This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Football series.
QUARTERBACK
Patrick Mahomes, KC at SD ($6,700): Philip Rivers is going to be incredibly chalky this week given a juicy home matchup against the Chiefs' weak defense. However, Mahomes makes for a great contrarian play on the other side of the ball at a $800 discount from Rivers. Mahomes has arguably the best trio of receivers in the league in Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins and Travis Kelce, and has the mobility to score extra fantasy points with his legs. The Chargers have an excellent defense but lost corner Jason Verrett for the season, and Joey Bosa (70 tackles, 12.5 sacks in 2017) may sit this one out due to a foot injury.
RUNNING BACK
James Conner, PIT at CLE ($5,000): Conner is going to be the chalkiest pick in cash at the position given he'll be the starting running back and only $500 above the minimum. This won't be an easy matchup going into Cleveland, and the Browns were the second-best defense in the league giving up only 3.4 yards per carry. However, the carry volume should be there for Conner, and he should get a handful of targets out of the backfield as well. Using Conner at this price allows an easy pairing with an elite running back like Alvin Kamara ($8,700).
Royce Freeman, DEN vs. SEA ($6,000): Freeman, dollar for dollar, has an excellent chance to be a more valuable fantasy commodity over Conner this weekend given his setup. It's arguably an easier home matchup for Freeman against the Seahawks, who gave up 4.0 yards per carry last season (14th in the league), and the 14 rushing touchdowns allowed and 114 yards per game were well below league-average as well. Freeman has looked fantastic in the preseason with 5.6 yards per carry and found the end zone three time on his way to winning the starting job.
WIDE RECEIVER
Jarvis Landry, CLE vs. PIT ($6,600): Looking back at his scoring logs from a season ago, Landry had at least double-digit scoring in 11 of his 16 games. He should benefit this season from improved quarterback play and should be considered the top receiving option with Josh Gordon not starting and likely limited in some fashion Sunday. In the last preseason game in which Landry played just a half, he got 10 targets, showing that he should again be one of the most targeted players in the league despite changing teams during the offseason.
Chris Hogan, NE vs. HOU ($6,700): Eric Decker retired, Julian Edelman is suspended, Jordan Matthews was released, and it's doubtful Phillip Dorsett or Cordarrelle Patterson are going to be heavily targeted. That leaves Hogan and Rob Gronkowski as the main targets for Tom Brady Sunday in Foxboro against a Houston defense who's secondary is their weakness. Before getting hurt and playing with Edelman, Hogan scored five touchdowns in his first five games and when healthy returned to post a 6-128-1 line in the Super Bowl against the Eagles. In a game with an over/under of 51, and the Patriots almost a touchdown favorite, it should translate into Brady and his receivers having a big day.
TIGHT END
Kyle Rudolph, MIN vs. SF ($5,900): With Kirk Cousins the new gunslinger in town, he may want to play it safe and go to the easy routes in his pass patterns, which means work for Rudolph. Kyle was a fantastic red zone target last season with eight receiving touchdowns, and for his price he allow money to be spent at the other positions.
KICKER
THERE IS NO KICKER NOW! Just a Flex spot.
FLEX
Jordan Wilkins, IND vs. CIN ($5,100): Wilkins is slated to be the starting running back with Marlon Mack banged up. This is a good enough price to take a chance on Wilkins, who averaged 6.5 yards per carry his last season facing SEC defenses.
DEFENSE
New York Giants D, vs. JAC ($3,900) – Look, the chalk play here will be Baltimore ($4,800) vs. my Bills and rightfully so. However, FanDuel has tweaked the defenses prices and made the lower prices a good consideration. Coaching isn't a plus for the Jaguars, and the Giants have gotten healthy over the offseason both on the sides of the ball.
