Mike’s Player Grid 5.24

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

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Welcome back to my (Mjohnson86) Player Grid. I am changing up the format of my Player Grid this year to be more direct about the players I like at each position and keep myself from casting too wide of a net. We have plenty of strategy talk and full game write-ups on every game here at OWS, this year I’m going to use this article to give direct answers on who I think the best tournament plays are each week. Also, note that just because a player isn’t on here doesn’t mean they are a bad play, I’m just intentionally trying to limit the players I list to about 3 QBs, 5 to 7 RBs, 6 to 8 WRs, and 2 or 3 TEs and that means that some plays don’t make the cut – we can’t play everyone. Feel free to drop me feedback in Discord or on Twitter about the new format and if you like this better or last year’s. Enjoy!!

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 with the mindset being to find the best plays with big ceilings. Low ownership is a bonus, but not a must. 

(Side note:: You’ll notice at the bottom of this article that Fanduel will have its own Player Grid this year)

Draftkings Player Grid

Quarterback ::

• Brock Purdy – The 49ers are in a spot where they could easily lead the slate in touchdowns and Purdy is playing at a high level with all of his pass catchers available. 
• Jordan Love – Cheap pass catchers, plus matchup, plus strong scoring environment, plus mid-tier salary. Love checks a lot of boxes and is easy to build lineups around.
• Trevor Lawrence – The Colts pass defense has been exposed by Caleb Williams and Justin Fields the last two weeks, both players who have not thrown the ball well this year except when they played the Colts. If Evan Engram misses this game, things could/should be very concentrated among his pass catchers. If Engram returns, he is a cheap option who may improve the efficiency of Lawrence.
• Salary Savers: Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco

Running Back :: 

• Jordan Mason – Elite workload, game environment, and matchup. Salary has risen, but justifiably so.
• Derrick Henry – Absolutely rolling right now and the Ravens are going to run it until someone stops them, which the Bengals don’t seem likely to be capable of.
• Josh Jacobs – I believe the Packers intend to use Jacobs heavily at various points throughout the season and this week with a depleted WR corps against a team that let D’Andre Swift run wild after a slow start, it would make sense for Jacobs to be a focal point. Jacobs also carries value as leverage off the likely-to-be very popular Packers receivers.
• Kyren Williams – Elite volume, talent, and game environment. Matchup is so-so at first glance, but the Packers got dusted up by Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor.
• D’Andre Swift – Finally broke out in Week 4 with a softer matchup and gets another one this week. Swift can make explosive plays and should have solid volume, making him a great option in Week 5.
• Austin Ekeler – After a one week absence with a concussion, Ekeler is back and his teammate Brian Robinson’s status is in question. Ekeler will be the lead back if Robinson is out and if Robinson plays, I could see Ekeler’s role growing while his ownership stays low.
• Salary Savers: Tyrone Tracy, Antonio Gibson, Emanuel Wilson

Wide Receiver :: 

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