Running Backs

Name

DraftKings Salary

Week 15 Targets / Touches

Week 15 Ownership %

Week 16 Projected Targets / Touches

Week 16 Projected Ownership %

Week 16 Projected Fantasy Points

DeAngelo Williams (E)

$6,500

6, 14

7.6%

5, 18

20-35%

24

Darren McFadden (C)

$4,900

4, 16

5.5%

6, 18

5-15%

17

James White (C)

$4,700

8, 1

5.2%

9, 1

5-10%

16

Karlos Williams (V)

$4,500

0, 4

>1%

1, 14

10-15%

14

Christine Michael (V)

$4,400

0, 16

>1%

1, 18

10-15%

19

(E=Elite, S=Safe, C=Contrarian, V=Value)

DeAngelo Williams - I'll use this space to say it is going to be a trying time for running backs this week as the mix of matchups and availability leaves us with sparse options. It's very hard to label any plays this week as an absolute "must play" and it's even harder labeling any of them safe. But we start with Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams who is coming off of his fourth straight game over 16 fantasy points. Williams has been worked in the rushing and passing game, having over five receptions and 30 yards in three of his last four games. Williams salary is $100 cheaper than last week and faces a Baltimore defense that has struggled this year. In theory the Steelers shouldn't have any troubles with the Ravens and Williams should see a strong share of ground work.

Darren McFadden - With Kellen Moore being named the starting quarterback for the Cowboys in week 16, inexperience may lead to a heavier workload for Darren McFadden. McFadden has had a good, albeit quiet season, working with a lot of inexperienced/undesirable quarterback play. DMC only has three touchdowns on the season, but has put up double digit fantasy numbers every week except once since week five, averaging 13.2 a game. There could be an uptick in backfield receptions for McFadden this week, leading to greater totals.

James White - By rostering White you know you aren't getting a true running back but you are getting a growing target in the passing game. Tom Brady has instilled a lot of faith into the young back, as over the past three games he is averaging seven receptions a game. White has gone over 20 fantasy points in two of his last three weeks and is averaging 21 fantasy points per game over that span. White comes at the weekly risk of sacrificing rushing totals from your running back spot, but with a point per reception on DraftKings you are getting a high upside risk.

Karlos Williams - As it sits now it appears LeSean McCoy should miss the finals two weeks of the season with a torn MCL, the Bills are out of a playoff chase and seemingly have nothing to gain by forcing McCoy on the field. Karlos Williams himself is just coming back from injury himself, though in week 15 he averaged 10.3 yards per carry on four carries. Mike Gillislee will also be in the mix in the Bills backfield, but I don't see a scenario where Gillislee starts over Williams. Williams will get to take on a hit-or-miss Cowboys rush defense at home in week 16.

Christine Michael - How many fantasy writers have been waiting for the day they were able to write up Christine Michael as a play? His cult following has almost elevated him to a must play status in his own right. Michael was re-signed by the Seahawks last Wednesday only to end up leading the back field in carries by seven over Bryce Brown. All-in-all, Michael had 16 carries for 84 yards and ran with the bruising nature you expect out of a Seattle running back. All signs point to Michael carrying the load this week against the Rams, a team ranked 23rd in the league against the run.

Wide Receivers

Name

DraftKings Salary

Week 15 Targets

Week 15 Ownership %

Week 16 Projected Targets

Week 16 Projected Ownership %

Week 16 Projected Fantasy Points

Antonio Brown (E, S)

$9,300

18

8%

14

15-20%

31

Allen Robinson (E, C)

$7,500

5

2.6%

11

10-15%

26

Eric Decker (S)

$6,500

10

11%

8

10-15%

19

Brandin Cooks (C)

$5,900

13

7%

8

10-15%

17

Kamar Aiken (S)

$5,400

12

2%

10

10-15%

18

(E=Elite, S=Safe, C=Contrarian, V=Value)

Antonio Brown - If you want a GPP winning formula, just take into consideration what Antonio Brown did at a mere 8% owned on Sunday. Brown secured 16-of-18 targets for 189 and two touchdowns against one of the league's toughest secondary's in Denver. This now marks the second 40 fantasy performance by Brown in three weeks and is now averaging 26 fantasy points per week. The numbers just get crazier and crazier when you look at them: 116 receptions, 1,586 yards, 165 targets on the season and this is all with having Mike Vick and Landry Jones at quarterback for three total weeks. The Steelers are clinging to the sixth seed in the AFC right now and have a dream matchup against Baltimore next week. Expect Brown to be a focal point the rest of this season as the Steelers will lean on their star to carry them to the playoffs.

Allen Robinson - The 'game log warriors' of lineup creating are going to be staying far far away from Allen Robinson this week after his second straight week of under four receptions. Over Robinson's last two contests he only has a total of four receptions for 61 yards, however he does have two touchdowns. Previous to those two weeks Robinson was clicking on all cylinders, averaging near 20 fantasy points a week without dropping below the 12 point mark since week four. The simple point is, Robinson has 1,141 yards on the year and 13 touchdowns and his recent struggles are nothing more than a fluke and matchup based. This week the Jaguars will get back on track as they take on the league's worst passing defense in the New Orleans Saints. We can always look at the biggest positive in regards to Robinson and that is his price is back down to $7,500 from $8,000.

Eric Decker - In Decker's 13 games he has been active he has 10 touchdowns and has never had a game with multiple scores. You can look at that stat as a blessing or a curse, but I look at it as a strong cash game play week in and week out. Decker is averaging 17.5 fantasy points per week and never have I seen a game log with a string of games so consistent. Usually FPPG numbers are skewed with a 10 point performance and a 40 point performance, but not Decker. The lowest game on his season was back in week one with a 11.7 performance and his highest came in week two at 23.7, the rest fall in between those two margins. The Jets face the Patriots this week in a key game for their playoff hopes. Back in week seven the Patriots were able to keep Decker out of the end zone, though he still corralled six passes for 94 yards.

Brandin Cooks - Cooks has been an inconsistent fantasy asset this year that a lot of us just can't say no to. At several different times this season Cooks has disappointed in a good spot, only to then break out the next week in a tougher matchup. This week he is coming off of a 10 reception, 124 yard performance against the Lions. The 10 receptions marked a season high for Cooks and his 13 targets matched his season high from back in week seven. With the Saints defense being so bad this week it is hard to not roster players from the offense as they most likely will be playing catch up or find themselves in a shoot out as they have given up the most points in the NFL by an astounding 45 points. This week the Saints face the Jaguars, the team who has given up the third most points in the NFL. So what do you get when two defenses that can't stop each other get together? You get a shootout. Roster it and enjoy it this week.

Kamar Aiken - The loss of his starting quarterback hasn't hurt Kamar Aiken's numbers at all and if anything, they have bolstered them. Over the past four weeks Aiken has seen targets of 10, 11, 7, and 12, and has managed to haul in over half of his targets in all four of those games. This past week against Kansas City Aiken caught eight passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens running game has struggled since the loss of Justin Forsett and with Jimmy Clausen at quarterback Aiken has seen the lion share of the work in the passing game. Up next is the 31st ranked pass defense of Pittsburgh, a matchup that looks very good for Aiken on paper.

Tight End

Name

DraftKings Salary

Week 15 Targets

Week 15 Ownership %

Week 16 Projected Targets

Week 16 Projected Ownership %

Week 16 Projected Fantasy Points

Rob Gronkowski (E)

$7,600

11

15.8%

12

20-25%

26

Julius Thomas (S)

$5,100

9

16.3%

10

20-25%

19

Will Tye (C)

$3,500

8

1.9%

7

5-10%

14

Maxx Williams (C, V)

$3,000

6

>1%

8

5-10%

11

(E=Elite, S=Safe, C=Contrarian, V=Value)

Rob Gronkowski - Not much was needed out of Gronkowski as the Patriots built a quick lead over Tennessee last week, but he still ended up as the third highest scoring tight end on the week with 16.4 fantasy points. Back in week seven against the Jets Gronkowski hauled in 11 receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown. With a still injured supporting cast we wouldn't put it past him to post similar numbers come Sunday.

Julius Thomas - Thomas' touchdown streak came to an end at four games this past week but he still caught six passes for 79 yards against the Falcons. Over his last five games Thomas is averaging around 17 fantasy points and looks to finally be comfortable in the Jacksonville offense. Like previously stated the Jaguars and Saints meet this week and both teams are allowing over 28 points per game. This is a game you want to get as much exposure as you can too and Thomas fits the mold perfectly.

Will Tye - Over Tye's last five games he is averaging more than 54 yards a contest and is averaging seven targets a game over that span. Aside from that, Tye has also found the end zone in back to back weeks now. The rookie is seemingly carving out the similar role that Larry Donnell held for the Giants last season. Tye hasn't fell below double digits in fantasy points in five weeks, topping out with his 15.3 point performance last week. Tye remains a low owned tournament option.

Maxx Williams - With Crockett Gillmore being placed on IR last week the tight end spot seems to be rookie Maxx Williams' for the rest of the season. Last week against Kansas City Williams played 50 of 68 snaps, catching five passes for 31 yards on six targets. Anyone who played college football DFS last year or just watched film on Williams knows how much of an impact player he can be for an offense, so to see him get a three week full work out at tight end is pretty exciting for the prospects alone. The quarterback play in Baltimore is shaky right now with Jimmy Clausen under center, but Williams is still a very talented starting option for only $3,000.





Comments
zachsgotmoxy
I love Robinson and Brown this week but fully expect heavy ownership just like you.