After 6 weeks of NFL play, we are beginning to get a feel for who the good players are on the field, and who the good fantasy players are. In football, there’s often some overlap between playing ability and statistics, but not always. Finding these differences can help us a lot as we put together our daily fantasy football rosters. If you’re looking for some start or sit advice on some of the top ranked players, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we look at a handful of the top players in the NFL, and let you know whether they are worth the price that DraftKings is asking for them to be on your roster.
So, if you’re still undecided about a few of the slots on your roster for Sunday, keep reading. Hopefully this discussion helps you to draft your strongest roster of the year.
Quarterback
Dak Prescott: Prescott had a very strong game last week, even though it led to a loss. He completed 25 of 36 passes for just over 250 yards, had 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD, and 37 yards rushing. Not only did this boost his fantasy numbers and make him a decent pick for this week, it helped establish him as one of the to establish him as one of the top fantasy QBs in all of the NFL. Is he worth the hype? Normally, the rule is that one good game doesn’t suddenly make someone a good pick. We should be looking at consistency, rather than hype. However, a look at Prescott reveals consistency. Yes, this was a breakout game, but he is averaging more than 2 TDs per game after 5 weeks of play, has average 238 yards per game, and has a completion rate of 63 percent. Prescott had a great game last week, but he looks like he could do it again this week. The San Francisco 49ers are ranked 30th in the NFL against QBs. With a price of just $7,300, Prescott could be a steal here.
Russell Wilson: If you jump several places down the rankings, Wilson looks like your next best choice as a value pick at QB. His price tag of $6,400 makes him approachable in most rosters, and it’s still a discount considering that he has averaged 20.7 fantasy points per game this season. His cost per point average is comparable with Prescott’s putting him at $309.18 per point, compared to the slightly higher $324.44. Paying a few extra bucks per point is fine, but Wilson has shown greater long term success than Prescott, thanks simply to the fact that he’s been in the NFL for longer. This is one of those decisions that could go either way, but because of the steeper discount, Wilson has the slightest of edges.
QB Start: Wilson
QB Sit: Prescott
Running Back
Le’Veon Bell: Bell has put forward some great numbers this season. He has 91.7 yards per game and 4 TDs. With WR Antonio Brown competing for action, Bell has a limited number of opportunities to put these numbers up, making them even more impressive. His salary of $9,100 is very high this weekend, and that should make you think twice before you draft him. Now, consider the fact that the Bengals currently have the #4 ranked defense against the rushing game. Bell will likely be utilized less than normal, bringing his value way down. He’s averaging 21.8 points per game, and will likely be lower this week. He’s a great player, but this doesn’t seem like the right situation for him.
Todd Gurley: Gurley has a price tag of just $8,200, making him more approachable right off the bat than Bell. He’s also averaging more fantasy points per game with his 24.8. He’s averaged 86.8 yards per game, but has 7 TDs. Plus, the Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, who are ranked #12 against the rush. Gurley has every advantage over Bell this weekend, and is the stronger pick.
RB Start: Gurley
RB Sit: Bell
