Support for Off The Top is brought to you by MANSCAPED™, the best in men’s below-the-waist grooming. MANSCAPED™ products are precision-engineered tools for your family jewels. In addition, MANSCAPED’s™ Performance Package is the ultimate men’s hygiene bundle! Join over 6 million men worldwide who trust MANSCAPED with this exclusive offer for you…. 20% off and free worldwide shipping with the code UND at manscaped.com. If my math is correct, that’s about 12 million balls.
In this weekly DFS article, Abe (DFS_Docket) goes over the top salaried players in both DraftKings and Fanduel and tells you who he thinks you should play and who you should avoid. Using this article to help construct your rosters, you will better understand who to pay up to win you some money!
Quarterbacks
Paying Up – Russell Wilson vs. Las Vegas Raiders (26th vs. QBs in 2022)
Draftkings – $5,900
Fanduel – $7,300
At $5,900, Russel Wilson is a steal this week. The Raiders have notoriously been bad against fantasy quarterbacks. It is very understandable to want to stay away from Russell Wilson this season, but under the tutelage of Sean Payton, I expect Wilson to bounce back strong, which starts in Week 1.
Avoiding – Deshaun Watson vs. Cincinnati Bengals (10th vs. QBs in 2022)
Draftkings – $6,000
Fanduel – $7,400
Just about every AFC North game turns into an all-out physical warfare. With Joe Burrow returning from an injury and not being 100%, I think this game is a low-scoring, defensive game. Nick Chubb might have a great game, but Watson will not.
Running Backs
Paying Up – Joe Mixon at Cleveland Browns (27th vs. RBs in 2022)
Draftkings – $6,800
Fanduel – $7,500
Over the last three seasons, Joe Mixon has averaged 18.3 Half-PPR fantasy points per game in wins vs. 12.3 FPG in losses
That’s the difference between ~RB4 and ~RB20 in scoring
The Bengals are favored in six-straight games to start their season by an average margin of 5 points
— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) September 4, 2023
As discussed with Deshaun Wataon, this game will be physical, and Joe Burrow is returning to full strength. I expect the Bengals to run the ball early in the season, and Joe Mixon is a workhorse. It’s a simple math game here.
Avoiding – Najee Harris vs. San Francisco 49ers (1st vs. RBs in 2022)
Draftkings – $6,000
Fanduel – $6,700
The 49ers were the #1 team vs. fantasy running backs in 2022, which will be the same in 2023. The Steelers’ offensive line is still a giant question mark, and with Kenny Pickett not scaring anyone, defenses will focus on Najee.
Wide Receivers
Paying Up – Christian Kirk at Colts (11th vs. WRs in 2022)
Draftkings – $5,600
Fanduel – $6,900
Calvin Ridley may be the shiny new toy, but Christian Kirk is the trusted option in that offense
✅1,000+ Receiving Yards
✅#3 in Slot Snaps (494)
✅#5 in Redzone Targets (22)
✅#11 in TDs (8) pic.twitter.com/5wr3ykrIbF— PlayerProfiler NFL (@Profiler_NFL) September 6, 2023
The Colts’ defense is rebuilding, and the Jaguars’ offense has shown it can be explosive. Calvin Ridley is in the fold now, but building a relationship with Trevor Lawrence will take time. The organization highly pays Christian Kirk and already has a rapport with Trevor Lawrence.
Avoiding – DeAndre Hopkins at Saints (9th vs. WRs in 2022)
Draftkings – $6,900
Fanduel – $7,500
Hopkins is going to a new team and city, and Ryan Tannehill is on the downward end of his career; this is Derrick Henry’s team. Take all that and have him in a one-on-one matchup vs. a top corner in Marshon Lattimore, and it’s a risk I don’t want to take this week.
