DraftKings NFL best lineup for Week 11
By Joe Romano
Tight Ends
Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints – $6600
Once again the tight end position is topped off by an elite option followed by some dice rolls. The elite option is Zach Ertz. The Eagles receiving threat is coming off a big game on Sunday night against Dallas. He will look to find continued success against the Saints. For as bad as the Saints pass defense has been, that damage was not done by tight ends. New Orleans ranks in the bottom five o points per game to receivers. Ertz has a tough matchup but he is one of maybe three tight ends that should be considered matchup proof.
Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers @ Detroit Lions – $5000
It was not very long ago that Greg Olsen was in the same category as Ertz. Now Olsen rests just a tier behind the elite players at the position. Now fully healthy Olsen is more of a victim of being on an offense with a diverse range of weapons. Olsen is still a strong option and is the 15th ranked tight end despite missing a handful of games. This week he plays the Lions defense that allows league average production to the position. Like most tight ends after Ertz this will be a shot in the dark prediction.
O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New York Giants – $4900
In a matchup last week that was poised for a big game, the Buccaneers only threw to their former first round pick twice. O.J. Howard has about as much upside week to week as any tight end in the league. When he is seeing a solid target share he has been productive. Unfortunately the Buccaneers and Ryan Fitzpatrick for some reason forget that. Now Howard gets the Giants, a team that historically struggles against tight ends. They’ve been better this season but Howard could find some success if his quarterback looks his way.
Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons vs Dallas Cowboys – $4500
The fact that Austin Hooper is a top ten scoring fantasy tight end should speak to the nature of the position. Hooper is a talented pass catcher but is on an offense where he is the fourth or fifth option at best. This week he is DraftKings fourth highest priced tight end. It is not like this is an elite matchup for Hooper, as Dallas ranks 13th in points allowed to the position. It is simply a lack of other options and touchdown upside that has Hooper here.
Eric Ebron, Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans – $4300
For weeks earlier in this season Eric Ebron was considered one of the best fantasy tight ends. His production has took a slight hit with the return of Jack Doyle but both have remained viable options in the Colts passing attack. Ebron was the beneficiary of some good play calling down in the red zone in his two touchdown performance Sunday. It was Doyle who led in opportunities though. Both should be considered dicey options for Week 11 against a Titans defense that is the NFL’s best at defending the tight end this season.
Value Tight Ends
Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans – $4200
Doyle should be lumped in with Ebron. Both players see the field a ton and Doyle has a connection with Luck. To save the $100 I’d pick Doyle of Ebron this week. Even though this is a tough matchup for both.
Vance McDonald, Pittsburgh Steelers @ Jacksonville Jaguars – $4000
In a position that it is tough to predict success, a player we’ve seen succeed against the team they are playing this week is Vance McDonald. The Steelers have a high powered offense going up agianst one of the league’s best defenses this week. McDonald may be the beneficiary of the talented corners in Jacksonville taking away the receivers. This is a revenge game for Pittsburgh as they lost twice to the Jaguars a year ago, including once in the playoffs. McDonald was strong in the playoff loss catching 10 of 16 targets for 112 yards. If that production is even close to what he does this week he’ll grossly outperform his price tag.