Zach Ertz

Every week, you should prepare for surprise late appearances on the injury report. Usually, when a player pops up with an ailment Thursday or Friday, it's not a good sign for his availability in the upcoming game.

Nonetheless, fantasy owners have a full day or two to adjust their lineups based on the latest team reports. This week, multiple notable contributors will list as questionable game-time decisions or out for Sunday's contests. 

How should you handle the worst-case scenarios? 

We'll offer some help below, take a look at the top-10 rankings for point-per-reception scoring formats with a smart-play option available in at least 25 percent of Yahoo leagues as of Saturday 1 a.m.

               

QB Rankings

1. Patrick Mahomes (KC) vs. Oakland Raiders 

2. Russell Wilson (SEA) vs. Minnesota Vikings 

3. Lamar Jackson (BAL) vs. San Francisco 49ers 

4. Aaron Rodgers (GB) vs. New York Giants

5. Kirk Cousins (MIN) vs. Seattle Seahawks 

6. Kyler Murray (ARZ) vs. Los Angeles Rams

7. Jameis Winston (TB) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

8. Jared Goff (LAR) vs. Arizona Cardinals

9. Carson Wentz (PHI) vs. Miami Dolphins

10. Sam Darnold (NYJ) vs. Cincinnati Bengals 

      

Notable Injury: Arizona Cardinals, Kyler Murray, Hamstring (Questionable)

Uh, oh! Kyler Murray landed on the injury report with a hamstring injury Friday, but he still logged a full practice. The Arizona Cardinals have provided little information about the ailment.

Managers may have some concern because Murray's mobility allows him to move in and out of the pocket to make plays. He's logged at least 34 rushing yards in each of the last three contests and scored on the ground in Week 12.

Unless you plan to start a quarterback who's set to play at 1 p.m. ET, double-check to make sure the Cardinals signal-caller is ready to go prior to a 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff.

            

Smart Play: Los Angeles Rams, Jared Goff (68 percent owned)

For owners who aren't comfortable with Murray's injury, look at the Cardinals' opponent. Jared Goff has struggled mightily over the last three weeks, throwing for zero touchdowns and five interceptions. Why is he a smart play this week? 

Goff played against stiff competition during his recent struggles, two top-10 pass defenses and the Baltimore Ravens' revamped secondary (with newly acquired cornerback Marcus Peters) that's held its last three opponents to fewer than 200 yards through the air.

In Week 13, Goff will face a much softer pass defense. The Cardinals allow the most yards through the air, and the unit has surrendered the most receiving touchdowns this season (29). 

As of Friday, Goff's own percentage has dropped to 68 percent in Yahoo leagues, but he'll have a get-right game against Arizona in the desert.

         

RB Rankings

1. Christian McCaffrey (CAR) vs. Washington Redskins 

2. Dalvin Cook (MIN) vs. Seattle Seahawks

3. Le'Veon Bell (NYJ vs. Cincinnati Bengals

4. Aaron Jones (GB) vs. New York Giants

5. Saquon Barkley (NYG) vs. Green Bay Packers 

6. Derrick Henry (TEN) vs. Indianapolis Colts 

7. Josh Jacobs (OAK) vs. Kansas City Chiefs 

8. Nick Chubb (CLE) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

9. Todd Gurley (LAR) vs. Arizona Cardinals 

10. Leonard Fournette (JAC) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

                 

Notable Injury: Damien Williams, Kansas City Chiefs, Ribs (Out)

The Kansas City Chiefs eliminated the guessing game in this scenario, listing Damien Williams out for Sunday's contest against the Oakland Raiders.

LeSean McCoy is the tailback to start in the Chiefs backfield, but the offensive line ranks 27th in run-blocking adjusted line yards (3.70), per Football Outsiders. Partially because of injuries, Kansas City has struggled to open running lanes for ball-carriers, and its ground attack ranks 22nd leaguewide.

              

Smart Play: Ronald Jones II, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (74 percent owned)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a pass-heavy squad that ranks third in attempts, but this is an ideal week to start Ronald Jones II, who's the clear-cut lead ball-carrier in the backfield. 

The Jacksonville Jaguars have allowed at least 216 rushing yards in each of the last three games. That's a jaw-dropping trend when translated to projected fantasy output for running backs going against this defense.

We could see Jones record his first 100-yard rushing performance against the Jaguars Sunday. If not, he's still in a good position to score a touchdown and come close to the century mark on the ground.

          

WR Rankings

1. Tyreek Hill (KC) vs. Oakland Raiders 

2. Davante Adams (GB) vs. New York Giants

3. Julian Edelman (NE) vs. Houston Texans 

4. Cooper Kupp (LAR) vs. Arizona Cardinals 

5. Chris Godwin (TB) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars 

6. Stefon Diggs (MIN) vs. Seattle Seahawks 

7. DJ Chark Jr. (JAC) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

8. DeAndre Hopkins (HOU) vs. New England Patriots 

9. Tyler Lockett (SEA) vs. Minnesota Vikings

10. DJ Moore (CAR) vs. Washington Redskins

              

Notable Injury: Golden Tate, New York Giants, Concussion (Out)

Golden Tate went into concussion protocol early in the week and didn't log a single practice. He's listed out for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers. Fantasy managers in need of wide receiver help should keep an eye on this game.

The Packers pass defense ranks 23rd in yards allowed, and four of their last five opponents have logged at least 249 yards through the air.

Giants rookie signal-caller Daniel Jones could have a solid outing. He's put together his best performances against clubs with leaguewide bottom-half pass defenses, which include the Buccaneers (31st), Detroit Lions (30th) and New York Jets (19th), throwing for a combined 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions in those three games.

                

Smart Play: Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (56 percent owned)

Tight end Evan Engram will join Tate on the sidelines because of a foot injury, which likely means a busy day for wide receiver Sterling Shepard. He's been targeted nine times in every game played with Jones starting under center. 

In Week 12, Shepard returned after missing five consecutive contests because of lingering effects from a concussion. He logged five catches for 15 yards against the Bears' ninth-ranked pass defense. 

Against a generous pass defense with an increased number of targets likely headed his way, Shepard is a smart play this week. He should have ample opportunities to rack up yards and reach paydirt.

              

TE Rankings

1. Travis Kelce (KC) vs. Oakland Raiders 

2. George Kittle (SF) vs. Baltimore Ravens

3. Zach Ertz (PHI) vs. Miami Dolphins

4. Mark Andrews (BAL) vs. San Francisco 49ers

5. Darren Waller (OAK) vs. Kansas City Chiefs

6. Hunter Henry (LAC) vs. Denver Broncos 

7. Jack Doyle (IND) vs. Tennessee Titans

8. Greg Olsen (CAR) vs. Washington Redskins 

9. Dallas Goedert (PHI) vs. Miami Dolphins

10. Jonnu Smith (TEN) vs. Indianapolis Colts 

               

Notable Injury: Philadelphia Eagles, Zach Ertz, hamstring (questionable)

Zach Ertz lists as questionable for Sunday's contest against the Miami Dolphins, but he's trending in the right direction. The two-time Pro Bowl tight end didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday but logged limited participation Friday. 

According to The Athletic's Zach Berman, Ertz has a good chance to suit up:

Zach Ertz will practice today. There's optimism about his status for Sunday. (If he can't play, Eagles would need to make a move at TE.)

J. Howard still not cleared for contact.

Cre'Von LeBlanc could get the open roster spot if there's no need for an injury replacement.

— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) November 29, 2019

If the Eagles gain an early lead over the Dolphins, the coaching staff may limit Ertz's snaps to keep him fresh for the remaining four contests of the season. Backup tight end Dallas Goedert could finish the game as a top pass-catching threat. He's fourth on the team in targets (46) and leads the club in touchdown receptions (four).

           

Smart Play: Indianapolis Colts, Jack Doyle (53 percent owned)

The Indianapolis Colts placed tight end Eric Ebron on injured reserve, and he'll undergo surgery on both ankles.  

Through 12 weeks, Jack Doyle played 70.18 percent of offensive snaps, per Pro Football Reference, so tight end Mo Alie-Cox (31.38) may handle a bigger bump in playing time, but the former should see more targets with Ebron and wideout T.Y. Hilton (calf) out for the upcoming matchup.

The Colts don't have much consistency in production at wide receiver behind Hilton, so quarterback Jacoby Brissett will probably rely on the team's third-ranked rushing offense and look toward his top tight end to move the chains in the passing game. 

This season, Doyle has at least three catches in eight out of 11 contests. He's a low-end TE1 in Sunday's matchup against the Tennessee Titans' 24th-ranked pass defense.

The Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly looking to secure contract extensions for tight end Zach Ertz, safety Malcolm Jenkins and right tackle Lane Johnson before the conclusion of the 2019 season, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.

Per that report, "League sources said that general manager Howie Roseman is making inroads" on those talks.

Ertz, 29, leads the Eagles in receptions (46), targets (75) and receiving yards (527). He's added two touchdowns. For an Eagles team dealing with a number of injuries at wide receiver—and generally getting poor play from the position—Ertz's presence has been even more important for quarterback Carson Wentz.

Carson Wentz and Zach Ertz are NOT worried about the Eagles lack of big play ability right now

Eagles are ranked 25th in the NFL in Big Plays@6abc #Eagles pic.twitter.com/QdEVxtNeBt

— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) November 17, 2019

Jenkins, 31, has blown a few deep coverages this season, but he's generally been solid. He's second on the Eagles in tackles (39) and has added three tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles.

He also remains one of the team's leaders, and given the various injuries the secondary has dealt with this season, Jenkins has been a constant. At some point, the Eagles are going to have to find his successor, though they could draft a player and groom him for a season or two behind Jenkins if they sign the veteran safety to an extension.

Johnson, 29, is one of the best right tackles in football. According to Pro Football Focus, he's given up just one sack this year in 638 snaps. Coming into the year, PFF ranked him as the ninth-best tackle, and he's been a big part of Philly's much-needed resurgence on the ground (127.3 rushing yards per game, 11th in the NFL).

It wouldn't be a major surprise to see the Eagles re-up all three players, with both Ertz and Johnson obvious options for long-term extensions. The Eagles need to replace some of their aging veterans, but Ertz, Jenkins and Johnson are key parts of the core.

The Philadelphia Eagles' receiving corps has taken a hit with Alshon Jeffery ruled out for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.  

The team announced Friday an ankle injury will prevent Jeffery from suiting up. 

Jeffery's injury also creates a hole in the fantasy world that owners will have to fill. One good thing is the Eagles used some of their resources during the offseason to replenish their crop of receivers after it proved to be thin last season. 

Philadelphia's receiving corps has played short-handed throughout the year after losing DeSean Jackson for the season due to a core muscle injury that required surgery. 

The most obvious beneficiary of Jeffery's absence is tight end Zach Ertz. The two-time Pro Bowler was, by far, the preferred target for quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Nick Foles last season. He had 59 more targets (156) and 51 more receptions (116) than any other Eagles player in 2018. 

Ertz has been Wentz's favorite asset again this season. He leads the team with 75 targets and 46 receptions through nine games. 

One deep sleeper candidate to get more touches is Ertz's backup, Dallas Goedert. The 2018 second-round pick showed positive signs as a rookie with 33 receptions, 334 yards and four touchdowns on 44 targets. 

There were raves about Goedert coming out of organized team activities in May, with Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer writing he was "capable of making a second-year leap into stardom."

That hasn't translated into production yet, with Goedert having just 221 yards on 21 receptions. He is tied for the team lead with three touchdown catches. 

Rookie J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is a perfect replacement for Jeffery. The Stanford product is a big-bodied receiver (6'2" and 225 pounds) who uses his power to create space against defensive backs. He's not going to beat anyone down the field, but strength will allow him to turn short passes into big plays. 

The Eagles haven't used Arcega-Whiteside much to this point with two receptions.

Jordan Matthews, who the team brought back on Nov. 11, could end up being the No. 1 receiver on the outside for Wentz. It's a heavy burden to put on a player who has only played three snaps in a game this season and will be playing against the NFL's second-best pass defense.  

The best approach is to wait and see how much playing time Arcega-Whiteside gets in Jeffery's absence and take a flier on Goedert if he's available as an option off the bench. 

The Philadelphia Eagles could suffer more frustration in Week 8. 

The Super Bowl 52 champions enter Buffalo with a below-.500 record for the second time in 2019, and they could struggle against the Bills defense. 

Buffalo has turned in a solid start behind second-year quarterback Josh Allen, and Sunday allows it a chance to prove itself vs. a NFC foe. 

Kyler Murray also has a chance to shine in a bigger matchup Sunday, as he leads Arizona into New Orleans. 

The Cardinals may not be able to win straight-up at the Superdome, but they could put up points and push the Saints for a quarter or two.

                         

NFL Week 8 Schedule and Odds

All Times ET

Odds via Caesars and Vegas Insider; predictions against the spread in bold.

Thursday, October 24

Washington at Minnesota (-16) (Over/Under: 42 (8:20 p.m., Fox/NFL Network)

              

Sunday, October 27

Seattle (-3.5) at Atlanta (O/U: 54) (1 p.m., Fox) 

Philadelphia at Buffalo (-2) (O/U: 43) (1 p.m., Fox) 

Los Angeles Chargers at Chicago (-4) (O/U: 40) (1 p.m., Fox) 

New York Giants at Detroit (-6.5) (O/U: 49.5) (1 p.m., Fox) 

Denver at Indianapolis (-6) (O/U: 44) (1 p.m., CBS) 

New York Jets at Jacksonville (-4.5) (O/U: 41) (1 p.m., CBS) 

Cincinnati vs. Los Angeles Rams (-13) (O/U: 48) (1 p.m., CBS; Game in London)

Arizona at New Orleans (-9.5) (O/U: 48.5) (1 p.m., CBS) 

Tampa Bay at Tennessee (-2.5) (O/U: 46.5) (1 p.m., Fox) 

Carolina at San Francisco (-5.5) (O/U: 41) (4:05 p.m., Fox) 

Cleveland at New England (-10.5) (O/U: 46.5) (4:25 p.m., CBS) 

Oakland at Houston (-6.5) (O/U: 51.5) (4:25 p.m., CBS) 

Green Bay (-4.5) at Kansas City (O/U: 48) (8:20 p.m., NBC) 

              

Monday, October 28

Miami at Pittsburgh (-14.5) (O/U: 42.5) (8:15 p.m., ESPN) 

            

Odds Advice

Philadelphia at Buffalo (Under 43) 

In recent weeks, Philadelphia's offense has failed to develop a rhythm. 

With Jason Peters out and wide receivers continuing to struggle, the Eagles put up 10 points, its lowest total of 2019, in Week 7 vs. Dallas. 

Its two lowest yardage totals occurred in the last three weeks, and in two of its four road trips, Philadelphia failed to hit 300 total yards. 

The problems facing Doug Pederson's team likely will not be fixed Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, who held all but one opponent under 20 points. 

In their toughest test to date, the Bills limited New England to 16 points in a loss at New Era Field. 

If Sean McDermott's team can hold the Patriots under 20, it can do so against an Eagles team with wide receiver issues. 

Carson Wentz's most reliable target has been Zach Ertz, but even he is struggling to find consistency, as he had six catches in the last two games. 

The Eagles could try to develop the run game through Jordan Howard, but Buffalo has held all six foes under 130 rushing yards, with three failing to hit triple digits. 

Before it was gashed for 189 yards in Week 7, Philadelphia's rushing defense let a single opponent rush for over 100 yards. 

If they revert back to that form, the Eagles could remain in a low-scoring game by forcing Allen to beat them. 

The NFC East side's secondary has been torn apart, but Buffalo only has seven scores through the air. 

With the majority of the stats directing us toward the under, we suggest that, instead of hoping for a sudden surge of points late in the contest. 

                   

Arizona at New Orleans (Over 48.5) 

New Orleans' offense caught our attention by putting up 36 points at Soldier Field in Week 7, but it could be Arizona's unit that pushes Sunday's total into the 50s. 

Kliff Kingsbury's team quietly put together a three-game winning streak in which it produced 87 points vs. Cincinnati, Atlanta and the New York Giants. 

Of course, Week 8's matchup is a step up in competition for the Cardinals, but they carry offensive momentum into the Superdome. 

Kyler Murray has a trio of 300-yard performances and he has not turned the ball over since Week 4. 

If he remains clean in the pocket, the No. 1 overall pick could lead the Cardinals down the field for a few scoring drives versus a Saints defense that let two teams score over 20 at home. 

Murray will be more important than usual Sunday since Chase Edmonds faces a stingy Saints rushing defense. 

In the last four games, New Orleans allowed 57.8 rushing yards per game, and it limited Chicago to 17 in Week 7. 

Sean Payton's team concedes 201.3 passing yards per contest at home, so there is an opening for Murray to shine if the Cardinals do not develop a consistent rushing attack. 

As for the Saints, they are coming off a 424-yard performance, and Teddy Bridgewater has seven touchdowns and an interception in his last three games. 

Last week's output was even more impressive since it was done without Alvin Kamara. 

If the Saints continue to roll vs. an Arizona defense that allowed over 300 total yards in six of seven contests, they will likely be on the winning end of a high-scoring affair. 

                         

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Pro Football Reference. 

The Dallas Cowboys destroyed Philadelphia 37-10 on Sunday night, and the loss was hard to swallow for the Eagles. 

"This feeling kills me, honestly," tight end Zach Ertz told reporters after the game.

"One of the most embarrassing games I've ever been a part of here in Philly," he added. 

Quarterback Carson Wentz, meanwhile, agreed with head coach Doug Pederson that this was as bad a loss as they've experienced since arriving in Philadelphia (h/t PennLive's Daniel Gallen). 

Offensive tackle Lane Johnson took it one step further:

Lane Johnson on next team meeting

“Really its gonna probably be a callout session. Everybody will be held accountable. Little stuff that slides during the week, late to practice, late to meetings. Stuff will be held accountable for. I think that will maybe creep into the games” pic.twitter.com/TveM5JCXC1

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 21, 2019

The 27-point loss was this season's largest margin of defeat for the Eagles, who lost to the Minnesota Vikings 38-20 last week.

As lopsided as the score was, the most concerning aspect of the evening for the Eagles was how they looked en route to the final score. 

Wentz accounted for three of Philly's four turnovers with two lost fumbles and an interception. The 26-year-old and tight end Dallas Goedert each fumbled in the early going to help Dallas mount a 14-0 lead:

.@thejaylonsmith and @VanderEsch38 combine for the forced fumble! #DallasCowboys

📺: #PHIvsDAL on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/YZGAVQuAGU pic.twitter.com/iCR3b5d4HX

— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2019

.@TankLawrence gets the strip sack! #DallasCowboys

📺: #PHIvsDAL on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/YZGAVQuAGU pic.twitter.com/snuLUeikzQ

— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2019

Ertz also commented on the team's tendency to start games slow, having been down by at least 10 points in the first half of five of seven games:

Eagles 0-5 in dome games since their Super Bowl

Eagles getting outscored 20-0 in first quarter on road this year

Need a faster start tonight!

“Especially when you’re scripting out supposedly your best plays for the game plan, you want to start fast”

-Zach Ertz pic.twitter.com/5YV6zMuxHx

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 20, 2019

Ertz didn't see his first target of the game until six minutes remained in the third quarter and the Cowboys led 27-10. The Pro Bowler finished with two catches for 38 yards. ESPN's Tim McManus pointed out Saturday that the Eagles are 13-2 when Ertz scores at least one touchdown, and Philly was certainly worse Sunday night without him involved. 

Even more bitter for the Eagles, the Cowboys entered their matchup having lost three games in a row and not looking particularly good in the process. People would have never known that by watching them against Philadelphia. 

The Eagles now sit at 3-4 behind the 4-3 Cowboys in the NFC with a tough stretch ahead. The 5-1 Buffalo Bills, 3-3 Chicago Bears, 6-0 New England Patriots and 5-2 Seattle Seahawks take them through November. 

Pederson and his players expressed how disappointed they are, but unless action backs that up in ensuing games, those words will be hollow, much like Pederson's somewhat guarantee ahead of their game against the Cowboys.

Nelson Agholor was the scourge of Philadelphia after dropping what could have been a game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons. 

Now it appears he may be the Eagles' best fantasy option for the next couple weeks.

Injuries to DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery leave the Eagles' depth chart suddenly in doubt, with Agholor ascending to the top. Tim McManus of ESPN reported Jackson is expected to miss the next two weeks with an abdominal injury. Jeffery's status for the next two games is also "in doubt" due to a calf strain, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

  

Nelson Agholor

Agholor stands to be the biggest benefactor of targets and is a must-add in leagues where he's not already owned. Zach Ertz will be entrenched as Carson Wentz's top target, but Agholor racked up eight receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons. He and Ertz were the only two players to receive double-digit targets in a game where the Eagles had 48 pass attempts.

Agholor should be viewed as a mid-tier WR2 for the next two weeks and is at the very least an elite flex play in all formats.

Provided he, you know, remembers to clasp his hands around the football when it's thrown his direction.

JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Mack Hollins

We're lumping Arcega-Whiteside and Hollins together because they're on the same tier: You absolutely do not need to waste your waiver claims on either player. Neither is playable in Week 3 because of their lack of track records, and neither Jackson nor Jeffery are going to be out long term.

Arcega-Whiteside will be interesting from a football perspective because he was the Eagles' second-round pick and should get extensive playing time. That said, he had one catch for four yards last week and was targeted only four times.

Hollins, by contrast, made five receptions for 50 yards and was targeted eight times. Logic would have dictated that Arcega-Whiteside would get more looks, and it's possible he will with a full week to prepare for a starter's share of snaps. But Hollins was significantly more productive against the Falcons and is in his third season in Philadelphia; he might be the better short-term play if you're desperate. 

Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson suffered an abdominal strain that will reportedly sideline him for two weeks, according to Tim McManus of ESPN. 

Jackson suffered the injury early in Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, only playing 11 snaps before heading to the sidelines, per Pro Football Reference.

He previously broke his ring finger on his left hand on Aug. 27, but that injury did not cause him to miss any regular-season action. 

The 5'10", 175-pound receiver has unfortunately been bothered by injuries from time to time throughout his career. He played in all 16 regular-season games just twice through his first 11 seasons in the NFL, with the last such occurrence coming during the final year of his first stint in Philadelphia back in 2013.

Though his overall numbers may not be what they once were, Jackson has proven he can still be a big-play receiver as he ages. Last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he led the league in yards per reception (18.9) for the fourth time in his career. 

DeSean Jackson’s return to Philly will be a problem for opposing defenses.

Last season, he generated the fifth-best separation rate among WRs. pic.twitter.com/xX6VLlsfrO

— PFF (@PFF) June 20, 2019

He has never finished a season with fewer than 500 receiving yards. Last year, he turned 41 receptions into 774 yards and four touchdowns.

Losing Jackson for any period of time would be a blow to the Eagles' passing attack—but Carson Wentz still has some playmakers to work with. Tight end Zach Ertz should remain a go-to option while Nelson Agholor should see a boost in playing time in the next few games.

Ezekiel Elliott's return to the Dallas Cowboys has generated plenty of buzz, but by the time Week 1 ends, another one of the team's young stars could land in the spotlight. 

Dak Prescott achieved success in both games against the New York Giants in 2018, and he could be poised for another big performance Sunday. 

More importantly, the fourth-year signal-caller could provide value to your DraftKings or FanDuel lineups since he comes at a cheaper price than others. 

With that comes a larger budget to work with when gobbling up skill position players to fill out your lineup.

                                 

Top Picks and Lineup Advice

Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas

Value: FanDuel: $7,500; DraftKings: $5,900

A year ago, Prescott totaled 547 passing yards and five touchdowns in two clashes with the Giants. 

In his career, the Mississippi State product is 4-2 versus his NFC East rival with 1,539 yards through the air and 10 scores. 

Additionally, the 26-year-old averaged 221.6 yards in his first three season openers, with his best performance of trio occurring against the Giants in 2017. 

New York is coming off a season in which it conceded the sixth-highest yards per pass and the 10th-most gains in the passing game. 

Prescott could also benefit from Elliott's appearance in the lineup. Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher is preparing for the running back to be in use, but he is not sure of the workload, per The Athletic's Jon Machota. 

The Giants have reason to worry about Elliott because he possesses an average of 21.3 carries for 85 yards versus his divisional foe. 

If Bettcher's unit focuses too much on stopping Dallas' ground game, it could open up for space for Prescott to link up with Amari Cooper and others. 

Since he resides in the middle of the value chart on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Prescott is a solid play. 

Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson and Baker Mayfield could all produce solid numbers, but in order to maximize the results up and down your lineup, you can't afford to spend every cent on a quarterback. 

If you select Prescott, it could open up close to $1,000 to utilize at other spots. 

                      

Chris Carson, RB, Seattle

Value: FanDuel: $6,600; DraftKings: $5,700

Chris Carson falls into the same category as Prescott as a value pick with a favorable matchup.

Seattle enters its matchup with Cincinnati as a 9.5-point favorite, per Caesars, and the running back is looking to extend his 100-plus-yard streak to four. 

Two of those triple-digit totals occurred at CenturyLink Field against Kansas City and Arizona, with the highest one coming in Week 17 versus the Cardinals. 

Arizona ranked five spots below Cincinnati in yards per attempt, and the Bengals let up the fourth-highest overall total on the ground. 

The 24-year-old is 17th on the DraftKings running back rankings and 20th on FanDuel, per ESPN's Mike Clay. 

Instead of throwing trust in the top-tier players, Carson saves you around $3,000 to spend on wide receivers and tight ends.

                      

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston  

Value: FanDuel: $9,000; DraftKings: $8,200

The money you save by taking Prescott or Carson can be spent on DeAndre Hopkins. 

The top receiver on both sites rarely had a bad game in 2018, as he caught fewer than five balls on two occasions and was held under 50 yards once. 

Hopkins also found the end zone on a consistent basis with 11 touchdowns, four of which occurred in a pair of multi-score games. 

The 27-year-old plays Monday against a Saints defense that gave up the fourth-most passing yards and fifth-highest per reception. 

On the road, Hopkins produced triple-digit receiving totals versus five franchises, including Philadelphia, Indianapolis and Tennessee.

In fact, five of his top seven performances came on his travels, with two of them happening in September. 

While there are cheaper options on the market, Hopkins has proved he is well worth the high price tag in daily fantasy contests. 

Until he proves us wrong, the Houston wideout is a must-start, which is something that can't be said about many players across all positions.

                       

Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia

Value: FanDuel: $7,100; DraftKings: $6,100

Zach Ertz also opens the 2019 campaign with a matchup that could be beneficial to him. 

The 28-year-old has 71 receptions for 718 yards and a touchdown in 12 career games versus the Washington Redskins. 

In the last two seasons, the Eagles have been the dominant side in the NFC East rivalry with two sweeps to their name.

Ertz is expected to be one of Carson Wentz's top targets in an offense loaded with playmakers, and he could be in line for a second straight 1,000-yard season. 

There could be some concern that Wentz struggles in Week 1 after not taking any preseason snaps, especially after Mitchell Trubisky stumbled through Thursday night. 

But that sample size is too small to make any general conclusions about how that will affect quarterbacks across the NFL. 

Ertz comes at a high price, but he is worth the value Sunday at a position that can sometimes be tough to figure out once you get past the stars. 

                           

Cleveland Browns Defense/Special Teams

Value: FanDuel: $4,300; DraftKings: $3,400

Cleveland is one of a few solid defensive options Sunday. The Browns host the Titans, who will be without Taylor Lewan due to a four-game suspension.

The defensive line could exploit Lewan's absence and get to Marcus Mariota, who was sacked on 42 occasions a year ago. 

Myles Garrett, who had 13.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in his sophomore campaign, earned high praise from new teammate Olivier Vernon, per Nick Shook of the team's official website. 

"What have I not seen from him? Explosive," Vernon said. "His ability to bend that corner, man, I haven’t seen nobody bend the corner like that. Especially at his size. But he comes in every day and he works hard. Always hungry." 

Mariota threw five interceptions on the road in 2018, including four in a pair of two-pick outings. If Damarious Randall and Co. can take advantage of his bad decisions, the Browns could come up with extra fantasy points through turnovers.

Cleveland held half of its opponents under 20 points at home in 2018, while Tennessee reached 20 on one occasion on its travels. 

If those trends continue, the Browns should hold the Titans to minimal points and could add a turnover or two to boost their fantasy value. 

Since Cleveland is a viable option, you do not have to overspend on a defense by choosing the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas or Philadelphia, which opens up a bit more money for high-end players. 

                        

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Pro Football Reference  

There's something special about playing in the same fantasy league year after year. While winning a title is certainly rewarding, the chance to defend it against the same group of family, friends and coworkers—or to dethrone the reigning champ—is a rewarding experience in its own right.

This makes for a particularly rewarding experience in keeper leagues, where one year's draft steal can become a building block for years to come.

Preparing for a keeper draft requires a unique approach...because, you know, you have the option to keep players.

Here, we'll examine some tips, top NFL keeper options and trends to help with your keeper league. First, though, a two-round mock draft.

   

2019 Fantasy Keeper Mock

1.01: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

1.02: Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

1.03: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans

1.04: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

1.05: Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

1.06: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

1.07: Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

1.08: Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Cleveland Browns

1.09: Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

1.10: Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

1.11: Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

1.12: Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2.01: Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

2.02: Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams

2.03: James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

2.04: Melvin Gordon, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

2.05: Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

2.06: Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

2.07: Le'Veon Bell, RB, New York Jets

2.08: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

2.09: Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

2.10: Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

2.11: Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings

2.12: Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

    

Value Youth, Rising Teams

Depending on how your league is constructed, you're going to keep one, two or maybe several players from year to year. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to how these players might perform in the future.

This doesn't mean you should avoid a guy like 30-year-old Julio Jones. The wideout is still arguably the best receiver in the game, and he's going to be good for the next several seasons. However, it does mean you should value a young running back like Christian McCaffrey or Saquon Barkley over an older veteran like Todd Gurley or Le'Veon Bell.

Why? Because guys like Barkley and McCaffrey are likely to remain in their primes longer, which means they have more value if you decide to keep them.

Likewise, it's important to consider the way teams and players are trending. The Cleveland Browns, for example, have a young, talented quarterback in Baker Mayfield. This raised the long-term value of players like Odell Beckham Jr. and Nick Chubb.

"It's a lot of big pieces to this offense," Browns running back Kareem Hunt said, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "It's hard to really find or point out a weak spot on this team, offensively and defensively."

It's important to pay attention to player situations too, though. Hunt won't be eligible to return from suspension until Week 9 this season, so Chubb's 2019 outlook remains great. However, Cleveland could turn to more of a two-back team in 2020, so Chubb's keeper value may take a hit.

    

Draft Early, Keep Late

While it's often a good idea to keep your best players from season to season, there are times when you want to dive back into the draft. It just depends on where you rank in the draft order.

Depending on how many keepers your league allows, the first few rounds of your draft probably won't follow the traditional snake format. These "keeper rounds" typically fall from worst to first, which incentivizes bad teams to start over.

If you finished in last place the previous season, you're going to have your pick of players who aren't on the keeper list. While this means your early picks have less value than they would in a traditional draft, you're still going to have a shot at a season-defining talent.

Conversely, it's best to keep your top guys if you did well the previous season. If you finished third in your league and have Christian McCaffrey on your roster, keep him. The only way you're likely to land a player with his value again with the 10th pick is if everyone in front of you keeps for Round 1.

Also, be sure to remember that the first non-keeper round is still going to follow that worst-to-first pick order. If you're picking late and are determined to retain, say, Patrick Mahomes as your quarterback, you may have to spend a keeper pick on him.

Weigh your options when determining keepers. Consider which players at which positions are likely to be available entering the standard portion of your draft. This means it's also important to consider who your opponents are likely to keep.

    

Know Your Opponents' Histories

One benefit of playing in a keeper league is that you have likely competed against the same players for several years. This can provide valuable information if you've been paying attention.

Try to take note of your opponents' draft trends. Does a certain team regularly start the draft with three running backs? You may have to jump on a top back before that owner is on the clock if options are limited.

Pay attention to which players your opponents have kept in the past too. Has an owner kept Zach Ertz for the last two drafts, only to let him loose in 2019? There's a good chance they're going to target Ertz immediately during the standard rounds of the draft.

While knowing your opponents' draft tendencies won't win you the season, these valuable tidbits can help you maximize the value of your own draft class. That, of course, is the first step toward building a championship team.

    

2019 Keeper Rankings

1. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

3. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans

4. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

5. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

5. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Cleveland Browns

6. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Green Bay Packers

7. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

8. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

9. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

10. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

11. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

12. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

13. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

14. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

15. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

16. Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams

17. Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

18. Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings

19. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

20. James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Zach and Julie Ertz know a thing or two about championship pedigree.

On Tuesday, the U.S. women's national team, for which Julie stars at defender, began its World Cup title defense by routing Thailand 13-0. Following the record-breaking victory, controversy arose surrounding the U.S. continuing to celebrate goals well after the game was in hand.

Zach gave thoughtful commentary in defense of his wife and her team to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo:

"I got a lot of thoughts. I heard it. I read about it. First thought is the first tiebreaker in the World Cup group stage is the goal differential and so they would be sick to their stomach if they took their foot of the gas and for some reason finished second in the group based off goal differential.

"The second, which is probably is the most underlining thing, when you're on a good team the best way to build team chemistry is seeing other people as happy for your success as they are for their own. And seeing the girls celebrate they were for other people's success really I thought was crucial for them long term. Because you see how close these girls were getting, these women were getting."

U.S. head coach Jill Ellis mirrored Ertz's mentality.

"To be respectful to opponents is to play hard against opponents," she said after the game Tuesday, according to ProSoccerUSA's Alicia Rose DelGallo. "It's a tournament where goal differential is a criteria. I don't find it my job to try to harness my players, rein them in. This is what they've dreamt about. This is it for them. This is a world championship."

Zach won Super Bowl LII as the tight end of the Philadelphia Eagles, while Julie captured the 2015 World Cup with USWNT.

The U.S. next plays Sunday against Chile in its second game in Group F.