Welcome to Week 11, yes we're at Week 11, and Week 11 is Championship Weekend where a total of $20,000 is up for grabs with the winner picking up $2.5K. You can join the fund with this week's contest here. Also if you are curious the winnings breakdown is here.
Congratulations go to firebellytoads who accumulated 166.86 as he dominated the competition with 166.86 points, more than 19 points better than second place to win Week 10. Firebellytoads ran the wave of Cousins, who rang up 28.96 points against the Saints defense. While Firebellytoads also owned Adrian Peterson (28.6 points) and Brandin Cooks (25.4), there is no doubt one of the smartest choices he/she had was Chiefs' kicker Cairo Santos who rang up 21 points, incredible for a kicker.
In the RotoWire Expert Leaderboard Tate McIntyre (tamc10) remained in first place with 1,301.36 points, but is only ahead by a little more than 27 points to Josh Collacchi (JCollacchi) with 1,74.02 while Peter Schoenke (rotopeter) is not far behind in third with 1,268.04. Tom Goldenstein (trookie83) won Week 10 with 139.16 points and moved into the top 10 at ninth place. Goldenstein following the balanced scoring attack with seven players with 12.6 points or better. Like Firebellytoads Goldenstein had Cooks who led his team. In addition he had the Pats duo of Rob Gronkowski (19.8 points) and Tom Brady (19.26).
Here is how the Top-10 shakes out in the Expert Competition as I try to get back into the Top-10 (sitting at 15). You can the full standings here.
1. Tate McIntyre (tamc10) 1,301.36
2. Josh Collacchi (JCollacchi) 1,274.02
3. Peter Schoenke (rotopeter) 1,268.04
4. Peter Merrill (black26) 1,258.08
5. Brian Pelowski (brianp) 1,253.46
6. Adam Wolf (rotosomething) 1,238.06
7. Shannon McKeown (rotoshannon) 1,228.40
8. Jesse Siegel (damon3nba) 1,226.18
9. Tony Goldenstein (trookie83) 1,222.92
10. Shawn Cwalinski (cwalinski) 1,219.22
And while this is Championship Weekend, it will also be the most challenging weekend so if you win, you will be the best of the best.
It is a week where offenses will be at a premium.
Unfortunately for this week some of the prime pickings for low-rated defenses namely New Orleans, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and to some extent Pittsburgh have a bye week so you can't pick up a cheap quarterback who will be facing a poor New Orleans defense ala Kirk Cousins last week.
Not only do you miss the Saints defense, but the Giants, Saints and Steelers offense to pile up the points so no Drew Brees, no Ben Roethlisberger and no Eli Manning to go with no wide receivers Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham Jr.
This could possibly be the worst week for offenses in the 2015 season which started with poor scoring night on Thursday where the kickers' shined for the Titans and Jaguars, but there were a grand total of two touchdowns.
In addition you have a few backup quarterbacks who will get their first starts of the year with a whole lot of Texans' T.J. Yates, Eagles' Mark Sanchez and Broncos' Brock Osweiler as your selections.
Value Picks
QBMatthew Stafford: Detroit Lions vs. Oakland Raiders
FanDuel Price: $7,000
Stafford has had a bad year, but has been revitalized the last two weeks as he has thrown for six touchdowns. He faces an Oakland Raiders pass defense that has allowed 293 passing yards per game, second most in the league, only to the New York Giants. Oakland also has given up 16 passing touchdowns. The Lions running game is a mess with Joique Bell, Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick not able to secure the number one spot which is causing Detroit to throw the ball. In addition Detroit's defense has allowed the eighth most total yards per game that will lend toward a higher offensive game.
RBJonathan Stewart: Carolina Panthers vs. Washington Redskins
FanDuel Price: $5,400
Stewart should have a big day against a Redskins defense that has allowed the fourth most rushing yards for the season while the Panthers are a running team with third most numbers on the ground in the league. Carolina is also tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns with 11.
RB: Charcandrick West: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers
FanDuel Price: $7,100
Kansas City has handled the ball over to West since Jamal Charles went down with a season-ending injury. West has averaged 22 carries in the last weeks and a rushing touchdown each week. While West was limited to 69 rushing yards last week, it did come against Denver. Before the Denver game, West averaged more than 100 yards against the Detroit and Pittsburgh defenses that are better than a Chargers defense that has allowed the sixth most rushing yards in the league.
WR: Danny Amendola: New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills
FanDuel Price: $6,100
With no Julian Edelman somebody will have to catch the ball outside of Rob Gronkowski. Even with Edelman in the lineup, Amendola has shown that his number has been up with Brady. He led the Pats in receptions and targets last week against the Giants. The Bills are ranked sixth in the league in touchdowns allowed to opposing wide receivers.
WR: Jeremy Maclin: Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers
FanDuel Price: $6,300
The Chiefs will never be known as a passing team at least in this incarnation, but the San Diego defense is very poor against the passing attack. When Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith throws the ball, he will be aiming for Maclin and tight end Tracy Kelsey. San Diego has allowed 261 average receiving yards per game and 16 receiving touchdowns.
WR: Stevie Johnson: San Diego Chargers vs. Kansas City
FanDuel Price: $5,600
The San Diego Chargers will throw the ball and they will throw it against the Chiefs. Kansas City's defense has allowed the sixth most receiving touchdowns, 17 for the season while also being middle of the pack in average receiving yards per game, 262. The Chiefs defense has allowed only five rushing touchdowns in nine games and the ninth best in rushing yards allowed with only 97 per game.
TE: Eric Ebron: Detroit Lions vs. Oakland Raiders
FanDuel Price: $5,400
This is another week where you want to pick up the opposing tight end going against the Raiders. While the rule is not a lock like it was to start the season, Oakland still has given up 10 touchdowns in 11 weeks.
TE: Jason Witten: Dallas Cowboys @ Miami Dolphins
FanDuel Price: $5,500
And yes that is Jason Witten doing a 'Happy Dance' with the return of Tony Romo. Without Romo Witten has been steady but not spectacular with Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel at quarterback. With Romo Witten has had seven or more catches and caught his lone touchdown with Romo under center.
High Risk/High Reward
QBTom Brady: Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
FanDuel Price: $9,200
There's not much to go with for a dearth of offensive talent this week so you got to go with the old mainstay in Tom Brady. Brady had what be considered a down week in Week 10 with 19.26 points in what would thought to have been a boon in points with a game against the Giants. Despite that relatively down week for Brady, he still has the most points for the season. Buffalo prides itself in stopping the run so the Pats will hit the air even without Julian Edelman out for the season. As most know, it doesn't seem to matter who are the receivers, Brady will find somebody to replace Edelman to throw to even it is in the backfield with James White.
RB: Adrian Peterson: Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers
FanDuel Price: $8,900
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a slump recently, but for teams facing the Packers you want to keep Rodgers off the field. Minnesota has a great ingredient in Peterson. Green Bay's defense has allowed the ninth most rushing yards per game this season at 116.2 and eight rushing touchdowns.
Steer Clear
QB: Aaron Rodgers: Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
FanDuel Price: $8,900
There's definitely something off with Rodgers and his wide receiving corps and you don't want to put a good amount of dollars on Rodgers. There are definitely chemistry problems with Rodgers and Davante Adams, the team's number two receiver. You should wait to see Rodgers get back on the horse. In addition Minnesota is one of the stingiest in the NFL in passing touchdowns, allowing only 11 in nine games, the fifth fewest in the league.
QB: Andy Dalton: Cincinnati Bengals at Arizona Cardinals
FanDuel Price: $7,900
Dalton wasn't the same against an overrated Houston Texans defense on Monday night and now has to face a very tough Cardinals defense in a short week. Arizona's defense has allowed only 223.2 passing yards per game, the seventh least in the league and has given up only 14 passing touchdowns in nine games.
You can follow me @ChicagoEd on Twitter and good luck this week in the Rotowire and FanDuel Fantasy Football Championship