NFL Week 8 $20,000 Monday Lineup Tips
It is half way through the NFL season and the playoff picture is starting to take shape. The Eagles are sitting pretty with the best record in the league with 6 wins and there are still two winless teams in the Browns and the 49ers. There are 10 matches to choose your lineup from with the highlights including Seattle hosting the Texans as well as the Redskins taking on the Cowboys. Kickoff is at 4.00am Monday AEDT, so make sure you get your lineups in by then.
Here are some value players for the NFL $20,000+ Monday competition
Quarterback
Philip Rivers ($11,900)
After a slow start to the season, the Chargers are flying. They have won three matches in a row, including two of them on the road. They have a huge match this week against the Patriots. Rivers is a good play this week due to how horrid the Patriots passing defense is. It took a comical amount of fog in their last match against the Falcons for them to not concede 300 yards passing for the first time this season. Rivers should be able to carve them up here (unless the fog comes back).
Running Back
Chris Thompson ($12,100)
The Redskins have the 11th best passing offense in the league, but do not have a Wide Receiver in the top 90 for receiving yards. This is a remarkable stat. It is due to the production of their running backs and Tight Ends in the passing game. Chris Thompson is a major factor in the passing game as well as in the running game, which makes him a perfect RB for Draftstars.
Running Back
James White ($10,050)
James White is having a career best year as the number one RB in New England. Just like Chris Thompson, he is especially damaging as a receiving Running Back. The Patriots will need to use their short passing game against the Chargers due to the Charging having the best 1-2 combination of Defensive Ends in the league. Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram are wreaking havoc this season, so Tom Brady won’t have the time to throw deep to his wide receivers. White looks like a good play for this match.
Wide Receiver
Julio Jones ($16,250)
Julio was starved of the ball last week against the Patriots, yet still managed to finish with 24.90 DS points. Atlanta decided to run the ball against the Patriots due to the inclement weather, but watch for them to air it out against the Jets this week. Jones should run riot against a Jets secondary who gave up over 300 passing yards to the Dolphins last week. Look for the Falcons to target Jones often and Jones to rack up a huge score.
Wide Receiver
Nelson Agholor ($10,800)
Agholor could quite possibly be the most improved offensive player this year. Last year he was great at getting open and dropping balls, now he is riding a huge wave of confidence and is a big reason why Carson Wentz is playing so well. Agholor has caught a TD in his last three matches, and there is a strong chance that his streak continues. The Eagles comes up against the winless 49ers in what should be a relatively straight forward match. Assuming they don’t slip up, Agholor looks like a good play.
Tight End
Jimmy Graham ($7,800)
After a slow start to the season, Jimmy Graham has resumed his usual production over the last month, averaging 13.5 DS points in that period. Graham is an athletic beast who should be too fast for Houston’s big linebackers. Graham represents a lot of value at his cheap salary, look for Wilson to target him near the end zone, in what should be an easy win for the Seahawks.
Flex
Keenan Allen ($12,650)
Allen has been nursing a shoulder injury lately, which explains his lower than usual production. He gets the dream matchup against the Patriots abhorrent secondary, who was missing two out of their best three cornerbacks last week. Even if they return, Allen should have a field day and at a lower than normal salary, he is a must pick.
Flex
Danny Amendola ($11,350)
After a red hot start to the season, Amendola has been quiet in the last couple of weeks. He can turn it around here against the Chargers. Amendola is an electric slot receiver, who thrives in short yardage situations. Brady will be looking to get the ball out of his hands quickly to mitigate the threat of the Chargers dynamic duo, Bosa and Ingram. Amendola suits this passing style of short throws perfectly. Look for him to rack up the catches on his way to a big score.
Defense
Seattle Seahawks ($7,100)
The Seahawks should have little trouble beating the Texans this weekend. As good as Texans QB, Deshaun Watson has played, he has run up stats against poor defences. Watson faces a tough assignment against the Seahawks, and he has to do it at their home. The Seahawks, buoyed by their irresistible crowd should be able to confuse the rookie QB. Look for a couple of interceptions and hopefully a TD or two!
The Lineup
QB: Philip Rivers ($11,900)
RB: Chris Thompson ($12,100)
RB: James White ($10,050)
WR: Julio Jones ($16,250)
WR: Nelson Agholor ($10,800)
TE: Jimmy Graham ($7,800)
FX: Keenan Allen ($12,650)
FX: Danny Amendola ($11,350)
DEF: Seattle Seahawks ($7,100)
Cash Remaining: $0
NFL SCORING SYSTEM:
OFFENSE
Pass TD = 4 pts
1 Pass Yard = 0.04 pts
Interception = -1 pts
1 Rush Yard = 0.1 pts
Rush TD = 6 pts
1 Receiving Yard = 0.1pts
Reception TD = 6 pts
Reception = 1pt
Return TD = 6 pts
2 pt Conversion = 2pts
Lost Fumble = -2pts
DEFENSE
Sack = 1 pt
Interception = 2 pts
Fumble Recovery = 2 pts
Touchdown = 6 pts
Safety = 2 pts
Blocked Kick = 2 pts
Kickoff/PR Touchdown = 6 pts
Points allowed – 0 = 10 pts
Points allowed – 1-6 = 7 pts
Points allowed – 7-13 = 4 pts
Points allowed – 14-20 = 1 pt
Points allowed – 21-27 = 0 pts
Points allowed – 28-34 = -1 pt
Points allowed – 35+ = -4 pts
Catch all the Super Bowl action live on ESPN Channel 508 from 10am AEDT on Monday with the Patriots and the Falcons.