Fanduel NFL Week 4: DEFs to Target

Ownership % is from linestarapp.com for the "$150K Thu NFL Rush ($25K to 1st, Thu-Mon)"
PO = Projected Ownership
AO = Actual Ownership
Only the highest PO players are listed.

Chalk (should score high points, will have high AO%)
Seattle Seahawks - $5400 - 5.42% PO

• The Seahawks at home are always going to be the defense everyone wants to own and for good reason most of the time. With a match up against the Colts and a 2nd year QB, why shouldn't you take them? Keep in mind this defense is only averaging 4.6 PPG this year. So you can spend up for the highest salary defense and be one with the crowd or take a chance on something more cost efficient.

Pivot (a riskier chalk play that should have a significantly lower AO%)
Cincinatti Bengals - $4600 - 4.49% PO

• The Bengals defense has been good all year but they really got some help as their offense came out of hibernation last week and took some pressure off of them. Coming off of a 15 pt performance, they have a tasty match up with the Browns and a rookie QB in DeShone Kizer. Cleveland is allowing 4.2 sacks a game and is also throwing 1.2 INTs a game.

GPP (should be a lower AO% that has a chance of scoring 2.5X-4X their salary in points)
Jacksonville Jaguars - $5200 - 2.56% PO

• The Jaguars came onto the scene with a monster 29 pt performance in Week 1 and came back to Earth the next week with a -1 pt showing. Last week they had a 12 pt outing so I'm going to just say this: when the Jags defense shows up, THEY SHOW UP! A match up with the Jets may not be as easy as it seems (ask the Dolphins) but I'll take my chances. I mean, it is better than playing the Patriots.

Fade (typically a good match up and/or projected to have a good game; avoid at all costs)
Buffalo Bills - $4200

• As I mentioned last week, the Bills have a good defense who has yet to still allow a WR to catch a TD. They just haven't amounted to many FPPG. This week an away game in ATL doesn't look like the week it will be happening either. With the exception of a good return TD at some point in the game, ATL should score quite a few points.

Contrarian (typically a bad match up and/or projected to have a bad game; has upside to do the opposite)
New England Patriots - $4700 - 5.86% PO

• The Patriots offense is so prolific that New England doesn't need a good defense is reality. How long will that last throughout the season until it becomes a problem? Who really knows. But a match up at home against a struggling Cam Newton and Panther's offense is a good bet to score some points. With Cam still not looking like himself, if the Patriots can rattle him earlier then they can easily make him more mistake prone and possibly look at 2 return TDs this game. Bold prediction, I know.

Sleeper (low AO% player that should get 2X-3X point value based on salary)
New Orleans Saints - $4300

• The Saints defense surprised everyone last week with a 14 pt outing by smashing the Panthers. While they did that, the Jets surprised everyone by beating the Dolphins and their defense also got a 14 pt effort out of it. The Saints have Miami in London this week and some crazy things seem to happen there. Is it crazy to think another defense can put 14 pts on the Dolphins?

Bargain (<$4500)
Detroit Lions - $4400 - 1.12% PO

• The Lions offense is what people typically think about when it comes to what side of the ball is better. And as many of those people may be right, you can't deny the success the defense has had in fantasy scoring an average of 15.3 PPG. Yeah that number may be shocking but it's what they've been pulling off. If you keep losing your games because of weak points from kickers and defenses than you may want to pay attention and grab these guys.