FanDuel advice: Put a bunch of tips together

As I've said, I always download the entire FanDuel player list into a spreadsheet and explore some numbers before I ever make out a lineup. Sure, some of that is just for my weekly Thursday article. But it's also just to have some things in mind for when I set my lineup.

Keenan Allen is done for the year, but FanDuel didn't know that when this week's salaries were set. I expect Stevie Johnson to see a big jump in usage, and his salary didn't reflect that. I probably would have noticed this without my preparation, but thanks to that, Johnson was one of the first names I clicked.

I could have gone with Philip Rivers or Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees as my quarterback, but pairing them gets difficult. Rivers could connect most heavily with Johnson or Danny Woodhead or Antonio Gates; Rodgers have Randall Cobb and James Jones and Davante Adams; Brees threw touchdowns to five different guys last week. Yes, Brady could have a big day with just Dion Lewis and Julian Edelman, but best bet is, if he is a good quarterback Sunday, it'll be Gronkowski-heavy.

I'm the most passionate guy ever about caring more about track record than a one-week blip. Emmanuel Sanders was terrible for fantasy a week ago, after having been strong all season. I'm betting much more on a turnaround than on a continuation of Week 8's struggles.

Le'Veon Bell is done, and we have already seen what DeAngelo Williams can do filling in. Some of that is true of Matt Forte and Jeremy Langford this week, but Langford is more of a question mark as the main guy. I could spring for Todd Gurley or Devonta Freeman or what-have-you, but once I had sprung for Brady and Gronkowski, I needed some savings. Williams offers RB1-level production at a discount.

This is my lineup. If I have to be hospitalized Friday morning and can't do anything fantasy-wise through the weekend, well, I have an entry, and I think it's good. But one thing I do every single Sunday morning is go through the roster I write in this space and make sure it's the lineup I want to use. Very often, I change my mind. Maybe DeSean Jackson's injury isn't better after all and he's scratched. Maybe I get scared off of Stevie Johnson in favor of Malcom Floyd.