The Sunday main slate on DraftKings features 12 NFL games with a lot of playoff spots and playoff positioning still on the line. Finding deep value options on the slate is a challenge at the moment but that can change in a hurry, especially if a player like Todd Gurley gets ruled out. The slate only has one game with a Vegas total over 50 points with the Sunday afternoon hammer between the Steelers and the Saints. However, after last week’s disappointing fantasy numbers from the Steelers and Patriots in a similar spot, can we trust it?
It should be another fun weekend of NFL action! Happy Holidays!
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Quarterback
Nick Foles (PHI): $4,700 vs. HOU
It feels like a week where you either need to find a way to get to the top-priced QBs or go all the way down to Nick Foles. The touchdown passes weren’t there for Foles last week against the Rams last week, but he did complete 77 percent of his passes for 270 yards to help lead the Eagles to a win. He has one of the lowest starting QB salaries of the week and faces a Texans defense that is more vulnerable to the pass than the run this season ranking 22nd DVOA according to FootballOutsiders. The Texans have also given up an average of 308 passing yards with 1.6 TD passes over the last five weeks to a group of QBs that has included Sam Darnold, Marcus Mariota and the Alex Smith/Colt McCoy duo. Foles should be able to hold his own and pay off his low salary.
Other Notables:
- Ben Roethlisberger (PIT): $6,700 @ NO
- Drew Brees (NO): $6,500 vs. PIT
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliott (DAL): $9,000 vs. TB
The group of RBs that I’m willing to use in my cash game lineup is pretty tight on Sunday’s slate pending any late-breaking injury news leading up to kickoff. With question marks surrounding Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott seems like an auto-play at home against the Buccaneers defense. The Buccaneers rank 31st DVOA against the run this season and have allowed 5.66 YPC to RBs over the last five weeks. They have also surrendered more than a rushing TD per game this season. You know Elliott is going to get the ball a ton as a home favorite in a game that the Cowboys need to win.
Nick Chubb (CLE): $7,300 vs. CIN
Nick Chubb has been a ball hog for the Browns backfield since they dealt away Carlos Hyde. Chubb has had at least 17 touches in all but one game since Week 7. With the Browns as a big home favorite over the cross-state rival Bengals on Sunday, Chubb could approach the 31 touches he had against them in a Week 12 meeting. He also scored a pair of touchdowns that day and the Bengals defense hasn’t gotten any better since then allowing 4.94 YPC and a rushing TDs per game to RBs over the last three weeks.
Other Notables:
- Saquon Barkley (NYG): $7,900 @ IND
- Tevin Coleman (ATL): $4,800 @ CAR
- Elijah McGuire (NYJ): $4,700 vs. GB
Wide Receivers
Alshon Jeffery (PHI): $5,300 vs. HOU
There are a lot of high-priced WRs that interest me on this slate but unless there is some deep value at RB or WR that opens up before kickoff it will be difficult to get more than one of them into the lineup. So, pick your favorite of the list below and use them along with this WR duo. Alshon Jeffery put up a huge game last week with eight receptions for 160 yards with Foles slinging the pigskin. He will face a Texans secondary that ranks 31st DVOA against opposing No. 1 WRs this season. Jeffery has at least eight targets in back-to-backs games giving him a solid floor with plenty of upside. I don’t stack a QB with one of his WRs often in cash games but when a QB and his top WR only cost a total of $10k it is worth the risk.
Robby Anderson (NYJ): $4,500 vs. GB
Robby Anderson looks like he has finally found his groove with Sam Darnold the last two weeks. He has scored in back-to-back games while seeing 18 targets with 11 receptions for 172 yards. The Jets will be at home against the Packers who have allowed the fifth most fantasy points to WRs this season. Anderson’s salary is still very reasonable for a player of his ability and recent success in a good matchup.
Other Notables:
- DeAndre Hopkins (HOU): $8,600 @ PHI
- Antonio Brown (PIT): $8,300 @ NO
- Michael Thomas (NO): $8,100 vs. PIT
- JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT): $8,000 @ NO
- Adam Thielen (MIN): $7,800 @ DET
- T.Y. Hilton (IND): $7,100 vs NYG
- Robert Woods (LAR): $6,600 @ ARI
Tight End
Blake Jarwin (DAL): $3,000 vs. TB
Blake Jarwin has become a bigger part of the Cowboys passing game over the last couple of weeks. He has seven targets in back-to-back games while putting up 11 receptions for 101 yards in those efforts. On a week that seems void of strong value options, we’ll likely be force into going cheap at TE and Jarwin has the best chance to provide a solid floor against a Buccaneers defense that has allowed an average of 5.4 receptions for 69 yards to TEs this season. I’ll gladly take a stat line like that from Jarwin at $3,000.
Other Notables:
- Zach Ertz (PHI): $5,900 vs. HOU
- David Njoku (CLE): $3,800 vs. CIN
D/ST
Falcons (ATL): $2,300 @ CAR
The Falcons defense has been playing better in recent weeks as they have gotten healthier. They have 11 sacks over their last two games and forced three turnovers against rookie QB Josh Rosen and the Cardinals last week. With Cam Newton being ruled out for Sunday’s tilt, Taylor Heinicke will get his first NFL start after throwing just five passes so far in his career.
Other Notables:
- Bears (CHI): $3,500 @ SF
- Vikings (MIN): $2,900 @ DET
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Brad Richter is a Featured Writer and correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay and GoingFor2. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.
