FanDuel, DraftKings Fantasy Football: Players to avoid in Week 4

Avoid these fantasy football players when setting your DraftKings and FanDuel DFS lineups in Week 4 of the 2017 NFL Season.

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Everyone is always looking for the weekly breakout players and sleepers, but just as important are the players to stay far away from. It only takes one bad pick to cripple your daily fantasy roster.

Here are some players you should look to avoid in DFS play when making your DraftKings and FanDuel picks for Week 3 of the 2017 NFL season.

Quarterbacks

Matt Ryan ($7,400 DK/$8,000 FD) vs. Buffalo

The reigning NFL MVP has not been the stud quarterback fantasy owners had hoped for thus far. Ryan is currently sitting 16th in fantasy points and has not scored more than 18 points through his first three games of the season. Yet he is still the second most expensive quarterback for Sunday lineups in both DraftKings and FanDuel. To make matters worse for his Week 4 outlook, Ryan faces a Buffalo defense that has held opposing quarterbacks to fewer than 10 points per game in 2017.

Cam Newton ($5,900 DK/$7,300 FD) at New England

Newton is another former NFL MVP who has struggled so far this season. Shockingly, the 28-year old has put up less points than the likes of Jacoby Brissett, Josh McCown, and Case Keenum, in addition to 22 other quarterbacks. Not only has Newton played poorly, but he also lost his favorite target in Greg Olsen, and now his top receiver, Kelvin Benjamin, could be hobbled with a knee injury.

Additionally, the Carolina quarterback has found himself on the injury report for three-straight weeks, signaling that something clearly is not right. Newton could be owned by a fair share of people because of his matchup versus the 32nd ranked Patriots defense, but make the wise decision and look elsewhere at for Week 4.

Running Backs

Melvin Gordon ($7,000 DK/$7,500 FD) vs. Philadelphia

Following the common theme of injuries, Gordon is another player who finds himself on the injury report with a knee injury. Even though he is expected to play, I would not be shocked to see a lot more of Branden Oliver in the backfield against the Eagles. Philadelphia ranks seventh against the run in fantasy and have given up just 55 yards per game on the ground to the running back position. Gordon is the sixth and seventh most expensive option in DraftKings and FanDuel, making him an overvalued and risky play at his price point.

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Marshawn Lynch ($5,000 DK/$6,500 FD) at Denver

Lynch has failed to rush for over 80 yards and hasn’t recorded more than 19 touches in a single game this season. His painfully mediocre 3.9 yards per carry isn’t a ringing endorsement either. It’s quite clear that the Raiders are trying to keep the 31-year old fresh for later in the season, while working in DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard.

Furthermore, with just three receptions in three games, Lynch has a low floor in PPR scoring leagues (DraftKings and FanDuel included). This week, the Raiders face the third ranked Denver run defense, which is just another negative factor to consider when pondering Marshawn Lynch for your lineup.

Wide Receivers

Doug Baldwin ($6,900 DK/$7,600 FD) vs. Indianapolis

Don’t get me wrong; the matchup isn’t bad here for Baldwin. However, the game script could work against him if the Seahawks are able to pull ahead as many expect. That would likely result in a heavier workload for Chris Carson and the Seattle running backs. Baldwin is expected to play on Sunday Night, but it’s worth noting that he is being hampered by a groin injury suffered in last week’s action.

Consistency is another area of worry, as the Stanford product has failed to hit double digit points in two of his three matchups this year. Paul Richardson is a nice sleeper who could benefit if Baldwin’s groin is a bigger issue than he is letting on.

Amari Cooper ($6,000 DK/$7,500 FD) at Denver

If we were building an all-hype team I would probably have Cooper headline it. The Oakland “star” receiver has huge potential but has been plagued by drops and inconsistent play throughout his three-year career. Cooper tends to struggle against stiff competition and with Denver up next on the schedule you should expect more of the same.

The 23-year old receiver has scored just one touchdown in four matchups versus the Broncos, while failing to reach more than 60 yards in a single one of those games. With just five receptions for 39 yards combined in his past two contests, keep Amari off of your DFS lineups.

Tight Ends

Hunter Henry ($3,500 DK/$5,600 FD) vs. Philadelphia

The 2017 season has not been kind to Hunter Henry owners so far. He’s another player with huge upside, but he finds himself working behind the 37-year old Antonio Gates. Henry has been shut out completely in two out of three games this season and he simply can’t be trusted until he strings together some strong performances. The second-year player is not an expensive option, but there are many cheaper and better plays available (Clay, Engram, etc.).

Eric Ebron ($3,100 DK/$5,300 FD) at Minnesota

Ebron has failed to live up to his expectations, as the lack of consistency continues to be a repetitive topic when talking about tight ends in 2017. Ebron’s strong Week 2 outing is sandwiched between a pair of games in which the Detroit tight end failed to hit just three fantasy points. Golden Tate, Marvin Jones, Theo Riddick, and arguably Kenny Golladay all appear to be ahead of Ebron in terms of receiving options for the Lions.

Defense/Special Teams

Minnesota Vikings ($3,100 DK/$4,500 FD) vs. Detroit

The Vikings defense ranks 22nd in fantasy production so far this season, and they are yet to score 10 or more fantasy points in a single game. This week they take on the Detroit Lions, led by quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Lions signal-caller is one of the best at protecting the football, as he’s thrown just one interception in 2017.

Next: NFL 2017: 20 Bold predictions for Week 4

Los Angeles Rams ($2,800 DK/$4,400 FD) at Dallas

The Rams 32 defensive fantasy points places them among the top five in fantasy production. However, keep in mind that 29 of those points came in Week 1 against journeyman quarterback Scott Tolzien. In their other two matchups, Los Angeles have scored a total of three fantasy points while allowing 66 (real) points to the Redskins and 49ers.

This week they are on the road for the second of back-to-back games, facing a Dallas team that loves to run the football. Dak Prescott has thrown just six interceptions in 19 career games, so the opportunity for turnovers is quite low in this matchup.

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