Mike’s Player Grid 4.25

Mike Johnson (MJohnson86) has racked up over $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 vary slightly from my Fanduel Player Grid, which will be more direct in terms of which players I like. 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 course you can find in our Marketplace. 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 ::

• Omarion Hampton – Don’t overthink it. Checks every box (talent/draft profile, volume, game environment, matchup) and is moderately priced. High floor and the potential for him to showcase a previously unseen ceiling. The Giants also have faced relatively mundane rushing offenses so far, and this is the best rushing matchup the Chargers have seen this season.
• Christian McCaffrey – Another easy click, CMC is AVERAGING 11 targets per game. The workload is insane, and at some point, he is going to have a two or three touchdown game, which will make him a must-have on that Sunday.
• Bucky Irving – Irving has at least four targets in every game, scoring just under 10 points per game through his receiving alone. He has yet to score a rushing touchdown or run for over 100 yards, which are both surely to happen at some point. Bucky had 29 opportunities last week as the Bucs need him to move the ball while their wide receivers are dealing with injuries. Finally, the Bucs get All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs back this week, which significantly improves Irving’s outlook.
• Kyren Williams – The Rams have the third-highest team total on the slate behind the Bills and Lions. Kyren is the workhorse RB and is priced in the mid-tier, while facing a defense that is solid but not elite. 
• Jonathan Taylor – This may seem like stat chasing, but I don’t care. The level JT is playing at and his insane usage make him someone we have to consider every week unless it is a special circumstance. Priced as the RB5 and a full $1,000 below CMC, Taylor can drop 30 in any matchup.

For the MME Crowd ::

• James Cook – Almost left him off, but he must at least be mentioned. Cook has over 20 DK points in every game this year and an elite matchup on tap with the Saints. The biggest risk factors here are the chances this game gets out of hand and the always looming potential for Josh Allen to steal a rushing TD or two.
• TreVeyon Henderson – This one will catch people a little off guard, but I think this is the Henderson breakout week. New England is desperate for an offensive spark and he can be that guy. The other two Patriots RBs who have been playing ahead of him fumbled a combined three times last week. Finally, Henderson’s struggles have been in pass protection, but Carolina has a very low blitz rate. All things are lining up for Henderson to be a cheap and explosive option who sees a spike in usage in a great matchup. A GPP delight.
• Cam Skattebo – The Giants offense needs a spark and Skattebo can be that guy. He plays with a high level of energy and should be a bell cow with Tyrone Tracy Jr. inactive. His expected role along with his salary, makes him someone we must consider because of what he opens up for the rest of the roster.

Tight End ::