Every week, the first step of your DFS homework should be to examine the opening Vegas odds on all the NFL games for that week. Through some fairly simple algebra, it is easy to derive a spreadsheet that predicts team totals for every game, thereby allowing you to develop a rudimentary game script to help narrow down your decisions for the week.
Once the appealing (and unappealing) games have been highlighted, it becomes easier to focus on those games to help build your core of players for that week; the caveat, however, is that the NFL is a dynamic league, and anything is subject to change from Tuesday to Sunday...so keep that in mind as the week progresses and always monitor player injuries, weather conditions, and potential roster moves. Let's take a look.
[Blue font indicates games *not* on the DFS main slate.]
BYE WEEK: Arizona, Carolina, NY Giants, Tampa Bay
Three Stars
Quarterbacks
- Jared Goff (Lions)
- Brock Purdy (49ers)
Running Backs
- Jahmyr Gibbs/David Montgomery (Lions)
- Christian McCaffrey (49ers)
- De'Von Achane/Raheem Mostert (Dolphins)
Receivers
- Amon-Ra St. Brown/Jameson Williams/Sam LaPorta (Lions)
- Deebo Samuel Sr./Jauan Jennings/George Kittle (49ers)
Team Defense
- None
Two Stars
Quarterbacks
- Jalen Hurts (Eagles)
- Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins)
Running Backs
- Saquon Barkley (Eagles)
- Joe Mixon (Texans)
Receivers
- A.J. Brown/DeVonta Smith/Dallas Goedert (Eagles)
- Tyreek Hill/Jaylen Waddle/Jonnu Smith (Dolphins)
Team Defense
- Vikings
One Star
Quarterbacks
- Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
- C.J. Stroud (Texans)
- Jordan Love (Packers)
- Josh Allen (Bills)
- Justin Herbert (Chargers)
Running Backs
- Derrick Henry (Ravens)
- Josh Jacobs (Packers)
- James Cook (Bills)
- J.K. Dobbins/Gus Edwards (Chargers)
Receivers
- Zay Flowers/Rashod Bateman/Mark Andrews/Isaiah Likely (Ravens)
- Nico Collins/Tank Dell/Dalton Schultz (Texans)
- Romeo Doubs/Christian Watson/Jayden Reed/Tucker Kraft (Packers)
- Amari Cooper/Keon Coleman/Khalil Shakir/Dalton Schultz (Bills)
- Ladd McConkey/Quentin Johnston/Will Dissly (Chargers)
Team Defense
- Texans
- Packers
- Lions
