In the fantasy world, opportunity is something you try to project in order to roster players that find themselves in favorable situations. When drafting in Season-long fantasy football, you start off drafting for security and the “Known,” but as the draft unfolds you catch yourself using picks on players that might have the opportunity to take over a more prominent role and over exceed expectations.
In the DFS universe, sometimes pricing doesn’t exactly catch up quick enough with the pricing, and this is where you can find extreme value when constructing lineups. There will be massive amounts of the public who will overreact and also roster players thinking the situation might be better than what it is. Not only getting the correct flyer but finding the appropriate medium in terms of ownership are the keys to roster inventing supremacy.
Here are a few players who find themselves in position to gain volume and are worthy of free agent adds. For daily fantasy, some of the prices bring us absolute value.
Increased production can be a product of either injury and a move on the depth chart, or it can happen after breakout performances where teams feel more of the offensive share should be granted.
TJ Yeldon $5,600 DK
When Leanord Fournette pulled his hamstring in the first half of week one’s matchup; the fantasy public flocked to their league’s free agency pool to find out Yeldon is available in over 90% of ESPN leagues. With the 51 rush yard performance and an additional 3 catches on seven targets, the potential nagging hamstring injury to Fournette makes Yeldon a must on the waiver wire this week. In PPR formats Yeldon could be a real threat as he’s had 36,50 and 30 receptions in his limited roles the past three seasons. One of the most run-heavy offenses in the NFL, Yeldon out-snapped Corey Grant 40-6 when plugged into the lineup after the injury.
Brandon Marshall $4,300 DK
Coming into this season, many questions loomed around the Seahawks wide receiver group. Doug Baldwin came into the season with a knee injury, good news it was his left knee, and now the grade 2 MCL tear is in his right knee. After many experts were questioning whether Marshall would make the final 53 man roster, the 2006 4th round pick finds himself with opportunity. The 6’5 massive target grabbed 3-6 targets on his way to 46 yards and a touchdown. With Baldwin’s timetable being in question for a couple of weeks, look for Marshall to eat up targets while facing the Bears, Cowboys, and Cardinals. Marshall is 91% available in ESPN leagues and will be a big target this week for many people searching for wide receivers.
Ryan Grant $4,300 DK
Perhaps the biggest question coming into this year laid on the shoulder of Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. Many predicted if healthy, the biggest beneficiary would be TY Hilton, who first the first time in his career, failed to surpass 1000 yards with Luck out in 2017. Something predictable in the Colts games will be game script due to the nature of the defense being like an intermediate school, but for fantasy purposes, this gives us the chance to attain targets from Luck. The long awaited wait is over, and his 51 attempts answered what the coaching staff thinks about his strength and ability to cut him loose now. Grant profited from the Indianapolis game plan and caught 8 of his nine targets.
Phillip Lindsay $4,400 DK
A name many fans will have to google when he comes up in conversation this week, was possibly the biggest surprise of the week. Now so much in terms of gigantic output, but more of how much was answered with Royce Freeman. Lindsay was able to produce 18.2 fantasy points on 15 carries and two catches. Maybe things can change in the next few weeks, but we learned that Freeman wasn’t involved in the passing situations putting a cap to his ceiling and opening a chance for Lindsay. The rookie out of Colorado is only owned in 44% of ESPN leagues.
Nyheim Hines $4,100 DK
The Indianapolis backfield is all types of messy, but one thing that stands out after week one is the abilities of Hines. The Darren Sproles like speedster surprisingly split the workload with Jordan Wilkins and had seven receptions on nine targets. In PPR formats look for Hines to serve as a bye week filler with the projected amount of volume he will see in the short pass game. The new look Colts offense seems to want to limit the long throws and give Andrew Luck short quick routes, This plays perfectly into Hines skillset and look for him to see the field often. Hines is only owned in 7% of ESPN Leagues.
Dante Pettis $4,000 DK
One of the toughest week one matchups possible, the 49ers traveled to Minnesota in what we forecasted to be ugly for the San Fransisco pass catchers. Marquise Goodwin was injured Sunday and is said to be day to day, but that gave Pettis the opportunity to shine. He only had two catches, but one came on a 22 yard over the shoulder catch that leaves us wanting more. If Goodwin is forced to miss any time look for Pettis to do more of the same. Someone who is currently owned in only 2.5% of leagues, his 14.1 points in week one can be something we see through the season with Jimmy Garappolo having such a high expectancy this season.
Jonnu Smith $3,100 DK
All good cars eventually ride down to an end, the classic transporter of the football that Delanie Walker was for years, might be coming to an end. The gruesome injury to the 12-year veteran leaves the Titans offense missing their most reliable weapon. Walker averaged over 800 yards the last four seasons while catching 20 touchdowns. Smith is a very talented 3rd round pick who will be plugged in immediately to an offense searching for an identity. Look for the Florida International alum to make an impact in an attack that is now missing a player that had over 100 targets the last four seasons, Tons of opportunity!
Other Players on the waiver radar
Bruce Ellington– The Texans WR2 Will Fuller is very unreliable, and Watson has shown time after time his trust in Ellington
Ian Thomas– The injury to Greg Olsen opens the doors in an offense that gives the tight end position over 100 targets in 4 straight years when Olsen was healthy
Geronimo Allison– I rarely ever will recommend a 3rd wide receiver but let’s not forget what James Jones was in this offense. Allison can be a perfect bye week filler, and in case of an injury, he is primed to step up. Davante Adams sat out of practice Wednesday.
Case Keenum– Yes I know the final Box score wasn’t pretty, but take away the Interceptions, and that was a top 10 performance for someone who is available in 82% of ESPN leagues.
Buy of the week
Chris Thompson $5,900
The pop heard around the preseason, incoming rookie Derrius Guice tore his ACL and will miss the 2018 season. Washington scrambled for talent and found that in journeyman veteran Adrian Peterson. Although he did catch a few balls, Peterson isn’t known for his pass-catching contributions. Thompsons offseason progress while recovering from injury kept his price down, and this is the perfect buy low situation. Get him now, as he won’t come so cheap in a few weeks and people will trade him for cheap.
