When setting your weekly NFL DFS lineups, it can be just as helpful to have an idea of whom you DON’T want to include as whom you do. Every Friday we’ll highlight a few players that you might want to fade. When a player appears here, it mainly refers to fading him in cash games. If you play in a lot of large field, multi-entry tournaments, you might consider just being underweight on these players relative to the field rather than not using them at all.
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Players I’m fading for Week 4 include:
Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
I’ll rarely attack both the passing and run games from a team unless it’s to do a QB/RB mini-stack, and that’s not my feel for this game. It has a high total, and the Cowboys are home favorites. I’m loving the cheap Dallas defense this week, as well as Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb (Amari Cooper also viable, I don’t expect two more TDs from Dalton Schultz). Carolina has been one of the worst run defenses for fantasy, allowing no one, not even Alvin Kamara more than 48 rushing yards so far. All of which is to say, I think Dallas is going to have the majority of its success through the air this weekend, leaving Elliott and Tony Pollard on the fantasy outs.
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
I’m having a hard time getting a good read on this game. On the one hand, the Steelers have looked like a weak offense (outside of Najee Harris, of course) with Ben Roethlisberger’s failing arm and various injuries to their wide receiver group. On the other, the defense has been good and bad…plus Rodgers and the Packers have pulled it together offensively over the past two games. Rodgers has thrown six touchdowns with zero picks in those two wins and is still really affordable. I just can’t escape the fear that this is a low-scoring, run-heavy game plan that doesn’t require Rodgers to do a lot to notch the victory. There are plenty of formats I’m starting Rodgers, but DFS cash games aren’t it given the bevy of better choices at QB.
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Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints
While we’re talking QB, at first glance, someone like Winston stands out as a potentially great play. The Saints are huge home favorites over a NY Giants team that sits at 0-3 with little hope of improving their standing. But how hard will Winston have to work here? I think Alvin Kamara and the Saints’ defense will be doing the heavy lifting this week in the Big Easy. This is consistent with the reports that the team and Sean Payton specifically are limiting Winston’s exposure to plays prone to mistakes. He’s averaging just 129 passing yards per game so far, and that shouldn’t have to change this weekend.
DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals
The rule in season-long fantasy to never sit your studs doesn’t have to apply to us, thankfully. I’ve had Hopkins penciled in for this article all week, pending his rib injury status. Rib injuries take a long time to fully heal and even though Hopkins has now advanced to full practice, I’m guessing he doesn’t really want to get hit (he didn’t last week based on his utility). Nonetheless, it’s important for the Cardinals to have him on the field. He will likely draw Jalen Ramsey’s shadow coverage for much of the day, conditions under which he has NOT thrived historically. I’m too afraid of the poor matchup and recent injury to invest in Hopkins for my cash game lineups with guys like Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, DK Metcalf, and more available for less.
Dalvin Cook/Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings
If I had to bet right now, I’d bet on Cook playing in this game. I’d also bet on a time share with Mattison and a pass-heavy game script. Cleveland has been a stout run defense so far, with the caveat that they haven’t faced anyone of Cook’s caliber. Let’s just say that even after only giving up one passing yard to Justin Fields last week, the Browns’ run defense still out-ranks their pass defense when it comes to fantasy points allowed. In fact, it’s the third-worst RB matchup in half-PPR scoring. If you’re going to spend at RB this weekend, just put Derrick Henry or Kamara in your lineup and move on.
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Players I like, but who are expected to have high ownership in Week 3 include: Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins, Josh Allen, Najee Harris, Derrick Henry, Alvin Kamara, Cooper Kupp, Justin Jefferson, D.J. Moore, CeeDee Lamb, Odell Beckham Jr., Travis Kelce, Bills D/ST, Titans D/ST. You might consider deviating away from this player pool and pivoting in large GPPs if you’re after a more unique lineup.
