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
Lamar Jackson (BAL): $7,500 vs. JAC
If paying up at quarterback, it’s not a bad bet to go with Jackson coming off a 37.9 DKFP performance against the Jaguars, who give up the fourth-most fantasy points to the position. Yes, last week was a monster game against the Browns, but we’ve seen these games the last couple of years, and there’s no reason to believe he can’t make it two in a row.
Nick Mullens (SF): $5,100 at DAL
I had Taysom Hill locked in all week until we just got the news that Drew Brees will be starting this week. From a lineup construction standpoint, if I hold my nose, look away, and click on Nick Mullens’ name, I can get Derrick Henry, one of the Chiefs’ studs, and another star in my lineup. This is not a play for the faint of heart, but he did have 14.4 DKFP last week against Washington’s stingy pass defense and 25.6 DKFP the week before against the Bills. Last week, the Cowboys allowed 13.9 DKFP to the Bengals’ Brandon Allen in a blowout. All this to say, if you want to save salary and still give yourself a chance to return 3x value, Mullens is not a terrible option.
Others Considering:
- Jared Goff (LAR): $6,300 vs. NYJ
- Jalen Hurts (PHI): $5,900 at ARI
- Mitch Trubisky (CHI): $5,500 at MIN
Running Backs
Derrick Henry (TEN): $9,500 vs. DET
You can’t fade Henry in December, especially against the Lions. He is one of the few players who can kill your lineup if you fade him. He has four games of 30-plus DKFP this season. With a couple more good games, he could win the rushing title and get to 2,000 rushing yards. I have to believe that the Titans will continue to feed him the ball, especially when they are winning. He had 26 rushing attempts last week. He has at least 18 carries in all but one game this season.
Jonathan Taylor (IND): $7,200 vs. HOU
The Texans are the only team worse than the Lions against running backs, as they’re giving up 31.6 DKFP to the position. Taylor earned 22.5 DKFP against Houston two weeks ago when he received only 13 carries coming back from an injury. Last week he had 33.5 DKFP on 20 carries against Las Vegas.
Cam Akers (LAR): $6,600 vs. NYJ
It appears that Akers has become the workhorse running back for the Rams. I don’t trust Akers and Sean McVay, as I could easily see Darrell Henderson get more touches, especially if the Rams blow out the Jets (they’re 17-point favorite). However, it is hard to argue with Akers’ 50 rushing attempts and 53 overall touches in the last two games. Last week he had 24.4 DKFP against the Patriots, which gave him his third-straight game of double-digit fantasy points.
Others Considering:
- Miles Sanders (PHI): $6,900 @ ARI
- J.K. Dobbins (BAL): $5,900 vs. JAC
- Kenyan Drake (ARI): $5,500 vs. PHI
- DeAndre Washington (MIA): $4,700 vs. NE
Wide Receivers
Tyreek Hill (KC): $8,800 at NO
He has at least 25 DKFP in five of his last six games, including three with 30-plus. This is a huge price tag to pay, but he is seeing a lot of volume, and nobody has a higher ceiling than Hill. He has double-digit targets in five of his last seven games. Locking in Henry and Hill gives you slate-breaking upside.
Brandon Aiyuk (SF): $6,300 at DAL
Five straight games of at least 19.7 DKFP makes Aiyuk a great value option. He also saw 16 targets last week. No Deebo Samuel, no George Kittle, and a banged-up Raheem Mostert make him the best bet to see all kinds of volume. Plus, nobody has given up more touchdowns to wide receivers than the Cowboys this season.
T.Y. Hilton (IND): $5,500 vs. HOU
He isn’t the T.Y. Hilton of old, but he has shown some flashes lately with three straight games of 18-plus DKFP. He had 25.6 DKFP last week against Las Vegas and 28.0 DKFP two weeks ago against this same Texans team. He has seen 18 targets over the last two weeks.
Michael Gallup (DAL): $3,500 vs. SF
He isn’t safe, but if you are going to pay down at one of your wide receiver spots, I like the fact that he has 50 targets over his last six games. Now, he hasn’t done much with them, but he is still being targeted. He has two games of 20-plus DKFP this season, so we know he has the potential to smash at this price point.
Others Considering:
- A.J. Brown (TEN): $7,600 vs. JAC
- Allen Robinson (CHI): $7,400 at MIN
- Robert Woods (LAR): $6,800 vs. NYJ
- Terry McLaurin (WAS): $6,600 vs. SEA
- Russell Gage (ATL): $4,700 vs. TB
- Lynn Bowden (MIA): $3,600 vs. NE
Tight Ends
Travis Kelce (KC): $8,000 at NO
You should either go with the clear-cut stud at tight end or punt the position entirely. Kelce is the only tight end you should consistently consider paying up for, as he finished with 27-plus DKFP in five of his last six games, including 30.6 DKFP last week. I have nothing bad to say about him. He is as “sure” of a cash-game play as you can get at the tight end position. You gain a huge edge on the competition if he has a “normal Kelce” game.
Cole Kmet (CHI): $3,000 at MIN
If you are punting the position, Kmet is a great option, as he has seen seven targets each of the last two weeks. Two weeks ago, he had 14.7 DKFP. Last week he had 8.1 DKFP, which won’t kill your cash lineup at this price point. If he gets seven targets again, it is hard to see him not returning some value at $3,000.
Others Considering:
- Mark Andrews (BAL): $5,500 vs. JAC
- T.J. Hockenson (DET): $5,200 at TEN
- Dallas Goedert (PHI): $3,900 at ARI
Defense/Special Teams
Washington Football Team DST: $2,600 vs. SEA
We don’t necessarily want to bet against Russell Wilson, but this is as good of a spot to pay down for as we can find. Wilson has thrown more interceptions (12) this year than any previous season. Seattle has also struggled to protect him. Washington has double-digit fantasy points in three of their last four games, and only three teams have more sacks this season.
Others Considering:
- Los Angeles Rams DST: $4,500 vs. NYJ
- Tennessee Titans DST: $3,400 vs. DET
- Dallas Cowboys DST: $2,700 vs. SF
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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, he may end up using different players and strategies after additional information and consideration than what he recommended in this article.
