TheVault: DraftKings GPP Plays - Week 5
The week has finally arrived. Someone will wake up Tuesday with a million dollars in their account! We had some nice hits last week at all positions (Luck, Forte, Nelson, Kelce to name a few) and hopefully you were able to pair them all together. Last week was a very high scoring and all of the higher owned players went off (outside of Donald Brown) so trying to be contrarian didn’t pay off at all. With over 92,000 entries possible this week, I don’t expect that to be the case. You’ll likely have to take a couple shots this week to take down the million and hopefully the plays listed below will help someone take down the biggest prize handed out so far this year. Good luck!
QB
Top Plays of the Week
Peyton Manning – $9200 – Manning seems like an easy call but I think he may fly under the radar this weekend. He is the most expensive QB by $300 and Arizona is a pretty good defense. While he’s been great, he isn’t putting up the same numbers he put up last year. That being said, Manning is a good place to start building your team. He is still the 4th best QB so far this year and has as much upside as anyone. Arizona’s run D is not yielding much of anything which should force the Broncos to air it out. If Arizona can keep up, Manning is going to have a huge game.
Nick Foles – $8500 – Foles is a rare exception this week as he actually had his salary increase by $500. What’s even more head scratching is he coming off of a miserable 5.9 point performance last week. Foles burned a lot of owners last week (myself included) and some will hold that against him, especially at his price point. I’m going to go back to the well. He’s going against a Rams D that is having trouble getting to the QB (1 sack on year) which should give Foles the time he needs to execute. He loves throwing the ball down the field and if he is on, he can put up points in a hurry in this Eagles offense.
Eli Manning – $7500 – This Giants offense has taken huge steps over the past several weeks. They are one of my favorite offenses to target this week. I don’t think Eli will be highly owned this week simply because most view him as being terrible. While that may still prove to be the case, he flashed his upside last week against a bad Washington D. This week, he gets a matchup against an even worse Falcons D. Don’t be surprised if Eli is the highest scoring Manning of the week at a $1700 discount to his brother.
Kirk Cousins – $6500 – Anyone who watched the game last Thursday has probably already written off Cousins. Now he gets a matchup against the Seahawks. You may have already clicked the back button on your browser but if you haven’t, hear me out. In order to beat 92,400 others you are going to have to take a chance somewhere and I think Cousins is a good place to take that chance. Just two weeks ago he put up 31 points and this week his price dropped $1700. Seattle has given up over 49 points to opposing QB’s their last two games. You know he’s going to be low owned, I like his offensive weapons, and Washington is going to have to score a lot to stay in this game. I think Cousins is a great play this week.
Boom or Bust Play of the Week
Cam Newton – $7200 – Cam’s another guy that’s worth taking a chance on. He has yet to eclipse the 20 point mark and is on nobody’s radar. The Panthers have nobody to hand the ball off to which will force Newton to throw. I heard someone that covers the Panthers say that last week was the best passing performance of Newton’s career. The Panthers D has been suspect of late and I expect the Bears to put up points. The Bears D will be his easiest matchup to date and if this turns into a shootout, Cam will be putting up big time numbers like he has in the past.
Salary Saver of the Week
Austin Davis – $5600 – This is a good week for Austin Davis. He gets named the starter for the remainder of the season and gets to play the Eagles. The Eagles have been giving up big games to opposing QB’s and Davis is coming off a 26 point performance himself. The Rams have some decent weapons in the passing game and you can expect they run more plays than normal. I expect them to get down early and Davis to air it out at least 40 times. He could easily replicate his 26 point performance at a very good price.
RB
Top Plays of the Week
LeSean McCoy – $7800 – McCoy has scored a combined 3.9 points over the last 2 weeks and yet he is the most expensive RB on the board. That makes sense right? It doesn’t but for that reason you can expect McCoy to be an overlooked commodity this Sunday. He has as much talent as any RB in the game which means he has the most upside as well. That’s exactly what we’re looking for this week. The matchup is just average, but don’t be surprised if Chip Kelly looks to get McCoy going Sunday. I wouldn’t be shocked if he is on the winning team this week.
Reggie Bush – $6200 – This one will probably require you to watch the inactives on Sunday morning, but if Joique Bell is out, I love Bush this week. The Bills are a solid defense against opposing RB’s, but Bush has enormous upside when he is given the majority of touches out of the backfield. I don’t see him throwing up a dud and could end up a top 5 RB this week.
Rashad Jennings – $5500 – Here is your first “fade at your own risk” play of the week. I can’t help but give Jennings a write up because his price and matchup are really incredible. The only reason you may have hesitation rolling him out is because Jennings only received 13 carries compared to the 15 that Andrew Williams got last week. If the Giants keep that balancing act up, that may be a reason to fade Jennings. Unlike the blowout last week, I think the Falcons will keep it close and Jennings to get back to receiving a majority of the workload. This Falcons D gave up a combined 50+ points to Vikings RB’s last week. That’s not good.
Bishop Sankey – $4700 – Now that Sankey has improved his footwork, it seems as if Ken Whisenhunt is going to start getting him the ball more. The reason most will likely shy away is there is a ton of uncertainty with this play. He’s averaging over 5 YPC but the most carries he’s gotten so far in a game is 10. If he is running well and can approach 20 carries, he could be in line for 100+ yards and a TD against a Browns D that has really struggled against opposing RB’s so far this season.
Boom or Bust Play of the Week
Andre Ellington – $5600 – Ellington is one of my favorite plays of the week. He is priced $100 above Jennings so you know he will be low owned. He is yet to go off this year but has immense upside against the Broncos this week. Coming off a bye, this will probably be the healthiest he will be the rest of the year so it’s the right time to take advantage. He is going to get a full work load and the Broncos are giving up 6 receptions per game to opposing RB’s which only enhances his value.
Salary Saver of the Week
Chris Ivory – $3100 – I have no idea why or how but Ivory is priced only $100 above minimum salary this week. Much like Jennings, I expect him to be very highly owned so fade at your own risk. Ivory is a top 15 RB on the year and the only reason he is that low is because of Marty Mornhingweg’s stupidity. He’s running like a man possessed and should have very little problem paying off his price tag this week against a Chargers D that has struggled against opposing RB’s so far this year.
WR
Top Plays of the Week
Calvin Johnson – $8200 – Because he was used as a decoy last week, I don’t think most people will take the chance on him this week in the fear he’s used that way again. Especially when he’s the highest priced WR on the board. He should be healthier coming into this week and gets a nice matchup against the Bills. There’s always that chance he’ll be limited, but if he’s not, there’s as good a chance as anyone Johnson is the highest scoring WR of the week at a very low ownership number.
AJ Green – $7400 – It seems like Green is having a down season but then you look and in the 2 full games he’s played in he’s gone over 100 yards in each. On paper, the matchup is tough against a Patriots D ranked 1st against opposing WR’s so far this year. Green is a special talent though and will be a more difficult task than Dwayne Bowe was last week. Belichick is famous for eliminating the opposing team’s best player, but I think he’ll try and stop the Bengals running game forcing Dalton to throw the ball. If that happens, Green will go off.
Jeremy Maclin – $5600 – Maclin is clearly Nick Foles favorite target. He threw the ball his way an astounding 15 times last week, although he was only able to connect on four of those so Maclin had a down game. Like I said in the Foles blurb, I expect him to have more time to throw this week and that should benefit Maclin and the Eagles passing game. Maclin is one of my favorite plays this week at WR considering his upside and price.
Reuben Randle – $3900 – Randle is on the brink of having a big game. He’s had 10 targets each of the last 2 games and parlayed that into a 17 point performance last week. I’m very high on the Giants this week as you can probably tell, and while most will probably pair Eli and Cruz, I think Randle may make the better pair this weekend.
Boom or Bust Play of the Week
Vincent Jackson – $5800 – Jackson continues to put up disappointing numbers this season. Most thought the return of Mike Glennon last week would start to turn things around for Jackson. Thankfully a late TD somewhat salvaged an otherwise terrible day. With Mike Evans out, Jackson should be in line for at least 10 targets this week. I wouldn’t be surprised to see that number approach 20. With Tampa likely playing from behind Jackson should be setup for a huge game.
Salary Saver of the Week
Andrew Hawkins – $3500 – Hawkins price dropped $1500 coming off the Browns bye week. He’s been super consistent this year racking up at least six catches and 70 yards in each game as the most heavily targeted receiver in Cleveland’s offense. He hasn’t topped 100 yards or caught a TD yet, but he’s been close. Don’t be surprised to see Hawkins achieve both of those Sunday against a suspect Titans passing defense making him one of the best values of the week.
TE
Top Plays of the Week
Julius Thomas – $6900 – After a week off, it’s back to picking on Arizona with our TE’s. This week one of the best in the league gets the opportunity to shred them. I think Thomas will be targeted by a lot of players on Sunday and with the soft salary structure in place this week, I advise that strategy as well. Huge potential in this play.
Larry Donnell – $5700 – Yes, I’m very high on the Giants offense this week. While Donnell is no longer a secret, his price is no longer in the value range either. He’s now priced as a top 5 TE, which he has been so far, but I don’t expect many people trust him enough just yet to pay his price tag this week. He is Eli’s favorite red zone target and showed last week what he is capable of. I don’t expect 3 TD’s again this week but a multiple TD game certainly isn’t out of the question against a very poor Falcons D.
Delanie Walker – $4300 – Despite another good game last week, Walker’s price tag fell to its lowest point since Week 2. He’s been solid all year no matter who is at QB for the Titans and now gets a nice matchup against a Cleveland D that is giving up huge points to opposing TE’s. Walker is a great combination of floor/ceiling this week at a great price.
Travis Kelce – $3000 – Anyone who watched the Monday night game probably immediately checked Kelce’s price tag for this week and jumped for joy when they saw he was minimum price. Kelce obviously has big time talent and when he gets the ball in his hands can make things happen. This is more of a cautionary recommendation this week. Kelce’s stock is high and his price is low so I think many people will be on him. Keep in mind the 49’ers are tough against opposing TE’s and Kelce only ran 17 pass routes last week. I still really like the play but if he isn’t as efficient as he has been, his upside is somewhat limited.
Boom or Bust Play of the Week
Jordan Cameron – $4400 – Cameron has had a very disappointing season thus far going for just 3 catches and 70 yards in the 2 games he’s played in. Obviously injuries have played a part but I expect him to look good coming off the bye week. The good news is he has converted those catches into big plays. I think the Browns are going to put some points on the board this weekend and a healthy Cameron has a chance to have a big day.
Salary Saver of the Week
Austin Seferian-Jenkins – $3000 – Seferian-Jenkins played every snap for Tampa last week and should be on the field for most of them again this week. He had just 3 catches for 44 yards but is a nice target for Mike Glennon and I expect much bigger things this week. Tampa is likely going to have to pass the ball a lot to keep up with the Saints and with no Mike Evans, Seferian-Jenkins is going to be the #2 option in the passing game. If you’re looking to go cheap at TE and want to fade Kelce, ASJ is your guy.