We have finally passed all of the bye week shenanigans and have firmly planted ourselves into league playoffs. We also have our first Saturday slate of the year. Between this bonus slate, Thursday, and the primetime slate there are 10 teams taken out of the main slate’s player pool. This includes great offenses like KC, Tampa, Indy, Minnesota, and the Los Angeles Chargers. We also lose the Cleveland backfield, Taysom Hill, Alvin Kamara, Hunter Renfrow, and the Chicago Bears (whom no one will really miss). Since we have a bonus slate of play, I will break that down in addition to the primetime slate, so that we can all make even more moolah for the holidays!
DFS: The Saturday Slate
Derek Carr has been slightly dysfunctional since the arrest of Henry Ruggs and the injury to Darren Waller. His bad loss to KC last week isn’t entirely on his shoulders, though. The Raiders were behind the 8-ball from the onset. Carr did swallow four sacks and threw a pick, so he can’t be completely ignored in the realm of responsibility, either. He also has one or zero TDs in five of his last six starts. Coming into this season, I would’ve ranked him as the top QB on this slate. In this current environment, he is no better than QB3, and quite probably QB4.
Thanks to a well-timed bye week, Baker Mayfield may be his physically healthiest of the entire season. Of course, then what happens, he tests positive for COVID. If he can stumble out of bed and down the hall to the locker room, and escape the COVID protocols, he gets a great matchup. The Raiders’ pass defense is still sustaining its ranking based on early-season success. Unfortunately, they have been a shell of themselves over the last month plus. They aren’t the worst defense on the board, but they are bad enough that Mayfield should be QB2 on this small slate if he goes. Baker’s backup, Case Keenum, also tested positive for COVID (on Thursday). So it seems that if Baker is forced to sit this one out, Nick Mullens will get the start and is a slight (not awful) drop-off in terms of talent.
Josh Jacobs should’ve had success last week, but Vegas fell so far behind so fast that he never got a chance to get started. With Kenyan Drake out for the year, he will be the three-down back for Vegas the rest of the way. This is a decent week for him as Cleveland has been struggling against running backs since Week 5 (especially dual-threat RBs). I have him as my RB3 on this board simply because the top-two options are more reliable. That said, feel free to use all three of them. Peyton Barber is filling in a backup role right now, and he doesn’t have enough value, even if Jacobs got hurt.
Kareem Hunt left last week’s game with an ankle injury. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski claimed after the game that Hunt wanted to re-enter, but he was held out as a precaution. An early week MRI has ruled Hunt out. With Hunt absent, Nick Chubb once again gets to carry a full load for Cleveland. The numbers weren’t great last week, but this was against the top-ranked Baltimore run defense. This week, he faces the 24th-ranked Raiders. This locks in Chubb as the RB2 on this slate. D’Ernest Johnson will fill the Hunt role and be RB6.
Hunter Renfrow will probably help some owners win their fantasy leagues this season. This isn’t a great slate for WRs, so even in a middling matchup, he is the WR2 (and possibly WR1 if Jarvis Landry is out). Zay Jones is second on the team over the last three weeks in targets. I could see using him as a punt WR3 at best. Bryan Edwards and DeSean Jackson are splitting sprint routes. I can’t see using either of them in this contest, but you could use one in a Showdown slate looking to capitalize on a long TD.
Jarvis Landry scored last week. He also led the team in targets and tied for the team lead in receptions. By sheer lack of other options, he should be the WR1 on this slate. That said, he needs to clear the COVID protocol before this weekend. Donovan Peoples-Jones finally had a breakout game. It was against a decimated secondary, so take that with a grain of salt. He won’t be higher than WR5 for me this week, unless Landry is out. The only other WR to register more than one catch since Week 10 is Ja’Marcus Bradley. I actually like his future potential, but the future is not now. Drop the value on all of these WRs a little if Nick Mullens is under center.
Darren Waller is again out. Foster Moreau gets another start he falls to no better than TE3. Cleveland has struggled against elite TEs. Waller is elite … Moreau, not so much.
Cleveland likes to use three-TE sets (in the DFS world I call it triple-TE). It works great in reality, not so much in fantasy. Unfortunately for them, two of their top three TEs were held out of Week 14 (David Njoku due to COVID and Harrison Bryant due to an ankle injury). Austin Hooper was the last man standing last week (and now he has tested positive for COVID). He scored last week as expected. If Bryant remains out, and Hooper suits up, he will finish no worse than TE2 on this slate. A now-healthy Njoku could also be used as a punt TE play or even a punt FLEX if you spend too much elsewhere. If Njoku plays and Hooper is out, Njoku instantly becomes a popular TE4/5 play. The TE value should be the same whether Mullens or Mayfield starts.
All four of these defenses are fairly even in regards to their match to the opposing offense. I feel most owners will be on the New England Patriots, so I like to pivot to Cleveland. Despite their dysfunction, you could even consider Vegas here with all the COVID cases on Cleveland’s offense.
Saturday night, Mac Jones travels to Indy. The Colts started the year as one of the worst pass defenses in the league. A series of games against mediocre to outright bad QBs have improved their stats allowed, but they are still touchable through the air. I’m not sure that Jones has the passing upside to take advantage of them for more than 270-2. This will likely put him at QB3/4 on this board in a dogfight with Derek Carr.
Carson Wentz faces the toughest pass defense on the board. Unfortunately, this is a rough slate for passing offenses, so he is the de facto QB1. I actually believe that I would prefer a COVID-free Baker Mayfield this week, but it is close.
Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson would each be in consideration for RB3 here if the other was out injured. With both of them active, they get the RB4 and RB5 slots, respectively. Harris is very good, and I like using him as my FLEX to save a little dough. Stevenson led the team in carries in the Week 12 Wind Bowl, but Harris was more efficient with his touches. Plus, Harris has scored in seven of his last eight games. Stevenson has scored in only two games all season and one of those Harris missed due to injury. Brandon Bolden is the “James White role” in this offense. He won’t need to play a huge role this week, but he can be used in Showdown contests as a TD dart throw.
So much for that split backfield. Jonathan Taylor has taken the featured back role and run away with it. Over his last 10 games, he has had 18 total scores. New England is much worse against the run than the pass. Anything less than 125-2 would seem like a failure for JT this week. Nyheim Hines has been relegated to mop-up duty. There won’t be any of that this week. His only path to value here would be a Taylor injury. I’m not going to wish nor predict such a thing. Keep that karma away from this game.
Kendrick Bourne has actually found himself in reliable WR territory recently. Every year some no-name guy emerges from obscurity to perform well for the Patriots. This year it is him. I have him as my WR4 on this slate, and I like the idea of using him if you need to save some money. Nelson Agholor could also be used in a positive matchup. As could be Jakobi Meyers, despite his noted lack of scoring. True WR1s have destroyed Indy this year, but I’m not sure any of them fits that category. This might be a situation where you make three different lineups with each of them as your WR3.
Michael Pittman is the most talented WR on this slate. That said, he has a tough matchup, so he has to battle with Renfrow and Landry (if available) for the top fantasy play. I can see using the stack of him with Wentz. T.Y. Hilton failed in Week 13 against the Houston Texans. I cannot trust him in any game that isn’t against the Texans. Zach Pascal may be an interesting punt WR3 as a way to get access to this game without paying Pittman’s price. If it means anything, Ashton Dulin has scored in back-to-back games. He also has exactly one catch in each of those two games. I’d leave him for Showdown where he is a must-start.
Hunter Henry was a TD machine earlier this year. Now, he is sharing targets with Jonnu Smith once again. Indy has been foul against the position over the last month-plus. If Jonnu wanted to take the week off, Henry would challenge for TE2 or better on this slate. As it sits, Henry is a TD-dependent TE3/4. Jonnu can be ignored this week, unless Henry ends up missing the game somehow.
Jack Doyle is your TE4 (at best) here. He has been doing well since Week 8. That said, New England neutralizes the TE position. This suggests that Mo-Alie Cox is even less likely to help you this week.
The Patriots will be the most-owned defense on this slate. They also face the best offense on the slate. I believe in pivoting away from them. Indy gets the rookie QB, they might be a sneaky play here.
DFS: The Primetime Slate
As a QB, Taysom Hill has been a solid running back. The lack of talent to throw to, along with the lack of throwing talent, leaves his legs as his only truly valuable asset. Tampa’s secondary has been laughable all year, but does New Orleans have anyone that can take advantage of this? I have to presume Hill will manage to throw at least one score (probably to Alvin Kamara). I also like him to add one on the ground. I still cannot see him finishing as better than QB2 on this board.
Tom Brady managed to turn a bad matchup last week into a solid fantasy line anyways. This matchup is better, but still not perfect for him. Still, this is Brady, so I have to name him as the QB1 here, since none of the others has a sure-thing matchup, either.
On paper, this matchup should seem scary for Alvin Kamara. Running against Tampa Bay is never recommended. Fortunately for Kamara, Tampa can be bested by pass-catching backs. They rank second worst in receptions allowed to the position. This advantage locks Alvin in at RB2 here. Mark Ingram missed last week due to COVID. He should return this week, but with Kamara healthy, he is nothing more than a change-of-pace option with no red-zone value due to Hill. Unless you are putting out a Kamara-gets-injured lineup, then he can be avoided. Tony Jones will fall back into a depth role, with zero value unless Ingram is out again. Even then, I wouldn’t consider him.
New Orleans is arguably tougher than Tampa to run on. They are also not as flimsy against pass-catching backs. That said, Leonard Fournette is in playoff mode already. He is stepping up and getting it done regardless of matchup. Unfortunately for Lenny, he is dealing with an ankle issue. Assuming he plays, Fournette is RB4 here due to the level of talent in play on this slate. He should be at least your FLEX in a fair share of your lineups. Fournette would get a boost in that Gio Bernard is out for this game. He also would get a boost in that Ronald Jones just isn’t very good. I’ll give Jones the courtesy RB5 nod, but I don’t really see myself using him unless Fournette is ruled out.
The Saints’ wide receiver room is pretty awful. Deonte Harris is suspended. This leaves the unholy trinity of Tre’Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway, and Lil’Jordan Humphrey (hamstring). Callaway has the most talent of that threesome, and Tre’Quan has seen the most targets recently. Against most teams, I’d leave them all on the bench, but Tampa is bad enough against the pass to consider one of those two as a punt WR3. Especially, if you are looking to run it back versus a Buccaneers-led game stack.
Antonio Brown is going to miss at least one more game due to suspension for creating a faux vax card. In his absence, it will be business as usual for Tampa as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin should dominate touches. It should be noted that Evans has posted only 7-114-2 across his last three matchups against New Orleans as he has seen the most top coverage. Compare that to Godwin, who has posted 17-260-1 over that same three-game stretch. Plus, Godwin has received an absurd target share recently with 32 looks over the last two weeks. Godwin is the WR2 here and Evans the WR4/5. Breshad Perriman has bypassed both Tyler Johnson and Scotty Miller on the performance charts for Tampa. Johnson has more talent, but he just isn’t seeing as much usage as I’d like. Miller slipped so far he was actually inactive last week. Perriman is a vertical threat, so he could score any week, but his lack of targets makes him very TD-dependent. Personally, I would only consider Perriman or Johnson in Showdown slates.
Nick Vannett and Juwan Johnson aren’t going to scare anyone. Vannett has seen an uptick in usage since the injury to Adam Trautman, who this week was designated to return. Tampa is so-so versus the position while Minnesota is elite against it, so he might sneak into TE3 consideration over Cole Kmet. Johnson hasn’t seen many targets, but he is a big body and that could equate to a red-zone target or two since the New Orleans WRs aren’t anything to write home about, either.
The Saints are good against TEs, but Rob Gronkowski is such a TD threat that he gets the TE1 spot without any effort. The matchup is tough enough that I’m not going to use Cameron Brate, though.
I don’t see how you could use either of these defenses here with two better options on MNF.
Monday night, Kirk Cousins gets another primetime game. Haven’t the schedule makers learned their lesson yet? Cousins is 1-9 for his career on Monday nights and 9-17 overall in primetime. Plus, over five career games with Minnesota versus the Bears, Cousins has only thrown for seven total TDs. The Bears defense is not as strong as recent years, but still keep your Kirk expectations in check. He should be the QB2 here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he finishes at QB3.
Justin Fields showed off his assets last week. Unfortunately, it was in a losing effort. Meanwhile, both of the speedy running QBs to face the Vikings this year have dominated them. Justin doesn’t have the level of skill that Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray bring to the table, so I will leave him at QB4 here. Just know that his rushing yards won’t hurt his value this week.
Alexander Mattison will miss this game due to COVID, so Dalvin Cook will get all of the work. This should be great for Cook, since the Bears have suffered a fall-off against the position of late. Plus, Cook is coming off a decimation of Pittsburgh, and he posted a solid 271-1 against Chicago in two games last season. Lock Cook in at RB1 and expect another huge night from him. Kene Nwangwu will be the backup this week. With Dalvin just a pair of weeks removed from a severe shoulder injury, Kene could be forced into action with a reinjury. He should get the RB6 nod. Nwangwu will also have value in the return game, and if he and the Minnesota defense are stacked, you can get the double payday if he scores a return TD. The team also signed veteran Wayne Gallman off waivers this week. I doubt he will have any value unless both the other backs get hurt.
This is the David Montgomery show. He has value on the ground and through the air. Minnesota has both of their top two LBs back healthy to slow down Montgomery. Still, I like his chances to finish with 125 combo yards and a score. This should set him up as RB3 this week and no lower than RB4. Khalil Herbert has entered witness protection since Monty’s return. He was even out-touched by Damien Williams last week. They are both just complementary pieces now, so they can be ignored.
Adam Thielen missed last week’s game due to an ankle injury. His status for Week 15 also is in question. If he plays, he is no more than WR5. His propensity to score TDs always keeps him in play when he suits up. Regardless of Thielen’s status, Justin Jefferson is the WR1 on this slate. Davante Adams was the latest alpha WR1 to throttle the Bears last week. Something that many have already done this year. Jefferson posted 16-239 against Chicago last season and is white-hot right now. I don’t see any way that he doesn’t post 10-130-1 as a floor here. K.J. Osborn is the WR that will benefit most if Thielen is out. In the game plus that Adam has been out, Osborn has been targeted 16 times and has scored twice. I will rank him at WR6/7 on the board, and he is a perfect WR3 play this week. Dede Westbrook is the Vikings’ WR4, and he also has COVID. Even if he plays, he doesn’t have any legit value outside of Showdown.
Darnell Mooney is a very good young WR. It remains to be seen if the Vikings shadow him with Patrick Peterson, or if Peterson is assigned the task of guarding the veteran Allen Robinson. Peterson can occasionally be beaten in coverage, but the rest of the Vikings secondary can be beaten on every play. Mooney is safe to utilize as either the WR4/5 on this docket. Robinson is more of a question mark due to his season-long struggles. That said, Minnesota has allowed 20 different WRs to post double-digit PPR points. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if both fared well this week. I’ll assign Robinson the WR7 rank, but he is a decent dart-throw WR3 option. Jakeem Grant has scored as a WR in back-to-back games. He also added a return TD last week. As long as I have been watching football, Minnesota has always struggled with quality return men. With the threat of a return TD, he also makes a possible punt WR3 or FLEX play to save you money up top. Damiere Byrd has actually been more involved in the passing offense than Grant, but I have to give the value edge to the latter here.
Tyler Conklin is your TE2 on this board. Chicago has allowed 27-264-3 to the position over the last five games. Meanwhile, Conklin has 11 targets over the last week-plus without Thielen.
Cole Kmet would normally be your TE3 here. Unfortunately, he has been splitting usage with Jimmy Graham recently. Also, Minnesota has been elite against the TE position despite their recent foibles (3 TDs allowed in the last four games while battling injuries). I’d almost rather use Graham here, despite knowing that he is TD-dependent.
I will likely use one of these two defenses. Minnesota gets to face the rookie QB. They are probably the top choice. Especially since Chicago has allowed the second-most sacks and the fourth-most turnovers. The Vikings don’t make a ton of turnovers, but they have no one on their O-line that can contain Robert Quinn.
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The Main Slate: My recommended DFS lineups
At DK: $5.6k for Ben Roethlisberger. $7.3k for Ezekiel Elliott. $5.7k for Chuba Hubbard. $7.5k for Diontae Johnson. $6.3k for Brandon Aiyuk. $4.9k for Marquez Valdes-Scantling. $3.4K for Ricky Seals-Jones. $5.1k for Chase Edmonds (if he plays, or $4.9k for David Johnson) at FLEX. $3.7k for the Miami Dolphins defense.
At FD: $6.6k for Big Ben. $6.7k for Zeke. $6k for Hubbard. $7.8k for Diontae. $8.5k for Davante Adams. $9k for Cooper Kupp. $4.5k for Seals-Jones. $6.5k for Edmonds (or $6.9k for Antonio Gibson) at FLEX. $4.2k for the Los Angeles Rams defense.
At Fanball (SuperFlex – includes Sun Night): Aaron Rodgers, Big Ben at SF, Zeke, and James Robinson, Edmonds (or Hubbard or Myles Gaskin) at FLEX, Adams, Diontae, Chris Godwin, and Seals-Jones.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Allen | $8,100 | $8,700 |
| Kyler Murray | $7,900 | $8,800 |
| Aaron Rodgers | $7,500 | $7,600 |
| Lamar Jackson | $7,200 | $7,700 |
| Matthew Stafford | $7,000 | $7,700 |
| Jalen Hurts | $6,600 | $7,800 |
| Dak Prescott | $6,500 | $7,500 |
| Russell Wilson | $6,400 | $7,200 |
| Joe Burrow | $6,100 | $7,300 |
| Ryan Tannehill | $5,900 | $7,000 |
| Jimmy Garoppolo | $5,800 | $6,700 |
| Tua Tagovailoa | $5,700 | $7,400 |
| Ben Roethlisberger | $5,600 | $6,600 |
| Taylor Heinicke | $5,500 | $6,900 |
| Teddy Bridgewater | $5,500 | $6,600 |
| Cam Newton | $5,400 | $6,900 |
| Davis Mills | $5,400 | $6,800 |
| Tyler Huntley | $5,400 | $6,400 |
| Matt Ryan | $5,300 | $6,500 |
| Gardner Minshew | $5,200 | $6,200 |
| Mike Glennon | $5,200 | $6,700 |
| Zach Wilson | $5,200 | $6,500 |
| Jared Goff | $5,100 | $6,400 |
| Trevor Lawrence | $5,100 | $6,500 |
| P.J. Walker | $5,000 | $6,300 |
| Mitchell Trubisky | $4,700 | $6,100 |
Quarterback
Weekly strategy – If Aaron Rodgers isn’t limited by his toe, he has a layup of a game. The safer plays will be Matthew Stafford and Dak Prescott. Jimmy Garoppolo, Ben Roethlisberger, and Tua Tagovailoa are all solid plays at significant costs savings. If Gardner Minshew starts, he is almost a must-start punt option. If you want to take a deep flier, consider Trevor Lawrence and Davis Mills against each other.
Fantasy Four-pack
Dak Prescott, Cowboys @ NYG
($6,500 DK, $7,500 FD)
Dak faces a defense that has allowed the fourth-most passing scores over the last four weeks. For the year, New York finds itself in the bottom half against the position in every major category. Plus, Prescott has dominated New York recently. In his last four full games against the Giants (he was injured halfway through the Week 5 game last year), Dak has posted 1,351 yards and 14 TDs.
Matthew Stafford, Rams vs. SEA
($7,000 DK, $7,500 FD)
After a few shaky starts, Stafford appears to have turned things around. Seattle should accommodate further the repair to his season numbers. They have allowed the most total passing yards and the second-most completions this year. Keep an eye on Odell Beckham’s COVID status. I believe his presence has actually aided Stafford’s rebound. If Beckham is out, Van Jefferson will need to step it up, making him a great potential stack option.
Aaron Rodgers, Packers @ BAL
($7,500 DK, $7,600 FD)
The Ravens have lost all semblance of pass defense. That is arguably the worst thing that can happen with Rodgers coming to town. As long as his toe doesn’t fall off, Aaron will be doling out TDs like Oprah Winfrey doles out Christmas gifts. The Ravens have been especially rotten against the deep pass. This is why I am going to stack Marquez Valdes-Scantling as often as I can.
Kyler Murray, Cardinals @ DET
($7,900 DK, $8,800 FD)
James Conner is not 100 percent and he may end up missing the game. Chase Edmonds may or may not return this week. Eno Benjamin is nothing special. Still, this is a game against Detroit. That means that we should see three or four rushing TDs. There is a realistic world where all of those TDs go to Kyler. Anything he does through the air is gravy.
DFS Sleepers
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers vs. TEN
($5,600 DK, $6,600 FD)
Big Ben has always fared better at home than on the road. It has helped that he has always had multiple quality WRs. Tennessee may appear to have righted their ship against opposing QBs allowing only four passing TDs over the last five weeks. Upon closer examination, however, this five-week stretch includes their bye week and games against Mac Jones, Tyrod Taylor, Trevor Siemian, and Trevor Lawrence. Even an aged Roethlisberger is a surer thing than anyone on that list.
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers vs. ATL
($5,800 DK, $6,700 FD)
Garoppolo continues to have success despite having his top WR playing mostly running back. Atlanta’s pass defense also looks better than earlier this year thanks to a series of untalented opponents over the last month plus. Rest assured, they aren’t any better than they were earlier this year. If Eli Mitchell returns this week, then Garoppolo will get Deebo Samuel back as a WR. That is a scary thought.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | |
|---|---|---|
| Najee Harris | $7,800 | $8,800 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | $7,300 | $6,700 |
| Joe Mixon | $7,200 | $8,300 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | $6,900 | $7,000 |
| Aaron Jones |
$6,600 | $7,500 |
| Saquon Barkley | $6,500 | $7,300 |
| James Conner | $6,400 | $8,000 |
| D’Andre Swift | $6,300 | $7,300 |
| Eli Mitchell | $6,200 | $7,800 |
| Javonte Williams | $6,100 | $7,000 |
| Antonio Gibson | $6,000 | $6,900 |
| Darrell Henderson | $5,900 | $6,800 |
| Melvin Gordon | $5,900 | $7,000 |
| Miles Sanders | $5,800 | $6,500 |
| Sony Michel | $5,800 | $6,800 |
| Tony Pollard | $5,800 | $5,800 |
| AJ Dillon | $5,700 | $7,500 |
| Chuba Hubbard | $5,700 | $6,000 |
| Myles Gaskin | $5,600 | $6,600 |
| Devonta Freeman | $5,500 | $5,900 |
| James Robinson | $5,400 | $6,300 |
| Rashaad Penny | $5,400 | $6,100 |
| Jamaal Williams | $5,300 | $6,000 |
| D’Onta Foreman | $5,200 | $5,800 |
| Chase Edmonds | $5,100 | $6,500 |
| Mike Davis | $5,100 | $5,600 |
| Devin Singletary | $5,000 | $5,400 |
| J.D. McKissic | $5,000 | $5,300 |
| Jeff Wilson | $5,000 | $5,800 |
| Tevin Coleman | $5,000 | $5,500 |
| David Johnson | $4,900 | $5,500 |
| Dontrell Hilliard | $4,900 | $5,200 |
| Matt Breida | $4,800 | $5,300 |
| Ty Johnson | $4,800 | $5,400 |
| Michael Carter | $4,700 | $5,900 |
| Jeremy McNichols | $4,600 | $5,300 |
| Latavius Murray | $4,600 | $5,100 |
| Phillip Lindsay | $4,600 | $5,500 |
| Craig Reynolds | $4,300 | $5,300 |
| Jordan H0ward | $4,300 | $5,700 |
| Boston Scott | $4,200 | $5,400 |
Running Back
Weekly strategy – The RB field this week is shaky thanks to several injuries and COVID absences. Ezekiel Elliott should be the best option on paper, but his season hasn’t inspired confidence. Whoever starts for Arizona is a must-start for you. My money is on Chase Edmonds getting the call. The same goes for whoever starts for Miami. In that case, I am hoping that Myles Gaskin is recovered in time to start. The only other options I feel truly solid with are Chuba Hubbard, Joe Mixon, Cordarrelle Patterson, Antonio Gibson, and James Robinson (au revoir Urban Meyer – don’t let the door kick ya on the way out!). If Eli Mitchell returns, you could also use him. On the other hand, if Mitchell doesn’t return, Jeff Wilson will have value for one more week. The punt options include whoever starts for the Jets, Eagles, and Titans.
Fantasy Four-pack
Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys @ NYG
($7,300 DK, $6,700 FD)
If we knew for certain that Tony Pollard would miss another game, then Zeke would be a lock for the top spot this week. The Giants are allowing 157 combo yards per game to opposing RBs. Pollard is nursing a torn plantar fascia, so I don’t have a clue how he thinks he is going to play. Dallas should put him on ice (literally) until the playoffs.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons @ SF
($6,900 DK, $7,000 FD)
Patterson is a league winner in regular fantasy despite playing for an anemic offense. His receiving numbers have fizzled over the last month diminishing his value some. Coincidentally, this has come at the same time that he has picked up his scoring. San Fran has allowed some big RB receiving games recently, so perhaps CP gets his PPR-mojo back this week. The Falcons will need him here.
Najee Harris, Steelers vs. TEN
($7,800 DK, $8,800 FD)
This is a sign of how rough the RB board is this week. Harris has zero chance at 3x on FD, but (barring an amazing recovery by James Conner) Najee still will finish as one of the top three RBs this week. Tennessee looks dominant against the run if you just look at the stats. However, every decent or better RB they have faced has had their way with them. Their stats are being padded significantly by facing a who’s who of the worst backfields in football.
Joe Mixon, Bengals @ DEN
($7,200 DK, $8,300 FD)
Over their last nine games, Denver is allowing an average of 163 combo yards to the position. Meanwhile, Mixon has had two straight pedestrian efforts. Of course, he was playing through a non-COVID illness last week. Prior to this mini-slump, Mixon had scored 12 times in eight games. He should get back on track this week.
DFS Sleepers
Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ BUF
($5,700 DK, $6,000 FD)
For some reason that escapes me, Buffalo’s run defense has gone south in correlation with the injury sustained by All-Pro cornerback, Tre’Davious White. Apparently, the rest of the defense is abandoning run-stoppage to fill White’s shoes in coverage? Seriously, though, this correlation doesn’t really make sense. All we can do is sit back and enjoy the results. Over their last four games, Buffalo has allowed 43 percent of their total RB allowed combo yards for the season (683/1,594). They have also given up seven of their 12 RB scores during this four-week span. Hubbard’s counting stats have been poor of late, but I expect Carolina to lean on him here.
Antonio Gibson, Football Team @ PHI
($6,000 DK, $6,900 FD)
Gibson had a tough go of it last week. Well, so did everyone on the Washington offense. Taylor Heinicke would have returned this week prior to his COVID diagnosis, so Garrett Gilbert draws the start. Philly is middle-of-the-pack against the run, but they have struggled with pass-catching backs. With J.D. McKissic appearing to be still sidelined by the concussion protocol, those vacated targets should go to Gibson.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper Kupp | $9,000 | $9,000 |
| Davante Adams | $8,900 | $8,500 |
| Deebo Samuel | $8,200 | $8,200 |
| Stefon Diggs | $7,700 | $7,800 |
| Diontae Johnson | $7,500 | $7,200 |
| CeeDee Lamb | $7,400 | $7,400 |
| Ja’Marr Chase | $7,100 | $7,500 |
| Tyler Lockett | $7,000 | $7,300 |
| Terry McLaurin | $6,800 | $6,900 |
| Jaylen Waddle | $6,600 | $7,100 |
| Tee Higgins | $6,500 | $6,800 |
| Amari Cooper | $6,400 | $7,000 |
| Brandon Aiyuk | $6,300 | $6,600 |
| DK Metcalf | $6,200 | $6,800 |
| DeVonta Smith | $6,100 | $5,900 |
| DJ Moore | $6,000 | $6,600 |
| Chase Claypool | $5,900 | $6,400 |
| Marquise Brown | $5,900 | $6,700 |
| Brandin Cooks | $5,800 | $6,900 |
| Russell Gage | $5,800 | $6,000 |
| Van Jefferson | $5,600 | $6,200 |
| Michael Gallup | $5,500 | $5,900 |
| Jerry Jeudy | $5,400 | $6,100 |
| Odell Beckham | $5,400 | $6,000 |
| Christian Kirk | $5,300 | $6,000 |
| Kenny Golladay | $5,300 | $5,400 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | $5,200 | $5,900 |
| Kadarius Toney | $5,100 | $5,200 |
| Jamison Crowder | $5,000 | $5,700 |
| Rashod Bateman | $5,000 | $5,800 |
| A.J. Green | $4,900 | $5,700 |
| Cole Beasley | $4,900 | $5,800 |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling | $4,900 | $5,500 |
| Tyler Boyd | $4,900 | $5,700 |
| Robby Anderson | $4,800 | $5,800 |
| Sterling Shepard | $4,700 | $5,600 |
| Courtland Sutton | $4,600 | $5,600 |
| Marvin Jones | $4,600 | $5,700 |
| Darius Slayton | $4,500 | $5,000 |
| Tim Patrick | $4,500 | $5,500 |
| Kalif Raymond | $4,400 | $5,200 |
| DeVante Parker | $4,300 | $5,800 |
| Josh Reynolds | $4,300 | $5,100 |
| Laviska Shenault | $4,300 | $5,400 |
| Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | $4,200 | $5,300 |
| Sammy Watkins | $4,100 | $5,200 |
| Allen Lazard | $4,000 | $5,300 |
| Quez Watkins | $3,900 | $5,300 |
| DeAndre Carter | $3,800 | $5,100 |
| Curtis Samuel | $3,700 | $4,800 |
| Gabriel Davis | $3,700 | $4,900 |
| Cedrick Wilson | $3,500 | $4,900 |
| James Washington | $3,500 | $5,100 |
| Keelan Cole | $3,500 | $5,000 |
| Nico Collins | $3,500 | $5,300 |
| Olamide Zaccheaus | $3,500 | $5,000 |
| Albert Wilson | $3,400 | $5,000 |
| Laquon Treadwell | $3,300 | $5,100 |
| Ray-Ray McCloud | $3,300 | $5,000 |
| Jalen Reagor | $3,200 | $5,000 |
Wide Receiver
Weekly strategy – So, as much as I hate the RB class this week, I love the WR group. Cooper Kupp and Davante Adams each have a great matchup despite their huge salaries. I could see using one of them, but not both. I also really love Diontae Johnson, and CeeDee Lamb this week. I will have at least one of these four in all of my lineups. I like Brandon Aiyuk and DeVonta Smith as possible WR2s. Other possible plays there include Christian Kirk, A.J. Green, Jerry Jeudy, Odell Beckham (if he plays), and Van Jefferson. WR3 should be easy to fill as well. If you don’t use Adams, your WR3 must be Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Otherwise, I would consider Jamison Crowder, Rashod Bateman, Nico Collins, Albert Wilson, one of the Lions, or one of the Jaguars.
Fantasy Four-pack
Davante Adams, Packers @ BAL
($8,900 DK, $8,500 FD)
Baltimore has devolved into one of the worst pass defenses in the league. Now they have to face Aaron Rodgers and his weapons of PASS destruction. Adams leads this artillery in every category and it isn’t particularly close. As long as Rodgers isn’t hindered by his foot, this will be a Green Bay blowout.
Diontae Johnson, Steelers vs. TEN
($7,500 DK, $7,200 FD)
Since Week 8, Johnson leads the league in targets, he is third among WRs in receiving yards, and fourth in receptions. Now, he gets to face the team that has allowed the most receptions and receiving yards to the position, along with the fourth-most WR scores. Johnson is easily the surest 3x performer on this docket.
Cooper Kupp, Rams vs. SEA
($9,000 DK, $9,000 FD)
Kupp leads the league in every relevant WR category. He should be in the discussion for league MVP and is without a doubt the fantasy MVP this year. Week 5 versus Seattle was one of the very few times this year that Kupp didn’t score. He still posted 7-92. With Beckham in COVID protocol, Kupp may need to be even more involved this week. Of course, that also could mean more double coverage for him.
CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys @ NYG
($7,400 DK, $7,400 FD)
The Giants have struggled against elite WRs all season. That said, they have been particularly bad of late allowing a league second-worst six WR touchdowns and fourth-worst 57 receptions over the last four games. Lamb has been Dak Prescott’s favorite target this season leading the Cowboys in every receiving category.
DFS Sleepers
Christian Kirk, Cardinals @ DET
($5,300 DK, $6,000 FD)
Earlier this year when DeAndre Hopkins was out, Kirk led the Cardinals in receiving yards. Nuk is now out until at least the playoffs, so some combination of Kirk, A.J. Green, and Rondale Moore will have to step it up once again. Detroit is not good against the pass or the run, so playing any of these guys is a great idea.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers @ BAL
($4,900 DK, $5,500 FD)
There is a legit argument for starting both Adams and MVS. Baltimore’s secondary is a total shambles right now. Plus, they have been abused by long TDs this year. So far this season, Baltimore has allowed 14 TD passes of 20 yards or more and eight TD passes of 40 yards or more. This is his specialty. He has had five scores of 40-plus yards since the start of 2020.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | |
|---|---|---|
| George Kittle | $7,500 | $7,800 |
| Mark Andrews | $6,400 | $7,400 |
| Kyle Pitts | $5,500 | $5,800 |
| Zach Ertz | $5,400 | $5,300 |
| Dallas Goedert | $5,300 | $6,000 |
| Dawson Knox | $5,100 | $6,500 |
| Mike Gesicki | $5,000 | $6,200 |
| Dalton Schultz | $4,900 | $5,600 |
| Pat Freiermuth | $4,500 | $5,300 |
| Noah Fant | $4,400 | $5,600 |
| Tyler Higbee | $4,000 | $5,200 |
| Gerald Everett | $3,500 | $4,900 |
| Ricky Seals-Jones | $3,400 | $4,500 |
| Albert Okwuegbunam | $3,300 | $5,200 |
| James O’Shaughnessy | $3,200 | $4,600 |
| C.J. Uzomah | $3,100 | $5,100 |
| Evan Engram | $3,100 | $5,000 |
| Geoff Swaim | $3,000 | $4,600 |
| Pharaoh Brown | $2,900 | $4,400 |
| Ryan Griffin | $2,900 | $4,600 |
| Brevin Jordan | $2,800 | $4,900 |
| Brock Wright | $2,800 | $4,500 |
| Josiah Deguara | $2,700 | $4,600 |
| Tommy Tremble | $2,600 | $4,600 |
| Marcedes Lewis | $2,500 | $4,300 |
Tight End
Weekly strategy – This TE pool is thin this week. George Kittle should have another huge game if Eli Mitchell remains out. Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz are the safest pivots. I don’t dislike Dalton Schultz, Tyler Higbee, and Noah Fant, but each has a reason to make me hesitant. My recommendation is to play one of the top-three, or punt completely to Ricky Seals-Jones, Brevin Jordan, or James O’Shaughnessy.
Fantasy Four-pack
George Kittle, 49ers vs. ATL
($7,500 DK, $7,800 FD)
Kittle has been ridiculous since Deebo Samuel moved primarily to RB with the absence of Mitchell. In those two games, Kittle has posted 22-332-3. He has also scored six times in his last six games. If Samuel goes back to WR this week, Kittle might see a slip in targets, but not enough to ignore him here.
Mark Andrews, Ravens vs. GB
($6,400 DK, $7,400 FD)
Andrews did well with Tyler Huntley at the helm last week. I’d still feel better about him if we knew Lamar Jackson was going to play. It doesn’t help that Green Bay is actually above average against the position. Still, Andrews leads all TEs in receiving yards and receptions. So, don’t write him off completely.
Zach Ertz, Cardinals @ DET
($5,400 DK, $5,300 FD)
Hopkins’ absence should provide Ertz with some additional targets, especially in the red zone. Since joining the Cards in Week 7, Ertz leads the team in receiving TDs and receptions. He is also second in receiving yards and targets. Meanwhile, Detroit has allowed the fourth-most TE scores, the seventh-most TE receiving yards, and the eighth-most receptions to the position.
Dallas Goedert, Eagles vs. WAS
($5,300 DK, $6,000 FD)
Not surprisingly, since Zach Ertz left the team in Week 7, Goedert leads the Eagles in receptions and receiving yards. He is also second in receiving TDs and targets. In Week 13, with Gardner Minshew at QB, Goedert had his best week of the season. If Jalen Hurts returns this week, bump Goedert down slightly. If Minshew gets another start, consider using them as a stack. Heck, this might be your first chance to feel comfortable doing a double-TE stack with both Goedert and Ertz.
DFS Sleepers
Ricky Seals-Jones, Football Team @ PHI
($3,400 DK, $4,500 FD)
Do you think that Philly spent their bye week attempting to learn how to guard the TE position? Yeah, I don’t think so, either. They rank dead last in all of the pertinent statistical categories against the TE position. RSJ didn’t do much in his first game back from injury. That said, he also didn’t play a full complement of snaps. One full week later, he should be ready to take on a full workload. Terry McLaurin remains questionable with a concussion. If he is out, Seals-Jones could even make more of an impact here.
Tyler Higbee, Rams vs. SEA
($4,000 DK, $5,200 FD)
Higbee was robbed of a start last week because of a false-positive COVID test. He should make up for that this week against a Seattle defense that has allowed an average of 7-88-1.25 to the position over the last four weeks. Higbee has been involved heavily in the offense, even since Beckham arrived. If Beckham misses this game due to COVID, Higbee might see an additional bump in his targets.