5 Players to Play This Weekend

Alright, so starting today I'll be putting out two pieces per day throughout football season, on the NFL.  I'll put out at least the same two pieces each day of the week (except Sunday when I'll put out just one, last minute injury report), so you can come back here every Wednesday for instance, and know you'll find your high value targets, or effective touch leaders, etc.    I'm also going to start writing up weekly rankings, and releasing those position by position throughout the week (on top of the two pieces a day).  I'll write up a similar schedule for NBA as well.

Today being Friday, will bring you my first Friday split: 5 players to play and 5 players to avoid.  In this portion, I'll bring you 5 of the guys I'm featuring in most of my lineups this week, and in the later portion I'll bring you 5 guys from my contrarian lineups, that I absolutely won't count on this week.

Todd Gurley $5,000

Todd Gurley might be the best play of the week, facing a porous Cleveland defense that has been lit up this year, all year long, by nearly everyone that's played them.  Cleveland's been giving up 32.1 points per game to opposing running backs, while simultaneously getting lit up through the air by almost everyone they've played as well.  This is a team that let the Raiders throw for 300+ and run for 150+ in the same game just a few weeks ago.  With no real QB play to fall back on, expect the Rams to pound the rock, punishing the Browns' defense to the tune of more than 150 yards and 1-2 touchdowns with Gurley.  He's a guy who's averaged 152.5 yards on the ground per game since taking over the starting job-and that was against Arizona and Green Bay.  Can you even imagine what he's going to do against Cleveland?  If there was ever a player you were banking on a 200 yard performance from, this just might be it...

Antonio Gates $5,000
If not for Gurley, Gates would be the best and easiest play of the week. Not only is he a player who's seen the Raiders more than almost any other team in his career (24 total games played against them) so he's comfortable maybe more than against any other team, but the Raiders have also changed to a defensive philosophy this year where they apparently don't guard the opposing team's tight end at all, giving up 22.6 points per game on average to the tight end position, and making guys like Gary Barnidge look like all-pros.  Even Crockett Gilmore of the Ravens put up more than 25 points against them!  Start Gates now, as he continues his version of the Tom Brady revenge tour against a familiar old rival.

Charles Clay $4,300

The Bills have to throw the ball to someone, and it won't be Percy Harvin (contemplating retirement back in the states) or Sammy Watkins (hopping on the sidelines in London), so why not Charles Clay?  He's been targeted 13 times twice over the past three games (but just 3 times the game in between those) with 9 receptions both games for 111 and 62 yards, respectively.  The Jags are middle of the pack defensively against the tight end position, and the receiving options have dwindled since his 3 target game.  Look for Clay to get double digit targets this weekend, and put up some fantasy points.

DeAndre Hopkins $8,600
Hopkins has quite simply been the best receiver in fantasy football, hands down.  He's matchup proof, lousy QB proof, and going to bring returns every time you line him up.  Even with his price at $8,600, I almost feel like he's a bargain every time I roster him.  He's just a guy you feel GREAT about adding.  I feel A LOT better adding him at $8,600 than I do adding Beckham Jr. at $8,700 OR Antonio Brown at $7,900.  Hopkins has been targeted 89 times so far this year, and is averaging better than 100 yards receiving per game, with 5 total touchdowns (including 2 multi-touchdown games).  Miami is really an average pass defense, giving up the 12th most points per game to opposing team's wide receivers.  Hopkins is a strong play this weekend (and a strong GPP stack play with Hoyer as well, for that matter).

Devonta Freeman $7,900
I really feel like I'm taking the easy way out with these two last picks, but they're not the most expensive at their positions, yet they're the most productive players at their positions this year and they're both facing good match ups, so how do you not choose Freeman and Hopkins this week?  At these prices, you can play Freeman, Hopkins, Gurley, and Gates all in the same lineup EASILY.  Stack Hoyer at QB and the Rams defense, you've spent $34,200 and have a running back, 2 wide receiver, and a flex spot to fill ($3,950 average).  Find some decent value plays, and you should be able to fill out a winning lineup card this weekend.  Even if you don't go that full lineup route, pick up Freeman, he'll put up points for you this weekend, as he has every weekend this year.

As always everyone, good luck this weekend!