My Draft Kings NFL Lineups for Week 8

Always check back at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday for any last minute changes.

Safe Lineups (50/50s)

Pos	Player	Opp	Salary
QB	Andy Dalton	Cin@Pit	$6,000
RB	Matt Forte	Min@Chi	$7,300
RB	Mark Ingram	NYG@NO	$6,400
WR	Brandin Cooks	NYG@NO	$5,400
WR	Stefon Diggs	Min@Chi	$4,800
WR	A.J. Green	Cin@Pit	$7,600
TE	M. Bennett	Min@Chi	$4,900
FLEX	Duke Johnson Jr.	Ari@Cle	$4,200
DST	Falcons	TB@Atl	$3,400

Don’t love the road game but Dalton and Green should have great games against the Steelers’ D and its struggles against the pass.  Forte contiues to quietly be one of the best backs in the league and have to love him after the bye and at home.  Ingram and Cooks should also flourish at homes.  The Giants D has been better than most expected but the Saints seem to be getting things right.

Diggs has been rolling and he should have a good day against the terrible Bears’ D.  He’s showing more and more talent every week and worth starting in all leagues at this point.  Bennett is scary since he tends to get worse later in the season but the match up is worth the risk.  Johnson should get plenty of time as the passing downs back in what I expect will be a blowout by the Cardinals.  And the Falcons are at home against a rookie QB in a game they should win handily.  I’ll take my chances they get a pick-6 here.

Swing for the Fences Lineup

Pos	Player	Opp	Salary
QB	Cam Newton	Ind@Car	$6,800
RB	Justin Forsett	SD@Bal	$6,100
RB	Todd Gurley	SF@StL	$6,300
WR	John Brown Q	Ari@Cle	$5,800
WR	Calvin Johnson P	Det@KC	$7,900
WR	Mike Wallace	Min@Chi	$4,200
TE	Greg Olsen	Ind@Car	$6,500
FLEX	Stevie Johnson	SD@Bal	$3,200
DST	Rams	SF@StL	$3,200

Newton and Olsen should continue their good seasons at home against an Indy D that I don’t think is particularly good against anything.  Forsett and Gurley both get home games against struggling teams that are making the long trek east.  Brown should benefit from being the guy not covered by Haden in Cleveland and have a huge PPR game.

Calvin Johnson has been playing great lately and should go off against a terrible KC passing D.  Wallace has played well and might have a huge game if too much attention goes Diggs’ way.  Stevie Johnson is a quality cheap play against a Baltimore team that is awful against WRs.  And the Rams get the struggling 49ers offense who look as bad as any in the league at the moment.

My Draft Kings NFL Week 7 Lineups

Always check back at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday for any last minute changes.

Update: The injuries to Brown and Gates have me worried and they are late games.  Have to make the change.  Switching those two and Washington D out for Landry, Walker, and NYG.

Rough week last week as most of my picks played well but pretty much none went off enough to make the lineups very viable.  Nearly made a lineup combo-ing Hoyer and Hopkins but shied away from it.  Huge mistake on my part.  Whining over.  Let’s pick ’em!

Safe Lineups (50/50s)

Pos	Player	Opp	Salary
QB	Carson Palmer	Bal@Ari	$6,700
RB	LeSean McCoy P	Buf@Jax	$5,500
RB	Lamar Miller	Hou@Mia	$4,600
WR	Larry Fitzgerald P	Bal@Ari	$7,400
WR	Vincent Jackson	TB@Was	$5,300
WR	Jarvis Landry	Hou@Mia	$6,200
TE	Travis Kelce P	Pit@KC	$4,900
FLEX	Mark Ingram	NO@Ind	$6,300
DST	Bills	Buf@Jax	$3,100

Palmer to Fitzgerald should torched the Ravens who have been getting blown away by the pass all season.  McCoy is healthy (for now) and will be a work horse while he’s in there.  Miller might finally be getting the ball like he should and will be a stud as long as that happens.

Jackson seems to be his QB’s favorite target and has looked great this season.  He gets a Washington team that can rush the passer but can’t cover anything.  Landry has been a stud in PPR formats all season and no reason to go away from him.  Kelce should have a great game against a Pitt team that has been awful against TEs.  Love Ingram as the flex as the Saints offense seems to be coming around now.  And the Bills should level the Jags offense this week.  That game might be ugly.

Swing for the Fences Lineup

Pos	Player	Opp	Salary
QB	Andrew Luck P	NO@Ind	$7,600	swap out
RB	Todd Gurley	Cle@StL	$5,000	swap out
RB	DeMarco Murray	Phi@Car	$6,400	swap out
WR	John Brown Q	Bal@Ari	$5,500	swap out
WR	Allen Hurns P	Buf@Jax	$5,300	swap out
WR	Donte Moncrief	NO@Ind	$5,200	swap out
TE	Antonio Gates Q	Oak@SD	$5,000	swap out
FLEX	Arian Foster P	Hou@Mia	$7,500	swap out
DST	Redskins	TB@Was	$2,500

Luck to Moncrief looks like a strong combo as their offense seems to be getting things right now.  They could get in a shootout with the Saints and put up a huge day.  Gurley will be in a ton of lineups at his price but he seems worth it.  The Browns got trampled last week and no reason to think they’ll stop Gurley.  Murray is starting to live up to his hype and should get plenty of touches and put up good numbers even in a road game at Carolina.

Brown should continue his hot play against a Ravens team that has been torched by the pass all season.  #2s have done well against the Bills (think Jones last week) and Hurns should get his this week.  Gates has looked vintage in his return to the lineup and now gets an Oakland team that has mostly been atrocious against TEs.  Foster is a little scary against a revived Miami D but he should do plenty of damage as a receiver even if the ground and pound isn’t working.  And Washington‘s excellent pass rush might have its way with Winston this week and end up with a sneaky good fantasy game.

My Draft Kings NFL Week 6 Lineups

Always check back at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday for any last minute changes.

A quick apology is due.  For the first time ever, I called a player the safest play of the week and also said I was probably putting the hex on that player by doing so.  I’m sorry to all Jamaal Charles owners for that one.  My bad.

A lot of players I like are on the road this week so I’m a little apprehensive about that.  Just have to avoid the injury bug.  Bit me hard last week.  Let’s draft!

Safe Lineups (50/50s)

Pos	Player	Opp	Salary
QB	Andy Dalton	Cin@Buf	$5,700
RB	Matt Forte	Chi@Det	$7,100
RB	C. West	KC@Min	$4,000
WR	A.J. Green	Cin@Buf	$7,600
WR	Allen Hurns P	Hou@Jax	$5,000
WR	Jarvis Landry	Mia@Ten	$6,200
TE	Tyler Eifert	Cin@Buf	$4,900
FLEX	Eddie Lacy	SD@GB	$6,300
DST	Packers	SD@GB	$3,200

Despite being the “safe” category, definitely some scary plays here.  Dalton, Green, and Eifert are at a Buffalo team that hasn’t been stopping the pass all that well this season.  I liked Bennett better than Eifert until his injury status popped up.  Forte continues to be one of the best in the league and should do fine against a struggling Lions’ D.  Really liked what I saw in West last week and think he’ll be the play despite Davis’ talent.  Have to roll with him and his value in a PPR format.

Hurns continues to burn it up and might be in for another big game if Joseph is covering Robinson well.  I’m not going away from Landry in a PPR format unless he stops being great, regardless of the match up.  Lacy has been a disappointment but I still think he’ll bust out a big game at some point and the match up at home is a good one.  And the Packers‘ D has been so good this season that I’d take them at home against virtually anyone.

QB	Tom Brady	NE@Ind	$8,100
RB	Arian Foster P	Hou@Jax	$7,000
RB	DeMarco Murray	NYG@Phi	$6,000
WR	Kamar Aiken	Bal@SF	$4,300
WR	Julian Edelman	NE@Ind	$7,600
WR	Emmanuel Sanders	Den@Cle	$7,500
TE	Richard Rodgers	SD@GB	$3,100
FLEX	Shane Vereen	NYG@Phi	$4,200
DST	49ers	Bal@SF	$2,100

Brady continues to dominate and the combo with Edelman looks like an awesome play every week right now.  Foster gets a Jaguars D that Doug Martin just trounced.  Murray and the Eagles may have finally turned a corner and could be on their way to being the fantasy stars many expected.  Aiken looks like he could hit a home run every game and this week looks like a great chance for that.  I have to believe Flacco will take a few shots deep to him against the Niners as they should stuff the banged-up Ravens’ run game.

Sanders might continue his great play with Haden likely covering Thomas, opening up things for Denver’s #2 even more than usual.  Rodgers is TD-dependent but this looks like a week he could get one as the Chargers’ D against WRs has been solid.  He should get a few red zone looks in this one.  Vereen looked fantastic last week and no reason to believe the Giants stop going to him in the passing game.  This becomes a great value play if Beckham can’t go Monday night.  And the 49ers have been strong at home this season, only giving up a total of 20 points in two games including one against the Packers.  Now they get a Ravens team that has a ton of injuries to their starting skill players.  I’ll take that cheap gamble as they are the lowest priced D on Draft Kings this week.

Swing for the Fences Lineup

Pos	Player	Opp	Salary
QB	Tom Brady	NE@Ind	$8,100
RB	Duke Johnson Jr.	Den@Cle	$4,500
RB	Dion Lewis Q	NE@Ind	$5,800
WR	Julian Edelman	NE@Ind	$7,600
WR	Allen Hurns P	Hou@Jax	$5,000
WR	Brandon Marshall	Was@NYJ	$7,100
TE	Jordan Cameron	Mia@Ten	$3,000
FLEX	DeMarco Murray	NYG@Phi	$6,000
DST	Vikings	KC@Min	$2,900

Johnson looks risky against a studly Broncos’ D but he’s been so good in the passing game that he’s a play in PPR.  Whether the Browns continue their recent aerial success or the Broncos’ offense comes alive and blows them out, Duke should get his production either way.  Lewis has been too good in PPR as well.  No reason to go away from him yet.  Marshall has looked as good as he has ever been and gets a bad Washington defensive backfield after his bye week.  I’ll take that match up.  Cameron is a gut feeling in all honesty.  I just think, with the changes in Miami, they might get conservative and build confidence this week with a ton of short stuff.  Cameron might get some more volume this week than people expect.  And the Vikings‘ D has also played well at home and they get the now Charles-less Chiefs offense.  KC still has plenty of weapons I like but Minnesota might hold the score down on them this week.

My Draft Kings NFL Week 5 Lineups

Always check back at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday for any last minute changes.

Update: Lineup 2, Jackson and the Falcons have been exchanged for Benjamin and the Broncos.  Just like Denver and their match up a lot better.  They are worth the change.

Don’t love many RB match ups this week outside of the top guys.  My lineups will reflect that.  Let’s draft!

Safe Lineups (50/50s)

Pos	Player	Opp	Salary
QB	Eli Manning	SF@NYG	$6,800
RB	Le’Veon Bell	Pit@SD	$8,500
RB	Jamaal Charles	Chi@KC	$7,800
WR	O. Beckham Jr.	SF@NYG	$9,000
WR	L. Hankerson P	Was@Atl	$4,000
WR	Allen Hurns P	Jax@TB	$4,500
TE	Owen Daniels P	Den@Oak	$2,700
FLEX	Delanie Walker	Buf@Ten	$3,800
DST	Giants	SF@NYG	$2,900

Manning to Beckham should be a nice combo against a 49ers D that is showing the wear and tear of a brutal off-season.  Bell should be solid every week but we might have to temper expectations until Big Ben gets back.  Charles should do it all at home against the Bears.  No reason he shouldn’t go off this week.  Probably cursing myself but he looks like one of the safest plays of the week.

Hankerson and the Falcons should dominate the terrible Washington passing D.  Hurns has been great lately and no reason to think the Bucs will slow him down.  Oakland has been a red carpet for TEs this season so Daniels is worth the cheap-ish gamble.  Walker should be fine at home against the constant blitz of the Bills.  I expect Mariota to try to find him quickly for a lot of short stuff.  And the Giants should win their game and have the 49ers playing from behind.  I’ll take my chances on them in that scenario.

Pos	Player	Opp	Salary
QB	Matt Ryan	Was@Atl	$6,700
RB	Dion Lewis	NE@Dal	$4,800
RB	Joseph Randle	NE@Dal	$6,000
WR	Vincent Jackson	Jax@TB	$5,000
WR	Julio Jones Q	Was@Atl	$9,200
WR	Allen Robinson	Jax@TB	$5,500
TE	Delanie Walker	Buf@Ten	$3,800
FLEX	Justin Forsett	Cle@Bal	$5,800
DST	Falcons	Was@Atl	$3,200

I already mentioned how I like the Falcons passing attack this week so Ryan to Jones should be a good combo.  Lewis hasn’t been stopped yet and no reason to think he won’t get his against the Cowboys.  Randle should get a ton of work with Dunbar now out.  The match up looks a little bad but the volume should be there and I would think Dallas will try to slow the game down with him behind their O line.

Winston only had eyes for Jackson last week and I think that continues.  Starting to wonder if Evans is 100%…  Gambling with Robinson in a lineup as well this week.  Better match up for him and I think he goes off against the Bucs.  Forsett should catch a ball or a few this week so he’ll be fine.  And if the Falcons get up early, I’ll take them at home against Cousins being forced to throw any week.

Swing for the Fences Lineup

Pos	Player	Opp	Salary
QB	Sam Bradford	NO@Phi	$6,000
RB	Jamaal Charles	Chi@KC	$7,800
RB	Danny Woodhead	Pit@SD	$4,600
WR	O. Beckham Jr.	SF@NYG	$9,000
WR	Jordan Matthews	NO@Phi	$6,400
WR	Willie Snead	NO@Phi	$3,000
TE	Owen Daniels P	Den@Oak	$2,700
FLEX	Rob Gronkowski	NE@Dal	$7,500
DST	Chiefs	Chi@KC	$2,800

Bradford to Matthews will either payoff great this week or we won’t be starting them again for the rest of the season.  It’s do-or-die time for the Eagles O.  Woodhead looks like a great play against a Steelers team that hasn’t been great against receiving RBs.  Snead probably won’t be this cheap again so enjoy it one last week.  He looks legit to me and might already be the #2 target in New Orleans.  In fact, if you’re in a seasonal league with a FAB and he’s still available, worth it to get him now before you have to really pay.  Gronk…does he need an explanation?  Ever?  And the Chiefs at home against Cutler who might not have his top 2 WRs?  Yes, please.

My Draft Kings NFL Week 4 Lineups

Always check back at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday for any last minute changes.

Last week was good but not great to me again so I can’t complain.  Going to start including two lineups in the safe category just to expand the options a bit.  There will still be carryover many times but some match ups are too juicy to pass on.  Let’s draft!

Safe Lineups (50/50s)

Pos	Player	Opp	Salary
QB	Aaron Rodgers	GB@SF	$7,900
RB	Lance Dunbar	Dal@NO	$3,600
RB	Karlos Williams	NYG@Buf	$3,400
WR	O. Beckham Jr.	NYG@Buf	$9,100
WR	Randall Cobb P	GB@SF	$7,400
WR	Marvin Jones	KC@Cin	$3,800
TE	M. Bennett	Oak@Chi	$4,500
FLEX	Jamaal Charles	KC@Cin	$7,600
DST	Eagles	Phi@Was	$2,700

The 49ers are showing the wear-and-tear of a brutal off-season so the Rodgers/Cobb combo looks good this week, as it usually does.  Dunbar has been quietly great as a PPR play and, with McCoy out, Williams is far too good a cheap option to pass on.  He’ll be in a ton of lineups but worth having for the cash plays.

Beckham gets a Bills team that has been surprisingly terrible against the pass this season.  I’ll keep riding Jones until he burns me as a cheap option at this point.  Bennett should probably be in every lineup as the Raiders have been a red carpet for TEs so far.  Charles is a little scary at Cincy but he’s been so good, you just can’t be that fearful.  And I’ll take my chances against Cousins any week.  The Eagles should be strong despite the road game.

Pos	Player	Opp	Salary
QB	Andy Dalton	KC@Cin	$5,900
RB	Joseph Randle	Dal@NO	$5,500
RB	Karlos Williams	NYG@Buf	$3,400
WR	Amari Cooper	Oak@Chi	$6,300
WR	Mike Evans	Car@TB	$6,400
WR	A.J. Green	KC@Cin	$7,600
TE	M. Bennett	Oak@Chi	$4,500
FLEX	Jamaal Charles	KC@Cin	$7,600
DST	Chargers	Cle@SD	$2,800

Dalton gets a lot of hate but, as long as his main three targets are healthy, I’ll take him most of the time considering the price.  The combo with Green should be very good at home this week.  I’ll also continue riding Randle at his price until he proves me wrong.

Cooper is an absolute stud and is gets a Bears’ D that can’t stop a college offense.  Evans put up good numbers in his return as a non-decoy last week but dropped some passes that could have led to a monster game.  I think he gets even more right this week and stays strong.  And the Chargers haven’t been a good fantasy D so far but a good remedy for that is a home game against the Browns.  I’ll take ’em expecting them to win in a blowout and forcing McCown to throw a pick-six their way.

Swing for the Fences Lineup

Pos	Player	Opp	Salary
QB	Derek Carr	Oak@Chi	$5,300
RB	Matt Forte	Oak@Chi	$7,100
RB	Thomas Rawls	Det@Sea	$3,000
WR	Amari Cooper	Oak@Chi	$6,300
WR	Allen Hurns P	Jax@Ind	$3,900
WR	Julio Jones P	Hou@Atl	$9,300
TE	Jared Cook	StL@Ari	$3,000
FLEX	O. Beckham Jr.	NYG@Buf	$9,100
DST	Bills	NYG@Buf	$3,000

Bears/Raiders actually looks like a shootout and the Carr/Cooper combo might pay off big.  Forte uncharacteristically didn’t catch a pass last week but he should be a strong play this week.  Rawls should feast on a Levy-less Lions D if Lynch doesn’t play.  This will have to be changed to Riddick or Jackson if Lynch goes.

Hurns could be in for a monster if Davis is locked on Robinson.  Jones…what needs to be said anymore?  Cook plays a Cards team that is usually weak against the TE and the Rams should be playing from behind all game.  The Bills should be playing with a lead and could blitz Manning to death leading to a potentially big game at home.

My Draft Kings NFL Week 3 Lineups

Always check back at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday for any last minute changes.

Couldn’t get back to edit my lineups in the post last week as an emergency in the Last Minute household took precedent.  Ultimately, I cashed on my swing for the fences lineup and was let down, like many, by the New Orleans stinker in the other.  As for this week, I’m loving some match ups maybe a little too much.  Really like both lineups.  Let’s take a look at ’em.

Safe Lineup (50/50s)

Pos	Player	Opp	Salary
QB	Peyton Manning P	Den@Det	$7,400
RB	Isaiah Crowell	Oak@Cle	$4,500
RB	Joseph Randle	Atl@Dal	$5,100
WR	Randall Cobb P	KC@GB	$7,300
WR	A.J. Green P	Cin@Bal	$7,200
WR	Demaryius Thomas	Den@Det	$8,000
TE	Heath Miller	Pit@StL	$3,500
FLEX	Marvin Jones	Cin@Bal	$3,600
DST	Patriots	Jax@NE	$3,100

Manning has been getting a lot of criticism but I just haven’t seen the reason for most of it.  His line has some issues but those will get worked out.  He and Thomas should be great against the terrible pass D of the Lions.  Crowell has looked really good and should crush the Raiders.  Randle may benefit from all of the injuries to the passing attack of the Cowboys and get fed a ton in this game.  Scary match up to some extent but he should be a nice value for the price.

Cobb, Green, and Jones all should get plenty of throws in games that could turn into shootouts.  Big Ben might be looking often for Miller as the Rams D line will be coming quick.  And the Pats will probably be playing with a lead so a pick-6 against Bortles might be a lock.

Swing for the Fences Lineup

Pos	Player	Opp	Salary
QB	Cam Newton	NO@Car	$6,800
RB	Joseph Randle	Atl@Dal	$5,100
RB	T.J. Yeldon	Jax@NE	$4,400
WR	Jarvis Landry	Buf@Mia	$6,400
WR	Brandon Marshall	Phi@NYJ	$6,200
WR	Jordan Matthews	Phi@NYJ	$6,900
TE	Greg Olsen	NO@Car	$4,800
FLEX	C.J. Anderson P	Den@Det	$6,200
DST	Broncos	Den@Det	$3,000

Newton put up good numbers last week and should be able to repeat against a Saints D that hasn’t stopped anything this season (and not much last season).  Yeldon should get a ton of work against an awful Patriots run D.  Just have to hope to game stays close for a little while.  Landry has been a stud in PPR and no reason to think that changes this week against a Bills D that is stout against the run and should force Miami to throw often.

Marshall has looked great and Philly can’t cover anything that moves.  Matthews shouldn’t get Revis and that should mean he’ll continue his hot start to the season.  Olsen is the only consistent target Cam has right now and, I repeat, they are playing the Saints.  Anderson has his doubters but he’s going to get hot sooner rather than later and I think it happens this week in Detroit.  And the Broncos D will have a field day with Stafford if they get a lead and get to pin their ears back with the heavy blitzing.