AAF DFS Week 5 Fanball Plays

AAF DFS Week 5 Fanball Plays

The Alliance of American Football (AAF) rolls on into Week 5 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 5 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 5 Fanball Plays- Quarterbacks

John Wolford, ARI vs. SA ($6,000):

Wolford has seen a downturn over the last two games, one of which was injury-shortened. Wolford was back under center against the Legends in Week 4, but he came up short with just 14.8 fantasy points in a disappointing defeat. However, he’ll have a chance to bounce back against the Commanders, which come in allowing the most passing yards per game (258.0), along with the most air yards (1,411).

Wolford displayed his upside in Weeks 1 and 2, when he scored 33.3 and 20.26 fantasy points, respectively, while generating a 6:2 TD:INT. He leads the AAF with eight touchdowns overall, and even with the loss of Josh Huff (knee) to injured reserve, Wolford still has a plethora of pass-catching options at his disposal led by the dominant Rashad Ross. He also enjoys the benefit of a strong running game spearheaded by Jhurell Pressley, and coach Rick Neuheisel‘s game plan versus San Antonio will likely call for an aggressive air attack after the Hotshots have come up short on the scoreboard in the last two games. 

Aaron Murray ($5,900), ATL vs. MEM:

Murray earns the start in Week 5 after having done a stellar job in relief of Matt Simms (hand) in Week 4. The stars seemed to align overall for the Legends in last Sunday night’s win over the Hotshots, as new offensive coordinator Ken Zampese’s system seemed to be an ideal fit for Murray’s skills. The former Georgia Bulldog parlayed his mobility and accuracy into 254 passing yards and another 54 on the ground, leading to 15.56 fantasy points in three quarters-plus of play.

Murray now gets a crack at an Express defense that’s allowed the third-most passing yards per game (210.5), along with the second-most touchdown passes (five) thus far. Atlanta has only one week of their new-look offense on film, and Zampese may therefore still have plenty of tricks in his bag that have the potential to catch Memphis’ defense by surprise. Murray’s ability to supplement his production on the ground is also a big plus, and this represents an opportunity to nab him at a still-reasonable cost in an appealing matchup.
 

Luis Perez, BIR vs. ORL ($5,300): 

It’s admittedly getting a bit tiresome to predict that Perez will finally break the ice in terms of throwing his first touchdown pass, but it has to transpire at some point, right? A potential faster-paced game versus the Apollos might finally be what does the trick, considering Orlando is facing a robust 31.5 pass attempts per contest as teams often find themselves having to throw frequently to keep up with them.

Perez leads the AAF with 141 pass attempts and is third with 1,207 air yards, but he’s still averaging a mediocre 5.7 yards per attempt. Orlando has allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game (189.8) in the league and six scoring passes overall (three TD, three two-point conversion), so the matchup is there if Perez can finally start hitting some downfield throws consistently and coach Tim Lewis opts to change things up in the red zone a bit. At the very least, Perez’s price offers significant savings, and he has posted double-digit fantasy points in three of his first four games.

AAF DFS Week 5 Fanball Plays- Running Backs

Jhurell Pressley, ARI vs. SA ($6,900):

After a pair of rather ordinary outings, Pressley bounced back with a career-best 110-yard rushing effort against the Legends in Week 4, production he supplemented with four receptions. That led to a strong return of 18.3 fantasy points, with Pressley claiming 59 percent of the snaps and running eight routes overall versus Atlanta.

The speedy back walks into an enticing Week 5 matchup as well, as the Commanders come in allowing 5.8 yards per carry to running backs. They’ve only faced a league-low average of 17.3 rushes per game because their pass defense has been so poor, but San Antonio clearly has been generous when teams have chosen to focus on the ground attack. Then, they’re also tied with the Apollos for the second-most receptions per game allowed to the position (4.5), which furthers Pressley’s case.

Kenneth Farrow, III, SA at ARI ($6,700):

Following a sub-par Week 3 outing where he was dealing with a back injury, Farrow exploded for a 30-carry, 142-yard performance in Week 4 against the Iron of all defenses. All eyes will be on the former Charger in Week 5 as he attempts to put together a strong encore performance and string together consecutive productive outings for the first time this season. The good news is that he seems all but assured of lead-back status, and that his matchup isn’t exactly prohibitive.

The Hotshots come into Week 5 allowing the third-most rushing yards per game (105.5). They’ve also surrendered five rushing touchdowns, the second-highest figure in that category in the AAF. Farrow logged an impressive 74.0 percent of the backfield snaps in Week 4 and ran nine pass routes as well. Moreover, it’s when and where many of those snaps came that’s encouraging, as Farrow managed a backfield-high nine third-down snaps and a whopping 13 red-zone snaps, the latter resulting in 11 touches.

Zac Stacy, MEM AT ATL ($6,300):

You may be able to nab Stacy at his lowest ownership percentage yet in Week 5, given his struggles the past two weeks. The veteran has found running room at a premium, totaling just 68 yards on 32 carries versus the Apollos and Fleet, respectively. Stacy has encouragingly continued to contribute in the passing game, however, notching three and two receptions, respectively, in those contests.

The bounce-back on the ground could be coming in Week 5 as well. No team has been more consistently vulnerable to the run than the opposing Legends, which have allowed an AAF-high 120.0 rush yards per contest and 1.5 rushing touchdowns per contest. Atlanta has also allowed opposing running backs to cross the goal line a league-high six times, and they just allowed the Hotshots’ Jhurrell Pressley to rack up 123 total yards in Week 5. With Stacy still logging 60 percent of the snaps in Week 4 despite his struggles, look for coach Mike Singletary to lean on him fairly heavily in such a plus matchup.

AAF DFS Week 5 Fanball Plays- Wide Receivers

Rashad Ross, ARI vs. SA ($7,400): 

Ross is pricey, but he’s set up almost ideally in Week 5. To begin with, the Commanders have allowed an AAF-high 258.0 passing yards per contest, as mentioned in Wolford’s entry. Then, San Antonio is allowing a league-high 180.8 receiving yards per game to wideouts. Plus they’re tied with the Stallions for most receiving touchdowns (four) surrendered, and with the Legends for most two-point conversion receptions yielded (two).

Then, as per PFF, Ross figures to draw the coverage of CB Zack Sanchez the most in Week 5, and the latter checks in with a mediocre 55.6 grade on the season. And finally, Ross’ position mate Josh Huff was placed on injured reserve Thursday with a knee injury. Huff had been a close second to Ross’ team-leading 25 targets with 23 of his own, and his absence is likely to draw at least  a bit more work Ross’ way.

Reece Horn, MEM at ATL ($5,200):

Quarterback-receiver chemistry is naturally of utmost importance, and Horn and Zach Mettenberger certainly seemed to have it in the latter’s first start in Week 4. The crafty route runner and possession receiver generated a 4-63 line versus the Fleet that resulted in 10.3 fantasy points, and he’s now seen no fewer than four targets in all four games thus far this season.

Mettenberger is likely to look for Horn again as a trusted option in the short-to-intermediate passing game, and as per PFF’s grading system, he’s likely to run a majority of routes versus Legends CB Dorian Grant, who carries a mediocre 50.9 grade thus far. The Legends are now allowing the fourth-most receiving yards (144.8) to wideouts in the AAF as well, and given the success of Atlanta’s offense last week and the Express’ own defensive vulnerabilities, this could well turn into a high-scoring contest that would increase Horn’s chances of a strong return.

De’Marcus Ayers, SA at ARI ($4,400): 

For those that have a bit of extra cash to spare, Horn’s teammate Alton “Pig” Howard ($4,600) is also in play in this spot due to the Legends’ aforementioned vulnerability to wide receivers. Meanwhile, Ayers checks in with some solid upside himself at $200 cheaper, and he could also find himself in a favorable game script versus a Hotshots team that doesn’t lack for firepower and may thus force San Antonio to keep its foot on the gas.

Ayers’ targets have been nothing if not steady, as he’s logged between five and eight looks in the last three games. The former Steeler has often been victimized by QB Logan Woodside’s inconsistent accuracy, however, as he’s managed just a 50 percent catch rate thus far. However, Arizona comes in allowing a healthy 28.5 fantasy points per contest to receivers, along with a 59.0 percent catch rate. Moreover, they’re also yielding a league-high 65.5 yards after catch per game, and Ayers checks in with the best projected CB matchup on his team versus Dexter McDougle, who carries a 57.1 grade from PFF.

AAF DFS Week 5 Fanball Plays- Flex Options

De’Veon Smith, ORL at BIR ($5,000): 

Smith remains modestly priced in what has been a difficult Apollos backfield to figure out. However, the bruiser has seen his carries rise over those of the prior game for two straight weeks, topping out at 12 rushes against Salt Lake in Week 4. Smith logged just one fewer snap (20) than pace-setter D’Ernest Johnson in Week 4 and has been efficient with his opportunities, logging 20 carries for 103 yards over his last pair of contests. His total lack of involvement in the passing game the last two games is a concern, but he did log a team-high nine third-down snaps in Week 4 and caught a trio of passes over the first two games, so it isn’t as if the potential for more work in that area isn’t there.

Smith has generally enjoyed a strong red-zone presence as well, giving him that all-important touchdown upside. Smith flashed that aspect of his game in the first pair of contests this season, scoring in each. While he hasn’t crossed the goal line since, he could easily find himself in such opportunity again given his 225-pound frame. And while the Iron defense has been stout overall, it’s important to note the Commanders, and Kenneth Farrow specifically, may have exposed some weaknesses in Week 4.

Denard Robinson, ATL vs. MEM ($3,700):

Robinson’s price is particularly appealing in light of his “breakout” Week 4 performance which saw him score his first AAF touchdown on his way to 11.7 fantasy points. “Shoelace” showed some nice burst in his scoring scamper around right end, a tangible sign the weight loss and conditioning he’s been working on for months is finally paying some dividends. Robinson’s nine carries were by far his most of the season, while his 21 snaps were only one off the team-leading pace set by Tarean Folston.

Just as important, Robinson saw five red-zone snaps and also ran eight pass routes, so the potential for an even bigger day is certainly there in Week 5. The Express could make for quite the facilitators, as they’ve allowed the second-most rushing yards (111.0) per game and four rushing touchdowns on the season. Robinson doesn’t have to do an inordinate amount to pay off his price, making him an intriguing punt play if you need to save at one flex spot.

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