SATURDAY AFTERNOON UPDATES (IN RED)
TY Hilton is DOUBTFUL and will likely miss. Remove him from your lineups. Also avoid Jacoby Brisset.
Austin Ekeler – Justin Jackson is out but now it’s likely that Melvin Gordon (4500 FD/7700 DK) will play on what coaches report to be a “limited snap count”. I’m still on Ekeler. Miami provides plenty of opportunity for two RB’s to score points AND Keenan Allen will be the only reasonable receiving option (Mike Williams OUT, Travis Benjamin DOUBTFUL). This should still allow for lots of rushing opportunities. On FanDuel Gordon is minimum priced, so many people will give him a shot over there but I believe Ekeler will still have the lead role this week.
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS
Here’s a couple more options to help you fill out your rosters with the injury news.
DeAndre Hopkins (8700 FD/7700 DK) – Hop has proven to be nearly match up proof over his career and this week is no exception. Only his price kept him out of my original post. He should be able to eat up the Carolina zone defense scheme and he’s the clear #1 option in the Houston passing game. I think this game could see a lot of points scored and Hopkins will be a key part of that.
Mark Ingram (7800 FD/6600 DK) – Ingram is the clear lead back for Baltimore and they LOVE to run the ball. Cleveland’s defense is reeling and is missing several player due to injury. I think the Ravens roll in this game and Ingram will be a big part of stuffing the ball directly down their throats.
Marlon Mack (7300 FD/6100 DK) – Mack leads the NFL in carries and the loss of TY Hilton this week will only further push the Colts towards the run game. The Colts offensive line is excellent and they’ll likely work hard to pound the rock at Oakland who just gave up 28/168/2 on the ground to the Vikings last week.
Minnesota Vikings (4000 FD/3400 DK) – Minnesota’s defense is a solid option versus the Bears. Chicago exploded last week but that was against the Redskins who have a bottom 3 defense in the NFL. The Vikings have had at least 2 sacks and 1 turnover in every game.
Hello Canary Crew and welcome to Week 4 of the 2019 NFL season. I’m excited to get going so here are the week 4 NFL players I love on FanDuel and DraftKings.
I hope you followed along with me last week as we smashed cash games on FanDuel with a 100% win rate! I think we’ll be able to follow up last week’s successes with another good one here in Week 4. This is a good week for us with lots of high total games and plenty of high/mid/low priced options to flesh out our lineups.
As always, my breakdown covers the Sunday Main slate of games, so no TNF, SNF or MNF players will be covered. The bulk of the action on both sites is on the main slate so that’s why I narrow my focus.
For each position I’ll shine the flashlight on 5-8 players at different price points that I think are good plays for this week. The point of this article is to provide you with a pool of players you can build your lineups from. While there’s no magic bullet, this is the group of players that I’ll be building my lineups from. With so many different options I won’t put together a lineup in this article, though I will provide the lineup I’ll be playing on Saturday in a new post. I do that in case I find something in my research or if there is any late injury news that can affect how I build my lineups. To that point, if I end up adding or removing anyone from my list of players, I’ll be sure to update this article with that info.
Follow me on Twitter @FlashlightDFS for my latest updates, last minute info, game day entertainment and lineup advice.
I don’t break down every single player at the top. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that guys like Pat Mahomes, Saquon Barkley, Julio Jones or Travis Kelce are good players. If you want to play a stud player that I don’t highlight, go for it.
***JUST BECAUSE I DON’T WRITE A PLAYER UP DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULDN’T PLAY HIM IF YOU WANT TO. I’M HIGHLIGHTING GUYS AT DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS THAT I LIKE THE BEST***
QUARTERBACK
Patrick Mahomes (9200 FD/7500 DK) – Mahomes is an obvious play any week but due to the value at RB/WR it’s actually possible to build a strong lineup with him this week. Detroit is nothing special vs. the pass and honestly Mahomes is match up proof at this point. He should have another day of 300+ yards and 3+ TD.
Russell Wilson (7800 FD/6100 DK) – Russ faces AZ this week in a smash spot for him and the Seattle passing game. AZ has allowed 9 passing TDs this season, 2nd worst in the league. Russ is averaging 300 yards and 2.33 TD a game so far plus Wilson is always a threat for rushing yardage/TD.
Phillip Rivers (7800 FD/6200 DK) – Well he’s playing Miami so that’s always a good start. Rivers is over 300 yards in 2 of 3 games (other one was 293) and has 2+ TD passes in 2 of 3. Miami can’t stop the pass or the run and Rivers has thrown it 34+ times each week this year so there should be plenty of volume.
Jacoby Brisset (7300 FD/5400 DK) – Hilton was downgraded to DOUBTFUL on Friday so avoid Brisset. The Colts host the Raiders this week who have struggled to stop the pass. Brisset has at least 2 TD passes in every game this year. Last week was his first game over 200 yards (310), but if you need to save salary at QB he’s been a consistent starter. *If TY Hilton is OUT don’t play Brisset*
Case Keenum (7200 FD/4900 DK) – Case looked like crap on Monday night but it was the Bears. Don’t forget that against two strong defenses he STILL put up 333/2 vs Bears and 221/2 vs Dallas in week 2. This week he gets the Giants who can’t stop the pass. The last time he played a porous pass defense was week 1 in Philly where he lit them up for 380/3. I think this week he feeds on a lousy Giants D and puts up a big game.
Daniel Jones (7300 FD/5300 DK) – Yes, Daniel Jones looked great last week. But keep in mind that the Tampa pass defense is hot garbage. However, Danny Dimes faces the Redskins who are so bad at covering the pass that they made Mitch Trubisky look competent, so he’s in play this week.
RUNNING BACK
Christian McCaffrey (9000 FD/8800 DK) – The Carolina offense runs through CMC so I have no concerns about his role. He’s averaging 26 touches per week so far this season and he’s facing Houston who have given up over 385 yards/week so I’m confident that CMC will be involved in a lot of that.
Austin Ekeler (8100 FD/8000 DK) – Get your Ekeler fix while you still can because with the return of Melvin Gordon to the Chargers, this is the last week we’ll be talking about him for a while. As of now the team plans for Gordon to be inactive this week meaning Ekeler will get to feast on the abysmal Miami defense. He runs it, he catches it, he does it all. And now that they don’t have to worry about wearing him out I expect Ekeler to get a full work load against Miami. *If Gordon is active don’t play Ekeler in cash, he’s GPP only at that point* Ekeler is good to go for both cash and GPP.
Josh Jacobs (6000 FD/5100 DK) – Jacobs is dominating carries in Oakland (67%) and I expect this game to be closer than some think. The last close game Oakland played in Week 1 Jacobs got 23 carries for 85 yards and 2 TD. Indy is allowing 114 yards/game on the ground so Jacobs offers good value for the amount of touches he should get.
Kerryon Johnson (6500 FD/5400 DK) – I hate Kerryon but you can’t ignore the match up. The Lions haven’t run the ball for shit this year but they face KC who gives up 137 yards and 1+TD to opposing RBs. Kind of like Devonta Freeman last week, if you can’t get right against the KC rush D, then maybe you just ain’t right. This is match up play where you put him in your lineup and hold your nose.
Devonta Freeman (6200 FD/5000 DK) – Ito Smith is iffy with a concussion so Freeman falls into our laps again at a bargain price. I like Freeman a lot more if Smith is OUT. Last week with Smith out Freeman had season highs in carries (16), rushing yards (88), touches (19) and total yards (95). He’s bound for some positive TD regression this week and ATL is home vs. the Titans who have allowed 119 yards/game on the ground.
Use at your own risk (no thanks in my book)
Wayne Gallman (5800 FD/4600 DK) – The price is too good not to talk about him. Washington is the #29 rush D in the league giving up 142 yards/game so you can’t ignore the opportunity for Gallman. There’s a problem though…Gallman stinks. Yes, he could get goal line carries for TDs but if you think he does anything close to Saquon Barkley you need to get your head examined. There IS a path to a big game for Gallman with how awful Washington’s D is, but he’s way too risky for cash and I personally won’t roster him in GPPs either.
WIDE RECEIVER
Keenan Allen (8100 FD/7600 DK) – I don’t know how you DON’T play Allen this week, I could see him being 50%+ owned in cash games. His season per game averages so far: 14 targets – 9.6 catches – 134 yards – 1 TD. Oh, and he faces the Dolphins who have given up 874 yards and 10 TD through the air so far this year. Allen will definitely be on my main lineups this week.
TY Hilton (7400 FD/6400 DK) – Hilton was downgraded to DOUBTFUL on Friday so he’ll likely miss on Sunday and even if he’s active there’s too much risk of re-injury. TY is getting peppered with targets (9,6,10) this year and has converted them in to 4 TD catches. While the yardage hasn’t been there he does get to face Oakland who have been porous so far this year and have given up 2 TD per game. He’s on the injury report so we’ll need to keep an eye on this one, plus he left the game early last week but if TY goes for a full game he will have a nice day.
Tyler Lockett (6600 FD/6300 DK) – Lockett has been targeted 14 and 12 times in his last two games which turned in to 21 catches for 233 yards and 1 TD. Seattle faces Arizona who haven’t been able to stop the pass this year (see Russel Wilson above). Given the run game difficulties for Seattle Lockett is in line for a big workload again this week.
Terry McLaurin (6300 FD/4500 DK) – McLaurin is off to a record setting start as a rookie notching a TD and at least 5 catches for 62 yards each game. The Giant’s pass D is awful and Washington will be desperate to win. McLaurin is on the injury report so we need to monitor that but if he plays he’s great value for a WR in a game I think blows up.
Sterling Shepard (6500 FD/5800 DK) – Much like McLaurin, Shepard has a premium match up against a team who can’t stop the pass. He’s getting plenty of targets (9 last week, 7 Week 1) so the opportunity will be there. Add in the potential for shootout due to two poor defenses and the probable lack of a Giants running game, Shepard is a good play this week.
Paul Richardson (4700 FD/3700 DK) – Tremendous value here with Richardson who had a very nice showing last week vs. the Bears (8/83/1). Last week the Giants rolled coverage to make sure Chris Godwin didn’t beat them and on the other side Mike Evans EXPLODED for 8/190/3. If they commit their crappy resources to stopping McLaurin that leaves Richardson open to exploit the Giants secondary. Unlike Evans, Richardson is a burner who can run after the catch. He’s so cheap on both sites and has so much potential upside it’s hard to ignore.
Mecole Hardman (6500 FD/5100 DK) – Hardman has taken over the majority of the Tyreek Hill snaps and targets in KC which makes him a threat. He’s getting 5.5 targets per game since Tyreek’s injury and has a TD in each of his last two. He’s a bit more suited for GPPs due to his big play nature but he’ll be a part of the KC offensive game plan.
TIGHT END
Will Dissly (5400 FD/3600 DK) – Here’s the last three TE’s vs Arizona – TJ Hockenson 6/131/1; Mark Andrews 8/112/1; Greg Olsen 6/75/2. Arizona can’t cover the TE. Dissly has been effective on his own with a 5.5/56/1.5 line in his last two. Good value price for a guy with multiple TD potential.
Travis Kelce (7600 FD/7200 DK) – Kelce hasn’t been below 88 yards yet this season. He only has 1 of the 10 Mahomes TD passes, so for lack of a better term he’s due for another TD. Price is the only reason he’s not at the top of my list but if you can fit him in to your lineup you simply can’t go wrong.
Evan Engram (6800 FD/5700 DK) – Engram faces Washington who, as I’ve previously said, stinks at covering the pass. He leads the Giants in targets, catches, yards and TD and is the focal point of the passing game. I liked him last week and I like him again this week.
*If TY Hilton is OUT for GPP only* Hilton is doubtful, so either is worth a GPP shot
Eric Ebron (5300 FD/4000 DK) or Jack Doyle (5200 FD/3700 DK) – Somebody’s going to have to catch the ball in Indy if Hilton misses and the TE’s are the best option. With unproven talent at WR behind of Hilton I may take a stab at either Ebron (13 TD a year ago) or Doyle (80/690/4 in 2017 when Brisset played the whole year).
DEFENSE
San Diego Los Angeles Chargers (5300 FD/3800 DK) – They host the Dolphins … say no more, fam.
Baltimore Ravens (4200 FD/3200 DK) – Baltimore hosts Cleveland who haven’t looked good offensively yet this season. The Browns offensive line is atrocious which has caused Baker Mayfield to throw 5 Int and take 11 sacks so far this season. The Browns average just 16.3 points per game this year.
Jacksonville Jaguars (4700 FD/3700 DK) – The Jags go to Denver who have given up 11 sacks and only have 4 TD on the season. The Jags are tied for the league lead with 13 sacks.
Seattle Seahawks (3700 FD/3300 DK) – Nice value option. They face AZ who have given up 16 sacks, 2nd most in the league. Kyler Murray has thrown 3 Int this season as well, so while they may give up yards and points, the opportunity for sacks and turnovers will be there.
Atlanta Falcons (3900 FD/2900 DK) – Don’t play them on FD. If you’re dumpster diving on DK Atlanta has a chance versus the Titans who have given up a league leading 17 sacks so far this season. Atlanta’s pass rush hasn’t been effective yet this year (5 sacks) but something has to give here, right?
That wraps up my plays for Week 4. I’m currently constructing lineups on both FD and DK and will have those up sometime on Saturday.
As always, give me a follow on Twitter @Flashlight DFS and I’ll be happy to answer any DFS or seasonal questions you might have.
Good luck this week Canary Crew!
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