Constructing A Contrarian Team

Constructing A Contrarian Team

Often times the person who takes down a big tournament has guys on his team who are low owned, under the radar guys who have big days. The player could be low owned because he has been an under-performed, had a bad matchup, or is a risky play. Now the key to being contrarian is not to go overboard; don’t make a play to be different just to be different. This week I look at contrarian picks that might help you take down a big prize in a tournament.

Quarterback

DraftKings:

Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins has attempted over 46 passes in each of his first two games, while throwing for over 350 yards in each. His issue has been getting in the end zone, as he has struggled mightily in the red zone. This week he takes on a Giants defense that only allowed 13 points to the high-powered New Orleans Saints. The talk this week has been that Cousins is losing the locker room, and that he will struggle to perform versus the new and improved Giants defense. The Giants defense has struggled guarding tight ends and slot WR, and the Redskins run out Jordan Reed and Jamison Crowder who could both give the Giants problems. Desean Jackson has also been known to kill the Giants. Cousins is a sneaky good play who should have very low ownership. He is as close as there is to a lock for 300 yards and getting that bonus, and should end up with two maybe three touchdowns.

FanDuel:

Russell Wilson

Everyone is off the Russell Wilson bandwagon that was so crowded to start the season. This is a perfect week to play the underperforming superstar versus a suspect 49ers defense that just got lit up by Cam Newton. The Seahawks are too talented to score so few points. Yes, their offensive line is a legitimate issue that causes concern. But Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett are talented playmakers on the outside and Russell Wilson adds a running dimension that can separate him from others QBS. Wilson will have under 5 percent ownership, is at home in a good matchup, and is underpriced. He is a great GPP play this week.

Running Back

DraftKings-

David Johnson and Gio Bernard

David Johnson has made it clear he is the number one back this year, scoring 20 points a game without even getting his touches. Week one, the Cardinals fell behind and got away from the run, while week two they killed the Bucs and Johnson wasn’t needed in the second half. Rex Ryan is coaching for his job this week, and the Cardinals play on the road for the first time so I think the game is a close one, and the Cardinals will lean on David Johnson. He won’t be low owned, but with everyone paying up for WR you can sneak a good running back in there and only 20 percent of people will join you.

Each week the Bengals have a game that is either a Gio game or a Hill game. I think that this week is a Gio game. Gio caught 9 passes last week versus a Steelers front that can get after you. Now the Broncos come to town and they will pressure the quarterback. This could lead to a lot of dump-offs as you saw the Colts do with both Gore and Ferguson in last week’s game. Gio will be a very low owned PPR stud this week.

FanDuel-

Dwayne Washington and Lesean McCoy

Dwayne Washington is a little known guy on the Lions who was a beast in the preseason. He is cheap at just 4.5k and will be the red zone guy; he’ll also see the ball a lot in the absence of Ameer Abdullah. Theo Riddick will still be the pass catching back, but I don’t think his run touches will soar that much. Washington plays a good Packers teamwho have looked fantastic against two poor offensive lines. I think Washington should see at least 15 touches in this game and could get in the end zone. At minimum price he is worth the risk.

As I mentioned above with David Johnson, Rex Ryan is feeling the seat get hotter for him and is coaching for his career. Rex Ryan believes in running the football and getting his best player the ball. Lesean McCoy has seen 15 carries and 5 targets in each of his first two games and I expect that to go up 5 touches this week. If he gets in the end zone he could put up big numbers for a player who isn’t likely to be on many teams.

Wide Receiver

DraftKings

AJ Green, Mike Evans, Jordan Matthews, Jamison Crowder

AJ Green was everyone’s darling after week one, and despite getting double digit targets he failed to perform in week two. This week he takes on a Broncos defense that just shut down Luck, and gave Cam Newton problems in the second half. Greens ownership should be very low, but he will still get his looks. I am hoping that he can do what Kelvin Benjamin did versus the Broncos and have a big game with around 5 percent ownership.

Mike Evans leads the league in targets and while the Rams defense is number one in fantasy points allowed to WR, they haven’t played someone like Mike Evans. Evans has only hauled in 11 of his 24 targets, but if he becomes more efficient Sunday it could lead to a big day.

All aboard the Carson Wentz hype train. While I think Wentz is good, playing the Browns and Bears secondary can help someone look better than he actually is. However, my biggest takeaway from Wentz is that he gets the ball to Jordan Matthews. Matthews dropped an easy touchdown for what would have been his second 20 plus point week. The Steelers are scary up front, but can be had in the secondary. I expect the Eagles to be playing catchup and Jordan Mathews to catch a lot of those passes.

Jamison Crowder is the slot guy that I think will give the Giants problems. He has two double digit scoring weeks where he has seen 8 and 10 targets. If the Redskins want to give the Giants defense problems, it will be using Crowder and Reed. Crowder will be very low owned and is a perfect contrarian stack with Cousins.

FanDuel

Jordy Nelson, Allen Robinson, Stefon Diggs

Jordy Nelson seems to be the only Packer who is playing well on offense right now. He played all but one snap last week and seems to be past his ACL tear. The Packers have always put up big points on the Lions especially at home. I think a trip home to Lambeau could do them a lot of good. Nelson saw 11 targets last week, and this week gets covered by one of the better corners in the League Darius Slay. Slay doesn’t always shadow cover guys, and Nelson should still get his looks. I think Jordy Nelson could have a big welcome back party in Green Bay.

Allen Robinson is coming off two tough matchups where he saw his targets but didn’t turn them into his normal production. This week the Ravens come to Jacksonville after just getting killed by Corey Coleman and the Browns. The Ravens are a better defense than last year, but this teamstill plays worse away from home. I expect Allen Robinson to get his double digit targets and turn them into 100 yards and a touchdown.

Stefon Diggs is starting to feel like Devontae Freeman of last year. He is on fire, cheap, and people seem to be hesitant to buy the hype. He showed a real connection with Bradford on Sunday night and in a game the Vikings should be trailing has a chance to beat the Josh Norman-less Panthers

Tight Ends

DraftKings

Jack Doyle

Now this is a play that should have 1 percent ownership or less. The back-up tight end for the Colts has outplayed Dwayne Allen so far this season, and with the loss of Moncrief the Colts are going back to their two tight end offense that was successful with Allen and Fleener in years past. At such a cheap price of 2.5k Doyle doesn’t have to do much to pay off his salary and has a chance to put up 5-8 times value very easily.

FanDuel

Jordan Reed

This play isn’t contrarian at all, since Reed should have a high ownership in a great matchup versus a team he has killed in the past. However, taking Washington has freed up a ton of space for this team, and I will use it to try to outscore people at tight end and defense. Reed is the number one tight end this week.

Defense

DraftKings

Miami Dolphins

This is not against the grain at all — in fact I expect them to be over 30 percent owned — but the team already has enough low owned guys and the Dolphins play Cody Kessler

FanDuel

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks defense is back to the form it was in when they went on Super Bowl runs, and Blane Gabbert comes to town. The Seahawks are an expensive defense and I expect that to drive down ownership in this good matchup.

Draft Kings Team

QB- Kirk Cousins

RB- David Johnson

RB- Gio Bernard

Wr- AJ Green

WR- Mike Evans

WR- Jordan Matthews

FLEX- Jamison Crowder

TE- Jack Doyle

DST- Dolphins

Fanduel Team

QB- Russell Wilson