Getty Gallery: 3/5
Optimal Lineup
– CAPTAIN: Sterling Shepard ($9,900)
– Saquon Barkley ($12,000)
– Matt Ryan ($11,200)
– Tevin Coleman ($7,400)
– Evan Engram ($5,000)
– Ito Smith ($4,400)
As mentioned above, the choice at captain will often just depend on how builds go. But I took a unique approach to building this lineup in an attempt to differentiate it. In most cases, using two running backs from the same team isn't ideal, but for Tevin Coleman and Ito Smith, I think the upside for both is fairly high. Plus, I can't envision many players putting these two in lineups together.
On the season, the Giants have allowed 518 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 130 carries while also giving up 34 catches for 282 yards and four scores. With Atlanta at home on primetime and Coleman/Smith essentially splitting snaps, it will likely lower the ownership of both. Last week, Coleman out-snapped Smith 38-31 (per Football Outsiders), but Smith received more touches (13-11).
I'm also hopeful that Sterling Shepard's ownership is down a bit after catching just three passes for 37 yards last game. The Giants offense was abysmal in that loss and while I don't believe in Eli Manning at all, I love Shepard's game. He's also leading the team in red-zone targets with nine this season, and an injury-plagued Falcons defense should allow him to post a big stat line.
Saquon Barkley is simply the chalk play who should absolutely destroy the Falcons defense. This group has given up 528 rushing yards, 425 receiving yards (on 53 catches) and eight total touchdowns to running backs. The sky is the limit here for him, but after he smashed a Philadelphia Eagles defense who was good against running backs, who knows how this will actually play out.
On paper, Matt Ryan's matchup with the Giants doesn't seem great, as they've given up just 1,463 yards through the air and nine touchdowns. But this is a defense who's allowed 33, 33 and 34 points over the past three games and have a league-worst seven sacks on the year. Ryan is on fire right now and should easily top 30-plus DraftKings points.
And then there's Evan Engram, who's underpriced both due to the fact that he's returning from the injury and that he hasn't done much this season. But over the past three games, the Falcons have given up 249 yards and three touchdowns to tight ends, meaning Engram could be a top-tier play at a value price.
Plus, with how much the Giants offense has struggled, it wouldn't surprise me to see Manning use Engram as somewhat of a safety blanket Monday.
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DraftKings Week 7 Showdown: Giants vs. Falcons Top Optimal Lineups