Fantasy football strategy, rankings, and podcasts

We are coming up to the halfway point of the season means we have a lot more information on the identities of teams, which means we can use that information to our advantage! This week we are going with a high cost QB/WR stack playing against an extremely weak secondary, taking two RB's that have great matchups, spending high on our TE/K/DEF to get the best value and betting on a couple bargain WR's to come through.

QB - Philip Rivers, SD - $8,500 at BAL:  Rivers has put up the most fantasy points at the QB position over the past 4 weeks and now gets a matchup against the Baltimore Ravens weak secondary. High price tag, but well worth it this week.

RB - Todd Gurley, STL - $8,100 vs. SF:  The Rams have been giving teams a heavy dose of Todd Gurley, as over the past 3 games he's rushed 68 times for 433 yards and 2 touchdowns and also getting some looks in the passing game as well. This should continue in a great matchup against the 49ers.

RB - Justin Forsett, BAL - $6,900 vs. SD:  Forsett is a great play for the price this week as he faces against a Chargers defense allowing a league worst 5.3 yards per carry.

WR - Keenan Allen, SD - $8,000 at BAL:  Picking the top receiving option in San Diego to stack with Rivers this week. Look for Allen to top 100 yards with the chance for multiple scores.

WR - Stefon Diggs, MIN - $6,700 at CHI:  Diggs has emerged as the top receiving option for the Vikings and is coming off back to back games over 100 yards. Looking for this streak to continue against Chicago in week 8.

WR - Michael Crabtree, OAK - $5,700 vs. NYJ:  The Oakland passing attack draws a tough matchup this week but Crabtree should still see plenty of targets at the low price tag.

TE - Tyler Eifert, CIN - $6,000 at PIT:  Eifert has been a top TE option all year and this game has shootout potential, which should mean plenty of opportunities for him to reach the end zone.

K - Brandon McManus, DEN - $5,000 vs. GB:  Denver could have trouble finding the endzone against a tough Packers defense but should still be able to move the ball enough to give McManus plenty of field goal opportunities.

DEF - St. Louis, STL - $5,100 vs. SF:  Great defense going up against a completely inept offense which is always a good play.

So you've made it to the fantasy playoffs - congratulations! Now let's get down to business and pick the best plays for this week to move you to the next round. Listen to or watch the Fantasy Finish Line podcast to stay on top of the latest news and analysis - we broadcast live on YouTube weekly on Wednesdays at 9pm CT.

Guys that jump out to me this week to overperform expectations: Kyler Murray, Phillip Rivers, Kenyan Drake, James Conner, Chris Godwin, Jamison Crowder, Anthony Firkser, and Dallas Cowboys D/ST.

Pay attention to these rankings throughout the season, as they will continue to evolve based on the latest injury updates, news, and player analysis. Have any specific lineup questions? Feel free to tweet us @drinkfive with any of your questions or comments!

So when the dust clears from Week 1 of the fantasy football season (Tuesday morning, bright & early), we're left to clear out the injured & usurped players and find some order in the chaos of early season decisions. Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind here is that it will still take some time for offenses to gel this year and so player performances may be more variable than usual. You may want to wait a few weeks before dumping someone just because he had a disappointing amount of targets in the opener.

Guys that jump out to me this week to overperform expectations: Phillip Rivers, David Montgomery, Parris Campbell, Jimmy Graham, and Arizona Cardinals (DST). 

Pay attention to these rankings throughout the season, as they will continue to evolve based on the latest injury updates, news, and player analysis. Have any specific lineup questions? Feel free to tweet us @drinkfive with any of your questions or comments!