There are 13 games on this main slate. The highest number to date. That’s Tony the Tiger grrrreeeaatt! Hopefully, you live in state that allows daily fantasy. If not, it’s time to hit the interstate and get in front of that ball with the number eight. Be wary of players getting sat late or those that gorge themselves and put on too much weight. Imagine that plate! Anyways, it’s time to open the gates and see what fate has in store. Please don’t let it be a bore. Or end up having us pour one out once more. No, may we pick the right core. Don’t care about floor. Only those that will score and make our lineups soar.
We’ve got 13 games on this main slate. Per DraftKings Sportsbook, four games have a spread of three points or less. There are four double-digit favorites, with JAX -13.5 over NYJ the biggest. Four games have a total of at least 45 points. There are two games with a total below 40 – CLE/CHI (38.5) and LVR/PHI (38.5). There are four home dogs.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st].
Quarterback
Stud
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals ($6,400) – Lamar Jackson at $6,400 against a porous Bengals defense? Please and thank you. Jackson hasn’t been good after returning from injury, finishing with fewer than 20 FPTS in four of six games. Three of those were in the single digits. Jackson wasn’t running much, posting three games with fewer than 12 rushing yards. In Week 14, though, he ran seven times for 43 yards and a touchdown while finishing with 22.1 FPTS. I’m not saying that he’s completely back, but he looked better than a few weeks ago. Joe Burrow will likely put up points against the Ravens defense, so Jackson should be aggressive all game.
Other Options – Josh Allen ($7,500), Matthew Stafford ($7,000), Drake Maye ($6,700), Joe Burrow ($6,600), Brock Purdy ($6,200), Jared Goff ($6,100)
Value
Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders at New York Giants ($5,000) – It’s finally happened. After having Jacoby Brissett in this space for six weeks, he’s finally been displaced. And it’s not because Brissett was bad. He put up 20 FPTS in eight straight games. Respect, but the matchup against Houston is a daunting one and I want no part of that. So Mariota it is, who will get the start for Jayden Daniels once again. Mariota has put up over 20 FPTS twice this season and finished in the teens during the other four starts. Mariota has rushing equity, which provides a nice floor and the matchup is a good one against a Giants defense that has allowed the 11th-highest EPA per dropback and allowed the third-most rushing yards and third-most rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season.
Other Options – Trevor Lawrence ($5,700), Jaxson Dart ($5,600), C.J. Stroud ($5,200), Bryce Young ($5,100), Shedeur Sanders ($4,700)
Running Back
Stud
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers vs. Tennessee Titans ($9,000) – McCaffrey may have lost some juice but he’s still one of the best fantasy running backs in the game, and he’s well-rested as the 49ers had their bye in Week 14. On the season, he’s failed to put up at least 20 FPTS only three times while going over 30 FPTS three times, which includes a high of 42.1 FPTS. There will be no weather concerns in this one and the matchup is a good one as the Titans allow 4.5 yards per carry and the 18 rushing touchdowns allowed are tied for the second-most. The only concern is Brian Robinson Jr. getting more work than usual due to blowout, but even in that scenario, McCaffrey will likely have been a big reason for the blowout.
Other Options – Jahmyr Gibbs ($8,800), Derrick Henry ($7,300), Kyren Williams ($6,800), Chase Brown ($6,700), Travis Etienne Jr. ($6,500), Quinshon Judkins ($6,300), TreVeyon Henderson ($6,100)
Value
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints ($4,600) – The Panthers backfield has yo-yo’d all season. Hubbard was the main guy to begin the season, but then succumbed to injury, opening the door for Rico Dowdle to smash. When Hubbard returned to action, Dowdle maintained the alpha role, but, but, but. Last week, Hubbard outsnapped Dowdle, 59% to 42%, and finished with 20.4 FPTS. I have no idea how it will play out this week, but the risk/reward seems worth it at this price.
Other Options – RJ Harvey ($6,000), Omarion Hampton ($5,900), Kimani Vidal ($5,700), Kenneth Walker III ($5,600), Kyle Monangai ($5,200), Rhamondre Stevenson ($5,100), Zach Charbonnet ($5,100), David Montgomery ($5,000), Devin Singletary ($5,000), Blake Corum ($4,800), Emanuel Wilson ($4,400) if Josh Jacobs is out
Wide Receiver
Stud
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams vs. Detroit Lions ($8,700) – Nacua may have the highest floor/ceiling combo at the position. Ja’Marr Chase is in the conversation because of the ceiling (41.1 FPTS) and he leads the league with 139 targets, but he has four games with fewer than 10 FPTS this season. Yes, he had to deal with Jake Browning at quarterback, but one of those games was with Joe Burrow under center and last week Chase finished with 10.2 FPTS with Burrow. The only game in which Nacua finished with fewer than 13 FPTS was the one in which he suffered an injury. Nacua has seven games over 20 FPTS with two of those over 30 FPTS. Last week, he caught seven of 11 targets for 167 yards and two touchdowns, good for 38.7 FPTS. This game has a whopping total of 54.5, so points are going to be scored. And the Rams are a highly concentrated offense with Nacua at the top of the totem pole.
Other Options – Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($8,600), Ja’Marr Chase ($8,100), Amon-Ra St. Brown ($7,900), Rashee Rice ($7,700), Davante Adams ($7,200), Nico Collins ($6,700), Zay Flowers ($6,300), Jameson Williams ($6,100)
Value
Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens ($4,100) – Iosivas only garnered three targets last week, but he was in on 65% of the snaps. This game has a total of 51.5, so both offenses will likely have to stay aggressive. The best way for Cincinnati is via the right arm of Burrow. Tee Higgins is in the concussion protocol and designated questionable, so there’s a chance Iosivas elevates up the depth chart.
Other Options – Stefon Diggs ($6,000), Tetairoa McMillan ($6,000), Wan’Dale Robinson ($5,900), Jakobi Meyers ($5,600), Terry McLaurin ($5,400), Deebo Samuel ($5,300), Jauan Jennings ($5,200), Jalen Coker ($3,900)
Tight End
Stud
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers vs. Tennessee Titans ($5,400) – I have major concerns with Trey McBride and Brock Bowers this week, so not comfortable paying their price tags. If paying up, Kittle is my guy. The 49ers had their bye in Week 14, so Kittle should be well-rested. While Tennessee is eighth in pressure rate, the threat of McCaffrey will likely keep the Titans defense on its heels, allowing Kittle to expose seams in the secondary. Kittle is one of the main targets in the passing game for San Francisco and has put up double-digit FPTS in each of the last four games, with two of those over 23 FPTS.
Other Options – Dalton Kincaid ($4,500), Hunter Henry ($4,400), Brenton Strange ($4,200)
Value
John Bates, Washington Commanders at New York Giants ($2,900) – I have no idea if Bates will do anything in this one, but there is a chance he sees an elevated role due to the Zach Ertz injury. Ertz garnered 72 targets on the season while Bates received 12. Now, players earn targets and those targets aren’t necessarily going to Bates. That said, he will elevate the depth chart and be on the field. Whether he gets the targets or not is unknown, but the opportunities should be there.
Other Options – Harold Fannin Jr. ($4,000), Mark Andrews ($3,900), Juwan Johnson ($3,700), Isaiah Likely ($3,400), Mike Gesicki ($3,300), Colby Parkinson ($3,200), Ben Sinnott ($2,700)
Defense/Special Teams
Stud
Seahawks DST vs. Indianapolis Colts ($3,700) – Seattle is second in pressure rate and the 41 sacks are fourth-most. Seattle is also fifth with 21 takeaways. This unit has put up double-digit FPTS seven times with a high of 30 FPTS. Seattle is at home and now gets to face Philip Rivers, who hasn’t played in the NFL since we were locked down wearing masks.
Other Options – Jaguars DST ($3,900), Eagles DST ($3,800), Texans DST ($3,600), Panthers DST ($3,100)
Value
Saints DST vs. Carolina Panthers ($2,500) – I’m not enamored with the lower-priced defenses. I’m going to New Orleans because they are at home and limited the Panthers to seven points in Carolina five weeks ago while racking up two sacks, a fumble and an interception.
Other Options – N/A
