DFS keeps season alive

IF THERE is one thing the fantasy football community can consider itself, it is resilient. Just because the NFL regular-season and seasonal fantasy leagues have come to a close, it doesn’t mean the fantasy game has to end as well. We still have the NFL playoffs, don’t we? That means 12 live teams and four more weeks of games.

Though they tend to be much smaller, seasonal-style playoff leagues are now forming. There is also the “use ’em once” style of game in which foresight is just as important as selecting the right players each week. But if you want to stay involved, daily contests are the way to go.

If you’re playing the large tournaments, proper roster construction is paramount. Weaving in star performers such as Le’Veon Bell or Odell Beckham Jr. is usually a must, but in order to fit them under the salary cap, you need to choose the right supporting cast of lower-cost, less-reliable players.

The word “contrarian” is often bandied about — high-scoring players who are less-owned by the field. To do that, your knowledge of players, systems, game flow and match-ups must be at its peak to determine who will fly under the radar and still produce like a beast. You also need to listen to who the experts are touting.

While the rest of the world is looking at Detroit’s Golden Tate, check out the price and red-zone targets for Anquan Boldin. Just because Jermaine Kearse is listed higher on the Seahawks’ depth chart, doesn’t mean he is a better DFS option than Paul Richardson. And has anyone really looked at Kenny Stills’ touchdown total in comparison to that of DeVante Parker?

Start yourself off with a pair of studs like Bell and Beckham, then check out some of these receiver bargains who have strong upside. Finding two or three shouldn’t be difficult. Once you have established that foundation, you can disperse the rest of your budget accordingly and maybe even find another stud you can afford.

Best of luck, and keep those fantasy fires burning.