What’s up everyone? Welcome into my sixth NFL Building Blocks of the season. In this article, I will highlight my top graded plays for cash games. If you are interested in my cash game core plays and final thoughts cheat sheets for every main slate, you can click here.
Quarterbacks
Matt Stafford- The more the week has gone on, the more I’ve been inclined to lock in Matty Staff on both sites. I was really high on him coming into the season, and he was victimized by Kenny Golladay’s injury in the early goings of 2020. Averaging nearly 30 more passing yards per game with Golladay in the lineup, his absence can’t be under-stated. The Jags aren’t going to be as banged up on defense as last week, but they have allowed the third-most passing touchdowns in the NFL (11). This is a potential ceiling spot in one of the highest total games of the weekend.
Ryan Fitzpatrick- The Dolphins are slightly behind the Lions with a 28.5 implied team total against the abysmal Jets defense. Fitzmagic has been remarkably consistent with 25+ DK points in each of his last four games. On FanDuel, where salary is looser, it’s easy to get up to Stafford or even Tom Brady in the highest total of the weekend. That being said, Fitz projects as one of the highest-owned QB’s on DK priced below $6,000 and I expect him vs Ryan Tannehill to be a popular 1v1 decision.
Other Options: Ryan Tannehill, Tom Brady (FD)
Running Backs
Alexander Mattison- Mattison becomes pretty much the top running back on the slate with Dalvin Cook out vs the Falcons. The Vikings used Mattison exactly like they would of Cook once he got hurt vs Seattle, racking up 23 touches. Minnesota is one of the most run-heavy offenses in the NFL and Mattison provides a floor/ceiling as a home favorite even with his price bumped up.
Mike Davis- Like Mattison, Davis is nearly impossible to fade for me even in a tough matchup with the Bears. He’s being used like CMC but comes at what would be a $3,000 discount. With Reggie Bonnafon on IR, there’s nobody behind Davis to keep him from racking up another 85% of the snaps in Week 6. We also get a revenge narrative, seeing that Davis was cut by the Bears before joining the Panthers, His target/catch floor is much higher than your typical $7K RB.
Myles Gaskin- Gaskin is someone that I’m planning on being overweight to this week, especially if Jordan Howard ends up being a healthy scratch again. He’s been surprisingly good this season, and has been heavily involved in the passing game as well. The reason Howard being out is so big is it allows Gaskin to pick up goal line duties — he scored from the one yard line in Week 5. The Dolphins are implied for more points than the Bears(see below) and the Jets are almost as bad as the Panthers vs the run.
David Montgomery- Monty projects to be much higher-owned than Gaskin, in a similarly good matchup with the Panthers. Carolina is allowing the most PPR points to opposing running backs this season, and he’s been locked into a three down role since Tarik Cohen went down. The matchup is the only reason I’m considering Montgomery, but I ultimately think Gaskin has more upside and you get leverage off of Fitzpatrick by using him.
Other Options: Derrick Henry (FD), Jonathan Taylor (if Wilkins out)
Wide Receivers
Adam Thielen- Thielen is one of the safest plays on the main slate, and sure bet for volume. The Falcons have given up the 6th most fantasy points to receivers this season, while he has 28 targets over the last three games. Julio Jones being back should do wonders for Matt Ryan, and potentially allow them to keep this game closer than originally thought. He has the highest Air Yards share in the NFL at 48%, and is underpriced on both sites.
Chris Godwin (DK)- Godwin is a DK-specific cheapie priced at only $6,400 despite being in a game with a 56 O/U. He has shown strong chemistry in limited action with Tom Brady, and we know that Brady will likely feed his slot receiver. It’s important to note that he carries no injury designation into this game, and looks to be as healthy as he’s been since Week 1.
Kenny Golladay- Golladay is one of my favorite plays on the slate at this position, hence why he’s the cover boy. This is as healthy as he’s been since Week 1 after a bye week, and the Jaguars have coughed up the ninth-most points to wide receivers. They have no pass rush, which will be worse than normal is Josh Allen were to miss again. This lack of pressure will allow Stafford time to find Golladay down field, and he’s topped 16 DK points in each of this first two games of 2020.
AJ Brown- Brown is a near lock on DK priced at $5,600 and likely without Corey Davis again. He looked fully healthy in the Titans Week 5 win over the Bills, and turned into a 7-82-1 line. The Texans have been more of a run-funnel defense, but with a 50+ O/U we can expect a potential shootout, especially with the Titans defense still missing pieces(covid). Brown has found the end zone in his first two career games against the Texans.
Other Options: Davante Adams, Chase Claypool, Laviska Shenault (if Chark out), JuJu Smith-Schuster
Tight Ends
Eric Ebron- TE is thinner than usual this week, which is why I’m looking at two value plays. The first being Ebron, who draws a supreme matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland has allowed the fourth-most catches to tight ends this season, and continue to be weak over the middle of the field. Most DFS players will look at Chase Claypool in the absence of Diontae Johnson, but the entire Pittsburgh pass catching corps target projection improves with him sidelined.
Trey Burton- Burton was someone I mentioned of the cash process, and now we get the news that Mo Alie-Cox is out for this game. He has been the clear TE1 since returning from injury, and his game fits more with Philip Rivers current skillset than other options in this passing game. I prefer him as my punt over chalk Irv Smith.
Written by Ben Hossler (Follow @BenHossler on Twitter)
