NFL DFS Thursday Night Football: FanDuel single game preview

Thursday Night Football presents the FanDuel/DFS community with a clash of AFC teams! Let’s take a look at this game from a fantasy football perspective!

Before I dive into my fantasy football player selections for the single game contest let’s take a look at the key DFS injuries for Thursday night’s game and briefly discuss the rules for the FanDuel single game contest.

Key DFS Injuries

New York Jets: OUT: Ryan Griffin, TE, Bilal Powell, RB: DOUBTFUL: Demaryius Thomas, WR: QUESTIONABLE: Ty Montgomery, RB.

Baltimore Ravens: QUESTIONABLE: Lamar Jackson, QB, Mark Andrews, TE.

Now let’s briefly discuss the rules for the FanDuel single game contest. You have $60,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team MVP. The FanDuel MVP accumulates 1.5 times the standard FanDuel points value.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard FanDuel points value. Having stated that, it is imperative that you identify the correct player for your MVP position if you hope to take down a FanDuel single game contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for this single game contest I recommend that you check out the FanDuel website for more details.

Here are my FanDuel player selections for Thursday Night Football!

MVP-Lamar Jackson $17,500

I am someone that in general terms likes to avoid the chalk when I play daily fantasy sports. However, sometimes I recognize rather quickly that eating the chalk is the smart and prudent play. Well, that is certainly the case with this single game contest as I roll with Lamar Jackson as my MVP.

Jackson is simply having a great year. He has been effective running and passing the football. Getting that skill set from the quarterback position is outstanding from a fantasy perspective.

For me, Jackson has the highest upside of any player on this slate. Having stated that, he is the clear and obvious correct choice for the MVP position.

I should note Jackson’s recent fantasy performance. In his last four games, Lamar Jackson is averaging an impressive 28.04 FanDuel points a game.

Lamar Jackson has been officially designated as questionable for Thursday night’s game. However, reports indicate that barring a major setback, Jackson will play. In the abundance of caution, I recommend that you pay close attention to the inactive list that each team releases an hour prior to kickoff.

Flex Plays

Mark Ingram II $14,000

The Baltimore Ravens are a team that clearly believes that running the football is paramount to success on the football field. Having stated that, my first flex play selection is Ravens running back Mark Ingram.

Baltimore gives Ingram a high number of offensive touches every week. Ingram has carried the ball 58 times in his last four games. Additionally, in that same four game span, Ingram was targeted by quarterback Lamar Jackson as a receiver 10 times.

I should note that although the New York Jets have not been a very good football team in 2019, they have done a decent job of defending the run this season. However, last week the Jets allowed 122 rushing yards to the Miami Dolphins.

Hayden Hurst $8,500

I mentioned earlier in this article that Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is questionable for Thursday’s game. If Andrews is indeed out, I will be going with Hayden Hurst as a flex play. Hurst played well in last week’s game versus the Buffalo Bills. Hurst finished last week’s game with three receptions, 73 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown.

Le’Veon Bell $13,000

If I am being honest, I don’t have a great deal of confidence in any of the New York Jets players in this game. However, I think Bell has a decent chance to find some fantasy success on Thursday. To make a long story short, I think Bell will have a large number of offensive touches in this game. My hope is that Bell can convert those offensive touches into good fantasy numbers for my lineup.

Gus Edwards $7,000

For my last flex play selection I am going with Ravens running back Gus Edwards. Edwards usually sees the field in relief of Ravens starting running back Mark Ingram.

In Edwards last four games, he has 24 carries and a receiving touchdown. Keep in mind that if Ingram were to be injured in this game, Edwards would get the bulk of carries in his absence.

As always, good luck!