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If you’re a daily fantasy player, before each game I will look at three/four 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 two Bengals that provide the most bang for your buck. (Values from Fanduel.)
QB Mark Ingram (NO) - $6,800
I could see this game being one where the Saints have a lead and run the ball to keep the lead. That means a heavy dose of Mark Ingram grinding out runs to eat up the clock. At $1,900 cheaper than the most expensive RB available this week in daily fantasy, Ingram is a great value play, even after getting a little nicked up last week.
WR Tyler Boyd (CIN) - $7,800
I see Boyd lined up against Eli Apple all game. Whether that it is because AJ Green suits up and takes on Marshon Lattimore, or if even Green isn’t playing, the Saints likely line up their fastest CB (Lattimore) against the Bengals fastest WR (John Ross). That means Boyd could take advantage of Apple and Co. all game, and at $900 cheaper than the most expensive WR available in daily fantasy, he’s a solid play this way.
WR John Ross (CIN) - $5,600
Speaking of John Ross, he’s absolutely a good bet to break out at least one big play against the Saints defense. The Saints have been burned multiple times on big plays, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see Ross be the next beneficiary. And while Boyd is cheap, Ross is an absolute steal at a whopping $3,100 cheaper than the most expensive WR available.
TE Ben Watson (NO) - $5,900
If the Saints are playing it safe running the ball but are then forced into manageable passing situations, Ben Watson is one of Drew Brees’s most trusted targets. It’s possible the new addition of Dez Bryant shows up in the red zone or on short third downs, but assuming Dez takes time to get acclimated into the Saints offense, Watson ($2,100 cheaper than the most expensive TE available in daily fantasy), is a low-cost this week.
My full daily fantasy lineup this week:
QB: Russell Wilson (SEA) - $7,700
RB: Mark Ingram (NOO) - $6,800
RB: Melvin Gordon (LAC) - $8,900
WR: Tyler Boyd (CIN) - $7,800
WR: John Ross (CIN) - $5,600
WR: Cordarrelle Patterson (NE) - $4,700
TE: Benjamin Watson (NO) - $5,900
FLEX: RB Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) - $8,400