Ostrowski: Best Daily Fantasy Plays For Week 4
By Joe Ostrowski--
(CBS) The money lineups in Week 1 and Week 2 pale in comparison to what we saw last weekend, which was the result of multiple value plays scoring two or even three touchdowns. The following lineups made NFL fans millionaires.
FanDuel: $5 million NFL Sunday Million ($1 million to first place)
Winner: "cookies248" -- 252.10 points
QB: Cam Newton
RB: Devonta Freeman, Joseph Randle
WR: Steve Smith, Keenan Allen, DeAndre Hopkins
TE: Greg Olsen
K: Stephen Gostkowski
D: Seahawks
This is another FanDuel winner that's new to daily fantasy sports. "cookies248" had only 26 wins, three in NFL contests.
This lineup scored 16 touchdowns with its seven offensive players and went expensive but safe at kicker and defense. They started with a QB-TE stack of Newton and Olsen. Freeman and Randle were cheap running backs who each scored three times in the same game. Receivers Smith, Allen and Hopkins were all mid-range priced and had low ownership. In fact, eight of the nine roster spots were owned by 10 percent of the field or less.
Draft Kings: $10 million Millionaire Maker ($1.2 million to first place)
Winner: "Hoothead" -- 301 points
QB: Cam Newton
RB: Devonta Freeman, Joseph Randle
WR: Julio Jones, Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshall
TE: Greg Olsen
FLEX: LeGarrette Blount
D/ST: Seahawks
This Draft Kings winner chose eight position players that compiled 19 touchdowns. The team scored 63 more points than the average score of the winners in the first two weeks. Always consider whether a player can score twice before placing them in your tournament lineup. Newton, Freeman, Randle, Olsen and Seattle were used in both lineups. Blount was the contrarian play, with a 2.2 percent ownership level. A consideration moving forward is Patriots blowouts. Fitzgerald, Marshall and the Seahawks were highly owned, but no mistakes were made.
Week 4 top daily fantasy plays
QB in cash games: Packers' Aaron Rodgers at 49ers
Don't overthink this. With Tom Brady on a bye, there isn't a debate at quarterback if you're willing to spend up at the position. Rodgers has 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions, and top option Randall Cobb is healthy. You'd always prefer to have Rodgers at Lambeau Field than on the road, but San Francisco just got demolished by Arizona and Pittsburgh.
Another option: Bills' Tyrod Taylor vs. Giants
QB in tournaments: Seahawks' Russell Wilson vs. Lions
The Seahawks are big home favorites again, and Vegas set their team total at 27 points. Opposing offenses have done whatever they've wanted to against the Lions. Peyton Manning and Phillip Rivers threw for a combined 727 yards. Adrian Peterson rumbled for 134 yards. Wilson doesn't have a rushing touchdown yet. It'll happen soon.
Another option: Colts' Andrew Luck vs. Jaguars
RB in cash games: Colts' Frank Gore vs. Jaguars
Gore busted through with two scores on only 14 rushes last week. Indy's lead back hasn't had an opportunity to grind away a game due to a 1-2 start, with a close win over Tennessee. The Colts are 10-point home favorites. Jacksonville just allowed New England to score four touchdowns on the ground.
Another option: Raiders' Latavius Murray at Bears
RB in tournaments: Chargers' Melvin Gordon vs. Browns
There's risk with Gordon because Danny Woodhead has out-snapped Gordon in every game. But San Diego has played from behind much of the time. Vegas expects the Chargers to have their first comfortable victory, which sets up for a Gordon game. The Browns have allowed 464 combined rushing yards to the Raiders, Titans and Jets.
Another option: Chiefs' Jamaal Charles at Bengals
WR in cash games: Falcons' Julio Jones vs Texans
Jones is a must-play in all games. Seriously, think about this for a second: He's on pace for 2,346 yards and 21 touchdowns. Jones is in a category all by himself, with Antonio Brown being downgraded after the Ben Roethlisberger injury. Teammate Roddy White has run 79 pass routes over the last two weeks, and Matt Ryan hasn't targeted him once. It's the Julio show.
Another option: Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald vs. Rams
WR in tournaments: Chargers' Keenan Allen vs. Browns
Due to Allen's up-and-down performances, he's always going to be low-owned. Philip Rivers has targeted Allen at least 17 times twice this year. Browns cornerback Joe Haden may have some name value, but Pro Football Focus rates him as the 98th-best corner in the league. Quarterbacks have a 137 rating when throwing at Haden this year.
Another option: Packers' Randall Cobb at 49ers
TE in cash games: Panthers' Greg Olsen vs Buccaneers
One catch for 11 yards in Week 1 was a long time ago. Cam Newton has targeted Olsen 25 times for 204 yards over the last two games. Olsen has now returned to being a safe play -- as safe as they come on a Gronk-less week.
Another option: Redskins' Jordan Reed vs. Eagles
TE in tournaments: Bears' Martellus Bennett vs. Raiders
Oakland is dead last against tight ends, and it isn't close. Gary Barnidge, Crockett Gillmore and Tyler Eifert have combined for 297 yards and five touchdowns against the Raiders. This puts Martellus Bennett in play even if Jimmy Clausen is under center.
Another option: Bills' Charles Clay vs. Giants
Joe Ostrowski is an executive producer at 670 The Score and co-hosts "Chicago's Fantasy Football Today" on Sundays from 8-9 a.m. CT. He also discusses fantasy football on The Laurence Holmes Show on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. CT on WSCR-670 and 670thescore.com/listen. Follow him on Twitter @JoeO670 and feel free to ask fantasy questions.
