In May, the Supreme Court opened the door to sports gambling across the nation with its 6-3 ruling in Christie v. NCAA. Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the majority decision, stated that the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act infringed on the 10th Amendment, which reserves powers to the states. “…unequivocally dictates what a state legislature may and may not do…a more direct affront to state sovereignty is not easy to imagine,” Alito wrote. Now, each state can decide if it wants to allow wagering on sports events as well as fantasy games.
On August 1, DraftKings launched its DraftKings Sportsbook app. Seven states have passed sports gambling legislation and several others introduced laws after the PASPA was overturned. There has always been a parallel highway between fantasy sports and sports gambling, which was only separated by a Jersey barrier. In 2018, the two hobbies intersect and fantasy football diehards can gain an advantage against their opponents from studying and analyzing Las Vegas lines and proposition bets.
How excited am I to explore season-long player propositions? My DFSDudes co-host, Chris Cichon, and I started a new segment for our weekly show, Pro-jections: Props, Tops and Flops, in order to assist fans. There are so many ways to wager on a players’ production.
In preparation for the upcoming season, I wrote 12 burning questions and polled Twitter fans for different viewpoints. It is not a scientific poll, but the results provide a small window into the collective hive of fantasy football fanatics. I recorded the results to share with all of the readers on FantraxHQ.com. Enjoy!
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1. ADP: Who Ya Got? Every selection counts in Best Score Leagues. After the 12th round, who are you targeting at wide receiver?
Results, Player (Votes)
32% Anthony Miller, Chicago (300)
26% Mike Williams, San Diego (244)
20% Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay (187)
22% Michael Gallup, Dallas (207)
Total Votes: 938
Scholar’s Vote: Anthony Miller
Reader Response:
“I like all of these; however, I trust Phillip Rivers the most. With TE Hunter Henry out, Mike Williams could eat up quite a few targets,” FantasyKing55.
“I’ve drafted a lot of all four of these playmakers in the past month. I’m really not sure I’ve drafted a different wide receiver in Rounds 11-17 other than these guys,” Russ Prentice.
2. ADP: Who Ya Got? Every selection counts in Best Score Leagues. After the 12th round, who are you targeting at quarterback?
Results (Votes)
46% Dak Prescott, Dallas (277)
25% Eli Manning, New York (150)
12% Andy Dalton, Cincinnati (72)
17% Case Keenum, Denver (102)
Total Votes: 601
Scholar’s Vote: Eli Manning
Reader Response:
“Gotta go with Eli. He has the most weapons around him, and he’s good enough to get decent production out of them. I like Dak, but I think the Cowboys will struggle in the passing game,” Rebecca Jones.
“Just about everyone here is sleeping on Case Keenum: He could have a huge season. Keenum went from a team with two good wide receivers to a team with more very good playmakers. Plus, a rookie with some skills (C. Sutton). I think he’s a top 15 quarterback by year’s end.” FantasyKing55.
3. ADP: Who Ya Got? Every selection counts in Best Score Leagues. After the 12th round, who are you targeting at running back?
Results (Votes)
47% Peyton Barber, Tampa Bay (139)
23% Jordan Wilkins, Indianapolis (69)
23% Samaje Perine, Washington (69)
7% Doug Martin, Oakland (21)
Total Votes: 298
Scholar’s Vote: Samaje Perine
Reader Response:
“I’m waiting until closer to the season to get a firm opinion on this one, but if drafting today, I’d take Peyton Barber,” Nathaan Dokken.
4. ADP: Who Ya Got? Every selection counts in Best Score Leagues. Among the rookie runners, who are you targeting at running back based on ADP value?
Results (Votes)
10% Rashaad Penny, Seattle (35)
42% Royce Freeman, Denver (147)
40% Kerryon Johnson, Detroit (140)
8% Sony Michel, New England (28)
Total Votes: 350
Scholar’s Vote: Royce Freeman
Reader Response:
“I have to vote Rashaad Penny seeing as I took him in the third round of our draft (DWG4),” Jarod Miller.
5. ADP: Who Ya Got? Every selection counts in Best Score Leagues. If you dumpster dive at tight end (like myself), who do you target in double-digit rounds?
Results (Votes)
22% O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay (106)
16% Eric Ebron, Indianapolis (78)
20% Mike Gesicki, Miami (97)
42% George Kittle, San Francisco (203)
Total Votes: 484
Scholar’s Vote: Eric Ebron
6. Las Vegas NFL Regular Season Player Propositions can provide insight into a player’s fantasy football potential in 2018. Among quarterbacks, identify the prop you would be most interested wagering $100 on this season.
Results (Votes)
17% Matt Ryan Passing Yards Over 4,175 -105 (52)
7% Deshaun Watson Interceptions Over 17.5 -125 (21)
58% Drew Brees Passing touchdowns Over 26.5 -120 (176)
18% Jimmy Garoppolo Passing Yards Under 4,399 -135 (55)
Total Votes: 304
Scholar’s Vote: Drew Brees
Reader Response:
“These are so much fun. I’ll take Brees to rebound on the touchdowns because I won’t own him this year like I did last year,” Nathaan Dokken.
“I chose Drew Brees. All he has to do is get two touchdowns per game. If he stays healthy, it’s a cinch. After a low (season) total, ‘positive regression’ is coming,” OneNOnly.
7. Las Vegas NFL Regular Season Player Propositions can provide insight into a player’s fantasy football potential in 2018. Among running backs, identify the prop you would be most interested wagering $100 on this season.
Results (Votes)
15% Devonta Freeman Rushing Yards Over 959.5 -120 (34)
39% Alvin Kamara Touchdowns Under 12.5 +105 (89)
15% Jerick McKinnon Rushing Yards Over 859.5 -130 (34)
31% Leonard Fournette Touchdowns Over 10.5 -125 (71)
Total Votes: 228
Scholar’s Vote: Leonard Fournette
Reader Response:
“Fournette Over 10 touchdowns is money in the bank,” PK Ripper.
8. In Best Score leagues, I like to target an under-appreciated QB-WR pair to draft. Identify the top dynamic duo that you target in double-digit rounds.
Results (Votes)
34% Stafford-Golladay, Detroit (258)
12% Manning-Shepard, New York (91)
37% Rivers-M. Williams, San Diego (281)
17% Prescott-Gallop, Dallas (129)
Total Votes: 759
Scholar’s Vote: Rivers-Williams
Reader Response:
“I’ll take Philip Rivers and Mike Williams. I feel like Williams has big touchdown upside,” The Dynasty Outlaw.
“I like Manning and Shepard. They get the slight edge over Stafford-Galloday. But if Galloday plays the big slot that covers the area that a quality tight end does, I would choose the latter,” Matthew Blackberry.
9. In season-long Fantasy Football leagues, who would you draft after the fourth round in ppr-scoring formats at running back?
Results (Votes)
21% Kenyan Drake, Miami (235)
43% Royce Freeman, Denver (479)
17% Dion Lewis, Tennessee (189)
19% Rex Burkhead, New England (212)
Total Votes:1,115
Scholar’s Vote: Royce Freeman
Reader Response:
“At their ADPs, you can get Kenyan Drake in the fourth and Rex Burkhead in the fifth. Those two have the most upside in ppr formats. Dion Lewis is coming off a career year and first time he’s ever played 16 games—let someone else draft him. Royce won’t get enough receptions to pass Drake & Burkhead in ppr-scoring,” Jess.
“Give me all the Drake shares!!” Joe Pisapia.
“Dion Lewis and Derrick Henry are not good enough. Kenyan Drake has Frank Gore to deal with all year and maybe Kallen Ballage later on. Rex Burkhead must stay healthy long enough to be trusted in fantasy,” Matthew Blackberry.
10. Las Vegas NFL Regular Season Player Propositions can provide insight into a player’s fantasy football potential in 2018. Identify the most interesting prop bet for Defensive Rookie of the Year:
Results (Votes)
33% Roquan Smith, Chicago +550 (78)
11% L. Vander Esch, Dallas +1500 (26)
26% Harold Landry, Titans +1800 (61)
30% Derwin James, Chargers +1400 (71)
Total Votes: 236
Scholar’s Vote: Harold Landry
Reader Response:
“Plenty of votes for Derwin James. I love him as a player, but go look up how many safeties have won this award,” Tom Kislingbury.
11. Las Vegas NFL Regular Season Player Propositions can provide insight into a player’s fantasy football potential in 2018. Identify the most interesting prop bet for Offensive Rookie of the Year:
Results (Votes)
14% Baker Mayfield, Cleveland +650 (59)
15% Sam Darnold, New York +1000 (63)
37% Royce Freeman, Denver +3000 (154)
34% Kerryon Johnson, Detroit +4000 (142)
Total Votes: 418
Scholar’s Vote: Royce Freeman
Reader Response:
“Definitely would go K. Johnson here. Sort of like R. Freeman based on expected volume, but think Johnson is the superior talent and will make the most of his opportunities,” Loaded Box Podcast.
12. With the NFL season close to kick off, identify the game or hobby that you are most interested in playing this season.
Results (Votes)
14% NFL DFS (25)
74% Season-long Fantasy Football (134)
4% Player proposition wagering (8)
8% Best Ball Contests (14)
Total Votes: 181
Scholar’s Vote: NFL DFS
Reader Response:
“I always play more season-long leagues, but will be doing much more best ball ones this year,” Kyle Richardson.
[Editor’s Note: We like to see that 74% next to season-long fantasy football! Now’s the time to head on over to Fantrax.com and start or join a league today!]
Ready to amp up your Fantasy Football prep even more? Check out The Fantasy Black Book Show, where Joe Pisapia, Scott Bogman, and The Welsh bring the goods every week.