The New York Giants made a statement to start Week 6 with a victory over the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night. Sunday brings a loaded slate, starting with another overseas morning matchup between the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets. This will build out to a full slate of games across Sunday afternoon and another Monday Night Football doubleheader as well.
There are plenty of ways to get involved in the action with DraftKings Sportsbook and DFS. As you seek to maximize your DFS lineups, here is a look at a few players in line to outperform their price point to help give you an edge. This article presents my top DFS lineup and the logic behind each selection.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.75M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]
Quarterback
Bryce Young ($4,800)
It has been an uneasy start to Bryce Young’s NFL career. The Alabama product has shown some concerning decision-making with the ball in his hands and was benched last season in favor of Andy Dalton. Young has not exactly found his stride yet this year. He has completed 60.9% of his pass attempts for 951 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions, as well as one rushing touchdown. He is averaging 14.7 fantasy points per game this season, which ranks 29th among quarterbacks. However, he did post 26.3 fantasy points in the matchup against the Cardinals already this season, showing a ceiling. Young will now face off with a Dallas Cowboys defense that has struggled greatly so far. Through their opening five games, they rank 29th in points allowed and dead-last in yards given up. Dallas also ranks 32nd in passing yards allowed, 32nd in net yards per pass attempt, and 29th in passing touchdowns allowed. Look for Young to take advantage of this and have a pathway to one of the better performances of his career against this vulnerable defense. He carries some risk, but given the matchup, this is a worthy roll of the dice that allows you to keep some higher-priced position players in the lineup.
Other Considerations: Dak Prescott ($6,500), Matt Stafford ($6,400), Drake Maye ($5,900), Cam Ward ($4,600)
Running Back
Jonathan Taylor ($8,500)
Jonathan Taylor is on an absolute tear to start this season. The former Offensive Player of the Year leads the NFL with 480 rushing yards and six rushing scores while adding 133 receiving yards and one touchdown through the air. He is averaging 25.5 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring, which leads all running backs and ranks second among all players (trailing Puka Nacua). Taylor will look to carry this momentum into this week’s matchup with the Cardinals. Arizona ranks fourth in opponent points allowed but 21st in total yards given up. They rank eighth in their rushing defense, but it is worth noting that they have not faced many strong running backs yet this year. Kenneth Walker III was able to rip off 81 yards as part of the Seahawks’ 155 total yards on the ground, but players like Chuba Hubbard, Tony Pollard, and Alvin Kamara have struggled. The Colts’ offense is clicking on all cylinders, and Taylor has been a huge part of this effort. Expect this to continue into Week 5 and for Taylor to pick up right where he left off from last week’s three-touchdown performance. Count on the Colts giving him the ball frequently throughout and for Taylor to be among the leaders in fantasy production once again in Week 6.
Josh Jacobs ($7,300)
The Green Bay Packers face off with the Cincinnati Bengals this week, with Joe Flacco stepping in at quarterback. Their season outlook shifted significantly following the injury to Joe Burrow, and Flacco will attempt to keep the team afloat. But Flacco has not looked particularly sharp this year while wearing a Browns jersey, with six interceptions and just two touchdowns produced. Green Bay’s defense has been solid this year, and this is a matchup with some serious blowout potential. Expect this to lead to additional rushing opportunities for Josh Jacobs as he leads the Packers’ offensive attack. Even if this is not the case, Cincinnati is plenty vulnerable defensively. They rank 30th in points and yardage allowed, as well as 24th in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns conceded. Jacobs has rushed for 266 yards and four touchdowns across his first four games. He is averaging 18.1 fantasy points per game so far this season, which ranks ninth among running backs and 38th among all players. Expect Jacobs to see plenty of action with the context of the game in mind and for the three-time Pro Bowl running back to remain one of the biggest sources of offense for the Packers.
Other Considerations: Ashton Jeanty ($6,900), Derrick Henry ($6,200), Quinshon Judkins ($5,900), Hassan Haskins ($5,000)
Wide Receivers
Emeka Egbuka ($7,200)
Injuries have hit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ wide receiver group hard already this season. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving, and Jalen McMillan are each set to miss this week’s matchup against the 49ers, which leaves plenty of production to be made up for. Enter rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who has already looked the part of an NFL star. Throughout the opening five games, the Ohio State product has pulled in 25 receptions for 445 yards and five scores. Egbuka is generating 21.7 fantasy points per game, which is tied for third-best among wide receivers and 12th overall among all positions. Egbuka has already developed chemistry with Baker Mayfield and has been targeted at least six times in every game this season. Expect this to only be increased given the injuries to the roster and for Egbuka to be ready to produce. He has tallied at least 12.9 fantasy points in every game this year and eclipsed 23+ points in three games. Look for him to match this production and have a real chance at a season-high output, given the lack of playmakers that will take the field for Tampa Bay.
Tee Higgins ($5,700)
It has been an ugly start to the season for Tee Higgins through no fault of his own. The injury to Joe Burrow changed the entire outlook of the Bengals’ season, and Higgins is right near the top of the list for players most impacted. Through the opening five games, Higgins has just 13 receptions for 158 yards and two touchdowns. For a player who has tallied 1,000+ yards twice in his career and is paid like a top wide receiver, this is an underwhelming start. While Flacco will not be confused for the prime version of himself, he gives this Bengals team a chance in a way that Jake Browning simply did not. At a minimum, Flacco will be willing to take some chances and swing the ball downfield for Higgins to make plays. The Bengals are facing the Packers and have a strong chance of falling behind early. Expect this to lead to more opportunities through the air as the Bengals attempt to keep this close or launch a comeback. Count on the ball being put up for grabs at a somewhat frequent rate and for Higgins to make use of his 6-foot-4 frame. The Bengals’ star pass catcher finished last season sixth among wide receivers in fantasy football production with 19.1 fantasy points per game. To this point this year, he is averaging just 8.2 fantasy points per game, which ranks 62nd among wide receivers. Expect Higgins to be thrilled by the addition of Flacco and see much more action his direction in what should be a pass-happy offensive attack. This could be step one of getting back on the right track for the season now that the quarterback change has been made.
Xavier Legette ($3,900)
It has been a quiet start to the season for Xavier Legette, with him missing two games due to a hamstring injury as one of the reasons why. When he has been on the field, Legette has just six receptions for 39 yards and one touchdown. The South Carolina product has had to live with the ups and downs of Bryce Young’s play and has been just about a non-factor so far this year. Legette pulled in 49 receptions for 497 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie season and seemed to have some momentum coming into the year. Look for the Cowboys’ 32nd-ranked passing defense to be the spark Legette and Young need to get back on the same page. He is a better player than how he’s performed this year, and he had his first touchdown of the season last week. With him back to full health, expect this to be a building point and for this to be Legette’s best fantasy football output of the season. Pairing him with Bryce Young provides the opportunity to double dip for points, and this is as ideal a matchup as the Panthers could ask for.
Other Considerations: George Pickens ($6,800), Ladd McConkey ($5,700), Matthew Golden ($5,000), Rashid Shaheed ($4,600)
Tight End
Trey McBride ($5,500)
The Arizona Cardinals are led in receptions by tight end Trey McBride, who has grown into a focal point of the offense. Through the opening five games, he has tallied 29 receptions for 275 yards and a touchdown. He is averaging 12.5 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring, which is tied for seventh among tight ends. McBride will now face a Colts team that has allowed 27 receptions for 233 yards and one touchdown to the tight end position this season. This also comes while they have not faced a tight end near McBride’s caliber, with Evan Engram or Chig Okonkwo as the most talented to this point. McBride tallied 1,145 receiving yards last year and finished as the second tight end in fantasy production by averaging 16.2 fantasy points per game. Count on McBride to continue to fill a role as the foundation of the passing attack and outperform his $5,500 price point to put himself back in the conversation for top fantasy football tight ends.
Other Considerations: Jake Ferguson ($5,300), Tyler Warren ($4,900), Cade Otton ($3,400)
Flex
Kendre Miller ($4,700)
Alvin Kamara is officially listed questionable for this week’s matchup against the Patriots due to an ankle injury. But with or without Kamara, expect Kendre Miller’s role to continue growing within the Saints’ offense. Through the opening five games, he has rushed the ball 38 times for 165 yards and a touchdown and added 19 receiving yards. He is currently averaging 5.7 fantasy points per game, which ranks 54th among running backs. However, his snap share has grown weekly, and he has started to earn an elevated role in the offense. After logging a 15% snap share in both Weeks 1 and 2, Miller logged a season high 39% of snaps last week and is coming off back-to-back games with 11 touches. Expect Miller’s continued push for touches to remain a storyline in the second half of the season and for him to really come on strong in the closing half of the year. But the injury to Kamara changes the outlook in the short term, so expect Miller to play a more prominent role in the offense even if Kamara remains active. He has run the ball hungry, looking to prove he is worthy of a larger role, and this could be the biggest chance for him to do so. If it were not for a strong rush defense by the Patriots, I would be even more bullish on the outlook. Even still, expect there to be enough touches to go around as this scrappy Saints team attempts to pick up their second win of the season. Count on Miller making the most of his opportunity for expanded touches and outperforming his $4,700 salary.
Defense & Special Teams
Tennessee Titans ($2,400)
The Tennessee Titans enter this week with a 1-4 record, but riding the momentum of last week’s victory over the Cardinals. They have had some issues on both sides of the ball, but have an opportunity to add another victory as they take on the Las Vegas Raiders this week. Geno Smith has thrown nine interceptions already this season, and the Raiders rank 25th in the league in total yards produced. They have turned the ball over the second-most times in the NFL overall, and Tennessee ranks fifth in turnovers forced. For the low price point of the Titans’ defense and the variable play of the Raiders, this is a risk worth taking. Tennessee is averaging just 5.0 fantasy points per game, which ranks 21st among defenses so far this season. But a few poor decisions by Geno Smith could lead to a strong fantasy output, and the veteran has shown a concerning willingness to put the ball at risk. Roll the dice on some turnovers occurring and for the Titans’ defense to produce their best fantasy football output of the season.
Other Considerations: Colts ($3,300), Browns ($2,500), Saints ($2,400)
