Thomason: Sleepers & Daily Fantasy Value Plays For Week 16
By Jack Thomason--
(CBS) It's all or nothing this week. It's fantasy football championship week for most folks, and we still have some pretty quality sleepers or players who may be available on your waiver wire. I'm hoping we can cash in on some sleepers and daily fantasy plays one last time for 2015.
Also, I wanted to thank you to all of you for taking the time to read my articles and interact with me on Twitter. It has been a real pleasure, and I hope we are able to do it again in 2016. Thanks for a great 2015.
Let's take a look at this week's sleepers/value plays for both season-long and daily fantasy leagues.
Quarterback
Matt Stafford, Lions (vs. 49ers) – In Stafford's last nine games, he has thrown for 21 scores and only five interceptions. He has taken advantage of bad pass defense when given the chance, as the early part of the Lions' schedule was brutal. Fresh off of torching the Saints in their house for 254 yards and three touchdowns, Stafford gets a 49ers secondary at home that's only slightly better than what the Saints trot out. I love where he sits from a pricing standpoint. (FanDuel: $7600; DraftKings: $6100)
Kirk Cousins, Redskins (at Eagles) – The red-hot Cousins is sitting at $7500 on FanDuel and $5500 on DraftKings and makes for a great play in Philadelphia. The Redskins are sitting atop the NFC East and can secure the division title with a win. While Washington has been a much better team at home than on the road, it did pick up a road win in Chicago a couple weeks ago, and there's a too lot at stake here to roll over and not show up. Not to mention, the Eagles' pass defense is one that has been torched all year.
Running back
James White, Patriots (at Jets) – White has been the half-point PPR RB8 since Week 11, scoring more 12 points in four of his last five games. He has been receiving much praise from the Patriots' coaching staff and has a defined role. Because he's so reception heavy compared to a normal running back, I like him more on DraftKings ($4700) than FanDuel ($6600), but either way, he's a value. Add that to the fact that the Patriots' leading rusher the last time they played the Jets,was Tom Brady with 15 yards, this is a game that sets up perfectly for White. The Patriots are known to avoid running against top defensive front sevens and go pass happy.
Cameron Artis-Payne, Panthers (at Falcons) – At $5600 on FanDuel and $4300 on DraftKings, Artis-Payne makes for a good "punt play" at the running back position. While Fozzy Whittaker was the starter by name last week, it was Artis-Payne who led the Panthers backfield in snaps (40 percent), touches (16) and total yards (93). Up next for the undefeated Panthers are the lowly Atlanta Falcons, the same team Carolina beat 38-0 a couple of weeks ago. The Panthers can secure the top seed in the NFC with a win. Watch for any word on Jonathan Stewart, but this early in the week, it isn't looking good for him to suit up. Also, Atlanta has a poor run defense.
Receiver
Willie Snead, Saints (vs Jaguars) – Snead's finally heathy again, and the Saints pass offense is moving right along in the Superdome. Despite a rough first half Monday, Drew Brees still threw for 341 yards and three scores. A bad Jaguars secondary is up next, and Snead has been on fire over his last two starts. He has seen 20 targets and has corralled 17 of them for 198 yards in that span. He was close to scoring on a couple occasions, too. Given his price tag and matchup, Snead makes for a great WR3. (FD: $6000; DK: $4500)
Reuben Randle, Giants (at Vikings) – Everything here's about the suspension of Odell Beckham Jr. and the forced targets that should come Randle's way. He has a solid matchup against a Vikings secondary that has been struggling and a defense that has been dealing with major injuries to starters. While Randle only has more than 50 yards in four games since Week 3 (his highest being 68), he does have four touchdowns in his last six games. There's value as a WR3 here. (FD: $5700; DK: $3500)
Tight end
Will Tye, Giants (at Vikings) – Once again, we will dip back into the well of Beckham's suspension. Since Larry Donnell went down with injury, Tye has averaged 6.4 targets per game and 54.6 receiving yards per game. He has added two touchdowns in the past two weeks to those numbers and will once again be a good pass and red-zone option for Eli Manning this week. The Giants are playing for their playoff lives, and the Vikings have been allowing 54.3 yards per game to opposing tight ends and ranked 24th in Football Outsider DVOA through Week 14. Tye presents good upside and value at his price point of $5100 on FanDuel and $3500 on DraftKings.
Zach Ertz, Eagles (vs. Redskins) – The Redskins haven't been good against the tight end this year, and Ertz has been heating up as one of the primary options in the Eagles' passing game of late. Ertz has 24 targets in the last three weeks with two touchdowns, 15 receptions and 185 yards receiving. At prices of $5000 on FanDuel and $3100 on DraftKings, Ertz provides salary relief and upside. This is a divisional game that means an NFC East title for the Redskins if they win and playoff elimination for the Eagles if they lose.
Others considered: Tyrod Taylor, Teddy Bridgewater, Karlos Williams, Bilal Powell, Danny Woodhead, Dwayne Harris, Markus Wheaton, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Kyle Rudolph.
Jack Thomason is 670 The Score's fantasy football expert and co-host of "Chicago's Fantasy Football Today," which can be heard every Sunday during football season from 8-9 a.m. CT on WSCR-670 and 670thescore.com/listen. Follow him on Twitter@jthomason77and feel free to ask fantasy questions.
