Steezy A. Smith is a Sports Journalist who has been covering the Seattle Seahawks for the last couple of years. In addition, Mr. Smith has been playing fantasy football since before he was even a teenager. His real name is Calvin Domingo & he currently resides in Seattle, Washington.
For all of his work, check him out on YouTube & follow him on Instagram & X @steezyasmith
6 sneaky additions that could creep up in value
Apparently, only Chiefs WR Rashee Rice got the memo after I listed him as one of my ‘bargain bin’ guys last week; as for the others?
Let’s not speak on that.
Thankfully, it’s a new week - which means a new slate of players that can be had at cheaper than usual prices — and no bye weeks!
Week 8, here we go baby (all salaries courtesy of FanDuel).
Coming off two straight weeks in which he’s attempted 50+ passes and passed for over 300+ yards in each of those games, Derek Carr has had a lot on his plate.
From a fantasy perspective, that has also coincided with his two best performances to date, scoring 17+ points in back-to-back weeks (standard PPR scoring leagues).
While the stat-stuffing hasn’t helped the Saints pick up dubs in the last two weeks, Carr’s Week 8 matchup is salivating on paper.
Enter the Indianapolis Colts, who have given up a WHOPPING 75 points combined in the last two weeks. To add injury to insult, starting rookie CB Juju Brents is expected to miss over a week due to a quadriceps injury he sustained last week, rendering an already suspect defense that much more vulnerable.
While the status of WR Chris Olave’s availability is unknown at this juncture, Carr will still have Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara to work with, not to mention Tayson Hill - who has 11 receptions for 99 receiving yards in the last two weeks (on 13 targets).
Given the plethora of weapons at his disposal, start Carr with confidence in Week 8.
It’s not every week that Gus Edwards will total 80 receiving yards for both fantasy owners and the Baltimore Ravens (albeit on one catch against Detroit last week), but it’s also not every week that Edwards will go up against the Arizona Cardinals defense - hence why he’s my bargain of bargains at the running back position.
On the season, the Cardinals are allowing the 4th-most fantasy points to opposing RB’s, and if that wasn’t enough to get you hyped up about starting Edwards in fantasy, a positive game script should be.
As 8-point favorites (at the time of this writing), Edwards should also receive plenty of opportunities to score, as he’s also Baltimore’s preferred goal-line back (not including Lamar Jackson).
Here’s a fun stat for you: (shoutout to Lawrence Jackson of NBC Sports for this one)
The Cardinals have allowed at least 100 rushing yards to the opposing team’s lead back in four of their last five games.
If all goes according to plan and Baltimore is beating the same brakes off the Cardinals as they did the Lions last week, Edwards should FEAST in Week 8.
Another bargain play, another New Orleans Saint sighting (I also thought long and hard about Taysom Hill, so any Saints fan reading this - you’re welcome).
Needless to say, if you’re looking for a sneaky snack (particularly in DFS) this week, look no further than the tandem of Derek Carr and not Chris Olave, but Michael Thomas.
A true model of consistency, Thomas has yet to score below 9.3 fantasy points in any game this season, and we’re already almost eight weeks in.
Like I mentioned above with Derek Carr, the Colts defense is RIPE for strong performances from Saints skill position players, as they have been giving up points GALORE in the last two weeks.
If the Colts two-headed monster at RB in Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss can keep the Saints defense on their heels, we could have an under-the-radar shootout on our hands in Week 8 between these two teams (ala Cleveland and Indiana last week)
As I always say, chase those players, chase those matchups, and chase those points because everyone eats!
How the mighty have fallen…. (cue the sad war music)
Just kidding.
Can we all cut Calvin Ridley some slack??? I get it, WR37 on the season and an average of 10.97 points per game simply is not going to cut it, especially for those that drafted Ridley to be their fantasy squad’s WR1.
I spoke to Jaguars Beat Reporter (Sports Illustrated) John Shipley recently and he essentially attributed Ridley’s struggles to a few things:
(among other things)
Shipley also told me that he expects Ridley to start turning it up for the Jaguars come playoff time, which doesn’t do fantasy owners any favors I know. But if he’s going to pop off BEFORE the NFL postseason, it’ll be in Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Yes, they deserve some credit for holding Cooper Kupp to 2 receptions and 29 yards last week, but Puka Nacua went NUCLEAR with 8 receptions for 154 yards (on 12 targets).
The Steelers have also had a tendency to give up big plays and are allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.
If you’ve been patient with Ridley, now’s the time to unleash him.
Quietly becoming one of Justin Herbert’s favorite targets in the red zone, Gerald Everett has back-to-back weeks having scored a TD.
Against a team in the Bears (who are giving up the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends), Everett should be able to produce for the Chargers, who are DESPERATE for a win (they’ve lost three of their last five games).
Given the shallow nature of the tight end position, Everett might not be the sexiest option, but give me the starting tight end for a high-octane offense vs a young defense any week.
After a month of little-to-no-use in the passing game, Rhamondre Stevenson has back-to-back weeks with 5+ receptions and 6+ targets.
When he’s getting the ball, that usually means good things for the Patriots and their offense.
Given that his Patriots are the biggest underdogs of the Week 8 slate (according to DraftKings betting odds) at (+9.5), we might find the Patriots passing the ball a lot more than we’re accustomed to if they’re going to keep up with the Dolphins and their high-octane passing attack.
Sure, Ezekiel Elliot will continue to be sprinkled into the game plan as the team’s goal-line back, but just how often will the Patriots find themselves in that position?
You’re better off banking on the guy who's the primary pass-catcher in a matchup that could get out of hand in a jiffy in Stevenson.
Five bargains week 7 DFS
Steezy A’s Week 7 Bargain Bin (DFS)
Let’s just say last week didn’t go as planned… but blame it on Geno Smith, James Cook, K.J. Osborn, and Logan Thomas - or blame it on me if you want.
You know what? There’s enough blame pie for everybody, blame it on all of us!
I’m not entirely sure what my hit rate is this season as far as my ‘bargain bin’ plays for you guys, but I’m thinking I’ve missed more shots than I’ve made at this point. But hey - shooters gon shoot and that’s the world of fantasy for ya.
Nevertheless, I’m back and feeling better than ever, bring it on Week 7! (all salaries are courtesy of DraftKings)
QB: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers ($5,500, QB17 at cost)
I found this purdy interesting (pun intended), but on DraftKings, there’s only three QB’s with an ownership percentage north of 10 percent.
You have your usual suspects in Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, and then you have Brock Purdy!
Perhaps DraftKings is doubtful about the status of San Fran’s injured stars in Christian McCaffrey (oblique/hip), Trent Williams (ankle), and Deebo Samuel (shoulder) and whether or not they all actually play on ‘Monday Night Football’ on the road against the Minnesota Vikings, but are we going to act like Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Kyle Shanahan don’t exist???? Oh, and Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell make for great depth and would make a lot of teams envious given the plethora of running back injuries across the league.
Yes, the Niners are coming off a tough loss in Cleveland to the Browns, but the Vikings defense is in another stratosphere in comparison to the Browns defense, and I mean that in a bad way.
Purdy was in the top 5 in a lot of people’s MVP ballots and after one bad week against arguably a top 3 defense in the NFL in inclement weather, all of the naysayers are quick to slander his name?
At QB17 as far as cost, I don’t think you can find any more value at the QB position in Week 7 than Purdy, who should easily finish as a top 10 QB this week (especially when you take into account the fact that six teams are on bye).
And did I forget to mention that the Vikings allow the 9th most fantasy points to opposing QB’s?
Fire up the Purdy train!
RB: Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers ($5,300, RB23 at cost)
As a guy who was raised in the Seattle area all my life, it’s essentially taboo to heap praise or even speak of the San Francisco 49ers in a positive light, and yet here I am recommending two straight 49ers players.
Forgive me 12s, I’m just trying to do my job!
Whether or not Christian McCaffrey ultimately plays, Mason is still an intriguing start in DFS.
While he’s listed behind Elijah Mitchell on the depth chart, he’s vastly outperformed his counterpart, has scored in two straight games, is averaging almost double the yards per carry Mitchell is on the season, and is averaging just south of 6 yards per carry.
Given all of the injuries at RB across the league, the pickings are going to be slim this week, especially when you also consider the fact that they’re six teams on bye.
Given SF’s propensity to turn RB’s into stars within their system, Mason is a good bet to keep that train going.
WR: Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks ($6,000, WR21 at cost)
17.7, 3.7, 26.8, 15.5, 21.7, and 53.
Those are the amount of fantasy points that Tyler Lockett has scored in his last six meetings with the Arizona Cardinals.
WOW.
If anything, the Cardinals defense has only regressed since the last time Lockett played against this team, and it doesn’t help that they’re giving up the 7th-most fantasy points (on average) to opposing wide receivers this season.
Coming off a tough loss to the Bengals in which the offense was only able to muster a measly 13 points, the Seahawks offense is due and the Arizona Cardinals are in line to pay that bill.
Not to mention, the Cardinals have been a punching bag this season for teams looking to bounce back, just ask the Bengals.
WR: Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs ($4,700, WR38 at cost)
I’m going to do something I’ve never done before, and that's to include the same player in the same article two weeks in a row.
If you were paying attention to last week’s column, I did however have Rashee Rice penciled in as my ‘flex’ player of the week, meaning he’s eligible for this week’s article as one of my designated WR’s.
Logistics over his placement aside, there were reports earlier today from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that “Rice's profile could continue to grow in the Chiefs' offense coming out of Thursday's night's win over Denver.”
Rice went from being outside of the top 50 at WR last week to now being penciled in as a top-40 play at his position, but I still view him as underrated and an absolute bargain in DFS given the matchup, his rapidly developing trust from Patrick Mahomes, and the potential for a shootout.
How about this for a stat:
Entering Week 7, the Chargers are allowing opposing wide receivers to score an average of 45.3 fantasy points…
Do with that what you will.
TE: Jonnu Smith, Atlanta Falcons ($3,600, TE16 at cost)
Talk about a revelation at the tight end position!
Jonnu Smith hasn’t been fantasy-relevant since 2020 when he was with the Titans, and fast forward three years later - who would have known that he’d currently be a top 10 tight end in ALL OF FANTASY.
The familiarity with HC Arthur Smith and his system helps tremendously, but it also helps that Smith has uber-talented pass catchers alongside of him in Kyle Pitts and Drake London to take attention away from Smith, who hasn’t scored under 8 fantasy points since Week 1.
Not only does Smith have a steady floor, he’s also seen six or more targets in 4 of 6 games so far this season.
Statistically, the matchup isn’t there for Smith, as the Buccaneers allow an average of just under 10 fantasy points to opposing tight ends, good for 11th in the league as far as least amount allowed.
However, no one outside of the Falcons saw this sort of season coming, so who's to say he can’t continue to defy expectations?
FLEX: Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders ($4,000, WR47 at cost)
Going into the season, the consensus was that second-year WR Jahan Dotson was going to be the clear-cut No. 2 receiving option behind Terry McLaurin in Washington given the potential he flashed in his rookie season.
Entering Week 7, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Enter Curtis Samuel, who is not only the clear-cut No. 2 in D.C, but he also happens to be sitting at WR25 (standard PPR scoring) and is a top 75 player in fantasy right now (No. 66 overall).
Having scored 14+ fantasy points in each of the last three weeks, Samuel also only has 1 game this season with under 40 receiving yards. Talk about consistency!
In addition, the Giants give up the 13th most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and they still have to stop Terry McLaurin.
I absolutely LOVE Samuel this week, particularly in DFS as the value is too crazy to pass up. Barely inside the top 50 when he’s a top 70 player in ALL OF FANTASY at this point of the season?
The disrespect.
Steezy A. gives you his fades for Week 6
I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m really starting to believe that a few of my weekly readers include the very players I write about.
They say to treat your wins like your losses - it’s all temporary! Now let’s forge ahead and fade ‘em up - Steezy A style (all salaries courtesy of FanDuel).
Anytime a rookie QB is missing one of his more explosive playmakers (Tank Dell is out with a concussion) against one of best defenses in the NFL, you question whether or not he’ll be able to put up the requisite numbers necessary to make a dent in fantasy lineups.
In week 6, the rookie sensation is set to go up against a defense that ranks fifth in the NFL with the fewest points allowed, at 15.2 and rank in the top 5/10 in a bunch of other categories.
While Stroud is well ahead of schedule in his development, it won’t look that way against the Saints, who have made every QB that they have played against this season look below average (with the exception of Baker Mayfield).
One more thing to note: the Saints defense has only allowed one team to score north of 20 points this season, which means that Texans fans and players alike are going to be in for a really long Sunday.
Fade Stroud this week, but don’t expect to see him in this column a lot moving forward.
Zack Moss has been on a TEAR ever since entering the lineup in Week 2, but will that continue the more Jonathan Taylor gets acclimated with each passing day?
Not to mention, while the Jaguars defense hasn’t been a world-beater this season, they do rank fifth in the NFL with the fewest rushing yards allowed per game, at 81.6.
While Moss has surprised us with his contributions in the pass game, expect Taylor to soak up some of those targets as he’s an underrated pass catcher in his own right.
At RB11, that’s too high of a cost for a guy who's expected to split more of the workload with his backfield mate.
Moss can still have a solid fantasy day, but finishing as a borderline RB1 play?
I don’t see it.
Statistically speaking, the Seahawks defense against the pass hasn’t been pretty this season.
However, once you sprinkle in a little bit of context, you begin to understand why the pass defense statistics look as bad as they do.
Now, by no means am I arguing that the Seahawks secondary is elite, but they have yet to operate any game this season at full health. Against Cincinnati, the secondary will be the healthiest it's been all season long with safety Jamal Adams and CB Tre Brown both set to make their returns from concussions.
Not only that, but reports are that Higgins could be dealing with his rib injury for the rest of the season, which could mean that Cincinnati could look to lessen his workload just a little bit (remember, he’s looking to get PAID so I have a hard time believing that’ll he jeopardize his ability to do just that throughout the course of this season).
In what could be a potential shootout for the Seahawks, you are taking a risk with fading Higgins here. At the same time, he’s a game-time decision himself so there’s a chance he doesn’t even play. As we’ve seen in the past, Higgins has been active for games in which he barely even saw the field, which could also play a factor here in Week 6.
Given all of that uncertainty, you’re better off starting someone else at WR this week.
As tough as it is to fade a player who just scored nearly 30 points in fantasy last week (on three receptions, mind you), we operate off of logic and not emotions here in this column.
That 27.7 point-performance aside, George Kittle only has one other double-digit performance in fantasy this season, and that came against a horrid Giants defense.
On the season (out of 5 games played so far), Kittle has three games with four or less targets and three games with 30 or less receiving yards.
That’s just the reality of the team that he plays for, which is in no way a knock on Kittle at all.
The 30-year-old is one of the very best the NFL has to offer at TE, but he’s one of those guys who’s a much better REAL-LIFE player than he is a fantasy player. He’ll have his weeks (he just did last week after all) but given the dearth of options in San Francisco’s arsenal on top of their propensity to run the football and keep him in-line, he’s not a set-it and forget-it starter at TE like his real-life status might suggest.
As for the cherry on top, the Cleveland Browns defense is a top 10 unit as far as least number of points allowed to TE’s, and weather could also potentially impact each team’s ability to move the football down the field via the pass. That said, Kittle is an easy fade for me this week.
To add insult to injury, Jerome Ford’s Browns will now be operating WITHOUT starting QB Deshaun Watson, who was just recently ruled out vs the 49ers.
That alone already makes a middling offense that much more difficult to trust when it comes to being able to move the football against one of the most formidable (if not the most formidable) defense in the National Football League in the San Francisco 49ers.
While potentially inclement weather on Sunday in Cleveland could mean more opportunities for Ford to run the football, a negative game script is more likely to dampen his statistical output more than anything.
And do we trust P.J. Walker to take command and operate Kevin Stefanski’s offense?
There are plenty of RB’s OUTSIDE of the top 20 (at cost) that would make more compelling plays in DFS, such as James Cook (RB22) - who I outlined as a bargain in my Week 6 ‘Bargain Bin’ column.
Be sure to check out our website at sportstopia.io for that article as well as all of our other articles from all of our analysts!
Steezy A. opens up his Bargain Bin for Week 6
It’s Week 6 already? They weren’t lying when they said ‘time flies when you’re having fun’ were they?
Anyway, I appreciate everyone who's been along for the ‘Bargain Bin’ journey with me thus far, I truly take pleasure in writing this column weekly.
Get those seat belts buckled in and continue to join the ride! Looking to set the ULTIMATE bargain-based lineup in DFS? Like I said last week, (I think I’ll start saying this regularly, but we’ll see) never fear, Steezy A. Smith is here (all salaries courtesy of FanDuel).
Game: Seahawks at Bengals, 1 p.m. ET Sunday
If it isn’t ‘Mr. I Ain’t Write Back himself’! First and foremost, happy belated 33rd birthday to Geno Smith! Perhaps a statistical masterpiece will suffice as a late birthday gift to himself?
Jokes aside, and weather permitting, Seattle’s showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals is a very intriguing matchup that should feature plenty of fireworks. I’m surprised the over/under for total points is only set at 45.5!
If you watch/listen to our ‘Fantasy Fire and Ice’ shows (if you don’t already, you really should), I always talk about following the highest scoring games and inserting those players into my fantasy lineups. Seattle and Cincinnati is one of those games.
Seemingly healthy after sustaining a knee injury in Week 4 against the New York Giants, Smith and the rest of the Seahawks have had plenty of time to rest up and recover after having a bye in Week 5. The rest of the team around Geno is starting to get healthy as well, and there’s a chance LT Charles Cross (toe) will be active.
Geno, DK Metcalf, and Tyler Lockett vs Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins? Get your popcorn ready folks! This is the rightful ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup. No one, including Giants fans, wants to see them get whooped on national TV again.
Game: Giants at Bills, 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday
On the heels of an abysmal Week 5 performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, Cook is primed for a major bounceback.
Here’s a rule of thumb from here on until they start to show more competency: anytime there’s a player going up against the Giants, you start them. Simple as that. Not only is the Giants defense allowing the 6th-most fantasy points to opposing RBs, but they’re also dead last in the NFL in point differential - a hideous -9.
As for the Bills? They’re second in the NFL, with a point differential of 79. Talk about being on opposite ends of the spectrum. Favored to win by two TDs, game flow/script will also favor Cook and the Bills.
With an over/under total set at 52.5 rushing yards, smash the over on that and fire up as many Cook shares as you can in fantasy!
Game: Vikings at Bears, 1 p.m. ET Sunday
In the wake of Justin Jefferson’s hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve – meaning he’s out four games at least ¬-- this might be the cheapest you can get Osborn. Get him now while you still can.
Having played 80 percent or more of Minnesota’s offensive snaps in every game this season, Osborn will now be the WR2, behind TJ Hockenson and Jordan Addison. In an offense as pass heavy as the Vikings, that’s a cheap flex play every time.
Without Jefferson, the Vikings aren’t the same team and might have more games in which they find themselves trailing. A case in point was Week 5 against the Chiefs, where Osborn finished with five receptions for 49 yards on 9 targets.
To top it off, the Bears allow the 13th most fantasy points to opposing WRs and have been on a hot streak themselves, so I expect plenty of points scored on both sides.
Game: Ravens at Titans, 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday
Having yet to eclipse 80 yards receiving or score his first TD, what better place to do both of those things than in another country?
Flowers and the Baltimore Ravens will be taking on the Tennessee Titans in London to kick off the Sunday slate, and while the Tennessee front seven is a force to be reckoned with, the secondary has been vulnerable and prone to big plays from opposing pass catchers.
Looking to atone for last week’s drop-fest (Flowers wasn’t the only one), Flowers is due for his biggest game yet against a team allowing the 8th-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
One more nugget: Flowers has an ownership percentage of 29.2%, which at the time of this writing, is the third-highest ownership percentage among all wide receivers in Week 6. It seems others are starting to catch on, so don’t be the one that misses the bus!
Game: Commanders at Falcons, 1 p.m. ET Sunday
Sitting at TE11 in standard PPR scoring leagues, Thomas’ price tag seems in line with other TEs, but this week he’s an absolute bargain given the opponent. Atlanta’s cornerbacks can match up against Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson, but the Falcons have allowed the second-most fantasy points to TEs.
Fresh off his best performance of the season to date (11 targets, 9 receptions, 77 receiving yards and a TD), the arrow is pointing up for Thomas.
Game: Broncos at Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. ET Thursday
Sitting at WR50 on the season (in standard PPR scoring formats), Rice’s WR52 cost sounds about right at first glance. However, the Broncos rank 17th (NFL Fantasy) in most points allowed to opposing wide receivers. I’d also be remiss not to mention the presence of one of the very best cornerbacks in the NFL in Pat Surtain, as well as perpetually underrated safety Justin Simmons.
However, as -11-point favorites at home on a short week against a struggling Broncos team that could be looking to tear everything down if the losses keep mounting, the time might be ripe for the Chiefs to have a vintage offensive explosion (they’ve only scored more than 30 once this season).
Having received five or more targets in four of five games, Rice has a consistent role in the Chiefs’ passing attack and will only continue to emerge up the pecking order in his rookie season.
If ‘TNF’ ends up being a blowout, I expect Rice to put up his highest snap share of the season, which also hopefully coincides with his best fantasy performance.
Steezy A gives you his best fades for Week 5
It’s that time of the week, everyone’s second-favorite (perhaps third-favorite?) day – Friday! You know what that means, it’s time to fade a player -- or five in DFS -- Steezy A style.
Before we commence, I must issue a public apology to Lamar Jackson.
For the second consecutive week, I wasn’t in my right mind and faded a top 5 player at his position; Jackson not only had 4 touchdowns (2 rushing, 2 passing) in a blowout victory over Cleveland, he was QB3 in Week 4 and apparently he was a ‘fade.’
I’ll take this one to the chin and own it. My bad, Lamar! As per usual, all salaries provided are courtesy of DraftKings.
Will the real Trevor Lawrence PLEASE STAND UP?
Pro Football Focus might have Lawrence as one of their highest-graded QBs of the season thus far, but he hasn’t looked like the same QB that dominated the second half of last season and he definitely hasn’t looked like one of the highest-graded.
And that’s with Calvin Ridley, who has cooled off after a monstrous debut with the Jags in Week 1, having yet to clear more than 40 yards since.
What’s going on in Duval?
Lawrence has only had one multi-TD game, has yet to pass for more than 280 yards and his ownership percentage on DraftKings is a measly 0.2 percent, which means others are catching on.
Yes, the Jaguars might ‘own’ London (where they’ll be playing again this week against the Buffalo Bills), but if you’re looking to own a dub this week, you’re better off starting someone else at QB.
The Bills rank 6th in total defense, 4th in passing defense (less than 170 yards per game), 1st in sacks (16) and might have Von Miller back.
It’s certainly possible Lawrence gets back on track against a top tier AFC team in what could be a shootout, but until we see the fantasy production on the field, it’s hard to justify spending or even starting Lawrence in a 1-QB league when there’s a slew of cheaper options.
Having yet to exceed 65 scrimmage yards, it’s fair to wonder whether Williams’ ceiling is capped in Denver’s offense.
While a workhorse workload wasn’t ever in the cards – Williams is bouncing back from a torn ACL suffered in Week 4 of last season – Denver has more than enough depth at RB to extinguish that possibility.
Williams (hip) practiced on Thursday but given a tough matchup with the Jets and the emergence of rookie RB Jaleel McLaughlin as well as veteran RB Samaje Perine, it’s too risky to expect Williams to perform at his RB25 price tag (his highest weekly finish so far this season is RB27).
The matchup isn’t there. The workload isn’t there. The red zone opportunities aren’t there. The additional usage in the passing game isn’t necessarily there either. Will he be 100% as far as health? One could argue health might not be there either.
It’s not difficult, rather an easy decision. Fade Williams in ALL FANTASY FORMATS this week.
WR: Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos ($6,300, WR18 at cost)
Statistically, the Jets’ pass defense isn’t where it was last season, but that’s not to say they won’t pose a significant threat to the Broncos’ offense, specifically their pass catchers.
Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen have combined to turn the ball over a whopping six times against the Jets this season. Yikes.
A lack of 100% health has more likely than not played a role in Jeudy’s slow start to the season, but a showdown with a lockdown secondary is the last place I’d look for a wide receiver to have his breakout game.
Surprisingly, the Broncos are 10th in scoring with 25 points per game, but they’ve played the Raiders, Bears, and Commanders, all of whom have bottom-10 defenses. Given how horrid the Denver offense was last season, I’m not sold yet.
To top it off, Courtland Sutton seems to be Russell Wilson’s favorite target through four weeks, as he already has more TD’s this season (3) than he did all of last year (2).
Given the emergence of tertiary options like Brandon Johnson, Marvin Mims, and Jaleel McLaughlin, it’s hard to trust Jeudy as a top-20 play at his position with a WR18 price tag.
It’s a hard pass for me until he’s back to being that guy that averaged 91.6 receiving yards in the last five games of last season.
Going into draft season, the hype on Darren Waller was real.
Allegedly, someone at the Fantasy Expo in Ohio this past summer apparently walked around with a name tag that didn’t have their name, but the statement “Darren Waller will be the overall TE1 in fantasy this season” or something like that.
How asinine!
Waller hasn’t been horrible, but he hasn’t been anywhere near the top-3 TE everybody was drafting/expecting him to be. Perhaps the Giants are misusing him? Sitting at TE13 in standard scoring PPR leagues, I’d say that’s a fair assessment.
Only one game on the season so far with more than three receptions? Less than 40 yards in three out of four games? One double-digit fantasy scoring output?
If you have Waller in a season-long league, I’m not recommending that you drop him. Should he be in your starting lineups? Probably not, but he’s best on your bench if you haven’t already been fielding offers.
Some will blame it on the slate of nasty defenses the Giants have had to (attempt) to slay, but that’s not enough for me. What I will say though, is that given the shallow nature of the TE position, Waller’s upside is still intriguing, but to pay near top dollar for Waller in Week 5 just doesn’t have any merit when there are so many tight ends you can get cheaper that’ll put up comparable numbers.
Waller’s a fade for me every week until the Giants can find some semblance of competency on offense.
FLEX: George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers ($5,200, WR21 at cost)
Sometimes in fantasy, no matter how talented a player might appear to be, said talent doesn’t always translate to fantasy production.
Case in point, the man they call ‘NFL Youngboy.’
When you’re catching passes on a team that only averages 15.5 points and 263 total yards per game, both real-life points and fantasy points are going to be at a premium.
When your offensive coordinator is Matt Canada and your offense has gotten worse every season for the last three years, both real-life points and fantasy points are going to be a premium.
Pickens only has one game with more than four receptions, so I don’t know if he has a solid enough floor to warrant starting consideration, specifically in DFS.
At WR37 on the season so far, Pickens’ Week 5 price-tag of WR21 is puzzling, especially when you take into consideration the fact that his QB is already dealing with injuries (and yes, I do realize that four teams are on bye, but WR21 is still too high for me)
The talent is undeniably there with Pickens, but as far as everything else around him? Sub-optimal to say the least, and that’s me being generous.
I’ll see y’all next week!
Check out these five bargains in Week 5
Raise your hand if you knew both Alvin Kamara and Jake Ferguson were going to be top 10 plays at their respective positions in fantasy in Week 4.
Now, raise your other hand if you knew Joe Burrow, Joshua Palmer, Tank Dell, and Roschon Johnson were going to combine for 21.8 PPR points -- COMBINED In Week 4?! Not my best advice.
All jokes aside, if you read my Week 4 ‘Bargain Bin’ column, chances are you probably started at least one of the six aforementioned players. Looking to get ahead of the game for Week 5 before your friends do? Never fear, Steezy A is here. (all salaries are courtesy of DraftKings).
Falling outside of the top 15 in salary, yet ownership percentage at (6%) is within the top 7 at his position? Didn’t they always say great minds think alike?
While it isn’t official whether or not Cooper Kupp returns to action in Week 5, what IS official is that the LA Rams are 13th in the NFL in scoring at 24.5 entering Week 5. That has been without the stud wideout.
Want to know what else is official? The Philadelphia Eagles have been one of the friendliest defenses to opposing quarterbacks in fantasy land this season. Mac Jones, Kirk Cousins, and Sam Howell can all attest.
Don’t believe me? I guess that explains why Philadelphia is ranked 27th against the pass.
Enter Matthew Stafford, who's thrown for 300 or more yards in three out of his four games played this season so far. The touchdowns haven’t been there, but Kupp’s imminent return should change the calculus there sooner rather than later.
One of two matchups on the Week 5 slate with a total north of 50 (50.5), you can expect a lot of points, yards, and fantasy points from Rams and Eagles players alike.
But especially Stafford. Start Stafford in Week 5.
I know, I know - Brian Robinson Jr plays tomorrow so technically I don’t have a RB for you guys to ‘bargain’ hunt for Sunday’s slate of games, but Robinson’s price tag is intriguing enough to where I’d highly suggest curating lineups for ‘Thursday Night Football’ just because of him.
That said, Robinson has an incredible matchup on deck against the Chicago Bears, who have allowed RBs to feast since the season began. That list of players includes Aaron Jones (26.7 PPR points in Week 1), Rachaad White (21.3 PPR points in Week 2), 28.5 PPR points to Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Isiah Pacheco in Week 3, and 19.4 points to Jaleel McLaughlin in Week 4.
‘Thursday Night Football’ matchups usually favor the home team and especially more so if they’re able to run the football. As -6-point favorites, game script could also be in Robinson’s favor if things play out how they’re supposed to on ‘TNF’.
As the 8th-ranked RB (on the season so far) in standard PPR scoring formats, Robinson’s floor and ceiling in Week 5 looks like that of a promising RB2.
Averaging 22.36 points per game in his last three games, Adam Thielen is playing like a man possessed.
WR10 on the season entering Week 5, Thielen has had 8 or more targets and 7 or more receptions in every game since Week 1.
Clearly having found his groove with a young Panthers team after a less-than-ideal Week 1 (2 receptions for 12 yards), the 33-year-old veteran WR belongs in all lineups as a WR3/flex option at the very least.
One of two winless teams remaining, the Panthers are +9-point underdogs (DraftKings) entering Week 5’s showdown with the Lions.
Given that the Panthers are likely to find themselves playing catchup against a much superior team, the stage is set for Thielen to continue his impressive season.
It also doesn’t hurt that Thielen has a TON of experience playing against the Lions, dating back to his Viking days (in two games against the Lions last season, Thielen amassed 13 receptions, 126 receiving yards, and two touchdowns).
Another Commander, another ‘TNF’ player, and one less receiver to use in your Sunday lineups if you like to bargain shop.
Am I sorry? Not really, but if you adhere to what I was saying earlier about constructing a Thursday night lineup, that should more than make up for it.
Now, on to the man they call ‘Scary Terry: coming off a season-best performance against the Philadelphia Eagles last week in which he totaled 8 receptions for 86 yards McLaurin seems to be 100% behind the turf toe injury that hampered him in the preseason and carried into the beginning of the regular season.
That said, Terry is due for his best statistical performance of the season yet.
Vulnerable would be too generous a word to describe the Chicago Bears secondary, who sit at 29th in the NFL in passing yards allowed (on average) at 267.8 entering Week 5.
I expect Terry to eclipse 100+ receiving yards and perform more in line of that of a WR2 this week.
To preface, the Arizona Cardinals are 1-3 on the season entering Week 5. In those losses, Zach Ertz has averaged 9.3 targets and about 43.3 receiving yards per game. In Arizona’s lone victory of the season, Ertz had season-lows across the board (2 targets, 2 receptions, and 6 receiving yards).
As 3-point underdogs at home to the ailing Cincinnati Bengals, the good news (for Ertz owners) is that the Cardinals are expected to lose. As I outlined for you above, Ertz does more statistically when AZ loses and while that has a lot to do with gameplan and game flow, I expect both to be in favor of Ertz as far as his fantasy value in Week 5.
Second on the team in targets with 30 (behind Hollywood Brown’s 32) on the season so far, Ertz’ chemistry with QB Joshua Dobbs has been evident and that should continue against the Bengals.
Believe me when I say this, but I was on the Puka Nacua hype train before it truly took off, and the reason I say this is because he was the first ‘Bonus/Flex’ play I used when I started writing this bargain bin column and I just get this feeling about McLaughlin like he’s the next big thing to come out of the waiver wire.
While fellow running back Javonte Williams isn’t expected to miss much if ‘any’ time following a hip flexor injury, I’m not going to let Williams’ status damper my thoughts on McLaughlin, who finished as the RB10 in fantasy this past week (standard PPR scoring formats).
Having looked like the Broncos’ most explosive back on the season, McLaughlin was receiving hype all throughout training camp and now we’re all starting to see why.
Despite playing less than Samaje Perine in Week 4, Jaleel compiled a far more impressive stat line, racking up 7 rushes for 72 rushing yards and contributing in the pass game as well with 3 catches for 32 yards and a receiving touchdown.
Yes, the Broncos backfield is getting messy by the week with the emergence of yet another option in McLaughlin, but he’s certainly made the most of his opportunity and you know what it is by now with these rookie running backs.
Grab McLaughlin while you can and if you’re looking for the dart throw of dart throws, look no further than the Youngstown State product.
Steezy outlines his DFS fades for Week 4
About my ‘fade Chase’ thoughts last week — let’s just say Joe Burrow single-handedly changed the trajectory behind that analysis (as I initially didn’t expect him to play in Week 3) so I will NOT be fading a top-5 player at his position — because this week I might just mess around and do it!
Buckle up y’all, it’s time for some ‘Fade ‘Em Up Friday’ thoughts! (all salaries courtesy of FanDuel.)
In going up against arguably the best defense in the NFL (statistically speaking), Jackson might be in for a rough outing.
The Browns are No. 1 in total defense, giving up an average of just 163.7 yards per game, and are the only team that has allowed less than 500 total yards through the first three weeks. They're first in scoring defense, giving up 10.7 points per game and are the only team that has given up less than 35 points.
Coupled with Baltimore-Cleveland being the projected lowest-scoring game (39.5) of the weekend, elite fantasy production might not be there for the former MVP.
To make matters worse, Odell Beckham Jr and Rashod Bateman have yet to practice for Baltimore this week and are likely to miss Sunday’s divisional showdown.
It’s not that Lamar won’t put up fantasy points, it’s just that you can find cheaper alternatives with similar statistical outputs.
White is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry and I’m not sure that number goes up this weekend vs the Saints, who are top 10 in rushing defense (99.7 ypg).
White’s calling card was supposed to be pass-catching ability out of the backfield – coupled with Baker Mayfield’s penchant for checking down – but he hasn't eclipsed 5 receptions nor 30+ yards receiving in any game.
In a tough divisional matchup that’s expected to be low-scoring, I’m not high on White and he’s not worthy of a top 15 salary at RB.
Evans has been BALLING, but what goes up, must come down.
The thing about segments such as this one where I’m “fading” guys in fantasy isn’t my favorite subject to write about, as often people misunderstand your usage of ‘fading’ as ‘hating’ a player, or ignoring how a player has been performing (no matter how many times you try to preface).
It’s not necessarily the comments from others that bug me, it’s that I’m able to – sometimes, at least – foreshadow the truth when others can’t. I usually find myself on an island and, for the most part, nobody wants to be all alone on an island.
All of this to say, the matchup just isn’t it for me when it comes to Evans in Week 4.
Since his rookie season in 2014, Evans has averaged ‘just’ 50 yards per game along with 3.24 receptions against the Saints, numbers well below his standard. He hasn’t topped 70 yards receiving in his last eight games against the Saints, dating back to 2019.
I know everyone is hopping on the Evans train right now, but if you’re one of the lucky few reading this, I highly advise you get off that train for Week 4 before it crashes.
Having yet to eclipse six receptions or 41 yards in any game (including a Week 1 doughnut in the box score), Goedert is currently the TE27. That’s a far cry from the TE1 production we’re accustomed to seeing.
Perhaps he’s moved even further down the pecking order in that loaded Eagles offense? Whatever it may be, fade Goedert in Week 4.
I don’t know what it is, but Washington almost always plays the Eagles tough -- particularly in Philadelphia, where the Commanders have won two of the last three matchups.
To top it off, the Commanders have yet to allow a TE to record over 23 yards receiving. With a solid and underrated group of linebackers and safeties, I don’t expect that number to change.
You can find more upside at TE while spending significantly less at the position.
Volume will always serve Mixon, especially in fantasy world – albeit relatively inefficiently.
But what happens when somebody who relies almost exclusively on volume (in addition to passes thrown his way out of the backfield) runs into a literal wall? By wall I mean the Tennessee Titans defense, who have been lethal defending the run.
Tennessee is first in the NFL in fewest yards per carry allowed, at 2.6, and fourth rushing yards allowed per game at 69.3. No one has run for more than 45 yards against the Titans, and I’m not sure Mixon will be the first.
Joe Burrow might still not be 100% healthy and that hypothetically would mean Cincy running more. However, the RB9 price is too much to spend on Mixon when the matchup is about as bad as it could be.
Leave Mixon on your bench this week if you have other alternatives at RB.
Steezy opens up bargain bin for best low-cost adds
If you read last week’s ‘Bargain Bin’,, let’s pretend I didn’t go 1 for 5 from the field — as Baker Mayfield, Kyren Williams, Jordan Addison, Nico Collins and Hunter Henry all performed below expectation.
Thankfully, Isiah Pacheco salvaged me by putting up a respectable and season-high in scrimmage yards while recording his first TD of the season in a drubbing of the struggling Bears.
I’m looking to atone for last week's debacle and here are the players I’ve hand-picked to assist me in that journey (all salaries are courtesy of FanDuel).
Here’s a major positive: according to reports, Burrow left ‘Monday Night Football’ unscathed against the Rams and that there were no ‘setbacks’ to his strained calf.
Perhaps FanDuel hasn’t caught on yet, hence the low salary, relative to his standing amongst QBs in the NFL that is.
Burrow has a juicy matchup against the Titans in Week 4. While their front seven could wreak havoc against the Bengals’ still-questionable offensive line, the Tennessee secondary has been exploited all season.
Just ask Derek Carr and Deshaun Watson, who have each had their best games of the season (statistically) against Tennessee.
Against the Titans – ranked 28th in passing yards allowed per game (275.3) – Burrow is due for his best statistical output of the season. It doesn’t hurt that he and Ja’Marr Chase finally got on the same page on MNF, as Chase racked up a career-high in catches with 12 while simultaneously putting up a season-high in yardage with 141.
Arguably the healthiest he’s been in the last month or so and a matchup on tap against an opponent who's vulnerable against the pass? He’s a must-start. Give me Burrow all day long, baby!
I know, I know. AK has yet to play because of suspension, but with the absence of Jamaal Williams (IR) and unproven depth at RB in New Orleans with only rookie RB Kendre Miller and Tony Jones Jr to spell him, I expect the Saints to put about as much on Kamara’s plate as he can handle in Week 4 against the Buccaneers.
Not as stout against the run like we’re accustomed to seeing, Tampa Bay has shown cracks in their run defense armor.
Take for example, DeAndre Swift’s 130 rushing yards in Week 3. Or the fact that Tampa allowed Philadelphia RB’s to account for 173 yards rushing (201 rushing yards on the day).
With Jameis Winston in at QB as Derek Carr is dealing with a sprained AC joint, I expect New Orleans to play more conservative in Week 3 and run more.
What better way to do that then with a RB who has fresh legs and is still considered one of the premium guys at his position?
Another week, another fantasy scoring output north of 20 points for rookie WR Nathaniel ‘Tank’ Dell in Houston after he put up a 5-catch, 145-yard, and 1 TD performance in Jacksonville in Week 3.
After clamoring for the Texans to draft him shortly after he was drafted No. 2 overall, C.J. Stroud not only got his wish, but the Texans might have gotten one of the steals of the draft in the diminutive, yet explosive and extremely talented wideout from Houston.
Not only that, but this rapport has been making local headlines in Houston all summer long, as it was reported a number of times that Stroud and Dell had showcased strong chemistry with one another during training camp and that has since showcased itself through the first few weeks of the regular season.
Having received 7 targets and caught a TD in back-to-back weeks for the Texans, Dell is gaining traction as a coveted fantasy commodity and definitely not somebody you want to miss out on as this will likely be the last week you can get him outside of the top 30 at WR as far as price point.
One more point: the Steelers pass defense has been BLEEDING points to opposing WRs all season – just ask Brandon Aiyuk, Amari Cooper, Davante Adams, and Jakobi Meyers.
Start Dell with confidence.
First off, prayers up for Mike Williams, who had been on a statistical tear to start the season.
In his place, enter Joshua Palmer, who finished Week 3 with 7 targets, 66 yards and a touchdown.
Against a secondary that has not only struggled all year long, but has been struggling for the last few years now, Palmer is very fantasy-friendly in one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league playing alongside one of the NFL’s most prolific WR’s in Keenan Allen.
And Palmer is the No. 2 option catching passes from one of the hottest QB’s in the game right now? It doesn’t get any better than that.
Hold on, maybe it does.
$6,100.
End of story.
Having received 4 or more targets in every game this season so far, Ferguson has flown under the radar as a fantasy relevant TE.
In a matchup that’s expected to be difficult for Dallas’ wide receivers as New England’s cornerbacks have been shut down, I expect Dak Prescott to look to Ferguson early and often as not only a security blanket, but as the go-to guy in the red zone as well.
Still entrenched as the TE1 on the depth chart ahead of other young TE’s with potential, Ferguson has even caught the attention of his QB, as Prescott is on record saying that Ferguson is ‘close to becoming a big-time guy’.
We’ll see if that tree bears any fruit come Week 4, but for now -- I’m willing to bet that it will, given what I’ve seen so far.
If you’re looking for the ultimate dart throw, look no further than the man matching up against a team that gave up 70 points and 350 yards RUSHING (on 8.1 yards per carry) to the Miami Dolphins last week.
While leading the league in scoring helps when it comes to accumulating fantasy points, don’t let the Bears’ inability to move the ball (or score points for that matter) stop you from getting a bargain on Johnson.
Coming off a season-high in snap percentage (45%), carries, and rushing yards, this is the week in which the Bears will start to utilize their talented rookie back. And if there’s a week for this offense to get back on track, it has to be against the Broncos, who have given up 105 POINTS in their last two outings.
With 50 other guys ahead of Johnson in the salary pecking order regarding RB’s, I don’t believe there could be more bang for your buck than in the former Longhorn.
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