High-Cost Option: Tom Brady $8,100
This week's top option at the quarterback position is, once again, Tom Brady. If you're willing to pay up for a top signal-caller, nobody possesses the floor and ceiling that Brady is capable of in a matchup against the Deflategate-inducing Colts. If you're buying into any of the narrative game this week, it will all start with Brady.
In their last three matchups against the Colts, the Patriots have put up a combined 132 points, handling them with ease. This year's Indianapolis defense isn't much better, ranking as numberFire's sixth-worst overall schedule-adjusted unit. The Colts have given up the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, but have yet to face one of Brady's caliber.
Brady has averaged 27.7 DraftKings fantasy points this season and now faces a defense allowing the fifth-most passing yards per game (287 per game). Brady ranks in the top five in just about every passing metric by numberFire, with the only thing holding back Brady's fantasy total is when/if the Patriots decided to ease off the gas pedal.
Mid-Cost Option: Sam Bradford $6,000
Sam Bradford will take on the New York Giants on Monday Night Football in Philadelphia, where the Eagles are 3.5-point favorites. Coming off two back to back solid outings -- Bradford picked up 22.62 fantasy points last week and 24.2 in Week 4 -- he now faces a Giants pass defense that has given up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
While his red zone game left a lot to be desired last week, Bradford was still able to find a way to get his team points, eventually throwing for a pair of touchdowns. Spreading the ball around targeting 10 different receivers last week, the Eagles offense was rolling on all cylinders picking up 39 points against the Saints. The Giants' secondary may be on a worse level, allowing the most passing yards per game. Bradford should be in line to once again surpass our 3x value mark, and provide fantasy owners a solid outing.
Low-Cost Option: Colin Kaepernick $5,000
Rostering Colin Kaepernick takes some fearlessness, but at $5,000, DraftKings is daring you to take the gamble. Facing the aforementioned terrible Giants defense last week, Kaepernick put up 20.78 fantasy points. He now squares off against the Ravens defense that is allowing the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
Kaepernick has a chance to add to Baltimore's woes with the upside he brings each week with his rushing capabilities. The 49ers offense has had its difficulties this season, but in a juicy matchup against the Ravens who are allowing the eighth-most passing yards per game, Kaepernick could easily attain value at his modest $5,000 price tag.
GPP Wildcard: Peyton Manning $6,600
Six weeks into the season and Peyton Manning is already being considered a GPP wildcard option? Whew.
The Cleveland Browns have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks so far this year. Their last three outings resulted in the opposing quarterbacks picking up 24.60, 29.22, and 23.50 fantasy points, as injuries have slowed a once promising defensive unit. The Browns have the fifth-worst overall defense per numberFire's schedule-adjusted metrics, and that number could fall further with a Broncos offense coming to town favored by four points. Taking Manning is undoubtedly a risk given his recent performance, but with the current trend of how quarterback have fared versus Cleveland -- those fantasy outputs belong to Joe Flacco, Philip Rivers, and Derek Carr -- that risk could pay off for those willing to invest in Manning another week.