NFL DFS Week 4: Can They Go Higher?

Three hundred and one! That was the winning score on DraftKings’ Millionaire Maker in Week 3—a whopping 33.4 points per player. In fact, just to win the average 50/50 in Week 3, you needed 170 points, or almost 19 points per player. This sounds unrealistic, but those points were everywhere in Week 3. Eleven of the 16 games hit the Vegas over, and many cleared it by a mile. As a result, the Daily Fantasy Sports bar was raised, too. Think Julian Edelman’s 16.5 fat fantasy points had you on the road to victory? Nope, you’re in the red just like the rest of us dupes.

Last week’s millionaire-making ticket was close to perfect. Sure, they could’ve had a better defense or QB, but not by much. Almost all the top 10 tickets had Devonta Freeman (this week’s price: $5,200) and Greg Olsen ($5,400). Receivers that rung up 35 points or more were everywhere, and you had to have them to cash out with big money.

Read More: Waiver Wire Workout: Week 4

Have you noticed that Keenan Allen ($7,000) is trolling us? With weekly point totals of 40.3, 2.6 and 34.6, his percent ownership numbers have essentially been the inverse of his scoring. Are you with him this week, in a very tasty home matchup against the Browns? I’m warning you. He’s the George R. R. Martin of fantasy football, and you do not want to be Jon Snow.

With New England and Tennessee on a bye, Miami and the Jets flying to England, and Pittsburgh and Baltimore squaring off on Thursday night, the group of available players to choose from is smaller this week; in particular, many of the attractive wide receivers (and Gronk!) have been eliminated. The WRs that remain eligible for Week 4 will have high prices and high percent ownership. To compete, you’ll need to accommodate some of them, which means cheap running backs will be at an even higher premium. Creating a competent ticket that’s different enough from the competition will be as tricky as ever. That’s the fun part, as always.

Here are some players who could help this weekend.

QB

Cam Newton ($7,000) – Piling up the points so far

Philip Rivers ($6,100) – First time at home, he was QB2; and now the Browns

Andy Dalton ($5,900) – That price is triple-dog-daring us to take him

Tyrod Taylor ($5,800) – Producing every week

Melvin Gordon hasn’t exactly had a great start to his NFL career. But this week he plays against the Browns. Photo by Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

RB

Latavius Murray ($6,300) – Many unattractive RB matchups this week, but Murray against Bears not one

Mark Ingram ($6,000) – Can the Saints run roughshod over the Cowboys like the Falcons did?

Joseph Randle ($5,500) – Don’t love the Saints defense either

Melvin Gordon ($4,900) – Browns turn running backs into stars

Ryan Mathews ($3,800) – If he gets the start, the price is so hard to turn down

Karlos Williams ($3,400) – Ditto; how else will you afford Julio?

WR

Julio Jones ($9,300) – Top price. Worth it.

A.J. Green ($7,600) – Chiefs pass defense did not impress

Randall Cobb ($7,400), James Jones ($5,300) – Alone or stacked

Larry Fitzgerald ($6,500) – Still a great value; look for sky-high percent ownership

Amari Cooper ($6,300) – That talent is undeniable

Anquan Boldin ($4,800) – We all need someone cheaper, and it’ll never be as bad as last week

Who do you turn to when Gronk is on a bye? Maybe Greg Olsen. — Photo by Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

TE

Greg Olsen ($5,400) – Prisoner of the moment

Tyler Eifert ($4,600) – Liking a Bengals stack

Martellus Bennett ($4,500) – Raiders have yet to stop a TE

Charles Clay ($3,300) – Prices for tight ends going up; his is still reasonable

DEF

Cardinals ($3,400) – First choice and another nice matchup against Rams

Chargers ($2,800) – Have we mentioned the Browns?

Redskins ($2,600) – Three extra days of game planning to prove the Eagles still stink

My Ticket:

Andy Dalton, Melvin Gordon, Karlos Williams, AJ Green, Randall Cobb, Larry Fitzgerald, Tyler Eifert, Amari Cooper, Cardinals defense