Welcome back to another week of “Part the Cloud”, where we dive deep into defensive coverage schemes and uncover hidden gem wide receivers!
Last Week’s Performance Review
Let’s take a look at how our featured players fared in last week’s DraftKings Milly Maker:
- Rashod Bateman: 3.8 Fantasy Points (FPTS)
- Christian Watson: 7.9 FPTS
- DeVaughn Vele: 5.8 FPTS
Bateman was certainly part of the game plan, catching just 1 of 5 targets. This performance doesn’t reflect his typical output, so I wouldn’t shy away from him yet. Watson caught 4 of 6 targets for 39 yards, co-leading the team in targets. Vele, however, was less involved with only 3 targets, finishing 5th on his team.
Looking Ahead to Week 9
This Week’s Top Picks
1. Jalen Tolbert
- DraftKings Price: $5,100
- Projected Ownership: 2.44%
- FanDuel Price: $5,900
- Projected Ownership: 2.54%
Our friends at the Sharp App have this game set at 51.5 with Dallas covering the current spread of ATL -3. Implied team totals are trending upwards for both teams, which is exactly the kind of action we want to see. While many will be looking to fit CeeDee Lamb into their lineups, I’m focusing on Tolbert.
The Falcons frequently use Cover 3 and Cover 6 defenses, ranking 9th worst in Defensive Expected Points Added per Dropback (EPA/DB). This indicates an exploitable defense. Tolbert can effectively navigate routes like the Curl and the Dig against these coverage schemes. Notably, Dallas has struggled in the red zone, suggesting potential for big plays downfield, heightening my interest in deep threats like Tolbert.
2. Courtland Sutton
- DraftKings Price: $5,400
- Projected Ownership: 6.69%
- FanDuel Price: $6,000
- Projected Ownership: 6.29%
We love receivers who challenge Baltimore’s corners. The Ravens are adept at shutting down the run and practice against Lamar Jackson weekly, so I don’t expect Bo Nix to surprise with his legs. Sutton and Nix have been honing their connection, evident in last week’s performance against a Panthers defense with a similar coverage profile. The Ravens’ secondary is among the bottom five in the league based on EPA/DB, and Sutton has the best matchup of all receivers. With the Ravens likely to employ more man coverage, Sutton’s efficiency against this style—over 2 yards per route run—makes him a compelling option.
3. Terry McLaurin
- DraftKings Price: $7,100
- Projected Ownership: 4.65%
- FanDuel Price: $7,400
- Projected Ownership: 6.95%
This is a favorable matchup, making McLaurin a strong pay-up option if you can’t quite reach the elite receivers. The landscape at this price point feels sparse. He has excelled against zone coverage and remains effective against man coverage. The Giants predominantly run Cover 3 and Cover 1, and McLaurin has been thriving in zone situations, averaging over 3 yards per route run. He is a key player in this offense, likely to be targeted early and often.
In Summary
These matchups stood out to me as strong plays for the upcoming week. If you have any questions about my process or other players, feel free to reach out to me in the channels—I’m TreyJ989. Let’s make some bold moves this week!
