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
Joe Burrow (CIN): $6,200 vs. TEN
The rookie got a significant price increase this week, but he still looks like a value with the way they’ve been using him in this offense. They are letting him run the show and if Mixon misses again, he is even more likely to pile up numbers. He has 300+ passing yards in five of his seven games this season. He is averaging 22.0 DKFP. The Titans have allowed 20+ DKFP in each of their last five games, including Gardner Minshew and Deshaun Watson going for at least 30 DKFP.
Jimmy Garoppolo (SF): $5,400 @ SEA
Jimmy G is not safe, but he’s cheap and in a nice matchup. The Seahawks are giving up an average of 33.2 DKFP, which is worst in the NFL. They’ve allowed five of the six quarterbacks they’ve faced to throw for 300+ yards. The 49ers backfield is depleted right now, which might force them to rely on the pass more than they would like. He had 23.5 DKFP two weeks ago against the Rams. We’d take that production at this price point.
Others Considered:
- Patrick Mahomes (KC): $8,100 vs. NYJ
- Aaron Rodgers (GB): $7,600 vs. MIN
- Josh Allen (BUF): $7,000 vs. NE
- Ryan Tannehill (TEN): $6,800 @ CIN
Running Backs
Alvin Kamara (NO): $8,200 @ CHI
Kamara disappointed a lot of people last week when he “only” earned 22.8 DKFP. He continues to see a lot of targets out of the backfield and in creative other ways. He has seen at least eight targets in five of his six games this season. He is averaging 28.9 DKFP on the season but goes against a stingy Bears defense in Week 8. Because he is game-flow independent and matchup proof, I won’t be scared off, but it should be noted that the Bears have not given up more than 15.6 PPR points to any running back this season (according to our own Mike Tagliere).
Derrick Henry (TEN): $8,000 @ CIN
The Bengals are giving up the second-most yards per carry (5.06) to running backs this season. Only the Texans are worse, and Henry shredded them for 43.4 DKFP two weeks ago. Henry is a man, but the only caution is always the fact that he doesn’t see much passing volume despite being the likeliest back in the league to take a short screen pass to the house. His usage is through the roof and he is almost a lock to see 20+ touches per game.
Kareem Hunt (CLE): $6,900 vs. LV
Hunt has scored at least 18 DKFP in three of his last four games. Overall, he is averaging 16.4 DKFP and is a good bet to see 20 touches this week. The Raiders are giving up 32.1 DKFP, which is second-most in the NFL this season. Additionally, they have given up the second-most amount of receiving yards to running backs this season. Hunt has seen 11 targets in the last three games, so he might be able to get something going in the passing game.
Others Considered:
- Dalvin Cook (MIN): $7,500 @ GB
- Jonathan Taylor (IND): $6,600 @ DET
- Josh Jacobs (LV): $6,200 @ CLE
- Jamaal Williams (GB): $6,100 vs. MIN
- Gio Bernard (CIN): $5,800 vs. TEN
- Myles Gaskin (MIA): $5,200 vs. LAR
Wide Receivers
Davante Adams (GB): $8,800 vs. MIN
At first glance, he might be priced too high because we are not used to paying this much for a wide receiver in cash games. But when you consider that he earned 40+ DKFP in two of three full games this season, he might actually be underpriced in some respects. In week 1, he torched the Vikings for 14-156-2 (44.6 DKFP). The Vikings might be even more suspect in the secondary this time around. If Aaron Jones is out again, then Adams becomes almost a must-play.
A.J. Brown (TEN): $6,900 vs. CIN
Brown has 20+ DKFP in three straight games, including 30.3 last week against the Steelers. He is a big-play guy that has seen an average of eight targets per game over the last three weeks. He has four touchdowns in the last three games and I’m not sure that can continue, but right now he is playing at an elite level.
Keenan Allen (LAC): $6,200 @ DEN
Allen was targeted caught 10 of his 13 targets for 125 yards and 25.5 DKFP last week and his price didn’t change. He is extremely underpriced for his volume. He leads the NFL with 10.5 targets per game and has earned double-digit fantasy points in five straight game. He has a solid floor with 30-point upside as evidenced by his 34.2 DKFP game in week 3.
A.J. Green (CIN): $4,500 vs. TEN
This feels bad recommending him. He doesn’t pass the eye test, but his numbers line up with exactly what we are looking for in our cash game plays. Both Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd are better players right now, but they aren’t better cash game plays considering the price and volume. He has 13 and 11 targets in the last two games, which has led to fantasy production of 15.2 and 17.6 DKFP. That is not spectacular and is not what we think of with A.J. Green, but at this price it is hard to fade him this week especially in a matchup against a Titans team that is struggling to stop anyone right now.
Others Considered:
- Tyler Lockett (SEA): $7,100 vs. SF
- Tyler Boyd (CIN): $6,600 vs. TEN
- Tee Higgins (CIN): $5,600 vs. TEN
- Henry Ruggs (LV): $4,900 @ CLE
- Kendrick Bourne (SF): $3,500 @ SEA
Tight Ends
Darren Waller (LV): $5,600 @ CLE
No tight end has been targeted more than Waller this year at 9.3 per game. His talent and his volume have led him to earn double-digit fantasy points in five of six games this season, including a 31.5 outburst in week 2. Overall, he is averaging 15.8 DKFP. He has a nice combination of floor and ceiling.
Harrison Bryant (CLE): $3,200 vs. LV
He scored two touchdowns last week. We certainly can’t expect that every week, but he is a rookie the Browns want to work into action more and more. He was the top tight end in college football last year, so he has talent. He caught four of his five targets last week against the Bengals for 56 yards.
Others Considered:
- George Kittle (SF): $7,000 @ SEA
- Travis Kelce (KC): $6,600 vs. NYJ
- Trey Burton (IND): $3,500 @ DET
- Irv Smith Jr. (MIN): $3,000 @ GB
Defense/Special Teams
Buffalo Bills DST: $3,300 vs. NE
The Bills have an opportunistic defense coming off a strong performance last week, in which they tallied up six sacks and two interceptions. Cam Newton has always been turnover prone, and he is struggling right now.
Miami Dolphins DST: $2,400 vs. LAR
Yes, the Rams can be exciting on offense, but they are traveling to the eastern time zone and more importantly are facing a team that has allowed double-digit fantasy points in three of the last four weeks.
Others Considered:
- Kansas City Chiefs DST: $4,500 vs. NYJ
- Baltimore Ravens DST: $3,700 vs. PIT
- New Orleans Saints DST: $3,400 @ CHI
- Green Bay Packers DST: $2,900 vs. MIN
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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.
