Fantasy Update: Last-Minute Advice For Las Vegas

If you're planning a last-minute trip to Las Vegas, here are some tips to make the most of your experience. From live stage shows and caviar tastings to off-road desert tours, there's something for everyone in Sin City!

On February 2, Tower of Fantasy will receive an exciting update that adds Wandering Amidst Miasma, featuring a brand-new Miasmal Swamp.

Start ’em/Sit ’em

It's Wild Card Weekend, meaning many teams in the NFL remain in playoff contention. As such, championship-minded fantasy owners will be making important start/sit decisions this weekend.

While a slate with multiple division matchups offers plenty of chances to score points and accumulate bonus XP, they may also feature shootouts or defensive slugfests. That can be challenging in tight contested leagues; SN's Vinnie Iyer has you covered with his Week 17 fantasy lineup advice and DFS tips.

The Raiders, for instance, have a history of struggling to win games. While they've had some victories and losses recently, two close losses to the Chargers and Cardinals in September have left their chances looking increasingly dim.

However, the Raiders have been on a roll recently and will look to extend their winning streak when they face the Rams on Sunday night. Their defense has been much better of late but they must get more aggressive against an offense that's been inconsistent lately.

If you're going to wager on the game, consider placing your bet on the Raiders moneyline. Although it's more expensive, this option comes with a greater likelihood of success; if they win by three or more points, you'll receive your stake plus an attractive payout.

In addition to betting on the game, you can also place a bet on the point total. This is often used when making parlays and gives you an edge over simply placing bets on the moneyline alone.

As previously discussed, this matchup offers plenty of low-ceiling fantasy options and Vegas' implied point total suggests it might be a push. Despite this, I still predict the Raiders to win this one since they have been more effective in passing situations this season.

The Raiders' offensive line could be a concern in this matchup, but they'll have an opportunity to prove themselves away from home against an impressive offense. That could give other offensive skill players such as Cam Akers the opportunity to shine.

Sleepers/Busts

For many years, buses were the go-to option for budget travelers. While they can be dirty and crowded, get stuck in traffic or bumpy, and are generally slow and clunky, buses still provide affordable fares and some decent amenities.

One of the newest players to enter the fray is FlixBus, an European giant which expanded into America last year and offers several routes between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. They boast some impressive features like surprisingly fast Wi-Fi coverage, overhead storage compartments and competitive fares.

On my way from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, I took the bus and was thoroughly pleased with its speed, comfort and price. For less than $40 I could book a seat, plus there was free Wi-Fi signal that rivaled most hotels in the area for speed!

Sleeper buses have been around for decades, but it's only recently that bus companies have fully embraced bed-in-a-bus technology. These vehicles provide more than just a seat and some legroom; many now boast features like onboard bathrooms, showers, kitchenettes and even Wi-Fi internet access.

Buses come in many different forms, from luxury or lie-flat sleeper coaches to minibuses and crew buses. A typical crew bus can fit a dozen bunk beds, an onboard bathroom, as well as a fully stocked galley kitchen.

When traveling to Las Vegas with a large group, Windstar Lines offers minibus or coach bus rentals to fit your needs. Their fleet includes 21 Passenger Minibuses, 47-56 Passenger Luxury Motorcoaches and VIP Sleeper Motorcoaches to fit your group size, budget and schedule. Get in touch to discover how a bus can best accommodate your group size, budget and schedule; our staff is more than happy to assist you throughout the planning process - the right bus makes all the difference on your journey! To find out more about our options or request more information, give our team a call or send us an email today!

Injury Updates

Fantasy team owners must stay abreast of the latest injuries. Staying informed on these developments is key in order to make informed decisions regarding your roster.

James Conner of the Denver Broncos suffered a low ankle sprain during their win against Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, but it appeared to be minor and he should be fine for Week 3. It appears unlikely that any time will be lost due to this injury, which is encouraging news.

With RB Joe Mixon (ankle) out and Samaje Perine seeing limited action this week, Conner is likely the primary running back for the Bengals; especially with TE Brevin Jordan out of the lineup. That could translate into plenty of fantasy points for Conner in 2019, but he must stay healthy for an extended period before that occurs.

He was limited on Thursday and Friday, but is expected to make a game-day decision once more. That makes him worth having on your bench even if it is not necessarily a fantasy must-start.

In other news, both WR Hunter Renfrow (concussion) and LB Darren Waller (hamstring) are expected to return from injured reserve in Week 14; however, when they can play remains uncertain. It's therefore essential for Raiders fans to stay abreast of their status moving forward as these players could be a huge boost for the passing game when healthy.

Furthermore, it's possible that WR James Robinson - who has been out with an Achilles injury since 2017 - could return in Week 1 and make his first NFL appearance since then. That would be a tremendous boost for the Chargers' passing game, especially given his reputation as a premier pass-catcher.

In addition to those lingering injuries, some names that should be on your radar include RB Tony Pollard (thigh), QB Dak Prescott (finger), TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring), WR DeVante Parker (concussion) and WR Jerry Jeudy (ankle). All these players provide some great upside for your lineup this week.

DFS Advice

Last October, Nevada's state attorney general declared the DFS industry to be illegal gambling. As a result, two major operators -- DraftKings and FanDuel -- withdrew their operations from the state.

This week the NGPC is scheduled to discuss the issue again; however, there still appears to be no definitive path forward. However, the draft legislation posted on their website appears to provide a starting point; it was largely created by industry and is expected to be voted upon Tuesday.

DFS could be a boon for Nevada and its economy if allowed in the state. The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGPC) has the authority to regulate this industry and protect consumers, so Freeman believes it's essential for Nevada to create an accommodating framework that would permit DFS growth.

State lawmakers could do well to create a regulatory framework that helps DFS companies stay abreast of consumer demands. One possible step could be setting minimum betting limits.

DFS systems can be tricky to set up and configure, especially if your data resides on multiple physical devices or in different locations. Vendor support is a great resource to assist with getting your system up and running efficiently.

Another advantage of DFS is location transparency, enabling users to access data from one root system from multiple devices and locations. This can be especially helpful for teams working in multi-site engineering environments or having multiple engineers working on a single project.

File synchronization and replication are essential elements of Distributed File System (DFS). They guarantee that data remains accessible in the event of server or network failure.

A successful DFS system should be able to cache much of the data, thus cutting down on access time for users. Furthermore, encryption of sensitive information enhances security and performance.

DFS can be an ideal way to increase data availability for various scenarios, such as backups and disaster recovery. Ultimately, it's an essential tool for organizations with large amounts of information that needs to be stored and accessible across different locations and systems.