High-priced wide receivers
The wide receiver position has a small collection of names that you can pencil in at the top of DraftKings rankings week in and week out. This week is no different. The top priced DraftKings wide receivers are:
Odell Beckham Jr. – New York Giants ($8500): New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. kicks off the wide receiver list this week. A tough matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers awaits Beckham. Stud corner Casey Hayward will likely shadow Beckham all game and he has been able to lock down number one receivers this entire season. The Chargers as a whole are the sixth toughest against outside wide receivers. With Eli Manning being protected by an abysmal offensive line, Joey Bose and company should feast on sacks. Beckham is a stay away at that lofty price tag and a tough matchup.
Antonio Brown – Pittsburgh Steelers ($8400): Another familiar face to the top wide receivers list is Pittsburgh Steelers wide out Antonio Brown. The big play receiver is second in the league in receiving yards and returns to the comfort of Heinz Field for a matchup with a tough Jacksonville Jaguars secondary. A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey are two of the best in the league. They’ve allowed the fewest points to opposing wide receivers. Beckham and Brown are usually matchup proof but for DraftKings they would both be off of my radar given their matchups.
A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals ($8200): Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green, another stalwart on these lists, comes in at number three, a shade behind the top two. Green and the Bengals face a tough test when the Buffalo Bills come to town on Sunday. The Bills are the fifth toughest matchup for opposing wide receivers. They are third in the league in interceptions and top ten in sacks. The Bengals look like a new team under their new offensive coordinator but this is their toughest defensive test yet. Green, like Brown and Beckham before him may be matchup proof for year long leagues but should be avoided this week in DraftKings.
Jordy Nelson – Green Bay Packers ($8100): Finally a top wide receiver with a positive matchup. Green Bay Packers top receiver Jordy Nelson is the fourth-ranked receiver by DraftKings but holds the best matchup. The Packers travel to Dallas to play the Cowboys. Nelson did not play the last time these two teams met in the playoffs a year ago. The Dallas secondary has been unable to stop anyone, leaving Nelson poised for a big day. With a $400 price reduction from the top receiver, if you are looking to spend big on a receiver Nelson would be the one to target.
Keenan Allen – Los Angeles Chargers ($7200): The Los Angeles Chargers are a unique receiving team because their top option, Keenan Allen, plays the majority of his time in the slot. This week Allen and the Chargers travel to New York to play the Giants. Allen has another tough matchup in New York with either Janoris Jenkins or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie lining up across from him. The Giants have allowed the fifth fewest points to opposing wide receivers. Allen, like the top three receivers, would be a risky play given the matchup.