Welcome to Week 6 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
This week, we've gone about creating lineups differently. Jeff will take a first-pass at the $55k lineup using David Dodds' projections, and I'll provide some feedback. Using that feedback, he'll re-work the lineup in an attempt to alleviate any concerns and get more points. We'll then reverse roles for the $60k lineups, and I'll use Sigmund Bloom's projections to create those.
$55k Salary Cap:
- QB: Alex Smith ($6,500 salary / $327 spent per projected fantasy point)
- RB1: Danny Woodhead ($6,100 / $504)
- RB2: Willis McGahee ($4,800 / $410)
- WR1: Josh Gordon ($6,500 / $478)
- WR2: Justin Blackmon ($6,200 / $397)
- WR3: Emmanuel Sanders ($5,300 / $520)
- TE: Jimmy Graham ($8,700 / $600)
- K: Josh Brown ($5,000 / $595)
- DEF: Broncos ($5,900 / $386)
Dodds has this team projected for a very solid 122.6 points, but I have some small issues with it.
My commentary: Jeff, I worry about Emmanuel Sanders there. He hasn't surpassed 80 yards yet this season and has fewer than 100 in his previous two games (both of which were of the high-scoring and/or garbage time variety). I also worry about the sustainability of Willis McGahee's value - especially with Brandon Weeden back in the saddle at quarterback.
I know Jimmy Graham is the best option of any player relative to his position, but do you think you could sacrifice a little at tight end to get better at running back and receiver?
Jeff's changes:
- QB: Alex Smith ($6,500 / $327)
- RB1: Danny Woodhead ($6,100 / $504)
- RB2: Willis McGahee ($4,800 / $410) Eddie Lacy ($6,400 / $587)
- WR1: Josh Gordon ($6,500 / $478)
- WR2: Justin Blackmon ($6,200 / $397)
- WR3: Emmanuel Sanders ($5,300 / $520) Andre Johnson ($7,100 / $473)
- TE: Jimmy Graham ($8,700 / $600) Garrett Graham ($5,100 / $586)
- K: Josh Brown ($5,000 / $595) Nick Novak ($5,200 / $547)
- DEF: Broncos ($5,900 / $386)
This team is projected to get 121.9 points, a very small decrease, and it eliminates having a player like Sanders on the roster. He hasn't been a fantasy asset at any point yet this season.
$60k Salary Cap:
- QB: Philip Rivers ($7,600 / $380)
- RB1: Matt Forte ($8,600 / $483)
- RB2: Danny Woodhead ($6,100 / $418)
- WR1: Brandon Marshall ($8,000 / $547)
- WR2: Pierre Garcon ($7,000/ $593)
- WR3: Reggie Wayne ($6,900 / $479)
- TE: Garrett Graham ($5,100 / $464)
- K: Steve Hauschka ($5,400 / $574)
- DEF: Bengals ($5,300 / $449)
Bloom has this team projected for 125.4 points and uses the full $60,000. Let's see what Jeff says about it.
Jeff's commentary: Spend $600 more on defense and pick up the Broncos. According to our defensive projections, that's an extra 3.5 fantasy points. To make up for the extra $600 there, take $600 off your WR corps by exchanging Wayne ($6,900) with Cecil Shorts ($6,300). Bloom has Shorts projected for a couple fewer points, but Dodds' projection is the same as Bloom's 14.1.
$60k Salary Cap:
- QB: Philip Rivers ($7,600 / $380)
- RB1: Matt Forte ($8,600 / $483)
- RB2: Danny Woodhead ($6,100 / $418)
- WR1: Brandon Marshall ($8,000 / $547)
- WR2: Pierre Garcon ($7,000/ $593)
- WR3: Reggie Wayne ($6,900 / $479) Cecil Shorts ($6,300 / $525)
- TE: Garrett Graham ($5,100 / $464)
- K: Steve Hauschka ($5,400 / $574)
- DEF: Bengals ($5,300 / $449) Broncos ($5,900 / $386)
This lineup is projected for more points (126.8) by Bloom's projections, and it could end up being a great option as the Jacksonville-Denver game provides multiple great matchups on both sides.
"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.
Last week at quarterback, we gave you one of our favorite "cheap" players in Terrelle Pryor. He didn't disappoint, getting us 221 pass yards, 31 rushing yards, and two passing touchdowns. This week, let's take a risk on Chad Henne ($5,300). Surely, Denver's defense won't yield 500 passing yards again like they did in Dallas, but they may play a big chunk of this game in a relaxed mode. Henne is the better quarterback in Jacksonville, and he showed a nice rapport with Justin Blackmon last season when they played together.
Last week, we picked Jacquizz Rodgers, and it was another big hit as he scored two touchdowns and added four receptions on Monday night. This week, we'll go with another player who scored twice in Week 5 in Pierre Thomas ($5,900). Thomas is tied for second among running backs with 28 receptions. We expect that to continue against New England. His price tag of $5,900 hasn't caught up to his value yet.
Last week at wide receiver, we gave you Donnie Avery and Denarius Moore. Avery had 91 yards but only on three catches and was held out of the endzone. Moore, however, had five receptions, 84 yards, and a touchdown. This week at receiver, we're starting with a roll-of-the-dice player in Miles Austin ($5,200). Austin participated in Wednesday practice. Despite it being in a limited fashion, Wednesday is usually a rest day for veterans or guys recovering from injuries. This is a great indication that Austin will play. It's a juicy matchup against Washington, and his cap figure isn't indicative of his health status.
If you're scared to go out on a limb with Austin, or if his status declines before now and Sunday, look at teammate Terrance Williams ($5,600). He'd be great as an Austin replacement, but he also has value even as the team's third receiver.
Last week, for our second wide receiver, we started our selection by saying the following, "we're going with a guy who is coming on strong out west." Moore made it work, so why not try it again? San Diego is a legitimate offense, especially for fantasy purposes because their defense is very subpar, making them a shootout candidate each week. So who is San Diego's most talented wide receiver? Not Eddie Royal. And not Vincent Brown. It's Keenan Allen ($4,500), a guy who has 11 catches for 195 yards and a touchdown in his last two games. Look for the rookie to make a name for himself on Monday Night Football.
Note: since FanDuel sets their salaries every Monday, players on Monday Night Football maintain their same salaries in the following week. We may be seeing Allen in this space once again next week.
In Week 5, we chose Kellen Winslow. He only had one catch for one yard, but it did result in a touchdown. This week, we're going with the new kid on the TE1 block. Garrett Graham ($5,100) is the Texans new tight end while Owen Daniels recovers from a leg injury that should keep him sidelined for at least eight weeks as he was put on the IR Designated to Return list. Houston leads the league with 63 targets to the tight end. Right now, Graham should see the majority of those. We're expecting a fairly big game from him this week vs. St. Louis.
Last week, our pick of the Falcons wasn't great. They registered four sacks but allowed 30 points. This week, we like the Bengals ($5,300) at Buffalo. The Bills are starting Thaddeus Lewis at quarterback in his second career start. Look for Cincinnati to make life difficult for the home team.
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. Please DO NOT be able to type anything in the dark-shaded cells. This entire workbook utilizes formulas, macros, and links. Typing in those cells can ruin its functionality.
- If you don't see a player listed, it's because FanDuel didn't have a salary assigned to him as of Wednesday evening. You can't add these players, and even if you could, it wouldn't be helpful since they're not available on FanDuel anyway.
- The "Lineup Page" tab will only add up the salary figures when a full team of nine players is selected.
- NEW: we've added a button on the front page that will update the player projections when it is pressed! Again, make sure your macros and data connections are enabled in order to ensure proper functionality. To do this, I had to un-protect the positional worksheets. Again, typing in any of the colored cells can impact/ruin the tool's functionality.
- If refreshing the data isn't working, it may be the version of Excel you're using. Download the sheet again and do not refresh the projections. This will allow you to use the sheet, but you won't get updated information throughout the week.
- You'll notice some "N/A" fields in the projections That is because one or both of our projectors did not project points for that player, likely due to questionable playing status. By using the new refresh function above as the week goes on, you may see projections for those players if their injury outlook improves and the projectors include them.
- 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. We appreciate and encourage any feedback that can help us get this thing perfect.