NFL DFS Week 11: The Sunday Crossword

November 18, 2015, 4:45pm

A very muted Week 10 allowed for 200-plus points to approach the top 100 in DraftKings Millionaire Maker GPP. Kirk Cousins (this week’s price $5,300) was the latest QB to exploit New Orleans’ defense (on a bye–and I just bought a boat!) and found himself on the top ticket. Jeremy Langford ($5,600) was the only must-own to get a top 10 return on your investment, which meant all sorts of combinations of players allowed for success. This also reflected a more level percentage-ownership field and smart pricing from DraftKings. Sadly, I don’t think such a wide array of opportunities will exist this week, and many tickets will look alike.

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In New England, with Julian Edelman injured, Danny Amendola ($4,000) steps into his role and I fear his low price will be the starting point of many, many tickets. That doesn’t only lead to similarity at one of your WR spots; that extra salary will often likely get used in the same way. So Amendola is the key man this week: You must decide if you’re with him or against him, and build from there. My ticket below is with him. But I build multiple tickets per week, and expect to have some tickets that are against him.

In an algorithm note, last week Todd Gurley ($7,600) was 30 percent owned and scored 18 points while Adrian Peterson ($6,800) was 10 percent owned and scored 32 points. And yet Gurley was the RB who saw his salary increase by $300 this week, while Peterson saw his drop $300. This illustrates that the percentage a player is owned dictates the price of a DraftKings player more than scoring does.

New Orleans is on a bye so no opposing quarterback for you! Pittsburgh is on a bye so no Antonio Brown or Martavis Bryant for you (#1 and #3 WRs last week). The Giants are on a bye so no Odell and Cleveland is on a bye and I doubt you care. Jacksonville and Tennessee will play on Thursday in a game very few will see. Here are some DFS options for your ticket this week:

Cam Newton ($6,900) – Washington’s defense is inviting

Philip Rivers ($6,900) – Off a bye against a poor KC pass defense

Tony Romo ($6,000) – Too little too late for Dallas, but can he help you?

Matt Hasselbeck ($5,500) – Cheap QBs aren’t as attractive this week

Matthew Stafford ($5,400) – Oakland’s defense may help him out

Todd Gurley ($7,600) – Wonderful option, but watch everyone take the next guy

Adrian Peterson ($6,800) – Puts up 32 points last week and gets cheaper?

Matt Forte ($6,800) or Jeremy Langford ($5,600) – Don’t fear Denver, but do fear uncertainty

Frank Gore ($4,700) – With Luck out, I like the Colts to be more conservative

LeGarrette Blount ($5,000) – Looking like a real #1 back

Charcandrick West ($4,500) – Got fat off of Denver, now comes San Diego’s poor run defense

Jonathan Stewart ($4,400) – Priced for obscurity but great matchup against Washington

Julio Jones ($9,300) – Amendola’s price makes Julio affordable

Dez Bryant ($7,700) – Gets his Romo back

Larry Fitzgerald ($7,200) – Usage monster

Michael Crabtree ($6,000) – Raiders tops in targets and receptions

Devonte Adams ($4,600) – Umm…21 targets last week?

Danny Amendola ($4,000) – How much do we love thee? Percent ownership will count the ways

Michael Floyd ($3,800) – If healthy, a too-cheap piece of the Arizona attack

Gronk ($7,700) – He’s actually getting cheaper

Antonio Gates ($4,800) – Relatively inexpensive and San Diego’s best remaining option

Travis Kelce ($4,700) – Production is lagging his talent

Coby Fleener ($3,200) – One great game and one dog with Hasselbeck as his QB

Seattle ($4,000) – Facing the Blaine Gabbert at home; is that something you might be interested in?

Houston ($2,500) – Turning it around, to my disbelief

Chicago ($2,000) – Minimum-priced when Osweiler comes to town

My DraftKings Ticket:

Philip Rivers, Adrian Peterson, Jonathan Stewart, Julio Jones, Larry Fitzgerald, Devonte Adams, Antonio Gates, Danny Amendola, Chicago Defense

Craig Clark is a Daily Fantasy Sports expert who appears weekly on the Harris Football Podcast (www.HarrisFootball.com). You can follow him on Twitter @pcclark59.