This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Football series.
After Saturday's action we get right back to the grindstone for Sunday's games. These are arguably the two most interesting matchups of the weekend with the Rams visiting the Buccaneers and the Bills going to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs. Let's read the tea leaves as to who can help our fantasy lineups for this two-game slate.
QUARTERBACK
The primo matchup of the week has to the Bills traveling to face the Chiefs. Looking at the FanDuel Sportsbook props, Josh Allen ($8,800) will only hit your salary cap for $100 more than Patrick Mahomes ($8,700) but is projected to rush for 30 more yards than Mahomes. He's the top guy as far as cash games, though Mahomes is definitely in play as well. Bottom line? You can't go wrong with either for Sunday's two-game slate.
If we're going against the grain, then we need to look at the Rams against the Buccaneers. Are we ready to fade Tom Brady ($7,800) yet? Probably not. Did Matthew Stafford actually have a rushing touchdown last week? Yes. Will he have another this week? Most likely not. I think this game ends up being a defensive battle, so I don't really trust either quarterback, especially with the backdrop of Kansas City/Buffalo looming in the later game. That said, if you're doing multiple lineups, I'd use both quarterbacks as they'll both be very low rostered.
RUNNING BACK
Let's be honest, this position is a complete mess Sunday. Devin Singletary ($7,200) was a beast last week and has emerged as the Bills' top running back. He's in play for all formats. Then we get to the Chiefs. Clyde Edwards-Helaire ($5,700) should be active, Jerick McKinnon ($6,000) looked fantastic last week but isn't a three-down back and Darrel Williams is still hanging, hanging around (that's a "Rounders" reference) to vulture significant touches. I'm leaving the Chiefs' backfield alone outside of tournament lineups.
Do I trust Leonard Fournette ($7,000)? No. But if he's going to suit up, I think he'll get plenty of work, and while this isn't a great matchup on paper, the volume should outrun his efficiency making him a solid fantasy play. Cam Akers ($5,700) looked fantastic last week but has to deal with Sony Michel ($5,300) and possibly Darrell Henderson ($5,000) this week. Akers is the preferred back even though Michel could handle the goal-line work as the bigger of the two backs.
WIDE RECEIVER
At this point you can't go wrong with Cooper Kupp ($9,500). He should be a staple in your cash game lineup. In what was a "down" week Monday night, he still managed 14.6 fantasy points, his lowest output in his last 13 games. He's a safe bet this weekend for fantasy points. The next two receivers to hit your salary cap — Mike Evans ($8,300) and Tyreek Hill ($8,200) — I'd approach with caution. Both receivers have tough matchups with Evans likely shadowed by Jalen Ramsey (on the outside) while Hill will have to deal with Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer cheating to his side of the field. Obviously, both are in play for tournaments and team stacks.
As a Bills fan, Mecole Hardman ($5,200) scares me as any time he touches the ball he's a threat to take it all the way to the house. I like using him in GPPs, especially paired up with Mahomes. Odell Beckham ($6,500) had the big game Monday night, but let's not forget Van Jefferson ($5,500), whom I prefer over Odell this week in GPPs as a contrarian play. The long shot of the week — make sure he's active — is Cyril Grayson ($5,200). He's scored 11, 11.5 and 17.1 fantasy points in the three games he's been active this season. Watching the last couple Tampa Bay games I'd think he'll be trusted more than Breshad Perriman or Tyler Johnson.
TIGHT END
I always advocate toward thinking about using two tight ends in a GPP lineup given that few players think to use that strategy. This slate of games definitely screams this idea as there are a bunch of options despite there being only two games. There are essentially four options: Travis Kelce ($8,200), Rob Gronkowski ($7,100), Dawson Knox ($6,500) and Tyler Higbee ($5,400). Salaries aside, I think all of these are pretty even for this week given that Kelce and Gronk have tough matchups while Knox and Higbee both have easier matchups. I'd lean to saving some salary cap space here this week. The contrarian plays at the position this week are: Cameron Brate ($4,500) and O.J. Howard ($4,200), though I wouldn't trust either in cash games.
DEFENSE
The two best defenses this week are probably the Buffalo Bills ($3,500) and the Kansas City Chiefs ($3,700). However, they both have the worst matchups, and I'd look to the Los Angeles Rams ($4,300) or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($4,500). I actually prefer the Rams over the Bucs as you save a little against your salary cap and there's just as much upside with the Rams as the Bucs despite the game being in Tampa.
