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When playing daily fantasy football on sites like Draftkings or Fanduel, finding the best value RB for the upcoming week is key. It's an amateur mistake to try and load up your weekly lineup with as many big name player that you can get. This is a good strategy when playing in a year long fantasy football league because big name players are going to put up respectable numbers throughout the season. The problem with doing this on a daily league is two fold. First, when selecting a lineup for the week, you have a salary cap to select your players with and you just wouldn't have enough cap space for all superstars. Second, even the best players in the league at any given position will have a down week in production. Players who go against a defense that is not favorable towards their position should be left alone for the week, even if their name is Calvin Johnson.
Draftkings lineup includes a QB, two RBs, 3 WR, TE, Flex, and Defense/Special Team. Less well known players will have to be included in your lineup as well as a few stars to stay under cap. Finding the right "value" players for the week can be tricky. The goal is to find players with the most potential production with the least salary for the lineup cap. Also taking highly into consideration the opponent of the player in question. Below are 9 of the best value picks at the RB for week 4. Notice that they contain both well known players and more obscure ones.
Matte Forte ($7,800)
Matt Forte is listed as the second highest priced RB this week, but he will be worth it against a Green Bay defense that has been on average giving up 156 rushing yards per game and 23 points per game. The Bears will have to rely more than normal on the running game this week after Brandon Marshall tweaked his ankle again on Monday Night Football against the New York Jets.
Le'Veon Bell has averaged 105 yards rushing and 48.7 yards receiving
Le'Veon Bell (7,400)
Bell and the Steelers are going up against a Tampa Bay team that is on average allowing 251.7 yards passing, 125.3 yards rushing and 29.7 points per game to opposing offenses. Last week, Atlanta's RB Steven Jackson has his best game of the year against Tampa Bay.
Lamar Miller ($6,200)
Miller got a big boost in price this week while last week he was one of the biggest bargains. He had a big week this week against Kansas City and is expected for another big week against Oakland. The Raiders are allowing 158.7 yards rushing and 21.7 points to opposing teams. Keep in mind that Kansas City's run defense is not nearly as bad as the Raiders. Expect high production again from Miller in week 4.
Ahmad Bradshaw ($5,800)
Ahmad Bradshaw has emerged as the go to running back for the Colts as it has become quite apparent that former first round draft pick Trent Richardson will not become the powerhouse player he was suppose to be. Bradshaw is another duel threat back who is averaging 50 yards rushing and 38 yards receiving all the while splitting reps with Richardson. Expect Bradshaw to emerge with majority of reps as the season goes on. The matchup between the Colts and Titans is a favorable one for RBs for two reasons. First, Tennessee defense is averaging 134.3 yards rushing and 22.3 points per game. Second, that same defense is 2nd in the league with fewest passing yards allowed. This means that Andrew Luck will not likely put up big time numbers like he did in week 3 and subsequently the ground game will be relied upon more heavily.
Bobby Rainey ($5,800)
Rainey is a multi-use back who gets a good amount or receiving yards to supplement the running. These kinds of RBs are always valuable on points per catch leagues like Draftkings. Tampa Bay may have gotten beaten pretty bad last week but Rainey was still able to manage to get 41 yards rushing and 64 yards receiving. This week Tampa Bay faces the Steelers who are averaging 223.7 yards passing, 130 yards rushing and 24 points per game given up.
Editors note: Doug Martin may be back for week 4 - keep an eye on this as it could reduce the value of Rainey 10 fold. Kurt
Donald Brown ($5,400)
The start of the week at RB has to go to Donald Brown. Actually any player on the San Diego Chargers would be a smart pick against the Jaguars who are just giving away points to any offense they face. Brown will be benefiting from the same affect that bumps up 2nd string RBs that get the spotlight once the first string player gets injured. This has been the case with Lamar Miller, Lorenzo Taliaferro, Matt Asiata and last week Knile Davis. The reason this boost in fantasy points occurs with pretty obscure players is because when a big name RB like Jamaal Charles gets hurt, the team doesn't change their whole game plan. If the team was to rely on a big name running back for a run heavy offense, then they will still do that even after someone is injured. The next guy in line is expected to come in and do what needs to be done. The Charger's RBs Danny Woodhead and Ryan Matthews are out with injuries for a while and Brown will get the start against a Jaguars team that is probably the worst in the NFL on every level. This is a prime value pick for your lineup.
The relatively unknown rookie Taliaferro can step in for a big game against the Panthers
Lorenzo Taliaferro ($4,600)
One of the most recent players to grab at a bargain who benefit from player injuries just like Knile Davis did in week 3. The spotlight on Raven's rookie Taliaferro combined with the favorable matchup (Carolina defense is averaging 145.3 rushing yards given up per game) as well as his low salary price makes him a desirable candidate for your lineup.
Matt Asiata ($4,500)
This is another player that has a low price and high expected production also benefiting from the injury of a starter. With Adrian Petterson not playing for the foreseeable future, Asiata will be getting plenty of touches on a team that favors the run that will have rookie Teddy Bridgewater starting next week. In week 4 the Vikings face the Atlanta Falcon's defense who are allowing 262.7 yards passing, 124.3 yards rushing and 22 points per game. Don't expect the Vikings to win this game but Asiata will be a main focus on the offense.
Darren McFadden ($4,500)
The Raider's Darren McFadden isn't exactly a big name in fantasy points but again when it comes to value and matchup, he deserves a look for your lineup. Last week the Miami Dolphins gave up 150 yards rushing and 2 rushing TDs to Kansas City. It can be expected that Oakland running game will have a boost in production in week 4.
Bishop Sankey ($4.100)
Lower down on the price list you can also find players like the Houston Texan's Alfred Blue who may be stepping in for an injured Arian Foster. A case can be made for Blue but it's not that great of a matchup against the Bills. A better matchup for a similar price can be found with Bishop Sankey who will be facing a Colts defense has been giving up 111.3 yards rushing and 26 points per game.