How to Use Relief Pitching to Win Fantasy Leagues

Here's Who to Drop, Pop, and Shop: NFL Playoffs, Round 1

SoFi Stadium is reflected in the visor of Chicago Bears wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson during pregame warmups before playing the Los Angeles Rams.

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

If you're reading this, congratulations—you've made it to the first round of playoffs.

Go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back, because making it through the minefield that has been the 2020 fantasy season wasn't easy. It took hours of research, a little plotting on the waiver wire, and a lot of luck with simply having the right players.

If you had McCaffrey and you made it this far, well, you're worth your salt as a fantasy football manager. You've also earned the right to be a little salty to everyone who doubted your post-season ascent.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves: You're in, but you haven't won it just yet. There are still three weeks to go, and you'll have to keep your wits about you as opponents notice your roster deficiencies and steal every available player (yes, that is a thing).

Here are some of the drops, pops and shops that'll help you clean house before Week 14.

Drop

Bears D/ST

Detroit Lions wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) makes a catch in front of Chicago Bears inside linebacker Danny Trevathan (59) during the second half at Soldier Field.Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The fantasy player that gets overlooked all season, D/STs can make all the difference in a team's success, especially during playoffs.

While many teams tend to set and forget their defenses for the season, streaming is something to consider this week—especially if you have the Bears.

The Bears are currently the 16th-ranked D/ST because they've had fantastic games against the Giants, the Panthers, the Rams and the Vikings. Every other week was a letdown, especially the past two weeks, where they scored a cumulative -6 against divisional rivals.

While the Texans may seem to be a tantalizing option, Deshaun Watson has come into his own as of late, so it's likely that Houston's Houdini will have a high-scoring game.

Potential streaming options include the Chiefs vs. Miami, the 49ers vs. Washington, and the Cardinals vs. Giants.

Travis Fulgham

Cleveland Browns cornerback Terrance Mitchell (39) and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Travis Fulgham (13) go for a pass in the end zone during the second half at FirstEnergy StadiumScott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

In Week 14, it finally happened: The Eagles are starting unproven rookie Jalen Hurts over (almost) 2018 NFL MVP Carson Wentz.

Wentz has been historically bad as a passer this season; and at this point, the entire Eagles offense remains volatile for fantasy managers. Even though Travis Fulgham hasn't scored more than five total points since Week 10, he's still owned in over half of ESPN leagues.

While Fulgham and others could benefit from a change at QB, Fulgham's production dropoff combined with Hurts's rookie status equals an unsavory gamble against a 10-2 New Orleans Saints.

Pop

Matthew Stafford

Houston Texans linebacker Nate Hall (48) sacks Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during the fourth quarter at Ford Field.Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

It's the moment we've all been waiting for: It's finally Matt Stafford SZN.

Perhaps the unluckiest guy who can seriously sling the pigskin, Matt Stafford has had the unfortunate luck of being drafted by the Detroit Lions. Like Megatron before him and Barry Sanders before him, Stafford is the last in a line of talented footballers who couldn't carry a losing franchise on their shoulders. Well, maybe not until Matt Patricia got fired.

With the Patricia Experiment finally over in Detroit, interim head coach Darrell Bevell had new plans for the Lions QB on Sunday that included 402 yards and 3 passing touchdowns against the Bears.

Scoring 19 points against the Packers in Week 2, the 12-year veteran could pick apart a Packers defense that hasn't been particularly strong. Who knows—Stafford could even build further chemistry with Quintez Cephus, a receiver you'll want to scoop up on waivers this week.

J.D. McKissic

Washington Football Team running back J.D. McKissic (41) carries the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half at FedExField.Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

A deserving ROTY candidate, Antonio Gibson was set to power fantasy managers through playoffs until he was sidelined in Week 13 with what's commonly known as "turf toe."

Despite this, the Washington Team managed to be the first to bring down the undefeated Steelers in a surprise win this week. If Washington can beat the Steelers without Gibson, perhaps you can still win Gibson-less in Week 14.

If you're looking to replace him, your options are the pass-catching J.D. McKissic and the barreling Peyton Barber. McKissick is preferred after a ten reception, 70-yard game, but Barber is someone to pluck from the waiver wire. After McKissic's success against a vaunted NFL defense, consider popping him in your lineup for Week 14.

Cole Beasley

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley (11) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In Week 5, I told fantasy managers to pick up Cole Beasley. Were you one of them?

If so, you're probably thanking your stars that the wideout is coming through just in time for playoffs. After a nine-catch, 130-yard game, Beasley is living his best life up in Buffalo, working alongside Stefon Diggs for one of the NFL's top passing games. Considering the fact that the Bills haven't been heavy on the run, count on Beasley to get a decent amount of looks and make them count. An ironclad Steelers defense will make it difficult to replicate Week 13, yet Beasley could still be the preferred option on your team this week.

Shop

Cam Akers & Darrell Henderson Jr.

Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers (23) celebrates after rushing for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the second quarter at State Farm Stadium.Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Here's an existential question for you: Which Rams RB is going to be the winner in Week 14?

While no one seems to have a clear answer, both Akers and Henderson are widely available in leagues, which means it's not a bad idea to grab who you can get before they play New England.

Akers surprised everyone with 21 carries for 72 yards, a touchdown and a 22-yard reception—he's definitely a fantasy talent, it's just difficult to know who eats in a three-RB committee. While Henderson only had three carries, he made the most of it with a 38-yard touchdown run against the Cardinals, giving him almost as many points as Akers.

In Week 13, Akers easily got the lion's share of carries, making him the back you may want to back if you're weak at RB. Considering that he's available in about 64 percent of ESPN leagues, he may be the best available bet for an emergency playoff pickup.

T.Y. Hilton

T.Y. Hilton (13) of the Indianapolis Colts looks for a touchdown pass that was a little too far.Robert Scheer/IndyStar via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Owning T.Y. Hilton is kind of like owning Christian McCaffrey: He's been a fantasy non-starter all season, but he's finally back and ready to play just in time for playoffs.

While McCaffrey was sidelined by injury, Hilton has just been bad. In fact, he's been so bad this season that his grandma told him that the person she saw on television "wasn't her grand baby." That was in Week 2.

It took Hilton ten more weeks to score over 80 yards and a touchdown in two consecutive games, but it looks like the former star is shining again on the Colts offense. He's still available in 53 percent of ESPN leagues, so snag him before they take on the Las Vegas Raiders this week.

Quintez Cephus

Detroit Lions receiver Quintez Cephus tries to make a catch against Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller during the second half at Ford Field.Junfu Han via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Another benefactor of a surging Lions offense, Quintez Cephus is probably a name you hadn't heard until he snuck a 49-yard touchdown past an All-Pro cornerback this weekend.

There's not much else to say about this rookie receiver, who hasn't gotten more than four targets per game aside from the season opener against Chicago. Playing against a 15th-ranked defense from Wisconsin, the Lions are expected to pass to keep up with Aaron Rodgers.

If Matthew is cooking, Quintez could be a part of that new offensive recipe, especially if Kenny Golladay is still slated to miss time in Week 14.

ADDITIONAL WARNING: If you're anything like me, you're probably tempted by the enigmatic potential that is Cordarelle Patterson, but let's be honest: You know why he's still on waivers. Best to leave him there unless you're willing to bet he can make his infamous kick return.

SoFi Stadium is reflected in the visor of Chicago Bears wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson during pregame warmups before playing the Los Angeles Rams.Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

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Find Out How FanDuel Keeps The Fun Going As We Head Into The Summer

With Football and March Madness in our rear-view window, you must think that there is nothing good to bet on these days. However, there’s so much going on right now that even we are having a hard time keeping up!

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on to help you out.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, they are offering new users their No Sweat $1,000 promotion. This means you will get up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets if you lose your first bet!

Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

fanduel sportsbook

Find Out How FanDuel Keeps The Fun Going Even After March Madness

So March Madness is over, and either you won big or died trying. Whatever the case may be, now that the hoopla of the tournament is behind us, you may be thinking that there’s nothing exciting to bet on before the ramp-up to the NBA Playoffs. However, there’s so much more going on post-March Madness than you might realize.

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on now that the winning team has been crowned.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, when new users bet $5, they get $150 in Bonus Bets, win or lose!

It’s post-March Madness- Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

fanduel sportsbook

Find Out How FanDuel Keeps The Fun Going Even After March Madness

So March Madness is over, and either you won big or died trying. Whatever the case may be, now that the hoopla of the tournament is behind us, you may be thinking that there’s nothing exciting to bet on before the ramp-up to the NBA Playoffs. However, there’s so much more going on post-March Madness than you might realize.

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on now that the winning team has been crowned.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, when new users bet $5, they get $150 in Bonus Bets, win or lose!

It’s post-March Madness- Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

fanduel sportsbook

Terms & Conditions: 21+ and present in CO, IA, IL, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA or WV. New users only. Must wager in designated offer market. $10 first deposit required. $150 max bonus. See full terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call: 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA, IL, VA), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).