Week 15 and maybe the rest of the season will be a wild ride for teams and DFS players with all of the COVID cases and new NFL regulations. Who is in and who is out could change at a moment’s notice, so don’t fall in love with your Friday Cash game lineup too much.
This week the running back pool looks like the trouble spot when building out your main slate cash game lineups, as there is either a “Q” or “C19” marker next to nearly every player. We will need to see how those injuries and COVID protocols work out before Sunday, but my general advice on this slate is to save salary at running back and get some sure things at wide receiver. Let’s get after it…
Win $1 Million playing FanDuel’s NFL Sunday Million 
The players below are ones I’m looking at for cash game considerations for Week 15 main slates, after taking into consideration the postponed games:
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
Kyler Murray (ARI): $7,900 vs. DET
Murray, when healthy, has been one of the best cash game quarterbacks to roster all season. He has topped 22 DraftKings points in eight of his 10 games and has the upside to exceed 30 DK points as he has done three times.
This week Murray and the Cardinals have the highest Vegas implied team total on Sunday’s main slate with their matchup against the Lions. The Lions rank 29th DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) against the pass, according to FootballOutsiders. Murray is always involved on the ground at the goal line and could be even more likely to score a rushing touchdown if James Conner is out.
Other notables: Dak Prescott (DAL): $6,500 vs. NYG, Tua Tagovailoa (MIA): $5,700 vs. NYJ
FanDuel
Matthew Stafford (LAR): $7,700 vs. SEA (Game moved due to COVID, no longer on the main slate)
Stafford has been on a roll over the last three games tossing three touchdown passes in each contest while topping 285 passing yards in every game. Stafford and the Rams pass attack should keep their foot on the gas in a favorable matchup against the Seahawks in a game with one of the tighter lines and highest Vegas totals on the main slate.
The Seahawks have allowed a league-high 290 passing yards per game. While they have been better at preventing passing scores ranking sixth (1.4 per game), the Rams are one of the top passing heavy teams in the red zone and inside the 10-yard line.
Other notables: Kyler Murray (ARI): $8,800 vs. DET, Aaron Rodgers (GB): $7,600 vs. BAL
Running Backs
DraftKings
Antonio Gibson (WAS): $6,000 vs. PHI (Game moved due to COVID, no longer on the main slate)
Gibson was a popular option last week and came up short, but I’m willing to go right back to him this week and hope for a better game script against the Eagles. Before last week, Gibson had at least 19 touches in the previous four games, including a passing game role with J.D. McKissic out.
With McKissic looking iffy again this week, Gibson should spike back up to around 20 touches, including some targets against the Eagles. The Eagles rank 21st DVOA against the run this season and have allowed 4.50 YPC (25th) to running backs over the last five weeks.
James Robinson (JAC): $5,400 vs. HOU
You know the running back pool has a lot of question marks when I’m recommending a Jaguars running back who has only totaled 15 touches over the last two weeks. Robinson has freed himself from the recently fired Urban Meyer and could also benefit from a potentially missed game by Carlos Hyde this week.
Robinson got six out of the seven carries in the Jaguars backfield last week and was back up over 60 percent in snap rate, which should indicate he is back to the lead role heading into a juicy matchup against the Texans. The Texans have allowed 150 rushing yards (31st) and 1.5 rushing scores (31st) per game to running backs over the last five weeks.
Other notables: Saquon Barkley (NYG): $6,500 vs. DAL, Michael Carter (NYJ): $4,700 vs. MIA
FanDuel
Ezekiel Elliott (DAL): $6,700 vs. NYG
While Elliott has been hobbled and looked “dusty” over the last few weeks, those performances have come against some good run defenses, including the Saints and Washington. Elliott will have a much more advantageous matchup this Sunday against the Giants.
The Giants have allowed 106 rushing yards (27th) per game to running backs this season on 4.47 YPC (25th). With the Cowboys installed as a double-digit favorite, they should lean on the running game. The price point for Elliott, along with the matchup and game script, makes him a solid cash game option on FanDuel.
James Robinson (JAC): $6,300 vs. HOU
See Robinson’s write-up above.
Other notables: Antonio Gibson (WAS): $6,900 vs. PHI, Malcolm Brown (MIA): $5,000 vs. NYJ
Wide Receivers
DraftKings
Diontae Johnson (PIT): $7,500 vs. TEN
Often my wide receivers on DraftKings in cash games will focus on the mid-priced options who can gobble up targets, but due to the weak options at running back, I’m more focused on a high-low formula at the position. Note that I will also likely use a wide receiver in the flex this week on DraftKings, which is not what I do most weeks.
While Cooper Kupp and Davante Adams are also very much in play this week, I don’t mind saving a few bucks with Johnson, who gets a similar target volume as the higher-priced options. Johnson has double-digit targets 10 out of 12 games this season. He should continue to be the top look for Ben Roethlisberger against a vulnerable Titans secondary that has allowed a league-high 15.4 receptions for 198 yards per game to wide receivers this season.
DeVante Parker (MIA): $4,300 vs. NYJ
Even before the news of Jaylen Waddle landing in the COVID protocol, Parker had my attention with his criminally low salary on DraftKings. Parker returned to the field before the bye week for the Dolphins and played on 71 percent of the snaps while recording five catches for 62 yards.
Parker’s price tag is far too low for a guy on a pass-first team in a favorable matchup against the Jets. With Waddle out, Parker could see double-digit looks this week along with some red zone opportunities giving him a high floor with plenty of upside for any lineup type.
Other notables: Cooper Kupp (LAR): $9,000 vs. SEA, Davante Adams (GB): $8,900 vs. BAL, Gabriel Davis (BUF): $3,700 vs. CAR
FanDuel
Cooper Kupp (LAR): $9,000 vs. SEA (Game moved due to COVID, no longer on the main slate)
As I mentioned in the introduction, I’m looking to save money at running back to pay up for certainty at wide receiver in cash game lineups this week. That starts with Kupp, who has at least nine targets in every game and has topped 92 yards in all but one game this year.
The Rams have been hit with many COVID cases, which has already placed Odell Beckham in the protocol, which could send even more targets towards Kupp in a very favorable individual matchup working primarily out of the slot against the Seahawks. You don’t need me to tell you to play Kupp whenever possible at this point.
Davante Adams (GB): $8,500 vs. BAL
On FanDuel (and maybe DraftKings), give strong consideration to doubling down on the high-priced wide receivers by using Adams along with Kupp. Adams has at least eight targets in each of the last five games and has topped 100 yards receiving in three straight games while scoring four times during those outings.
The Ravens have been strong against the run this season but have been giving up plenty of yardage and big plays through the passing game to opposing wide receivers. The Ravens have allowed a league-high 15.1 yards per reception to wide receivers this season and 180 yards per game (27th) over the last five weeks to wideouts.
Other notables: CeeDee Lamb (DAL): $7,400 vs. NYG, DeVante Parker (MIA): $5,800 vs. NYJ, Gabriel Davis (BUF): $4,900 vs. CAR
Tight Ends
DraftKings
Ricky Seals-Jones (WAS): $3,400 vs. PHI (Game moved due to COVID, no longer on the main slate)
While there are some strong options going up the salary scale at the tight end position, I prefer to pay down in cash games on DraftKings, so I will roll the dice with Seals-Jones. He was out-snapped by John Bates last week but still managed to get twice as many targets (4 to 2).
With Seals-Jones another week removed from his injury, look for his snap count and involvement in the Washington passing game increase this week in a very favorable matchup against the Eagles. The Eagles have allowed 6.8 receptions (32nd) for 67 yards (31st) and 0.85 touchdowns (32nd) per game to tight ends this season.
Other notables: Dallas Goedert (PHI): $5,300 vs. WAS
FanDuel
Zach Ertz (ARI): $5,300 vs. DET
With some of the Cardinals’ primary touchdown getters like DeAndre Hopkins out and James Conner looking iffy for this week’s matchup against the Lions, it could force more looks in the red zone to a guy like Ertz in a favorable matchup.
The Lions have allowed 7.8 receptions (32nd) for 73 yards (29th) and 0.4 touchdowns (19th) per game to tight ends over the last five weeks. Ertz has posted at least four targets and three receptions in six of the seven games since joining the Cardinals. Note that if enough deep value opens up at running back, then I will look to get up to Kittle.
Other notables: George Kittle (SF): $7,800 vs. ATL, Dallas Goedert (PHI): $6,000 vs. WAS
Defense/Special Teams
DraftKings
Jaguars (JAC): $2,800 vs. HOU
The Jaguars are at home and a small favorite against the Texans this week which puts them in consideration to use as an inexpensive defense. The Texans have allowed 2.85 sacks (27th) per game this year and let Davis Mills sling it 49 times last week which could have the Jaguars defense plenty of opportunities for fantasy points.
Other notables: Broncos (DEN): $2,900 vs. CIN, Ravens (BAL): $2,500 vs. GB
FanDuel
Steelers (PIT): $3,700 vs. TEN
The Steelers have one of the worst run defenses in the league, but the Derrick Henry-less Titans backfield likely won’t be able to take advantage of it which should lead to more dropbacks for Ryan Tannehill against a Steelers pass rush that ranks second in sacks this season. Meanwhile, the Titans have allowed 2.9 sacks (27th) and 1.6 turnovers (25th) per game this year.
Other notables: Broncos (DEN): $4,000 vs. CIN, Bengals (CIN): $3,400 vs. DEN
Import your team to My Playbook for instant Waiver Wire advice
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
Beyond our daily fantasy football content, be sure to check out our Daily Fantasy Football Tools. From our Value Plays – which allows you to identify players who are projected to outperform their salaries – to our DFS Cheat Sheets – that helps you get a quick read on the day’s players – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
