Getty Gallery: 3/5
Optimal Lineup
– CAPTAIN: Corey Clement ($6,600)
– Odell Beckham Jr. ($10,800)
– Saquon Barkley ($10,400)
– Zach Ertz ($9,600)
– Sterling Shepard ($7,800)
– Wendell Smallwood ($3,800)
To be clear, I almost always want at least one quarterback in my lineups and that will almost certainly be my approach in most builds – except this one.
Since I opted to use so many chalky players here, my way to differentiate the line was to put both Corey Clement and Wendell Smallwood together and also not use a quarterback. I debated going down to Eli Manning from Saquon Barkley, and I think you can make that argument based on how the Eagles defense has been against opposing running backs.
The Clement and Smallwood topic is one that can leave you with a nice headache. No Ajayi should result in the duo splitting work somewhat evenly. Ajayi missed Week 3 due to injury and Clement saw 45 offensive snaps to Smallwood's 29, per Football Outsiders. With Clement just returning from injury, that number should even out a bit more, and the Giants have had an issue with running backs, but specifically ones who catch passes.
Simply put, I believe Saquon Barkley has both a higher floor and ceiling than Manning, even though the Giants quarterback has had success against Philly. Barkley does have a tough matchup against an Eagles defense that's allowed just 211 rushing yards on 76 attempts, but they've given up 30 catches, and we know the rookie is going to get the ball in any and all ways. Let's also not forget that Barkley has scored 22 DraftKings points every week, so it's hard to beat that consistency.
I like this spot for Zach Ertz quite a bit, even though the Giants haven't given up a touchdown to a tight end this season. What they have given up to the position are big plays. Opposing tight ends have totaled 264 yards on just 15 catches, which bodes well for Ertz, who totaled 14 catches and two touchdowns over two games last season against the Giants.
Finally comes my two favorite plays on the slate. Odell Beckham Jr. broke out in a big way last week and I don't believe the Eagles secondary will be able to slow him down. The man lives for the spotlight, and primetime games are right up his alley. The Eagles have had tough go against receivers this season, allowing seven touchdowns to this point, and Beckham should add to that number Thursday.
As much as I love Beckham in this spot, Sterling Shepard's price and upside is something I'm massively interested in. I'll be overweight on Shepard on this slate, as the Giants wideout has destroyed the Eagles over the past two years. In the four-game stretch, he's totaled 28 catches, 95.8 yards per game and four touchdowns.
And while there will certainly be additional attention on Beckham (which is unlikely to matter), it'll allow Shepard to rack up stats all game long.
*All player vs. team statistics courtesy of StatMuse.