Cash Game Lineup:

QB Carson Palmer $7000

RB Brandon Bolden $3200

RB Adrian Peterson $7100

WR Michael Floyd $4400

WR Julio Jones $8500

WR Golden Tate $5500

TE Jeff Reed $5900

FLEX Jeremy Maclin $5500

DST Houston Texans $2500

Quarterback Breakdown: 

Carson Palmer has a great matchup in Philadelphia who ranks 29th vs the pass and 31st vs WRs.  Palmer has plenty of options at WR to exploit the matchup he desires.  He also has David Johnson out of the backfield who has proven to be a good pass catching option capable of breaking a long TD with his speed on a check down or RB screen pass.  Palmer had the highest projected floor in some projections earlier in the week but with the updates to all the injury news he is still top 5 in all projections I have seen.

Running Back Breakdown: 

The Running Back selections for this lineup are Brandon Bolden and Adrian Peterson.  Bolden and Peterson are both ranked inside the top 10 at the RB position this week in rankings and PPR projections.  Bolden saw 16 carries last week in relief of Blount who is now out for the year.  Bolden and James White figure to see most of the work in the backfield but Bolden is the runner and White is more of a pass catcher.  Bolden may not get the targets but he should pay off his price in a game the Patriots are favored by 14 points at home and could run late in the game with the lead.  Adrian Peterson should get 20 to 25 touches again vs the Chicago Bears defense.  Minnesota is in the playoff picture so needs a win to solidify its spot.  Expect the Vikings to ride Peterson all day as they play as home favorites.

Wide Receiver Breakdown: 

The Wide Receiver slots are filled by Michael Floyd, Julio Jones, and Golden Tate.  A WR was selected for the FLEX spot also, Jeremy Maclin.  Michael Floyd continues to be underpriced.  He is healthy and seeing 10 targets per game in his last 3 healthy starts.  Julio Jones hasn’t scored a TD in 5 weeks which is why his price is down.  I expect Julio to get 15-20 targets this week because he’s the best player on the field and I assume the Atlanta Falcons want to win.  Golden Tate gets the great matchup in New Orleans.  The New Orleans pass defense is terrible so targeted WR vs them is a great play.  Drew Brees also plays better at home which means New Orleans will score and in turn Detroit needs to counter with scores of their own.  Tate has outscored Calvin Johnson in 3 of the last 4 games (remember Thanksgiving) and has out targeted Johnson in that span also.  Jeremy Maclin vs the worst pass secondary in the NFL!  Baltimore is giving up the most fantasy points per game to WRs.  I want Maclin and hope people don’t realize the weather last week in Kansas City is the reason his production was held in check.

Tight End Breakdown: 

Jordan Reed is averaging 8.5 targets per game over the last 4 games and the Washington Redskins need him.  They are in win at all costs mode to get into the playoffs which means winning the NFC East.  They are in the driver’s seat and need to take advantage of their best offensive weapon.  Expect Reed to get his normal target production and be highly targeted in the red zone as usual.