This article is part of our Four-Down Duel series.
Welcome back for another season of weekly fantasy football contests with FanDuel. I'm going to stick with the same format as I did last season, giving two different lineups with one for cash/heads-to-head games and one for the tournament format.
50/50 or Heads-to-Head
In 50/50 or Head-to-head contests, you should aim for a lineup that has a higher floor over a higher ceiling. If you're in a 50/50 contest, the top half of all entries finishes in the money, meaning you don't have to pick a high-ceiling lineup that shoots for the moon. I build these lineups with the players I need, regardless of their price while including my rationale.
Peyton Manning, $10,200 – I'm not going out on a limb by picking Manning this week. Comparing his price to the other quarterbacks, I'm comfortable using him. Denver is over a touchdown favorite with the highest over/under total for Week 1. Manning should have something of a chip on his shoulder after being embarrassed in the Super Bowl and the loss of Wes Welker shouldn't make too much of an impact on the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback. Don't be afraid to spend here, as the next 11 quarterbacks are within $2100 of Manning's price.
Andre Ellington, $6800 – I'm curious to see how much Ellington is really going to be used, and it'll be him or Jonathan Dwyer who gets the goal-line work. Still, the price is too good to pass up here, and Ellington starts the season with a good home matchup against the Chargers.
Toby Gerhart, $6100 – Dollar-for-dollar, Gerhart might be my favorite play this week at running back. He's almost a lock for 20-plus touches and should be part of the passing game, which is important with FanDuel's 0.5-point-per-reception format. I'm not worried about the Philadelphia defense and I think the Jaguars could surprise this season with Gerhart being a big reason why.
Demaryius Thomas, $8700 – As you saw last season, and the trend will continue this year, I also try to pair at least one wide receiver with my quarterback, regardless of contest format. Thomas should have his way with the Colts' secondary. Expect a 100-yard performance with at least one score.
Eric Decker, $6400 – Anytime I used Decker last season, he seemed to be hit-or-miss. As the Jets' clear No. 1 wideout, I think we'll see some better consistency out of him. Jets quarterback Geno Smith should be much better this season, which will open the door for Decker to surprise many.
Jeremy Maclin, $5000 – Maclin is easily the best receiver you'll find anywhere near this price, and he should see plenty of targets come Sunday. If he stays healthy, Maclin is a lock for 1,000 yards in Eagles head coach Chip Kelly's offense. Saving some money here also allows me to take my next pick.
Julius Thomas, $7400 – By finding some values elsewhere, I'm able to get the tight end I have ranked 1B -- Jimmy Graham is ranked 1A, of course. And it certainly doesn't hurt that I also own Thomas' quarterback. Denver's Thomas duo will be Manning's primary red zone targets this season, and the loss of Welker should add to both of their target totals in the early weeks. By mixing in three Broncos with some bargain players, I've established enough of a floor to take down my cash games.
Greg Zuerlein, $4500 – It's pretty simple: Zuerlein is at home, has a decent matchup and probably has the biggest leg in the league. Under the FanDuel format, the points go up the longer the kick and Rams head coach Jeff Fisher won't be hesitant to run Zuerlein for a lengthy field-goal attempt.
Detroit Lions Defense $4600 – This is one of the cheaper defenses on the board, and to say Giants quarterback Eli Manning has been a little turnover prone is an understatement. The Lions defense front four is among the best in the league and will be good for a few sacks at home.
Tournaments
For tournament lineups, you have to look at upside and use some "outside-the-box" picks if you want to cash. Remember, I probably wouldn't use this lineup completely as there is a lower floor here with a lot of players. But a mix of studs with a few of the cheaper options listed below could net you the top overall prize.
Colin Kaepernick, $8500 – Kaerpernick isn't cheap by any means and that could result in many fantasy owners ignoring him completely in tournament formats. The Dallas defense is going to be among the league's worst this season, especially with all of the injuries they've suffered. Kaerpernick has a talented set of receivers at his disposal, with the likes of Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin, Vernon Davis and Steve Johnson. Plus, Kaerpernick is always a threat to rack up fantasy points on the ground. Look for Kaerpernick to have a big game Sunday in what should be a high-scoring affair.
Shane Vereen, $6600 – I almost included Vereen in the cash game section, as he's a great play in any format. I doubt the Patriots have much faith in Steven Ridley right now given his fumbling problems, and it appears clear that Vereen is the Pats running back you want to own. Remember, FanDuel is a 0.5 PPR format and it wouldn't be surprising to see Vereen haul in five-plus catches.
Rashad Jennings, $6700 – Even with my backing of the Lions defense in cash games, Jennings remains a solid tournament play. He comes at a decent salary and will likely have low ownership levels while still offering upside. All signs point to Jennings starting the season as the Giants workhorse after reports have come out that Andre Williams might be "too raw" right now. Jennings should get the goal-line work and he has shown the ability to be an effective pass-catcher last year with Oakland.
T.Y. Hilton, $6400 – Whenever I look at wide receiver in tournament format, I throw out the notion of taking any type of floor and solely look at what the ceiling. Hilton has shown the ability to get behind defenses and put up huge fantasy games, like he did against the Chiefs in the playoffs. Don't be surprised if he goes for a long score in Denver.
DeSean Jackson, $6700 – The matchup in Houston isn't the greatest, and Robert Griffin has struggled with the new offense. but Jackson offers plenty of upside and his ownership will be extremely low. It only takes on mistake by the defense for him to catch a long touchdown pass. Griffin has shown the ability to extend plays and has a strong and effective arm to get the ball to Jackson downfield.
Terrance Williams, $6100 – So much is made out of Dez Bryant (and rightfully so) that Williams has gone a little under the radar in season-long drafts. He has the size and speed to eventually become a No.1 wide receiver and he's destined to build off of what was a successful rookie campaign. The Cowboys defense is terrible, which will lead to tons of passes as the team plays catchup. Plus, Williams will benefit from single coverage playing across from Dez.
Jordan Cameron, $6500 – The price is high enough here that owners will take a pass on Cameron and spend on one of the big three tight ends. Without Josh Gordon, Cameron has the opportunity to take over as the top-receiving target for the Browns and Brian Hoyer. Even if Johnny Manziel gets some playing time, rookie quarterbacks like to lean on their tight ends, who tend to run short, safe routes. Look for Cameron to see his fair share of targets, especially in the red zone.
Brandon McManus, $5000 – Say hello to the new kicker on the league's top-scoring offense. There's a chance that the Broncos are able to move the ball this week but not able to punch it in. Plus, not many people have heard of McManus and will shy away from using him. He'll have the advantage of kicking in Denver's thin air as well.
Kansas City Chiefs Defense, $5400 – It's easy to see a scenario where Andy Reid's offense gets off to a quick start and builds a decent sized lead at home. With Jake Locker under center and the plodding Shonn Greene at running back, it's easy to see how the Titan's offense could sputter.
