Trying to get rich quick on Fanduel? The best way to cash on weekly fantasy football sites is to load up on as many stars with good matchups as possible. Due to budget restraints, however, fantasy players must sacrifice other positions to nab the stars they want.
With the selection narrowed, we'll give you a sure bet, a bargain, and a risky option with high upside for each position.
Quarterback
Sure Bet: Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
Peyton hasn't been himself lately, throwing five touchdowns and six interceptions over the final five games of the regular season while the running game starred. This is the postseason, however, and the Broncos are not likely to leave their playoff lives to the ground game with the NFL's all-time touchdown leader calling the shots.
Manning has an array of healthy weapons at his disposal, and he'll be playing at home, where he's 8-0 this season, completing 70 percent of his passes, and thrown 21 touchdowns against four picks.
Bargain: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Wilson is not one of the more prolific passers in the NFL at this stage of his young career, but he's among the top rushers at his position and the Carolina Panthers haven't been great against the run all season.
Also, the Panthers offense has been shaky from start to finish, and if Seattle's defense is on point, they'll be able to let Wilson work with short fields.
High Risk: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Flacco is a known postseason maestro, but this week's matchup is brutal. Darrelle Revis is likely to take out one of the Smiths, while Brandon Browner is no joke on the other side. That said, Flacco is 10-4 with 21 career playoff touchdown passes, and if anyone can find a way to beat Bill Belichick's defense it's him. Also, he costs just $7,800, leaving you room to stock up elsewhere.
Running Back
Sure Bet: DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys
Murray was the NFL's leading rusher from start to finish, and even with an injured hand he bashed his way to 75 yards and a score against a stout Detroit Lions defense. The Cowboys will need to establish Murray early so that they can dominate time of possession and keep Aaron Rodgers from picking on their secondary. Count on him doing it.
Bargain: Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos
With Ronnie Hillman healthy, and costing $5,700, you may hit the jackpot. C.J. Anderson has been lights out since Manning's bizarre drop in production, but before Hillman got hurt he was putting up similar numbers. Expect him to see his share of snaps, especially on third downs, and he could find the end zone.
High Risk: Zurlon Tipton, Indianapolis Colts
The Broncos have a solid run defense, but the Colts will need to have some semblance of a running game if they want to have a shot at this one. Daniel "Boom" Herron put up big stats last week so he'll be the popular add in the Colts backfield, but he fumbled twice and has a history of putting the rock on the ground.
Don't sleep on Tipton, who got 11 carries in last week's blowout of the Bengals. If Herron fumbles again you may have found yourself a lead back for less than $5,000.
Wide Receiver
Sure Bet: Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers
Think this is risky because of Aaron Rodgers' ailing calf? Don't worry. Green Bay's line has been phenomenal this season, so Rodgers should remain upright, and Dallas has been terrorized by WR2s this season. Cobb is obviously talented enough to be a fantasy WR1, but in the Packers' offense the top dog is Jordy Nelson. If the Pack are focusing on the matchups, Cobb should be well-targeted.
Bargain: Julian Edelman, New England Patriots
Part of succeeding on Fanduel is not only nailing your bargain players, but snatching up ones that other Fanduelers didn't. Edelman's got a questionable tag on him for this week, but he plans on playing. If so, he is Tom Brady's safety blanket in that offense and he'll be going against a Ravens' secondary that's full of holes.
Don't be surprised if Edelman has a double-digit reception type of game, and if he can mix in a TD you've struck gold at $7,300.
High Risk: Cole Beasley, Dallas Cowboys
Beasley costs you $5,300, and while he might throw up a zero, he also could be Dallas' most targeted receiver in any given game. He was thrown to 17 times over the final two weeks of the regular season and led the Cowboys in targets vs. Detroit last week.
Tight End
Sure Bet: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
What really needs to be said? He was the NFL's best tight end this year and is the No. 1 target on one of the league's top offenses. He will see a ton of looks and probably score against the Ravens' depleted secondary. You cannot go wrong with Gronkowski.
Bargain: Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers
If there's any Panther who has a shot at a nice fantasy game this week it's Olsen, one of the league's underrated weapons in the passing game. He costs a healthy $1,700 less than Gronkowski, and gets to face an elite secondary that has surprisingly struggled against tight ends.
Olsen was second on the team in targets (123) this season, and the leader, Kelvin Benjamin, might have Richard Sherman glued to him for four quarters.
High Risk: Julius Thomas, Denver Broncos
Calling a guy with 12 touchdowns this year high risk seems ludicrous, but Thomas' last four games' worth of production resemble a good quarter from earlier in the season. He has had some injuries nag at him, plus his quarterback inexplicably tanked, but with some time to heal up for everyone Thomas at $5,500 seems too good to be true.
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