NFL FanDuel DFS Plays and Fades: Week 4

Welcome to this week’s NFL FanDuel DFS Plays and Fades – a Daily Fantasy Sports column focused on setting the foundation for NFL FanDuel DFS lineups with the best plays and fades. The foundation of NFL FanDuel DFS lineups are structured around QB, RB, and WR plays as well as recognizing plays to fade.

NFL FanDuel DFS Plays and Fades: Quarterbacks

 Top Play – Tom Brady ($8,600) NE vs MIA

Brady and the Patriots are in unfamiliar territory as they look to avoid a 3 game losing streak after dropping their last 2 games vs the Lions and Jaguars. The Patriots usually respond well when their backs are against the wall, and I expect more of the same this week vs Miami to avoid starting the first quarter of the season 1-3. Miami’s defense may be even worse than ranked as they have faced middling QBs Marcus Mariota, Sam Darnold, and Derek Carr in their 3 games this season. Brady has owned the Dolphins during his career and will exploit their 29th ranked pass defense in a bounce back performance.

Value Play – Eli Manning ($7,100) NYG vs NO

Eli showed signs of life with a solid performance last week vs Houston going 25 of 29 for 297 yards with 2 TDs. The benching of struggling OL Ereck Flowers led to an improvement of the Giants pass protection, which in turn led to Eli having time to feed his plethora of weapons. This week, Eli faces the Saints defense that was just torched by Matt Ryan for 374 yards and 5 touchdowns. In Week 1, this Saints defense was also torched by Ryan Fitzpatrick for over 400 yards and 5 touchdowns (4 passing, 1 rushing). After doubt surrounding Eli and should the Giants have drafted a QB with their top pick, he will continue silencing his doubters with a stellar performance vs New Orleans – in what is projected to be a high scoring game.

Fade – Sam Darnold ($6,200) NYJ @ JAC

After a promising debut vs Detroit, Darnold has struggled mightily. In his last 2 starts, Darnold has thrown 4 interceptions and is now tied for the league lead in interceptions. This week, Darnold faces the ferocious Jaguars defense, which ranks top 5 overall. Darnold’s biggest struggles occur when he faces consistent pressure, which the Jaguars have shown is one of their strengths. Expect the Jaguars to bounce back from their Week 3 defeat while forcing Darnold into another rough outing.

NFL FanDuel DFS Plays and Fades: Running Backs

Top Play – Ezekiel Elliott ($8,200) DAL vs DET

Zeke took the blame for last week’s loss vs Seattle as he had a crushing fumble at the most inopportune time, while Dallas was attempting a comeback. Statistically, Zeke had a decent game with 127 rush yards, but failed to score a TD and had a few miscues. This week, he is in a bounce back spot vs Detroit – which ranks last in defense vs the run. Zeke will look to avert all of last week’s misery with a big performance against the Lions as they have been gashed by RBs thus far this season.

Value Play – Giovani Bernard ($6,400) CIN @ ATL

This pick is contingent on the status of Bengals starting RB Joe Mixon.  If Mixon remains out, Bernard remains a great value. Bernard received all of the RB work with 12 rushes for 61 yards with a TD and caught 5 of 9 targets for 25 yards against a middle of the road Panthers rush defense.  Bernard faces Atlanta’s 27th ranked defense, which is 28th vs the run in the highest projected scoring game of the week. Bernard will be a dual threat on the turf in Atlanta and is a great value on FanDuel.

Fade – Derrick Henry ($6,000) TEN  vs PHI

Tennessee’s RB rotations are frustrating for fantasy owners. Just when you start to think Henry is primed for a big role and great game, it instead becomes the Dion Lewis show. Although Henry has 36 carries over the last two games (18 each), he only has totaled 113 yards. For the season, Henry has a total of 2 receiving targets with 1 reception for 5 yards. To make matters worse, he has also failed to score a TD this season. The nail in the coffin is this week’s match-up vs the top ranked Eagles rush defense – making Henry an absolute fade.

NFL FanDuel DFS Plays and Fades: Wide Receivers

Top Play – Odell Beckham Jr. ($8,600) NYG vs NO

We have been waiting for the Odell Beckham Jr. blowup spot, game, and TDs. We are about to witness the highest paid WR in the game exploit the Saints 30th ranked pass defense. OBJ has to be licking his chops in one of this week’s highest projected scoring games. The Saints have been where WRs go for breakfast, lunch, and dinner – WRs have been feasting vs this defense. The Eli to OBJ connection will be clicking on all cylinders as the Giants look to improve to 2-2.

Value Play – Calvin Ridley ($6,300) ATL vs CIN

Ridley officially arrived with last week’s 3 TD game vs the Saints. Atlanta drafted Ridley in the first round of this year’s draft as they have been searching for an upgrade at the 2nd WR spot next to Julio Jones – and it looks they may have their guy. This week, Atlanta faces the Bengal’s 24th ranked pass defense in the highest projected scoring game of the week. Ridley has shown a strong rapport with QB Matt Ryan, and this will continue this week vs Cincinnati.

Fade – Larry Fitzgerald ($6,400) ARI vs SEA

It has been tough this season watching future Hall of Famer Fitzgerald be stuck in the mud with the 0-3 Cardinals.  The new coaching staff looks lost and are misusing RB star David Johnson, Sam Bradford is bust, and now Arizona has decided to start rookie QB Josh Rosen. To make maters worse, Fitzgerald has been dealing with a hamstring injury that limited him throughout the week last week and potentially affected him during last week’s game vs Chicago. Although division rival Seattle’s defense is not as dominant as it once was, they are still formidable, which makes Fitzgerald a fade with a rookie QB at the helm.

Best of luck with your NFL FanDuel DFS Plays! Be sure to follow me on Twitter @FanoftheGame83 and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for more fantasy insight and analysis.