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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 paricular quarterback, the other 8 staffers were weighted as giving that quarterback a '9' for average calculation purposes. 

QUARTERBACKS

Eli and Cam were the clear top choices this week. Both were ranked very highly by the entire group, despite their high pricetag. This indicates that although they both have a high price tag, they are expected to score a lot of points. This makes sense given that the Giants face the weak passing defense of New Orleans, and the Panthers are a home against the 49ers. The schedule makers were unkind to San Francisco, because Carolina is playing on 3 extra days of rest because they played on Thursday for week 1 and the 49ers are playing on road on a short week after playing on Monday night. If you're looking for cheap QB value this week, Trevor Siemian is playing at home against Indy with an extra three days rest. 

Garda: 

Derek Carr - I didn’t love what I saw out of Atlanta against Jameis Winston and I am really excited about Carr, especially at this price. He’s going to produce and allow you to put money elsewhere in your lineup.

Carson Wentz - Chicago is not good. Wentz is decent and has weapons. He will produce good points, and his price will let you stack somewhere else.

Cam Newton - I love Cam each week but I am leery of the SF defense. Unfortunately, LA was a terrible test for them so we don;t know if they are really good. There are good, cheap options to use here.

Mamula: 

Eli Manning: Can I rank Eli Manning any higher than 1 this week? He is playing vs. one of the worst defenses in the history of the league and is the 9th highest FD QB. YES! YES! YES!

RUNNING BACKS

C.J. Anderson and DeAngelo Williams are the top value backs to have this week. Both had big games last week, and both contributed both rushing and catching the ball. This week the face the Colts and Bengals, both of whom have weaker run defenses. At 7800 and 7600, they are not exactly 'cheap', but they are easier on your salary cap than David Johnson is at 9000. It's likely that Johnson was left off a few value list this week because of his super high price tag. Spencer Ware and Jeremy Langford are cheaper alternatives if you are looking for good value plays at a more reasonable price. Todd Gurley did make the board as Mamula's #12 value pick, but most of the staffers are fading him this week due to him facing a tough Seattle defense. 

Mamula: 

C.J. Anderson: C.J. Anderson is an easy RB1 due to the injury vs. an injury riddles Colts defense.

T.J. Yeldon: Yeldon is still severly underpriced based on the matchup and Ivory probably being out again.

Garda:

DeAngelo Williams - he might not put up the ton of points he did last weekend against Washington, but he’s going to be a great start even against a tougher Cincy team which actually allowed Matt Forte to run on them. 7600 for his production is a steal.

Matt Forte - The one Thursday night guy on the list, Forte almost cracked 100 yards on the ground alone. In Week 17 in 2015, the Jets lost because they missed the flexibility of Bilal Powell - in Forte they get Powell plus. I love his upside at this price.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Big price tags are no problem for the staffers looking for value at WR this week. Odell Beckham Jrand Antonio Brown are two of the most expensive players to have on your rosters this week, but that didn't stop our staff from consider them the top value-based plays at WR this week. Amari Cooper and Alshon Jeffery are also ranked high, but are more reasonably priced at 7900 and 7800 respectively. If you're looking to go a little cheaper at WR this week, consider Jordan Matthews at 6900 on Monday night against the Bears. If you're still looking to save money, our team was pretty warm on Travis Benjamin at 6100, who steps into the void left by Keenan Allen in San Diego. 

Garda: 

I am sinking most of my money in WRs given their production. I give the nod to Beckham against a terrible Saints defense and I like Brandin Cooks a lot because the Saints can only hang here if they attack a questionable secondary of the Giants. 

I really like Amari Cooper and his price against an Atlanta defense I think will be a mess this week and both he and Derek Carr can produce. I put Dez Bryant on the list in the hopes that this week Dak Prescott uses him more. 

Mamula: 

Eli Rogers: Eli Rogers is still min-priced on FD due to the MNF game. He will be a reception monster this season.

TIGHT ENDS

The Panthers are expected to roll this week against the 49ers, and Greg Olsen will be the key component to their passing game. Jordan Reed is a major part of the Washington offense as well, and he should see plenty of action against the division rival Cowboys. Both of these guys have a pretty high pricetag, but are still considered value-plays by our staffers. The real value though, is in how many people expect Jesse James to have a big week against the Bengals. At 4500, he doesn't need to have a huge game to reach cash game value. Jason Witten was a mixed bag, with several staffers ranking him very and some not ranking him at all. Witten is Dak Prescott's safety blanket and at 5900 price, he is a nice value pick as well. 

Mamula:

Jesse James: Jesse James is still min-priced on FD due to the MNF game. James played every snap last week and is a reliable check down option in the Steelers passing game.

Garda:

If Gronkowski plays, you play him. Ditto Greg Olsen. I like Barnidge as a bounce back option with Josh McCown under center - the two had chemistry last year and 6000 is low for what I think he’ll produce now that they are together again.

KICKERS

Kicker is a position where people really search for value. It is hard to determine might have a big week, but the Vegas money line is a good indicator. Brandon McManus, Graham Gano and Justin Tucker are all ranked pretty well and are expected to have big games, despite a price tag of less than 5000. Stephen Gostkowski is the only kicker with a price tag above 4900 in these rankings, with most staffers looking to cheaper alternatives. 

TEAM DEFENSES

The Seahawks are one of the more expensive defenses to have this week, but after the Rams imploded against the 49ers on Monday night, you can see why people expect Seattle to handle them as well. Carolina is a heavy favorite over the 49ers this week, and their defense is expected to have a good game after a long rest. The Ravens and Patriots are cheaper alternatives, with Cleveland and Miami being weaker offenses that should be easy to handle. San Diego is a super cheap alternative, and Hindery thinks that they should have a decent game against the Jaguars this week. 

Good luck this weekend!

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