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Mike Barner

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks for 09/23/2017

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks – Saturday, September 23

The season is almost over, so let’s not waste any time and get right to the business of cashing in Saturday. 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**

Stephen Strasburg vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field

Strasburg has been largely healthy this season as Saturday will mark his 27th start of the season, the most he has had since he started 34 games in 2014. He has been excellent as he is 14-4 with a 2.60 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 190 strikeouts in 162.2 innings. Not only does he record a lot of strikeouts, but he has only allowed 13 total home runs. Saturday brings a road match up against the Mets, a team he has a 2.33 ERA and 0.98 WHIP against in three starts this season. He is also excellent on the road as he is 8-2 with a 2.06 ERA and 1.03 WHIP away from Nationals Park. I expect another great performance from him in this contest.

Lance Lynn vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park

Lynn is my choice more often than not if I’m looking to use a cheap starter on days when he pitches. He’s having an excellent season as he enters Saturday 11-7 with a 3.09 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 147 strikeouts in 180.2 innings. It’s impressive that he missed the entire 2016 season, but he is still going to log almost 200 innings this year. He has had success against the Pirates this season, going 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP against them this season. Roll with him Saturday if you want to save money at the position.

**OFFENSIVE STACKS**

Houston Astros vs. Bud Norris (Los Angeles Angels)
Stadium – Minute Maid Park

Norris had a stretch this season where he excelled as the closer for the Angels, saving 19 games in the process. However, the bottom has fallen out of his season as he has a 8.84 ERA and 1.91 WHIP over his last 21 appearances. He started his last game against the Cleveland Indians, allowing three runs over only two innings. While he gets the start again Saturday, he’s not expected to pitch deep into the game. Look for the Astros to get off to a hot start while he’s in the game, then continue to tack on as the game moves along.

Players to consider stacking: Jose Altuve, Marwin Gonzalez and Yuli Gurriel

Atlanta Braves vs. Henderson Alvarez (Philadelphia Phillies)
Stadium – SunTrust Park

You remember who Alvarez is right? He’s the guy who threw a no-hitter for the Miami Marlins in 2013 and was a National League All-Star in 2014. Injuries and struggles have limited him to only five games in the majors since 2015 though, one of which was last Sunday against the Oakland Athletics. He struggled in that appearance, allowing four runs over five innings. Even when he was at his peak in 2014, he never recorded a lot of strikeouts as he only had a 5.3 K/9. This has the makings of an offensive explosion for the Braves.

Players to consider stacking: Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies and Ender Inciarte

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 3

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations – Week 3

We are only two weeks into the NFL season, but the league already feels upside down. Veterans like Andy Dalton, Brandon Marshall and Adrian Peterson have been huge disappointments this season. Rookies Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook have performed well right off the bat. What craziness can Week 3 possibly bring? Hopefully it results in some extra money in your pocket from your DFS winnings. 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. Detroit Lions
Stadium – Ford Field
DraftKings = $7,100
FanDuel = $8,500

While he’s not off to a spectacular start, Ryan has been solid for the Falcons so far this season as he has thrown for at least 252 yards and one touchdown in both games. He has yet to throw an interception and has a 69% completion percentage. He wasn’t needed to throw the ball a lot last week against the Green Bay Packers as the Falcons got up big early and turned it over to their running game. Week 3 brings a match up against the Lions who have a solid passing attack of their own. The Lions have allowed the 10th most passing yards so far this season and that includes their game against the terrible New York Giants offense. This may be a high scoring affair, which could lead to fantasy friendly numbers from Ryan.

Cam Newton vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
DraftKings = $6,600
FanDuel = $8,100

Newton is not off to a good start this season as he only has 399 passing yards, 30 rushing yards and two passing touchdowns over the first two weeks combined. He was banged up a bit in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills, but is expected to play Sunday. The tonic to cure all offensive woes is a match up against the horrid Saints defense. Through the first two weeks, the Saints defense ranks last in the NFL in passing yards allowed (777), yards per attempt (11.2) and tied for last in passing touchdowns allowed (six). Even though the Panthers will be missing star tight end Greg Olsen due to injury, you should still expect big numbers from Newton in this contest.

DeShone Kizer vs. Indianpolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
DraftKings = $5,000
FanDuel = $6,900

Kizer got off to a hot start Week 1 as he threw for 222 yards and one touchdown while also scoring a rushing touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He did not have the same fortune Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens as he only threw for 182 yards to go along with no touchdowns and three interceptions. He missed part of the game with a migraine, but is expected to start Week 3. While it’s tough to rely on a rookie on the road, this is a favorable match up against a bad Colts secondary that has allowed the third most passing yards in the NFL this season. If you want to go cheap at quarterback, Kizer is your man.

 

**RUNNING BACKS**

Jay Ajayi vs. New York Jets
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $7,700
FanDuel = $8,200

Ajayi received a heavy work load in the Dolphins first game of the season Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers as he rushed for 122 yards on 28 carries. Although he didn’t reach the end zone, that’s the kind of volume you want out of a high-priced fantasy option. Week 3 brings a favorable match up against a bad Jets defense who has allowed both the most rushing yards (370) and rushing touchdowns (four) in the league so far. They are also allowing a whopping 5.4 yards per carry. Put Ajayi in your lineup and enjoy the ride.

Christian McCaffrey vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Bank of American Stadium
DraftKings = $6,100
FanDuel = $6,800

First glance at McCaffrey’s yardage totals don’t show anything that impressive as he only has 57 rushing yards and 72 receiving yards through two games so far. The key here though is his involvement in the offense as he has at least eight carries and at least five targets in both games. He may see an even bigger role in the offense as well going forward with Olsen out of action. Throw in the aforementioned favorable match up against the Saints and I believe McCaffrey is primed for the best game of his young career on Sunday.

Chris Thompson vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – FedEx Field
DraftKings = $4,500
FanDuel = $5,600

Thompson entered the season as the team’s pass-catching option out of the backfield, but has been a huge part of Washington’s offense as he already has two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown this season. His role in the passing attack has not disappointed as he has at least three receptions and five targets in both games this season. Starting running back Rob Kelley went down with a rib injury Week 2 and even if he does play Sunday, he may not be effective. Samaje Perine would pick up more of the slack if Kelley were to miss the game and would be an interesting play himself, but Thompson’s pass-catching abilities may be needed to keep up with the Raiders offense. Thompson is worth a shot at this price.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

Antonio Brown vs. Chicago Bears
Stadium – Soldier Field
DraftKings = $9,000
FanDuel = $9,000

Brown started the season off strong Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns on the road as he had 11 receptions for 182 yards. Week 2 saw a bit of a decline against a much better Minnesota Vikings secondary as Brown finished with five receptions for 62 yards. However, the key is he received 11 targets in each of the first two games. Volume is the key to success for Brown and even though he hasn’t reached the end zone yet this season, he should get plenty of chances to do so this week. The Bears have allowed 8.6 yards per pass attempt this season, tied for fourth worst in the NFL. He’s not cheap, but I think he’ll be worth it Sunday.

Keenan Allen vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – StubHub Center
DraftKings = $7,200
FanDuel = $7,200

Allen was great Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins as he complied nine receptions for 100 yards. Clearly a favorite target of quarterback Philip Rivers, Allen has received at least 10 targets in both games so far this season. He has received at least 100 targets in both seasons of his career when he played at least 14 games, so clearly the only concern with Allen has been staying healthy. No worries there as he’s healthy heading into Week 3 and gets to face a Chiefs defense that has allowed the fourth most passing yards in the league this season. I like him again Sunday, especially at this reasonable price.

Jermaine Kearse vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $4,600
FanDuel = $5,800

Kearse put together a steady performance Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills as he posted seven receptions for 59 yards. However, he broke out in a big way Week 2 against the Oakland Raiders as he had four receptions, 64 yards and two touchdowns. While you can’t expect him to score two touchdowns every week, he clearly has a big role in a Jets offense that seriously lacks talent at wide receiver. Someone has to catch passes on a team that is likely going to throw a lot because they will be down big in games. Through two weeks, Kearse is that guy. Expect much of the same from him Sunday.

Rashard Higgins vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Field
DraftKings = $4,000
FanDuel = $5,100

Browns wide out Corey Coleman was expected to have a large role in the offense this year, but broke his hand Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens. In stepped Higgins who posted seven receptions for 95 yards on a whopping 11 targets. Not bad for a guy who was on the practice squad Week 1. The Browns did bring in Kenny Britt this summer, but he has yet to make a splash with his new team. With few other options, Higgins is now primed for a big role. Considering his cheap price and favorable match up against a poor Colts defense, Higgins may be one of the best value plays of the week.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Travis Kelce vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
DraftKings = $6,000
FanDuel = $7,100

The tight end position is going to be a tough one to fill this week with several of the upper level players at the position dealing with injuries. Kelce looks to be the cream of the crop this week as he’s healthy heading into this divisional match up with the Chargers. Although he got off to a slow start with five receptions for 40 yards Week 1, he rebounded nicely Week 2 to record eight receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown. With at least seven targets in both games this season, Kelce should be heavily involved again Sunday with the potential for another big performance.

Austin Hooper vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – Ford Field
DraftKings = $3,800
FanDuel = $5,400

Yes, I again like Hooper. After posting 128 yards and a touchdown Week 1, he did come crashing back down to Earth last week as he only posted two receptions for seven yards. I’m not overly concerned with that though as those types of performances happen from time to time at the tight end position. While Hooper may never see a ton of targets, he’s a threat to score a touchdown every week. He gets to face a Lions defense who allowed 49 yards and a touchdown against Evan Engram and the Giants last week. As I mentioned before, the Giants offense has been embarrassing this season. I like Hooper’s chances of being productive and reaching the end zone Sunday.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
DraftKings = $3,600
FanDuel = $5,100

This game might get ugly in a hurry. The Bills offense enters Week 3 ranked 22nd in total yards this season and has scored a total of 24 points. The Broncos stellar defense is off to yet another solid start as they have allowed the sixth fewest total yards through two weeks. The Bills don’t have a ton of play makers on offense while the Broncos defense is loaded with talent. Pay up for the Broncos Sunday as it would not be surprising if they kept the Bills out of the end zone in this game.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $3,000
FanDuel = $4,500

Speaking of ugly, let me continue to pile on the Giants and their terrible offense. They allowed three sacks and an interception against the Dallas Cowboys Week 1 and five sacks and an interception against the Lions Week 2. Their offensive line is a wreck, leaving quarterback Eli Manning to look like he fears for his life every time he takes a snap. Things won’t get any easier against an Eagles defense that already has eight sacks this season. If you want to save money at the position, the Eagles should be your choice as they are primed for a big performance.

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks for 09/17/2017

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks – Sunday, September 17

Finish off your weekend on a high note by cashing in playing baseball DFS. 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. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Progressive Field

Get ready for some crazy stats. Kluber enters Sunday 16-4 with a 2.44 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 243 strikeouts in 184.2 innings.  He has thrown five complete games this season, three of which were shutouts. His control is impeccable as he has 47 strikeouts while issuing only three walks over his last five starts. While it’s hard to imagine, he’s been even better at home this season as he has a 1.93 ERA and 0.82 WHIP at Progressive Field. It doesn’t matter how expensive he is, Kluber will be worth it Sunday.

Sonny Gray vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium

Gray has been excellent since being traded as he has a 2.66 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 49 strikeouts over 50.2 innings with the Yankees.  He only has a 3-5 record to show for it, but that’s largely because of his defense and offense letting him down. Gray has really picked it up in the strikeout department of late as he has recorded at least nine strikeouts in three of his last four starts. Ironically, that stretch began after he failed to record even one strikeout in a start against the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees are steamrolling the Orioles of late and I expect much of the same with Gray taking the mound in this contest.

**OFFENSIVE STACKS**

New York Yankees vs. Ubaldo Jimenez (Baltimore Orioles)
Stadium – Yankee Stadium

Jimenez is in the midst of the worst season of his career. He enters Sunday 5-10 with a 6.75 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 126 strikeouts in 134.2 innings. A major area of concern is the long ball as he has already allowed a career-high 30 home runs this season. That’s not a good sign for Sunday’s contest against a Yankees team that entered Saturday third in all of baseball in home runs at home. The Yankees scored 30 runs in the first three games of this series and I’m expecting much of the same from them against Jimenez.

Players to consider stacking: Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorius and Starlin Castro

Chicago White Sox vs. Matthew Boyd (Detroit Tigers)
Stadium – Comerica Park

Speaking of bad seasons, Boyd hasn’t pitched well either for the Tigers. He enters Sunday 5-10 with a 5.75 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 94 strikeouts in 114.1 innings this year. Walks have been a problem for the young lefty as he has a 3.7 BB/9 this season. This is a bad match up for Boyd in the White Sox as they entered Saturday hitting .285 against lefties this season, best in all of baseball. They beat up Boyd in their last meeting August 27 as Boyd gave up five runs over six innings. While this may be just another game of two teams playing out the season, you can still cash in with the White Sox offense Sunday.

Players to consider stacking: Jose Abreu, Avisail Garcia and Yoan Moncada

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks for 09/16/2017

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks – Saturday, September 16

As teams are making their push for the playoffs, there will be some intriguing series being played Saturday with major playoff implications. Make your day even more exciting by bringing home some cash playing DFS. 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**

Carlos Carrasco vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium- Progressive Field

Carrasco is having another strong season for Cleveland as he enters Saturday 15-6 with a 3.41 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 201 strikeouts in 179.1 innings. The 15 wins are already a career-high and he is only 16 strikeouts away from setting a new career best as well. He has been a big reason for Cleveland’s success of late as he has allowed two earned runs total over his last four starts. Over those four starts, he has recorded 34 strikeouts in 29 innings. He was excellent in his last start against the Royals August 27, posting eight strikeouts in seven scoreless innings. Run with him again Saturday.

Ben Lively vs. Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park

Lively’s record is unsightly at 3-6, but his numbers are solid as has a 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 74.2 innings. Other than two outings were he was hit hard and allowed a total of 10 runs, Lively has allowed three runs or less in each of his other 10 starts this season. I like this match up against the Athletics as although they have some power bats, they entered Friday hitting only .246 as a team this season. Lively won’t cost you much and I think he’s worth the risk Saturday, especially in tournament play.

**OFFENSIVE STACKS**

Colorado Rockies vs. Jordan Lyles (San Diego Padres)
Stadium – Coors Field

Nothing like a game at Coors to light up the Rockies offense as they entered Friday leading all of baseball in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage at home this season. That’s the trifecta of terror for opposing pitchers. In steps Lyles and his 6.75 ERA for the season. He was actually on the Rockies earlier this season, posting a 6.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP while pitching in Coors Field. Make sure to load up your entry with Rockies hitters Saturday.

Players to consider stacking: Nolan Arenado, Carlos Gonzalez and DJ LeMahieu

New York Yankees vs. Jeremy Hellickson (Baltimore Orioles)
Stadium – Yankee Stadium

The Yankees hitters certainly like playing Baltimore as the Yankees have scored 43 runs over their last five games against them. The Yankees love playing in the Bronx as well as they entered Friday with 118 home runs at home, third most in baseball. The trade to Baltimore has not been kind on Hellickson as he is 2-4 with a 6.54 ERA and 1.24 WHIP since joining the team. This has the makings of another big performance for the Yankees, so make sure to take advantage for your lineup.

Players to consider stacking: Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius and Brett Gardner

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 2

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations – Week 2

Week 1 of the NFL season is in the books and not only were there some surprising outcomes to games, but the fantasy landscape changed due to some significant injuries. David Johnson will be out for most of the season while Allen Robinson has been lost for the entire 2017 campaign. That’s the beauty of DFS though as you get to start over with fresh lineups each and every week. 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**

Tom Brady vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
DraftKings: $7,900
FanDuel: $9,200

Yes, Tom Brady laid an egg Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs. He finished the game with 267 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. His 44.4% completion percentage was the first time since 2013 that he had a completion percentage of less than 50% in a game. Don’t panic though, Brady hasn’t lost his touch just yet. The Chiefs have a solid defense that can do things that many other teams can’t, such as Week 2 opponent New Orleans. Did you see how badly Sam Bradford and the Minnesota Vikings carved them up? Bradford finished with 346 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and an insane 84.4% completion percentage. Brady is leaps and bounds better than Bradford and the Patriots will be out to prove their Week 1 struggles were a fluke. Expect a big performance from Brady in this contest.

Russell Wilson vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
DraftKings: $6,800
FanDuel: $8,100

Like Brady, Wilson struggled Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers as he finished with 158 passing yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. The only positive was that he rushed for 40 yards on two carries. The Seahawks offensive line struggled mightily, which could be a big concern for the team this entire season. I like this match up Sunday at home though as the Seahawks are a much better team at CenturyLink Field. While his passing yards per game averages were pretty close on the road and at home last season, the big difference was he had 13 touchdowns and three interceptions at home compared to eight touchdowns and eight interceptions on the road. Look for a rebound performance from Wilson Sunday.

Carson Palmer vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
DraftKings: $6,000
FanDuel: $7,500

As you can see, my trend this week is veteran quarterbacks are primed for bounce-back performances after Week 1 struggles. Palmer really played poorly against the Detroit Lions, throwing for 269 yards to go along with one touchdown and three interceptions. Entering 2017, he had thrown three or more interceptions in a game only once in the last three seasons combined. This is a favorable match up for him though as the Colts defense is terrible. Jared Goff tore them apart in Week 1, throwing for 306 yards and one touchdown. His 72.4% completion percentage marked the best performance of his career. Palmer and the passing attack are also going to be needed to carry more of the offensive load now with Johnson out, so he is going to see plenty of opportunities to succeed. This is a match up you want to take advantage of for Week 2.

**RUNNING BACKS**

Jay Ajayi vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
DraftKings: $6,400
FanDuel: $7,900

Ajayi and the Dolphins play their first game of the season in Week 2, giving them an advantage over a Chargers team that is coming off of a short week after playing on Monday night against the Denver Broncos. Ajayi was a monster for the Dolphins last season as he rushed for 1,272 yards and eight touchdowns over 15 games. Expect the Dolphins to lean heavily on Ajayi again this year with new quarterback Jay Cutler under center. The Chargers had a rough time with the Broncos rushing attack Monday as they allowed 140 yards on the ground. Ajayi is much better than the duo of C.J. Anderson and Jamaal Charles for Denver, so this has the makings of an excellent start to the season for him.

Terrance West vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
DraftKings: $5,100
FanDuel: $6,600

The Ravens are another team who was dealt a significant injury in Week 1 as running back Danny Woodhead is expected to be out at least a month. In what was already a fairly thin running back group, West is now the main man in Baltimore. He had a solid performance against the Cincinnati Bengals last week as he rushed for 80 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries. He’s not going to catch many balls out of the backfield, but he doesn’t need to in order to have value at this price. Don’t be surprised if he reaches the end zone again in this game.

Tarik Cohen vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
DraftKings: $4,100
FanDuel: $5,400

Cohen certainly made a splash in his first NFL game as he not only finished with 66 rushing yards, but he also caught eight passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. The Bears offense was not great overall, but it certainly was no fault of Cohen’s. Although Jordan Howard will continue to start at running back, Cohen is still going to have a significant role on this team. His ability to catch passes will be crucial as the Bears have been decimated by injuries at wide receiver already. While it will be difficult to match his Week 1 performance, he will still produce enough to make him a valuable part of your lineup at this bargain price.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

Brandin Cooks vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
DraftKings: $8,200
FanDuel: $7,900

Cooks didn’t have a huge performance Week 1, but he still posted a very respectable 88 yards on three receptions in the contest. He did receive seven targets, which was an encouraging sign in his first game with the Patriots. I already mentioned I like Brady and the Patriots to rebound in this game, but I also expect Cooks to be one of the main beneficiaries of that improvement. He’ll be highly motivated facing the team that traded him away and he’s very comfortable playing in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. A Brady-Cooks stack is primed to put up big numbers in Week 2.

Keenan Allen vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – StubHub Center
DraftKings: $5,800
FanDuel: $7,100

Allen was stuck facing the vaunted Denver secondary Week 1, which limited him to five receptions and 35 yards. However, he salvaged the outing with a touchdown and received 10 targets in the game. The key you want to look for is volume and that’s something you will get with Allen. The only concern with Allen has been his injury issues the past two seasons, but you don’t have to worry about that in DFS as he’s healthy heading into Week 2. His yardage total should be much higher against a weaker secondary Sunday.

Cooper Kupp vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
DraftKings: $4,100
FanDuel: $5,400

Kupp made a strong impression in his first NFL game Week 1 as he hauled in four receptions on six targets for 76 yards and a touchdown. The Rams have a lot more weapons on offense this season and Kupp could play a key role in their overall improvement. While his performance did come against the bad Colts defense, the Redskins secondary didn’t fair a whole lot better against the Philadelphia Eagles Week 1 either as quarterback Carson Wentz threw for 307 yards. At this price, I’m taking a chance on another solid outing from Kupp in Week 2.

Jermaine Kearse vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
DraftKings: $3,900
FanDuel: $5,400

The Jets have one of the worst wide receiving groups in the league, but they did receive a slight boost when the team traded for Kearse before the start of the season. He wasted no time being involved in the offense, recording seven receptions on nine targets for 59 yards in Week 1. The nine targets are key as he should continue to get plenty of passes thrown his way with the lack of talent on the roster. With the Jets likely to be down big against a much better Oakland team Sunday, expect Kearse to see plenty of opportunities to haul in passes as they attempt to play catch up.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Rob Gronkowski vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
DraftKings: $6,900
FanDuel: $8,100

Gronk did not play well in Week 1 as he was limited to two catches on six targets for only 33 yards. He looked a little slow on the field and may have been shaking off some rust after dealing with injuries last season. Another big factor was that he was covered by Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry who did an excellent job shadowing him throughout the game. No such worries in Week 2 though against a porous Saints secondary, look for big numbers from him in this one.

Austin Hooper vs. Green Bay Packers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
DraftKings: $3,500
FanDuel: $5,500

Hooper made his two receptions count Week 1 against the Bears as he came away with 128 yards and a touchdown. While the yardage is certainly impressive, that’s not what you should be expecting from Hooper. His value is as a red zone target who can haul in touchdown receptions. The tight end position can be volatile, so I like going with a cheaper option in Hooper who has the ability to find the end zone more often than not.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
DraftKings: $4,000
FanDuel: $5,400

Seattle had a tough match up Week 1 on the road against the Packers, but still managed to hold them to 17 points. That’s no small feat against star quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a deep wide receiver group. Sunday brings a much easier match up against quarterback Brian Hoyer and the 49ers, especially with this being a home game. If you want to pay up for a defense, the Seahawks are the one to use in Week 2.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
DraftKings: $3,700
FanDuel: $4,700

The Ravens defense was excellent Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals as they recorded four interceptions and five sacks. They were solid against the run as well as they only allowed 3.5 yards per carry. While the Browns showed signs of improvement at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, playing on the road in Baltimore will be a tough task. If you don’t want to spend the money on the Seahawks, go with Baltimore for Week 2.

 

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks for 09/10/2017

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks – Sunday, September 10

There are only three weeks of MLB action left for the regular season, so the time is now to cash in for DFS. 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**

Robbie Ray vs. San Diego Padres
Park – Chase Field

Ray has elevated his game to the next level this season as he enters Sunday 12-5 with a 2.80 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 184 strikeouts in 138 innings. His 12.0 K/9 this season is the highest of his career and he looks to be well on his way to his second straight season with at least 200 strikeouts. It’s hard to imagine, but he’s been even more dominant of late as he has allowed two earned runs total to go along with 33 strikeouts over his last three starts. This is a great match up against the Padres, who entered Saturday with the worst batting average against left handed pitchers (.227) in all of baseball. Start Ray with confidence.

Zach Davies vs. Chicago Cubs
Park – Wrigley Field

Davies is in the midst of the best season of his career as he is 16-8 with a 3.77 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and has 113 strikeouts in 169.1 innings. He has really cranked it up down the stretch as he has allowed two runs or less in each of his last five starts, four of which he came away with a win. Two of those starts came against the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers, so he’s performing well even against strong competition. He has also been a road warrior this season, going 8-2 with a 2.10 ERA and 1.11 WHIP away from Miller Park. Although he’s facing the defending champs, Davies still looks poised to have a productive outing.

**OFFENSIVE STACKS**

Minnesota Twins vs. Jason Vargas (Kansas City Royals)
Park – Kauffman Stadium

Vargas got off to an excellent start this season as he went 12-3 with a 2.62 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over his first 17 starts. The bottom has fallen out down the stretch though as he is 2-7 with a 7.85 ERA and 1.77 WHIP over his last 10 starts. It doesn’t get much uglier than that from a guy who was named an All-Star this season for the first time in his career. He’s not striking many batters out either as he only has four strikeouts in 13 innings over his last three starts. This looks like a golden opportunity to fill your lineup with Twins hitters Sunday.

Players to consider stacking: Brian Dozier, Jorge Polanco and Eduardo Escobar

San Francisco Giants vs. Carson Fulmer (Chicago White Sox)
Park – Guaranteed Rate Field

Fulmer hasn’t pitched well in his limited time with Chicago this season as he has a 10.50 ERA and 1.83 WHIP over three appearances, one of which was a start. He wasn’t impressive as a starter at Triple-A this season either as he went 7-9 with a 5.79 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 96 strikeouts over 126 innings. Even though the Giants may not have an extremely potent lineup, they have been better lately as they have scored at least six runs in four of their last eight games. Look for them to put up some crooked numbers in this contest.

Players to consider stacking: Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks for 09/09/2017

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks – Saturday, September 9

This can be a tricky time of the year for MLB DFS as September call ups can create some uncertainty for your entry. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. 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**

Chris Sale vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Park – Fenway Park

Sale has hit a bit of a rough patch lately as he allowed at least three runs and failed to pitch more than 4.1 innings in two of his last three starts. His season numbers are still excellent overall as he is 15-7 with 2.85 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 270 strikeouts in 189.2 innings. He’ll likely set a new career-high in strikeouts Saturday as his previous high for a single season was 274 in 2015. Don’t read too much into his recent struggles as they came against the Cleveland Indians (who have given him trouble this year) and the New York Yankees. This is a favorable match up against the Rays as he is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and has 49 strikeouts in 29 innings against them this season. Pay up for Sale and enjoy the dominance.

Jeff Samardzija vs. Chicago White Sox
Park – Guaranteed Rate Field

Samardzija’s overall numbers this season are average as he is 9-12 with a 4.31 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 184 strikeouts in 183.2 innings. He has pitched very well lately though as he has allowed two runs over his last three starts combined. He is quality start machine as he has seven in his last eight starts. The White Sox don’t have a scary offense and entered Friday with a .246 batting average at home, fourth worst in all of baseball. Look for Samardzija to at least come away with another quality start in this contest.

**OFFENSIVE STACKS**

Seattle Mariners vs. Andrew Heaney (Los Angeles Angels)
Park – Safeco Field

Heaney missed most of the season due to injury and has struggled in four starts since his return, posting a 6.98 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 24 strikeouts in 19.1 innings. One of the main reasons for his struggles is that he has already allowed a staggering 11 home runs. To put that into perspective, Yankees starting pitcher Sonny Gray has only allowed 13 home runs in 139.2 innings this season. This is not a good match up for Heaney Saturday as he takes on a Mariners team that has some powerful bats in the middle of their lineup. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity.

Players to consider stacking: Nelson Cruz, Kyle Seager and Jean Segura

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Jhoulys Chacin (San Diego Padres)
Park – Chase Field

Chacin has put together a decent season on a terrible team as he is 12-10 with a 3.96 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 132 strikeouts in 159 innings. He’s actually been on a hot streak of late as he has allowed two runs or less in four of his last five starts. However, this is a very poor match up Saturday against a Diamondbacks team who entered Friday with a .273 batting average at home. Chacin has also been terrible on the road this season as he has a 6.96 ERA and 1.67 WHIP away from Petco Park. Make sure to fill your lineup with Diamondbacks as this could be an ugly afternoon for Chacin.

Players to consider stacking: J.D. Martinez, A.J. Pollock and Ketel Marte 

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations – Week 1

The long wait is finally over, the NFL is back! By now you’re likely done with your season long fantasy drafts, but that’s only the beginning. Now is the time to kick it into gear for DFS and 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**

Matt Ryan vs. Chicago Bears
Stadium – Soldier Field

Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons will be looking to rebound from their crushing loss in the Super Bowl by coming out of the gates hot against the Bears. The Bears are in rebuilding mode and are going to find wins hard to come by this season. Their secondary lacks elite talent and only intercepted eight passes last year, tied for second fewest in the NFL. Ryan was a monster in 2016 as he reached career-highs in passing yards (4,944), touchdowns (38) and completion percentage (69.9%). He’s not cheap, but Ryan is going to have a big game Sunday.

Marcus Mariota vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Nissan Stadium

Mariota made solid progress during his second season in the NFL and finished last year with 3,426 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 349 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He will have even more weapons at his disposal this season as the Titans selected wide receiver Corey Davis with the fifth overall pick in the draft and also signed veteran receiver Eric Decker. Combine those two with hold overs Rishard Matthews and tight end Delanie Walker and Mariota could be primed to take his game to the next level. The Raiders have a potent offense as well, so this game could be a high scoring affair. Mariota should produce big stats at a mid-tier price in this contest.

Jared Goff vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Goff’s rookie campaign was one to forget as he threw for 1,089 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions in seven starts. The Rams took measures to upgrade their offense this for season by bringing in wide receivers Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. If you are playing in a tournament, Goff is a cheap option who might be worth a shot Sunday as he gets a favorable match up against a bad Colts secondary who will be missing their best cornerback in Vontae Davis due to injury. The Colts also allowed 27 passing touchdowns and only recorded eight interceptions in 2016.

**RUNNING BACKS**

LeSean McCoy vs. New York Jets
Stadium – New Era Field

McCoy is coming off of another excellent season with the Bills as he rushed for 1,267 yards to go along with 13 rushing touchdowns. He was also a threat in the passing game, hauling in 50 receptions for 356 yards and one touchdown. The Bills don’t have much depth behind McCoy, so expect him to see a heavy work load again this year. McCoy gets a favorable opponent Week 1 in the Jets as they just traded away stellar defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson. He was also excellent at home last season as he rushed for 102.9 yards per game at home compared to 68.4 yards per game on the road. Even more staggering is that 11 of his 13 rushing touchdowns came at New Era Field. Start McCoy and enjoy the production.

Christian McCaffrey vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium

The Panthers drafted McCaffrey eighth overall and he has certainly brought excitement and high expectations to their offense. The Panthers lacked explosiveness on offense last year, so a player with McCaffrey’s ability to catch passes out of the backfield and overall explosiveness are certainly a welcomed addition. The 49ers allowed 2,654 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns last season, both the worst in the NFL. The price is right to take a shot on McCaffrey even in his first game in the league.

Bilal Powell vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field

Although running back Matt Forte has the more impressive career resume, Powell is on the rise while Forte is in the midst of the twilight of his career. Powell is coming off the best season of his career in 2016 when he posted 722 rushing yards, 388 receiving yards and five total touchdowns. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry last season compared to only 3.7 yards per carry for Forte. While the two are expected to split carries, don’t be surprised if Powell sees more action Sunday. He won’t cost much, making him a nice value play.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

Julio Jones vs. Chicago Bears
Stadium – Soldier Field

Jones was limited to 14 games last season, but he still put up big numbers as he finished with 83 receptions, 1,409 yards and six touchdowns. He is clearly Ryan’s favorite receiver as he saw at least seven targets 11 times last year. That volume is excellent, especially when you consider Jones averaged a whopping 17.0 yards per receptions last season. A Ryan-Jones stack will be costly in Week 1, but they could put up elite numbers.

Brandon Marshall vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – AT&T Stadium

Marshall joins the New York Giants after a down year with the Jets as he recorded only 59 receptions for 788 yards and three touchdowns. I’m largely throwing that out the window though as the Jets had some of the worst quarterback play in the league. Marshall now gets Eli Manning throwing passes his way who is a major upgrade even at this stage of Manning’s career. Manning has not had big receiver like Marshall since the days of Plaxico Burress, who was one of his favorite targets. Marshall has three inches on the tallest member of the Cowboys’ secondary, so defending him is going to be a problem. He is a mid-tier price option who has the potential for a big performance.

Pierre Garcon vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium

While he didn’t get a ton of publicity, Garcon had a productive season with the Washington Redskins last year as he hauled in 79 receptions for 1,041 yards and three touchdowns. It marked the second time in his career that he posted at least 1,000 receiving yards and the first time since he had 1,346 yards in 2013. New 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was on the Redskins staff in 2013, something that should not go unnoticed. With the 49ers lacking talent at the receiver position, expect Garcon to get a ton of targets. Even if he struggles to find the end zone, the volume alone makes Garcon a solid play in Week 1, especially considering his price.

Kevin White vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium Soldier Field

The Bears were dealt a crushing blow in the preseason when they lost receiver Cameron Meredith for the year with a knee injury. Already lacking talent at receiver, White is now the best option they have. White was limited to only four games last season due to injury, finishing with 19 receptions for 187 yards. He’s healthy heading into the season, which is all that matters for DFS in Week 1. With the Bears likely to be down big in this game, they should have to throw the ball a lot, meaning White could put up big numbers even at a bargain basement price.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Greg Olsen vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium

If you look up the word consistent in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of Olsen. Olsen has started all 16 games and received at least 100 targets in each of the last five seasons, posting at least 1,000 receiving yards in three straight seasons. Although the Panthers brought in McCaffrey, they still don’t have a strong wide receiver group. Olsen also torched the 49ers last season as he had 5 receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. Roll with him again Sunday.

Austin Hooper vs. Chicago Bears
Stadium – Soldier Field

All aboard, this is your captain on the Austin Hooper hype train. I’m a big fan of him heading into this season as he will be taking over as the starting tight end for the Falcons. Their tight ends combined for 10 touchdowns last season, so their is some upside for Hooper. I’ve already mentioned I like the Falcons offense in this game, so giving Hooper a shot at his dirt cheap price is something I’m willing to do. I wouldn’t be surprised if he finds the end zone in this game.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – NRG Stadium

This almost seems too easy. The Texans enter this season with one of the better defenses in the league as they only allowed 301.3 yards per game in 2016, the fewest in the NFL. In step the Jaguars with Blake Bortles “winning” the quarterback job over Chad Henne in the preseason. Bortles was awful on the road against the Texans last season, throwing for only 92 yards to go along with one interception and no touchdowns. While he might not be that bad again, the Texans should still be able to put the clamps on Jacksonville.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

The Rams luck out (sorry, I couldn’t resist) in Week 1 against the Colts as quarterback Andrew Luck will miss the game due to injury. In steps Scott Tolzien who has two touchdowns compared to seven interceptions over his career. He made one start against the Pittsburgh Steelers last year, finishing with 205 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. It’s going to be hard for the Colts to score with Tolzien at the helm, making the Rams an interesting option at a cheap price.

 

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks for 09/03/2017

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks – Sunday, September 3

Get ready for some high scoring games Sunday as there are some really bad pitchers scheduled to take the mound. 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**

Ervin Santana vs. Kansas City Royals
Park – Target Field

Santana has been excellent for the Twins this season as he is 14-7 with a 3.27 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and has 146 strikeouts in 176 innings. He is showing no signs of slowing down as he has recorded a quality start in five of his last six outings and has at least six strikeouts in each of his last seven starts. Sunday brings a favorable match up against a Royals offense that has been shut out in five of their last eight games. On a day filled with weak starting pitching, Santana should shine in this contest.

Josh Tomlin vs. Detroit Tigers
Park – Comerica Park

Tomlin will be making his first start in over a month after being sidelined with a hamstring injury. He wasn’t having a very good season before he was injured, going 7-9 with a 5.38 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 86 strikeouts in 110.1 innings.  While his overall numbers are poor, he was showing signs of coming out of his funk as he allowed three runs or less in each of his last three starts before being injured. The main reason you can take a chance on Tomlin Sunday is because the Tigers offense is bad. After dismantling their team for prospects and salary relief, there are few potent bats left in their lineup. On a day without a ton of great options, Tomlin has potential.

**OFFENSIVE STACKS**

Chicago Cubs vs. Max Fried (Atlanta Braves)
Park – Wrigley Field

The Cubs enter Sunday on a seven-game winning streak, largely because of their offense. They have scored at least 14 runs three times in their last eight games and scored at least six runs 16 times in August. They face off against Fried who is making his first start of the season. In four relief appearances this season, he has a 5.40 ERA and 1.95 WHIP. He did make 19 starts at AA this season, but posted an ugly 5.92 ERA and 1.51 WHIP. Don’t expect him to be able to slow down the Cubs.

Players to consider stacking: Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez and Ben Zobrist

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Chris Tillman (Baltimore Orioles)
Park – Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The fact that Tillman is still starting games for the Orioles shows just how much talent they lack in their organization. Tillman enters Sunday 1-7 with a 7.91 ERA, 1.95 WHIP and only 56 strikeouts in 79.2 innings. While he did serve a brief stint in the bullpen, he has started in 17 of his 19 appearances this season. While he has only pitched 79.2 innings, he has already allowed 20 home runs and has a 5.0 BB/9. Just about everywhere you look on the stat sheet is another ugly number for Tillman. Look for the Blue Jays offense to have a big performance in this game.

Players to consider stacking: Josh Donaldson, Justin Smoak and Kevin Pillar

 

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks for 09/02/2017

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks – Saturday, September 2

Three elite pitchers will be taking the mound Saturday with Max Scherzer, Corey Kluber and Chris Archer all scheduled to start. 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. Detroit Tigers
Park – Comerica Park

Kluber continues to dominate this season as he is 13-4 with a 2.63 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 215 strikeouts in 160.2 innings. He was even better in August, posting a 5-1 record to go along with a 1.96 ERA and a ridiculous 0.63 WHIP. This is an excellent match up for Kluber Saturday against a Detroit Tigers team that has waived the white flag and traded away some of their best players, including slugging outfielder Justin Upton. Expect him to take advantage of their compromised lineup and throw another gem in this contest.

Lance Lynn vs. San Francisco Giants
Park – AT&T Park

Lynn may not get a ton of notoriety outside of St. Louis, but he is having an excellent season as he is 10-6 with a 3.14 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 132 strikeouts in 157.2 innings. He has been a model of consistency lately as he has allowed two earned runs or less in 10 of his last 11 games. The Giants are not a very good offensive team and they entered Friday with a terrible .668 OPS at home, which is the lowest in baseball. Lynn won’t cost you much, but he looks primed for another big performance.

**OFFENSIVE STACKS**

Cleveland Indians vs. Jordan Zimmermann (Detroit Tigers)
Park – Comerica Park

Zimmermann is having the worst season of his career as he is 8-11 with a 6.08 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and only 94 strikeouts in 145 innings. He has been even worse lately, allowing seven runs in three of his last four starts. Zimmermann’s 5.8 K/9 and 11.4 H/9 are certainly not a receipt for success. In two starts against the Indians this season, Zimmermann went 0-2 with a 9.35 ERA and 1.73 WHIP. Make sure you take advantage of this lopsided match up and stack your entries with Indians hitters.

Players to consider stacking: Edwin Encarnacion, Francisco Lindor and Yan Gomes

Minnesota Twins vs. Onelki Garcia (Kansas City Royals)
Park – Target Field

Garcia had a rough outing in his only start of the season Sunday against the Indians as he allowed five runs over 5.2 innings. He allowed eight hits and four walks while recording only two strikeouts, making for a very rough performance. His minor league numbers aren’t very impressive either as he posted a 4.75 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 22 appearances (12 starts). The Twins are on a roll as they battle for a playoff spot, so look for their offense to continue to put up crooked numbers Saturday.

Players to consider stacking: Brian Dozier, Jorge Polanco and Eddie Rosario