INDIANAPOLIS — With my opponent claiming the FanDuel head-to-head title last week, I said all I could play for the rest of the season was my pride.
So last week, it turns out, I put together about an average lineup. Fortunately, Kevin's lineup was so bad that it didn't matter, and I earned my sixth win of the season.
Can I get the overall record to 7-9 next week? While not ideal, obviously, it means I've continued to make huge strides in the second half, just as I predicted I would. A 6-10 record, meanwhile …
Anyway, I'm banking a lot this week on Drew Brees returning to form against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — and hopefully he does so throwing the ball many times to Michael Thomas — and I'm also hoping Antonio Brown can get back up to his standards against a tough Baltimore Ravens defense.
Will I be able to squeak this one out and get back to respectability heading into the final week of the season? Tune in next week.
For now, however, here's my entire Week 16 FanDuel lineup, sleepers and passes, as well as the full results from last week's action.
As always, send me any chatter, questions, "LOL"s or anything else to @AWalkerColts on Twitter using #FanDuelFF.
Also, be sure to catch this week's FanDuel Fantasy Focus show LIVE around 3:30 p.m. today (Thursday) on Colts.com and/or on the Colts Mobile App, as Caroline Cann, Kevin and myself discuss the upcoming week in fantasy football.
Andrew's Week 16 FanDuel Lineup:
QB: Drew Brees ($8,500; vs. Tampa Bay): While the Tampa Bay defense has been much better of late, I see Brees having one of his vintage performances in this one, in the comforts of home. I'd be really appreciative if he had one of those once- or twice-a-year five or six touchdown days; how 'bout it, Drew?
RB: David Johnson ($8,700; at Seattle): His value is waaayyyyy down this week, which makes him almost an automatic pick for every lineup out there. Now, the Seattle defense is good, the Cardinals are on the road and Johnson's workload has been decreasing. But he's still good for his value each and every week.
RB: Jordan Howard ($6,800; vs. Washington): This is great value for a guy who could very well get a ton of touches against this struggling Redskins defense. If Howard can get it going in the first half, then watch out. Also, as Kevin would say, if the weather's bad in Chicago, then Howard could be the main workhorse.
WR: Antonio Brown ($8,600; vs. Baltimore): I'm not necessarily sold on Brown's quarterback in this game, but I think Brown is due to go off. Baltimore's defense, of course, is very good, but hopefully Brown can sneak behind for a couple scores.
WR: Michael Thomas ($6,900; vs. Tampa Bay): I'm pairing Thomas, and not Brandin Cooks, with Brees this week. Thomas' season has included games of 21.8 and 27.3 points, and he had a solid 14.7 points last week at Arizona. Hopefully he goes off again against the Buccaneers.
WR: Tyler Lockett ($4,700; vs. Arizona): This is more of a low-money pick, so I'm obviously hoping Lockett does what he did last week and gets 22.5 points, not to mention he had 22.3 points two weeks before that. Maybe his stock is on the rise as a receiver?
TE: Cameron Brate ($5,600; at New Orleans): Brate has quietly put up some nice performances this season, including last week's 15.8-point performance against the Cowboys. New Orleans' defense isn't the greatest, so I like this matchup this week.
K: Adam Vinatieri ($5,100; at Oakland): The GOAT did great again last week, and there's no reason to believe he won't get plenty of opportunities again on Saturday against this Raiders team.
DEF: San Diego Chargers ($4,900; at Cleveland): I'm simply picking on the Browns here. Who knows how the weather will be in Cleveland, and they just seem destined to go 0-16 this year. I hope they prove me wrong — nobody takes any sort of enjoyment in a team going winless.
Andrew's Guys To Pass On:
RB LeSean McCoy ($9,500; vs. Miami): Miami's run defense isn't all that bad, although McCoy is on a tear and looking like his old self in what is essentially a lost cause for these Bills. I just don't like this price tag.
RB Melvin Gordon ($8,600; at Cleveland): Where did this come from? I mean, he is playing the Browns, but his price goes up $600 after not playing? He might not play again this week as he suffers through some hip and knee issues, so pass on Gordon at this huge price.
QB Ben Roethlisberger ($7,900; vs. Baltimore): Big Ben is back home where he does much, much better, but I don't think he'll put together a quality game against this Baltimore defense. There's better options at the quarterback position this week value-wise.
WR Jordy Nelson ($7,500; vs. Minnesota): The Vikings are really good at shutting down opposing teams' wide receivers — T.Y. Hilton didn't exactly have a standout game last week — so I'd avoid Nelson here in this spot for this week. I think Randall Cobb or Davante Adams could have pretty big weeks, however.
Andrew's Sleepers ($6,000 or less):
RB Justin Forsett ($5,100; at Kansas City): Two reasons for this pick. First, Forsett's snaps saw a major increase last week in his second week in Denver; also, Derrick Johnson is gone for the Chiefs, and their defense just hasn't been the same. Good value here if you don't have much money and need a second running back.
TE Cameron Brate ($5,600; at New Orleans): Brate has quietly put up some nice performances this season, including last week's 15.8-point performance against the Cowboys. New Orleans' defense isn't the greatest, so I like this matchup this week.
TE C.J. Fiedorowicz ($4,900; vs. Cincinnati): Now, Fiedorowicz missed last week with a concussion, but it's looking like he'll play on Sunday against the Bengals, who struggle against tight ends, allowing the second most yards in the league. With Tom Savage under center, I think Fiedorowicz will be a security blanket of sorts in this one.
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Week 15 Results
Andrew's Week 15 FanDuel Lineup:
QB: Kirk Cousins ($7,500; vs. Carolina): 10.7 points (18.75 minimum value; -8.05 total value)
RB: David Johnson ($9,800; vs. New Orleans): 24.8 points (24.5 minimum value; 0.3 total value)
RB: Le'Veon Bell ($9,400; at Cincinnati): 15.6 points (23.5 minimum value; -7.9 total value)
WR: Brandon Marshall ($6,800; vs. Miami): 2.1 points (17 minimum value; -14.9 total value)
WR: Jamison Crowder ($6,100; vs. Carolina): 2.4 points (15.25 minimum value; -12.85 total value)
WR: Aldrick Robinson ($4,500; vs. San Francisco): 13.1 points (11.25 minimum value; 1.85 total value)
TE: Greg Olsen ($6,300; at Washington): 11.5 points (15.75 minimum value; -4.25 total value)
K: Adam Vinatieri ($4,800; at Minnesota): 13 points (12 minimum value; 1 total value)
DEF: Baltimore Ravens ($4,700; vs. Philadelphia): 3 points (11.75 minimum value; -8.75 total value)
= 96.2 total points (-53.55 in total FanDuel value; -5.95 per player)
**
Kevin's Week 15 FanDuel Lineup:**
QB: Philip Rivers ($7,800; vs. Oakland): 15.24 points (19.5 minimum value; -4.26 total value)
RB: Carlos Hyde ($7,000; vs. Atlanta): 6.2 points (17.5 minimum value; -11.3 total value)
RB: Jeremy Hill ($6,600; vs. Pittsburgh): 11.6 points (16.5 minimum value; -4.9 total value)
WR: Odell Beckham Jr. ($8,600; vs. Detroit): 16.3 points (21.5 minimum value; -5.2 total value)
WR: Mike Evans ($8,200; vs. Dallas): 7.9 points (20.5 minimum value; -12.6 total value)
WR: T.Y. Hilton ($7,300; vs. Minnesota): 6 points (18.25 minimum value; -12.25 total value)
TE: Antonio Gates ($5,300; vs. Oakland): 1.6 points (13.25 minimum value; -11.65 total value)
K: Phil Dawson ($4,500; vs. Atlanta): 1 point (11.25 minimum value; -10.25 total value)
DEF: Baltimore Ravens ($4,700; vs. Philadelphia): 3 points (11.75 minimum value; -8.75 total value)
= 68.84 total points (-81.16 in total FanDuel value; -9.01 per player)
WEEK 15 WINNER: Andrew (6-9)
WEEK 15 PICK OF THE WEEK: WR Aldrick Robinson, Andrew (13.1 points; 1.85 total value)
WEEK 15 JOKE OF THE WEEK: WR Brandon Marshall, Andrew (2.1 points; -14.9 total value)
REVIEW: Week 15 Guys To Pass On
Andrew:
QB Joe Flacco ($7,400; vs. Philadelphia): 13.14 points (18.5 minimum value; -5.36 total value)
QB Ben Roethlisberger ($8,000; at Cincinnati): 14.94 points (20 minimum value; -5.06 total value)
QB Matthew Stafford ($7,800; at New York Giants): 11.22 points (19.5 minimum value; -8.28 total value)
RB Ezekiel Elliott ($8,500; vs. Tampa Bay): 26.3 points (21.25 minimum value; 5.05 total value)
ANDREW'S RECORD: 3-1
ANDREW SAVED YOU: 13.65 in total value
Kevin:
QB Tom Brady ($8,100; vs. Denver): 7.42 points (20.25 minimum value; -12.83 total value)
QB Aaron Rodgers ($8,500; vs. Chicago): 11.98 points (21.25 minimum value; -9.27 total value)
WR Antonio Brown ($8,400; vs. Cincinnati): 7.3 points (21 minimum value; -13.7 total value)
TE Tyler Eifert ($7,200; vs. Pittsburgh): 1.4 points (18 minimum value; -16.6 total value)
KEVIN'S RECORD: 4-0
KEVIN SAVED YOU: 52.4 in total value
REVIEW: Week 15 Sleepers
Andrew:
WR: Aldrick Robinson ($4,500; vs. San Francisco): 13.1 points (11.25 minimum value; 1.85 total value)
TE Zach Ertz ($5,900; at Baltimore): 11 points (14.75 minimum value; -3.75 total value)
WR Dontrelle Inman ($5,500; vs. Oakland): 9.3 points (13.75 minimum value; -4.45 total value)
ANDREW'S RECORD: 1-2
ANDREW COULD'VE GIVEN YOU: -6.35 in total value
Kevin:
RB Isaiah Crowell ($5,500 vs. Buffalo): 2.8 points (13.75 minimum value; -10.95 total value)
WR Taylor Gabriel ($5,800 vs. San Francisco): 13.5 points (14.5 minimum value; -1 total value)
TE Kyle Rudolph ($5,800; vs. Indianapolis): 13.7 points (14.5 minimum value; -0.8 total value)
KEVIN'S RECORD: 0-3
KEVIN COULD'VE GIVEN YOU: -12.75 in total value
