How to Handle Week 1's High-Ownership Daily Fantasy Football Assets

DeAngelo Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers

Things are a bit different with DeAngelo Williams than they were with White. Not only do the Pittsburgh Steelers have a high implied team total, it's the second-highest on the slate. They're also favored, and Williams made fantasy owners sob with delight all of last year. This one's not easy.

With Le'Veon Bell out of the lineup last year, Williams was a bona fide stud. In those 10 games, Williams averaged 21.3 touches and 19.36 FanDuel points per game, which would be the highest per-game total of any back in the league if we only counted those 10 games. As only the 12th-most expensive player at the position, he's going to catch some eyes.

This doesn't mean that it's a slam-dunk for Williams.

The Steelers are on the road, which is always a bit of a concern for a higher-priced running back. Ben Roethlisberger's adjusted yards per attempt was 6.84 on the road last year, down from 8.59 at home, and that decrease in efficiency should lower expectations for the offense as a whole.

Finally, Washington's defense was solid against the rush last year, ranking 13th in Adjusted Defensive Rushing Net Expected Points (NEP) per play, numberFire's opponent-weighted metric to track the efficiency of teams. They were 22nd against the pass, which could incentivize the Steelers to attack through the air. Is this enough for us to fade Williams?

It probably shouldn't be. Our two big concerns with White -- goal-line usage and implied team total -- are not in play here. Williams' involvement in both the ground game and aerial attack gives him a solid floor, and the Vegas lines imply that he has a great ceiling. You're getting a top-tier back for a reduced cost, so it makes sense to invest here where you can afford it.