FantasyScore has a $2 - 50/50 GPP this week with 100 total entries up for grabs and also there is a $5 - 50/50 that has a total of 20 entries available.
TOP STACKS
Denver Broncos -- Peyton Manning ($7,900) and WR Demaryius Thomas ($8,100)
I get that Peyton Manning is not the same player anymore and that he has struggled all season to throw the ball down the field but in a week that you only have 4 options at quarterback he still has to be considered. Manning has faced the Patriots 4 times in the regular season since 2010 and in each of those four games he has thrown at least 2 touchdown passes and has a total of 11 touchdown passes in those games.
2015 has been a different story for Manning as he has a TD:INT rate of 9:17 in just ten games and has only thrown multiple touchdowns in three out of the ten games. Those numbers alone are going to keep Manning's ownership level fairly low as he is already only owned at an under 5% rate heading into the weekend. Manning's top target has to be Demaryius Thomas as Thomas has been targeted 177 times this season for 105/1304/6 statline. Thomas has also had success against the Patriots over the years and in the last four games against the Patriots he has put up 7/127/0, 4/41/1, 9/188/0, and 7/116/0 statlines.
New England Patriots -- QB Tom Brady ($8,400) and WR Julian Edelman ($8,100)
Tom Brady got off to a rapid start this season and took that momentum with him throughout the season. He ended the year with 4,770 passing yards and 39 total touchdowns. This was all done with injuries to some of his key running backs and wide receivers but Brady and the Patriots would continue to move forward no matter the injuries on offense as they took a next man up approach. With Julian Edelman back in the fold, defenses are once again going to have to put some extra attention on him and that could open up a few more lanes and plays for the big tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Gronkowski has been dominant this season with a 72/1176/11 statline on 120 targets and he remains to be Brady's favorite target no matter where the Patriots are on the field. Edelman has only played nine games this season for the Patriots but has made the most of his playing time with 61 receptions for 692 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 88 targets. It is very likely that Edelman will see in the range of 10 targets this week against a tough Denver defensive line where the Patriots will have to get the ball out quickly. This combo of Brady and Edelman will be one of the highest owned QB/WR combos this weekend as it is one of the safest plays.
VALUE STACKS
Carolina Panthers -- QB Cam Newton ($8,500) and WR Devin Funchess ($2,100)
On the opposite side of the Seahawks you have the Panthers and Cam Newton and his MVP season. Newton finished the season with 35 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns. He was the fantasy quarterback to own this year and never seemed to disappoint week to week throughout the season. He had 13 games in which he scored multi touchdowns.
The price is high for Newton at $8,500 but when you pair him with Devin Funchess at just $2,100 it gives you the top QB in the league this year and a competent wide receiver that has the ability to make a few plays. Funchess finished his rookie season with a 31/473/5 statline and had all five of his touchdowns scored over the final nine games this season. He has been slowly building some chemisty with Newton as the season has progressed and if he can find the endzone this weekend he will be well worth the $2,100 price.
FADES
There are not many fades this week as there are only two games on the slate. With that almost everyone is in play, especially in GPPs.
OWNERSHIP PERCENTAGE
FantasyScore gives away there ownership percentage stats before the contest begins so it gives you a good idea of what players will be higher owned and lower owned. I will give the top player owned at each position and will also include a key lower owned player.
HIGHEST OWNERSHIP
Quarterback
Tom Brady, New England Patriots ($8,400) = 48.46%
Running Back
David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals ($7,000) = 59.03%
Wide Receiver
Julian Edelman, New England Patriots ($8,100) = 64.76%
Tight End
Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots ($8,000) = 48.46%
Defense and Special Teams
Carolina Panthers ($3,200) = 33.04%
LOW/VALUE OWNERSHIP
Quarterback
Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos ($7,900) = 4.41%
Running Back
James White, New England Patriots ($6,400) = 10.13%
Wide Receiver
Brandon LaFell, New England Patriots ($5,800) = 5.73%
Tight End
Vernon Davis, Denver Broncos ($1,700) = 2.20%
Defense and Special Teams
Arizona Cardinals ($3,200) = 8.81%
