This a snippet of Adam Pfeifer’s NFL matchups column, previewing Washington vs. the Dolphins for Fantasy Football Lineups. Fantasy rosters needed protective spray because key players continue to miss extended time due to injury. Multiple backup quarterbacks are projected to start, and running backs and wide receivers are getting whittled down every week. As a result, we missed on plenty in this article, but we hit on plenty, as well. Back on the horse. With that in mind, let’s dig into some NFL DFS matchups and NFL game breakdowns for your Week 6 Fantasy Football Lineups on DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo and FantasyDraft.
To read the FULL column, click HERE.
Don’t forget to check out the Strategy Show, on every morning at 11 AM EST.
Not a member of Awesemo.com? Enjoy 50% off any weekly or monthly Awesemo+ package with promo code MATCHUPS. Join now and gain access to all of the projections, rankings, and expected ownership percentages you need to get ahead of The Masses in DFS NFL, NBA, NHL, PGA and more. This LIMITED OFFER NOW INCLUDES the FantasyCruncher Add-on as part of the package.
Washington Redskins @ Miami Dolphins
Total: 41
Line: WAS -3.5
Redskins passing game
Whoever is under center for the Redskins this week, it doesn’t matter. There should not be a single league where you should be playing Colt McCoy, Case Keenum or Dwayne Haskins. In DFS formats, I guess you could make the case for Keenum if he starts, but it is hard for me to play him when he’s the same price as Minshew.
Because this game features two struggling defenses, points will be scored. In fact, these teams are first and third in points per drive allowed, so rookie receiver Terry McLaurin could have himself a nice game. He’ll likely see coverage from Xavien Howard in this one but Howard has been up-and-down this year. If Washington pushes the ball down the field, McLaurin is the guy, as he has handled 51 percent of the team’s air yards thus far, the highest rate in all of football. The Dolphins are allowing a league-worst 7.0 yards per play this season to go along with 13.6 yards per completion, which is also the worst mark in football. I think McLaurin is a bit too expensive on DK this week at $6,000 but he is still a fine WR3 in seasonal leagues in a game where the Redskins should be able to put up points.
Paul Richardson has recorded 14 receiving yards in each of his last two games, one of which came without McLaurin. The Dolphins are awful but there is no ceiling with Richardson.
Redskins running gameÂ
New interim head coach Bill Callahan wants to focus on the run going forward, so could this present an opportunity for Adrian Peterson? For the rest of the season, probably not, but for Week 6? There is potential. There won’t be many games where Washington isn’t chasing points this year but this could be one of them against a bad Dolphins team. Miami is allowing 1.8 rushing touchdowns per game this season, easily the most in the league, while just 12 percent of opposing carries have been stuffed at the line of scrimmage, tied for the lowest rate in the league.
Meanwhile, their 5.26 adjusted line yards allowed are third-most in the league and with Peterson dominating the short-yardage work, it wouldn’t shock me to see him fall into the end zone twice, especially against a defense allowing 5.80 points per red zone possession, the most in football. It may seem gross, but Peterson is a low-end RB2 this week and a fine cheap running back play in daily formats.
Chris Thompson remains stupid efficient, as he leads all running backs in yards per touch (7.4). He has caught at least five passes in three of five games, while hauling in at least four in every contest. His 35 targets ranks third among all running backs, averaging a healthy seven per game, while his 124 routes rank eighth at his position. A big part of Thompson’s production has been due to the Redskins often trailing in games, as his -9.46 game script is one of the worst in the league. This seems like it could be more of a Peterson game, making him the preferred option, though Thompson still remains a viable PPR flex play.
Miami passing game
Josh Rosen is the starting quarterback in an NFL offense (sort of) and is just $4,500 on DraftKings. I’m not saying, I’m just saying. Plugging him into your lineup and praying allows you to play whoever you want and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least intrigued by the idea. Washington has had one of the worst pass defenses in the league this season, allowing 0.58 fantasy points per pass attempt, the fifth-most in football. They have also surrendered a league-high 13 passing touchdowns while opposing passers are completing 26 passes per game, the fourth-most in football.
At his price tag, all you need from Rosen is 15 fantasy points, a number he hasn’t reached yet, but eight of his passes have been dropped this year, a huge number considering he’s only attempted 84 passes. With the Redskins also coughing up a healthy 2.63 points per drive (3rd-most), Rosen is worth a look as a GPP punt this weekend.
You don’t have to pair him but if you do, Preston Williams is your guy. He has been targeted 19 times by Rosen over the last two games and has seen 55.6 percent of Miami’s red zone targets this year, which is the highest rate of any wideout in all of football to this point. With plenty of red zone work and a solid 22.1 percent overall target share, Williams could have a good game here, especially against a Redskins defense allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers.
While I prefer Williams, I guess DeVante Parker isn’t the worst tournament option. There is still upside with Parker, who is averaging 20.1 yards per reception, while his 20.48 aDOT is the second-highest in football. Parker has handled 35 percent of the Dolphins air yards this season and will see Josh Norman, who is absolutely washed. He is allowing 0.51 fantasy points per coverage snap and 2.67 fantasy points per target, one of the worst marks among all qualified corners in the league. As a result, Washington is allowing 15.8 fantasy points per game to opposing receivers lined up on the right side, the second-most in the league.
Dolphins running game
Kenyan Drake has seen his touches and snaps climb over the last few games, making him an okay FLEX in deeper PPR leagues. But in DFS, he’s priced around other cheap running backs that I have more confidence in, especially since they are in much better offenses.
Click HEREÂ to go back to the matchups column.
