We’re breaking down the best steals for your daily fantasy football team.
Here’s our best value options for your week 4 daily fantasy football roster.
Quarterback
Last week: Josh McCown, 19.64 points
This week: Andy Dalton, Cincinnati, $32
Fifteen quarterbacks, including Tyrod Taylor and Sam Bradford, are more expensive than Dalton in daily fantasy this week. That’s a good value for a quarterback who has been more than serviceable this season.
Dalton was second in scoring last week among quarterbacks, netting 30.32 points on four total touchdowns and 383 yards. His high point total also took into account two turnovers.
For the season, Dalton has been a different kind of quarterback than in the past. He’s third in points among quarterbacks in fantasy football, and he’s doing well in the touchdown-to-interception ratio at 8-to-1.
This week should also be a good week for Dalton and his favorite target A.J. Green. The Kansas City Chiefs secondary is coming off a performance where it allowed Aaron Rodgers to throw for five touchdowns. The week before, the Chiefs gave up three touchdown passes to Peyton Manning.
This is a good matchup, and you’re getting a discount on Dalton. This is an easy decision if you’re looking for a value pick at the quarterback position.
Running Back
Last week: Latavius Murray, 20.90 points
This week: Mark Ingram, New Orleans, $22
Dallas’ rush defense was exposed last week against DeVonta Freeman. Freeman tallied 141 yards rushing with three touchdowns last week against the Cowboys.
That’s not a good sign against a Saints team that should be focused on the running game. We understand that Dallas was really good against the rush in the season’s first two weeks against Philadelphia and the New York Giants. But that may have more to do with the Eagles and the Giants than the Cowboys.
And with Ingram, you’re getting a running back that will dominant the workload with rushing and receiving attempts out of the backfield. Last week, Ingram notched 19 touches, scoring 15.90 points.
He should get several looks in this game and with a price tag that is 21st-highest among running backs, he’s a solid value pick this week.
Wide receiver
Last week: Jarvis Landry, 8.60 points
This week: Stevie Johnson, San Diego, $18
There are some wide receivers who have turned in some monster performances, so finding a steal, to go along with one of those big-time wide receivers, may be the winning ticket.
Johnson is a great candidate for being one of those steals this week. He’s the 38th most expensive wide receiver, and the Chargers have a favorable game against Cleveland this week, which has struggled against the run and the pass this season.
And San Diego is returning home for the first time since week 1, when it recorded its lone victory of the season against the Detroit Lions.
Don’t be concerned with last week’s effort by Johnson, either. He tallied single-digit points for the first time this year in fantasy football. That won’t happen this week. The Chargers offense should do well Sunday and Johnson will be one of the major targets.
Tight end
Last week: Eric Ebron, 6.10 points
This week: Martellus Bennett, Chicago, $19
Sure, Bennett may not be much of a steal as the seventh most expensive tight end, but there’s no reason to look anywhere other than the Oakland Raiders defense when picking up a tight end in daily fantasy.
The Raiders have been a dumpster fire against tight ends this season. In three games, the Raiders have surrendered the fourth-most, second-most and most points to tight ends.
That’s as good a reason as any to take Bennett, despite his inability to score many points thus far this season. Bennett has reached double-digits only once this season, and with backup Jimmy Clausen going again this week, many will likely stay away from him. But not us. We’re going with the Raiders defense being awful as the top reason for going with Bennett.
Flex
Last week: Joseph Randle, 28.50 points
This week: Chris Johnson, Arizona, $20
Sometimes it takes a bit of luck to win daily fantasy matchups. Chris Johnson has a bit going against him, but if Andre Ellington remains sidelined, it appears the Arizona coaching staff is favoring Chris Johnson as the dominant back instead of rookie David Johnson.
With the St. Louis Rams coming to town, the Arizona Cardinals running back should be a featured option.
The Rams have been susceptible to the run this season, allowing 122 yards per game this season, the eighth-worst number in the NFL.
Chris Johnson was the main workhorse last week for the Cardinals, totaling 27 points on 110 yards rushing, two touchdowns and 40 yards receiving against San Francisco. Head coach Bruce Arians also said Chris Johnson should see 15 to 20 touches this week again.
With the predicted workload, he’s a good value at the flex option.
Defense
Last week: Arizona Cardinals, 28 points
This week: Chicago Bears, $10
Maybe we’re feeling a bit overconfident in this position after taking the Arizona Cardinals last week, which had by far the most points of any defense this season with 28 points.
But we’re feeling decent about this Bears defense, especially if the offense can get something going.
Chicago’s defense hasn’t been horrible this season, other than the one game against Arizona, which is playing better than any team this season. Even with the one rough outing, the Bears still rank 11th in total defense, allowing 331 yards per game. The defense also held Aaron Rodgers to less than 200 yards passing.
Oakland does come into this week’s game with a solid offense, but we’re concerned with the Raiders having to be on the road two consecutive weeks, and how that will affect such a young team. We expect the Raiders to take a step back, helping the Bears defense, which can be picked up as the cheapest defense available in daily fantasy.
