Contrarian means opposing or rejecting popular opinion, going against the current practice. Being a contrarian in fantasy football is difficult because it's not chalk as the DFS kids would call it today. Risk is involved, but it could be a league-winning selection. Contrarian is where the big money is made within DFS, especially in large tournaments, because you'll submit more unique lineups than your competitors.
Mix one or two of these players within a lineup to maximize individuality.
Do not create your entire lineup based on the contrarian picks below.
For accountability purposes, how did my picks perform last week?
Quarterbacks
- Hits = Zach Wilson threw for 301 yards and two TDs.
- Push = Baker Mayfield only threw for 144 yards but scored three TDs combined.
- Miss = Josh Dobbs got benched and Gardner Minshew had 245 combined yards with one TD.
Running Backs
- Hits = James Cook finished with 141 total yards and a TD.
- Push = Chuba Hubbard gained 96 total yards and Keaton Mitchell only gained 62 total yards but had a cheap salary.
- Miss = Roschon Johnson didn't receive much work. Alvin Kamara's TD saved a 44-yard performance, but this is a miss on his salary.
Wide Receivers
- Hits = Courtland Sutton scored another TD, Puka Nacua earned 90 total yards, and Deebo Samuel had 150 total yards with two TDs.
- Miss = Gabe Davis disappeared, Justin Jefferson was injured early in the game, and Noah Brown was a dud.
Tight Ends
- Hits = Evan Engram was a slate winner with 11 receptions for 95 yards and two TDs.
- Push = Gerald Everett earned 39 yards, and Brevin Jordan earned 35 yards.
- Miss = Foster Moreau only earned two targets.
Defenses
- Hits = The Bills held the Chiefs to 17 points while forcing two turnovers and logging a sack.
- Push = Jacksonville allowed 31 points but forced three turnovers.
Key for charts:
- Player = recommended contrarian play
- Opponent = Home or away and the opponent
- FD Roster % = This week's FanDuel roster percentages
- FD Salary = FanDuel salary to roster the player
- DK Roster % = This week's DraftKings roster percentages
- DK Salary = DraftKings salary to roster the player
CONTRARIAN QUARTERBACKS
Jordan Love has been streaky this season. He started the year with back-to-back three-passing-TD games. Followed up by six mediocre games and then heated up for four games by throwing 10 TD passes, which culminated in his best performance against Kansas City. Last week, he turned in a dud of a performance against the Giants by committing two turnovers and only generating 220 total yards. Love should bounce back this week against the fourth-worst pass defense in the NFL, who could be without both starting CBs. Underrated as a runner, Love averages close to 18 rushing yards per game and has topped 33 rushing yards in four games this season.
Sam Howell has only thrown one TD pass in his last three games combined and only five TD passes in his last five games. The bye week was perfect timing for Washington to figure out how to attack defenses again. They'll face a Rams pass defense allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to QBs this season. Two weeks ago, the Rams allowed Joe Flacco to pass for 254 yards in his first game with the Browns, and last week, they allowed 316 yards to Lamar Jackson. Howell averaged 266 passing yards per game on the season, but I expect his passing TDs to bounce back in what could be a high-scoring game.
The Buffalo Bills have faced Patrick Mahomes II, Jalen Hurts, and Joe Burrow within their last five games and allowed an average of 273 passing yards in those contests. However, they'll be playing Dak Prescott, who has averaged over three TD passes and 310 yards per game over his last seven games. The Bills' defense is already banged up this year, but they'll also be without S Micah Hyde and DE A.J. Epenesa on Sunday too. It's going to be difficult to envision Prescott not continuing his streak of lighting up defenses in Buffalo this week.
Since the bye week, Brock Purdy has averaged 304 passing yards and 2.6 passing TDs per game. He's been extremely efficient and only averaged 27 pass attempts per game. Purdy will face the second-easiest pass defense in the NFL this week in Arizona. The Cardinals recently allowed Matthew Stafford to throw four TDs against them, so I can only imagine what Purdy and Head Coach Kyle Shanahan have in store.
CONTRARIAN RUNNING BACKS
Bijan Robinson has scored four TDs in his last four games while averaging 20 touches per game. He hasn't been efficient the last couple of games, but touches are king for RBs. The efficiency could recover this week as Robinson will be playing a Carolina team allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to RBs this season.
With Brian Robinson Jr out for Sunday, Antonio Gibson will battle Chris Rodriguez Jr. for touches in the Washington backfield. Gibson doubled Rodriguez's touches in the last game, especially in the passing game. The Rams and Washington enjoy passing the football, so look for Gibson to have more than five receptions in a low-salary contrarian play.
James Cook has loved the change in offensive coordinator in Buffalo. Over the last three games, Cook has averaged 19 touches and 114 total yards while scoring two TDs. Dallas is a good defense and ranks 11th against the run on the season. However, I'm still playing Cook with the number of touches he has in the offense during a time when it's tough to count on many RBs in fantasy.
I was incorrect last week in assuming Roschon Johnson was going to lead the Chicago backfield. D'Onta Foreman led all Chicago backs in rushing and receiving touches with 13, while the other RBs combined for only four. Khalil Herbert hasn't had the same burst since his high-ankle sprain. Expect Foreman to continue to lead this backfield against an injury-riddled Browns team. They've had a good run defense on the season, but they've lost multiple defensive linemen this week and a starting LB is questionable as well. Late in the season, bigger powerful backs can take over, and Foreman could do that on Sunday.
Devin Singletary has double-digit touches in seven of his last eight games. This trend should continue as the Texans will likely be without several receiving weapons and QB C.J. Stroud. Houston should lean on the run game, which Singletary has proven to be more efficient than Dameon Pierce, which is why he's earning more touches.
CONTRARIAN WIDE RECEIVERS
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