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Welcome to the final regular season edition of Deep Sleepers and DFS Bargains. Last week all four of the running backs I highlighted emerged as fantasy starters, but neither of the selected receivers did anything. This go around I’m serving up a player at each offensive position (plus a flex), assuming that the majority of fake football aficionados will be rolling out daily lineups.
As always, each of the highlighted players is owned in less than sixty percent of Yahoo leagues (or is a significant value in our daily game). They’re not the obvious picks, and they’re not without their risks, but that’s why they’re so cheap and available! I’d never advocate taking all of these guys, but rather utilizing them if a manager were in a pinch at a position or aiming to build a “stars and scrubs” sort of DFS lineup. Have at it!
[Yahoo Daily Fantasy: $10 could win you $20K in our $200K contest for Week 17]
Brian Hoyer, QB, Houston Texans ($31)
Since (re)officially earning the starting job, Hoyer has been a top-12 fantasy QB in three of the five games in which he’s played a full four quarters. Returning from a two-game absence due to concussion, the stakes are high for Houston’s signal caller. Needing a win to clinch the AFC South, Hoyer will aim to exploit the Jaguars porous secondary.
A unit that is allowing the fourth most fantasy points to opposing QBs, Jacksonville surrendered nearly 300 passing yards and 3 TDs to Hoyer earlier this season. With playmaker DeAndre Hopkins dragging the journeyman QB into production and word from Bill O’Brien that he plans to play his starters despite Cincy topping Denver on Monday night, Hoyer is an inexpensive play at an otherwise pricey position.
Markus Wheaton, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers ($19)
I know it didn’t pan out last week, but I simply can’t turn away from Wheaton. After being upset by their division rivals, the Steelers are in a must-win situation in Week 17. Despite converting just three of five balls for 41 yards last Sunday, it is worth noting that Pittsburgh’s No. 3 receiver saw more targets than Martavis Bryant. Additionally, QB Ben Roethlisberger looked to him in key situations.
Facing a Browns secondary that has given up four scores to opposing wideouts over their last two contests, Big Ben & Company are very likely to bounce back. With everything on the line, it makes sense that this offense would come out swinging. For his part, Wheaton should be heavily involved, as evidenced by the double-digit targets he saw in Weeks 12 and 15. Taking advantage of an ultra-friendly matchup (Cleveland is giving up the fifth most fantasy points to opposing WRs), Wheaton offers daily enthusiasts plenty of upside as well as financial flexibility.
[Week 17 rankings:*Quarterback |*Running Back |*Receiver | Tight End | Flex | All Positions]
Will Tye, TE, New York Giants ($15)
Over the past few weeks TE Zach Ertz had emerged as a legitimate fantasy weapon. Due to Chip Kelly’s rather abrupt departure from Philly, however, there are obvious questions about the Eagles’ play calling. This, of course, calls into question Ertz’s reliability. But there’s a cheaper and similarly intriguing prospect on the other side of the field in this same matchup.
Since returning from bye in Week 12, Tye has averaged nearly six targets per game. In that time he’s been a top-ten fantasy TE and has scored in two of his last three outings. Garnering praise form his offensive coordinator, the rookie has become a trusted piece of this offense and could easily hit paydirt against a Philadelphia defense that gave up two scores to Jordan Reed last Sunday. A youngster motivated to lock down a starting spot in 2016, Tye has plenty to play for in a plus-matchup this week.
DeMarco Murray, RB, Philadelphia Eagles ($14)
While there’s truth to the saying that “snitches get stitches,” Murray’s sky-high whispers appear to have gotten him an assumed heap of satisfaction. With Chip Kelly using up the organization’s last bits of brotherly love, Murray has a good shot of being let out of the doghouse. Despite lacking most of the explosiveness that he had displayed in early 2014, the former Cowboy has flashed at various points throughout the year and did average a season best 5.4 YPC last Sunday.
Facing the Giants bottom-ten run defense and fueled by pride, Murray could very well build upon his top-twenty fantasy finish from Week 16. Allowing an average of more than 172 rushing yards per game over their last three tilts, New York has surrendered the most ground scores to opponents since Week 14. Expected to receive at least 12 touches in this outing, Murray’s chances of finding the end zone make his ultra-reduced price tag more tempting than a platter of Geno’s steaks.
[Play Yahoo's New Year's Eve bowl contest, where everyone takes home at least a $1]
Brandon Bolden, RB, New England Patriots ($10)
I know, I know, the Patriots RB landscape is a minefield of uncertainty. Yet Bolden has undeniable upside in a matchup against a Dolphins squad that has surrendered six scores to the running back position over their last two contests. Despite heaps of Steven Jackson hype talk, Bolden led New England’s backfield by a large margin in Week 16, touching the ball twice as many times (14) as either James White (7) or SJax (7).
Coming off of a loss in which his decisions were sharply questioned, matchups guru Bill Belichick is likely to abuse Miami’s thirtieth ranked run defense with a heavy dose of the ground game. Averaging 14 touches over his last three games, Bolden has been on the field for more play-counts than any other RB in New England since Week 14. At the minimum price of $10, he is a contrarian flex that could pay dividends for the most gallant of daily fiends.
Follow Liz on Twitter @LizLoza_FF
As always, each of the highlighted players is owned in less than sixty percent of Yahoo leagues (or is a significant value in our daily game). They’re not the obvious picks, and they’re not without their risks, but that’s why they’re so cheap and available! I’d never advocate taking all of these guys, but rather utilizing them if a manager were in a pinch at a position or aiming to build a “stars and scrubs” sort of DFS lineup. Have at it!
[Yahoo Daily Fantasy: $10 could win you $20K in our $200K contest for Week 17]
Brian Hoyer, QB, Houston Texans ($31)
Since (re)officially earning the starting job, Hoyer has been a top-12 fantasy QB in three of the five games in which he’s played a full four quarters. Returning from a two-game absence due to concussion, the stakes are high for Houston’s signal caller. Needing a win to clinch the AFC South, Hoyer will aim to exploit the Jaguars porous secondary.
A unit that is allowing the fourth most fantasy points to opposing QBs, Jacksonville surrendered nearly 300 passing yards and 3 TDs to Hoyer earlier this season. With playmaker DeAndre Hopkins dragging the journeyman QB into production and word from Bill O’Brien that he plans to play his starters despite Cincy topping Denver on Monday night, Hoyer is an inexpensive play at an otherwise pricey position.
Markus Wheaton, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers ($19)
I know it didn’t pan out last week, but I simply can’t turn away from Wheaton. After being upset by their division rivals, the Steelers are in a must-win situation in Week 17. Despite converting just three of five balls for 41 yards last Sunday, it is worth noting that Pittsburgh’s No. 3 receiver saw more targets than Martavis Bryant. Additionally, QB Ben Roethlisberger looked to him in key situations.
Facing a Browns secondary that has given up four scores to opposing wideouts over their last two contests, Big Ben & Company are very likely to bounce back. With everything on the line, it makes sense that this offense would come out swinging. For his part, Wheaton should be heavily involved, as evidenced by the double-digit targets he saw in Weeks 12 and 15. Taking advantage of an ultra-friendly matchup (Cleveland is giving up the fifth most fantasy points to opposing WRs), Wheaton offers daily enthusiasts plenty of upside as well as financial flexibility.
[Week 17 rankings:*Quarterback |*Running Back |*Receiver | Tight End | Flex | All Positions]
Will Tye, TE, New York Giants ($15)
Over the past few weeks TE Zach Ertz had emerged as a legitimate fantasy weapon. Due to Chip Kelly’s rather abrupt departure from Philly, however, there are obvious questions about the Eagles’ play calling. This, of course, calls into question Ertz’s reliability. But there’s a cheaper and similarly intriguing prospect on the other side of the field in this same matchup.
Since returning from bye in Week 12, Tye has averaged nearly six targets per game. In that time he’s been a top-ten fantasy TE and has scored in two of his last three outings. Garnering praise form his offensive coordinator, the rookie has become a trusted piece of this offense and could easily hit paydirt against a Philadelphia defense that gave up two scores to Jordan Reed last Sunday. A youngster motivated to lock down a starting spot in 2016, Tye has plenty to play for in a plus-matchup this week.
DeMarco Murray, RB, Philadelphia Eagles ($14)
While there’s truth to the saying that “snitches get stitches,” Murray’s sky-high whispers appear to have gotten him an assumed heap of satisfaction. With Chip Kelly using up the organization’s last bits of brotherly love, Murray has a good shot of being let out of the doghouse. Despite lacking most of the explosiveness that he had displayed in early 2014, the former Cowboy has flashed at various points throughout the year and did average a season best 5.4 YPC last Sunday.
Facing the Giants bottom-ten run defense and fueled by pride, Murray could very well build upon his top-twenty fantasy finish from Week 16. Allowing an average of more than 172 rushing yards per game over their last three tilts, New York has surrendered the most ground scores to opponents since Week 14. Expected to receive at least 12 touches in this outing, Murray’s chances of finding the end zone make his ultra-reduced price tag more tempting than a platter of Geno’s steaks.
[Play Yahoo's New Year's Eve bowl contest, where everyone takes home at least a $1]
Brandon Bolden, RB, New England Patriots ($10)
I know, I know, the Patriots RB landscape is a minefield of uncertainty. Yet Bolden has undeniable upside in a matchup against a Dolphins squad that has surrendered six scores to the running back position over their last two contests. Despite heaps of Steven Jackson hype talk, Bolden led New England’s backfield by a large margin in Week 16, touching the ball twice as many times (14) as either James White (7) or SJax (7).
Coming off of a loss in which his decisions were sharply questioned, matchups guru Bill Belichick is likely to abuse Miami’s thirtieth ranked run defense with a heavy dose of the ground game. Averaging 14 touches over his last three games, Bolden has been on the field for more play-counts than any other RB in New England since Week 14. At the minimum price of $10, he is a contrarian flex that could pay dividends for the most gallant of daily fiends.
Follow Liz on Twitter @LizLoza_FF