NFL Fantasy: Coleman looks a hidden gem in Week 6

Every week in Fantasy, there is a player who comes out of nowhere to be the slate-breaker. These seemingly incognito players can be game-changers if you manage to roster them during the right week.

Tournament-only fliers have plenty of appeal, offering low ownership, below value pricing, cheap stacking options, roster flexibility and underrated ceilings. We’ve done our best to find a few hidden gems in Week 6’s Sunday games right here.

Top QBs in Passer Rating – 2019

Russell Wilson – 126.3
Deshaun Watson – 115.9
Patrick Mahomes – 114.7
Kyle Allen – 107.4
Dak Prescott – 106
Gardner Minshew II – 105.6
Marcus Mariota – 103
Matthew Stafford – 102.6
Mason Rudolph – 102.5
Kirk Cousins – 100

— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) October 9, 2019

Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars

Salary: £6,900

It’s time to buy a ticket to the Minshew Magic show. The moustachioed signal-caller is ninth in fantasy points per game and is projected for 19.8 points (ninth highest), but he is just the 15th most expensive quarterback on the main slate. At an oh-so-nice price of £6,900, Gardner Minshew will get a crack at a New Orleans Saints secondary that opposing passers have thrived against, averaging a QB3 overall finish.

Although our traders don’t see this game as a shootout (44.0-point total), the Jacksonville Jaguars should see ample passing opportunities as a 4.0-point underdog. Albeit in a small sample, Minshew offers a safe floor, having finished 4 out of 5 games with at least 20 fantasy points and 2 passing touchdowns. There is still room for a blow-up game from the rookie passer, and this week’s seemingly tough bout with the Saints may scare off ownership and interest.

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – DECEMBER 11: DeVante Parker #11 of the Miami Dolphins tries to avoid the tackle of Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots in the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on December 11, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins

Salary: £5,400

That’s right — you heard it here first, I am touting DeVante Parker! The much-maligned Miami Dolphins’ receiver surprisingly stands at 15th in air yards but only 54th in actual receiving yards. The yardage discrepancy screams “buy-low opportunity”, and this week’s matchup against hapless Washington is the perfect time to shoot your shot.

Acting as the Miami de facto deep threat, Parker ranks 7th in deep targets, 1st in average target distance, and will face off with a Washington secondary that sits at 28th in passing DVOA. The Washington D has been shredded by wideouts, giving up huge games to fellow burners DeSean Jackson, Devin Smith, and Taylor Gabriel. It’s easy to understand, but not many people will be touching this game in Daily Fantasy, which means some light exposure to Parker is a nice way to differentiate in tournaments.

Calvin Ridley, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Salary: £5,500

At a measly £5,500, the price on Calvin Ridley is too good to be true. The second-year play-maker has drawn the 18th most air yards but only compiled the 32nd most receiving yards. NumberFire projects Ridley as the 4th best receiver value on the slate but he is the 32nd most expensive at his position.

As Jared Smola notes, the Atlanta Falcons-Arizona Cardinals matchup is ideal for pass catchers. The Falcons rank sixth in seconds per snap, second in situation-neutral pace and fifth in situation neutral pass rate. The dirty birds are pass-happy (first in pass plays) to say the least, as Atlanta has constantly trailed. Ridley’s receiving situation is even more amplified by an opposing Cardinals’ offence ranking second in seconds per snap, one that will force the Falcons to keep pace.

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 07: Tevin Coleman #26 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Levi’s Stadium on October 07, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Tevin Coleman, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Salary: £5,000

Whenever there is a Monday Night game with surprising results, there tends to be a few mispriced players on the following week’s slate. Simply put, Tevin Coleman’s £5,000 price is nothing short of egregious. Better yet, recency bias will play in Tev Touts’ favour, as many fantasy gamer’s lasting impression of the game will be Matt Breida’s breathtaking touchdown run.

With such a microscopic cost, Coleman enables extreme roster flexibility in tournaments while still building a unique lineup given his likely low ownership. The game situation is also enviable, as the matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers is slated for the third-highest over/under (50.5) according to the bookes.

It’s dangerous to speculate in fantasy, but in an expected shootout with plenty of scoring opportunities, I expect Coleman to assume the goal-line role vacated by Jeff Wilson. Similarly built, Wilson, on a very limited snap share (22%), amassed 13 coveted red zone touches and converted them into 4 touchdowns in Coleman’s absence.

Jordan Akins, TE, Houston Texans

Salary: £4,600

This is a bleak slate for cheap tight ends. Jordan Akins is the epitome of a dart throw in DFS. The Houston Texans’ tight end doesn’t command a strong target share, but what he does offer is cheap exposure to the matchup of the week between the Kansas City Chiefs and Texans. With an over/under of 54.5 and Houston carrying an implied team total of 24.75, you are living on a prayer that Akins can snag a few red zone looks and convert.

Very little ownership is a no-doubter for the Texans’ tight end, and his price allows for some strong game stacks that few will be able to fit. He does offer efficiency as a pass-catcher as well, ranking 1st in yards per target and 3rd in fantasy points per target. With so much attention on the KC tight end, looks for Akins to sneak into the end zone in a boat race.