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Welcome to Fanduel Value-Play Rankings!

Each week we ask 10 staff members to rank their top players at each Fanduel position. These rankings are based on what our DFS staff believe are the best players at each position with respect to total points they will receive compared to the dollars that they cost. These rankings can be used to help you round out your cash game and GPP lineups, or just provide a guideline for what the Footballguys.com staff believe are the best value-plays to target

If Staffers submitted Comments, they are included below the tables as well. 

Each Staffer was asked to rank 8 QBs, 12 RBs, 12 WRs, 8 TEs, 5 PKs, and 5 Defenses. For the purposes of calculating an average rank, if a player was not ranked by a particular staffer, they received a weight that was 1 point higher than the players they ranked. For example. if only 2 staffers ranked a particular quarterback, the other 8 staffers were weighted as giving that quarterback a '9' for average calculation purposes. 

FanDuel Consensus Rankings, Week 4: Quarterbacks

The ‘anyone against Cleveland’ approach to DFS is in full effect now. Kirk Cousins tops the list of value-based QB options with his reasonable salary of 7600 against the Browns. Cousins has put up almost 1000 yards passing over the first three games of the season, and had 2 passing TDs last week against the Giants without an interception. Cleveland has allowed almost 900 passing yards and 7 passing TDs in the first three games, and are surrendering over 20 ppq to opposing quarterbacks.

Cam Newton struggled against the Vikings last week, but he faces a much softer Atlanta defense this week. The Falcons are on a short week, and have given up 950 yards passing and a whopping 10 passing TDs against just 2 INTs. This has ‘get right game’ written all over it for Cam and the Panthers.

Trevor Siemian (7400) and Dak Prescott (7200) are the only two QBs in the top 10 rankings this week that are cheaper than Cousins. Both are coming off their best games of the season. Siemian lit up the Bengals last week for over 300 passing yards and 4 TDs. Prescott crushed the Bears at home, only passing for 248 yards in the game, but he also had his first passing TD of the season and chipped in another 36 yards rushing and a rushing TD as well. Both Tampa Bay and San Francisco have average passing defenses, giving both Siemian and Prescott a chance to reach value.

Alexander

Trevor Siemian - I’m not expecting him to lead all quarterbacks in scoring for a second straight week, but Tampa’s pass defense just got beaten at home by Case Keenum. Siemian just delivered in a much tougher road matchup.

Knotts

Kirk Cousins going against the Browns secondary that has allowed 300 yards passing on average for the first three games. The Redskins are projected to score 27 points in this game, and Kirk Cousins has a history of having big games in blowouts.

Garda

I never thought I would have Cousins high, but a great matchup and a nice showing against the Giants did it. Philip Rivers has a good matchup against the awful Saints defense and Trevor Siemian has a similar look against Tampa. Matt Stafford will be under owned against an awful Chicago secondary as well.

FanDuel Consensus Rankings, Week 4: Running Backs

Melvin Gordon, LeVeon Bell and Jordan Howard take the #1, #2 and #3 value-based running back suggestions for this week. Gordon continues to be the work-horse back for the Chargers, but his salary is still at a reasonable 7600 for week four. Gordon struggled last week against the Colts, but managed to save face a bit with a rushing TD. This week the Chargers face the Saints as the favorites in a game with almost 54 projected points scored. With the expectation that the Chargers will score at least three TDS, facing a team that gave up over 300 yards from scrimmage and 4 TDs to the Atlanta running backs, it makes sense why Gordon is a close to a lock as they come in DFS.

LeVeon Bell returns from suspension, and inherits the lead back job in Pittsburgh this week. The Steelers have a tendency to force-feed their lead backs (when they are not getting blown out 34-3 like they were last week), and Bell should see plenty of opportunities this week against the Chiefs. The Chiefs are allowing 4.2 YPC this season so far, and 123 rushing yards allowed per game. Assuming Bell can shake off the rust, he should have a good game this week.

Jordan Howard is basically the only legitimate RB that Chicago has right now.  With Jeremy Langford out and KaDeem Carey expected to miss this week’s game as well, it’s all Howard all the time. Howard’s salary is just 5600 so with high number of touches and a low threshold to reach value, Howard looks like a great bargain basement play, even if the Bears are expected to lose the game.

David Johnson received strong consideration from the majority of the field because he should have a very solid game against the Rams this week, but given his 8700 salary, a couple decided to fade him from the value-based rankings this week.

Garda

LeVeon Bell is back, so he’s my top guy and yes I will overpay for the honor.

I am high on Forte but the Jets will have to get him going in the passing game to overcome the Seattle defense and he should get plenty of run as well. Meanwhile the jets defense is one of the tops vs the run and so I won’t touch Christine Michael.

While Mark Ingram is coming off a great game against a weak ATL defense, San Diego’s is better and I think he’ll have a rougher day.

Knotts

Jordan Howard is filling in for Jeremy Langford, and has shown promise so far this year. The rookie out of Indiana faces a Detroit defense who is currently 21st in rushing yards. Howard is very cheap that allows you to spend elsewhere in your lineup.

Alexander

Theo Riddick - Riddick stunk rushing the ball last week, but still played 66% of the snaps and received a team-high nine targets. He’s practically a weekly lock to return 1.5x this salary on catches and receiving yards alone and he has touchdown potential this week against a banged-up Bears defense.

Jordan Howard - Howard played 75% of the snaps in Jeremy Langford’s absence and looked good, racking up 92 total yards on 13 touches against Dallas. Detroit has been fortunate not to have allowed a rushing touchdown in their first three games despite ceding 5.3 yards per carry to opposing running backs. At only $5,600, Howard will be in contention for top point per dollar value at running back.

FanDuel Consensus Rankings, Week 4: Wide Receivers

Marvin Jones had a monster game last week, with over 200 yards receiving and 2 receiving TDs. This week he faces a Chicago defense that is decimated by injury. His salary climbed to 7600 this week, but he still has an excellent opportunity to reach 3x or 4x value given the lack of running game and the weak opponent. He probably won’t see 200 yards again this week, but expect Matthew Stafford to look to him early and often.

Terrelle Pryor is basically the entire Cleveland offense now, catching passes, running the ball and even playing a little quarterback. His salary jumped to 7000 this week as they face Washington, but you can expect that Pryor will see a lot of opportunities this week as well.

Travis Benjamin and Tyrelle Williams are both receiving a lot of love this week as the fantasy friendly New Orleans Saints come to town. Both Williams and Benjamin have more than 20 targets each, both have more than 200 yard receiving and both have reached the end zone this season. Without Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates competing for time, both of these guys should have a great game against the Saints (who are allowing more than 300 yards per game passing so far this season).

Knotts

Terrelle Pryor is a player who could play quarterback like he saw last week where he had 14 snaps at the quarterback position. This is a great opportunity where he is the 22nd priced quarterback and saw 14 targets last week.

Garda

Not a lot of people seem to be on Kelvin Benjamin but I’ll tell you - the matchup is excellent and the Panthers will do everything they can to get him back involved. As bad as Atlanta is? I might be too low.

FanDuel Consensus Rankings, Week 4: Tight Ends

Hunter Henry tops the value picks for tight ends this week. Henry faces the same weak New Orleans defense that has Benjamin and Williams near the top of the WR ranks. Henry is also dirt cheap at just 4500 dollars. High opportunity and low cost make a great value pick.

Zach Miller is a little more expensive at 5000, but he represents similar high opportunity value. The Bears are a three point home underdog this week against Detroit, and the Lions are looking at this game as a way to stay in the playoff hunt. The Bears will most likely fall behind early and have to throw to catch up. That happened last week in Dallas and Miller finished with 7 catches for 78 yards and 2 TDS.

If you’re going to pay up for a TE this week, Greg Olsen looks like your man. At 7900, he’s significantly more expensive than the top value guys, but the Panthers are going to be angry after their home loss last week and the Falcons are just the team they are looking for to unload on. A short practice week doesn’t help the Falcons either. Olsen is the key component to the Carolina passing game, and with huge question marks at RB, Olsen looks like a great option at TE for a high number of targets.

Garda

I am on the fence about Hunter, but this is a great matchup and Antonio Gates is not playing. I saw a lot to like about Rudolph with Sam Bradford and think his role grows.

Alexander

Jacob Tamme - It’s criminal, but Tamme’s 19.6% target market share is identical to Julio Jones’ through three games. The Falcons take on Carolina this week, who have allowed 70+ yards and a touchdown to both Vance McDonald and Keith Rudolph this season. Virgil Green nearly had a score against them in Week 1 as well.

Knotts

This is a slate where you want as much action as possible in the San Diego vs New Orleans game, Hunter Henry had a big game last week and appears to start taking over the main tight end role for this team as Antonio Gates continues to deal with an injury that is likely to keep him out of this game

FanDuel Consensus Rankings, Week 4: Kickers

The Chargers are expected to score close to 30 points in this game and that means great thinks if you're looking for a cheap kicker. Josh Lambo's 4500 bargain basement price is a must have this week for any cash lineup. Dustin Hopkins gets the nod at #2 because he faces a terrible Cleveland team and he's also a 4500 dollar investment. 

If you're looking to swim against the current a bit for a GPP lineup, look at Chandler Catanzaro or Graham Gano as possible options. Both are still under 5000 dollars, but both have the potential to score well this week and might give you a bonus if the field is looking at Lambo or Hopkins. 

FanDuel Consensus Rankings, Week 4: Defenses

Washington at home against Cleveland for 4600? Yes please. Arizona is a bit more expensive at 5300, but the Rams have really struggled on offense so far this season and the Cardinals will be looking to work off some aggression after last week's loss. The Giants and Titans represent super deep discount pricing on defenses, which might be helpful if you're looking to build a high end lineup. 

Good luck this weekend!

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