Take a Stand: Week 6

By Megan Shoup:

After a couple week hiatus, “Take a Stand” is back! The “Take a Stand” article each week will feature players or teams that I am high or low on, yet it seems like majority of the daily fantasy world feels the opposite. As we know in daily fantasy tournaments, if you take stands against ownership, you can use that to your benefit.

Obviously not for all chalky plays, because there is plenty of “good chalk”. But each week I also see leverage points. I certainly will not always be right. But when I am right, taking a stand will gain a huge leverage on the field.

So here are my Week 6 stands…

BULLISH:

Go WAY Overweight on the Chiefs/Washington game:

It is no secret that the Kansas City/Washington game has the highest Vegas total on the slate and two of the worst secondaries in the league. These two teams are giving up a combined 63+ points per week through the first 5 weeks. So when they are facing each other, this is fantasy gold.

The Chiefs are the heavy favorite and should win this easily, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t fantasy goodness on both sides. Taylor Heinicke is a gunslinger, especially when playing from behind. Again, fantasy gold. The field will be playing players from this game, but I don’t think at a high enough rate. I am going way overweight on this game compared to the field and may even do some onslaught lineups from this game.

Browns Passing game with Chubb out:

Rich Hribar (@LordReebs) has mentioned that the Browns have a 75% rushing TD rate. That is unstainable and will go toward the median even as a run-heavy team. And this week they are without Nick Chubb. I know Kareem Hunt can carry the load, but I could see them passing more this week and especially if they are playing from behind against the 5-0 Cardinals. So I’m going to take some shots on Odell Beckham Jr. again, oh boy!

Javonte Williams breaking out in Denver:  

Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon are very much in a split backfield situation in Denver. But Gordon is playing banged up and the young rookie has looked good. At any week, I could see Williams having a breakout game, either due to hot hand approach or in-game aggravation for Gordon. And I want to be early on this.

BEARISH:

Lamar Jackson: 

While I’m mostly playing Patrick Mahomes this week, I get the case for Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert in that matchup. But Jackson is projected to be the highest owned QB by a wide margin (25% projected ownership). That’s huge for the QB position, and I just think both Mahomes and Herbert for that matter, have a similar ceiling at much lower ownership.

Chubba Hubbard:

There are a lot of running backs in that 5k-6.5K price point on DraftKings. And Hubbard is projected to be 17% owned. I just like the other running back options better this week in that price range (both higher and lower owned).