Posted By:Bretsky on October 15, 2014

Wayne Bretsky and Mark Kaplan take a look at some of the studs and duds from Week 6 while playing a game of Buy/Sell/Hold while also recap quite a few injuries that will push some newly relevant fantasy players up their team’s depth charts. The guys also provide their Week 7 Daily Fantasy plays as well as answer a couple of questions from the listeners to close the show.

Hit up the guys on Twitter @BretskyBall and @DaTrueGuru to join in on the action!

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4th Down Fantasy Football – Fostering Trust

News and Notes

• Stevan Ridley, Knowshon Morena and Victor Cruz done for the year
• Marvin Jones headed to IR
• Darren Sproles may not miss a game
• RG3 eyeing a Week 8 return?

Buy/Sell/Hold

• Cam Newton starts running
• Colin Kaepernick takes to the air
• Eli Manning stinks again
• Arian Foster continues to impress
• Lesean McCoy bounces back
• Jerrick McKinnon takes over
• Andre Holmes breaks loose
• T.Y. Hilton lights up Thursday night
• Brandon Lafell shows some juice
• Jace Amaro shows up

Week 7 Preview and Daily Fantasy Sleepers and Value Plays

• QB: Aaron Rodgers, Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson
• RB: Jamaal Charles, Fred Jackson, Ben Tate
• WR: Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Marshall, Rueben Randle, Golden Tate, Larry Fitzgerald, Devante Adams
• TE: Jordan Cameron

Mailbag!

Title Music: Summon the Rawk – Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) 

Posted By:Bretsky on October 11, 2014

With the first DraftKings Millionaire Maker in the books, it’s time to step up our game for round two. We are paying up for the quarterbacks this week and Peyton Manning has a wonderful matchup for against a pitiful Jets secondary. Now, paying a premium for a quarterback is certainly going to force you to find some value elsewhere on your squad, so just what kind of value did we find? Check out our Week 6 stab at the million-dollar lineup as well as a nifty little cheatsheet courtesy of FantasyPros.com. Good Luck!

Bretsky’s Week 6 DraftKings Lineup

Quarterback

Peyton Manning @ NYJ ($9,400)

Coming off of an absurd 479-yard, 4-TD performance, Manning squares up against a team allowing the fourth-most fantasy points (20.6 ppg) to opposing QBs. Don’t get cute, pay the premium here.

Running Backs

LeSean McCoy vs. NYG ($6,000)

When an elite player struggles to the point that his price drops him out of the top tier, it’s worth noting. McCoy’s struggles have done just that, and a guy who is typically one of the top-3 most expensive backs on a weekly basis is priced at a 31% discount from the top option at the position. Add in the fact that McCoy is coming off of his best rushing game of the season (81 yards) and facing a team that he’s averaged over 100 total yards per game against in his career and it’s time to have some faith in Shady’s ability to bounce back.

Andre Ellington vs. WAS ($5,100)

Ellington’s big play made his day in Week 5 and we are going right back to the well. Washington boasts a pretty steady run defense, but was just lit up by Marshawn Lynch coming out of the backfield. The price is right to roll with the explosive Ellington as he projects to touch the ball 18+ times in Week 6.

Wide Receivers

Julio Jones vs. CHI ($8,400)

It’s a stars and scrubs type of week as we’re also shelling out top-dollar to grab the explosive Jones in a home matchup against Chicago. The Bears secondary has yielded 19+ fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in every game since Week 2 and was absolutely torched by Green Bay for 239 yard and four scores in Week 4. Jones is averaging 8 catches for 110 yards per game this season with three touchdowns and should continue to roll against the Bears’ banged up D.

Alshon Jeffrey @ ATL ($6,500)

Sticking with the showdown in Atlanta, Alshon Jeffery is becoming a fixture in our weekly lineup as his price remains a reasonable $6,500 for the week. Alshon has gotten into the end zone in each of his past two games and should continue to get down the field successfully in a Sunday shootout.

Andre Roberts @ ARI ($3,200)

And this is the downside of shelling out top dollar as you are going to have to find some value plays somewhere in your lineup. Roberts is priced just above Draftkings minimum — a fine price for a guy who has seen 20 targets over the last three weeks.

Tight Ends

Rob Gronkowski @ BUF ($5,800)

A few weeks back, we proclaimed that just about every time Rob Gronkowski was priced off the top-tier at tight end, he would be in our lineup. He’s coming off of his best game of the season and Gronk should keep it rolling in Week 6.

Flex

Ronnie Hillman @ NYJ ($3,000)

To squeeze in Denver’s quarterback, we are going to gamble on the Broncos’ backfield. Hillman was solid last week when given opportunity and though the Jets’ run defense serves as a pretty tough matchup, we like Hillman’s ability to make an impact coming out of the backfield in the receiving game.

Defense

Washington @ ARI ($2,500)

Uncertainty at the quarterback position is allowing this to shape up as a potentially nice matchup for Washington’s defense that has shown an ability to get after the QB in 2014. Again, we’re rolling the dice to help afford some position-leading players this week, so why not target a team playing against an inexperienced signal-caller.

Posted By:Bretsky on October 9, 2014

Welcome to Week 6 of the fantasy football season. Each week, our rankers will provide you with their top plays at each position. If you’ve got start/sit questions heading into Sunday’s games, find us on twitter or leave ’em in the comments!

Week 6 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

Week 6 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE

Posted By:Bretsky on October 9, 2014

Welcome to Week 6 of the fantasy football season. Each week, our rankers will provide you with their top plays at each position. If you’ve got start/sit questions heading into Sunday’s games, find us on twitter or leave ’em in the comments!

Week 6 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings

Week 6 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE

Posted By:Bretsky on October 9, 2014

Welcome to Week 6 of the fantasy football season. Each week, our rankers will provide you with their top plays at each position. If you’ve got start/sit questions heading into Sunday’s games, find us on twitter or leave ’em in the comments!

Week 6 Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings

Week 6 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE

Posted By:Bretsky on October 9, 2014

Welcome to Week 6 of the fantasy football season. Each week, our rankers will provide you with their top plays at each position. If you’ve got start/sit questions heading into Sunday’s games, find us on twitter or leave ’em in the comments!

Week 6 Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings

Week 6 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE

Posted By:Bretsky on October 8, 2014

Wayne Bretsky and Mark Kaplan recap a while Week 5 that saw ups-and-downs, comebacks, millionaires and Monday-evening heartbreak. The boys react to Week 5 with a game of Buy/Sell/Hold, preview the Week 6 DFS plays and dip into the mailbag.

Hit up the guys on Twitter @BretskyBall and @DaTrueGuru to join in on the action!

[Sign up now to compete in one week daily fantasy contest]

»Listen

»Download on iTunes

4th Down Fantasy Football – Extra Points

News and Notes

• Detroit injury woes
• Zac Stacy (calf) hopeful to play
• Knowshon Moreno returns to practice
• Matt Prater inked by the Lions
• Carson Palmer could return in Week 6

Buy/Sell/Hold

• Patriots: Tom Brady, Stevan Ridley/Shane Vereen, Tim Wright
• Austin Davis
• Demaryius Thomas
• Justin Hunter
• Ruben Randle
• Jordan Cameron

Waiver Wire Adds

• QB: Carson Palmer, Mike Glennon
• RB: Ronnie Hillman/CJ Anderson, Branden Oliver, Andre Williams
• WR: James Jones, Andre Holmes, Allen Robinson
• TE: Jordan Reed

Week 2 Preview and Daily Fantasy Sleepers and Value Plays

• QB: Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Nick Foles
• RB: Matt Forte, Andre Ellinton, Lesean McCoy, Ronnie Hillman
• WR: Alshon Jeffery, Vincent Jackson, Andre Roberts
• TE: Rob Gonkowski

Mailbag!

Title Music: Summon the Rawk – Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) 

Posted By:Bretsky on October 4, 2014

Five weeks into the NFL season and we’ve decided to crank up the stakes a bit at BretskyBall. This week, our rankings crew is taking their talents to the DFS Gridiron, facing off in a head-to-head DraftKings battle. We’re gonna mix things up a bit for our regular sleepers and values column and give you both lineups along with some notes on our choices as well as the fabulous, sortable cheatsheet courtesy of FantasyPros.com. Good Luck!

Week 5 DraftKings Duel

Quarterback

Drew Brees vs. TB ($8,900)

Coming off of a “disappointing” showing on the road in Dallas in which Bress still managed to top 300 yards and hurl a pair of scores, expect Brees to get back on track in a big way as the 1-3 Saints look to jump start their season in the Superdome. Tampa Bay’s defensive struggles have been exploited in recent weeks, allowing back-to-back 20+ point performances to Matt Ryan and Ben Roethlisberger. If you are gonna pay for a QB this week, Brees is your man. –Bretsky

Ben Roethlisberger @ JAX ($7,400)

This was a tough call as Russell Wilson also has a fantastic match up for a similar price. The Jags, however, are giving up the most points to opposing QBs and I was able to use the $200 saved to get some more expensive players at other positions. –Bell

Running Backs

Giovani Bernard @ NE ($6,700)

Bernard has done a little bit of everything through the first three games of the season and will have fresh legs coming off the bye. The matchup this week is a tasty one after the Chiefs pair of backs piled up 199 rushing yards and four total touchdowns against the Patriots defense on Monday night. –Bretsky

Rashad Jennings vs ATL ($5,500)

A top 5 back through 4 weeks playing the team giving up the most points to RBs on the season, and he only costs $5,500! I am pretty sure someone screwed up on this price tag and everyone will be using him this week. –Bell

Jennings has been a clear workhorse in the Giants rapidly improving lineup and now faces off with a pitiful Atlanta defense that is allowing a league-worst 29.5 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. He’s simply a steal at this value. –Bretsky

Chris Ivory @ SD ($3,100)

It’s not the greatest matchup, but Ivory is averaging double digit points and for almost the minimum cost he is a steal this week. –Bell

Wide Receivers

Alshon Jeffrey @ CAR ($6,700)

The 2014 Carolina Panthers defense just is not the same unit that would strike fear into the hearts of fantasy owners. Jeffrey looks to be fully recovered from his Week 2 injury and primed to take a lead role while the Bears’ take to the air. Alshon caught a touchdown in Week 4 and should have had another that just barely slipped through his fingers. Continually priced below the top-tier of wideouts, Alshon is a nice buy with position-leading upside. –Bretsky

Reggie Wayne vs. BAL ($5,700)

Wayne had a great game last week, and should now be fully comfortable playing on his reconstructed knee. Baltimore is historically a defense you sit your guys against, but even in their best performance of the season last week Kelvin Benjamin was still able to go for 70+ and a score. The Ravens have given up over 15pts to their opponents #1 receiver in each of their four games so far I see no reason for that not to continue. –Bell

Jeremy Maclin vs. STL ($5,600)

Maclin was just about the only usable Eagles player last week in any fantasy format and remains a strong volume play week-to-week, averaging over ten targets per game so far this season. Chip Kelly’s explosive offense should have no problem getting back to their high flying ways Sunday in South Philly. –Bretsky

Emmanuel Sanders vs. ARI ($5,100)

Some may be scared off by the return of Wes Welker, but Sanders — who has a league best three receptions of 40+ yards — will continue to have a massive role in the Broncos offense. He’s a nice value while priced at just over 10% of your budget for a Week 5 showdown with the Cardinals. –Bretsky

Kelvin Benjamin vs. CHI ($4,800)

I don’t see why Benjamin is so cheap still. He is clearly the teams top receiving target and with the banged up backfield he will be called upon to make more plays. He has been putting up numbers like a top 10 WR all year long and gets a Bears defense that has been struggling — just ask Jordy Nelson and crew.  –Bell

Brandin Cooks vs TB ($4,700)

While Cooks has been a steady contributor so far, the breakout game is coming this week. Everyone knows how good the Saints play at home in the dome, and this is a must win for them to stay in the division hunt. I expect big things from the New Orleans passing game this week. –Bell

Tight Ends

Jimmy Graham vs. TB ($7,600)

Did I mention that I expect big things from the Saints pass game… Look, if you have the cap space then you play Graham he is by far the best tight end in the league. There will probably a be couple of cheaper options at the positon to put up comparable points, but his consistency is afforadable at $7,600 this week. –Bell

Travis Kelce @ SF ($3,000)

The matchup is certainly not enticing, but the price point is too sweet to pass up for one of the top young tight ends in the league. –Bretsky

Flex

Antonio Brown @ JAX ($8,100)

I always set my flex last and go with the best player I can afford. This week that happened to be Brown. It’s a great match up for the Pittsburgh passing game so the Steelers stack is an obvious move. Look for the Steelers to take a page from what the Chargers did last week and the Eagles did in week one by taking advantage of their superior athletes against a struggling Jaguars secondary. –Bell

Andre Ellington @ DEN ($5,600)

Coming off of the bye, Ellington’s foot should be feeling better than it has all season. The Cardinals are going to need a couple of explosive plays from their position players to keep up with the Broncos this week so expect Arizona to get their home run hitting back the rock 20+ times. –Bretsky

Defense

Chargers vs NYJ ($3,100)

The general rule of thumb so far this season is play the D who is facing the Jags, but that happens to be a banged up Steelers unit this week so, turn to the next best thing. The Jets (primarily Geno Smith) are giving the ball away almost 3 times a game and allowing over 2 sacks per game. For the low low price I couldn’t pass this one up. –Bell

Cowboys @ HOU ($2,700)

The Cowboys D did an excellent job of limiting the high-powered Saints’ offense last week and now get a much lighter matchup in the Battle for Texas. Ryan Fitzpatrick loves to sling the rock, and better yet, he doesn’t always know where it’s headed. Pencil the ‘Boys in for a couple of picks in this one with a solid chance to take one to the house. —Bretsky

Posted By:Bretsky on October 2, 2014

Welcome to Week 5 of the fantasy football season. Each week, our rankers will provide you with their top plays at each position. If you’ve got start/sit questions heading into Sunday’s games, find us on twitter or leave ’em in the comments!

Week 5 Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings

Week 5 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE

Posted By:Bretsky on October 2, 2014

Welcome to Week 5 of the fantasy football season. Each week, our rankers will provide you with their top plays at each position. If you’ve got start/sit questions heading into Sunday’s games, find us on twitter or leave ’em in the comments!

Week 5 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

Week 5 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE