Some players did well in Week 15. Others, not so much. Thus, DraftKings adjusts the salaries accordingly. I discuss. Thank you for coming.
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Notable Salary Risers/Fallers
| Name | Week 15 Salary | Week 16 Salary | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Week 15 Salary | Week 16 Salary | Difference |
| Le'Veon Bell | $4,200 | $5,800 | $1,600 |
| Tony Pollard | $5,200 | $6,500 | $1,300 |
| Jalen Hurts | $5,900 | $7,000 | $1,100 |
| David Johnson | $5,100 | $6,100 | $1,000 |
| Greg Ward | $3,000 | $4,000 | $1,000 |
| Ryan Griffin | $4,000 | $2,500 | -$1,500 |
| Rams | $4,500 | $3,100 | -$1,400 |
| DK Metcalf | $8,600 | $7,800 | -$800 |
| Amari Cooper | $6,400 | $5,700 | -$700 |
Le’Veon Bell ($5,800), Kansas City Chiefs vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 14 Salary: $4,200 ($1,600 increase)
With the news that Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered a high ankle sprain in the Chiefs’ Week 15 win over the Saints, Bell is set to take over as the RB1 for at least Week 16. The injury occurred late and we saw Bell with a fairly large workload already, taking 24% of the total touches, barely edging out CEH at 22.4%. Bell was great with his 14 carries, going for 62 yards and 4.1 YPC. 40 of those yards came after contact, which saw him average 2.67 per attempt. Against a good run defense like the Saints, that was impressive to see.
With both Bell and CEH active, they’ve combined to handle around 35-40% of the total touches. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Bell hover around 30% against the Falcons, while Darrell Williams ($4,200) could also be in the mix. Where you can exploit the Falcons run defense is through the air, as they allow an average of 40.1 receiving yards and 5.4 YPT. Bell hasn’t seen more than three targets in a game, but that number should easily be bypassed with CEH averaging 4.2 per game. With the Chiefs opening as -10.5 favorites on the DraftKings Sportsbook, Bell should see a healthy workload in this one.
Tony Pollard ($6,500), Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 15 Salary: $5,200 ($1,300 increase)
Will he or won’t he be the starting running back in Week 16?
The news came late that Pollard would take over as the RB1, as Ezekiel Elliott ($6,700) was ruled out due to a calf injury. Coach Mike McCarthy said on Monday that Zeke has “a chance” to suit up on Sunday, which isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of his availability. If we’re being honest, the better and more efficient running back was the one carrying the brick against the 49ers last week.
Pollard was a massive part of the offense on Sunday, accounting for 21 touches and 132 scrimmage yards. He averaged 5.8 YPC and 10.5 yards on six receptions as he carved up the Niners. Week 16 brings a tougher matchup against a very strong Eagles run defense that has held opposing teams to no more than 73 rushing yards and 38 receiving yards in three of their last four games.
Of course, with Zeke active, a $6.5K back who averages only 14.2% of the total touches is the easiest fade you can make. Pollard was very involved in Week 14, nearly splitting the touches with Zeke. We could see more of that scenario against the Eagles even with Zeke active, but Pollard was also $1,200 cheaper in that Week 14 game. The bottom line is, the Eagles present a very tough matchup and the emergence of Jalen Hurts ($7,000) makes them much more competitive, which should force the Cowboys into a pass-heavy game script.
DK Metcalf ($7,800), Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams
Week 15 Salary: $8,600 ($800 decrease)
Metcalf saw one of the biggest decreases in salary on the week, going down by $800. By his standards, it’s been a quiet few weeks for him, averaging just 13.4 DKFP and 61.3 receiving yards with one touchdown scored since Week 13. It doesn’t get much easier in Week 16, as the Rams have been one of the better secondaries in the league.
In coverage, Metcalf will see a good dose of CB Darious Williams, who has been targeted against 60 times allowing just 29 receptions (48.3% catch rate) and an average of 14 YPR. The 48.3% catch-rate is one of the lowest in the league, as he trails only Colts CB Xavier Rhodes (46.7%) and Chargers CB Casey Hayward Jr. (47.8%). Now, we all know that Metcalf is a beast and, like Tyreek Hill ($9,000), feels almost matchup proof. With that said, Russell Wilson ($7,300) has been under a ton of pressure lately and will be feeling it plenty against the Rams defensive line. It’s no coincidence that Metcalf’s struggles of late have also come against good pass rushing teams. With that on tap again, it could be another tough outing for him.
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