Daily Fantasy Football: AAF DFS Week 4 Fanball Plays

AAF DFS Week 4 Fanball Plays

The Alliance of American Football (AAF) rolls on into Week 4 with another four-game slate. Luckily for those still craving pro football DFS action now that the CFL and NFL have wrapped up their seasons, Fanball has stepped up to the plate with a full array of AAF DFS based cash games and GPPs.

As such, we’ll chime in each remaining week of the 2019 AAF DFS season with suggestions at each position for those contests. Before getting into our AAF DFS Week 4 plays, a summary of some of the most significant ways in which AAF rules depart from those of the NFL

No kickoffs; each team begins any game-opening/second-half-opening and post-score drive at its own 25-yard line.
No extra points; teams will be required to attempt a two-point conversion play after each touchdown.
No onside kicks; teams will have the option of running a “4th-and-12” play from their own 28-yard line in lieu of onside kicks. The play will only be made available if a team is trailing by 17 points or more or if they’re trailing with 5 minutes or fewer left in regulation.
Teams that are scored upon via a safety also have the option of attempting to gain possession by running this same play from their own 18-yard line.
35-second play clocks, as opposed to the 40-second clocks utilized in the NFL.
All overtime periods played under “Kansas Playoff” rules. Each team begins on the opponent’s 10-yard line and given four chances to score. No field goals are allowed in overtime. If the score remains tied after each team has had a possession, the game ends in a tie.
No more than five defensive players may rush on any one play. Any players on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage at the snap count towards those five players whether they rush or not.
Pass rushing from a starting position that is more than two yards outside the widest offensive lineman and more than five yards from the line of scrimmage (defensive pressure box) is prohibited. However, there are exceptions to this rule on play-action or run-pass option plays, or if the ball leaves the tackle box.
Violations of the aforementioned defensive alignment rules will prompt a 15-yard illegal defense penalty.
Finally, a “sky judge” situated in a suite above the field acts as the ninth member of the officiating crew and will have access to review each play. The sky judge will have the ability to correct any on-field officiating errors that it deems “egregious.”

AAF DFS Week 4 Fanball Plays- Quarterbacks

Garrett Gilbert, ORL at SL ($7,100):

It’s admittedly a bit cliche at this point to suggest Gilbert, but his upside, particularly in an eight-quarterback field, is undeniable. The leader of Steve Spurrier‘s aggressive attack has scored between 22.58 and 29.22 fantasy points in his first three games, generating a 5:0 TD:INT and adding a rushing score as well. Gilbert sports the most fantasy points (79.4) of any player regardless of position, and he’s put up at least 25 pass attempts in each contest.

Saturday, he’ll get a crack at a Salt Lake defense that’s yielding the third-most fantasy points per game (18.2) to quarterbacks, along with the most completions (21.3) per contest. No team has given up more than the Stallions’ five touchdown passes either, giving Gilbert plenty of paths to another successful return despite his status as the highest-priced quarterback on the slate.

Josh Woodrum, SL vs. ORL ($6,200):

Woodrum returned from a one-game absence due to a hamstring injury last week, and the Stallions’ offense looked much smoother than under the guidance of Austin Allen in Week 2. Playing in his first full game, Woodrum generated a solid 13.72 fantasy points on the strength of 178 passing yards and a touchdown. It’s worth noting Woodrum also appeared on his way to a strong opening-week effort before suffering his injury against the Hotshots, and he’ll draw an appealing matchup Saturday night against the Apollos.

Orlando has faced the second-most pass attempts (104) in the AAF, and in turn, have allowed the second-most completions (58) and air yards (983). They’ve also given up five total scoring passes (three touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions) overall. As those numbers imply, opposing teams clearly feel the pressure of having to keep up with the Apollos’ high-octane attack, which should lead to a robust amount of pass attempts for Woodrum on his home field.

Luis Perez, BIR vs. SA ($5,400):

Perez’s touchdown-less streak extended to a third straight game last weekend, but the odds might finally be in his favor Sunday afternoon in a home matchup against the Commanders. After a three-interception day in the opener versus the Fleet, the Commanders secondary has struggled. San Antonio has allowed the most fantasy points per game (19.7) to quarterbacks, along with the most passing yards (276.7) per contest.

The Commanders have also yielded the most air yards (1,017) and the second-most passing touchdowns (four), so they could clearly be the cure for Perez’s scoring drought. For his part, Perez has put up over 30 pass attempts in each contest and has only thrown one interception, so he’s certainly done his part taking care of the ball. Given the Commanders’ weaknesses in the secondary, Iron coach Tim Lewis could well choose to center his offensive game plan on the pass and in turn break his well-documented tendency of focusing on RB Trent Richardson in the red zone.

AAF DFS Week 4 Fanball Plays- Running Backs

Ja’Quan Gardner, SD at MEM ($7,000):

Naturally, Trent Richardson ($7,600) has to be under consideration each week given his tremendous touchdown equity. However, the rate at which he’s scoring seems unsustainable, and he’s actually been highly inefficient otherwise. Meanwhile, Gardner has been exponentially more productive in terms of yards-per-touch and checks in $600 cheaper. Gardner leads the AAF in rushing yards (281), and he corroborated his ability to go the distance on any given touch with his dynamic 83-yard touchdown scamper in Week 2.

Gardner also brings a pass-catching dimension to the table and will draw an enticing matchup in the Express, which have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game (30.5) to running backs, along with the most rushing yards (131.7) per contest and four rushing touchdowns to the position. Moreover, Memphis is yielding a robust 4.0 receptions to running backs per contest, which could certainly help Gardner supplement his overall production nicely.

D’Ernest Johnson, ORL at SL ($5,500):

Johnson got a well-deserved opportunity as a lead back in Week 3, and he was essentially as effective as he’d been in part-time duty over the first two games of the season. The USF product totaled 79 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown on 13 carries versus the Express, and he added a pair of receptions for 18 yards on his way to 17.7 fantasy points. Johnson has now gained at least 6.1 yards per carry in each of the first three contests of the season.

The Stallions are ranked smack in the middle of the AAF with 21.1 fantasy points per game allowed to running backs, and they’re actually allowing the fewest rushing yards per game (73.7) of any team in the league. Yet, Salt Lake is also tied with three other clubs for most receptions allowed to the position (14), and they’re even with the Apollos for most receiving yards surrendered (111) as well. That gives Johnson, whose price only rose $700 from last week, a chance to still offer a strong return even if ground yards are at a premium.

Jhurell Pressley, ARI vs. ATL ($5,000):

Pressley’s ownership is likely be at least a bit depressed heading into Week 4, considering he’s seen his carries and rushing yards drop in each game thus far. The flip side of that coin is that his price has also tumbled, and he thus presents as one of the potentially sneakier values of the week in an enticing matchup.

The Legends have been a proverbial sieve versus running backs, allowing the most fantasy points per game (32.0) to the position, along with the most rushing touchdowns (six). The Iron’s Trent Richardson compiled half of those scores in Week 3, but Atlanta also allowed the Fleet’s Ja’Quan Gardner to find the end zone twice and go over 100 yards against them in Week 2. Pressley has still logged double-digit carries in each game, and considering that game script could well conspire in favor of the running game Sunday night, he could see a bump in workload.

AAF DFS Week 4 Fanball Plays- Wide Receivers

Quinton Patton, BIR vs. SA ($6,500):

As mentioned in Perez’s entry, the Commanders have been generous to passing attacks over the last two weeks, and Patton is an excellent option to attack that vulnerability with. The AAF leader in air yards (386) and aDOT (18.6) as far as receivers with more than one reception, Patton is a deep threat capable of exposing a San Antonio defense that’s allowing a league-high 42.6 fantasy points and 212.3 yards per game to wide receivers.

Patton has struggled with his catch rate (52.4 percent), but he’s clearly Perez’s go-to pass-catching option. The former 49er has seen 21 targets overall, and even though he logged a season-low five in Week 3, he came up with four of them in what was his most efficient performance yet. With the Commanders secondary clearly the weak link of their defense, it wouldn’t surprise to see Patton have an opportunity to run even more aggressive routes than usual.

De’Mornay Pierson-El, SL vs. ORL ($6,200):

Pierson-El suffered through a case of the dropsies over the first two weeks, but those were nowhere to be found in Week 3 against the Hotshots. Pierson-El hauled in all eight of his targets for 90 yards and a touchdown on his way to 25.0 fantasy points, as he displayed an impressive level of chemistry with returning signal-caller Josh Woodrum.

With the chemistry between them evident, he makes for an intriguing play in a Week 4 matchup against an Apollos team that’s very likely to force Salt Lake to keep its foot on the gas for all four quarters. Orlando has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game (31.9) to wide receivers, along with the most targets (24.7) and second-most receptions (12.0). They also top the AAF with 316.0 air yards surrendered per contest, adding to Pierson-El’s formidable case.

Rannell Hall, ORL at SL ($5,000):

Hall represents cost-effective exposure to the Apollos’ high-powered passing attack if you can’t quite fit Charles Johnson ($7,200) or Jalin Marshall ($5,600) into your lineups, and he’s been carving out an increasingly larger niche in the offense each week as well. The UCF product was up to six targets in Week 3 against the Express, hauling in four of them for 68 yards and his first touchdown. That followed a four-target day in Week 2 against the Commanders, an indication Hall is seemingly earning more of QB Garrett Gilbert’s trust as the season unfolds.

While Hall is projected to get some tough Will Davis coverage in Week 4, his price and upside are such that he’s worth a GPP flyer as a key component of a pass-heavy offense with a fairly reliable quarterback. The Stallions have also been far from an abyss for wide receivers, as they’re allowing the second-most fantasy points per game (34.3) to the position, along with the most receptions (12.3) per contest. Orlando is essentially guaranteed to remain aggressive, particularly on the road, where the game could well be close for all four quarters.

AAF DFS Week 4 Fanball Plays- Flex Options

Joel Bouagnon, SL vs. ORL ($5,400):

Bouagnon had the least name recognition in the Stallions backfield coming into the season, but he’s done his best to change that over the first three games. While backfield mate Branden Oliver has been effective as well, Bouagnon’s solid body of work has already rendered former Minnesota Viking Matt Asiata a healthy scratch for one game. The Northern Illinois product has been the recipient of a steady workload in the form of 13.0 carries per contest, and he’s found the end zone in each of the last two games as well on his way to fantasy-point totals of 15.1 and 11.6, respectively.

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The Apollos have allowed an average of 20.5 fantasy points per game to running backs, and they’re one of four teams tied most receptions allowed per game (4.7) to the position. Orlando is also tied for most receiving yards per contest (37.0) yielded to running backs, building Bouagnon’s case at a very affordable price.

Sherman Badie, MEM vs. SD ($4,500):

The Apollos’ De’Veon Smith ($4,200) is certainly another option in this price range for those that need the savings. Meanwhile, Badie ran decisively and effectively in his Week 3 AAF debut, racking up 59 rushing yards on eight carries and also gaining 16 yards on his one reception in part-time duty. The Tulane product can make plays in space and can be an effective receiver as well, with his 5.1 yards per carry and 56 receptions during his days with the Green Wave substantiating both of those statements.

The Fleet are allowing a robust 4.5 yards per carry to RBs, and they’re one of the aforementioned four teams tied for the most receptions per game allowed to the position (4.7). Zac Stacy is still likely to fill lead-back duties, but Badie is the more dynamic of the two and brings more big-play upside overall due to his speed. With just a one-game sample to go on and the fact he’s on an 0-3 squad, low ownership seems likely, making him all the more appealing at his current price.

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*All team statistics courtesy of www.noextrapoints.com