DFS PROS favorite plays: Week 15

Top-ranked DFS PRO Jason Mezrahi, founder and CEO of WinDailySports.com, breaks down his favorite Daily Fantasy Football plays at various salary ranges for Week 15 of the NFL. Find out who Jason will be locking in his lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.

QUARTERBACKS

RYAN TANNEHILL- $6500 DRAFTKINGS, $7600 FANDUEL

Ryan Tannehill is on an impressive 7 game run after taking over for Marcus Mariota. I would have never thought at the beginning of the season I would be writing Tannehill’s name in a DFS writeup but here we are. Not only has he forced the franchise quarterback to the bench but Tannehill is averaging 19 points per game this season. Now he gets a dream matchup at home versus the Texans who rank 30th against quarterbacks. I love Tannehill for a low owned value play on both sites in Week 15.

JIMMY GAROPPOLO- $6100 DRAFTKINGS, $8400 FANDUEL

Coming off monster game versus a good New Orleans Saints defense on the road Garoppolo gets a cupcake matchup versus the Atlanta Falcons. This 49er team are true super bowl contenders and their leader is averaging 18 fantasy points per game this season and has massive upside in this matchup. The Falcons rank 24th against opposing quarterbacks and if this game stays close I like Jimmy to hit value on both sites.

RUNNING BACKS

DERRICK HENRY- $8500 DRAFTKINGS, $9400 FANDUEL

Is Derrick Henry the most improved player in the NFL this season? The man is a consistent workhorse with high upside who has been posting McCaffrey type numbers the last 5 weeks. Henry is averaging 20 fantasy points per game and gets a nice matchup at home against the Texans who rank 27th against opposing running backs. Keep an eye on his injury tag going into the week and if you see any news of limiting touches or a worsening injury I would advise pivoting to Dalvin Cook who also has a nice matchup versus the Chargers.

CHRIS CARSON- $7500 DRAFTKINGS, $7400 FANDUEL

Chris Carson is in for a big workload if he can hold on to the ball in Week 15. With Rashaad Penny out for the season, Carson should be on the field in what is a must-win game for the Seahawks. Even with all the ups and downs of the season, Carson is still averaging 16 fantasy points per game. He should have a nice floor and ceiling this week versus the Panthers and their league worse run defense. Carson should be a lock on both FanDuel and DraftKings in both your cash games and tournaments.

WIDE RECEIVERS

CHRIS GODWIN- $7700 DRAFTKINGS, $8400 FANDUEL

The trend this week is to target players whose workload has increased due to injuries around them. Chris Godwin is in line for more targets and receptions with Mike Evans out for this week and possibly the rest of the season. We had issues deciding between the two receivers every week but now the decision is clear. Let’s lock up Godwin who is averaging 21 points per game against the Lions who rank 25th against opposing wide receivers.

KENNY GOLLADAY- $7200 DRAFTKINGS, $7900 FANDUEL

Let’s stay in Detroit in what looks to be a shootout game versus the Buccaneers. I love to target dome games during the winter months so I don’t have to worry about snow, wind, and harsh elements. Combine that with the fact Golladay is averaging 17 points per game and facing a Buccaneers team who rank 32nd against opposing wide receivers, and we got ourselves a winner. Golladay has surpassed 1000 yards receiving this year and has 5 games of 100+ yards so the upside and consistency are there for another solid week ahead.

TIGHT ENDS

GEORGE KITTLE- $6200 DRAFTKINGS, $7200 FANDUEL

Kittle is coming off a big game and some late-game heroics in the win versus the New Orleans Saints. Kittle is Jimmy G’s favorite target and a safe play at tight end in Week 15. He is averaging 15 fantasy points per game and the Falcons rank 24th against opposing tight ends this season. I think the combination of Garoppolo and Kittle provide a nice cash floor for your cash lineups.

ZACH ERTZ– $6000 DRAFTKINGS, $6700 FANDUEL

With all the injuries the Eagles have on offense Ertz is the safe way to attack this Redskins defense. Ertz is getting the majority of targets in the passing game and is the first option whenever they get in the red zone. He has the upside to double the points of any tight end of the slate and is averaging 15 points per game. He comes in as my number 1 overall play at tight end in Week 15.

DEFENSES

PATRIOTS- $4000 DRAFTKINGS, $5000 FANDUEL

Coming off a back to back losses the Patriots have to show up versus the Bengals in Week 15. This is a get right spot for the Patriots and let’s not forget their defense is averaging 15 fantasy points per game this season. The Bengals offense has struggled all year and I expect that to continue when the Patriots come into town.

CHIEFS- $3500 DRAFTKINGS, $3900 FANDUEL

This Chiefs defense has quietly gotten better as the season has progressed. They have been solid in their last 3 games and are averaging 8 fantasy points per game on the season. I have not yet bought in on Lock and I think he faces a tough task going on the road to Arrowhead stadium. I think the Chiefs bring pressure and cause some turnovers and hopefully push into double digits this week.

Jason Mezrahi has been a professional, top-ranked Daily Fantasy Player on FanDuel and DraftKings for more than seven years. He has won FanDuel’s $155,555 King of the Diamond competition and placed second in DraftKings’ Fantasy Basketball World Championship, earning him $300,000. He owns and operates WinDailySports.com, which supports the DFS and Sports Betting community with resources such as tools, projection models, in-depth written analysis and podcasts, plus much more.

Colts vs. Buccaneers: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 14

Key matchups in Week 14.

Despite losing four out of their last five games, the Indianapolis Colts remain optimistic about their playoff chances as they return to the road for a Sunday matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers While both teams are only one win apart in the standings, their play has gone in different directions.

As the Colts lost all of their momentum from the first half of this season, the NFC South competitor has only gotten better in recent weeks. Following a string of tough, last-minute losses in October, the Buccaneers have won three out of their last four games and are attempting to grab the NFC’s final Wild Card spot.

Here are three, key matchups to watch in the Colts’ Week 14 bout:

WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin vs. Colts’ secondary

If there’s any duo of wide receivers who are the best together, it’s quite easily Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The dynamic duo has carried the Buccaneers’ offense this entire season at the tune of 1,100 receiving yards apiece, 140 combined catches and 16 total touchdowns.

Besides their great numbers, Evans and Godwin scare opposing secondaries because of their evolving skill-sets and legitimate size. Although Evans is bigger at 6-foot-5 and 231 pounds, Godwin is still fairly big himself (6-foot-1 and 209 pounds), thus allowing them to box out and outjump their defensive counterparts.

Entering Sunday’s game, the Colts already had an unproven secondary dealing with some injuries and they will be missing their most valuable slot corner/blitzer Kenny Moore II due to injuries. It’s going to be interesting to discover who, when, and how they’ll defend Evans/Godwin, as their current depth chart includes Pierre Desir, Marvell Tell, and Quincy Wilson—if made available to play.

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5 Buccaneers the Colts must game plan for in Week 14

Colts must game plan for these Bucs in Week 14.

The Colts, currently at 6-6 on the year, are not completely out of the playoff picture after losing four of their last five games. On Sunday, Frank Reich’s squad will travel to Tampa Bay to face off against former Colts interim head coach, Bruce Arians and his Buccaneers currently sitting at 5-7.

While this Bucs roster is full of talent at every position, they have struggled to find a consistent rhythm on both sides of the ball and have lost a lot of games late. Either way this team is not to be underestimated.

Here are five Buccaneers the Colts must gameplan for in order to get their season back on track and keep their postseason hopes alive:

WR Mike Evans

This is the obvious one. At 6’5″ and weighing 230 pounds, Evans is one of the hardest receivers in the league to cover. His 1,096 receiving yards are currently the third-best in the NFL and his seven touchdowns are currently tied for the fifth-most among receivers.

Stopping Evans will be imperative for the Colts secondary if they want to win this game. Evans is targeted heavily on third down and in the red zone, so it will be important for Matt Eberflus to order double coverage on Evans a majority of snaps.

Look for Pierre Desir and Malik Hooker to provide the coverage on Evans and try to get physical with him at the line of scrimmage.

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Bucs vs. Jaguars: Week 13 Jags Wire staff picks and predictions

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be returning home to take on the Tampa Bay Bucs after spending a month away from TIAA Bank Field. They’ll be looking to end a three-game skid against a group that has some momentum after the Bucs took it to the Atlanta …

Here are our predictions for Week 13 as fans will get to witness an in-state rivalry in North Florida:

James Johnson (@Sportsgrind_Don): 35 Jags, 31 Bucs

Call it a gut feeling, but I believe both teams will score a lot of points. The Jags’ defense isn’t elite anymore and hasn’t been for a while. They also could be without starters Myles Jack and Tre Herndon against a very good Bucs passing unit to make matters worse. However, the Bucs’ defense is even worse (at least against the pass) making for the perfect situation for Nick Foles to find his groove. I believe the Jags will make one more key play than their in-state rivals a notch a win here.

Phil Smith (@PhiltheFilipino): Jags 16, Bucs 14

Three straight division losses have seemingly sent the locker room and fanbase into an all-out frenzy. The Jaguars are a better team than the Bucs, they should win this game handily, however, they’ll find a way to make it much closer than it needs to be. As I mentioned last week, it’s in the team’s best interest to lose out, but they’ll trip into a win in front of an empty TIAA Bank Stadium with fans growing tired of the poor choices by the organization.

Jacob DeLawrence (@_Jdela): Jags 17, Bucs 10

This game is literally the definition of a pick-em game. Both teams have fallen short of their expectations for the season. Both teams are also suffering from inconsistent quarterback play and that will likely be the theme of the day and the reason why the Jags win. Jameis Winston will throw a costly pick that leads to a field goal that seals it.

Daniel Griffis (@GriffisNFL): 26 Bucs, Jags 20

Confidence in the Jaguars has hit an all-time low. The team has lost three straight games by 20 or more points and have shown no signs of turning it around. Both sides of the balk are struggling, but with the turnover prone Tampa Bay Bucs coming to town, the team may be able to show signs of life. I think the Jags come away disappointed, but will manage to keep it close.

Robert Ricks (@rrickswriting): Bucs 36, Jags 23

The Jags will have their hands completely full with a potential makeshift group in the front seven, who will have to guard both Buccaneers receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The Jaguars will need to force Jameis Winston into a couple of turnovers to keep this game even. I predict that Nick Foles will struggle, which could lead to him getting benched in favor of Gardner Minshew II in this game.

NFL Best Bets: Three underdog locks for Week 13

Our weekly NFL underdog betting staple continues into Week 13 where Ken Pomponio features three teams likely to upset their underdog odds

We’re past Thanksgiving, so the real NFL season is underway.

At least that’s how the saying goes.

In this space, we’re bringing a 21-15 overall record into the closing stretch after going 2-1 last week. I was on pair of underdogs who covered in straight-up losses (Colts +3.5 against the Texans and Cowboys +6.5 vs. the Patriots) and another (Packers +3.5 at the 49ers) that most definitely did not.

Now, with the trio of Turkey Day games already in the Week 13 books, we’ll have to come up with three underdogs from the rest the card, utilizing, as usual, Wednesday’s posted point spreads from BetMGM.com. Here goes …

Tennessee Titans (+2.5) at Indianapolis Colts

(Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports)

These two AFC South foes met back in Week 2, and the visiting Colts came away with a 19-17 road victory for their 19th win in the last 23 meetings with the Titans since the start of the 2008 season.

But it’s been the Titans who have since undergone the greatest transformation, winning four of five games since Ryan Tannehill replaced the scuffling Marcus Mariota as the starting quarterback in Week 7. Tannehill has been much more than just a fill-in, throwing for 10 TDs and rushing for three more while throwing only four interceptions.

Indy, meanwhile, is trending in the opposite direction, having dropped three of four since Week 9 with QB Jacoby Brissett missing two of those losses with a knee injury.

Brissett has been back for the last two games, but two of his top weapons will missing Sunday as tight end Eric Ebron has been placed on injured reserve list and No. 1 wideout T.Y. Hilton is sidelined after suffering a setback with his nagging calf injury in practice this week.

That’s more than enough to tilt the balance in favor of the red-hot Tannehill and the Titans if you weren’t leaning in that direction already.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars

(Photo Credit: Jason Getz – USA TODAY Sports)

This matchup of 4-7 Florida foes also is a meeting of two teams headed in opposite directions of late as the Bucs have won two of their last three while the Jags have dropped three straight, losing by at least 20 each time.

Tampa quietly owns the league’s No. 3 scoring offense at 28.4 points per game, and only the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, with 3,788 in 12 games, has thrown for yards than the Bucs’ Jameis Winston (3,391 in 11). Winston also ranks fourth with 22 TD passes but, of course, the problem is interceptions as Winston has tossed 20 — six more than any other QB in the league.

Meanwhile, QB Nick Foles is back at the helm in J’ville, but he’s guided the Jags to only 33 points in his last two starts.

Foles has a capable sidekick in running back Leonard Fournette, but (again) the Bucs quietly own the league’s No. 2 defense against the run. Jacksonville doesn’t have cornerback Jalen Ramsey anymore to help deal with Tampa’s standout WR duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, who have both already eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards on the season and have combined for 16 scoring receptions.

Look for the Bucs to prevail in a shootout.

Minnesota Vikings (+2.5) at Seattle Seahawks

(Photo Credit: David Berding – USA TODAY Sports)

It’s another intriguing Monday night matchup as the NFC’s two current wild-card front-runners put their superb records on the line.

Both teams feature QBs (Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins) playing at elite levels, and well-rounded, top-10 offenses going against shakier-than-most-expect defenses, particularly against the pass, so there should be some back-and-forth action on the scoreboard.

Despite their 9-2 record, though, the Seahawks are stunningly 0-5 ATS against the midweek lines at home this season while the 8-3 Vikings have covered and won in three of their last four road contests.

Take the Purple and the points.

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3 bold predictions for Bucs vs. Jags

DJ Chark could be up for another game with two touchdowns and 120-plus yards as the Bucs are struggling mightily against the pass.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be looking to start the month of December on the right track this Sunday against their in-state rivals in the Tampa Bay Bucs. Both teams will come into the game below .500, but most fans would agree they have the talent to make this game competitive and interesting.

Here are three bold predictions for Sunday’s game, which will take place at TIAA Bank Field:

Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

WR DJ Chark Jr. will have his second 150-plus yard day with two touchdowns

The Jags will be up against the No. 31 ranked passing defense (289.9 YPG average) Sunday, which sets DJ Chark Jr. and the passing game up to eat. He’s been Nick Foles’ favorite receiver since his return from collarbone surgery and that likely won’t change this year.

Despite the success of Foles’ and Chark’s connection, the young receiver had his second-lowest receiving yards total of the year last week against the Tennessee Titans (38). Typically when he doesn’t get going and/or Leonard Fournette struggles, the Jags normally don’t have a good day on offense. That said, they need to get to Chark early and often.

There will be times where he and the Jags’ other receivers are lining up against rookie cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, who is learning the game. He currently has a grade of 58.5 on Pro Football Focus while Chark is one of the highest-graded Jags on the roster with a 80.7. Those numbers alone should warrant a lot of targets for Chark.

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3 Jaguars to watch on defense vs. Bucs

The Jags defense will need to have a solid day Sunday against the Bucs passing attack, which could lead to Josh Allen getting more snaps.

The Jacksonville Jaguars went winless in November and will look to get away from that in December. First up on their schedule for the upcoming month are their in-state rivals in the Tampa Bay Bucs, who are coming off a solid win against the Atlanta Falcons.

Here are three Jaguars to watch on the defensive side of the ball, as the Jags try to cool down a hot Bucs offense:

Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

CB Tre Herndon

The Jags’ passing defense will be very important in Sunday’s game. Bruce Arians has his group clicking through the air as they rank fourth in passing yards (288.1 YPG), fourth in total yards (386.4 YPG) and third in points scored (28.4 PPG).

A big part of their success is due to their dynamic duo at the receiver position in Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, who have nine and seven touchdowns on the season, respectively. Both receivers will also roll into Sunday’s game with over 1,000 yards receiving and will be matched up against A.J. Bouye and Tre Herndon.

With Arians and former Jags quarterback turned coordinator Byron Leftwich making the game-plan, the Cards will test Herndon more than Bouye, and he must answer the call as he did against the New York Jets when he had two picks. However, if he doesn’t it could be a long day for the Jags on defense.

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Bucs WR Chris Godwin proudly sports that Snickers bling

Check out Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin sporting an iced-out Snickers chain because, why not?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin had a huge performance last week in the team’s 35-22 win over the Atlanta Falcons, catching seven passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns.

Godwin’s big day not only gave him the first 1,000-yard season of his young career, but it also earned him the coveted Snickers chain.

For those wondering what that is, it’s an “iced-out chain created by famed jeweler Ben Baller.” Each week, the chain goes to a player “who has not only shown hunger for more with a huge game or play on the field, but who is also driven to do more off the field.”

Check out Godwin sporting the iced-out chain below.

Passed 1k and copped the #SNICKERSchain…but ya’ll know I’m still hungry for more! #12szn #TwelfthAve #ad pic.twitter.com/T8t50l2GPt

— Chris Godwin (@CGtwelve_) November 27, 2019

This is cool and all, but I wish we could’ve seen former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch sporting an iced-out Skittles chain during his career, his favorite candy.

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via GIPHY

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Niners LB Kwon Alexander is a big fan of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin

See what former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander had to say about his former teammates.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers easily have the best receiving duo in the league in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

In last week’s win over the Atlanta Falcons, both receivers surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the season. Evans (1,043 yards) now has six-straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career, tied with Hall of Famer Randy Moss for the most in NFL history.

For Godwin (1,071 yards), the third-year star out of Penn State, it was his first time eclipsing the mark. But, given how well he’s played this season and his age (23), it probably won’t be his last.

The duo has given Bucs fans something to cheer about this season, and it seems as though one former Buccaneers player is among those fans.

See what San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander had to say on this Instagram post from Evans a few days ago.

View this post on Instagram

M1K3 x RodGod #1k #Gs

A post shared by Mike Evans (@mikeevans) on Nov 24, 2019 at 3:11pm PST

Alexander was drafted by Tampa Bay in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of LSU, but signed with the San Francisco 49ers this past offseason. Alexander tore his pectoral muscle in the Niners’ Week 9 win over the Arizona Cardinals and has been ruled out for the rest of the year.

Which means he has plenty of time to catch some Bucs games!

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Map to Success: Keys to a Bucs win in Jacksonville

Find out how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can pull off the upset against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming off a game Bruce Arians called the best complete team game of the season. They didn’t just win against the Atlanta Falcons, the Bucs beat the Falcons on every side of the ball. The Bucs (4-7), are on the road again this week in Jacksonville to square off against the Jaguars (4-7), and looking to start a winning streak of their own. If the Bucs want to beat the Jaguars, here are some of the key match-ups that they must win.

Stop Leonard Fournette

Fournette sits just 49 yards shy of his second 1,000-yard season. The Jaguars sit at the bottom of the barrel in scoring, averaging just 19 points per game, but they can move the ball. The Jaguars are top-15 in both rushing yards and passing yards per game, with Fournette leading the way in rushing yards and receptions with 56. The offense runs through the running back, and this should be the Buccaneers’ top priority heading into Sundays game.

Communicate on defense

DJ Chark is one of the young up-and-coming wide receiver stars in the league, and Nick Foles is hungry to prove why he was brought to Jacksonville. Without communication in the secondary for the Bucs, that could spell disaster, especially if they are stacking the box to slow down Fournette. Outside of an early deep pass from Matt Ryan to Calvin Ridley last week, the young secondary of the Bucs were able to not give up big plays and keep the Falcons receivers in front of them, while the defensive line went to work.

Limit turnovers

This is not the Jaguars defense you’ve been accustom to over the past few seasons. They no longer have a no fly zone, and they rank 29th in the league in rushing yards allowed per game. It just so happens the Buccaneers have the red-hot receiving duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, whom have both eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards on the season. Jameis Winston must play smart and limit turnovers. In the game against the Falcons, Winston threw two early interceptions that the Bucs were able to overcome, but you cannot do that to your defense and expect to be bailed out every time.

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