Week 11 FanDuel Picks: Lineup, strategy, advice for NFL DFS tournaments

Tony Fortier-Bensen

Week 11 FanDuel Picks: Lineup, strategy, advice for NFL DFS tournaments image

We're probably eating the NFL DFS chalk on our Kansas City stack, especially with Travis Kelce, but our second stack in our Week 11 FanDuel GPP picks might sneak by people, going with the Chargers' fourth-lowest priced defense and Melvin Gordon, who people might be fading after Austin Ekeler's great performance last week.

We're looking to capitalize on two value WRs the public has deemed untrustworthy, but they have been pretty trustworthy lately and can help turn your Week 11 FanDuel tournament lineup into a winner.

WEEK 11 DFS: 
Yahoo GPP lineup | Y! cash | DK cash | DK GPPFD cashValues
Stacks | DFS lineup builder

Week 11 FanDuel NFL DFS Picks: GPPs

Alex Smith, QB, KC at NYG ($7,900)

Since there aren't many good options in the lower range of quarterbacks this week, we're going to pick a higher-priced QB in one of the best matchups of the week.  We're stacking Smith with Travis Kelce, who is almost guaranteed to score at least one touchdown, and Smith, who is bound to post a few scores. The Giants defense is falling apart, giving up 82 points and six passing touchdowns in the past two games, and Smith, the third-highest scoring fantasy QB this season, will continue his great year. 

Melvin Gordon, RB, LAC vs BUF ($7,800)

Austin Ekeler's great game last week might draw some people away from him, but Ekeler will go into obscurity again this week and Gordon will reclaim his rightful spot as a workhorse back. Despite what the overall stats this season say, this is a favorable matchup for him. Pre-Marcell Dareus, the Bills were one of the best at stopping the run.  fter the Dareus trade, the past two games have seen the Bills give up more touchdowns (7:4) and nearly more rushing yards (475:496) than they had the whole season combined. Gordon will go off this week.

Jerick McKinnon, RB, MIN vs. LAR ($6,400)

McKinnon and Latavius Murray seem to go back and forth in leading the Vikings RBs in fantasy points, and this week it'll be McKinnon's turn. Obviously, we have better reasons than just that for rostering McKinnon. The Rams rank fourth in allowing the fantasy points per game to RBs, and they are prone to letting pass-catching backs run loose. Murray will get a majority of rushing carries, but McKinnon will play in a majority of snaps and could see more action receiving than rushing.

WEEK 11 RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Brandin Cooks, NE vs. OAK (in Mexico) ($7,800)

The Raiders are ranked in the upper half at limiting opposing WRs, but against good quarterbacks, the Raiders secondary gets decimated each time out. Tom Brady is a great quarterback, so he should be able to torch the Raiders secondary and Cooks will be the beneficiary of it. Cooks has a solid floor of five to six catches each week, so all he needs is one big breakout catch, which the Raiders are prone to, for him to have a real breakout game.

Amari Cooper, WR, OAK vs. NE (in Mexico City) ($7,300)

After Cooper's big splash in Week 7, he's been relatively quiet the past two games, but diving deeper into the stats, Cooper has put up solid performances. He's either led or tied the team in targets and receptions each of the past three games, and he's averaging over 50 yards in his last two games. Derek Carr is throwing to him more and more, and facing the Patriots, who continue to be burned by WRs, Cooper is headed toward another big splash game.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, BAL at GB ($6,000)

I'm normally driving the anti-Maclin bandwagon, but I'm off it this week. Coming off a bye, the Ravens offense has been picking it up lately, and Maclin has been a part of it, recording 11 receptions, 151 receiving yards and a score in his past two games (both games 10-plus fantasy points)  The Packers have let eight WRs in the past three games to record 80-plus receiving yards and/or a touchdown, and Maclin is head and shoulders above the rest of the Ravens WRs. As long as his shoulder allows him to play, he's a solid option.

Travis Kelce, TE, KC at NYG ($7,500)

It's hard to imagine an worse offense for the Giants defense to face this week. It's no secret the Giants are atrocious against tight ends, giving up at least one touchdown to a TE in every game this season, but the Chiefs passing offense runs through the tight end Kelce, making matters worse. Kelce is not only in line for one touchdown this week, but also possibly more on top of his average of nearly 70 yards per game. He's likely chalk, but he's clearly worth it.

Justin Tucker, K, BAL at GB ($4,900)

After a dreadful start to the season, Tucker has scored double-digit fantasy points in four of the past five games, with the fifth game last week being nine points. He's hit 10 of his 11 field-goal attempts in that streak, and he should continue to put up high fantasy days in a favorable matchup not only for the entire Ravens offense, but for the kicking game, as well. The Packers are ranked sixth in FPPG allowed to kickers (for what that is worth).

D/ST: Los Angeles Chargers vs. BUF ($4,300)

Nearly all the way to the bottom, the Chargers are the fourth-lowest priced defense, but in a matchup with Buffalo at home, they will easily exceed value and could possibly be one of the higher-scoring defenses this week. The Bills have named fifth-round rookie Nathan Peterman out of Pittsburgh as the starting QB for this game. The Bills have been struggling, but it was still a surprise to see Peterman earn the starting nod over Tyrod Taylor. For a team averaging 15 PPG on the road, it's hard to imagine them doing any better with a rookie QB against a Chargers defense that has recorded at least two turnovers in four of the past five games.

Tony Fortier-Bensen