolphins game.

QUARTERBACK

We have four QB’s to choose from tonight in the two-game slate. But the reality is, two are starting QB’s in the NFL, one is a career backup and journeyman, and the other is a 2nd year turnover machine. But because of skewed ownership on the former two, we must look at all the details and matchups to see what makes the most sense for our builds.

JARED GOFF ($6400 DK) – It’s safe to say the Lions have won two of their first three games despite Goff. On the season, he has 4 interceptions to go with just 3 TD’s. And his current QBR is 34.6 which is his lowest since 2016, his rookie season. And he faces a tough matchup tonight as the Seahawks have allowed the 2nd lowest passing yards in the league, at just 132.3 yds/game in the air. Additionally, Seattle’s pass coverage ranks as the top unit in the league posting an 89.9 grade on PFF. That’s mainly due to the dynamic duo of Tariq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon at DB who both rank in the top 20 in the NFL according to PFF.

However, I still think there’s value in Goff for several reasons. First is his recent form against Seattle. The Lions have played the Seahawks in each of the past two seasons, and Goff has 701 yards passing and seven touchdowns in those games. Secondly, the Seahawks have faced a putrid trio of QB’s this season. The triumvirate of Bo Nix, Jacoby Brisset and Skylar Thompson don’t necessarily give us a good indication of how good Seattle’s pass D really is. Afterall, Seattle ranked 28th in DVOA pass defense in 2023. So I expect regression tonight and for that reason rank Goff as the top QB on the slate.

GENO SMITH ($5900 DK) – Geno Smith has the best matchup on the slate as the Lions rank 21st in passing yards allowed, giving up 216.7 per game through the air. He’s also coming off two productive games in a row, where he averaged 308 passing yards per game. Geno can also be a threat in the running game as he’s accounted for one rushing TD on eleven carries this year. Because the salary difference between Smith and Huntley/Levis is minimal, and the matchup is right, the Seahawks signal caller comes in as my QB#2 tonight.

TYLER HUNTLEY ($5500 DK) – Huntley was signed off the Baltimore practice squad earlier this week and is now being thrust into the lineup as the Fins starting QB. And this isn’t new to Huntley as he’s been forced into emergency action several times in the past three years. In fact, he’s seen the field 18 times since 2021 often filling in for an injured Lamar Jackson. So the lights won’t be too big for Huntley and he should be free to perform well with the weapons at his side.

While Tennessee has a good pass D, ranking 3rd in the NFL, they also haven’t seen dynamic passing offenses. Their pass D was one of the worst last year, ranking 24th in DVOA. Huntley is definitely in play for me tonight as he has nothing to lose and can play free an loose. Expect him to take some shots deep to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle while also using his legs to escape trouble when needed.

In reality, this is QB#2b for me tonight as I do have his projections close to Geno.

WILL LEVIS ($5200 DK) – Levis hasn’t been good for the 0-3 Titans. And he’s giving his head coach fits, as Brian Callahan has been forced to eat his words on a few occasions about his young QB. He’ll likely get volume tonight, but his eight turnovers are concerning. I can see a world where he would be worth it on a slate with high priced QB’s, but being he’s only a few hundred dollars less than Smith and Huntley, this is a pass for me.

Tier 1: Jared Goff, Geno Smith

Tier 2: Tyler Huntley

RUNNING BACK

The RB position is filled with tough decisions tonight. We’ll be focusing on matchups for our back usage tonight.

DEVON ACHANE ($7200 DK) – The concern with Achane is the potential for opponents to stack the box because of poor QB play. But with Huntley starting, and being a serviceable QB in the league, there is some optimism that Achane could get back to his normal way. The other good news is the backfield is still clearly his. In their week 3 loss in Seattle, Achane had 74% of the snaps and 73.6% of the touches.

JAHMRY GIBBS ($6900 DK) – The Lions backfield is always hard to predict as snap counts are almost 50/50 on the year between Montgomery and Gibbs. As we all know, the production is clearly different as Gibbs has almost the same amount of yards as Montgomery but on 8 less touches. However, I’m sticking with Gibbs over Montgomery in most of my lineups due to explosive play potential and the need for Detroit to attack Seattle at the edges (including in the passing game).

DAVID MONTGOMERY ($6400 DK) – Montgomery has 51 carries in 3 weeks, which comes out to 17 per game. So he’s definitely in play tonight and you could pair him with Gibbs. In that case, you would need to pivot off Goff and use a different QB since you’re banking on big production in the run game.

KENNETH WALKER III ($6300 DK) – The return of Kenneth Walker III is great news for season long fantasy owners. However, tonight is not the greatest matchup as Detroit has the #1 ranked rush defense against fantasy RB’s. And this is coming off a season in 2023 where Detroit was #1 in rushing defense DVOA. I’d pivot away from the Seattle running game tonight and focus more on their WR’s. Plus we could be on a pitch count here with Charbonnet sharing some of the load.

TONY POLLARD ($6000 DK) – Pollard has the best matchup on the slate as Miami has been giving up big games to RB’s (remember James Cook on TNF in week 2). In order for Levis to stop his turnover, Tennessee needs more out of their running game. However, Callahan is a classic pass first coach so it’s hard to see him relying on the run game if things go awry. Pollard is in play because of matchup but I prefer the Miami and Detroit running games.

Tier 1: DEVON ACHANE, JAHMYR GIBBS

Tier 2: DAVID MONTGOMERY, TONY POLLARD

Wide Receiver

AMON-RA ST BROWN ($8200 DK) – St Brown has recovered from an off game in week 1 to come back with 18 catches and 198 yards in his past two games. Because Detroit moves him all around the field, I’m not concerned with him being blanketed by Woolen. And past history shows he has good numbers against the Seahawks reeling in 14 catches for 213 yards in two career games against Seattle. He’s virtually matchup proof.

TYREEK HIL ($7900 DK) – Since losing Tua, Hill has seen just 6 catches for 64 yards in two games. I do think Huntley will try to force him the ball and expect him to rebound tonight. The Cheetah can’t be held down for three games in a row.

DK METCALF ($6800 DK) – Great matchup and great history here. Metcalf gets a Lions defense that is allowing the 2nd most fantasy points to WR this season. In three career games against Detroit, he’s averaging 6.3 catches, 95.7 yards and one TD. That’s good for over 20 points/game. This is my #1 WR tonight.

JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA ($5500 DK)/TYLER LOCKETT ($5000 DK) – Of the two I prefer JSN tonight as Detroit has struggled against slot WR’s. Just look at what Cooper Kupp did to them in Week 1. He also has more catches, targets and yards than Lockett. But both are in play.

CALVIN RIDLEY ($5900 DK)/DEANDRE HOPKINS ($5300 DK) – The Dolphins have been susceptible to bigger WR’s this season. We saw Brian Thomas Jr have the most catches and get the only receiving TD for the Jags in week 1. And DK Metcalf was the leading WR for Seattle last week. So my lean, of the two, is Hopkins. Both are underwhelming but on a short slate I may find some room for one Titan WR tonight.

Of note, GABE DAVIS ($4200 DK) is in revenge mode tonight against his former team. He’s worth noting as they may try to force the ball into Davis at times.

Tier 1: DK METCLAF, AMON-RA ST BROWN

Tier 2: TYREEK HILL, JAYLEN WADDLE,

TIER 3: JAXON SMITH NJIGBA, DEANDRE HOPKINS, JAMESON WILLIAMS, CALVIN RIDLEY

Tight End

With have one big name TE who has underperformed this season but has a plus matchup. The other TE’s are low salary and low volume.

Tier 1: SAM LAPORTA

Tier 2: CHIG OKONKWO, NOAH FANT, JONU SMITH

DEFENSE

I prefer the defenses in the early game and am hoping the later game is a shootout.

Tier 1: MIAMI DOLPHINS 

Tier 2: TENNESSEE TITANS, DETROIT LIONS

FanDuel MVP and DraftKings CPT Picks—MNF Showdown 

Now that you have our multi game strategy, we’re also providing a quick thought on the single game breakdowns. I want a high-usage player at MVP on FanDuel like Amon-Ra St. Brown or Devon Achane. I’ll also consider Gibbs, Goff, and Metcalf for the night game.

On DraftKings, you look for the best “value” in the mid to high price range. And in this case, that looks to be on the high price range side. I’ll target similar names to the FanDuel MVP’s above as they have the highest usage rate available.

Best Rules for the slate (TEN at MIA):

  • Play Devon Achane. Tennessee may sell out to stop him but he’s will still see 15+ touches.
  • In showdowns, I may look at both Huntley and Levis since there could be issues getting points in other areas. Of the two I prefer Huntley.
  • I will play one of Hill or Waddle. Not enough pass volume for both to go nuts.
  • Tony Pollard is in play on showdowns. I still don’t feel comfortable with his role in a pass happy offense that is led by a turnover prone QB.
  • My order of preference at Ten WR is DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley then Chig Okonkwo.
  • l will play many lineups with Miami D. Levis has turned the ball over 8 times in three games and several resulted in defensive TD’s..
  • Both kickers are in play.

Best Rules for the slate (SEA at DET):

  • Play Amon-Ra St. Brown in most (if not all) lineups. I’ll primarily have him at MVP and CPT since we can find salary relief in other places. As I said earlier, he’s matchup proof.
  • I prefer Jared Goff to Geno Smith but will see if I can fit both in my lineups as I fad Seattle running game.
  • DK Metcalf will be in most, if not all, my lineups.
  • Sam LaPorta has a plus matchup. If using him and St Brown, consider fading Lions running attack.
  • Both kickers are in play but I would only play one in my lineups.
  • Seattle should look to pass often, JSN and Lockett should be considered.

Favorite prop for the games: To be posted by 5pm EST.

Now that you finished reading the MONDAY NIGHT SHOWDOWN article make sure to check out our YouTube Channel for constant content for every game and slate in the NFL this season and hop in our Discord Expert Chat.

Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@dgloeck) and my other content that is part of the WinDailySports family.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Week 4 of the NFL season continues with a bang as the Bills take on the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. In this article, I’ll share my top DFS showdown picks and strategies for DraftKings and FanDuel, helping you build winning lineups.

For a deeper dive into general showdown rules, make sure to check out David Jones’s “Daily Fantasy Football Showdown: Strategy for Building Winning Lineups” article. It’s essential reading for anyone crafting MME lineups, as player salary and team dynamics can impact each game’s approach.

Link: https://windailysports.com/daily-fantasy-football-showdown-strategy/

Note on Quarterbacks:

I will not write up the quarterbacks because the wide receiver and tight end section tend to cover the matchups. The QB rankings are at the bottom of the article. 

Buffalo Bills

Running Back

The Ravens have been the best team against the run this season, having only allowed 117 rushing yards in the first three games. Baltimore has also allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs at 12.5. The main running back for Buffalo is James Cook, and he should be the one who sees most of the workload out of the backfield.

In his first three games, Cook has only played 53.2% of the Bills snaps because of the blowouts the Bills have been in so far. Because he has been on the bench in the latter stages of the game, he only has 188 rushing yards this season. This game should not be a blowout for either team, so I expect to see a full four quarters from Cook. Cook’s skill set is too good not to use him in any slate, even against a tough defense like Baltimore.

Cook’s two backups are Ray Davis and Ty Johnson, who have both seen time thanks to the blowouts. I am not prioritizing either of them this week, as I think with a close game, Cook will be in most of the game. But I will sprinkle them into a lineup or two for salary relief.

Tier 1: James Cook

Tier 2: Ray Davis/Ty Johnson

Wide Receiver

For how good the Ravens have been at defending the run, they have been equally as bad at defending against the pass. Baltimore is giving up the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers (42.7). Opposing wide receivers have 527 yards and four touchdowns in the first three weeks against Baltimore. They have given up 100 yards to two wide receivers so far.

The Bills wide receiver room is interesting through three weeks. They are one of the five teams coming into Sunday who have five different wide receivers with at least five targets. Even with the ball being spread out, the Bills have a clear top guy, and that is Khalil Shakir. Shakir has the team lead in targets (14), yards (168), and receiving touchdowns (2). Shakir is a lock for me on both sites. He sees a target on 16% of his routes, which leads the team, and he runs the majority (78%) of those routes out of the slot. Humphries and Wiggins are the two DBs that cover the slot the most for Baltimore, and while Humphries has done a good job this season limiting wide receivers, Wiggins has not, allowing. 35 fantasy points per route ran.

The two other wide receivers from Buffalo that I have my eye on for showdown are Coleman and Hollins. Coleman is tied with Samuel for the second most targets for a wide receiver for Buffalo at seven. Meanwhile, Hollins follows closely behind with five targets. Hollins is cheap compared to the amount of snaps he has played. He leads all Bills wide receivers with 114 snaps played. Of the two, Coleman has a safer floor thanks to seeing more targets per snap played compared to Hollins, but Hollins can find success if he continues to see the most snaps.

I want to quickly mention Samuel; he is priced low because he hasn’t seen many snaps, but like I mentioned above, he is tied in targets with Coleman. Samuel is more of a punt play, but if he can see an uptick in snaps, he can pay off for a showdown.

Tier 1: Khalil Shakir

Tier 2: Keon Coleman/Mack Hollins

Punts/Fades: Curtis Samuel/Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Tight End

Dalton Kincaid is the Bills’ best tight end. He has played 105 snaps and has 11 targets for eight receptions and 85 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens are allowing 17 DK points against tight ends in their first three games. That is the second most points given up per game by a team this season. Of all Bills players, Kincaid is second in targets and receptions, only behind Shakir. He has had one less target than Shakir in each of the first three games. Kincaid is one of Allen’s favorite targets, and while I won’t call him a lock for a showdown, he is very much almost one. 

Dawson Knox is the backup tight end and can be a punt play. He has played 93 snaps this season and has seen four targets. He had two targets twice and then failed to see one during their week two game. At $1600 on DK, he doesn’t need much to hit value, so he is an option if you need salary. 

Tier 1: Dalton Kincaid

Tier 2: Dawson Knox

Baltimore Ravens

Running Back

The Bills have been the seventh-worst team against running backs so far, giving up 26.9 DK per game. They have allowed 254 rushing yards and a touchdown. They have given 162 receiving yards to running backs, which is the fifth most yards allowed. Baltimore’s main threat at running back is Derrick Henry, who has seen the most rushing attempts for the Ravens. He has seen in carry in 53.8% of his snaps played.

Henry leads Baltimore in just about every rushing stat. He has 56 carries for 281 yards and four touchdowns. Henry was kept in check in Week 1 against the Chiefs, only rushing for 46 yards and scoring once, but since then he has 235 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. With Buffalo struggling against running backs, Henry should continue the success he has had the last two games.

Henry’s backup, Justice Hill, can cause trouble for the Bills in a different way. Hill is third in receptions for Baltimore, with 10 in the first three games. He has seen a dip in production since Week 1, where he had six receptions for 52 yards, but with Buffalo being terrible against running backs who can catch, he can have another breakout game like the one against KC.

Tier 1: Derrick Henry

Tier 2: Justice Hill

Wide Receiver

The Bills have been good against wide receivers so far this season. Through three weeks, they have allowed the sixth-fewest DK points (24.4) and third-fewest receiving yards to receivers.

Zay Flowers is the leading wide receiver for the Ravens. Flowers has a 26.7% target share and is averaging 1.53 yards per route run. Normally I would lock in Flowers for any lineup, but he has a tough matchup this week against the Bills. Flowers has played most of his snaps on the right side, which should see him matchup against either Benford or Douglas from Buffalo. Both corners are allowing under.2 FP/RR, with Benford only giving up.17 and Douglas.19. Flowers is still the best option for a receiver to pair with Lamar Jackson.

Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor are the other wide receivers who have seen targets this season. Neither of the two is high on my list, as Bateman should also see a lot of Benford and Douglas when they are not covering Flowers, and Agholor has only seen five targets in 104 snaps played. Of the two, I will have more Agholor than Bateman. Agholor has the easiest matchup against Cam Lewis, who is allowing the most FP/RR.

Tier 1: Zay Flowers

Tier 2: Nelson Agholor/Rashod Bateman

Tight End

Buffalo has had a rough start going up against tight ends. They give up the ninth most points to opposing tight ends, 12.1 DK. Tight ends have 18 receptions, 124 yards, and a touchdown against the Bills in the first three weeks. Last week, Jacksonville’s backup tight end, Brenton Strange, had 9.2 DK against them.

The tight-end situation in Baltimore is a bit of a mess right now. In Week 1, Likely led the team with 12 targets but has followed that up with only four total targets the next two games. Then you have Mark Andrews, who has eight targets in three games, with five of the eight coming in Week 2. There really isn’t anything that points to who will be the better of the two this week. So if you are building a lineup with either, I would build a second lineup, replacing only the tight end you used for the other.

Tier 1: Isaiah Likely/Mark Andrews

Punt/Fade: Charlie Koler

FanDuel MVP and DraftKings CPT Picks—SNF Showdown 

I want a high-usage player at MVP on FanDuel like a quarterback or a workhorse running back. You need the highest-scoring player, not the best value. The salaries do not change from flex to MVP on FanDuel, so the value at the MVP is not a priority. Take the points up top. 

On DraftKings, you look for the best “value” in the mid to high price range. 

FanDuel

FanDuel MVP Tier 1: Josh Allen/Lamar Jackson/James Cook

FanDuel MVP Tier 2: Khalil Shakir/Derrick Henry

FanDuel MVP Tier 3: Dalton Kincaid

DraftKings

DraftKings CPT Tier 1:Josh Allen/Lamar Jackson/James Cook

DraftKings CPT Tier 2: Khalil Shakir/Derrick Henry

DraftKings CPT Tier 3: Dalton Kincaid

DraftKings CPT Punt: Justice Hill

Flex Tier 1:

  • Josh Allen
  • Lamar Jackson
  • James Cook
  • Dalton Kincaid
  • Derrick Henry
  • Khalil Shakir
  • Isaiah Likely
  • Zay Flowers
  • Keon Coleman
  • Mark Andrews

Flex Tier 2:

  • Justice Hill
  • Dawson Knox
  • Nelson Agholor
  • Rashod Bateman
  • Bills D/ST
  • Ravens D/ST
  • Justin Tucker
  • Tyler Bass
  • Ray Davis
  • Ty Johnson
  • Curtis Samuel
  • Mack Hollins
  • Charlie Kolar
  • Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Best Rules for the slate:

  • Play at least 1
    • Jackson or Allen
    • Kincaid or Shakir
    • Cook or Henry
  • Don’t play more than 1 defense.
  • Lamar can be ran naked
  • Don’t play more than 2 skill positions against your defense.
  • Don’t play a kicker against your defense
  • Don’t play your MVP QB against the opposing defense
  • Stack your kicker with at least one skill player, someone has to move the ball down the field

Favorite prop for the game: Justice Hill Over 15.5 Receiving Yards (-115 FD)

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Welcome to my NFL Daily Fantasy Sports guide for this Sunday’s games! In this article, I’ll walk you through my strategic approach for selecting top players and crafting optimal lineups to give you a winning edge in NFL DFS for 2024. I’ve thoroughly analyzed each game and position to highlight the best plays and explain the reasoning behind my selections.

*I’ll be updating this article on Sunday morning if there are any changes. Be sure to check back for the most current and accurate DFS plays.

Sunday Morning Update:

  • Brian Robinson is firmly in play at RB2
  • Brock Bowers: Get some
  • Tre Tucker is a very good value WR, DJ Turner should play the WR3
  • Tommy Tremble is in the player pool at TE
  • Jakobi Meyers should also be in your player pool
  • Johnny WIlson and Paris Campbell are now value receivers with AJ Brown being ruled out, I like them less than the LV recievers
  • Zack Moss is added to the RB pool
  • Brenton Strange is in the TE player pool

Quarterback Rankings

I touch on the matchups for these QBs in the receiver section so typing them again here would just be redundant. I have opted to just do rankings. 

  • Kyler Murray
  • Andy Dalton
  • Joe Burrow
  • Jayden Daniels 
  • Justin Fields

Running Back 

Aaron Jones

He has been fantastic this season and now gets a good matchup against his former team, the Green Bay Packers. The Packers are ranked 20th in DVOA against the rush while allowing 25.3 DraftKings points per game to the running back.  

Jones averages 5.4 YPC, which is the third-best rate for starting running backs, only behind J.K. Dobbins and Saquon Barkley. He will get his 15-20 carries while being relied on in the passing game. He has seen 6 targets per game in the past two games, which is the second most on the Vikings in that period only behind Justin Jefferson. The Packers have allowed the 6th most yards to pass-catching backs through three games. 

Jones is a guy who shows up in big spots, and returning home to Lambeau Field certainly is for him. He is scoring and is underpriced at only $6,400. 

Jordan Mason

He didn’t get there last week against the Rams, as it was the Jauan Jennings game. He did however still have a decent showing (19 carries for 17 yards with a 4.1 YPC). With George Kittle back, and Deebo Samuel questionable, the Patriots are going to have to show more respect to the passing game than the Rams chose to do in Week 3. Mason still leads the league in rushing attempts (67) with a disrespectful salary on DraftKings ($6,700). 

Saquan Barkley 

DeVonta Smith has been ruled out and A.J. Brown is questionable. Even if Brown plays, Barkley will be in the exact same situation he was last week. He will be the focal point on the offense, behind a phenomenal offensive line on a team down one of their top receiving targets. 

Others to consider:

  • Brian Robinson
  • Najee Harris
  • Rachaad White: He would be boosted significantly if Bucky Irving is ruled out

Wide Receiver 

Marvin Harrison Jr. 

This is an elite spot for Harrison Jr. First he gets to take on the Washington Commanders who have the worst pass defense in the league. They allowed the most fantasy points to receivers (54.1) and the most fantasy points to quarterbacks (25.4). They are ranked 30th against WR1, 24th against WR2, and 31st against WR3, via DVOA. The trio of Michael Davis, Mike Sainristil, and Benjamin St-Juste have been getting torched all season, and that won’t change this Sunday. Also, take into account that Trey McBride is out for Kyler Murray and you can be certain that even more targets should funnel toward Harrison Jr. Playing the top receiver against the Commanders hasn’t failed yet this season and there is no reason to think that it will in Week 4. 

Harrion Jr.’s direct pivots would be Greg Dortch, Michael Wilson, and Elijah Higgins. I plan on having some of both receivers and the TE in my MME lineups, especially if I fade Harrison Jr. 

Diontae Johnson

It is going to be tough to ignore his 14 targets for 122 yards under Carolina’s new QB Andy Dalton took over. Compound that with Adam Thielen has landed on IR, Johnson’s targets seem even more likely. The Panthers are incapable of establishing the run (despite last week) so the Red Rifle will be slinging it, whether they are winning or trailing. This Panther’s team takes on a Bengals defensive unit that was not able to stop the Washington Commanders on a single drive last week. Every time the Commanders were on offense, they scored. That is just incredible. Sometimes you see teams step up after such a poor start to the season, and getting thumped on national TV. I do expect the Bengals to do just that as they know losing to the Panthers on Sunday could quite literally end their season. That being said, the prices on the Panthers offense, and expected target share for the receivers keeps them in GPP consideration. 

Note: Last week the WR chalk busted. The direct pivots off of Johnson are Xaiver Leggette, Jonathan Mingo, and Tommy Tremble if you want to mix them in GPPs when fading the chalk. 

Stefon Diggs

Tank Dell has been ruled out and Nico Collins is dealing with a hamstring injury (that I am not particularly worried about as he doesn’t have an injury designation for Sunday). The Jaguars are bottom 8 in fantasy points allowed and bottom 3 in defensive DVOA to receivers. They are ranked 17th against WR1 (Nico Collins) and dead last against WR2 (Stefon Diggs). Maybe Diggs has some extra steam after Josh Allen made a dig at Diggs in the media this week, expressing he was happy they no longer have guys on the team that “care about stats”. 

Allen Lazard

Pat Surtain is going to shadow Garrett Wilson, which will force the ball to Aaron Rodger’s other pass catchers. Allen Lazard has been the WR2 so far, however, Mike Williams’ playing time has been creeping up. I am happy to land on the production we have seen from Lazard so far, but Williams is a sneaky pivot. 

Tee Higgins

The Bengals have started the season 0-3 and have to win this game. The Carolina are a bit reenergized after winning last week but that doesn’t change the personnel on their defense. They are still ranked 18th in pass defense via DVOA, while being ranked 27th against the run. 

Ja’Marr Chase should see shadow coverage from Jaycee Horn, but that doesn’t concern me too much as Chase is largely unguardable. Horn has kept the WR1 overall quiet this season, however. The Panthers are ranked 7th overall against WR1 thanks to him. Tee Higgin’s will primarily will see a mix of Troy Hill (18%) and Mike Jackson. He will have the WR2 role for Joe Burrow. The Panthers have been far worse against the WR2, ranking 28th overall against them in the NFL. Andrei Iosivas is putting up big numbers after busting in Week 1 as obvious chalk. We can consider him the WR3 for Cinci. Carolina is ranked 16th against the WR3.

Best Pivot: Andrei Iosiavas

Eagles

DaVonte Smith is out. Britain Covey is out. 

We are going to have to circle back to this as A.J. Brown is currently questionable. If he is active, by all means, run to Brown as the alpha in the receiving game for Jalen Hurts. If he is out then we might be forced to take shots on guys like Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson. The easiest pivot is of course Saquan Barkley, who would get huge volume, and Dallas Goedert. 

Others to consider/mix in MME

  • Chris Godwin
  • Rashee Rice
  • Rasheed Shaheed
  • Xaivor Worthy
  • Andrei Iosiavas

Tight End 

Elijah Higgins

Trey McBridge is out with a concussion thrusting Elijah Higgins into the starting role for Kyler Murray. Higgins has 5 targets over the first three games, playing the backup TE role. He has caught 100% of his targets, which is nice to see. He lines up against the Commanders, who have overall not given up much production to the position but that is only because you can murder them with the long ball. At a price of only $3,100 you don’t even need Higgins to get a touchdown, you just need 3 or 4 catches and whatever yardage comes with it. If he scores that is just icing on the cake. You also need an expensive TE to go nuclear, which isn’t a huge ask considering how inconsistent the position is. 

Travis Kelce

So what is going on with Travis Kelce? Is he washed? Is he out of game shape from riding around on Taylor Swift’s private jet all off-season? Have the Chiefs not needed to rely on him with Mahomes having reliable receiving options? I do not know which one(s) of these are true but I do not believe we have seen the last of Travis Kelce breaking slates. The Chiefs, with a downgraded running game, take on one of Kelce’s most productive career matchups this week, the Los Angeles Chargers. Over his career, he has 100 receptions, 1,223 receiving yards, and 8 touchdowns against them. He is coming in at under 3% owned as of Saturday night. Imagine knowing you were getting Kelce at $5,800 and that ownership in years past. You almost have to take a shot on it just to confirm if he is dead or not. 

Others to consider: 

  • Dallas Goedert 
  • George Kittle
  • Brock Bowers
  • Cole Kmet
  • Tommy Tremble

Again, I will update this article if anything changes. Be sure to come back and check for the most up-to-date plays. I can already tell you I will be adding another running back in the morning.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Week 3 was another slow week for us. Overall, we were 2-2 but fell trap to two AFC South teams that looked better than they actually are. However, the savvy pick of the Panthers helped close out that day and give us some momentum going into Week 4. Looking at the Win Daily team, we have so many tools available to get your lineups set and bring home some big wins. You’ll see our NFL pre-lock show tomorrow and the projections and lineup optimizers are available for all our members.

As for Survivor, it’s been tough sledding but if you’re sill alive there are picks to be made and potential to bring home a big payday.

NFL BETS WEEK 3 (2024 SEASON RECORD: 6-6)

ARIZONA CARDINALS -3 vs WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Jayden Daniels showed up and showed out on MNF this week against the Bengals. The 2nd pick in the draft set a rookie record for completion percentage by going 21 of 23 in the air. And he parlayed that with 39 rushing yards including a TD. The most impressive part is they scored on all 6 possessions outside of kneeling on the ball. Take that all the way back to Week 1, and they’ve scored on 14 straight possessions and haven’t punted since early in the 4th quarter against TB. The Commanders look like they have a special talent at QB and are going to be a force to be reckoned with this season.

But the issue they’re facing today is travel fatigue and betting over reaction. The Commanders have played in Florida, Maryland, Ohio and now Arizona. They’re traveling 5 hours in the air on a short week after playing on MNF. While it’s a small sample size, the two winners on Monday Football this season, are 0-2 SU and 0-2 ATS the following week. As for the public, they are running to the window to back Daniels and the Commanders. The issue they’re not factoring in is that the Washington Defense is last in the NFL in yards allowed and 2nd last in points allowed. DVOA ranks the Commanders as the worst defense in the league overall and against the pass. That’s not good news as the Cardinals have a strong offense that is averaging 27 ppg and 8th overall in offensive DVOA.

GREEN BAY PACKERS -3 vs MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The Pack are back! And they’re doing it with their backup QB in Malik Willis. The former 1st round pick is 2-0 and has a QBR of 89.5 in relief of Jordan Love. The latter has been practicing all week and is a game time decision for today’s game. But while Willis has been solid, it has been Green Bay’s running game that has propelled them to two straight wins. The Packers lead the NFL in rushing yards with 204 yards/game on the ground. Overall, they boast the 5th best offensive attack.

The Vikings have been the most impressive team in this young NFL season. With their own backup paving the way, Minnesota is 3-0 with wins against solid teams like San Francisco and Houston. Their defense has been the story ranking #1 in DVOA and creating 6 turnovers in three weeks. But they are just 14th in yards allowed as teams have been able to move the ball against them, particularly in the air.

The books are taking in 83% of the tickets on Minnesota but just 40% of the money. The sharps are on Green Bay and likely for good reason as they’ve started to play good defense of their own, as they lead the league with 7 interceptions.

BUFFALO BILLS +2.5 at BALTIMORE RAVENS

We have a great game for SNF tonight as the Bills travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in the Charm City. The Bills have been impressive this season sprinting out to a 3-0 record and leading the league in point differential with a +64 number. They’ve dominated the last two opponents in the Dolphins and Jaguars, winning each by a minimum of 21 points.

The Ravens got a much needed win last week in Dallas. They looked like a dominant team once again but had to hold on late as they allowed Dallas to outscore them 19-0 in the 4th quarter. And that gave me concerns once again with Baltimore as their pass defense was a sieve. On the season, they rank 32nd in pass D and are allowing almost 300 yards/game in the air.

The Ravens have looked sloppy in trying to close out games and they now face the best QB in the NFL right now. I’m seeing a revelation with Josh Allen’s game as he’s yet to turn the ball over in 3 weeks (first time he’s done that in his career). So I’m riding the team that has been showing their teeth and winning in every way possible versus a Ravens team that has been struggling to do the same.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS +2.5 vs PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Write up to be posted by 10am.

SURVIVOR PICK

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

The Patriots offensive line is a mess, and the 49ers will wreak havoc in the backfield creating negative plays and turnovers.

Now that you finished reading the NFL BETS & SURVIVOR POOL PICKS article make sure to check out our YouTube Channel for constant content for every game and slate in the NFL this season and hop in our Discord Expert Chat.

Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@dgloeck) and my other content that is part of the WinDailySports family.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Subscribe to our newsletter

The best bets and resources to make you more profitable

    Our Company

    At WIN DAILY®, our motto is to “change your game and change your life.” We want to help you win that bet, parlay, and big DFS tournament and have some fun while you do. Our goal is to help you turn your love of sports into a profit center while playing responsibly and enjoying your time with a like-minded community.

    ©2024 WIN DAILY®. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800 GAMBLER. This service is intended for adult users only.
    -
    00:00
    00:00
    Update Required Flash plugin
    -
    00:00
    00:00