Welcome to Week 2 of the FanDuel Salary Cap Guide. In this guide, Jeff Haseley and I will put together the best FanDuel lineups we can craft by using FBG's projections and a metric of Dollars Spent per Fantasy Point. For a better introduction (or if you missed it), check out the Week 1 Version.
BUILDING THE OPTIMAL LINEUPS
$55k Salary Cap:
Jeff will handle the $55k lineups while I'll handle the $60k contest. Here are Jeff's lineups using projections from David Dodds.
- QB: Terrelle Pryor ($6,500 salary / $359 spent per projected fantasy point)
- RB1: LeSean McCoy ($8,600 / $478)
- RB2: Daryl Richardson ($6,400 / $435)
- WR1: DeSean Jackson ($5,700 / $483)
- WR2: Rod Streater ($5,000 / $510)
- WR3: Marlon Brown ($4,800 / $578)
- TE: Brandon Myers ($5,000 / $490)
- K: Dan Bailey ($5,000 / $575)
- DEF: Raiders ($5,200 / $542)
The projected points number for this team is 108. The net dollars per point figure is a very efficient $483. This team only cost us $52,200 against the $55,000 cap. Now let's see if we can use our extra money to improve our team, and let's shift focus from efficiency to net projected fantasy points. After all, the winner is the guy (or gal) with the most points at the end.
- QB: Terrelle Pryor ($6,500 / $359)
- RB1: LeSean McCoy ($8,600 / $478)
- RB2: Daryl Richardson ($6,400 / $435) DeMarco Murray ($7,600 / $503)
- WR1: DeSean Jackson ($5,700 / $483) Cecil Shorts ($6,300 / $534)
- WR2: Rod Streater ($5,000 / $510) DeSean Jackson ($5,700 / $483)
- WR3: Marlon Brown ($4,800 / $578) Golden Tate ($5,100 / $554)
- TE: Brandon Myers ($5,000 / $490)
- K: Dan Bailey ($5,000 / $575)
- DEF: Raiders ($5,200 / $542) Ravens ($5,200 / $542)
After making the changes above, our projected point total increased to 112.5, a 4.5 point improvement. This team is efficient and optimal. Let's make some money!
$60k Salary Cap:
For this format, I'll use Bloom's projections to find the optimal team.
- QB: Terrelle Pryor ($6,500 / $389)
- RB1: Jamaal Charles ($9,100 / $576)
- RB2: Darren McFadden ($7,500 / $532)
- WR1: Victor Cruz ($7,300 / $468)
- WR2: Reggie Wayne ($7,0000 / $467)
- WR3: DeSean Jackson ($5,700 / $390)
- TE: Jared Cook ($6,300 / $477)
- K: Dan Bailey ($5,000 / $575)
- DEF: Patriots ($5,400 / $563)
This is a nice first pass. Our projected point total based on Bloom's projections is 123.3, and this team comes in at $485 per Fantasy Point. Let's see if we can make an improvement.
- QB: Terrelle Pryor ($6,500 / $389) Michael Vick ($8,100 / $401)
- RB1: Jamaal Charles ($9,100 / $576) Matt Forte ($8,300 / $466)
- RB2: Darren McFadden ($7,500 / $532) Eddie Lacy ($6,900 / $473)
- WR1: Victor Cruz ($7,300 / $468)
- WR2: Reggie Wayne ($7,0000 / $467)
- WR3: DeSean Jackson ($5,700 / $390)
- TE: Jared Cook ($6,300 / $477)
- K: Dan Bailey ($5,000 / $575)
- DEF: Patriots ($5,400 / $563)
This is the ultimate team. Lowering the salary at both running back positions allowed us to upgrade at quarterback. While Vick isn't as efficient on a $/FP basis as Pryor, he'll net us more total points according to Bloom's projections. Despite the "sacrifice" at running back, Mr. Bloom also says that Forte and Lacy will also yield more points than the Charles-McFadden combo, the opposite of what their price tags would suggest.
"SCRUB"-BING FOR VALUE
If you've ever done an auction draft, you've likely heard the phrase "stars and scrubs." For those unfamiliar, it's a strategy in which a team spends the majority of their money on high-dollar players and hopes to fill the rest of the roster with low-dollar "lottery ticket" types. This can be a viable strategy in FanDuel too. Let's see some of this week's low-dollar players who might compliment the "stars" on the roster.
At quarterback, we gave you Pryor last week, and even though his salary has increased in Week 2, he's still the best bang for your relatively small buck. He gets a lifeless Jacksonville in his first home game of 2013. Pryor would allow you to upgrade the rest of your team by $2,000 - $2,200 over the likes of Tom Brady, Robert Griffin III, or Matt Ryan. "Terrelle Pryor ($6,500) an easy call among low-dollar quarterbacks this week." - Ryan
For running backs, we didn't pull our weight last week, giving you the Indianapolis combo of Ahmad Bradshaw and Vick Ballard. This week, we're looking to make it up to you, so let's look to an inexpensive player on a dynamite offensive unit. Pierre Thomas and the Saints travel to Tampa, and he should get at least 12-15 touches. "It's looking more and more like Pierre Thomas ($5,700) is surpassing Mark Ingram as the RB to own in New Orleans not named Darren Sproles. The cap value assigned to him is too low in my opinion." - Jeff
At wide receiver, Golden Tate was the pick last week. He played well but was not spectacular. This week, we're giving you two bargains at receiver since FanDuel requires three starters at the position. First, we'll go with a player who caught two touchdowns seemingly out of nowhere on Monday Night Football. Because he has obviously overtaken rookie Keenan Allen on a team that will be pass-heavy out of necessity, we're suggeesting Eddie Royal as one of this week's bargain-bin all-stars. "Eddie Royal ($4,700) is familiar with head coach Mike McCoy from his days in Denver, and that could elevate his role on the team. Last week, he led the team in targets. I have a feeling his involvement will continue. " - Jeff
For your second "scrub" at receiver, let's look to a player who is emerging as fast as anyone in the NFL. An undrafted free agent rookie out of Georgia, Marlon Brown has overtaken the other unproven receivers on Baltimore's depth chart and will see a huge bump in snaps due to Jacoby Jones' knee injury. At 6'5" Brown can be a middle-of-the-field and red zone target that Baltimore sorely misses. "With Joe Haden locked up on Torrey Smith this week, I think Marlon Brown ($4,800) sees at least eight targets and uses them very effectively." - Ryan
Last week, we absolutely nailed the tight end selection with Jordan Cameron. This week, we're going with another sub-$5,000 special. Philadelphia's offense is going to give everyone a boost simply because they'll have so many opportunities with all the plays they run. "In my opinion, the Eagles primary receiving targets are DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Brent Celek. The number of plays the Eagles run, Celek ($4,500) is bound to find some success. I think he outperforms the cap value assigned to him." - Jeff
THE "D.I.Y." SECTION
Below, you'll find the spreadsheet with which you can customize your own team. Before downloading, here are a few notes and instructions to help make it work effectively:
- Upon opening, enable macros and data connections when prompted.
- If you're unable to sort by name, salary, projections, etc. on any of the positional pages, your macros are not enabled.
- Begin at the "Front Page" tab and follow the instructions listed in each section.
- Use the drop-downs on each respective position tab to select your players. Do NOT type anything in any cells. This entire workbook is customized with formulas, macros, and links. Any typing can ruin its functionality.
- The "Lineup Page" tab will only add up the salary figures when a full team of nine players is selected.
- Enjoy!
Create Your Own FanDuel Lineup
For any questions on your weekly fantasy decisions, FanDuel teams, or anything else in the world of fantasy, follow and reach out to us on Twitter @JeffHaseley and @footballbrackts. For questions on the spreadsheet, please e-mail Ryan Hester at hester@footballguys.com.