Last week was a good week as I hit 6 out of 10 of my value picks! If you followed my last Fanduel and Draftkings value picks advice you might have played Andy Dalton, Devonta Freeman, and Dion Lewis. Not a bad start! Week 4 brings much of the same: matchups, value, and winnings! On to the value picks for Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receiver, and Tight End.
Week 4 Quarterback Value Picks
- Tyrod Taylor, BUF: DraftKings Salary: 5800 - Fanduel Salary: 7600
You can’t beat legs and an arm, and Tyrod scores fantasy points a-plenty with both. He has a fantastic matchup this week at home against a Giants defense that just allowed 316 yards through the air to Kirk Cousins.
- Derek Carr, OAK: DraftKings Salary: 5300 - Fanduel Salary: 7000
The Bears, already mired in a terrible start and with a “rebuilding” defense at best (let’s not mince words: the Bears D is awful), just traded two starters: ILB Jon Bostic to the Patriots and DE/OLB Jared Allen to the Panthers. It seems the Bears have adopted the mantra of another Chicago team, “There’s always next year!” Carr will light up this matchup.
Week 4 Running Back Value Picks
Week 4 Running Back Value Picks- Karlos Williams, BUF: DraftKings Salary: 3400 - Fanduel Salary: 6300
Williams is an absolute must-play this week. LeSean McCoy is likely out, and as long as that remains the case, he will be a studly workhorse- and a talented one at that. Even with McCoy IN the lineup, Williams has managed to find the endzone in every single one of the first three weeks. Also, see note above about the Giants defense being terrible.
- Carlos Hyde, SF: DraftKings Salary: 5100 - Fanduel Salary: 7400
Like him much more on Draftkings, but Hyde is still the guy in San Francisco and you can run on Green Bay. There is downside here, so be cautioned: if the 49ers can’t keep it close, they could abandon the run early. Call it a gut feeling: they’re motivated at home after a horrific performance in the desert. If you saw the sour look on Jim Tomsula’s face after Colin Kaepernick’s second pick last week, you might say the 49ers will have a “fire” in them this week. Definitely more of a tournament play with upside.
- Frank Gore, IND: DraftKings Salary: 4700 - Fanduel Salary: 7300
An example of a player I like more than Hyde on Fanduel, Gore is cheaper and coming off his best performance of 2015. Even better, he gets the lowly Jaguars at home. I can see him feasting once the Colts get a head, and like him for lots of touches and a score or two.
Week 4 Wide Receiver Value Picks
- Michael Crabtree, OAK: DraftKings Salary: 4600 - Fanduel Salary: 5800
Are we sensing a theme? Play anyone against the Bears. And, though I didn’t include him above, that includes Latavius Murray. Amari Cooper isn’t the only receiver in Oakland; Crabtree is averaging 6 catches per game, so in the 0.5 and full-point PPR formats that Draftkings and Fanduel respectively employ, Crabtree is a great value. If he finds the endzone, he makes your week.
- Marvin Jones, CIN: DraftKings Salary: 3800 - Fanduel Salary: 5500
Guess which NFL team is dead last in giving up fantasy points to opposing Wide Receivers? How many of you said “Kansas City Chiefs?” Somewhat surprisingly, the Chiefs give up a league-worst (wait for it………) 63.07 points per game in PPR formats to opposing WRs. Sixty. Three. Sixty-Three. How many more ways can I spell that out?
- Stevie Johnson, SD: DraftKings Salary: 4400 - Fanduel Salary: 5800
And the Browns, by the way, give up 41.13 points/game to opposing receivers in a PPR format. How interesting! Johnson was on my list last week and was a disappointment, so if the recency bias is making it difficult for you to use him, I understand. But I like him again in week four, back at home, against a beatable Browns secondary.
Week 4 Tight End Value Picks
No Gronk! What to do? Cannot compute. Never fear! Value picks are here!
- Eric Ebron, DET: DraftKings Salary: 3500 - Fanduel Salary: 5100
Seattle’s defense has a soft spot for tight ends. Ebron has had at least 4 catches and 40 yards in every game, which establishes a nice baseline for a floor. If he can build on his early season rapport with Matthew Stafford, he could be an important safety valve for a raucous road matchup. And like Crabtree, if he scores, he’s golden.
- Charles Clay, BUF: DraftKings Salary: 3300 - Fanduel Salary: 5200
A Tyrod Taylor/Charles Clay stack would have been rather nice last week and I think it will play again in week four. Clay has a nice matchup and has been increasing his success with each new week. For the price, it’s hard to find better.
Week 4 Value Picks Defense D/ST
- Philadelphia Eagles @Was DK: 2700 FD: 4500
- Denver Broncos vs. Min DK: 3300 FD: 4700
As always best of luck in week 4. Feel free to tweet questions, rants, and dissertations on the meaning of life @pkaragianis