This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Football series.
If anyone thought a year ago we'd be considering using Ryan Tannehill, Jacoby Brissett, Kyler Murray, Drew Lock, Devlin Hodges, David Blough or Ryan Fitzpatrick for the fantasy football playoffs or as a DFS selection, he or she would have been looked at as certifiable. Now is a great time to give the weekly DFS game on FanDuel a shot, given at least half or most teams in the league are now out of their season-long leagues. FanDuel provides a nice solution to those players, offering new contests every week including during the playoffs.
QUARTERBACKS
This week it's a bit tricky at quarterback with Lamar Jackson already done for the week. Drew Brees is also not an option for the main slate with the Saints playing Monday Night Football this week. Therefore, Jimmy Garoppolo ($8,400) comes in as the highest-priced player at the position. He's finally back home with a great matchup against the Falcons and has put together games of 29.06 and 31.66 fantasy points in two of his last four games. The floor for Jimmy G is pretty low, and I'd only consider using him in GPPs due to his inconsistency this season. The best option in cash games appears to be Deshaun Watson ($8,200). He has the highest FPPG average at the position with 23.3. That average comes with a high ceiling as Watson has more than 27 fantasy points in six of his 13 games this season. His opponent this week is Ryan Tannehill ($7,600) who has been one of the better stories this season. Tannehill has been a fantasy force by passing and using his rushing ability as well. This game has the highest over/under this week (51) with the Titans being three-point favorites. Jameis Winston ($8,200) deserves a mention here even as he deals with a hand injury and has just lost Mike Evans. Winson has more than 300 passing yards in seven of his last eight games and has an ideal matchup against the Lions. Detroit is allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and has allowed 19 or more real points to opposing teams in their last 11 games. Use Patrick Mahomes ($8,300) in at least one tournament lineup; recent play coupled with the Broncos matchup should keep his ownership at a very low level despite him possessing as much upside as any player at the position. Baker Mayfield ($7,700) gets the best matchup for a quarterback, with Arizona allowing the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Matt Ryan ($7,600) is a sneaky play given the appearance that the 49ers are a tough matchup. However, the defense has been riddled with injuries and they'll be missing multiple starters this week. The long shot of the week is Gardner Minshew ($6,900). He'll get an Oakland defense that allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. The Raiders have allowed 42, 40 and 34 points to opposing teams over their last three games.
RUNNING BACKS
With the Carolina Panthers allowing the most fantasy points to opposing running backs, Chris Carson ($7,400) will be very chalky this week. Rashaad Penny is done for the season, and, if I had to guess, C.J. Prosise will work third downs instead of getting occasional early down work like Penny was. DeAndre Washington ($6,300) would also be a very chalky pick if Josh Jacobs ($7,700) was ruled out again this week. Washington had 18.6 fantasy points last week without Jacobs in the lineup, but we may not find out about Jacobs' availability until after the early games kickoff. Christian McCaffrey ($10,400), Derrick Henry ($9,400) and Dalvin Cook ($8,500) are in play every week but come with hefty price tags. If you don't believe in Minshew, Leonard Fournette ($7,700) is at a reasonable price and he's on pace for a whopping 107 targets in the passing game. Patrick Laird ($5,500) is a nice punt option as a player who has double-digit fantasy points in his last two games and get a decent matchup with the Giants. The darkhorse of the week at the position is Boston Scott ($4,700). He had 21.8 fantasy points in temporary relief of Miles Sanders ($6,800) last week and could be in line for a more prominent role if Jordan Howard is ruled out.
WIDE RECEIVERS
One of my favorite plays this week for both cash and tournaments is Breshad Perriman ($6,400). He should have a more prominent role this week with Mike Evans out and Darius Slay shadowing Chris Godwin ($8,400). Godwin is also an excellent play this week given we'll see what he can do without Evans on the field, which should lead to more targets. Using a stack of Winston, Perriman and Godwin has a ton of upside. Deebo Samuel ($6,500) has quietly been one of the more consistent players at the position with more than 12 fantasy points in each of his last five of his games. Stacking Samuel with Emmanuel Sanders ($6,900) and Jimmy G won't break the bank and has upside. What do we make of Tyler Lockett ($6,900)? After a torrid start to the season he's been a huge disappointment as of late 6.3, 0, 4.3 and 4.4 fantasy points in his last four contests. Those results will keep his ownership low, making him a great play for larger tournaments. There's still a huge ceiling for him (he has games of 33.7 and 26.9 fantasy points this season), and the Panthers are giving up the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. If he's out there, DeVante Parker ($6,900) is a great option. He's been under the radar with 882 receiving yards, six touchdowns and was rewarded Friday with a contract extension. Parker also got some help from Janoris Jenkins (or absence of), who was released from the team this week. Dede Westbrook ($6,000) should be considered the Jaguars No.1 wide receiver this week without DJ Chark Jr. playing. It seems like a good week to spend up elsewhere and use a few different midpriced options at wide receiver.
TIGHT ENDS
The three usual suspects — Travis Kelce ($7,300), George Kittle ($7,200) and Zach Ertz ($6,700) are all in play this week and, not surprisingly, are the top-three priced options this week. It might not be a bad week to use two of the three in a tournament with one occupying the Flex spot. Tyler Higbee ($5,700) shouldn't be ignored after back-to-back 100-yard receiving games and Gerald Everett already has been ruled out. David Njoku ($5,500) has the juicy Cardinals matchup but only had a 3-1-4 line in his return last week. Use him only in GPPs as a punt play. With Greg Olsen out again this week, Ian Thomas ($5,300) makes sense and is coming off a game of 14.2 fantasy points.
DEFENSES
This seems like a good week to pay up and take the New England defense/special teams. The Patriots are a 10-point favorite, and with an over/under of 41, the Bengals are expected to be the lowest-scoring team of the slate. New Englands 15.76 fantasy points per game is the highest average of the main slate by more than four fantasy points over the second-highest team. The cheaper option at the position to consider has to be the Kansas City Chiefs ($3,900) who are favored by 10 at home. This game has an over/under of only 45, which is low for a Chiefs' game. While Drew Lock has looked solid in his first two starts, he's a rookie and has thrown a pick in each of those two games.
