Staff Friday Cash Plays

Week 13 action is just over the horizon - welcome to Footballguys.com's Friday Staff Cash Plays for FanDuel games!

Before setting your cash lineups at FanDuel this weekend, I recommend to everyone reading this blog that you review the injury information/analysis presented by Dr. Jene Bramel (HERE) and Craig Zumsteg (HERE). You'll be glad you did as their advice can help you avoid lineup pitfalls!

Reviewing the nine staff lineups submitted by the time I posted this item - it appears that:


The Footballguys are adherents of "Newtonian" Physics this week: Cam Newton ($9,000) is a heavily favored choice here in Week 13 - he appears on five of the nine staff lineups for Sunday cash games. The Saints' pass D has allowed an average of 28.1 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks over the past four weeks (third-most during that time span), with an average of 19.3 points per game surrendered to opposing wide receivers (11th-least) and 21.6 points per game given out to opposing tight ends (the worst in the NFL). Greg Olsen ($6,600) is a prime pick this week (he's on four of nine lineups, and stacked with Newton on three of the five that have Newton starting) given the tendencies of the Saints' defense outlined above.

All-Aboard for Alshon: There is a consensus that Alshon Jeffery ($7,700) is a good play this week - he's on six of the nine lineups submitted by the time I posted this item. Over the past four weeks, the 49ers' pass D has allowed an average of 22.5 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks (13th-most in the NFL during that time span), with an average of 22.4 points per game surrendered to opposing wide receivers (12th-most). With Eddie Royal still ailing (knee injury) and Martellus Bennett coming off a ribs injury, Jeffery looks poised to be the focus of the Bears' attack here in Week 13.

Great Scott! - Scott Chandler ($5,300) is a popular play for the weekend lineups, as Andrew Garda noted on his Thursday Staff Cash Lineups. However, this is not a play that I agree with - Bill Belichick/Tom Brady are tricky to predict - it is obvious that Chandler SHOULD see more targets with Gronkowski out, so therefore Belichick/Brady may elect to make him a decoy during Week 13 and only actually throw at him once or twice. I never expect the Patriots to do what is "obvious" on the offensive side of the ball.

FanDuel-ing Kickers: Stephen Gostkowski ($5,100) and Chris Boswell ($4,500) are the top picks at place kicker this week, with 33% of the rosters featuring one or the other (three of nine) - Footballguys' staffers expect high scoring results from the IND/PIT and PHI/NE slates - on the part of Pittsburgh and New England, at least.

Good Luck everyone, and enjoy the stretch run into the playoffs! - Mark W.