Some weeks your cash game lineup just falls right into place. This is not one of those weeks. We have only 10 NFL games on DraftKings for Sunday’s main slate due to byes, primetime matchups, and an early start in London. This week there are some positions that we typically look to save salary at but are being pushed to spend more than normal due to the lack of strong value options at the quarterback and tight end positions. With the increased spend at those positions and our need to get high volume and consistency at running back, we are going to need to save a few bucks at wide receiver and defense in our cash game lineups this week.

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Quarterback

Patrick Mahomes (KC): $7,500 vs. HOU
Mahomes has only thrown one touchdown pass over the last two weeks but he has still managed to get at least 21 DraftKings points in each of those games. The Chiefs could get Tyreek Hill back this week, although Sammy Watkins‘ status is in question. As long as at least one of those two wideouts suits up, I will make every effort to get Mahomes into my cash game lineup this week in a great game environment against the Texans in a matchup has the highest Vegas total on the slate. The Texans have allowed 293 passing yards per game (28th) this season, so another 300-yard day is a lock for Mahomes. Now, it is just a matter of how many touchdown passes he throws to determine if he is hitting his floor of 20 DK points or bumping that number up into the 30s as he did his first three games this season.

Other Notables:

• Deshaun Watson (HOU): $6,700 @ KC
• Matt Ryan (ATL): $6,400 @ ARI

Running Backs

Alvin Kamara (NO): $8,000 @ JAX
Karmara and the Saints will travel to Jacksonville this week to face a Jaguars defense that was just gashed by Christian McCaffrey for 237 total yards and three scores. The Jaguars run defense is ranked dead last for the season in Defense-adjusted Value Over Average according to FootballOusiders. They have allowed an average of 158.8 total yards and 1.2 touchdowns per game to running backs while giving up a league-low 5.65 YPC. Kamara has had at least 20 touches in each of the last three games with Teddy Bridgewater under center which shouldn’t change with the Saints on the road in what is expected to be a close game. High volume and a good matchup should equal a big game for Kamara. (Note: keep an eye on the injury report to make sure the ankle injury that popped up on Thursday is nothing)

Le’Veon Bell (NYJ): $6,400 vs. DAL
It isn’t very often that we want to take a running back from the team that is the underdog by over a touchdown like Bell and Jets are this week against the Cowboys. However, Bell has a lot of things working in his favor this week. First of all, he has been a true workhorse in the Jets backfield with at least 22 touches in all four games this season. Second, the Jets get their starting quarterback, Sam Darnold, back this week which should help open up the running game a little bit. Third, Bell faces a Cowboys run defense that was just sliced up by Aaron Jones and ranks 20th DVOA against the run this season. Lastly, Bell’s involvement on the ground, at the goal line, and in the passing game makes his current salary way too low for his involvement in the offense.

Other Notables:

• Leonard Fournette (JAX): $6,700 vs. NO
• Mark Ingram (BAL): $6,600 vs. CIN
• Chris Carson (SEA): $6,000 @ CLE

Wide Receivers

Larry Fitzgerald (ARI): $6,100 vs. ATL
I’m only writing up one wide receiver this week because honestly, I have no idea who will be my three starting wideouts in my cash game lineup on DraftKings right now. That said, there is a good bet that the trio will come from some combination of Fitzgerald (or Christian Kirk if healthy) and the list below. One of the Cardinals slot duo will likely make my cash game lineup in a juicy matchup at home against the Falcons. The Falcons have allowed 13.8 receptions (26th) for 197 yards (29th) and 2.0 touchdowns (32nd) per game to wide receivers this season. A high volume of targets in the short, quick passing game of the Cardinals should lead to big PPR production that DraftKings provides for both Fitzgerald and Kirk, assuming he plays. Keep a close watch on injury news, especially in Arizona and Kansas City to potentially find value at wide receiver.

Other Notables:

• Amari Cooper (DAL): $7,000 @ NYJ
• Odell Beckham Jr. (CLE): $6,800 vs. SEA
• Will Fuller (HOU): $6,000 @ KC
• Stefon Diggs (MIN): $5,900 vs. PHI
• Christian Kirk (ARI): $5,200 vs. ATL
• Mohamed Sanu (ATL): $4,500 @ ARI
• Jamison Crowder (NYJ): $4,000 vs. DAL
• Byron Pringle (KC): $3,500 vs. HOU

Tight End

Austin Hooper(ATL): $5,000 @ ARI
I mostly stayed away from Tyler Eifert at tight end last week (including recommending Jared Cook as a pivot in this column) even though Eifert had a slam dunk matchup against the porous Cardinals defense against tight ends. This week, however, we can swerve right back into the trend with a very capable tight end for the Falcons with Hooper. Hooper appears to be in the middle of a breakout season averaging 6.8 receptions for 72.6 yards per game while finding the end zone twice through five games. Meanwhile, even with the lack of production from the Bengals tight ends last week, the Cardinals are still allowing 7.2 receptions for 92.2 yards and 1.2 touchdowns per game to the tight end position. At least seven grabs for 80 yards and a score seems like a lock for Hooper this week.

I do also really like George Kittle at his price in his matchup against the Rams. I would potentially consider using him in the flex spot if you need to save some salary instead of using one of the higher-price running backs in the flex.

Other Notables:

• George Kittle (SF): $5,200 @ LAR

Defense

49ers (SF): $2,700 @ LAR
I know that defense is a crapshoot most weeks, but this week feels even more unpredictable than usual. My initial read on the position has my considering the 49ers even though they are on the road as an underdog in a game with a high Vegas total against the Rams. The 49ers defense has been excellent this season averaging 3.3 sacks and 2.8 turnovers per game while applying a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Rams could be more one-dimensional than usual this week with Todd Gurley is unable to play which would allow the 49ers defense plenty of opportunities for dropbacks by Jared Goff allowing them to pin their ears back and get after him. All of that said, you might just have to get whatever defense fits your build even if that means punting the position and hoping for the best by using the min-priced Jets.

Other Notables:

• Seahawks (SEA): $3,400 @ CLE
• Broncos (DEN): $3,100 vs. TEN
• Vikings (MIN): $2,600 vs. PHI
• Chiefs (KC): $2,500 vs. HOU
• Jets (NYJ): $1,500 vs. NO

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Brad Richter is a Featured Writer and correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.