Three bargain bin NFL daily fantasy players to fit your budget
With the majority of NFL teams having reached the quarter-point of the season, trends have begun to emerge and daily fantasy players couldn’t be happier.
The unpredictable nature of early-season football makes it difficult to post consistently positive DFS results. Combine that with a bizarre spate of injuries to star players, and the NFL landscape looks nothing like it did even a month ago.
That all said, the NFL DFS picture is a little clearer in some respects, especially when it comes to extracting value from players below the top tier, where plenty of bargains remain heading into Week 5.
Here are the best non-kicker, non-D/ST value plays of the week using FanDuel pricing:
$7,000-$7,900: Justin Forsett, Ravens ($7,200, vs. Browns)
Forsett vaulted himself into DFS relevance last week with 27 carries for 150 yards in a game where the Ravens had little choice but to commit to the ground game after losing Steve Smith Sr. to a back injury.
Forsett re-asserted himself as the No. 1 option in the Baltimore backfield, and won’t get an easier matchup than a Week 5 encounter with the woeful Browns run defense. With Smith still hobbled and the rest of the Ravens’ pass offense looking pitiful, Baltimore will need Forsett just as much as it did in Week 4.
$6,000-$6,900: Todd Gurley, Rams ($6,700, at Packers)
Gurley was sensational in his first game as the Rams’ No. 1 tailback, gashing an impressive Arizona defense for 146 yards on just 19 carries. Gurley’s ability to pick up large chunks of yards at once is reminiscent of Adrian Peterson.
That comparison may be premature, but Gurley will have a chance to validate it further this weekend as he faces host Green Bay. The Packers are allowing 4.8 yards per carry, the third-highest mark in the league.
$5,000-$5,900: Antonio Gates, Steelers ($5,500, vs. Steelers)
Gates returns from a four-game suspension and instantly moves into the TE1 conversation. Philip Rivers has a strong rapport with Gates, who enjoyed a renaissance last season with 821 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns – his highest total since 2004.
With the 35 year old well-rested following his month off, expect Rivers to target him early and often. Visiting Pittsburgh likely won’t put up much of a fight, having given up seven passing touchdowns through four games.