Remember last week when I talked about how you cannot overlook the kicker and defense positions? Well, if you played Kai Forbath, the Chicago Bears defense, or the Los Angeles Chargers defense, then you understand. Having one of those or two of those players on your roster makes all the difference in the world. This week, it was the difference between me cashing and not. I sadly switched out Kai Forbath late for Ryan Succop, and it cost me dearly. With that being said, let’s get into the kicker and defense edition of week 8 DFS don’ts.
Matt Prater: FanDuel Price $5,000
Lineup construction simply will not allow me to roster any kicker over $5,000. So, of the three at or above that price, Matt Prater was the logical choice for my week 8 DFS don’ts. Kickers, though many may not realize, are one of the more dependent position in DFS. At that price tag, the kicker must be tied to a top offense. As of late, the Lions do not qualify. Against New Orleans, the Lions scored two of their touchdowns on a punt return and on one of the easiest pick sixes I’ve ever seen.
While the Lions are 8th in points per game, that doesn’t necessarily translate to points for Prater. In that monster game versus the Saints, Prater failed to score double digit points. He connected on five extra points, but also missed one of his two field goal attempts. Apart from being tied to a good offense, the kicker only gets on the field if the head coach allows it. There are so many variables that determine whether or not a kicker enters the game. For example, game flow, weather, field position, and time remaining all play a role in whether or not the kicker gets an opportunity.
Prater is one of the best, and strongest kickers in the NFL. The Lions routinely trust him with long 40 yard and mid 50 yard field goals. However, I don’t think they’ll have the luxury of settling for field goals as the high powered Steelers come to town this Sunday.
Chicago Bears: FanDuel Price $4,200
Every week I find myself writing about a defense that went nuts scoring points. This week is a bit more obvious, as the Bears travel to New Orleans. This notice is for the beginner player. That is the kind of player who is susceptible to the chasing points trap. I can almost guarantee a first time DFS player got burned by players like Adrian Peterson in week 7.
They look at the box score, check the price, and roster him with no fear. So please, do not make the same mistake this week. The Bears have to travel to New Orleans. Drew Brees and company operate like a well oiled machine when they play at home. Since the trade of Adrian Peterson, the Saints have been incredibly balanced, and effective in moving the ball on the ground.
I also don’t see the Bears offense keeping pace and allowing their defense to rest. The Saints could easily be up by two or three possessions by the end of the first quarter. That puts tremendous pressure on the Bears defense, and frankly, no defense is capable of bottling up the Saints at home when down multiple scores.
New players please steer clear of the Bears and the Chargers this week. They are playing against superior offenses this week and will not produce similar results in week 8.
Featured Image Courtesy of MLive.com
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