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If you're a daily fantasy player, before each game I will look at three players from the New Orleans Saints and their opponent’s rosters that I would target in daily fantasy (based off their value and potential results). Obviously, Saints QB Drew Brees is a safe QB for daily fantasy leagues, but spending your money on a top-tier starting QB leaves you scraping the barrel to fill out the rest of your roster.
So here are two Saints and one Viking that provide the most bang for your buck. (Values from Fanduel.)
TE Coby Fleener (NO) - $5,100
I’ve said it everywhere, so I’ll say it again here: Coby Fleener will have a significantly better year in 2017 than in 2016. If only with another year with Drew Brees under his belt, you would expect increased production this season. Then the Saints traded away top WR Brandin Cooks and are now without WR Willie Snead for the first three games. Those targets have to go somewhere, and Fleener (who comes a whopping $2,900 cheaper than the most expensive TE available) will be one of those beneficiaries.
WR Michael Thomas (NO) - $7,900
Thomas is another Saints receiving target that will benefit from the trade of Cooks and the absence of Snead. While the Vikings will be sure to lock down Thomas when he is on the field, Thomas has shown he is more than up for the challenge of catching contested balls. Even though he’s viewed as one of the bright young WRs in the game, he still comes in as a fair value play at $1,200 cheaper than the most expensive WR available this week.
RB Dalvin Cook (MIN) - $6,500
Rookie players are hard to value in their first game of the season, but Cook is still cheaper than Leonard Fournette of the Jaguars by $600. Cook plays for a better offense, and as much as Saints fans hope their defense is improved, Cook is playing against one of the perennially worst defenses in the league the past few years. Coming in a whole $2,900 cheaper than the most expensive RB available, expect Cook’s value to increase as early as Week 2.
My full daily fantasy lineup this week:
QB Russell Wilson (SEA) - $8,000
RB Le’Veon Bell (PIT) - $9,300
RB Dalvin Cook (MIN) - $6,500
WR Michael Thomas (NO) - $7,900
WR Brandin Cooks (NE) - $7,400
WR Jamison Crowder (WAS) - $6,500
TE Coby Fleener (NO) - $5,100
K Caleb Sturgis (PHI) - $4,600
DST Falcons (@ CHI) - $4,700