If you had Aaron Rodgers last week in your cash game lineups, congrats on your (probable) success. Rodgers was the first quarterback I targeted for cash game lineups last week, but ultimately I decided to settle on Jared Goff. The Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles defenses are going to be targeted by me as often as possible.
Last week for me, as is most of the weeks on Fanduel, is about finding the advantageous running attacks. Stack those running backs that are going to go off. Opportunity is often a catalyst for success. Latavius Murray last week was a prime example of opportunity meeting a positive game script. Yet, Murray was owned in less than 45% of my cash games. At $5,300.
A guy like Devin Singletary was a nice punt in GPP’s, and I suggested him in my article. I don’t think most of us thought the Dolphins would be competitive in that game for as long as they were. Even still, I figured that when Singletary came back, he’d be good to go. While low owned in cash games this week, he’s a prime example of a player that gets hyped up as the week goes on (myself included), only to be a player that *should* not survive the cut in your player pool for viable cash game options. Particularly compared to a guy like Murray.
Play in our Week 8 Beat the Experts Contest to win cash at FanDuel 
Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson (SEA): $8,600 @ Atlanta Falcons
Hear me out on this one. The Texans’ defense is ranked 22nd in pass defense efficiency. Opposing quarterbacks are completing nearly 68% of their passes. Now they’re facing Carr who is quietly having a career season thus far.
Carr is completing 74.1% of his passes, tops in the NFL. Carr’s 7.5 yards per attempt is a career high (career average is 6.7). The Raiders offensive line is keeping Carr’s jersey clean too. He’s only been sacked eight times this season.
Over the last three games, the Texans have allowed a combined 929 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Pay attention to that Josh Jacobs shoulder. If he’s lacking a physical component on Sunday, chances are Carr is going to have to will the Silver and Black to a victory.
Other notables:
Josh Allen (BUF): $7,700 vs. PHI
Matthew Stafford (DET): $7,700 vs. NYG
Running Backs
Le’Veon Bell (NYJ): $7,000 @ Jacksonville Jaguars
In a game where both running backs are cash viable, I’ll likely be taking a much longer look at Bell given the small salary savings. Last week’s dismantling by the New England Patriots could cause some trepidation for some, but even in those conditions, Bell continued to be a focal point of the offense. On the season, Bell is averaging 22.8 touches a game, which is seventh highest in the NFL.
The Jaguars defense isn’t the same defense from three seasons ago. It’s also not close to the Patriots defense either. Don’t start seeing ghosts here. Trust your eyes and take Le’Veon in cash.
Chris Carson (SEA): $8,000 @ Atlanta Falcons
Remember when Rashaad Penny was going to eventually take over this backfield? Neither do I. This is an absolute smash spot for Carson. The Seahawks are touchdown favorites with an implied team total of 30 points, according to FantasyLabs.
The Falcons have allowed a receiving touchdown to three different opposing running backs in the past two games. The Falcons have actually not given up more than 60 yards rushing in all but three games. Of course, the ground game hasn’t looked good since the air attack is a key towards beating the Falcons.
Fortunately for us, Carson has been actively involved in the passing game as well. Carson is fourth on the team in targets and third in receptions. His 139 rushing attempts are 100 more than Wilson, who is second on the team in rush attempts. Carson is a bell-cow and is finally being priced as such. Even still, this is a game the Seahawks should win by double-digits, even with a healthy Ryan.
Other notables:
Austin Ekeler (LAC): $6,800 @ CHI
Leonard Fournette (JAC): $7,700 vs. NYJ
Wide Receivers
Michael Thomas (NO): $8,500 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Patrick Peterson in shadow coverage since 2017:
M Jones 2-37-1
Hilton 4-49-0
Dez 2-12-1
Garcon 4-36-0
Jeffery 3-31-0
Watkins 3-42-0, 3-38-1
Goodwin 2-68-0, 1-55-1
Nuk 4-76-1
Lee 1-13-0
Evans 3-95-1
Diggs 3-33-0
Hill 7-117-2
Adams 8-93-1
Golladay 2-5-0
Julio 6-82-1
Cooks 3-35-0— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) October 23, 2019
Courtland Sutton (DEN): $6,000 @ Indianapolis Colts
Emmanuel Sanders is now gone. The Colts have allowed three different 100 yard receivers in the past two games. Sanders doesn’t have a game thus far where he has fewer than seven targets. Until he’s priced as a true WR1, he needs to be owned while his pricing is messed up.
Other notables:
Hunter Henry (LAC): $6,700 @ CHI
Noah Fant (DEN): $4,500 @ IND
Tight Ends
Austin Hooper (ATL): $6,600 vs. Seattle Seahawks
Start the number one tight end this week? Sure, why not. Hooper has totaled 12 receptions of 15 or more yards, the second-highest mark among tight ends, per Pro Football Focus. The Seahawks have been bleeding points to the position all season, despite Mark Andrews‘ attempt at single-handedly altering that by dropping several catchable balls.
A lot of the Falcons offense is contingent on the health of Ryan. Should he suit up however, Hooper is in a prime spot to perform well. As mentioned already above, the Falcons defense is #notgood. When you think of garbage (time), you think of Hooper. Per Ian Hartitz of Rotoworld:
Of course, nearly all of this production has come with the Falcons in comeback mode trailing by multiple scores …
- Hooper when the Falcons are leading or tied: 4-64-0
- When the Falcons are trailing: 39-462-4
- Hooper in the 1st half: 15-169-0
- In the 2nd half: 31-357-4
The Texans have been pretty solid against tight ends. Waller however is not your average tight end. Case in point:
How often TEs are aligning out wide or in the slot:
Jimmy Graham – 65%
Travis Kelce – 60%
Mark Andrews – 60%
Zach Ertz – 52%
Hunter Henry – 49%
Austin Hooper – 47%
Gerald Everett – 43%
Greg Olsen – 42%
Darren Waller – 40%
Evan Engram – 38%
Jason Witten – 38%
George Kittle – 23%— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) October 23, 2019
Other notables:
Evan Engram (NYG): $6,400 @ TB
Defense
New England Patriots DST: $5,000 vs. Cleveland Browns
This season, the Patriots defense is averaging 21.7 points per game. Currently, only DeSean Jackson, Christian McCaffrey, Deshaun Watson and Wilson average more points per game. Those players are priced at $6,300, $9,600, $8,400 and $8,600, respectively.
The next closest defense is averaging 14.16 points per game. Seriously, until they’re priced at WR2 levels or facing a healthy Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes, this defense should be 80+% owned in cash games. We have not been seeing things like this.
The Patriots have a passer rating of 35.8 for the entire season. An incomplete pass has a passer rating of 39.6.
The rest of the NFL has allowed a passer rating of 93.3.
Opposing QBs vs. New England: 120/229, 1,173 passing yards, 1 TD/18 INTs.
— Football Perspective (@fbgchase) October 22, 2019
Other notables:
New Orleans DST: $4,400 vs. CHI
Carolina Panthers DST: $3,500 @ SF
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Matt Giraldi is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Matt, check out his archive or follow him @Mgiraldi.
