2014 Fantasy Football Daily Fix: Week 9 Running Backs
The following values are my recommended running back plays for Week 7 at DraftKings – the best daily fantasy sports site on the Internet. Here are the scoring settings for running backs, and if you have any more questions about DraftKings or fantasy football in general ask us on Twitter @TheFantasyFix or @44AMiller.
Expensive
Marshawn Lynch – $6,100 vs. Oakland – Lynch hasn’t scored in his last three games, and he hasn’t accrued more than 71 total yards in that same time span. But now is the time to pounce. Lynch’s price is the lowest it’s been all year, and Oakland is the best matchup of available teams this week for opposing running backs. Lynch should be seeing plenty of clock-killing carries after feasting on a bad Raiders defense, which has allowed over 100 rushing yards to five of six opponents as well as eight touchdowns to opposing backs.
Ahmad Bradshaw – $5,800 at New York Giants – Bradshaw is averaging almost 80 total yards a game, and he has six games of at least three catches. He has at least 83 total yards and/or a score in every game this year. The Giants have allowed the most catches to running backs this year as well as the sixth-most fantasy points per game to RBs. They’ve also allowed at least 88 total yards and/or a score to an opposing running back in every game this year, and they’ve been gashed for 339 rushing yards in their past two games.
Reasonable
Ronnie Hillman – $5,600 at New England – New England has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this year, as it’s allowed four 100-yard games and three RBs to post at least 48 receiving yards in a game. Hillman has posted 103 and 138 total yards, respectively, in his two starts, catching three and four passes, respectively, too. Hillman scored twice in his first start, and could’ve easily scored four last week. He had one called back due to a hold; he stepped out of bounds just barely inside the five on another; and Juwan Thompson vultured two from Hillman – something that I don’t think will be a constant theme. He should have another big showing this week.
LeSean McCoy – $5,200 at Houston – McCoy has posted his two best rushing outputs of the season in the past two weeks, and his yards per carry is also going up. His price is now at a season-low, actually, even with a good matchup. Houston ranks 12th in fantasy points per game allowed to opposing running backs, and it’s only a matter of time before Shady gets into the end zone for the first time since Week 2.
Cheap
Shane Vereen – $4,600 vs. Denver – Vereen’s price is also at a season-low, so combine that with the Pats playing at home and you’ve got a good value. Vereen was close to scoring at least once Sunday, and in what figures to be another shootout Vereen has a great chance at scoring highly. Denver has allowed the sixth-most receiving yards to opposing running backs, so this is a good spot for Vereen.
Bobby Rainey – $4,400 at Cleveland – Rainey only rushed for 25 yards Sunday, but he caught a team-high six passes for 41 yards. The Bucs trailed most of the game, which didn’t allow for Rainey to have that many carries. He makes for a good play in high-payout games this week as he has a lot of upside but could also deliver close to a doughnut. Cleveland is allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs.