Mike’s Player Grid 16.23

Mike Johnson (MJohnson86) has racked up nearly $500,000 in DFS profit as an NFL tournament player with success in all styles of contests

---

Welcome back to my (Mjohnson86) Player Grid. The format will vary slightly from JM’s Player Grid, as we each see things slightly differently and play in slightly different contests, but should complement his thoughts and content very well for those looking to build their lineups for the week. The format of this article will likely evolve as the season progresses but should provide a lot of value. Enjoy!!

---

The Core

This is a list of players that stand out to me at each position from using my “Checking the Boxes” criteria outlined in my Checking The Boxes course. This list is a starting point, from which I build out lineups using game theory and roster construction concepts (which we will also touch on) with the mindset being to find the best plays with big ceilings. Low ownership is a bonus, but not a must. This section will focus primarily on three positions – running back, tight end, and defense – as the other two positions (quarterback and wide receiver) tend to have more dependent tendencies which I try to attack from other angles (which we will get into in the other sections). I like all of these plays on all sites, unless otherwise noted:

Running Back ::

Tier 1

• Bijan Robinson – This is the week, folks.
• De’Von Achane // Raheem Mostert – One of the top rushing offenses in the NFL facing a Cowboys defense that was obliterated on the ground last week. At least one of these guys is putting up a big game.
• Ty Chandler – Talk about a statement. Chandler looked every bit the part as the Vikings lead back and from the sounds of his coach he has locked up the featured role even if/when Alexander Mattison returns.
• Jonathan Taylor – The centerpiece of the offense. Elite talent and workload. Potentially high-scoring game environment. Welcome back, big fella.

tier 2

• Chuba Hubbard – 24 or more touches in three straight games and has a terrific matchup. Sometimes cheap volume is necessary at RB, regardless of the perceived team offensive environment.
• Jerome Ford – Quietly a much better matchup than it appears on the surface, so I expect this play to go pretty overlooked. Houston’s defense has some injuries right now, so their season-long run defense stats seem a bit overblown. The focus for most people will be on the pass-heavy tendencies Cleveland has had with Joe Flacco under center, but this could also be a spot that Cleveland controls if the Texans offense struggles again.
• Aaron Jones – Elite matchup and should operate as the engine of the offense. Green Bay needs him and his coach’s comments suggest he will be leaned on heavily.
• Tyjae Spears – This one is a bit of a leap of faith, but Spears is an extremely talented player whose role could easily grow over the last three weeks of the season. I’ll be taking some shots.

Tight End ::