It’s Week 14, which means the fantasy football playoffs loom around the corner just a handful of days from now. If you haven’t locked in a playoff spot by now, hopefully this is your week. If not? Go play spoiler and ruin a league-mate’s fantasy hopes and dreams.
Whether they’re on your season-long roster or you’re looking to pay up for a stud on DraftKings DFS, here are three must-start players for Week 14.
RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles, $9,000
How comfortable are you with breaking the bank?
At $9,000, Saquon Barkley comes with the most expensive salary in all of DraftKings NFL DFS. It’s a hefty price to pay, and one that may force you to identify sleeper picks at other positions. With that said, this guy is incredible.
Barkley has 1,766 scrimmage yards and 13 total touchdowns on the season in just 12 games. With average rushing production of 124.9 yards per contest, his already-immense upside ticks even higher at home against a poor Carolina Panthers defense.
The visiting Panthers rank dead-last in rushing yards allowed per game at a staggering 166.8. Barkley is the focal point of the Eagles’ attack, and his team should operate in a positive game script throughout the day. Is a 30+ fantasy-point outing possible? Absolutely, so fade the superstar RB at your own risk.
WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams, $7,700
Let’s run it back again, shall we?
Puka Nacua came through with a good-not-great 17.3 points last week, but this matchup is a chance for him to get back to the production we’ve grown accustomed to from the young star. The second-year wide receiver has received at least seven targets in three of his last four games since returning from injury. Over that span, he’s averaging 22 fantasy points per game.
This week, he faces one of the NFL’s better pass defenses in the Buffalo Bills, who rank eighth in passing yards allowed per contest. However, the Rams are at home in a must-win matchup while looking to play spoiler on what’s been a great season for the Bills. This should be a pretty close game, and everyone knows how much Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay love to sling the rock.
Make no mistake — Nacua is WR1 in Los Angeles, even with the presence of Cooper Kupp. Slot him in your lineup on Sunday.
RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints, $8,000
Smash start. End of story.
The Saints are struggling this year, but it’s less their fault and more due to the injury bug decimating their roster. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is currently WR1, which isn’t exactly ideal for a passing offense.
Thankfully, they have Alvin Kamara in the backfield. He’s averaging over 100 scrimmage yards per contest and over 19 fantasy points per outing. He quite literally is the Saints’ offense as they weather the injury storm.
Kamara has a date with the New York Giants’ 29th-ranked rush defense this week. The G-Men allow an average of 145.8 rushing yards per game, so while the Saints will surely lean on their run game to begin with, there’s potential for a massive performance from Kamara here. Between the tackles, outside zones, checkdowns out of the backfield… he will touch the ball plenty in this matchup.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
DraftKings promoters may sometimes play on personal accounts in the games that advice is offered on. Personal views on the games and strategies above do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. DraftKings promoters may also deploy different players and strategies than what is recommended above. DraftKings promoters do not have access to any non-public information.
