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Mike Barner

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 4

*Mike Barner*

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 4

One of the important aspects of playing in a head-to-head season-long NBA fantasy league is to know the ins and outs of the schedule. Unlike in rotisserie leagues, there may be times when it makes sense to bench one of your better players because they only play a limited amount of games. Let’s take a look at the Week 4 schedule and see what moves you should consider for your squad.

Teams With The Most Games – 4 Games Each
Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns

Only six teams play four games each this week, which is great news for owners who have Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, Devin Booker and Hassan Whiteside. Your elite players get an added edge this week. You will also want to consider adding the players below to help gain the edge over your opponent.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 4
Mike James, Phoenix Suns

James has taken over the starting point guard position as the team looks to trade unhappy veteran Eric Bledsoe. He has been successful so far, averaging 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 three-pointers in seven starts. Although he is only shooting 37.3% from the field this season, those are significant counting stats for someone you can grab off waivers in 60% of Yahoo! leagues. Three of his four games this week come against poor defensive teams in the Nets, Magic and Timberwolves.

Tyler Johnson, Miami Heat

The Heat need Johnson to provide scoring off the bench and he has done just that this season, averaging 11.0 points and 1.2 three-pointers in 27 minutes per game. He has made at least three three-pointers in three of his last six games, so a four-game week with Johnson in your lineup could give you a big boost if you struggle in that category. Three of the four games the Heat play come against the Warriors, Suns and Pistons, three teams that tend to deploy small lineups. Still available in 65% of Yahoo! leagues, Johnson is someone you should consider adding if you need a guard.

Bojan Bogdanovic, Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are in full rebuild mode, leaving Bogdanovic to average a career-high 29 minutes per game this season. He has not disappointed as he is averaging 13.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 three-pointers per game. His performance has been even better of late as he has scored at least 15 points and hit at least two three-pointers in four of his last five games.  The Pacers get to face the Pelicans, Pistons, Bulls and Rockets this week, so Bogdanovic could be in for some big scoring numbers. He’s still available in 57% of Yahoo! leagues.

Teams With The Fewest Games – 2 Games Each
Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers

With only four teams playing two games this week, it can be a crushing blow if you have players on these squads. While you may normally start the players below, consider putting them on your bench this week and using someone else with a more favorable schedule.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 4

Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves

The main reason you own Wiggins is for offense as he is averaging 19.9 points and 1.6 three-pointers per game. Outside of also averaging 4.6 rebounds per game, he doesn’t provide you with much else in terms of counting stats. With only two games this week, his ability to help your team offensively will be limited. One of those games comes against a bad Suns team, so there is concern he could see limited minutes in a blowout. Proceed with caution if you have Wiggins this week.

Jeremy Lamb, Charlotte Hornets

Lamb has been excellent while filling in for the injured Nicolas Batum, averaging 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 three-pointers per game. He is also shooting a career high 48.5% from the field, so everything has come up roses for his owners so far. This might be the week to put him on your bench though as he is only playing two games, one of which comes against a Celtics team that is only allowing an NBA low 93.2 points per game.

Dwight Howard, Charlotte Hornets

Howard’s move to Charlotte has done wonders for his value as he is averaging 14.6 points and 13.6 rebounds per game. While he is playing 31 minutes a game, he’s not the defender that he once was as he is only averaging 1.3 blocks per game. His free-throw shooting also continues to be awful at 40.4%. Outside of his rebounding numbers, it’s going to be hard for him to provide enough value this week with only two games.

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 9

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations – Week 9

Get our NFL Seasonal package for 50% off for a LIMITED TIME using code "NLA5017"

Get our NFL Seasonal package for 50% off for a LIMITED TIME using code “NLA5017”

After one of the more active trade deadlines we have seen in the NFL, several players will see a major adjustment in their fantasy value. Throw that in with six teams being on a bye this week and that could make for some unexpected DFS lineups. Don’t worry though, there are still plenty of viable options to help you bring home some cash. Put your favorite daily fantasy football recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.

**QUARTERBACKS**

Deshaun Watson vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $8,100
FanDuel = $9,600

Watson is putting up insane numbers as he has thrown 16 touchdown passes over the last four games. It’s hard to imagine he started this season as the backup quarterback. Not only is he providing excellent numbers through the passing game, but he has also rushed for at least 31 yards in four of the last six games. Sunday brings a great match up against a Colts defense that has allowed the second most net passing yards in the NFL. Pay up for Watson.

Drew Brees vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
DraftKings = $7,000
FanDuel = $8,300

Brees doesn’t come into this game firing on all cylinders as he has thrown for less than 300 yards in four of his last five games and has thrown for only two touchdowns in his last two games combined. The Saints rushing duo of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara has taken some pressure off of Brees and has been able to punch in several scores of late, taking some red zone pass attempts away from Brees. This could be a breakout week for Brees though as the Buccaneers have allowed the third most net passing yards per game this season. In a week with limited options, Brees is one of the best.

Jared Goff vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $5,500
FanDuel = $7,600

Goff has had a hard time finding the end zone of late as he only has two passing touchdowns over his last three games combined. Don’t get overly concerned though as those three games were against the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Arizona Cardinals. The Giants defense is not nearly as impressive and will be without top cornerback Janoris Jenkins as he is suspended for this game. If you need to save money at quarterback, look no further than Goff.

**RUNNING BACKS**

Lamar Miller vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $6,200
FanDuel = $7,500

Miller has been helped greatly by the rapid ascent of Watson as defenses can no longer stack the box against the Texans to stop the run. Miller has scored four total touchdowns over his last four games and has gained at least 81 total yards in three of those four games. The Colts defense isn’t much better against the run as they have allowed the most rushing touchdowns (10) in the NFL this season. Look for another productive game from Miller.

Alvin Kamara vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
DraftKings = $6,300
FanDuel = $6,600

Kamara has really benefited from Adrian Peterson being traded to the Arizona Cardinals as he has become an excellent compliment to Ingram. He has a significant role in the passing game as he has recorded at least 48 receiving yards in three of the last four games. I already documented the struggles the Buccaneers have defending the pass, meaning Kamara could provide excellent value at this price.

Kenyan Drake vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium = Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $4,000
FanDuel = $4,500

With the trade sending Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles, Drake should find himself with a more significant role in Miami. You can’t really take much stock in his numbers this year as Ajayi handled much of the work load for the Dolphins, leaving Drake with only 10 total carries. Based on volume alone, it’s hard to pass up taking a chance on Drake at this bargain price.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

DeAndre Hopkins vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $9,200
FanDuel = $9,100

After struggling last year, Hopkins has been revived with Watson throwing him passes now. He has received at least 11 targets in three of the last four games and already has 76 targets in 7 games this season. Not only is he putting up great yardage totals, but he has also scored at least one touchdown in each of the last four games. With all the problems the Colts’ defense has, Hopkins is a great play this week as well.

Jarvis Landry vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $6,300
FanDuel = $7,000

The Dolphins offense is a mess, but that hasn’t stopped Landry from receiving a whopping 80 targets this year. Not known for his ability to reach the end zone, Landry actually has three touchdowns receptions, which is only one shy of his season total from 2016. The Dolphins may be forced to throw the ball a lot to keep up with the Raiders offense, leaving Landry with another heavy work load Sunday.

Devin Funchess vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
DraftKings = $5,400
FanDuel = $6,100

The Panthers traded wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to the Buffalo Bills Tuesday, leaving Funchess as the number one receiver in Carolina. His 33 receptions this season have already set a new career high and he is close to setting new career bests in receiving yards and touchdowns as well. While he has failed to exceed 41 receiving yards in any of his last three games, the volume he should see in his new role makes him a valuable option at this price.

Cooper Kupp vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $4,500
FanDuel = $6,000

Kupp has had a bit of an inconsistent rookie season as he enters this game with only 23 receptions on 42 targets for 316 yards and three touchdowns. However, two of his touchdowns have come over the last four games and he had a season high 10 targets in his last game against the Arizona Cardinals. With the Giants down their best cornerback in Jenkins, Kupp should be met with less resistance in this game. At this price, he’s worth the risk.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Zach Ertz vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $6,800
FanDuel = $7,600

Ertz has been a touchdown machine of late as he has at least one score in each of the last four games. He’s developed a great relationship with emerging quarterback Carson Wentz and is well on his way to establishing new career highs across the board. The Broncos are excellent against the pass overall, but struggle to defend tight ends. They have allowed 543 receiving yards and four touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season. Start Ertz with confidence this week.

Jared Cook vs. Miami Dolphons
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $4,000
FanDuel = $5,500

A quick glance at Cook’s numbers aren’t very reassuring as he has 46 receiving yards or less in five of his last seven games. However, this a favorable match up against a Dolphins defense that has allowed 358 receiving yards and four touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season. If you need to save money at tight end, Cook is someone to consider.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – EverBank Field
DraftKings = $3,800
FanDuel = $5,300

The Jaguars defense has been a valuable DFS commodity as they lead the NFL in sacks (33) and are tied for the third most interceptions (10). The Bengals have allowed 22 sacks this season, so the potential is there for the Jaguars defense to rack up sacks again in this contest. They will cost a lot, but should be well worth it this week.

Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers
Stadium – Lambeau Field
DraftKings = $3,000
FanDuel = $4,500

It would have been hard to imagine liking an opposing defense playing at Lambeau Field at the start of this season, but I’m going in that direction this week. The loss of quarterback Aaron Rodgers has crippled the Packers offense as Brett Hundley has really struggled. Over the last two games, Hundley only has 244 passing yards, one passing touchdown and four interceptions. The Lions have 10 interceptions this season, so Hundley could be in for another rough game. If you want to go with a more budget friendly defense for Week 9, look no further than the Lions.

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 8

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations – Week 8

Get our NFL Seasonal package for 50% off for a LIMITED TIME using code "NLA5017"

Get our NFL Seasonal package for 50% off for a LIMITED TIME using code “NLA5017”

Week 8 looked like a week that was going to be missing several key players with six teams on a bye, including the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants. However, with Aaron Rodgers, David Johnson and Odell Beckham Jr. out for most (if not all) of the season with injuries, the damage was already done. Luckily DFS gives you the opportunity to still come away a winner even with some of the best players in the game unavailable. Put your favorite daily fantasy football recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.

**QUARTERBACKS**

Carson Wentz vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $7,200
FanDuel = $7,900

To say Wentz is on fire is an understatement. Over his last three games, he has thrown 11 touchdown passes compared to only two interceptions. He already has 17 touchdowns passes this season, passing his total of 16 for all of 2016. Not only is he throwing for more touchdowns, but he only has four total interceptions compared to 14 last year. This a great matchup Sunday against a 49ers defense that has allowed 259 net passing yards per game and 12 touchdown passes, both of which are towards the bottom of the NFL.

Jameis Winston vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
DraftKings = $6,100
FanDuel = $7,600

Winston entered Week 7 against the Buffalo Bills coming off of a shoulder injury, but he showed no ill effects as he threw for 384 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. That’s impressive on the road in Buffalo. If you exclude the previous Week 6 contest where he left early with the injury, he has thrown for at least 328 yards in each of his last four full games. Expect him to throw a lot again Sunday and put up valuable numbers against the Panthers.

Josh McCown vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $5,600
FanDuel = $7,300

Don’t look now, but McCown has thrown for at least two touchdown passes in each of his last three games. Although he only threw for 209 yards last week against the Miami Dolphins, he threw a season high three touchdown passes and also had a rushing touchdown. The Falcons defense doesn’t create a lot of turnovers as they only have two interceptions to go along with nine passing touchdowns allowed this season. With only a few elite options this week, McCown has the potential to put up valuable numbers at a reasonable price.

**RUNNING BACKS**

Le’Veon Bell vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – Ford Field
DraftKings = $9,300
FanDuel = $9,400

The key for Bell this season has been volume as he has rushed for at least 134 yards in all three games where he received at least 32 carries. The good news is that all three of those game have come over the last four weeks as the Steelers have been making a concerted effort to stick with the run. It hasn’t hurt Bell’s involvement in the passing game though as he has received at least six targets in four of the last five games. Look for him to put up big numbers again Sunday.

Mark Ingram vs. Chicago Bears
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
DraftKings = $7,400
FanDuel = $7,200

Ingram has become more involved in the rushing attack since Adrian Peterson was traded to the Arizona Cardinals. He has not let the opportunity go to waste as he has rushed for at last 105 yards and one touchdown in both of his last two games. He’s also been involved in the pass catching side of things as he has received at least five targets and hauled in at least four receptions in both of those games as well. Look for him to continue to get plenty of volume Sunday, making for a solid play against the Bears.

Wendell Smallwood vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $4,900
FanDuel = $5,500

Smallwood returned from injury Week 7 to rush for 25 yards on eight carries and catch two passes for 14 yards. While those numbers aren’t impressive, LeGarrette Blount struggled in the game as well as he only had 29 yards on 14 carries. Week 8 brings a matchup against a 49ers defense that has allowed the fourth most rushing yards in the league this season. He’s cheap enough to take the risk on this week if you need to save money at running back.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

A.J. Green vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
DraftKings = $8,600
FanDuel = $8,500

Green is coming off of a tough game against the Pittsburgh Steelers as he hauled in only three catches for 41 yards. Don’t be overly concerned though as the Steelers have allowed the fewest net passing yards in the NFL. His overall production this season has been solid as he has 35 receptions on 57 targets for 545 yards and three touchdowns. Week 8 brings a great matchup against the Colts, who have allowed the second most net passing yards this season. This is the week to pay up for Green.

Michael Crabtree vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
DraftKings = $6,300
FanDuel = $7,200

Simply put, Crabtree is a touchdown machine. He has scored in each of the last three games and has six touchdowns on the season overall. He’s heavily involved in the passing attack in general as he is averaging just under seven targets per game. While the Raiders successfully got Amari Copper more involved in the offense last week, Crabtree still received seven targets in the game. After Winston and the Buccaneers receivers lit up the Bills last week, Crabtree could be in for another strong performance.

Kelvin Benjamin vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
DraftKings = $6,400
FanDuel = $6,600

The Panthers offense has been inconsistent this season, resulting in only 29 receptions on 44 targets for 436 yards and one touchdown for Benjamin. He had scored at least seven touchdowns in each of his first two seasons in the NFL, so his inability to reach the end zone has been a disappointment. There is potential for him to succeed this week though against the Buccaneers as they have allowed the third most net passing yards per game in the NFL this season. Benjamin posted 163 receiving yards and a touchdown against them in two games last year and I expect him to be productive in their first meeting this year.

Marquise Goodwin vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $3,900
FanDuel = $4,900

With so many teams on a bye, there aren’t many intriguing cheap options at wide receiver. Goodwin hauled in four of eight targets for 80 yards last week against the Dallas Cowboys and has at least 80 receiving yards in two of his last three games. The Eagles might be up big early in this game, resulting in the 49ers needing to throw a lot. The Eagles defense has allowed the fourth most net passing yards per game this season, so be willing to take the risk on Goodwin if you want to spend money elsewhere this week.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Zach Ertz vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $7,000
FanDuel = $7,300

Ertz has scored at least one touchdown in four of the last five games and his five touchdowns on the season have already established a new career high. He has 58 targets this season and if he stays healthy, he should easily receive at least 100 targets for the third consecutive season. With an emerging young quarterback in Wentz having a lot of trust in him, Ertz should be another excellent play this week.

Kyle Rudolph vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – Twickenham Stadium
DraftKings = $4,500
FanDuel = $5,800

Rudolph’s numbers don’t jump off the page as he only has 26 receptions, 244 yards and two touchdowns this season. He has been more involved in the offense over the last three games though, hauling in 16 receptions on 25 targets for 135 yards and a touchdown. Week 8 brings a favorable matchup against the Browns as they have allowed 487 receiving yards and five touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – Twickenham Stadium
DraftKings = $4,000
FanDuel = $5,300

The Browns offense is an absolute mess as they continue to struggle to find a competent starting quarterback. As a result, they are averaging an NFL-worst 14.7 points per game. The Vikings defense has been excellent at getting to the quarterback as they have 16 sacks over the last four games. Expect them to shut down the Browns in this contest.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $3,500
FanDuel = $4,900

It’s been a struggle for the Broncos to score points this season as they are only averaging 18.0 points per game. If you think that’s bad, they are averaging a paltry 8.0 points per game on the road. That doesn’t bode well for playing in the unfriendly confines of Arrowhead Stadium. Expect this to be another struggle for them to score, making the Chiefs a solid play at this price.

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 7

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations – Week 7

Lineuplab.com - Win on Fanduel & Draftkings with our tools - Daily Fantasy Football

Week 7 may not have a ton of great match ups on the schedule, but it will be highlighted by a Super Bowl rematch between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons. While that should be an exciting game, hopefully the best part of your Week 7 is bringing home money playing DFS. Put your favorite daily fantasy football recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.

**QUARTERBACKS**

Matt Ryan vs New England Patriots
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $7,500
FanDuel = $8,700

Ryan and the Falcons offense have struggled this season, resulting in a 3-2 record. Ryan has only thrown for more than 300 yards in a game once this season, which came in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. He has also thrown more than one touchdown pass in a game only once this season and has six touchdowns passes and six interceptions overall. With that being said, I still like him a lot in this contest against a Patriots defense that has allowed the most net passing yards in the NFL and is tied for the most passing touchdowns allowed. If there was ever a week for a breakout performance from Ryan, this is it.

Kirk Cousins vs Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $6,500
FanDuel = $7,500

Cousins comes into Week 7 on a hot streak as he has thrown at least two touchdowns in each of the last three games while also throwing for at least 330 yards in two of those three contests. He has nine touchdowns compared to only two interceptions this season. Not really known for his running, Cousins already has a career-high 103 rushing yards this season. Week 7 brings a match up against an Eagles defense that has allowed the fourth most net passing yards per game this season. Expect a valuable performance from Cousins Sunday.

Brett Hundley vs New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Lambeau Field
DraftKings = $5,100
FanDuel = $6,500

Hundley replaced injured star quarterback Aaron Rodgers last week against the Minnesota Vikings and struggled as he threw for 157 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. With Rodgers possibly out for the season, Hundley will get a chance to make a name for himself. While you should expect him to struggle at times, Week 7 presents an interesting opportunity against the Saints. Not only have Saints allowed the fifth most net passing yards per game, but Hundley is going to have to try and keep up with their high scoring offense. If you need a cheap quarterback, Hundley is your man.

**RUNNING BACKS**

Devonta Freeman vs New England Patriots
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $7,300
FanDuel = $7,800

I’ve already detailed how much the Patriots struggle in pass coverage, but they don’t do much better against the run either as they have allowed 4.7 yards per carry and 116 rushing yards per game. Although the Falcons offense has struggled, it hasn’t kept Freeman out of the end zone as he has five rushing touchdowns this season. This has the makings of a shootout, which could lead to plenty of scoring chances for Freeman.

Jerick McKinnon vs Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
DraftKings = $6,300
FanDuel = $7,000

McKinnon has played his way into the starting running back role over Latavius Murray as he has 164 rushing yards, 81 receiving yards and three total touchdowns over his last two games.  His role in the passing game creates extra value as he hauled in 11 catches on 12 targets over those two contests. Week 7 brings the opportunity to cash in against a Ravens defense that has allowed the third most rushing yards per game. Roll with McKinnon and enjoy the production.

Duke Johnson Jr. vs Tennessee Titans
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
DraftKings = $4,900
FanDuel = $5,500

Johnson struggled against the Houston Texans last week as he rushed for 40 yards on five carries and had three receptions for minus one yard. Don’t read too much into that though as quarterback Kevin Hogan was terrible in the contest. DeShone Kizer will start this week in place of Hogan and while Kizer has struggled too, he seems to have good chemistry with Johnson. In four games entering Week 6, Johnson had logged 21 receptions on 26 targets for 250 yards with Kizer at the helm. Use him this week, especially considering his cheap price.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

Dez Bryant vs San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
DraftKings = $7,800
FanDuel = $8,200

Other than Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals, Bryant has received at least eight targets in each game this season. He has turned those opportunities into points as he has scored in three of the last four games. Week 7 brings a promising match up against the 49ers as they have allowed the sixth most net passing yards per game this season. A lot of elite receivers have tough match ups this week, leaving Bryant as one of the better expensive options.

Pierre Garcon vs Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
DraftKings = $5,800
FanDuel = $6,700

Although Garcon is still looking for his first touchdown of the season, he is off to a solid start with the 49ers as he has 33 receptions for 434 yards. He is a major part of their offense, evident by his 56 targets already this season. The Cowboys could be in for a big offensive performance in this game, leaving the 49ers to play catch up and throw the ball a lot. Considering the volume Garcon regularly receives, he should be very productive Sunday.

Nelson Agholor vs Washington Redskins
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $4,900
FanDuel = $5,900

Agholor is in the midst of a breakout season as he enters Week 7 with 321 receiving yards, which is only 44 yards less than his previous career high for a single season. While he doesn’t get a ton of targets, he has cashed in on his opportunities as he has a 66.7% catch percentage this season. This week brings a rematch against a Washington team that he posted six catches, 86 receiving yards and one touchdown against Week 1. Make sure to plug him into your entry at this cheap price.

Rishard Matthews vs Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
DraftKings = $5,500
FanDuel = $5,500

Matthews is not off to a great start this season as he has recorded 49 or less receiving yards in three of six games. He has also struggled to find the end zone as he only has one touchdown. All that being said, he gets to face a Browns defense that is tied for the most passing touchdowns allowed this season. Mattews has a chance to far outproduce his price point in this contest.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Jimmy Graham vs New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $4,900
FanDuel = $5,800

Graham has finally become a focal point of the Seahawks offense as he has received at least eight targets in two of the last three games. He also scored his first touchdown in the Seahawks last game against the Los Angeles Rams. This is a juicy match up for Graham Sunday against a Giants team that really struggles to defend tight ends. The Giants have allowed the most receiving yards (432) and touchdowns (7) to tight ends this season. Look for Graham to cash in on their continued struggles.

Austin Hooper vs New England Patriots
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $4,100
FanDuel = $5,000

Hooper stormed out of the gate this season with 128 receiving yards and a touchdown Week 1. However, he followed that up with 16 yards total over the next two weeks. It seems he has righted the ship with 98 yards total in the last two weeks. The Falcons are finally throwing him the ball more as he had 16 targets over the last two weeks compared to six over the first three weeks. He doesn’t cost much, making him a great option Sunday if you can’t afford to put Graham in your lineup.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
DraftKings = $3,700
FanDuel = $5,400

The Jaguars defense has created a ton of havoc this season as they lead the NFL in both sacks (23) and interceptions (10). That’s fantasy gold. They get to face a Colts offense that is only averaging 19.8 points per game this season while starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett only has three passing touchdowns. The Jaguars present the best option at defense for Week 7.

New York Jets vs Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $3,000
FanDuel = $4,400

The Dolphins have averaging only 12.2 points per game this season, far and away the worst in the NFL. Starting quarterback Jay Cutler only has five touchdowns compared to four interceptions this season and star running back Jay Ajayi is still looking for his first score of the season. At this price, the Jets defense provides great value for Week 7.

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 6

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations – Week 6

Lineuplab.com - Win on Fanduel & Draftkings with our tools - Daily Fantasy Football

With four teams on a bye this week and injuries mounting across the NFL, some unexpected players will be valuable options in DFS. Their names might not be flashy, but their potential to produce should not be overlooked. Put your favorite daily fantasy football recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.

Deshaun Watson - Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations - Lineup Lab

**QUARTERBACKS**

Deshaun Watson vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $6,700
FanDuel = $7,900

Watson has burst onto the scene this season and has established himself not only as the starting quarterback of the future for the Texans, but also a valuable fantasy option. He has already thrown for 1,072 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions to go along with 179 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Although some of his production came in garbage time last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, he still finished the game with a whopping five touchdowns. Week 6 brings a favorable matchup against the Browns who have allowed 11 passing touchdowns this season, tied for second-most in the NFL. Start Watson with confidence.

Kirk Cousins vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – FedEx Field
DraftKings = $6,800
FanDuel = $7,800

After a rough first two games this season, Cousins turned things around as he threw for 585 yards and five touchdowns combined Weeks 3 and 4. With Washington coming off of its bye week, they have had extra time to prepare for an already weak 49ers passing defense that has allowed the seventh most net passing yards in the NFL. The last two weeks, they allowed Jacoby Brissett to throw for 314 yards and Carson Palmer to throw for 357 yards. Cousins is a much better quarterback than both of them and I expect him to put up big numbers Week 6.

Josh McCown vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $5,200
FanDuel = $6,900

I never thought I’d be recommending you play McCown this season, but I’m doing just that this week. The Jets are off to a surprising 3-2 start and McCown has been a steadying veteran presence at quarterback for them. While he has helped them improve in the win column, his numbers aren’t great as he has five touchdowns compared to four interceptions through five weeks. The reason I’m inclined to give him a shot Sunday is because the Patriots have allowed the most net passing yards per game this season. The Jets may also need to throw the ball more in an effort to keep up with the Patriots offense, so go with McCown if you need a cheap quarterback for your entry.

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations - Kareem Hunt - Lineup Lab

**RUNNING BACKS**

Kareem Hunt vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $8,200
FanDuel = $9,300

Hunt continues to be a reliable fantasy option as he has rushed for at least 100 yards in four of five games this season. While he hasn’t scored in either of his last two games, he still has four rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns on the season overall. Week 6 brings a great match up against a Steelers defense that allows the fifth most rushing yards per game in the NFL. Fellow rookie Leonard Fournette exploded for 181 rushing yards and two touchdowns last week against the Steelers, so the Steelers could be sick of seeing rookie running backs after this contest.

Marshawn Lynch vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
DraftKings = $5,000
FanDuel = $6,000

Lynch had a favorable matchup last week against the Ravens and while he only had 43 rushing yards on 12 carries, he did find the end zone for the second time this season. He has rushed for 45 yards or less in four of five games this season, but I’m rolling with him against the Chargers in Week 6. The Chargers are allowing an average of 161 rushing yards per game, most in the NFL. Did you see what the Giants did to them last week? The Giants, who have one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL, managed to come away with 152 rushing yards. That’s scary. I can’t pass up Lynch in this matchup considering his cheap price.

Andre Ellington vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – University of Phoenix Stadium
DraftKings = $5,300
FanDuel = $5,500

Ellington is clearly not a factor in the running game for the Cardinals as he only has 49 total rushing yards this season. He is a major factor in the passing attack though as he already has 257 receiving yards on 28 receptions. The last two games have been even better for Ellington as he has 18 receptions on 24 targets for 151 yards. Don’t worry about the addition of Adrian Peterson, Ellington is clearly their passing-down back. The Buccaneers have allowed the second most net passing yards per game this season, making Ellington a great option again this week at a cheap price.

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations - DeAndre Hopkins - Lineuplab

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

DeAndre Hopkins vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $8,100
FanDuel = $8,000

Week 5 wasn’t looking great for Hopkins, but he cashed in for two touchdowns during garbage time to finish with three scores and 52 yards on the day. Hopkins had a rough 2016 season, finishing with 78 receptions on 151 targets, 954 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He already has 35 receptions on 61 targets, 363 receiving yards and five touchdowns this season. Clearly Watson’s preferred receiving option, Hopkins has racked up at least 12 targets in four of five games this season. I’m a big fan of a Watson/Hopkins stack this week.

DeSean Jackson vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – University of Phoenix Stadium
DraftKings = $5,800
FanDuel = $6,400

Jackson has had an inconsistent start to his Buccaneers’ career, recording 39 receiving yards or less in two games while hauling in at least 84 receiving yards in the other two contests. He is coming off of his best game last week against the Patriots where he had five receptions on nine targets for 106 yards. He gets the Cardinals this week and while much is made about star cornerback Patrick Peterson, he will be matched up against Mike Evans in this game. The Cardinals have actually allowed 10 passing touchdowns this season, tied for third most in the NFL. Look for Jackson to take advantage of their other cornerbacks in this contest.

Jermaine Kearse vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $4,800
FanDuel = $6,100

Yes, I again like Kearse. It’s hard not to when he is so cheap every week. The Jets don’t have great receiving options, leaving Kearse with a prominent role each week. He had 38 yards on four receptions last week, but also reached the end zone for the third time this season. I believe the Jets are going to have to throw more than they usually do in this game, leaving Kearse with even more targets coming his way. I’m on his bandwagon again Week 6.

Marvin Jones Jr. vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
DraftKings = $4,600
FanDuel = $5,900

Jones has not put up big yardage totals this season as he has 42 yards or less in four of five games. However, he does have two touchdowns this season and has received at least six targets in two of the last three weeks. I like this matchup against the Saints who have allowed the fifth most net passing yards per game this season. The Lions might find themselves in a high scoring game on the road, meaning Jones has the potential to outproduce his price point Sunday.

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations - Austin Seferian Jenkins - Lineuplab.com

**TIGHT ENDS**

Austin Seferian Jenkins vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $4,300
FanDuel = $5,600

If you had told me before the start of the season I’d be recommending three Jets offensive players in a game against the Patriots, I would have told you that you were crazy. Well, I guess I’m the crazy one this week. Seferian-Jenkins is another viable fantasy option after reaching the end zone for the first time last week against the Browns. While he hasn’t hauled in more than 46 receiving yards in any of his three games this season, he has received at least six targets in a game twice. I expect him to be heavily involved Sunday.

Evan Engram vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Sports Authority Field at Mile High
DraftKings = $3,800
FanDuel = $5,300

It’s not too often that a team loses their top three receivers in one game, but that’s exactly what happened to the Giants last week against the Chargers. By the end of the game, they only had one healthy wide receiver, meaning Engram was forced to play the role of wide receiver. The Giants are plucking guys off their practice squad to fill out their receiving core for Week 6, so expect Engram to be one of their main pass-catching options. While the Broncos pass defense is tough, they have allowed 245 receiving yards on 24 receptions to tight ends this season.

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations - Denver Broncos - Lineuplab.com

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Denver Broncos vs. New York Giants
Stadium – Sport Authority Field at Mile High
DraftKings = $4,000
FanDuel = $5,400

This is going to be one ugly game for the Giants. I already mentioned they are decimated at receiver, but now they have to face a Broncos defense that has four interceptions and 10 sacks this season. The Giants offensive line is really bad and quarterback Eli Manning can be turnover prone. They are the most expensive defense this week, but this match up is too good to pass up for the Broncos.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Chicago Bears
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
DraftKings = $3,700
FanDuel = $4,900

The Ravens get to face rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky after he made his first start for the Bears last week, completing 15 of 25 passes for 128 yards, one touchdown and one interception at home against the Minnesota Vikings. He gets a tough test on the road Week 6 against a Ravens defense that has the second most interceptions in the NFL. A rookie quarterback making his first career start on the road is a great recipe for success for an opposing defense, making the Ravens a great option this week.






Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 5

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations – Week 5

Lineuplab.com - Win on Fanduel & Draftkings with our tools - Daily Fantasy Football

We have hit bye weeks, leaving less options than normal for your DFS entry. While that means less unique lineup possibilities are available, that doesn’t mean there still aren’t plenty of great options to help you come away a winner. Put your favorite daily fantasy football recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.

**QUARTERBACKS**

Aaron Rodgers vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
DraftKings = $8,100
FanDuel = $9,500

Rodgers is off to another great start this season as he has 1,146 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. While he had his lowest yardage total with only 179 yards Week 4, he also had his highest touchdown total with four. Starting running back Ty Montgomery was injured in that game and while word at this point is that he’s going to try and play in Week 5, expect him to be limited even if he takes the field. The Cowboys have allowed eight passing touchdowns this season, tied for fourth most in the NFL. With the offense squarely on the shoulders of Rodgers yet again this week, expect him to come through with a big performance.

Carson Palmer vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $5,900
FanDuel = $7,200

Palmer isn’t off to the best of starts this season as he has five touchdowns compared to five interceptions. However, he’s actually thrown for more yards than Rodgers has (1,282). He has thrown for at east 325 yards in each of the last three games, though it did come against three poor defenses in the Indianapolis Colts, Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. He gets another favorable match up this week as the Eagles have allowed the second most net passing yards in the NFL. I think he has a relatively high floor considering how little he will cost you.

Eli Manning vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $6,100
FanDuel = $7,000

The Giants are off to a surprising 0-4 start and there has been a lot of blame placed on their offense, particularly their offensive line. While the offensive struggles were a big reason why they lost their first two games of the season, that hasn’t been the case the last two weeks. They have made some changes to their offensive line and are now getting the ball out of Manning’s hand quickly, resulting in at least 288 yards and two touchdowns for Eli in both of the last two games. They still have no running game, so it’s going to be up to Manning to help them finally get a win this week. The Chargers have allowed at least 24 points in three of their four games this season, so their defense is certainly no juggernaut. I like Manning to put up another valuable stat line this week.

**RUNNING BACKS**

Le’Veon Bell vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – Heinz Field
DraftKings = $9,500
FanDuel = $9,500

Bell is coming off of his best game of the season as he rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns to go along with four receptions and 42 receiving yards last week against the Baltimore Ravens. He only had 180 rushing yards and one touchdown through the first three weeks combined, which may have been a product of sitting out the preseason. Last week was a great sign that he is busting out of his slump and he gets a great match up this week against a Jaguars defense that has allowed the most rushing yards in the NFL. Pay up for Bell Sunday, he’ll be worth it.

Marshawn Lynch vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
DraftKings = $5,100
FanDuel = $6,100

Lynch is not off to a very good start in his return from retirement as he only has 151 rushing yards and one touchdown through four games this season. He is only averaging 3.4 yards per carry, which would be the lowest of his career. A player known for being a workhorse, Lynch has received 12 or fewer rushing attempts in three of four games this season. That should change this week though with quarterback Derek Carr out due to injury. I expect Lynch to be significantly more involved in this game, which is good news considering the Ravens have allowed the eighth most rushing yards in the NFL this season. Look for a breakout performance from Beast Mode.

Andre Ellington vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $4,600
FanDuel = $5,400

Ellington has become a very important part of the Cardinals offense with David Johnson out, especially catching passes out of the backfield. While he hasn’t rushed for more than 22 yards in any game this season, he has 14 receptions on 24 targets for 145 yards over his last two games. Johnson caught 80 passes on 120 targets last season, so having their running backs catch passes is clearly a major part of their offensive scheme. I already mentioned the Eagles struggles in pass coverage, making Ellington a great play this week at a cheap price.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

Jordy Nelson vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
DraftKings = $8,100
FanDuel = $8,600

Nelson entered 2017 having scored at least 13 touchdowns in each of the last two seasons that he played. He’s well on his way to reaching that mark again this season as he already has five touchdowns.  Although he hasn’t recorded more than 79 receiving yards in any game so far, you don’t need a ton of yardage to be extremely valuable when you reach the end zone as often as Nelson does. There is a chance fellow receiver Davante Adams might be out for this game due to a concussion, which would leave Nelson to shoulder even more of the offensive load. Either way, the production from a Rodgers-Nelson stack this week is too good to pass up.

Larry Fitzgerald vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $6,800
FanDuel = $6,700

Fitzgerald continues to produce as he has 276 receiving yards and two touchdowns so far this season. Even in his 14th year in the NFL, Fitzgerald is the focal point of the Cardinals receiving core and has received 41 targets this year as a result. He has received at least 100 targets in every season of his career, so this should come as no surprise. As you can tell, I like the match up for the Cardinals this week against a porous Eagles secondary. I expect another big performance from Fitzgerald in this contest.

DeVante Parker vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $6,600
FanDuel = $6,100

It has been an ugly start for the Dolphins offense, but that’s not because of a lack of production from Parker as he has recorded at least 69 receiving yards and eight targets in all three games this season. That’s saying something considering the Dolphins only have 548 net passing yards this entire season. The Titans secondary has struggled as they are tied for the most passing touchdowns allowed this season with 11 and have also allowed the fourth most net passing yards. He presents a solid mid-tier priced option for Week 5.

Jermaine Kearse vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
DraftKings = $4,500
FanDuel = $5,600

After getting off to a hot start this season, Kearse has slowed considerably as he only has seven receptions for 59 yards over the last two games. He laid an egg last week with only 17 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but it should be noted that the Jaguars have allowed the fewest net passing yards this season. Week 5 brings a much more favorable match up against a Browns defense who has allowed the fourth most yards per pass attempt and third most passing touchdowns in the NFL. I expect Kearse to get back on track with a valuable performance Sunday.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Zach Ertz vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium = Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $6,200
FanDuel = $6,600

Ertz has been heavily involved in the Eagles offense this season as he has received at least eight targets in all four games. He has cashed in on his opportunities as he had at least 81 receiving yards in three of those four games. The Eagles made some significant changes to their receivers this off season, leaving Ertz as a player who quarterback Carson Wentz has a comfort level with from last year. Although Ertz only has one touchdown this season, the volume of targets he receives makes him another valuable option Week 5.

Hunter Henry vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $3,800
FanDuel = $5,200

Henry is off to a terrible start this season as he only has nine receptions, 96 receiving yards and one touchdown through the first four games. His lack of touchdowns is surprising as he had eight touchdowns in 2016. That being said, I’m going to take a risk on playing him this week. The Giants have really struggled to cover tight ends as they have allowed 309 yards and five touchdowns against them this season. At such a cheap price, Henry makes a lot of sense for your entry.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – Heinz Field
DraftKings = $3,900
FanDuel = $4,800

The Steelers defense has allowed nine points in two of the last three games and has allowed more than 20 points only one time this season. They have done a good job forcing turnovers as well as they have four interceptions and three fumble recoveries this season. Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles has been turnover prone during his career, so this could be a tough task for him on the road Sunday. In a week where I don’t think there is one defense that stands out as the obvious play, I believe the Steelers have the potential to be very productive.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
DraftKings = $2,900
FanDuel = $4,500

While I think Lynch is primed for a big game, that doesn’t mean the Ravens defense as a whole still doesn’t have value. With Carr out, EJ Manuel will be starting at quarterback. For his career, Manuel has 16 interceptions to go along with only 19 passing touchdowns. He threw an interception in relief of Carr last week against the Denver Broncos as well. The Ravens defense has nine interceptions this season, most in the NFL. That’s not a recipe for success for Manuel.

 

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks for 10/01/2017

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks – Sunday, October 1

The long grind of the MLB regular season comes to an end Sunday. We’d like to thank you for reading all of our articles over the course of the season. Hopefully you have come away a winner more often than not. Let’s try bring home one last payday Sunday as well! Put your favorite daily fantasy baseball stacks from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.

**STARTING PITCHERS**

Collin McHugh vs. Boston Red Sox
Park – Fenway Park

McHugh has been limited to only 11 starts due to injury this season, but he has pitched well when healthy as he is 4-2 with a 3.45 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 54 strikeouts in 57.1 innings. He has really turned it on down the stretch as he has allowed two runs or less in six of his last seven starts. The Red Sox finally clinched the American League East title Saturday in what was becoming a tough battle to stay ahead of the New York Yankees. With their playoff fate already sealed, expect several starters to be rested, making for a great match up for McHugh.

Tyler Anderson vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Park – Coors Field

Anderson showed promise last season, finishing with a 3.54 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 99 strikeouts over 114.1 innings. However, he took a step backwards this season as he enters Sunday with a 4.81 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 81 strikeouts in 86 innings. He’s trying to finish this season on a high note as he has only allowed three earned runs in 22.2 innings over his last four starts. The Dodgers are another team locked into their playoff position, so it’s possible they rest some of their key regulars as well. On a day filled with uncertainly, Anderson has a chance to produce a valuable stat line.

**OFFENSIVE STACKS**

Miami Marlins vs. Max Fried (Atlanta Braves)
Park – Marlins Park

The Braves continue to trot out rookie starters down the stretch, including Fried who has a 3.74 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in 21.2 innings this season. Not only has he allowed more than a hit per inning, but he also has a 4.6 BB/9. He’s been lucky to only have a 3.74 ERA as his FIP is 5.51. With the Marlins trying to help Giancarlo Stanton reach 60 home runs, they should put close to their regular lineup on the field Sunday. Look for them to take advantage of Fried.

Players to consider stacking: Giancarlo Stanton, Dee Gordon and Marcell Ozuna

Detroit Tigers vs. Bartolo Colon (Minnesota Twins)
Park – Target Field

Colon was awful with the Braves earlier this season as he had a 8.14 ERA and 1.78 WHIP. While he’s been better in Minnesota, he still hasn’t been great as he has a 5.50 ERA and 1.51 WHIP with his new squad. He’s not overpowering at this stage of his career as he only has 85 strikeouts in 136.2 total innings this season. With so many of the elite offenses possibly resting players heading into the playoffs, there aren’t a ton of great stacking options. I’ll go with the Tigers offense to do damage against Colon.

Players to consider stacking: Nicholas Castellanos, Jeimer Candelario and James McCann

 

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks for 09/30/2017

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks – Saturday, September 30

With only two days left in the regular season, it makes for volatile times in DFS with teams either resting players for the playoffs or giving their young players a chance to finish out the season. Put your favorite daily fantasy baseball stacks from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.

**STARTING PITCHERS**

Corey Kluber vs. Chicago White Sox
Park – Progressive Field

Kluber is having a season for the ages as he enters Saturday 18-4 with a 2.27 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 262 strikeouts in 198.2 innings. While he’s always been a good source of strikeouts, his 11.9 K/9 this season is far and away the best of his career. He’s finishing the season strong as he has not allowed a run while posting 27 strikeouts over his last three starts. Get him in your lineup Saturday and enjoy your last opportunity for him to help you bring home some cash.

Jhoulys Chacin vs. San Francisco Giants
Park – AT&T Park

Chacin has had a fine season on a bad team as he enters Saturday 13-10 with a 3.98 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 147 strikeouts in 174.1 innings. The main reason I like him Saturday is because of his match up against the Giants. Chacin has already faced the Giants five times this season, going 3-1 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. His success against them shouldn’t be a surprise as the Giants have scored the second fewest runs in all of baseball. If you want to go with a cheap starter, Chacin is your man.

**OFFENSIVE STACKS**

Minnesota Twins vs. Buck Farmer (Detroit Tigers)
Park – Target Field

Farmer struggled yet again this season as he is 4-5 with a 7.33 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 46 strikeouts in 43 innings. It hasn’t been any better for him down the stretch as he has allowed at least four runs in four of his last five starts. The Twins have nothing to play for as they are already in the playoffs, but they still should have at least a few threatening bats in their lineup. In his only other start against them this season, Farmer allowed five runs over five innings. Make sure you take advantage Saturday by packing your lineup with Twins.

Players to consider stacking: Brian Dozier, Eduardo Escobar and Eddie Rosario

Texas Rangers vs. Daniel Gossett (Oakland Athletics)
Park – Globe Life Park in Arlington

Gossett’s rookie campaign has been a struggle as he is 4-10 with a 5.82 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 72 strikeouts in 89.2 innings. He has been hammered of late, giving up 13 runs over his last two starts. Home runs have been a problem for him this season as he has already allowed 20. That’s not a good sign considering the Rangers entered Friday with the third most home runs in all of baseball. This has the makings of an offensive explosion for the Rangers.

Players to consider stacking: Elvis Andrus, Joey Gallo and Nomar Mazara

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations – Week 4

Lineuplab.com - Win on Fanduel & Draftkings with our tools - Daily Fantasy Football

Week 4 is upon us and this is the last full week of games before bye weeks start Week 5. That means this is your last week for a while to have a full complement of players to choose from in DFS. Put your favorite daily fantasy football recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.

 Tom Brady - Daily Fantasy Football - NFL - Lineuplab.com

**QUARTERBACKS**

Tom Brady vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $8,000
FanDuel = $9,500

Remember when the sky was falling after Brady threw for only 267 yards and no touchdowns Week 1? Brady shook off those worries in a hurry as he has thrown for 825 yards and eight touchdowns in two games since. Yeah, that will do. While the big performance in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints was no surprise, he put up five touchdowns last week against a solid Houston Texans defense. Week 4 brings a favorable matchup against a Panthers defense who gave up three passing touchdowns last week against Drew Brees and the Saints. Brady is the most expensive quarterback of the week, but he’ll produce enough to warrant the price.

Carson Wentz vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
DraftKings = $6,600
FanDuel = $7,600

Wentz’s numbers Week 3 don’t stand out as he threw for 176 yards and one touchdown. However, it should be noted that it came against a very talented Giants secondary who have one of the best trios of cornerbacks in the NFL. He didn’t throw an interception and posted a 67.7% completion percentage, making for a solid performance all things considered. He put up big numbers the first two weeks of the season, throwing for a combined 640 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. His mobility has also been a plus as he has 14 rushing attempts for 83 yards this season. At this mid-range price, I like Wentz to put up valuable numbers against the Chargers Week 4.

Tyrod Taylor vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
DraftKings = $5,300
FanDuel = $7,100

Taylor laid an egg Week 2 against the Panthers, but threw for at least 213 yards and two touchdowns in each of the other two games this season. While his passing yards aren’t overly impressive, he adds a lot of value with his legs as he already has 24 rushes for 106 yards this season. That’s always been a big part of his game as he has posted at least 95 rushing attempts and 568 rushing yards in both of the last two seasons. I like this matchup for Taylor because he’s going to need to produce to try and keep up with the Falcons high-scoring offense. If they get down big, he could be looking at a lot of pass attempts in the second half. At this price, Taylor is worth a shot Sunday.

Kareem Hunt - Daily Fantasy Football - NFL - Lineuplab.com

**RUNNING BACKS**

Kareem Hunt vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $8,500
FanDuel = $8,900

To say Hunt is off to a great start is an understatement. He has already posted 401 rushing yards, 137 receiving yards and six total touchdowns. His 8.5 yards per carry is insane and he also has caught all nine passes thrown his way. There was a lot of hype around him when Spencer Ware went down for the season, but even this start couldn’t have been expected. The Chiefs will continue to lean heavily on him Week 4 against the Redskins and I expect him to be up to the task.

Christian McCaffrey vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $6,800
FanDuel = $6,400

McCaffrey hasn’t been able to get much going on the ground the past two weeks as he only has 12 carries for 26 yards combined. He has failed to reach the end zone this season as well. However, his big value comes in the passing game as he has already received 23 targets this year. He exploded Week 3 against the Saints as he caught nine passes on 11 targets for 101 yards. The Panthers will be without tight end Greg Olsen again, meaning they need McCaffrey to continue to be a significant weapon in their passing attack. The Panthers are going to have to throw the ball a lot to keep up with the Patriots, meaning big production should be in store for McCaffrey.

Wendell Smallwood vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
DraftKings = $4,100
FanDuel = $5,300

The Eagles offense was dealt a significant blow Week 3 when Darren Sproles was lost for the season with a broken arm and a torn ACL. Smallwood posted his best game of the season, rushing 12 times for 71 yards and catching one pass for nine yards. LeGarrette Blount is clearly the team’s power back and may see an increase in rushing attempts with Sproles down, but Smallwood should be more involved as well. Blount is not much of a receiving threat out of the backfield, so Smallwood may be counted on to produce more in that area. The Chargers have allowed the second most rushing yards in the NFL this season, so I think Smallwood could be a nice value play at a very cheap price.

Odell Beckham - New York Giants - Daily Fantasy Football - NFL - Lineup Lab

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
DraftKings = $8,900
FanDuel = $9,100

Beckham missed the first game of the season due to injury and was limited in Week 2 as he had only four receptions for 36 yards. His health improved for Week 3 and he cashed in big time, posting nine receptions on 13 targets for 79 yards and two touchdowns. It’s no coincidence that the Giants offense finally showed signs of life when Beckham was playing at his best. While he does a lot of questionable things when he scores or is on the sideline, his play between the lines is stellar. This is a very favorable matchup against the Buccaneers who allow the second most passing yards per game in the NFL. Beckham might be on in store for his first 100 yard game of the season Sunday.

Emmanuel Sanders vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Sports Authority Field at Mile High
DraftKings = $6,100
FanDuel = $6,900

Sanders is coming off of a solid performance Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills where he posted seven receptions for 75 yards. The key stat though is that he received 15 targets, bringing his season total up to 29 targets over three games. Sanders has received at least 136 targets and recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards in three straight seasons, making him a very reliable option. He’ll take on a Raiders defense Sunday who has allowed the 10th most passing yards per game this season, so this has the makings of another valuable stat line.

DeVante Parker vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Wembley Stadium
DraftKings = $6,700
FanDuel = $6,500

Parker has developed a nice chemistry with new quarterback Jay Cutler and has received at least nine targets in both games this season. He recorded eight receptions, 76 yards and a touchdown Week 3 against the New York Jets, an impressive line considering how much the Dolphins struggled on offense in the game overall. Week 4 brings a great matchup against the Saints as they have allowed the second most passing yards in the league. I’m rolling with Parker Sunday, especially at this reasonable price.

Devin Funchess vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $5,300
FanDuel = $5,400

While the Panthers passing attack has struggled this season, Funchess has put up respectable numbers as he has 10 receptions on 18 targets for 146 yards overall. He had 371 receiving yards all of last season, so he looks to be well on his way to blowing past that mark. The Patriots have allowed the most passing yards in the NFL this season, some of which may be because teams have to throw so much to try and keep up with their offense. Expect much of the same Week 4, meaning Funchess has the potential to outproduce his price point.

Rob Gronkowski - daily fantasy football - NFL - lineuplab.com

**TIGHT ENDS**

Rob Gronkowski vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $6,600
FanDuel = $8,500

Gronk is back to his old tricks after struggling Week 1 against the Chiefs when he posted only 33 receiving yards. In two weeks since, he has 205 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots offense is firing on all cylinders right now and a healthy Gronk is a big reason for their success. Health is the only concern you should ever have with Gronk, but he’s fine heading into Week 4. Expect major production from him again against the Panthers.

Charles Clay vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
DraftKings = $3,700
FanDuel = $5,300

Clay hasn’t produced more than 53 receiving yards in a game this season, but he has scored a touchdown in two of three games. The Bills are lacking talent at wide receiver and Clay has become one of the more trusted targets for Taylor. In a game where the Bills will need to keep pace with the Falcons elite offense, they are going to need to throw the ball a lot. Considering Taylor’s comfort level with Clay, he’s a great option at this cheap price Sunday.

daily fantasy football - Jacksonville Jaguars - Lineuplab

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $3,600
FanDuel = $5,200

The Jaguars defense has been a bit inconsistent through the early part of the season as they allowed only seven points each in Weeks 1 and 3, but they allowed 37 points Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. They have produced a lot of turnovers though as they already have four interceptions and four fumble recoveries for the season. While the Jets put up a solid offensive performance against the Dolphins last week, the Jaguars defense is a much tougher opponent. With the Jets lack of playmakers on offense, the Jaguars are an excellent option for your lineup Sunday.

New York Giants vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
DraftKings = $2,900
FanDuel = $4,300

The Giants defense was expected to be one of the better units in the league this season, but they have allowed at least 18 points in all three games this season. Surprisingly, they have allowed the most rushing yards in the NFL. Their offense has left them with some short fields and forced them to log a lot of snaps due to short drives this season, but I think the offense will play better again Week 4. Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston can be turnover prone, such as the three interceptions he threw against the Minnesota Vikings Week 3. If you need a cheap defense to fill out your lineup, I like the Giants chances to be improved this week.






Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks for 09/24/2017

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks – Sunday, September 24

Only two Sundays left in the long 162-game schedule. As teams are clinching playoff spots and others are eliminated from the hunt, we are running out of time in the baseball DFS season as well. Put your favorite daily fantasy baseball stacks from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.

**STARTING PITCHERS**

Max Scherzer vs. New York Mets
Park – Citi Field

Scherzer has had another stellar campaign in 2017 as he is 15-6 with a 2.59 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and has 253 strikeouts in 191.1 innings. Scherzer is on pace to have a WHIP under 1.00 for the fourth time in the last five years. When you limit base runners to that extent, you are bound to have success. This will also be his sixth straight season with a 10.1 or higher K/9. In summary, he’s awesome. He has also been excellent on the road this season, posting a 1.84 ERA and 0.82 WHIP away from Nationals Park. Roll with him again Sunday.

Chase Anderson vs. Chicago Cubs
Park – Miller Park

After never posting an ERA below 4.00 in his career, Anderson has made major strides this season as he enters Sunday 11-3 with a 2.74 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 120 strikeouts in 128 innings. He has been excellent over his last three starts, allowing only one run to go along with 15 strikeouts over 16.1 innings. Consistency has been a big plus for Anderson as he has allowed three runs or less in each of his last 14 appearances. Miller Park has treated Anderson kindly this season as he has a 2.34 ERA and 0.99 WHIP at home. Anderson presents a nice option in the mid-tier price range Sunday.

**OFFENSIVE STACKS**

Boston Red Sox vs. Jackson Stephens (Cincinnati Reds)
Park – Great American Ball Park

Stephens has only made five appearances in the majors this season, two of which have been starts. He has not had much success as he has a 4.80 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 13 strikeouts over 15 innings overall. The concerning part about Stephens is that he did not pitch well in the minors this season either, posting a 4.92 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 110 strikeouts in 139 innings at Triple-A. This looks like a receipt for disaster against a hot Red Sox team.

Players to consider stacking: Andrew Benintendi, Rafael Devers and and Jackie Bradley Jr.

Atlanta Braves vs. Nick Pivetta (Philadelphia Phillies)
Park – SunTrust Park

Pivetta has had a terrible season for the Phillies, posting a 6.57 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 129 strikeouts in 122 innings. The fact that Sunday will be his 25th start of the season shows just how bad the Phillies rotation is. He’s been even worse of late, allowing at least six runs in three of his last six games. The road has not been kind to him either as he has a 7.29 ERA and 1.75 WHIP away from Citizens Bank Park. This is the day to stack your lineup with the Braves offense.

Players to consider stacking: Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis and Ender Inciarte