Below are the players that I am considering as my cash game core for this week’s main slate. I value consistency of volume and opportunity combined with potential upside when putting together my cash game lineup. Have a solid process, be sure to have FantasyPros notifications set up for Sunday morning, and remember to have fun!
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Quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater (CAR): $5,900 @ ATL
No team has given up more fantasy points to quarterbacks than the Falcons and Bridgewater is coming into the game on the heels of a 27.2 DKFP performance. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for another one.
Daniel Jones (NYG): $5,400 @ DAL
His season has been a disappointment so far and I don’t like considering him, but DFS is a game of weekly matchups and he sure seems to have a great opportunity this week. Dallas plays at a very fast pace so there should be plenty of plays for Jones to make something happen. The Giants are road underdogs, so the expected game script is favorable to Jones having to play catch up. Only Jones, Lamar Jackson, and Kyler Murray have rushed for at least 20 yards in each game this season. Everyone is scoring against the Cowboys which should have Jones salivating.
Others Considered:
- Lamar Jackson (BAL): $7,900 vs. CIN
- Dak Prescott (DAL): $7,400 vs. NYG
- Ryan Fitzpatrick (MIA): $5,400 @ SF
- Kyle Allen (WAS): $4,100 vs. LAR
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliott (DAL): $7,800 vs. NYG
He is game-script independent and a great floor play with a floor of 24 touches per game and 22.6 DKFP. He is also a danger to score multiple touchdowns and have a monster game, especially as a home favorite. He will be the first player I lock into my lineups this week as he is underpriced for his role and combination of floor and ceiling.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC): $6,800 vs. LV
The Raiders are not particularly strong on the defensive side of the ball allowing a rushing touchdown every 12.1 carries (per Mike Tagliere). Nobody has allowed more rushing touchdowns or fantasy points to running backs than the Raiders. CEH has 25 touches in two of his four games this season and is receiving nearly 80 percent of the Chiefs running back opportunities.
Mike Davis (CAR): $6,400 @ ATL
With two straight games of 20+ touches and fantasy performances of 22.1 and 23.1 DKFP, Davis appears to be a solid DK cash play. He also doesn’t have to worry much about opportunity as he is the only show in town right now against a Falcons defense that tends to be vulnerable against pass-catching backs. The Panthers have looked Davis’ way 23 times in the last three games.
Others Considered:
- James Conner (PIT): $6,900 vs. PHI
- Kareem Hunt (CLE): $6,500 vs. IND
- Jerick McKinnon (SF): $5,800 vs. MIA
- David Johnson (HOU): $5,200 @ JAC
- Le’Veon Bell (NYJ): $5,100 vs. ARI
Wide Receivers
DeAndre Hopkins (ARI): $7,900 @ NYJ
As a game-time decision last week, he wasn’t his normal self but was still targeted nine times. Overall, he is averaging nearly 10 catches per game – not targets, but catches! The Jets are not a particularly strong defensive secondary, so I really like Hopkins, who was averaging 26 DKFP prior to last week.
Calvin Ridley (ATL): $7,500 vs. CAR
He had a bad game last week but was tearing it up prior with double-digit targets and 100-yard receiving games in each of the first three games. He is a little banged up right now but should be good to go on Sunday against a secondary that can be exploited. Ridley leads the NFL in air yards. The Panthers have also allowed two different receivers to eclipse the 100-yard receiving mark this year.
Diontae Johnson (PIT): $5,600 vs. PHI
He is expected to play after his concussion two weeks ago. He had 23 targets in the first two weeks and now he gets to go against an Eagles team that can be vulnerable to the pass. He is explosive and there was some talk of him being the Steelers alpha wide receiver prior to his concussion.
Darius Slayton (NYG): $4,800 vs. DAL
We know he has a huge GPP upside (e.g. 6-102-2 and 31.2 DKFP performance in Week 1) but he also has some potential as a cash game option this week. According to our very own Mike Tagliere has run the fifth-most routes among wide receivers this year. The Cowboys secondary is brutal, and Slayton has seen at least six targets in each game this year.
Others Considered:
- Terry McLaurin (WAS): $6,100 vs. LAR
- CeeDee Lamb (DAL): $6,000 vs. NYG
- D.J. Moore (CAR): $6,000 @ ATL
- Laviska Shenault (JAC): $4,500 vs. JAC
- Olamide Zaccheaus (ATL): $3,000 vs. CAR
Tight Ends
Evan Engram (NYG): $4,600 @ DAL
There are only six teams that have given up more fantasy points to tight ends than the Cowboys. This is an exciting option for the Giants. Engram has a total of 30 targets this year, which is third-best in the NFL. He also hasn’t scored a touchdown, so he is due for positive regression. This is a talent meets matchup play for me this week.
Logan Thomas (WAS): $3,500 vs. LAR
Only three tight ends (Ertz, Engram, and Kelce) have run more routes than Thomas but he has not produced. Dwayne Haskins is being replaced so maybe Thomas will get targeted more and in a way that leads to fantasy success. This is not a safe play but is an option if you are going to punt the tight end position.
Others Considered:
- George Kittle (SF): $6,600 vs. MIA
- Travis Kelce (KC): $6,400 vs. LV
- Hayden Hurst (ATL): $4,700 vs. CAR
- Trey Burton (IND): $2,500 @ CLE
Defense/Special Teams
Baltimore Ravens DST: $3,900 vs. CIN
The Ravens have forced seven turnovers this season and now get the rookie gunslinger Joe Burrow coming to town.
Pittsburgh Steelers DST: $3,800 vs. PHI
The Steelers get a lot of pressure on the quarterback and Wentz was sacked three times last week. The Steelers have four interceptions this season.
Others Considered:
- Dallas Cowboys DST: $3,100 vs. NYG
- Houston Texans DST: $2,600 vs. JAC
- NY Jets DST: $2,500 vs. ARI
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Jamy Bechler is a regular contributor to FantasyPros for NBA, NFL, and PGA. You can send him questions and follow him on his DFS twitter @WinningDFS101. When he is not playing DFS, Jamy is an author, host of the “Success is a Choice” podcast, and a leadership consultant, working with businesses and teams across the country (including the NBA). Even though he offers his advice on players and contests, after additional information and consideration, he may end up using different players and strategies than what he recommended in this article.
