DFS Alerts
Colts elevate TE Erik Swoope to 53-man roster
With the news that TE Jack Doyle is out this week with a hip injury, the Colts have elevated TE Erik Swoope from their practice squad. This makes sense as the Colts run a lot of two TE sets – Ebron will now be the primary TE passing option, but don’t expect him to be the only TE to get looks on Sunday in Doyle’s absence.
League-Leading Rusher Available for Cheap in Expected High-Scoring Game
Through the first two weeks of the season, the surprising league leader in rushing yards is Matt Breida, with 184 yards through two games. This week Breida takes on a Kansas City Chiefs defense that leads the league in total yards allowed, having surrendered 1,016 yards in just two games. The Chiefs have been particularly susceptible to opposing Running Backs, allowing James Conner two TDs in Week 1, followed by allowing 3 TDs to Melvin Gordon in Week 2. Breida is a strong athlete who factors into the passing game as well, and averaged 8.6 yards per reception last season, and is a cheap way to get a piece of what is expected to be a high-scoring game in Kansas City this weekend.
WR Marvin Jones (ankle) questionable for SNF
Jones practiced fully all week until being limited today. If he were to miss, fellow wideouts Kenny Golladay and Golden Tate would see nice boosts in a projected shootout against a weak Pats secondary that just got shredded by Blake Bortles. Particularly, Golladay who wouldn’t have any competition for downfield targets. T.J. Jones would enter 3-WR sets in this scenario and see a majority of snaps, making him a cheap option on short slates.
Other tagged players: Kenny Golladay, Golden Tate, TJ Jones
WR Josh Gordon (hamstring) questionable for Sunday
Gordon was deemed healthy enough to play earlier in the week so he’s probably on the good side of questionable. Wiith WR Julian Edelman still serving his suspension and the Pats coming off a Week 2 loss, expect the team’s newest addition to be out there Sunday, though how much he’ll play is still unclear. It would be a favorable matchup right off the bat against a weak Lions secondary likely to be missing their best DB in Darius Slay (concussion). At $6,300 on FanDuel and $5,500 on DraftKings he could be a high risk/high reward play.
As reported by: Mike Reiss WR Marquise Goodwin (quad) questionable for Sunday
Goodwin got in limited practices all week and is supposed to be a game-time decision on Sunday. He could not pick a better matchup to come back for as the Chiefs rank 32nd in pass defense after 2 games and will be missing S Eric Berry once again. This would be a boost for QB Jimmy Garoppolo’s projections as well with his favorite downfield threat out there. Rookie wideout Dante Pettis would be limited to 3-WR sets if Goodwin ends up playing and have his snaps scaled back. Goodwin is affordable on all sites but really sticks out on FanDuel at $5,200 as a No.1 Wide Receiver in the highest projected total of the week.
As reported by: David Lombardi Other tagged players: Jimmy Garoppolo, Dante Pettis Cheap Defense Faces One of The League's Worst Offensive Lines
Through the first two weeks of the season, Russell Wilson’s leaky offensive line has allowed the most sacks in the league and has given up the second-most QB Hits. Meanwhile the Dallas Cowboys defense has been surprisingly effective and aggressive, racking up 9 sacks and allowing the fourth-fewest yards per game. Yet for some reason, DFS sites have priced down the Dallas defense as one of the cheapest units available this week at only $3400 on FanDuel, $2200 on DraftKings, and $3900 on FantasyDraft. It’s true that Dallas is a slight underdog on the road in Seattle this week which limits their appeal somewhat, but if I’m going to take a road defense, give me one that’s dirt cheap and capable of posting a big score.
Overlooked, Cheap QB Favored at Home This Weekend
The Denver defense has been surprisingly susceptible to the pass this season, allowing 298 yards and 3 touchdowns to Russell Wilson in Week 1, followed by 288 yards (with completions on 29-of-32 attempts) and a touchdown against David Carr in Week 2. This week the unit has to travel across country to face Joe Flacco and the Ravens, who are 5-point favorites at home. Flacco is 7th in the league in passing yards and tied for 6th in passing TDs through two weeks, but is very affordably priced at $6,700 on FanDuel, $5,400 on DraftKings, and $10,100 on FantasyDraft this week.
WR Cole Beasley questionable for Sunday
The Cowboys’ leader in targets was a limited participant this week at practice but still seems more likely to play. At far off from minimum salary, Beasley is a clear avoid this week on a low-volume passing offense where 6 different wideouts are seeing between 20 and 60 percent of the snaps.
As reported by: Jon Machota RB Alex Collins good to go in Week 3
He’s recovered from an illness earlier in the week and makes for an interesting contrarian play at $6,300 on FanDuel with the Ravens installed as 5-point home favorites. Unfortunately, Buck Allen ended up scoring on a goal line carry last week and once again split touches and snaps down the middle. Though Collins surprisingly outgained Allen in the receiving department with 55 yards through the air, so perhaps game script is now irrelevant to this timeshare.
As reported by: @BaltimoreRavens Other tagged players: Javorius Allen QB Marcus Mariota questionable for Sunday
The Titans are still unsure whether Mariota will play Sunday. Head Coach Mike Vrabel said he would make a decision within the next 24 hours. If he can’t go again this week, then Blaine Gabbert will get another start after ‘game-managing’ his way to a Titans victory in Week 2 with 117 passing yards on 20 attempts. This passing offense has a daunting road matchup against the Jaguars’ elite secondary up next, which should make Jacksonville’s D/ST a popular target regardless of the opposing QB. Gabbert starting would only serve to boost their ownership. It should be noted however, that LT Taylor Lewan is returning to the Titans’ offensive line this week and DB Jalen Ramsey (ankle) is questionable, which could slightly even the playing field between those 2 sides of the ball.
As reported by: Jim Glennon Other tagged players: Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars WR Paul Richardson (shoulder/knee) questionable for Sunday
If Richardson sits, it will still be hard to rely on the likes of fellow wideouts Josh Doctson or Jamison Crowder who have been non-factors in the first couple weeks of the season. His absence would probably leave 1-2 more projected targets to RB Chris Thompson and TE Jordan Reed. Thompson saw 14 targets last week and figures to get peppered by QB Alex Smith again this week, regardless of Richardson’s status, as the underdog Redskins figure to be trying to keep pace against QB Aaron Rodgers this week.
As reported by: @WashingtonRedskins Other tagged players: Chris Thompson, Jordan Reed RB Corey Clement (quad) questionable for Sunday; Still expected to play
It’s always concerning when an injury pops up for a player late in the week but the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “he will be fine for Sunday” and the questionable tag is “precautionary more than anything else. With Ajayi and Sproles out, Clement will slide into the team’s lead role and become the most popular value target on the slate along with Vikings RB Latavius Murray. Last week, with those two out, Clement went for 85 yards and a touchdown on 11 touches in a game the Eagles were trailing from the start. This week, the Eagles are favored by a touchdown and figure to give the backfield a few more carries with Carson Wentz returning from injury. It should be noted however, that the Eagles tend to split RB snaps no matter who suits up, so expect both Wendell Smallwood (8 touches last week) and newly-signed Josh Adams to still mix in, but to what extent is uncertain.
As reported by: Adam Caplan Other tagged players: Wendell Smallwood, Josh Adams RB's Jay Ajayi and Darren Sproles ruled out for Sunday
It’s the perfect injury storm for Corey Clement who will slide into the team’s lead role and become the most popular value target on the slate along with Vikings RB Latavius Murray. While Ajayi and Sproles were out last week, Clement went for 85 yards and a touchdown on 11 touches in a game the Eagles were trailing from the start. This week, the Eagles are favored by a touchdown and figure to give the backfield a few more carries with Carson Wentz returning from injury. It should be noted however, that the Eagles tend to split snaps for their running backs no matter who suits up, so expect both Wendell Smallwood (8 touches last week) and newly-signed Josh Adams to still mix in, but to what extent is uncertain.
As reported by: Adam Caplan Other tagged players: Darren Sproles, Corey Clement RB Dalvin Cook (hamstring) ruled out for Sunday
The Vikings have chosen to rest their second-year lead back, likely due to Cook’s injury history and a pushover opponent this week. Fellow RB Latavius Murray could not be stepping into a better projected game script given his strengths as a between-the-tackles runner and proven goal line back. He looks to be a borderline lock on FanDuel at $5,200 given it’s more touchdown-friendly nature of scoring. The Bills have allowed a league-worst 6 touchdowns to running backs so far this season.
As reported by: Chris Tomasson Other tagged players: Latavius Murray TE Jack Doyle and RB Marlon Mack ruled out for Week 3
TE Eric Ebron should move into an every-down role against a very beatable Eagles’ linebacking corps, making him one of the best TE values for Sunday at $3,400 on DraftKings, over $2K less than his price on FanDuel. With Mack out, Jordan Wilkins will likely lead a 2-man committee with Nyheim Hines against a stout Eagles run defense. Those two should still be safe to ignore in what figures to be a more passing-focused gameplan in Week 3 for the Colts. QB Andrew Luck may also zero in on WR T.Y. Hilton even more this week with his second favorite target now missing in action.
As reported by: Jim Irsay Other tagged players: Marlon Mack, Eric Ebron, Nyheim Miller-Hines, Jordan Wilkins