By Will Helms
We’ll cap off another crazy week in the NFL with the Monday Night battle between the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots.
Like always, 365Scores has you covered with a breakdown of the daily fantasy slates on both FanDuel and DraftKings. Here, we’ll look at some MVP options and value plays for your daily fantasy lineups.
FanDuel
MVP Options
Kyler Murray ($17,000) stands out as the main option at MVP in this one. I find it difficult to trust Mac Jones ($13,500) as the highest scorer of the game and Murray is starting to look a bit healthier as he continues to return to form after a hamstring injury.
Murray faces a tougher defense than he has in weeks, so if you’re looking for a surprise MVP option, Rhamondre Stevenson could be an option. He’s put up 10 or more points in 10 straight games and faces a soft Cardinals run defense. He’s had some poor touchdown luck in recent games—reaching the end zone just once in his last five games, despite averaging five yards a touch—which has deflated his value a bit.
Value Plays
I love Greg Dortch in this spot on Monday. After missing last week with a thumb injury, Dortch returns to the lineup against a tougher New England defense. Ironically, Dortch has played better against tougher defenses, including a nine catch outing against the 49ers’ top-ranked unit (Albeit with Colt McCoy and Trace McSorley at quarterback).
FanDuel doesn’t value Dortch ($7000) very highly, and paying down allows you to play a few of the top dogs.
Similarly, if you can afford the extra $500, Hunter Henry ($7500) is a great play. The Cardinals struggle mightily to cover tight ends (32nd in TE points against) and Henry has played well in those spots (13.8 points against Minnesota two weeks ago). While I think the Cardinal corners can handle the Patriot receiving corps, the linebackers and safeties may have some difficulties keeping up with Henry.
DraftKings
Captain Options
Here, both Murray and Stevenson are relatively cheaper than on FanDuel, both behind Nuk Hopkins ($17,400 as a captain). I tentatively stuck with Murray and Stevenson, but I flipped the two in order of importance.
Stevenson ($13,200 as a captain) has caught at least six passes in five of the last six games, giving him a leg up on the site that gives a full point per reception. If you start Murray ($16,800 as a captain), there’s still enough money in the budget to field a pretty solid team, though you’ll have to leave out a top guy or two. Still, I’m leaning towards Stevenson.
If Stevenson reaches the end zone, it’ll likely be a huge game and you’ll profit from being able to play Hopkins and Murray along with him. It’s risky, but last week paying down for a captain helped and I think it could work against this week.
Value Plays
I like Tyquan Thornton ($1200) on DraftKings. His big play potential makes his risky, but if he has one or two catches, he’s well worth the money you’ll save. I was able to afford Stevenson, Hopkins and Murray without sacrificing at more than one position.
I also considered Dortch again ($2200) and for an incredibly risky play, Kevin Harris ($200), who managed just one touch after cracking the 53-man roster last week. However, he may get some goal line touches and if he does, maybe you’ll get lucky.
Notes
I rounded out the rest of my lineup with some combination of Patriot receivers and Hunter Henry, plus another guy here or there to protect myself if James Conner has a big game or something like that. Overall, I’m trusting Stevenson and Murray to be stars. Hopefully we’ll get lucky with a touchdown from a cheaper play here or there.
