DFS Alerts
Titans RB Derrick Henry (Hamstring) Will Play Vs. the Texans
As expected, Henry will suit up in a pivotal division matchup vs. the Texans today. The bruising running back has scored at least 25 fantasy points in his last five games, and now he gets a matchup against a middling Texans’ rush defense in a game with the highest total on the main slate. Due to Henry’s rising price across the industry, he is likely too expensive for cash games but is a fine tournament play because of his immense upside.
As reported by: Adam Schefter Other tagged players: Dion Lewis, Ryan Tannehill
Steelers RB James Conner (Shoulder) is Expected to Play Against the Bills
Conner is expected back, and will likely split carries on Sunday night with Jaylen Samuels and Benny Snell.
As reported by: Ian Rappaport Other tagged players: Jaylen Samuels Bears Place TE Ben Braunecker on Injured Reserve
Braunecker has been placed on IR, leaving J.P. Holtz and Jesper Hostead as the Bears’ top tight ends. Neither are recommended DFS options this Sunday.
As reported by: ProFootballTalk Other tagged players: Jesper Horsted, J.P. Holtz Chargers CB Desmond King Ruled Out for Sunday's Game
King, an excellent slot corner and the Chargers’ primary return man on special teams, will be a healthy scratch on Sunday. Adam Thielen, who is returning from injury tomorrow, could have an easier matchup running routes from the slot.
As reported by: Jason B. Hirschhorn Colts WR T.Y. Hilton Will be a Pregame Decision to Play on Monday Night Vs. the Saints
The often-injured veteran could return for Monday Night Football in the Superdome, and the Colts could really use him. While the matchup against the Saints is average, the Colts are big underdogs with the line currently at +8.5, meaning Jacoby Brisset could be forced to air it out. If Hilton doesn’t go, his nearly 25% target share will go to Zach Pascal, Jack Doyle, and Marcus Johnson. While Pascal has been the main beneficiary when Hilton has been sidelined, Johnson had some huge plays last week and would be the more interesting target for Showdown GPPs given his slate-breaking potential.
As reported by: Adam Schefter Saints TE Jared Cook (Concussion) is Expected to Play on Monday Night Against the Colts
Cook, who suffered a concussion on his second touchdown reception last weekend vs. the 49ers, is likely to take the field on Monday night. We have him projected for a 19% target share against an average Colts’ pass defense. Cook is viable for Showdown tournaments on Monday night.
As reported by: Mike Triplett Bears Activate DL Akiem Hicks from IR. Making Him Eligible to Play Vs. the Packers on Sunday
The return of Akiem Hicks is an enormous boost for this already excellent Bears defense. The do-it-all defensive tackle is an excellent run-stuffer who will make it more challenging for Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams to find holes between the tackles on Sunday. The Bears are not elite in rush DVOA since Hicks went down earlier this season, but his return will certainly make the Bears less vulnerable on the ground.
As reported by: Chris Mortensen Redskins WR Paul Richardson Placed on IR, Ending his Season
Richardson’s season is officially over, and the Redskins will be especially thin at receiver with Trey Quinn also out. Terry McLaurin could command a 30% target share against the Eagles on Sunday, while Kelvin Harmon becomes an intriguing value option on all sites. Dwayne Haskins has held back this offense, ranking near the bottom in most efficiency metrics, but these Redskins WRs are worth a look in tournaments for salary relief. The Eagles give up the seventh-most fantasy points to WRs and have a very beatable secondary.
As reported by: Adam Schefter Dolphins WRs DeVante Parker and Albert Wilson are no Longer in the Concussion Protocol, Removed from the Injury Report for Sunday’s Game
Parker and Wilson are not on the injury report and draw an excellent matchup against a suspect Giants secondary.
As reported by: Adam Schefter Other tagged players: Albert Wilson Eagles RB Jordan Howard Ruled Out for Sunday’s Game Against the Redskins
As expected, Howard will miss another game. Miles Sanders and Boston Scott will head the backfield for Philly.
As reported by: Zack Rosenblatt Eagles WR Nelson Agholor Declared Out for Sunday’s Game Against the Redskins
Agholor will not suit up against the Redskins on Sunday, and without Alshon Jeffrey as well, the Eagles are extremely thin at wide receiver. Greg Ward and JJ Arcega-Whiteside will lead the Eagles’ receiving corps, while Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert should be on the field for most of the offensive snaps. Arcega-Whiteside is a solid cheap tournament target who could see 20% of the targets against a beatable secondary. Ertz is also a key beneficiary of Agholor’s absence; he has seen 23% of the targets and air yards over the last three games, and the Redskins rank 20th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to tight ends.
As reported by: Zack Rosenblatt Cash in Sunday, Party Next Friday
Deebo Samuel has been seeing a high level of involvement in the 49ers offense, and will get the benefit of operating at home against an Atlanta Falcons defense that will not have Desmond Trufant and a banged up Isaiah Oliver. If Oliver is out, the trio of cornerbacks could be the worst on the field of any team playing on Sunday. Blid Wreh-Wilson, Jamar Taylor, and Kendall Sheffield are not players who stand out as threats to WR production. The 49ers do have to somehow accumulate the 30 points their team total suggests, and yet ownership on Deebo Samuel and Emmanuel Sanders doesn’t seem to jive with that expectation. The price point isn’t attractive for either, and thus we have to use our imagination to envision a scenario in which Samuel reaches his threshold of roughly 25 fantasy points in PPR. It becomes much easier to imagine when you introduce Blidi Wreh and Jamar Taylor (signed off the street this week) into the equation. Deebo could be riding his Bike to Craig’s house Next Friday with a boatload of fantasy points in his plaid shirt pocket, and I for one have interest in being a part of that. Sanders we know can get the job done, and you can go there if you aren’t feeling as bold.
Other tagged players: Emmanuel Sanders
The Opposite of Revis Island
Few have noticed the swiss cheese defense being displayed by CB Ronald Darby of the Eagles. Darby has been one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL on a yards per cover snap basis. McLaurin, meanwhile, has been top 20 in the league in yards per route with Dwayne Haskins as his QB. This Eagles defense has allowed productivity to the hapless Giants and Dolphins in consecutive weeks, and now finds itself woefully depleted on offense. Likewise, the Redskins will have the choice between developing their young pass catching core or slamming 926 year old Adrian Peterson up the gut into one of the NFL’s stingiest run stuffing units by most metrics. It seems obvious to me: The Redskins are going to have more time of possession than we think, execute more passes than we think, and offer more opportunity than we think to one of the NFL’s brightest young stars. When you consider he figures to matchup with one of it’s lowest producing cornerbacks, you can sign me up immediately at low ownership.
Roll With The Unheralded Swag
In most cases, 350 yards and 4 TD against a difficult defense on the road will get you some attention. In most cases, having a 30 point team total at home against pro football’s least stingy defense (Positive Play Rate 49.66%, highest) that happens to allow more passing success (49.1%, 2nd) than rushing success (45.73%, 15th) will also get you some attention. With all of this being true, we are still seeing at least 4 players with higher expected ownership than Jimmy G this week, and virtually no stand-alone ownership for his wideouts. Betting markets are going WILD smashing the over on this game, raising the total from it’s open at 45.5 and simultaneously betting more money than ticket count on the Falcons covering. If you want to stack a game that correlates with (what appears to be) sharp betting action, you might consider gravitating towards Jimmy G and the surprisingly overlooked Falcons vs. 49ers game. Even if it does grab more ownership than we expect, the upside isn’t going away.
Gerald Everett (Knee) Ruled Out for Sunday
Everett has been ruled out for Sunday, giving Tyler Higbee another week as the clear top TE for the Rams. Higbee has thrived the past two weeks, totaling 14 catches, 223 yards and 1 TD.
As reported by: Gary Klein Other tagged players: Tyler Higbee