NFL can be a challenge, which is why I’m here weekly to assist.
On DraftKings, it’s important to remember you’re playing full-point PPR with bonuses if a player surpasses 300 passing yards, 100 rushing yards or 100 receiving yards.
Here is my optimal lineup for Sunday’s $3 million Fantasy Football Millionaire contest, but it can be utilized as a foundation in other games and platforms.
All prices listed are courtesy of DraftKings with a $50,000 budget.
These lineups have netted $145, so I’m currently breaking even with an average score of 150.08 points through eight weeks.
Year-To-Date Results
Week 1: 170.52 points
Week 2: 141.30 points
Week 3: 130.78 points
Week 4: 152.50 points
Week 5: 162.32 points
Week 6: 146.56 points
Week 7: 156.78 points
Week 8: 139.86 points
QB: Derek Carr, Saints ($5,700)
New Orleans has leaned on the pass, and opponents have attacked the Bears through the air. Carr has surpassed 300 passing yards in three straight games and is due for some positive touchdown regression against a defense allowing the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
RB: Saquon Barkley, Giants ($7,900)
Barkley has 114 touches for 436 yards and three TDs in his last four games. That’s almost 30 touches per game. That’s an incredible workload. According to Fantasy Pros, the Raiders are allowing 163.8 total yards, 4.8 yards per carry, 4.8 receptions per game, and have allowed seven total TDs to running backs since Week 5.
RB: Jonathan Taylor, Colts ($6,400)
Taylor’s only this cheap because Zack Moss remains involved in Indy’s offense, but the two backs are not the same. There’s a reason the Colts ponied up $42 million for the All-Pro’s extension. Since his return from IR, Taylor ranks seventh in explosive run rate, second in missed tackles forced per attempt and first in yards after contact per attempt. The Panthers have allowed the second-most fantasy points to running backs, including 5.1 yards per carry and 13 total TDs in seven games.
WR: Chris Olave, Saints ($6,300)
Olave has at least nine targets in six of eight games this season. He’s due for a smask week. He ranks first in deep targets and usually sees a boost in air-yard share against zone. The Bears play zone coverage on almost 75 percent of their defensive snaps.
WR: Terry McLaurin, Commanders ($5,600)
McLaurin is the overall WR12 in PPR since Week 6 and usually thrives against man coverage. The Patriots play man on 38.4 percent of their defensive snaps, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL. Targets should also be more concentrated this week with Curtis Samuel out.
WR: Christian Watson, Packers ($4,900)
The Rams have allowed the third-most passing yards and seventh-highest passer rating since Week 4. Watson could erupt if Jordan Love returns to his early-season form.
TE: TJ Hockenson, Vikings ($5,200)
I expect rookie quarterback Jaren Hall to lean on Hockenson, the alpha in Minnesota’s pass offense with Justin Jefferson sidelined. The overall TE2 in PPR this season has averaged 17.1 points on DraftKings in three games without Jefferson.
FLEX: Zay Flowers, Ravens ($5,700)
Baltimore’s passing game is funneled through Flowers and tight end Mark Andrews, with the rookie receiver seeing an increased target share against zone, especially against Cover 3. The Seahawks have the highest zone coverage rate (84.9 percent), and the sixth-highest rate of Cover 3 (40.5 percent) in the NFL.
DST: New York Giants ($2,300)
The Raiders fired Josh McDaniels — What took so long? — and benched Jimmy Garoppolo this week, which means they now have a first-time head coach and a rookie fourth-round pick starting at QB. The last time Antonio Pierce was the head coach of a football team it was Long Beach Poly high school in 2017. In Aidan O’Connell’s only start this season (against the Chargers in Week 4), he threw an interception, suffered seven sacks and fumbled three times.
