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: Baltimore, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, New England, Washington
Three Stars
Quarterbacks
- Justin Fields (Eagles)
Running Backs
- Saquon Barkley (Eagles)
Receivers
- A.J. Brown/DeVonta Smith/Dallas Goedert (Eagles)
Team Defense
- None
Two Stars
Quarterbacks
- Joe Burrow (Bengals)
- Jared Goff (Lions)
- Josh Allen (Bills)
Running Backs
- Chase Brown (Bengals)
- Jahmyr Gibbs/David Montgomery (Lions)
- James Cook (Bills)
Receivers
- Ja'Marr Chase/Tee Higgins/Mike Gesicki (Bengals)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown/Jameson Williams/Sam LaPorta (Lions)
- Khalil Shakir/Amari Cooper/Keon Coleman/Dalton Kincaid (Bills)
Team Defense
- Eagles
One Star
Quarterbacks
- Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers)
- Sam Darnold (Vikings)
- Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins)
- Russell Wilson (Steelers)
Running Backs
- Bucky Irving/Rachaad White (Buccaneers)
- Aaron Jones (Vikings)
- De'Von Achane/Raheem Mostert (Dolphins)
- Najee Harris/Jaylen Warren (Steelers)
Receivers
- Mike Evans/Sterling Shepard/Cade Otton (Buccaneers)
- Justin Jefferson/Jordan Addison/T.J. Hockenson (Vikings)
- Tyreek Hill/Jaylen Waddle/Jonnu Smith (Dolphins)
- George Pickens/Calvin Austin III/Pat Freiermuth (Steelers)
Team Defense
- Saints
- Titans
- Steelers
- Dolphins
