Editor's note: Below is Jamey's lineup advice for FanDuel.com's $1,000,000 Fantasy Football contest this weekend. It's a one-week league that's only $25 to join and first prize is $100,000. It starts Sunday, September 7th at 1 p.m. ET. Click here to enter.
We always want to find bargains for our Fantasy teams. For seasonal leagues, these are sleepers worth taking with late-round picks. For weekly tournaments, these are cheap buys based on lower salaries.
What we're doing here -- besides trying to help you win money -- is looking at the best value for players in FanDuel's Sunday Million Tournament for Week 1. I'll give you some players to target and others to avoid based on their price, and you can use this as a guide to set your lineup.
The tournament is based on a $60,000 salary cap, and you have to fill out a lineup of QB, 2 RBs, 3 WRs, TE, K and D. The scoring is 0.5 PPR, and passing touchdowns are worth four points, with interceptions minus-1 point. All other touchdowns are worth six points. It's decimal scoring for all positions with 0.1 points for rushing and receiving yards and 0.04 points for passing yards.
I'll be playing in this tournament as well, and you can play against me by clicking here. You can see my lineup below.
Now, you don't have to use all these players in one lineup. These are guys to mix and match with some more expensive players because you obviously want some studs. But you always want the best value, and that's what we're here to find.
Quarterbacks
Good value
Jay Cutler, Bears (vs. BUF)
Cost: $8,000
Cutler
was great at home last season with multiple touchdowns in his first four
games in Chicago. He also rushed for at least 16 yards in three of those
games and limited his interceptions to three total over that span.
Cutler also has been good out of the gate in each of the past three Week
1 outings with an average of 315 passing yards, two touchdowns and one
interception. This will be Buffalo's first game with new defensive
coordinator Jim Schwartz, and he won't have Jairus Byrd or Kiko Alonso at his
disposal.
Other good value picks: Matt Ryan (vs. NO) for $8,100 and Carson Palmer (vs. SD) for $6,900
Bad value
Cam Newton, Panthers (at TB)
Cost: $9,000
Newton
comes into this game battered with a rib injury and is still overcoming
offseason ankle surgery. He should be tested by this defense, which will
be much improved with the additions of Michael Johnson, Clinton McDonald, Alterraun Verner and Mike Jenkins joining Gerald McCoy, Lavonte David, Mark Barron and Dashon Goldson.
Newton will find it tough to run on this unit, and he's already
expressed an interest in running less this year. And his passing stats
should be limited, especially if Verner can limit Kelvin Benjamin's opportunities.
Other bad value picks: Robert Griffin III (at HOU) for $8,400 and Philip Rivers (at ARI) for $8,100
Running backs
Good value
Chris Johnson, Jets (vs. OAK)
Cost: $6,500
Johnson
is coming off a solid preseason where he had 23 carries for 107 yards
(4.7 yards per carry) and a touchdown and six catches for 52 yards. We'd
love to see Johnson do that in this game, but that's unrealistic despite
the good matchup. Still, Johnson is a good price and should deliver good
production. The Raiders run defense isn't expected to improve much after
allowing the fifth-most Fantasy points to opposing running backs last
season, and my only real worry for Johnson this week is Chris Ivory, who could vulture a touchdown. But while Johnson is
running well and has a favorable matchup he's worth using when his
salary is within reason.
Mark Ingram, Saints (at ATL)
Cost: $5,200
The
Falcons run defense should be improved this season with the addition of Paul Soliai and Tyson Jackson, but
Ingram could be on the verge of a breakout campaign. He closed last year
playing on a high level with 80-plus rushing yards in two of the final
four games, including the playoffs. He continued his strong performance
in the preseason with 22 carries for 156 yards and a touchdown,
including two 20-plus yard runs, and he even caught a 23-yard touchdown.
If the Saints really want more balance on offense then getting Ingram
involved early and often makes sense this week.
Other good value picks: Joique Bell (vs. NYG) for $6,800, Shane Vereen (at MIA) for $6,600, Fred Jackson (at CHI) for $5,800, Bernard Pierce (vs. CIN) for $6,100 and Shonn Greene (at KC) for $5,100
Bad value
Giovani Bernard, Bengals (at BAL)
Cost: $8,000
I
like Bernard for the season, but this week doesn't offer a high ceiling
based on the matchup and price. He did well against the Ravens last
season with 14 carries for 58 yards and eight catches for 37 yards and a
touchdown in Week 10 and 13 carries for 22 yards and five catches for 51
yards in Week 17. But Bernard is coming off a disappointing preseason
with 20 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown and four catches for 16
yards. He also has to contend with rookie Jeremy Hill for touches, which should impact his workload. That said,
I wouldn't be surprised if Bernard has a good game, but I don't like his
price as one of the 10 most expensive running backs this week.
C.J. Spiller, Bills (at CHI)
Cost: $7,600
Like
Bernard, Spiller is not worth his price tag since he's the No. 15
running back in terms of cost. As long as Jackson is healthy, Spiller's
numbers will suffer, and he's basically relegated to only first- and
second-down work and in the return game while Jackson works on passing
downs and at the goal line. There's always the chance Spiller can break
a long run for a touchdown, but the Bears run defense should be
drastically improved this year in slowing down opposing ground games.
Spiller's time will come, but this isn't the week to use him in your
lineup.
Other bad value picks: Reggie Bush (vs. NYG) for $7,800, Ben Tate (at PIT) for $7,400, Steven Jackson (vs. NO) for $6,900, Bishop Sankey (at KC) for $6,600 and Trent Richardson (at DEN) for $6,400
Wide receiver
Good value
Marques Colston, Saints (at ATL)
Cost: $5,700
When
Colston is healthy, he's almost a certainty for a good game with the
chance for a big performance. He says the foot problems that nagged him
in recent years feels good, and he has a good history against the
Falcons with three touchdowns in his past five meetings. He scored
against Atlanta in Week 1 last year with five catches for 68 yards, and
the Falcons should continue to struggle against opposing receivers this
season like they did in 2013. This game has the potential for an
offensive bonanza, and if that happens look for Colston to be a
significant contributor.
Jeremy Maclin, Eagles (vs. JAC)
Cost: $5,000
I'm
thrilled to see the No. 1 receiver for the Eagles at such a bargain
price, and getting him for $1,300 less than Sammy Watkins is larceny. The Jaguars struggled to defend receivers
last season, and Maclin should take advantage of either cornerback in Alan Ball or Dwayne Gratz. Keep in
mind this is Maclin's first game back after missing the 2013 season with
a torn ACL, and he should be excited to play well in his return. He had
a quiet preseason with seven catches for 58 yards, but that was just
working off the rust. He'll perform big this week in this matchup at
home.
Other good value picks: Eric Decker (vs. OAK) for $6,400, Cordarrelle Patterson (at STL) for $6,400, Emmanuel Sanders (vs. IND) for $6,400, Julian Edelman (at MIA) for $6,300 and Golden Tate (vs. NYG) for $5,000
Bad value
Keenan Allen, Chargers (at ARI)Cost: $7,200
Allen's price and matchup screams stay away to me because I expect him to struggle against Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson. He is the No. 11 receiver based on his cost, and he won't live up to that lofty billing if Peterson plays as expected. Only one No. 1 outside receiver had more than 100 receiving yards against the Cardinals last season, which was Calvin Johnson. He and Andre Johnson were the only two No. 1 receivers to hurt Arizona since both scored two touchdowns in their respective matchups. Peterson should be able to contain Allen, and he's among the most overvalued players at any position this week.
Sammy Watkins, Bills (at CHI)
Cost: $6,300
Speaking
of overvalued, you can't possibly consider using Watkins this week in
his first NFL game at the Bears. Chicago's cornerbacks are still solid
in Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings, and Watkins comes into this game dealing with injured
ribs. The Bills are a mess at quarterback with Kyle Orton now staring over EJ Manuel's
shoulder, and who knows how this offense will look after struggling
through the preseason, which included Watkins having just three catches
for 21 yards. There's no reason to use Watkins even at a minimal price,
let alone his cost being more expensive than Colston, Maclin or Tate.
Other bad value picks: Pierre Garcon (at HOU) for $7,100, DeSean Jackson (at HOU) for $6,700, T.Y. Hilton (at DEN) for $6,400, Torrey Smith (vs. CIN) for $6,300 and Mike Wallace (vs. NE) for $5,900
Tight end
Good value
Zach Ertz, Eagles (vs. JAC)
Cost: $4,500
Ertz
is slated for a big role this season as the Eagles try to replace the
departed DeSean Jackson, and it should
start this week. He is coming off a solid preseason when he had eight
catches for 110 yards and a touchdown on nine targets, and he should
challenge a Jaguars secondary that struggled to defend tight ends in
2013. The best thing about Ertz here is the cost since he's
significantly cheaper than a potential bust candidate like Jordan Cameron, who has a much tougher matchup against the Steelers. I
plan to use Ertz in my lineup this week.
Other good value picks: Antonio Gates (at ARI) for $5,600 and Travis Kelce (vs. TEN) for $4,500
Bad value
Jordan Cameron, Browns (at PIT)
Cost: $6,500
As
stated above, Cameron is a bust candidate this week with his matchup
against the Steelers. While the popular thought might be he will see an
increase in targets with Josh Gordon
out, Cameron was heavily targeted in two games against Pittsburgh last
year and struggled. He had 10 targets in Week 12 and finished with three
catches for 32 yards, and he had seven targets in Week 17 and finished
with five catches for 69 yards. The volume was there, but the production
was not. I'm expecting a similar performance this week, so based on his
cost compared to Ertz or even Gates, who has a fantastic matchup against
the Cardinals, you can find more value for your salary cap space then
spending it on Cameron.
Other bad value picks: Charles Clay (vs. NE) for $5,800 and Jared Cook (vs. MIN) for $5,700
Kicker
Good value
Nate Freese, Lions (vs. NYG)
Cost: $4,500
It's
hard to predict how a rookie kicker will do in his first NFL start, but
Freese kicked well in the preseason with 6-of-6 made field goals,
including three of 50-plus yards. The Lions should be able to put points
on the board at home against the Giants, and Freese should benefit. The
difference in kicker value is minimal with Freese only $900 less than
the No. 1 option in Stephen Gostkowski,
but you can use that money elsewhere on other positions, so spend wisely.
Other good value picks: Robbie Gould (vs. BUF) for $4,700 and Shayne Graham (at ATL) for $4,700
Bad value
Cairo Santos, Chiefs (vs. TEN)
Cost: $5,000
Santos
is another kicker making his NFL debut this week, but he has much less
firepower in his offense compared to Freese. He's also more expensive,
and again you should spend your money wisely at this position. For what
it's worth, the Chiefs don't have Dwayne Bowe
(suspension), so an already suspect passing game could be further
limited. Not to say the Titans are going to shut out the Chiefs by any
stretch, but you can probably do better with your money than trusting
Santos in Week 1.
Other bad value picks: Graham Gano (at TB) for $5,200 and Mike Nugent (at BAL) for $4,900
Defense
Good value
Lions (vs. NYG)
Cost: $4,600
The Giants couldn't
have looked worse in the preseason as they struggled to learn Ben
McAdoo's new offense, and that should lead to some mistakes in the
season opener at Detroit. The Lions should also be able to attack Eli Manning with offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz (toe) out, and the defensive line in Detroit is the
strength of the defense. The Lions also make for a great value pick
since they are actually $200 cheaper than the Cowboys. I might not take
the Cowboys defense for free.
Other good value picks: Texans (vs. WAS) for $4,700 and Buccaneers (vs. CAR) for $4,900
Bad value
49ers (at DAL)
Cost: $5,600
The 49ers defense is
going to be challenged by this Cowboys offense in their first game
without standout middle linebacker NaVorro Bowman
(knee), standout pass rusher Aldon Smith
(suspension) and run stuffer Glenn Dorsey
(arm). Dallas also has impressive weapons and a strong offensive line,
and this game should be a shootout. I wouldn't use the 49ers defense at
a good price, and they are actually the most expensive unit. You can do
much better with your money.
Other bad value picks: Broncos (vs. IND) for $5,400 and Chiefs (vs. TEN) for $5,400
My lineup
QB:Matthew Stafford (vs. NYG): $9,300
RB:
Jamaal Charles (vs. TEN): $9,800
RB: LeSean McCoy (vs. JAC): $9,400
WR: Emmanuel Sanders (vs. IND) $6,400
WR: Cordarrelle Patterson (at STL): $6,400
WR: Jeremy Maclin (vs. JAC): $5,000
TE: Zach Ertz (vs. JAC): $4,500
K: Nate Freese
(vs. NYG): $4,500
D: Texans (vs. WAS): $4,700
I started putting my team together with defense, kicker and tight end looking for the best value at those spots. After that, it was receiver, and I have two guys ranked in my Top 10 for the week in Sanders and Patterson and then a high-end value buy in Maclin.
That left me with $28,500 remaining, and I knew I could load up with some studs at running back and quarterback. Charles and McCoy are my top two running backs for this week, and Stafford is my No. 3 quarterback. Hopefully this lineup is a winner, and good luck to all of you in Week 1.