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.]
UPDATED SATURDAY, JANUARY 4th @ 5 PM (EST)
BYE WEEK: None
Three Stars
Quarterbacks
- Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
- Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers)
Running Backs
- Derrick Henry (Ravens)
- Bucky Irving (Buccaneers)
- Bijan Robinson (Falcons)
Receivers
- Zay Flowers/Rashod Bateman/Mark Andrews/Isaiah Likely (Ravens)
- Mike Evans/Jalen McMillan/Payne Durham (Buccaneers)
Team Defense
- Ravens
- Buccaneers
- Broncos
Two Stars
Quarterbacks
- Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons)
- Jared Goff (Lions)
Running Backs
- Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions)
- Josh Jacobs (Packers)
Receivers
- Drake London/Darnell Mooney/Ray-Ray McCloud III/Kyle Pitts (Falcons)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown/Jameson Williams/Sam LaPorta (Lions)
Team Defense
- Packers
- Titans
One Star
Quarterbacks
- Joe Burrow (Bengals)
- Sam Darnold (Vikings)
- Jordan Love (Packers)
- Joe Flacco (Colts)
Running Backs
- Chase Brown (Bengals)
- Aaron Jones (Vikings)
- Jonathan Taylor (Colts)
Receivers
- Ja'Marr Chase/Tee Higgins/Mike Gesicki (Bengals)
- Justin Jefferson/Jordan Addison/T.J. Hockenson (Vikings)
- Christian Watson/Romeo Doubs/Dontayvion Wicks/Tucker Kraft (Packers)
- Josh Downs/Michael Pittman Jr/Alec Pierce (Colts)
Team Defense
- Eagles
- Chargers
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