Last week’s Thursday Night Football contest was all over the place. With Baker Mayfield subbing in for Tyrod Taylor at the half and leading the Browns to a victory, Fanduel contests were probably the last things on people’s minds.
However, I was able to strike a tiny bit of gold once again. I had Jarvis Landry as my MVP along with rostering Isaiah Crowell as my only Jets player. The main problem was Taylor’s eventual benching which led to very few points and a large portion of my salary tied up.
However, this week presents an even harder challenge than past weeks. With two high-powered offenses and some injury concerns for both teams, this week is essentially a crapshoot.
NFL Week Four Daily Fantasy Picks: Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams
Between Todd Gurley, Jared Goff, Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook, Kirk Cousins, and Kyle Rudolph, there are plenty of options to choose from.
With two high-powered offenses, there is perhaps no way to have more players that could potentially take over a game. That creates the possibility of endless lineups and so many different players who you should slot as your MVP.
This week my strategy will be to fade Todd Gurley. In doing so, I will have to accept that Gurley will score a lot of points. It will be tough to watch but in the end hopefully be the best decision. He will most likely come with a high ownership and holds a $16,500 salary. That’s two thousand more than the next player, Kirk Cousins.
Fading Gurley will mean that any game out of him that includes a couple of scores would essentially knock me out of having any real shot of placing near the top. However, not taking on his salary gives me the ability to be creative.
The Roster
That creativity leads to me rostering both quarterbacks this week, something I usually stay away from.
Both Goff and Cousins have spots on my roster, but neither of them is in the MVP spot. That is reserved for receiver Adam Thielen. Thielen is quickly becoming a top receiver in the league and is one of Cousins’ favorite weapons.
Rounding out my roster is the Vikings other star receiver Stefon Diggs along with Rams tight end Tyler Higbee.
With Dalvin Cook questionable to play, it is a smart bet not to roster him. Even if he plays, he most likely won’t be at 100 percent. If he doesn’t play, all eyes will turn to backup Latavius Murray, who only put up four points in last week’s game with Cook out.
One decision to load up on Vikings receivers has to do with the injuries to the Rams secondary. Cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters both suffered injuries in last weeks matchup and while Talib has been ruled out, Peters is considered day-to-day for Thursday’s contest.
Those injuries should help the receivers have a productive night. Now to the reasons I faded the other players.
Honestly, there is nothing against them. I believe there are too many mouths to feed in the Rams offense that really any of them could put up multiple touchdowns and Higbee was the only Rams player I could afford.
So, in the end, it came down to a gut feeling. With so many players to choose from in a game that will undoubtedly provide a lot of points scored, it is a crapshoot. However, that doesn’t mean that the perfect lineup still doesn’t exist.
Go with your gut on this one. Mine says ride with the Vikings’ receivers.
