FanDuel Thursday Optimal Lineup & Stack: Week 2

No Filters, Exclusions, Locks, or Models Applied. Ran Colossus As Is For Thursday Slate

Cash Game Projections

Cam Newton seems to be the quarterback here early on in the week in terms of what the optimal lineups are saying. I am not quite on him on FanDuel, as guys like Eli Manning and Matthew Stafford are much cheaper, but Newton is still a safe option. DeAngelo Williams price is still pretty enticing, and we saw him as the focal part of the offense with Antonio Brown in week 1. Given the lack of other options, I expect the same. Maybe not the same performance, but similar usage. Rashad Jennings is an interesting call here, and one I am on the fence about. Jennings is a swerve from the Manning-OBJ combo, which I expect to be popular, but let's not forget New Orleans is bad against the run as well. There could be a scenario where New York can play ahead, while the Drew Brees home/road splits come alive again.

I like this wide receiver core quite a bit. Antonio Brown's work speaks for himself, but we continued to see Doug Baldwin be a force in that Seattle passing attack, even on a less than stellar team outing. He is still at a discount price, and we saw the Los Angeles defense fail to defend the 49ers. However if Russell Wilson is banged up, I might be looking elsewhere. Carson Wentz found Jordan Matthews quite a bit, and against a Chicago secondary that isn't 100%, I will look his way at $6,900. This is a great find for a WR3.

The lonely positions I am not behind one bit, outside of Chris Boswell. I won't argue against an optimizer's kicker choice. Zach Miller is someone I can't take with Coby Fleener and Eric Ebron just a few hundred above, and San Diego's defense is cheap, but not playable for me this week. Washington, Baltimore, and Green Bay I would rather have.

GPP Projections

Not much changed for the GPP projections, other than we are looking at a kicker change, and paying up for a Carolina defense taking on San Francisco. It is certainly better than San Diego, that's for sure. We also get DeSean Jackson and Jesse James. Jackson I am certainly fine with in a GPP against this Dallas secondary. Jackson was actually fairly busy against the Pittsburgh, and always has that big play potential we look for in tournaments. There is a low floor there, but worth the risk in tourneys. James is the value to fit guys in, but one I am not on. He saw seven targets and caught five in his opener, which is encouraging. He is nothing more than a hopeful punt.

Lineup Including Stack

The Panthers stack is here again, but not the guys I was expecting to be paired with Newton. Ted Ginn and Devin Funchess in comparison to Greg Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin seems a bit off, but hey it is contrarian, I will give it that. I like the addition of Jordan Reed here because of the value those wideouts create, but not sure if he is enough to make up the difference if one of them busts, or both.

DFC Stacking Generator: https://www.dailyfantasycafe.com/tools/stackgenerator/nfl

DFC Lineup Optimizer: https://www.dailyfantasycafe.com/tools/lineupoptimizer/nfl

what do you think of Kelvin Benjamin w/ Netwon pairing? Benjamin looked elite versus the tough Broncos D, now Newton gets an easy game against SF.

@Jrasero - I like the pairing. Lots of upside, and you said it. Looked good in week 1, should see plenty of targets against a bad defense. I rather have Benjamin over the other names here.

Thanks @JasonG4s

Brown or Beckham in Fan Duel 50/50?

I love Beckham's upside against NO and Brown's four so so starts (for Brown at least) against Cin in 2015 15.4, 12.2, 13.7, 28.3, 16.2 leave me asking do I swing for the fences in a shootout in NO? However Brown is a young god in his city and has the most 30 pt upside. Your thoughts?

So far for my 50/50 on Fanduel I have

• QB C. Newton Recent newsSF@CAR$9,000
• RB D. Williams Recent newsCIN@PIT$7,600
• RB D. Woodhead Recent newsJAC@SD$6,400
• WR O. Beckham Jr.Recent newsNO@NYG$9,400
• WR J. Matthews Recent newsPHI@CHI$6,900
• WR D. Baldwin Recent newsSEA@LA$7,000
• TE V. McDonald Recent newsSF@CAR$4,600
• K S. Janikowski Recent newsATL@OAK$4,600
• D PatriotsMIA@NE$4,500

Again Beckham or Brown? Also I am not sold on McDonald, what are your thought on a sub $5k TE on FD?

Couple thoughts. It's a 50/50. You don't need to swing for the fences. You want high floor, consistent guys in a cash game. Brown is the epitome of consistency and a target monster (3 more average over last 7 games than Beckham)- https://www.dailyfantasycafe.com/nfl-stats/wr-wide-receiver-targets

Not sure you can go wrong with Beckham or Brown. We have Brown projected 2 pts higher.

Brown is my choice.

I'd agree with Sam as far as 50/50s go. Vance McDonald is a bit of a reach as far as his floor goes. He's certainly in the game-plan, but I have no faith in this offense, even after a nice showing.

Doug Baldwin is also someone that will (and should) pop up in projections, but with the concern over Russell Wilson's injury, it might be a situation to avoid altogether this week.

I go Beckham if I'm choosing, but overall, it's a toss up.

@jrasero - I believe OBJ is going to have the higher ownership this week in 50/50's, and certainly has the better matchup. Tough to rank them, but I have OBJ just slightly ahead this week with the better matchup. I just have a fear he is going to be sky high in ownership, and if you don't have him you get left behind. I am not the biggest fan of Vance McDonald or really cheap tight ends. Guys like Eric Ebron, Antonio Gates, and Delanie Walker are where I will be sitting. One possible move you might consider is coming off Newton, for cheaper QB like Manning or Stafford. This gives you some room to maneuver at tight end. I like Newton, but like some cheaper guys to help get salary elsewhere.

I personally would rather spend down at QB to Eli which would then allow you to upgrade your TE. I do agree with everything all of the guys said as well

Thank you guys

RB in a 50/50 CJ Anderson or D Williams? I know you already said Williams is a great cash play but what are your thoughts on Anderson since Den is favored by 6 while Pit only 3.5 pts and Den has a lot less weapons than Pit?

Also can you elaborate on your thoughts on Doug Baldwin. DFSR loves him even with Wilson less mobile.

"Well week 1 played out in much the same way that 2015 ended - Baldwin receiving double-digit targets while scoring his team's only touchdown. The case for Baldwin actually looks even better after week 1. His 11 targets would have been his second highest in 2015, and his 9 receptions would have been a season high. And, of course, the red zone targets appear to be elite (especially without a true RB1 in Seattle, and Russell Wilson's injury concerns). Watching the Blaine Gabbert/Jeremy Kerley connection happen against the Rams last week leaves me understandably bullish on Baldwin, who is likely 10% cheaper than he'll be 4 weeks from now."

@rclay636 the Rams have been sneaky good against Seattle the past two years. 2015 Baldwin had 15 receptions 150 yards and 1 touchdown, now game 1 Seattle scored 30 points in an overtime game and the other Seattle scored 20 points only. Your words of wisdom have really checked my expectations of Baldwin yet DFSR logic of no RB1, mobile Wilson equaling a red zone Baldwin make logical sense. Should I just be fading him? If so who is a $7k cash came WR to replace him?

Is it too crazy to go, otherwise I will pay down and get manning for his safety to upside ratio in a possible shootout to upgrade my TE to Ebron

or

Strategy wise, if all my guys play ONLY on Sunday would it be wise to only enter cash Sunday slate games or does having Thursday and/or Monday increase my odds by adding to the player field?

@jrasero - please use screenshots from our optimizer or resize these screenshots. they are too long.

I Certainly don't mind those lineups, but just fwiw - I love both Williams and CJ Anderson this week, and am trying to get them BOTH in as many lineups as I can.

I'm fading all Seahawks offensive players. Just how I'm going about it - no need to force things with all the other good options on the slate.

Thursday night games are often the lowest scoring games of the week. I tend to fade Thursday games and just roll what I would for Sunday/Monday. A lot of players feel forced to play Thursday players, or stack. There is an advantage to playing Thursday slates for that reason.