1. FantasyScore isn’t exactly teeming with pros or other high-volume players. Do you approach playing there differently (aside from formations and scoring) than you do FanDuel and DraftKings? Do you think it’s worth spending more there in cash games because the field isn’t as tough?
Chad Parsons: Part of the limitations at FantasyScore is the lack of contest volume in general. The GPP offerings, even for Sunday, is light compared to other sites. Getting more than a few games locked in is difficult from my experience. I look for a few overlays - finding one or two of noteon Sunday before kickoff, but that is about it.
Andrew Garda: As Chad said, I’d spend more cash if there were more games. I think you can pick off a few GPPs here or there, but I find the return isn’t as much as I’d like. I think you actually end up with more “sharks” than you expect there too, though there are sites much more thick with them.
Alessandro Miglio: The problem is the number of contests -- there aren't many! But I try to approach things the same way that I do elsewhere. Pricing dictates a lot, and it's certainly different at FantasyScore.
Maurile Tremblay: Yes, the field definitely isn't as tough, and that does make the games more attractive. I wouldn't say that my approach changes because of that -- I'm still trying to submit the best lineups I can, same as at any site. And it doesn't pay to ignore bankroll-management considerations due to overconfidence. But most skilled DFS players should end up with a higher ROI at FatnasyScore than they'd have in fully raked games at the bigger sites.
2. Blake Bortles, Derek Carr and Tyrod Taylor are pretty much the same price as Eli Manning or Matthew Stafford. Do you think the veterans are being undervalued or are the young guns overvalued? Who do you trust the most?
Garda: I think Stafford is undervalued, but Manning is probably about where he should be given that he has production close to Carr’s the last four games.
Carr is a bit more inconsistent than Manning during the same stretch so I could see him being less expensive, but I can’t hate on the price either way. Bortles had some great fantasy production the last two weeks and I think he could do so again this week against Indianapolis. I actually think his price is a nice value.
Ditto Tyrod Taylor, though we don’t know which Eagles team will show up, so there is more risk.
Miglio: Blake Bortles is by far the most intriguing option of this bunch for me. Tyrod Taylor has big upside in a theoretically good matchup, but he's too much of a risk. I hate Derek Carr's matchup, Eli Manning might be harassed into oblivion on the road, and Matthew Stafford is going up against a relatively tough Rams defense on the road. For my money, Bortles at home against leaky Indianapolis is the clear choice here.
Tremblay: I don't think veteran status matters all that much. Carr and Taylor are as capable of putting up fantasy points as Manning and Stafford are in general. This week, Carr has a particularly tough matchup against the Broncos and I won't be rostering him at all given his price. But I like Tyrod Taylor against the Eagles. (For the same price, I like Jameis Winston against the Saints better than any of the four players mentioned.)
3. Todd Gurley dropped down to $6100, behind David Johnson ($6300), Darren McFadden ($6300), Gio Bernard ($6400) and Jonathan Stewart $6400). Is he back to a value, or would you rather have one of the others?
Parsons: Todd Gurley has enough innate talent to warrant consideration at the price. When he finally saw a decent hole last week, he churned out 30+ yards. His per-play upside is as high as any running back in the NFL, so when the salary cools, he is a viable option regardless of the surrounding Rams cast.
Garda: I think he has value but the offense is a concern and clearly it’s hurt him. Detroit isn’t Arizona or Cincinnati, but they can be tough so I am concerned we could have another down game. Yes, as Chad points out, if he finds a hole, he can exploit it, but as we saw Thursday, David Johnson continues to give more consistent production and I expect Jonathan Stewart to provide better value as well.
I’m more on the fence with Bernard and McFadden. Bernard has been quiet for two weeks in a row, and Pittsburgh can be tough. McFadden salvaged a poor overall game with a score and did so the week before with some receiving yards.
He’s unpredictable and while I like that in action movies and video games, I dislike it in my running backs. So if I’m on the fence, might as well go with Gurley whose upside is far higher.
Miglio: Here is an instance where pricing changes things for me. I am fading Todd Gurley almost everywhere else, but that price is just too good to pass up in at least a lineup or two here. Sure, his production has fallen off a cliff, but it's not a bad matchup and the price is palatable enough for GPPs.
Tremblay: The Rams offense is really struggling, which deprives Gurley of redzone opportunities. I would still take Gurley over Bernard, but I like both David Johnson and Darren McFadden a lot better than Gurley this week. Gurley is a terrific player, but it's asking too much for him to excel in the current version of the Rams offense.
4. With Antonio Brown, DeAndre Hopkins and Odell Beckham Jrplaying at a higher level than almost any other receiver, are you paying for one (or in some cases more) of them? Or do you think there is still a ton a value in the cheaper ranks you can win with?
Garda: I like to have at least one in my lineups, especially for cash though I am prone to do it for GPPS as well. You know other people will go with them, which can be a negative in GPPs, but I think you just have to vary your lineups elsewhere. You can’t miss out on having one of them in your lineups when they put up big numbers, which they do quite often.
I pay for the receivers and I save money elsewhere.
Miglio: The expensive receivers have been relative disappointments in recent weeks. We've had a couple of big games, but buying too much into those guys has been a negative return on investment. That said, they're expensive for a reason -- they're very good. I expect all three of these guys to have good weeks, so I'll have a good amount of exposure to them if I can make the room.
Tremblay: All three of them are still good values. Odell Beckham Jris dominating down the stretch once again, and Antonio Brown is fairly unstoppable as well. Hopkins is in a good spot this week as well, as the game against the Patriots could be a shootout. I wouldn't hesitate to roster any of those three players. I also like Brandon Marshall a lot for about $1,000 less.