The homestretch of the NFL season is underway and Week 13 is set to wrap up with a crucial Monday Night Football matchup. The game which pits the Washington Redskins (6-5) against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (5-6) could have major playoff implications. Both teams need wins to keep pace with the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East, and the loser may find themselves squarely behind the 8-ball moving forward.
It's been a rollercoaster season for both teams, and Washington recently lost quarterback Alex Smith to a gruesome leg injury, putting the spotlight on backup Colt McCoy. Although McCoy has started just one game thus far, the Redskins have lost three of the last four after tallying three-straight wins prior to that.
In a matchup with another struggling team in Eagles, who have dropped two of three and three of the last five, there's a lot on the line here. Whoever rights the ship could wind up having a legitimate playoff chance. With a lot on the line, it means the daily fantasy football single game options are worth talking about.
So that's exactly what I'll be doing here, and after looking at the DraftKings picks and optimal lineups, the same will be done for the FanDuel slate. It's worth noting that there are a few differences between the two daily fantasy sites when it comes to single-game tournaments, specifically with the construction of lineups. I'll go more in-depth on that front as we get into the top picks, MVP choices (who receive a 1.5x bonus) and will also provide three different lineups.
The first of these will be the optimal lineup, which is a well-rounded and balanced option. From there, I'll explain the choices for 150-max games, which include more risk and high upside, as those games can feature higher scores, but huge prizes. Finally, there's the single entry/cash lineup with less risk and a very balanced approach.
For those who haven't played FanDuel single games before, the rules are fairly straightforward, but here's a quick look at the general idea behind the game.
– Select five players (one MVP) while staying in the $60,000 salary cap
– MVP choice will receive 1.5-times the points as regular flex plays
– Can use any position, including kickers and defenses
– Can play two quarterbacks if you choose to
Let's jump in by first breaking down the top MVP plays of the slate and then roll into the optimal lineup.
Top FanDuel MVP Picks for Redskins vs. Eagles
It's worth noting that MVP picks on FanDuel do not include a price increase, but do have the 1.5x bonus still. In turn, constructing rosters and choosing MVPs should come with a more unique approach as a way to differentiate lineups. In this specific game, there are a few ways to approach, but something interesting that stands out is the fact that oddsmakers project this as a low-scoring game. As Odds Shark shows, the game currently sits with an over/under of 45, potentially opening the door for some unique MVP choices.
I'm going to first evaluate the top MVP options for the Redskins-Eagles matchup, and then just below will look at 1-2 options who are less expensive. By going with the less expensive options as an MVP, you'll have an opportunity to differentiate your lineups. There is a risk in going that route, as those players typically feature a much lower floor.
Top Expensive FanDuel MVP Targets
*Note: Favorite option listed first
– Carson Wentz ($16,000)
– Josh Adams ($13,500)
– Zach Ertz ($14,500)
– Colt McCoy ($14,000)
Carson Wentz is simply in a great spot against a struggling Redskins secondary as of late. He should have his way with this group and the fact that he's playing at home in a primetime matchup only makes the spot even more appealing. Realistically, he should rebound nicely from a poor, then mediocre showing in which he combined to throw just one touchdown against three interceptions in the past two games.
I'll talk more about Josh Adams as we roll along, but I'm interested in how the ownership for Zach Ertz looks on this slate. On one hand, his matchup isn't easy, as the Redskins have been strong against the position as of late. To this point in the season, they've allowed 45 receptions for 439 yards and three touchdowns.
Ertz is somewhat matchup proof, though, as he's quickly proven to be one of the NFL's best tight ends. The 28-year-old has scored six touchdowns in the past seven games while topping 90 yards in five of the last eight. His "poor" fantasy showings are few and far between, making him an intriguing target in the MVP spot.
Favorite Inexpensive FanDuel MVP Targets
– Alshon Jeffery ($10,000)
– Chris Thompson ($8,000)
There are benefits to using both Alshon Jeffery and Chris Thompson in the MVP spot, largely due to the fact that most players are going to target the higher-priced players there. Jeffery's price has dropped to an appealing range due to the fact that he's been quiet over the past four games. During that stretch, he's caught no more than four passes in any game while failing to top 50 yards.
Fortunately, a matchup with the Redskins secondary which has struggled recently could be ideal. He's unlikely to be shadowed by Josh Norman as that hasn't been a part of Washington's gameplan recently. There's a fair level of safety here, and the potential for a multi-touchdown game as well.
Chris Thompson is a name I'm incredibly high on. With Colt McCoy now under center and Thompson expected to return from injury, I think we see him immediately receive a heavy dose of targets. There's a lot to love about Thompson's game, but his upside as a pass-catcher is incredibly appealing from a fantasy standpoint. If the Redskins need to inject life into the offense, he's the right option to do so.
The optimal lineup is first up and I've taken a balanced approach to the build with some upside as well.
FanDuel Optimal Lineup
– MVP: Carson Wentz ($16,000)
– Josh Adams ($13,500)
– Jordan Reed ($11,500)
– Alshon Jeffery ($10,000)
– Chris Thompson ($8,000)
I mentioned previously my interest in Carson Wentz for a prime bounce-back spot, and I think we see him have a big game at home in what's widely considered as a must-win game. The Redskins have allowed 3,077 yards and 18 touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks, but those numbers don't tell the whole story.
This Washington defense has allowed seven touchdown passes in their last three losses and that's part of why I love the idea of pairing Wentz up with Alshon Jeffery. The Redskins have given up 13 touchdowns to wideouts on the season along with over 2,100 yards. This is a plus matchup for Jeffery and if the Eagles are going to right the ship and make their postseason push, they need their No. 1 receiver to step up.
I'm essentially building the optimal lineup off a game script which I believe plays out. I'll take that approach to most lineups, but cover a few different angles with various lines. While I think the Eagles jump out to a big lead behind Wentz and Jeffery, that should lead to a heavy dose of running both throughout the game and late.
Josh Adams is coming off a game in which he was finally given the starter label and proceeded to out-touch backfield mate Corey Clement 22-7. He wrapped up the game with 84 rushing yards and one touchdown while showcasing an impressive level of talent. Along with that, Adams played 62 percent of the snaps compared to 37 percent for Clement and just 2 percent for Wendell Smallwood, per Football Outsiders.
The return of Darren Sproles is worth mentioning, but it's likely the veteran will wind up eating into the pass-catching work of Clement and Smallwood over Adams. The Eagles have no reason to move away from their new starting running back, and he should be busy against Washington.
Sticking with the game script focus, it led me to both Jordan Reed and Chris Thompson. It's worth noting that Reed is listed as questionable, but it seems likely he'll play. That's great news for both fantasy players as well as Colt McCoy, who's looked the tight end's way often in the past two weeks.
Over that span, Reed has hauled in 13-of-19 targets for 156 yards and one touchdown. I expect the Redskins will be playing from behind in this game, which benefits Reed, but also Thompson. If Washington finds themselves in a hole, then the pass-catching extraordinaire will see a lot of playing time and that should equate to quite a few targets.
The 150-max lineup is next and offers more risk and the potential for big-play from quite a few players. There will also be more risk mixed in with this option.
150-Max Entry Lineup
– MVP: Zach Ertz ($14,500)
– Carson Wentz ($16,500)
– Colt McCoy ($14,000)
– Chris Thompson ($8,000)
– Darren Sproles ($6,500)
For 150-max lineups, I tried to take the high-end approach with a few players and pairings I'm hoping aren't highly owned. While Carson Wentz and Zach Ertz are almost certainly going to draw a ton of attention and high ownership, tacking on Darren Sproles to the three-player stack is an approach I'm hoping doesn't get overly utilized.
To be honest, I don't think many will hop back on the Sproles train (he's still questionable for this game) right out of the gate. The veteran back played in just one game this season before suffering an injury, so there's plenty of risk that comes with him. There's a realistic chance the Eagles could ease him back into the mix, but he makes sense as 150-max play.
Sproles caught four passes in his only game this season, and as a player who still boasts electrifying speed, he can change the game with one touch. The best part is that the Redskins have allowed 70 receptions this season to opposing running backs, which could set Sproles up to see a solid number of targets and quite a few catches.
The Carson Wentz-Zach Ertz pairing has multi-touchdown potential, which is what you need in 150-max games. We've seen Ertz receive at least eight targets in nine of 11 games on the year. Although not all were with Wentz, there's no denying that he's a go-to target for the young signal-caller, and the two have a great connection, especially in the red zone.
On the opposite side, I think a Colt McCoy pairing with Chris Thompson makes a lot of sense. I'll e honest about the fact that my ownership of Thompson will be higher than most players in this spot. I simply think the Redskins, who know how vital this game is, need to find a way to inject life into the offense and he's the perfect player to do so. Thompson's upside is high and the Eagles have given up 72 receptions for 587 yards to opposing running backs.
McCoy isn't the most appealing fantasy option, but there's no denying how good this spot is for him. The Eagles secondary is in shambles right now and they've been bad against quarterbacks this season, intercepting just five passes and allowing 19 total touchdowns. I actually think McCoy's ability to run could come into play here, as he's totaled 10 attempts over the past two games. Regardless, he has a safe floor and has thrown three touchdowns in the past two games, so there's certainly some upside.
For those who feel the 150-max is a bit too risky, going with the single entry lineup can be a great option, and I'll lay out the option for that next.
Single Entry/Cash Lineup
– MVP: Zach Ertz ($14,500)
– Josh Adams ($13,500)
– Jordan Reed ($11,500)
– Josh Doctson ($10,000)
– Golden Tate ($9,500)
While I almost always prefer to get at least one quarterback into a lineup, I think this is a spot where you could justify not doing that. The cost of Carson Wentz is high and some are surely iffy on the ceiling/floor debate of Colt McCoy. But with Zach Ertz and Josh Adams, specifically, we're getting a fair amount of safety in these spots.
Ertz is going to receive his targets regardless, and the Eagles are favored at home against a defense that's reeling. He arguably has the safest floor of any player on the entire slate due to the targets and the fact that I don't see a way Wentz won't look his way once or twice in the end zone. The Redskins matchup isn't ideal, but it's worth noting who they've faced over the most recent stretch.
Among Washington's last six games, they've faced the Dallas Cowboys twice, Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, and New York Giants. The Cowboys and Texans have huge question marks at tight end, while they drew Evan Engram in the midst of what was a very slow start to the year following his injury. The Redskins had some strong showings, but no player was of Ertz's caliber, or even remotely close.
Josh Adams remains as one of my favorite options on the board and I think his workload remains solid moving forward. I'm always a fan of targeting home favorites in primetime games, and Adams is the electrifying type of player who can really light it up if he gets going. This has the potential to be his best game of the season.
There'll almost certainly be kickback on the decision to use Josh Doctson here. Honestly, I didn't think there'd be any situation I'd call Doctson a "safe" play this season, but that's changed. For starters, the Eagles have been torched by wideouts to the tune of 170 receptions for 2,208 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
But the personal matchup isn't the only sell on playing Doctson, as he's built an immediate rapport with McCoy and has seen 17 targets over the last two games. In that span, he's hauled in nine passes for 98 yards and even in the two games prior managed to haul in one touchdown in both matchups. Doctson's floor is actually high enough for him to remain in the mix across a variety of lineups.
Golden Tate's spot is similarly interesting, and while he hasn't lit it up since being acquired by the Eagles, it's an interesting spot. I've spoken about the matchup for Eagles receivers, and there's a good chance Tate gets overlooked by those who check just his FanDuel points. In the past two weeks, he's hauled in 9-of-16 targets, so it's not as though Wentz isn't looking his way.
With a plus matchup and big-play potential paired with those targets, Tate is due for a breakout. But at the very least, if we're looking at 4-5 catches and he's able to bump the yardage up to 60-70 yards, it's a safe floor.
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