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The Fantasy Football Season Isn't Dead at DraftDay

For most, the fantasy football season has wrapped up tighter than a Christmas present prepped by a congregation of caffeinated elves. But our friends over at DraftDay.com would like you to know that fantasy football is still alive and well throughout the entire NFL playoffs. At DraftDay you can keep those competitive juices flowing by combing an affinity for the game of fantasy football and the love of free/real money. Now who in their right mind has no appreciation for some free pocket change?

In addition, first-time depositors (minimum $20.00) will be rewarded with a free 2013 PFF Fantasy Gold subscription.

Just follow these four easy steps:

1. Create a free account on DraftDay.com
2. Click the Deposit (green tab in the upper right) button
3. Deposit at least $20 and use promocode PFFGold
4. For those first time users that deposit by using the PFF Gold promocode not only will you will be ready to begin game play over at DraftDay you will also receive a free PFF Gold fantasy football membership for the entire 2013 season. You have to admit you can’t beat that with a football bat.

*If you already have a PFF account, we recommend using your PFF username/email address when setting up your DraftDay account. This will simplify the conversion of your account to Gold for the 2013 season. If not, please be sure to sign up for the free offseason 2013 Fantasy Gold so that we can easily extend your subscription through the 2013 regular season (a $24.99 value).

What exactly is DraftDay and how is it formatted? Well here is a generic description straight from the gift horse’s mouth: DraftDay is a daily fantasy sports website where you can play weekly fantasy NFL games and win real cash prizes. Compared to traditional fantasy football, DraftDay offers short-term games, meaning you can play when you want and pick a new fantasy team every time you play. It's fun for casual players who don't want to maintain a season-long team and fantasy diehards who run the risk of player injuries and bad picks that leave you out of the championship running early in the season. Pick a new team each week, play as many games as you want, and pick your stakes (free to $500 buy-in). All games award real cash prizes and DraftDay offers a variety of salary-cap games (both NFL and NBA). Don't save fantasy glory for the end of the season — win each week on DraftDay!

Is this legal?
Yes, DraftDay is a US-based skill games company. Their fantasy sports games are exempted from Federal online gaming laws. DraftDay is credit card and Paypal approved for deposits and offer cash withdrawals via Paypal and check.

As PFF Fantasy writer and regular DraftDay aficionado Allen Bassett penned in last week's DraftDay Salary Cap Fantasy Value for Week 17  During the season, you will not see very many quarterback values. The NFL is a quarterback-driven league where quarterbacks are the stars and the most consistent producers. Pick the elite quarterback with the match-up you like the best. For the purposes of “elite” included are the likes of Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Matt Ryan, and Washington Redskins rookie Robert Griffin III. It is important to note a couple of the names mentioned while elite, did not in fact make the playoffs so it’s just as important to find present value with the current roster of playoff QB’s and play the match-ups.

Quarterbacks

Of course with this weeks quarterback pool you know what you are getting with Aaron Rodgers, RGIII and of late Russell Wilson and their present DraftDay salary reflects that. You’re likely to not go wrong with any of these players but the unpolished diamond in the rough is what you want to land in this weekends match-ups.

Andrew Luck

Luck is a strong play especially at home but unfortunately the Indianapolis Colts rookie QB is on the road. Luck could find himself playing catch-up and needing to air the ball out in order to keep up with a Baltimore Ravens team that is averaging 32 points a game at home. Luck has thrown at least one touchdown in each of his last seven games and 13 total TDs over that span. However, the Baltimore Ravens defense has given up the second-fewest passing TD’s in the league so tread lightly when it comes to Andrew Luck. After week 17 Andrew Luck ranked eighth in fantasy scoring among QB’s.

Current DraftDay value: $18,450

Andy Dalton

The Houston Texans have given up the sixth most passing touchdowns to opposing QB’s and with Ben Jarvis Green Ellis coming off missing last week due to injury Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton could be in for a big day down in Houston. It is worth noting that in last season’s 1st round against the same Wade Phillips coached Texans defense, Andy Dalton had 42 passing attempts with zero touchdowns and three interceptions. Prior to being rested last week against the Baltimore Ravens, Dalton ranked 11th in fantasy scoring among QB’s.

Current DraftDay value: $16,700

Joe Flacco

Erase Joe Flacco’s game against the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers at home and you will find that the Raven’s QB has passed for an average of 310 yards and 2 TDs per game at M&T Bank Stadium. At Flacco’s current DraftDay value he is the player presenting the most upside and we feel no need to remind fantasy football pundits about Flacco’s downside. Flacco’s opponent on the week has allowed 23 passing touchdowns on the season along with allowing the 21st most passing yards among NFL teams.

Current DraftDay value: $16,450

Running Backs

While the value with QB's wasn't exactly notable and obviously standing on its helmet the value at running back is a bit more apparent and noteworthy. Just as with the QB class this weekend we all know what we are getting with Arian Foster and Adrian Peterson. Due to that statistical security when choosing either of the two top backs the diminishing of your DraftDay cap space is absolute and in massive chunks we might add.  So take the good with the bad with these two guys or you can go with a couple of players we feel present good to great value.

Ray Rice

Yes, we know the Baltimore Raven RB isn't exactly a sleeper or undervalued but Rice's, $19,150, DaftDay value is a couple grand less than both Foster's and Peterson's while very possibly outperforming his two backfield counterparts. In every victory for the Baltimore Ravens this season Rice has not had less than 80 total yards. Pair that with the fact that in only two of the Indianapolis Colts 16 games this season they held opposing RB's to less than 80 yards rushing. In the past 3 weeks the Colts have been absolutely shredded on the ground allowing an average of 210 yards per game. One downfall affecting Ray Rice's overall numbers is that if the Ravens jump out to a far enough lead the coaching staff could elect to supplant the starter with back-up RB Bernard Pierce.

Current DraftDay value: $19,150

Marshawn Lynch

For the same reason we like Ray Rice is the same reason we like, Seattle Seahawks RB, Marshawn Lynch. A few thousand dollars cheaper than both Arian Foster and AP and the fact that Lynch is coming off the best statistical year of his career. Omitting last weeks 100 yard performance versus the division rival St. Louis Rams, Lynch has reached pay dirt in every game over the past 5 weeks. Accumulating 7 TDs over that span has Lynch tied with Washington Redskins RB Alfred Morris for tops in the league among scoring RBs.

Current DraftDay value: $17,900

DuJuan Harris & Ryan Grant

The Green Bay Packers running back looked quick and elusive last week against the Minnesota Vikings. Fast forward to this week and it's Deja' Vu for Harris who managed 87 total yards last week versus the Vikings. Over the past 4 weeks Harris hasn't quite seen the bulk of the carries but had the lion's share of the carries last week with 14 attempts. Harris has scored twice over the past 4 game span but it's worth noting that Harris did his damage last week indoors. Two weeks ago versus the Tennessee Titans Ryan Grant landed in the endzone twice on 20 attempts and could be geared up and better prepared to be a cold weather back needed in the game with the Vikings as temperatures are expected down into the teens.

Current DraftDay value: Cheap

Wide Receivers

This weeks most expensive wide receiver is Houston Texans Andre Johnson and for good reason. While only hitting paydirt once in the past four games, Johnson has managed no less than 7 receptions and no less than 95 yards receiving in any of those games. But, once again, a guarantee on those stats will cost. There are more favorable wide receivers that present far greater value this weekend. So many in fact that they could be confused with a bad kids christmas stocking full of coal.

T.Y. Hilton 

Hilton's current value at DraftDay is $12,850 while teammate Reggie Wayne's value sits at $16,350. Breaking it down over the past 7 weeks and it equates to roughly $142 per DraftDay fantasy point as opposed Wayne giving his DraftDay buyers a fantasy point for every $229. You see the bargain? Many don't expect the Colts to win this came as the betting line currently sits in favor of the Ravens by 6.5. The Colts could get into a predicament in which they find themselves needing to throw the ball which Hilton should greatly benefit from.

Marvin Jones

The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-6 when A.J. Green has less than 50 yards receiving. Green will likely be shadowed by Texans cornerback Jonathan Joseph as he usually moves to the opposing teams best receiver. The Texans and Wade Phillips could get cute and even roll a safety over the top in order to keep Green from beating them deep. This all bodes well for rookie Marvin Jones who has made great strides over the past 2 weeks. Jones has caught no less than 5 balls thrown his way in each of the last 2 weeks along with and reaching the endzone last week versus the Ravens.

Current DraftDay value: $8,050

Torrey Smith

Smith's chronicled home performances are no secret either going over 100 yards receiving, scoring a TD or both in all but 3 of his eight home games. Smith along with teammate Joe Flacco presents great value.

Current DraftDay value: $12,850

Jarius Wright 

Jarius Wright found his way into the end zone last week for the second time this season putting together back to back solid weeks and could find himself back in a similar situation this week against the same team that allowed him to reel in 90 yards receiving. Over the past two weeks Wright currently leads all Vikings WR's with .57 points per opportunity in standard scoring formats. The rookie wide out has been targeted a total of 14 times over the last two game span.

Current DraftDay value: $9,300

Tight Ends

This weeks playoff match-ups don't flash marquee tight end names and at the DraftDay values one would almost hope to find a match in which TE's are optional as a flex if so desired. The best of the tight end bunch are as follows:

Owens Daniels – Current DraftDay value: $11,350

Dennis Pita – Current DraftDay value: $10,450

Kyle Rudolph –  Current DraftDay value: $10,300

Coby Fleener – Current DraftDay value: $8,000

Defenses are not quit as easy to pick in the playoff rounds of DraftDay matches as all teams are playoff worthy and typically provide more a quality game against an opposing team. Do your best to define the best defensive potential when it comes to sacks, turnovers, and points allowed. Rookie QB's in their first playoff games sometimes succumb to the pressure of a game with the magnitude that playoff competition yields so sometimes a defense facing a rookie QB can pay immediate dividends. Otherwise go with defenses leading in defensive scoring categories.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are definitely the most costly of the defenses this week over at DraftDay and a here are a few good reasons why are:

  1.  Facing a less-than 100% healthy rookie QB.
  2. Have allowed no more than 17 points in each of the last 5 weeks with only 13 points allowed in the last 2 weeks.
  3. 14 turnovers in the last 4 weeks.

No need to buy with caution when it comes the Seattle Seahawks despite their value. This is a plug-n-play defense that will reap you rewards.

One last note of importance is that most salary cap DraftDay games score receptions as 0.5 or 1/2 point per reception (PPR). Well that's a wrap folks and hope to square off with a few of you over at DraftDay. Stop by, pay the site a visit, sign up as a new user and get some free/real money, and scoop up a free access to the Pro Football Focus 2013 Fanasty Gold package by using the promocode, PFFGold and let's keep this fantasy season rolling over at one of the top daily fantasy sites around on the web.

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