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
Deshaun Watson (HOU): $7,100 at JAC
These two teams already played back in Week 6, and Watson earned 29.9 DKFP throwing for 359 yards and two touchdowns. In the two weeks since that game, he has had 35.0 and 27.2 DKFP. The Jaguars just gave up 41.5 DKFP to Justin Herbert, so everything points to this being a good spot for Watson this week.
Drew Lock (DEN): $5,200 at ATL
It won’t be easy to click on Lock’s name for cash, but if you are a “pay down at quarterback” person, he is a good option this week. He just beat the Chargers last week and earned 20.8 DKFP in the process. He looks to finally be getting comfortable in this offense. Now he gets the Falcons, who have given up 300-yard passing games to six of the eight quarterbacks they have faced this season.
Others Considered:
- Kyler Murray (ARI): $7,800 vs. MIA
- Josh Allen (BUF): $7,000 vs. SEA
- Derek Carr (LV): $5,700 at LAC
- Chase Daniel (DET): $4,000 at MIN
Running Backs
Dalvin Cook (MIN): $8,200 vs. DET
Only the Packers give up more fantasy points to running backs than the Lions, and that was because Dalvin Cook went off on Green Bay last week. Wait, what’s that? Dalvin Cook gets the Lions this week? I am in. Yes, Cook had the monster game last week, but he’s also had games of 29 and 31 fantasy points as well. He is the clear workhorse back in this offense. Don’t overthink this one.
James Conner (PIT): $6,900 at DAL
Conner is going to get 20-plus touches against a bad defense. The Steelers should control this game, and Conner should get plenty of usage playing from ahead. In fact, he might even be the reason they are ahead. Though he has had three games of 20-plus fantasy points this season, he has yet to have a monster game. That said, his usage and talent give him a solid floor, and his opponent gives him a high ceiling. I feel a big game coming on. We all know the Cowboys are struggling this year. In fact, nobody has given up more rushing yards than them!
Chase Edmonds (ARI): $6,800 vs. MIA
He has had 20.2 and 21.5 DKFP in his last three weeks, and with Kenyan Drake out, Edmonds finally gets the role of lead back. Miami is improved on defense, but they are still allowing an average of 26.3 DKFP to running backs. With at least six targets in three of his last four games, Edmonds has a good floor in this fast-paced offense.
Others Considered:
- Christian McCaffrey (CAR): $8,500 at KC
- Derrick Henry (TEN): $7,600 vs. CHI
- James Robinson (JAC): $7,000 vs. HOU
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC): $6,100 vs. CAR
- David Johnson (HOU): $5,600 at JAC
Wide Receivers
Julio Jones (ATL): $7,200 vs. DEN
Since his injury, his combined stat line for the last three games is 23-371-2 on 29 targets. He is a clear alpha going against a Broncos defense that just allowed big games from both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams last week. He is in a potential smash spot, especially if Calvin Ridley sits out. Per our own Mike Tagliere, Jones saw 20, 15, and 13 targets last year in the games that Ridley sat out.
Keenan Allen (LAC): $7,000 vs. LV
He leads the league in targets per game (10.7), which is exactly what we want for our cash game considerations. He has 21.7 and 25.5 DKFP in his last two games and is averaging 18.7 DKFP on the year.
Brandin Cooks (HOU): $5,500 at JAC
Cooks is averaging 22.6 DKFP over the last three weeks on 30 targets. We don’t always know what the future holds, but this recent three-game sample screams cash game option. Volume and results are a nice combination. He had 33.1 DKFP against the Jaguars back in week five.
Diontae Johnson (PIT): $5,000 at DAL
The Cowboys are bad, and Diontae Johnson is good. Only the Vikings have given up more touchdowns to wide receivers than the 14 allowed by the Cowboys. He has struggled to stay healthy, but he has posted two games of 20-plus fantasy points in his limited appearances. He has seen double-digit target counts in three different games this year. This price is still too low with his potential volume and big-play ability against a bad defense.
Others Considered:
- Tyler Lockett (SEA): $6,800 at BUF
- D.J. Moore (CAR): $5,600 at KC
- Marvin Jones (DET): $5,100 at MIN
- John Brown (BUF): $4,600 vs. SEA
- Darnell Mooney (CHI): $3,900 at TEN
Tight Ends
Darren Waller (LV): $5,800 at LAC
I like Travis Kelce more in a vacuum, but he costs $1,400 more, and Waller actually leads all tight ends with 8.9 targets per game. Waller has earned double-digit fantasy points in five of his seven games this season. If you are going to pay up a little bit at tight end, he is a great option for cash.
Hayden Hurst (ATL): $4,100 vs. DEN
He has three straight double-digit fantasy performances and has seen seven targets in each of his last two games. Overall, he has seen at least six targets in all but two games this season.
Others Considered:
- Travis Kelce (KC): $7,200 vs. CAR
- Noah Fant (DEN): $4,600 at ATL
- Eric Ebron (PIT): $4,500 at DAL
- Hunter Henry (LAC): $4,000 vs. LV
Defense/Special Teams
Pittsburgh Steelers DST: $4,900 at DAL
I hope that you followed our recommendation and played the Dolphins last week. There are no lower-priced DSTs that I feel strongly about this week (at least as of Thursday night when I write this). However, I love the Steelers, but I am not alone in this sentiment. They are priced as high as we’ve ever seen a defense. I don’t suggest paying this much for a defense because of the volatility and unpredictability, but they do have the clearest path to break a slate. They are the most aggressive defense in the NFL going against a no-name quarterback and an injury-depleted offensive line. If you are going to spend reasonably at this position, we’ve listed some decent options below.
Others Considered:
- Baltimore DST: $3,500 vs. IND
- Washington DST: $3,400 vs. NYG
- Houston DST: $3,100 at JAC
- Arizona DST: $2,900 vs. MIA
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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.
