The goal of the Air Yards DFS Value Index is to determine the best “bang for your buck” in daily fantasy. This is accomplished by utilizing a player’s Air Yards and Air Yards Share to create a weighted Air Yards metric. We then compare this metric with each player’s DFS salary to create a Value Score. The best value Air Yards play on the week is always scored with a value of 100. All other players are compared against that player with decreasing value. This list is not a mere recitation of where each player is ranked — a simple machine could do that. This list contextualizes each player’s Value Score to present the top ten Air Yard values in DFS for the week, focusing on players priced at or below $5,500 on DraftKings.
For this week we will highlight two wide receivers on the Air Yards Value Index priced above $5,500 and then focus on the top ten Air Yards Value Plays priced at $5,500 or below on DraftKings.
Paying Up
Terry McLaurin – DK: $6,200
Air Yards Value Score: 95.72
Air Yards: 1,552 (No. 3 among qualified wide receivers)
Air Yards Share: 42.2-percent (No. 3)
Unrealized Air Yards: 885 (No. 1)
The Terry McLaurin contrarian play narrative continues after an underwhelming 7 fantasy point performance last week in a blow out against the Cowboys. McLaurin has still seen at least 65 Air Yards the past four games despite averaging 4.8 fantasy points per game during this time span. Something has to give. Perhaps it does or perhaps it doesn’t this week against the Eagles.
Terry McLaurin has only 1 game over 59 receiving yards since Week 8
In this span, he's had 12+ PPR points 1 of 8 games
I'm sitting him in the fantasy championship
However, I am starting Antonio Gibson vs PHI (bottom third run D according to @fboutsiders)
Vs DAL in Week 16 the pic.twitter.com/yW6PuSq1nf
— Josh Larky (@jlarkytweets) December 30, 2021
D.J. Moore – DK: $5,600
Air Yards Value Score: 95.39
Air Yards: 1,482 (No. 5)
Air Yards Share: 39.7-percent (No. 7)
Unrealized Air Yards: 824 (No. 3)
D.J. Moore has seen double digits targets the past four weeks and is averaging 113 Air Yards during this same time period. He has also scored double digit fantasy points the past four games. Somehow he is priced at only $5,600. Fantasy football doesn’t have to be hard. He is buy low and should be rostered in all formats.
I would start in Week 17 is DJ Moore, currently my WR15 in weekly projections
Past 4 weeks (averages): 10.5 targets, 5.3 rec, 72.5 yards, 13 PPR/game
Strong usage even without any TDs in this stretch
High floor option, but hasn't crested 16 PPR since Week 4
On to CHI ⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/1gllzX6UjD
— Josh Larky (@jlarkytweets) December 29, 2021
Top-10 Value List
No. 10) Allen Robinson – DK: $3,800
Air Yards Value Score: 40.66
Air Yards: 614 (No. 61)
Air Yards Share: 27.8-percent (No. 39)
Unrealized Air Yards: 356 (No. 49)
Allen Robinson last played in week 14 amassing 71 Air Yards on six targets but only scoring 3.4 fantasy points. He actually out targeted and saw more Air Yards than teammate, and fellow Air Yards Value play, Darnell Mooney. Robinson’s price of $3,800 adequately reflects his fantasy production thus far as he is the WR92 on the season. But, his price does not reflect his nearly identical Air Yards usage on a per game basis with Mooney when both are healthy. Outside of Robinson there aren’t many other high upside dart throws priced below $4,000 this week.
No. 9) A.J. Green – DK: $5,300
Air Yards Value Score: 43.64
Air Yards: 979(No. 32)
Air Yards Share: 26.1-percent (No. 44)
Unrealized Air Yards: 380 (No. 41)
After DeAndre Hopkins‘ season ending injury many expected A.J. Green to seize the plurality of those vacated targets. However, it has been Christian Kirk (DK: $5,800) who has out paced Green in Air Yards 195 to 117 and targets, 21 to 11. Green is still heavily involved in the Cardinals passing attack running 35 routes the past two games, and is a viable tournament dart throw.
No. 8) Van Jefferson – DK: $5,300
Air Yards Value Score: 45.66
Air Yards: 1,086 (No. 23)
Air Yards Share: 24.6-percent (No. 48)
Unrealized Air Yards: 571 (No. 18)
Van Jefferson posted his worst fantasy outing last week scoring only 1.6 fantasy points. However, he still saw 73 Air Yards and six targets. There is no better time for him to be a contrarian play in your lineup than this week. He faces a severely hobbled Ravens secondary and has the potential to explode.
No. 7) Kenny Golladay – DK: $5,100
Air Yards Value Score: 48.59
Air Yards: 905 (No. 36)
Air Yards Share: 30.2-percent (No. 27)
Unrealized Air Yards: 514 (No. 23)
Kenny Golladay is averaging 91.25 Air Yards and seven targets over the past four games. Unfortunately, he has been unable to translate this opportunity into fantasy points averaging only 5.9 fantasy points. He will likely struggle to be fantasy relevant in week 17 however the opportunity he is receiving should at some point led to a big game.
No. 6) Robby Anderson – DK: $4,900
Air Yards Value Score: 49.73
Air Yards: 1,003 (No. 29)
Air Yards Share: 26.8-percent (No. 41)
Unrealized Air Yards: 683 (No. 9)
The Robby Anderson renaissance continued into week 16. Since Joe Brady’s dismissal Anderson has seen over 100 Air Yards in two of three games and at least eight targets in each contest. He continues to be priced closer to his floor than his ceiling and makes for a great play in all formats.
Robby Anderson Advanced Stats & Metrics
No. 5) Marquez Callaway- DK: $4,600
Air Yards Value Score: 52.04
Air Yards: 916 (No. 35)
Air Yards Share: 28.8-percent (No. 32)
Unrealized Air Yards: 456 (No. 34)
Marquez Callaway has led the Saints in targets the past two weeks. Taysom Hill will likely be throwing him the football this week. The last time Hill and Callaway played, Callaway led the Saints in Air Yards and finished with 17.2 fantasy points. Against a Stephon Gilmore-less Panthers defense, Callaway has boom potential again this week and should be considered a low cost tournament option.
No. 4) Jakobi Meyers – DK: $5,100
Air Yards Value Score: 55.06
Air Yards: 1,067 (No. 25)
Air Yards Share: 29.0-percent (No. 31)
Unrealized Air Yards: 545 (No. 20)
Jakobi Meyers remains the best way to gain exposure to the Patriots passing game. He has seen at least eight targets the past two games and has eclipsed double digit fantasy points in each contest. He is an ideal high floor cash play.
No. 3) Emmanuel Sanders – DK: $4,200
Air Yards Value Score: 62.54
Air Yards: 1,125 (No. 21)
Air Yards Share: 25.8-percent (No. 45)
Unrealized Air Yards: 579 (No. 16)
Emmanuel Sanders appeared poised to return to the Bills lineup this week after missing last week with a knee injury. However, he missed practice on Thursday and Friday and may not play. If he suits up, look for him to continue soak up Deep Ball targets (18, No. 23) from Josh Allen. If he doesn’t play, Gabriel Davis (DK: $5,000) makes for a great analogously priced pivot to include in any Allen – Kyle Pitts stack.
watch me build killer josh allen-kyle pitts dfs stacks with the greatest of ease. pic.twitter.com/eTldiwubkN
— kyren williams punt return (@Fantasy_Mansion) December 31, 2021
No. 2) Darnell Mooney – DK: $5,500
Air Yards Value Score: 68.09
Air Yards: 1,229 (No. 17)
Air Yards Share: 33.6-percent (No. 18)
Unrealized Air Yards: 638 (No. 11)
We briefly touched on Darnell Mooney when discussing his teammate Allen Robinson above. Mooney is by far the more reliable fantasy option as he is the WR27 on the season compared to Robinson who is the WR92. He is also not recovering from COVID and has posted double digit fantasy points the past two games. Mooney is a recommended play in all formats.
No. 1) Marvin Jones – DK: $4,400
Air Yards Value Score: 75.47
Air Yards: 1,193 (No. 20)
Air Yards Share: 30.7-percent (No. 26)
Unrealized Air Yards: 606 (No. 13)
Marvin Jones and the Jaguars have an implied team point total of 13 points against a stout Patriots defense this week. He is perhaps a bit too contrarian of a play despite finishing as the WR20 in fantasy points last week while seeing 157 Air Yards. However, at only $4,400 he makes for a low cost tournament dart throw that has the peripheral stats to greatly outperform that price.
