This article is part of our Draftster NFL series.
This week, Draftster launches its $30,000 NFL Single Entry Showdown. They are running $5, $10, and $20 qualifiers from now through Week 15, with a championship in Week 16 paying out $6,000 to the winner. Make sure to hop in the lobby and sign up for these qualifiers before they fill up.
*Please note the following rankings do not include Thursday's matchup between Houston and Indianapolis.
Quarterback
1. Peyton Manning (DEN) at NYJ - $9,000
2. Aaron Rodgers (GB) at MIA - $7,500
3. Matt Ryan (ATL) vs. CHI - $9,000
4. Philip Rivers (SD) at OAK - $7,300
5. Nick Foles (PHI) vs. NYG - $6,500
6. Jay Cutler (CHI) at ATL - $7,700
7. Eli Manning (NYG) at PHI - $7,500
8. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) at CLE - $7,200
9. Matthew Stafford (DET) at MIN - $6,400
10. Russell Wilson (SEA) vs. DAL - $6,700
11. Brian Hoyer (CLE) vs. PIT - $5,600
12. Colin Kaepernick (SF) at STL - $6,200
13. Andy Dalton (CIN) vs. CAR - $6,200
14. Joe Flacco (BAL) at TB - $6,100
Notable Byes: Drew Brees (NO)
Aaron Rodgers (GB) at MIA - $7,500
Following a Thursday night blowout of Minnesota, Rodgers moves on to a tougher road matchup against Miami this week. Rodgers finished Thursday night with three touchdowns but only 156 yards, as he was slowed down by a simple lack of volume. Entering Week 5, Rodgers was averaging 32.5 pass attempts per game and he should once again be close to that number, as Vegas predicts this Sunday's matchup to be a close one.
Nick Foles (PHI) vs. NYG - $6,500
Some will call Foles one of the more disappointing fantasy names thus far, but he's still averaging 38 passing attempts per game. After opening the year with three straight 20+ point fantasy games, Foles has put up back-to-back weeks of fewer than 16 points. Foles should be overlooked this week, making him a great play in any GPP. He's best paired with Jeremy Maclin, who has a league-leading 57 targets so far in this young season.
Brian Hoyer (CLE) vs. PIT - $5,600
If you're looking for a cheap QB option this week, look no further than Hoyer. He gets a home matchup against Pittsburgh this week, which is ranked near the middle of the pack against the pass. Hoyer has now thrown for at least 290 yards in back-to-back games and has only one interception on the season.
Running Back
1. Matt Forte (CHI) at ATL - $9,000
2. Le'Veon Bell (PIT) at CLE - $8,300
3. Marshawn Lynch (SEA) at DAL - $7,500
4. LeSean McCoy (PHI) vs. NYG - $6,600
5. Giovani Bernard (CIN) vs. CAR - $7,400
6. Andre Ellington (ARI) vs. WAS - $6,400
7. DeMarco Murray (DAL) at SEA - $7,100
8. Frank Gore (SF) at STL - $5,800
9. Lamar Miller (MIA) vs. GB - $6,000
10. Eddie Lacy (GB) at MIA - $6,100
11. Alfred Morris (WAS) at ARI - $4,500
12. Andre Williams (NYG) at PHI - $6,200
13. Ben Tate (CLE) vs. PIT - $4,900
14. Fred Jackson (BUF) vs. NE - $5,900 (Q - Right Ankle Sprain)
Notable Byes: Jamaal Charles (KC), Pierre Thomas (NO)
Matt Forte (CHI) at ATL - $9,000
After a monster game against Carolina that saw him rack up 166 total yards, including 12 receptions, Forte gets to face the league's worst defense against the rush. Atlanta is currently giving up 147 yards per game on the ground and has already allowed 10 rushing touchdowns. Fade Forte at your own risk.
LeSean McCoy (PHI) vs. NYG - $6,600
McCoy is in the same boat as his quarterback, having been labeled one of the top busts of the young fantasy season. McCoy is only averaging 2.7 yards per carry on an average of 17 carries per game. There's been speculation that McCoy is playing through an injury, but head coach Chip Kelly reiterated recently that McCoy is healthy and not currently receiving any treatment for an injury. Though it's harder recommending McCoy off of his current production, his past numbers and success aren't something that can be ignored. Play McCoy cheaply while you can, as he's due to breakout sooner rather than later.
Andre Williams (NYG) at PHI - $6,200
After Rashad Jennings left last week's game with a sprained MCL, Williams stepped in to the tune of 83 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. His price on most sites has already been inflated to starter's value, but he'll face an Eagles team that gives up the seventh-most rushing yards per game this season.
Wide Receivers
1. Antonio Brown (PIT) at CLE - $8,300
2. Julio Jones (ATL) vs. CHI - $9,000
3. Demaryius Thomas (DEN) at NYJ - $8,200
4. Jordy Nelson (GB) at MIA - $8,300
5. A.J. Green (CIN) vs. CAR - $7,600 (Q - Toe)
6. Jeremy Maclin (PHI) vs. NYG - $6,900
7. Randall Cobb (GB) at MIA - $6,900
8. Alshon Jeffery (CHI) at ATL- $7,200
9. Vincent Jackson (TB) vs. BAL - $6,500
10. Keenan Allen (SD) at OAK - $5,600
11. Dez Bryant (DAL) at SEA - $7,400
12. Emmanuel Sanders (DEN) at NYJ - $7,200
13. Victor Cruz (NYG) at PHI - $6,400
14. Brandon Marshall (CHI) at ATL - $7,000
Notable Byes: Brandin Cooks (NO)
Julio Jones (ATL) vs. CHI - $9,000
After seeing 16 targets last week, Jones will get to feast on Bears corners that are giving up an average of 37 fantasy points to wide receivers. Better yet, since the start of 2013, Matt Ryan has averaged over 300 yards and nearly two touchdowns per game at the Georgia Dome. Jones was limited in practice on Wednesday, but it seems to be nothing more than precautionary. Owning Jones will cost you, but he's one of the best options at wide receiver this week.
Jeremy Maclin (PHI) vs. NYG - $6,900
It's hard not to recommend Maclin every week based solely off of volume. He is leading the NFL in targets (57), averaging over 70 yards per game, and has four touchdowns on the year. To top all of that, he is still just the tenth-most expensive wide receiver on Draftster. The Giants have always been a hit-or-miss team defensively, but the Vegas total of over 50 says that Sunday night should be a shootout.
Vincent Jackson (TB) vs. BAL - $6,500
Ever since Mike Glennon took over as the Buccaneers' quarterback late in Week 3, Jackson has been one of the highest-targeted wideouts in the league with 21. Jackson is coming off of an eight-reception, 144-yard performance against the Saints last week. Though the Ravens will provide a tougher matchup, Jackson has proved to be Glennon's favorite downfield target.
Tight End
1. Julius Thomas (DEN) at NYJ - $6,600
2. Rob Gronkowski (NE) at BUF - $7,000
3. Martellus Bennett (CHI) at ATL - $4,900
4. Greg Olsen (CAR) at CIN - $6,100
5. Antonio Gates (SD) at OAK - $6,200
6. Larry Donnell (NYG) at PHI - $5,200
7. Owen Daniels (BAL) at TB - $4,900
8. Delanie Walker (TEN) vs. JAX - $6,400
9. Heath Miller (PIT) at CLE - $5,400
10. Jordan Cameron (CLE) vs. PIT - $4,100
Notable Byes: Jimmy Graham (NO), Travis Kelce (KC)
Julius Thomas (DEN) at NYJ - $6,600
With Jimmy Graham and the Saints on a bye, Thomas easily moves into the number one tight end slot this weekend. Thomas had six catches on seven targets for 66 yards and two touchdowns Sunday against the Cardinals. It was Thomas' second multi-score game, and he now has seven touchdowns on the young season. Next up for Thomas and the Broncos is a Jets team that has struggled in almost every facet of the game.
Martellus Bennett (CHI) at ATL - $4,900
Excluding his Week 5 performance against Carolina, Bennett has been one of the most consistent tight ends, points-wise, in the NFL. In three of his first four weeks, Bennett put up more than 20 fantasy points, including a nine-reception, 134-yard performance against Green Bay. The lingering health issues of Brandon Marshall plays into Bennett's targets, but at $4,900 Bennett is a great value with a ton of upside.
Jordan Cameron (CLE) vs. PIT - $4,100
If you're looking for an off-the-radar play, Cameron may be your guy. Only Andrew Hawkins has seen more targets than Cameron, though his receptions and yardage numbers are way down. Cameron suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out in Week 2 against the Saints and limited him in Week 3. In Week 5 he had a quiet, three-reception, 33-yard day, but his health was the key takeaway, as he played 92% of Cleveland's offensive snaps.
Kicker
1. Dan Bailey (DAL) at SEA - $3,000
2. Phil Dawson (SF) at STL - $4,000
3. Stephen Gostkowski (NE) at BUF - $3,900
4. Cody Parkey (PHI) vs. STL - $3,200
The kicker selection will change week-to-week based upon the highest over/unders each week. In most cases you will want to select the lowest-priced kicker with the highest over/under. With Vegas lines being more consistent this week, and Draftster ramping up some kicker prices, Dan Bailey at $3,000 remains the best value.
Defense
1. San Diego (at OAK) - $4,100
2. Denver (at NYJ) - $3,900
3. Seattle (vs. DAL) - $4,000
4. Detroit (at MIN) - $3,900
On the opposite spectrum of kickers, defenses are selected based upon the lowest over/under totals in a given week. The San Diego/Oakland game comes in at the lowest of the week, with a total of 43.5 points. The Chargers' defense may be the most expensive defense on Draftster this week, but they are coming off of a shutout against the Jets this past Sunday.
Last week's lineup:
QB: Austin Davis (31.00)
RB: Giovani Bernard (9.20)
RB: Rashad Jennings (9.20)
WR: Antonio Brown (13.40)
WR: Julio Jones (24.50)
TE: Julius Thomas (24.80)
FLEX: Zac Stacy (10.80)
K: Matt Bryant (8.00)
D: Chargers (16.00)
TOTAL: 146.70 points
Another week of just-misses and risks paying off seems to be a trend of mine lately. There was absolutely no way I could fade Austin Davis after seeing his price tag of what I believe was $3,300 (I'm not aware of a way to check past prices). This paid off handsomeley, as he finished as the top fantasy quarterback with 31 fantasy points. My running backs, however, this week were big misses. The Bengals played from behind all game, preventing Bernard from gaining any traction. Jennings was lost due to injury late into the second quarter but appeared to be in line for a big game, facing the league's worst rush defense. Andre Williams came in and cleaned up after Jennings exited. Another high priced player, Brown, failed to find the end zone or match his past yardage production, which is a big surprise considering he was facing Jacksonville. Jones and Thomas both paid off big time, as they each finished with more than 24 fantasy points. I took a risk on Stacy as my flex due to his price of under $4,000. He never really got anything going on the ground, which kind of goes hand in hand with Austin Davis' successful day. In the end, this lineup finished in the cash in all guaranteed contests and covered in double-ups.
