“Sanders is a value that cannot be ignored.” – Wayne Bretsky
The season is officially upon us and after one game, it appears Beastmode is in full affect. I’m sure Seahawks Defense owners are ecstatic as well, but for the time being, let’s focus on this upcoming Sunday.
Last year we hosted our very first daily accuracy competition. After a great season of picks and advice, we have come back with round 2 and welcome back our experts to participate in the 2nd Annual FantasyPros Daily Fantasy Accuracy Cup.
Q. Name one player you are most likely going to include in your DraftKings lineup for the upcoming week and why you like him.
EMMANUEL SANDERS (WR, DEN)
“With slot machine Wes Welker sidelined for the first four weeks with a suspension, Emmanuel Sanders is thrust into a massive opportunity on his new team. Last season, Welker and Eric Decker combined for 247 receptions and 2,099 yards on 247 targets over 29 combined games. That’s something like 15 targets per game up for grabs in the high octane Bronco’s offense. Sanders performed nicely when given the chance last season (67-732-6 on 112 targets) and looked extremely solid in the preseason working with Peyton Manning. He’s likely to be heavily owned in DFS leagues this week until the price adjusts to the new team/role/opportunity, but for $4,800 in Week 1 — less than the price of rookie Sammy Watkins, perennially disappointing Mike Wallace and even the suspended Dwayne Bowe — Sanders is a value that cannot be ignored.”
SHAUN HILL (QB, STL)
“Before you call me crazy, Hill is at the site’s minimum salary for quarterbacks and has a juicy home matchup against a Vikings team that ranked 31st in the NFL in passing yards allowed last year. Hill’s low salary allows you to spend more on some of this week’s top-tiered players.”
“While Shaun Hill is not at the top of anyone’s shopping list in fantasy circles, his current price-point of $5000 in daily games is below backup QBs and starters with questionable match-ups this weekend. With a projected floor pennies below quarterbacks that cost several thousand more, the cost efficiency is too much to ignore. St. Louis is the favorite in their matchup against a Minnesota Vikings team that gave up the most fantasy points to QBs in 2013, but will still be formidable enough to keep this battle close. The money saved on utilizing a competent QB in Hill can go a long ways in securing a more favorable flex option or beefing up starters in your lineup. Hill’s pre-Bradford injury cost should be exploited and utilized to build a solid daily roster this week, as we will not see him priced so modestly going forward.”
– Nathan Miller (Revelation Sports)
TRAVIS KELCE (TE, KC)
“There are 42 other tight ends with a price tag greater than or equal to Travis Kelce‘s $3200. With Dwayne Bowe out this week due to suspension, Kelce will be the Chiefs’ best pass-catcher not named Jamaal Charles. Kelce is a top-10 tight end at home against a weak Titans defense that gave up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends in 2013.”
JULIO JONES (WR, ATL)
“I suspect Emmanuel Sanders ($4,800) is going to be a wildly popular play this weekend, but I’m actually going to fade him. Instead of looking on the cheap side, I’m going to premium at wide receiver and start Julio Jones ($7,700). He’s healthy and primed for a breakout to open the season on the turf against the Saints. Jones was arguably the league’s best fantasy receiver before getting hurt last season, and he picks up right where he left off in this one.”
– Jeff Ratcliffe (Pro Football Focus)
NICK FOLES (QB, PHI)
“Nick Foles, $8500. I believe in paying up for a QB (and RB) as they are the least volatile and easiest position to predict a possible outcome for. Foles averaged .69 fantasy point per attempt in 2013 and let’s not forget about his small, but still useful, rushing ability. Vegas has the Eagles projected to score 31.5 points (highest team total in week 1) and what better way to get exposure to that than the trigger man, Nick Foles himself.”
BEN TATE (RB, CLE)
“Ben Tate, $5,200. There isn’t another running back in Tate’s price range who will play the workhorse role in Week 1. The one thing we can most accurately predict in football is opportunities, and Tate should get plenty of them against an aging and slowing Pittsburgh Steelers defense.”
– Dan Gaspar (Fantasy Insiders)
MICHAEL CRABTREE (WR, SF)
“Michael Crabtree, $6,100. Crabtree missed Wednesday’s practice with a calf injury, but he returned to action on Thursday. The Dallas native won’t miss Sunday’s dreamy matchup against the Cowboys. Crabtree’s priced fairly, while the calf injury might keep his ownership relatively low.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)
DREW BREES (QB, NO)
“Drew Brees $9,700. Safety comes at a price, but it doesn’t get much safer than Brees against the Atlanta Falcons. In his last two games against them, Brees has totaled 635 passing yards and four touchdowns. Atlanta’s defense was ranked 27th in 2013, and its lackluster off-season on this side of the ball did nothing to suggest it will possess a viable pass rush or the secondary to shut down with the likes of Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston and Brandin Cooks in 2014.”
– Sablich Brothers (The New York Times)
JAY CUTLER (QB, CHI)
“Jay Cutler will be featured in almost all of my lineups on Sunday and is the clear top combination of projected points and lowered salary. For $7,800, Cutler’s baseline projection already puts you in a good spot to win. Add in the beleaguered Buffalo secondary and the fact that their front 7 is good enough to discourage leaning on Matt Forte, I believe that Cutler approximates a must play.”
–Davis Mattek (Sports Wunderkind)
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Thanks to our experts for providing us their picks for week 1. You can find them on Twitter for their latest thoughts and advice.
