Now that we’re down to a short slate, utilizing all of your DFS budget isn’t nearly as imperative as maximizing it. You may well create lineups with plenty of appeal and possibly leave more money on the table than you’d normally feel comfortable with. And that’s ok! Playoff DFS is about quality, and with the QB landscape in this first week ranging from elite to first start of the season, you simply must get QB right in order to flirt with pay lines.

Here are the top 20 salaried QB’s on FanDuel ranked with RPVPD for Sunday’s Main Contest:

 

FPPG

Raw RPV

 Salary

Pts per $

RPV Per Dollar

Aaron Rodgers

24.2

0.485

8600

$355

0.247

Matthew Stafford

18.1

0.110

7200

$398

0.157

Russell Wilson

17.5

0.074

7700

$440

0.068

Ben Roethlisberger

18.9

0.160

8500

$450

0.047

Matt Moore

14.4

-0.117

6900

$479

-0.015

Eli Manning

15

-0.080

7500

$500

-0.059

Brock Osweiler

12.3

-0.245

6700

$545

-0.154

Connor Cook

10

-0.387

6100

$610

-0.292

 

Even at the top of the salary scale, Aaron Rodgers is the best return on investment QB on paper. The trouble is trying to create a viable roster with enough surrounding floor with Rodgers and Le'Veon Bell. The last time the Giants faced the Packers, Rodgers threw for 259 yards, 2 TD’s and 2 INT’s. The Giants defense actually held him to 17 points, his 3rd lowest total of 2016. Matthew Stafford has had a valiant season, but heading into Seattle (despite their inconsistencies) is a tall order. Better defenses like the Vikings and Giants have suppressed his point totals this year and Seattle should do the same. As tempting as Russell Wilson may be, he’s had some major inconsistencies in 2016 and if that doesn’t scare you, the prospect of the Seahawks walking over the Lions could severely limit his second half point potential.

That brings us to Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning. They may be break evens on the RPVPD scale, but they both have substantial playoff experience and key traits to keep in mind. First, Roethlisberger is a much different QB at home (20 TD/5 INT, 116 QBR) than on the road (9 TD/8 INT, 78.4 QBR). In Pittsburgh, Big Ben should be the Pro Bowl version of himself. Manning is facing a Packers’ secondary with multiple key injuries in a game that could very well be a shootout. That’s good for fantasy business and Eli has plenty of weapons to keep in lock step with Aaron Rodgers when push comes to shove.

BLACK BOOK LINEUP WC Week

QB Eli Manning NYG $7.5K

I know he’s been inconsistent all year, but Manning always plays to the competition and the Packers are decimated in the secondary. Opportunities will be there for him.

RB Le'Veon Bell PIT $10.3K, Zach Zenner DET $6.2K

Bell is the only premium, break away running back available and he may be a necessity this week. To offset his cost, Zenner is capable of 70 yards and a TD. That’s not far off from the production of some others on the board with higher salaries.  

WR DeAndre Hopkins HOU $7.4K, Davante Adams GB $7K, Sterling Shepard NYG $5.1K

I may regret this, but I’m going down the Hopkins well for the second (and final time) this year. The Raiders secondary has been soft all year and even a 15 point game (6 catches for 60 yards and a TD) would make him a solid investment. With Jordy Nelson having a tough matchup, I’m going with Adams for the big potential target volume and TD upside. Sterling Shepard has 8 TD’s in his last 9 games.

TE Jimmy Graham SEA $6.6K

The Lions defense is weak at linebacker and Graham is the safest potential double digit point tight end on the board.

K Nick Novak HOU $4.5K

Indoor minimum salary kicker.

D/ST Texans $4.8K

Give me the strong unit at home against a QB off the street starting his first game of the year.

Joe Pisapia (@JoePisapia17) is the eight-time best-selling author of the Fantasy Black Book Series for baseball and football. He hosts On Target Fantasy weekdays at 12 noon est, The Fantasy Black Book Tues and Thurs 8-10pm est and Sunday Game Day 8-11am on FNTSY Network Radio.