FanDuel: Some strategies for Week 2 rosters
It pays to come into a FanDuel matchup with a specific strategy. Just like any game.
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Particularly in the top-heavy games, where finished in the 25th percentile or whatever is meaningless, FanDuel rewards those who come in with a strategy.
For example, in this weekend's Mini-Rush, which has more than a thousand entrants and pays out 157 spots, I decided from the jump that I would find a way to afford Peyton Manning and Demaryius Thomas this week. Manning, in his career, has made a real point to spread his scores around, so after going Julius Thomas-heavy in Week 1, I fully expect him to reward his superstar receiver for his patience against Kansas City in Week 2.
Committing to two studs like that, who take up $18,900 of my $60,000 cap, meant I had to save elsewhere, so I ... you know what? I’ll just show you my roster and go from there:
| Position | Player | Opponent | Salary |
| QB | Peyton Manning | Kansas City | 10,200 |
| RB | Shane Vereen | @Minnesota | 6,800 |
| RB | Terrance West | New Orleans | 5,300 |
| WR | Demaryius Thomas | Kansas City | 8,700 |
| WR | Michael Crabtree | Chicago | 6,500 |
| WR | Brian Quick | @Tampa Bay | 5,200 |
| TE | Jimmy Graham | @Cleveland | 8,000 |
| K | Robbie Gould | @San Francisco | 4,600 |
| DEF | Green Bay Packers | NY Jets | 4,700 |
Okay, this is easier. I saved money first by scrimping on kicker and defense, which are the obvious get-a-discount positions. Robbie Gould at $4,600 seems like a cheap price, even against a theoretically strong defense like San Francisco. And the Green Bay Packers’ defense might not be a strong unit, but there’s definite potential there against what isn’t an obviously good New York Jets’ offense.
I also managed some savings at my second running back - following the lesson I learned in my trek through roster construction - by grabbing Terrance West, who suddenly (if temporarily) finds himself with a starting job. I double back by grabbing Brian Quick, who isn't a great receiver, but is the best option the Rams have.
Ultimately, I got too good at saving money, which even let me grab Jimmy Graham (!!!) at tight end. Being able to grab perhaps the league’s best quarterback, wide receiver and tight end means I ought to have a strong chance in Sunday’s tournament.
Now we move to my 50/50 league team. As a refresher, the 50/50 games pay out prizes to anyone in the top half of finishers, so I don’t feel the need to swing for the fences so much as get guys who ought to offer pretty safe production. In other words, the Green Bay defense, West, Quick could all put up zeroes, but if all goes well they could go off. My 50/50 team, on the other hand, doesn’t have anyone liable to score a goose-egg.
| Position | Player | Opponent | Salary |
| QB | Jake Locker | Dallas | 7,400 |
| RB | DeMarco Murray | @Tennessee | 8,500 |
| RB | Alfred Morris | Jacksonville | 7,200 |
| WR | Jordy Nelson | NY Jets | 7,900 |
| WR | Reggie Wayne | Philadelphia | 6,200 |
| WR | Kendall Wright | Dallas | 6,100 |
| TE | Vernon Davis | Chicago | 6,800 |
| K | Brandon McManus | Kansas City | 5,000 |
| DEF | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | St. Louis | 4,900 |
My only real fence-swing here is Murray, where I’m banking on an improved Dallas offense in Week 2. But as bad as the team’s defense is, grabbing Locker and Wright to work together seems very promising.
Nelson, Morris and Davis are all potential studs who serve as their team’s primary (or close) weapons, meaning they’ll be able to put up a handful of points almost by default. A couple of things go even slightly right and I ought to be in good shape this weekend.
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