Constructing cash game lineups for the scheduled 11-game Week 16 NFL DFS Main Slate on Sunday seemed like a breeze compared to the chaos of Week 15. With all of the value, or at least potential value depending on some COVID protocols, at running back this week, both the DraftKings and FanDuel cash lineups fell into place very easily (maybe a little too easily).
Hopefully, we won’t get any scheduling changes this week to break the slate so we can all build our DFS lineups and enjoy the holidays. Of course, nothing is guaranteed as I write this article on Thursday for Sunday’s slate, so be sure to watch the newswire and be flexible, if necessary, even if you love your early week cash game builds. I hope everyone has a great holiday!
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The players below are ones I’m looking at for cash game considerations for Week 16 main slates:
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
Matthew Stafford (LAR): $6,700 vs. MIN
If you read my full-week GPP article, you probably already know that I’m all-in on Stafford this week in GPPs and also in Cash lineups. He will face off against the Vikings in the controlled environment of the dome in Minnesota for a matchup with the highest Vegas total on the board.
Constructing cash game lineups for the scheduled 11-game Week 16 NFL DFS Main Slate on Sunday seemed like a breeze compared to the chaos of Week 15. With all of the value, or at least potential value depending on some COVID protocols, at running back this week, both the DraftKings and FanDuel cash lineups fell into place very easily (maybe a little too easily).
Hopefully, we won’t get any scheduling changes this week to break the slate so we can all build our DFS lineups and enjoy the holidays. Of course, nothing is guaranteed as I write this article on Thursday for Sunday’s slate, so be sure to watch the newswire and be flexible, if necessary, even if you love your early week cash game builds. I hope everyone has a great holiday!
Get a $5 bonus when you make your first deposit at FanDuel
The players below are ones I’m looking at for cash game considerations for Week 16 main slates:
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
Matthew Stafford (LAR): $6,700 vs. MIN
If you read my full-week GPP article, you probably already know that I’m all-in on Stafford this week in GPPs and also in Cash lineups. He will face off against the Vikings in the controlled environment of the dome in Minnesota for a matchup with the highest Vegas total on the board.
Stafford has thrown for three or more touchdown passes eight times in 14 games this season. He’ll face a Vikings pass defense that has allowed 301 passing yards (32nd) and 2.4 touchdown passes (31st) per game over the last five weeks. Anything less than 300 yards and three scores would be a disappointment.
Other notables: Jalen Hurts (PHI): $6,400 vs. NYG, Joe Burrow (CIN): $5,900 vs. BAL
FanDuel
Matthew Stafford (LAR): $7,900 vs. MIN
You can read the full write-up above, but play Stafford.
Other notables: Jalen Hurts (PHI): $7,700 vs. NYG, Joe Burrow (CIN): $7,100 vs. BAL
Running Backs
DraftKings
James Robinson (JAC): $5,900 vs. NYJ
Robinson excelled in this first game away from Urban Meyer with 87 total yards and a score on 21 touches against the Texans. This week, he draws another favorable matchup against the Jets’ swiss cheese run defense.
The Jets rank 32nd DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) against the run, according to FootballOutsiders. They have allowed 117 rushing yards (30th) and 1.5 rushing touchdowns (32nd) per game to running backs this season on 4.62 YPC (30th). While Robinson’s salary shot up on FanDuel, he remains very reasonably priced on DraftKings.
Ronald Jones (TB): $5,100 vs. CAR
With Leonard Fournette out, Jones will take over as the lead back for the Buccaneers for the next few weeks. Neither site was able to account for the expanded role for Jones going forward, which will make him the chalkiest of chalk this week.
The Buccaneers could also put a little more focus on the running game with the injuries at receiver, which should give Jones plenty of touches this week against the Panthers. The Panthers rank 24th DVOA against the run and have allowed 107 rushing yards (25tht) and 0.75 touchdowns (21st) per game over the last five weeks to running backs on the ground.
Other notables: Najee Harris (PIT): $7,400 vs. KC, David Montgomery (CHI): $5,700 vs. SEA, Justin Jackson (LAC): $4,200 vs. HOU
FanDuel
Justin Jackson (LAC): $5,400 vs. HOU
The status of Austin Ekeler, who is in the COVID protocol, could be one of the biggest keys to the entire slate. If Ekeler misses Sunday’s game against the Texans, Jackson should fill in as the lead back in a juicy matchup and become an instant cash game staple on both sites.
The matchup couldn’t be much better with the Chargers as near double-digit favorites against a Texans’ run defense that ranks 27th DVOA. They have allowed 136 rushing yards (31st) and 1.4 touchdowns (30th) per game to running backs over the last five weeks.
Ronald Jones (TB): $5,400 vs. CAR
See the write-up for Jones above.
Other notables: Damien Harris (NE): $6,600 vs. BUF, Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC): $6,500 vs. PIT, Alexander Mattison (MIN): $5,500 vs. LAR
Wide Receivers
DraftKings
Cooper Kupp (LAR): $9,100 vs. MIN
With all of the value at running back and DraftKings’ refusal to price up Kupp, he becomes an automatic play. Kupp is having a sensational and potentially record-breaking season with at least nine targets in every game and more than 92 yards in 13 out of 14 games.
Kupp’s assault on the record books should continue this week against a weak Vikings secondary who especially struggles to defend the slot where Kupp lines up 67 percent of the time. The Vikings have allowed 14.2 receptions (28th) for a league-high 203 yards per game to wide receivers over the last five weeks.
Antonio Brown (TB): $4,900 vs. CAR
Brown has been out since Week 6 due to a combination of injury and COVID violations, but his expected return for Week 16 against the Panthers couldn’t come at a better time for the Buccaneers, who will likely be without both of their starting wideouts (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin).
Brown should have an instant re-connection with Tom Brady, who was targeting him frequently to start the season. The Panthers’ secondary has regressed over the last five weeks allowing 12.3 receptions (18th) for 146 yards (16th) and 1.75 touchdowns (31st). Brown is worth considering even in cash lineups with his sub-$5k price tag on DraftKings.
Other notables: Justin Jefferson (MIN): $8,100 vs. LAR, Tee Higgins (CIN): $6,200 vs. BAL, Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET): $5,600 vs. ATL
FanDuel
Mike Williams (LAC): $6,600 vs. HOU
The Chargers should dominate the Texans this week and attack their defense however they want. Some of that production will come through the passing game in the form of big plays against a Texans secondary that has allowed 13.5 yards per reception (28th) to wide receivers.
Williams should see some positive touchdown regression coming his way as the big wide receiver has seen 12 red-zone targets over the last seven games but only has one touchdown to show for it. He draws the better individual matchups working outside against the Texans secondary compared to Keenan Allen working out of the slot.
Tee Higgins (CIN): $6,500 vs. BAL
Stealing my Higgins write-up from my GPP article earlier this week where I said, I’m not going to tell you that you are wrong if you’d rather go with Ja’Marr Chase ($7,100) over Higgins. After all, Chase put up 201 yards on eight catches with a score in his first meeting with the Ravens. However, that is the exact reason, I prefer Higgins this week in the rematch.
The Ravens will likely remember how Chase burned them earlier this season and give him more attention which should help free up Higgins, who has been putting up the better numbers than Chase lately with three games over 114 yards in his last four outings.
Other notables: Cooper Kupp (LAR): $9,800 vs. MIN, Stefon Diggs (BUF): $7,500 vs. NE, Antonio Brown (TB): $7,000 vs. CAR
Tight Ends
DraftKings
Cole Kmet (CHI): $3,300 vs. SEA
Kmet looks like he is the best value tight end to consider on DraftKings in our cash game lineup. He has at least five targets in seven of his last eight games and has averaged eight looks per game over his previous four.
Kmet draws a very favorable matchup against the Seahawks, who have been lit up by the tight end position over the last five weeks with 5.6 receptions (25th) for 72 yards (28th), and 1.0 touchdowns (30th) per game. Anything close to that stat line and Kmet will smash at his value salary.
Other notables: Mark Andrews (BAL): $7,000 vs. CIN, Dallas Goedert (PHI): $5,100 vs. NYG
FanDuel
Mark Andrews (BAL): $8,000 vs. CIN
Andrews has posted back-to-back double-digit reception games with over 100 yards and at least one score with Tyler Huntley primarily under center for the Ravens. Lamar Jackson might return this week, but regardless of who starts, Andrews should be busy.
The Bengals have struggled to stop opposing tight ends over the last five weeks allowing a league-high 7.8 receptions for 97 yards while giving up 0.6 touchdowns (25th) per game during that stretch. I don’t love the high price tag for Andrews, but he has the most favorable matchup of the high-priced tight ends, and we will have plenty of salary available to spend up at tight end on FanDuel.
Other notables: Rob Gronkowski (TB): $6,700 vs. CAR, Dallas Goedert (PHI): $5,900 vs. NYG
Defense/Special Teams
DraftKings
Jaguars (JAC): $2,700 vs. NYJ
Anytime you get a defense against the Jets for under $3k, they have to be considered regardless of who they are, even the Jaguars. This season, the Jets have allowed 3.0 sacks (28th) and 1.9 turnovers (32nd) per game and remarkably haven’t given up a defensive score. Let’s see if I can write a Jaguars defensive score into existence this week.
Other notables: Bengals (CIN): $2,800 vs. BAL, Bears (CHI): $2,500 vs. SEA
FanDuel
Bengals (CIN): $3,500 vs. BAL
The Bengals’ defense has registered at least three sacks in each of their last four games and forced multiple turnovers in three of their previous five outings. The Ravens have surrendered a league-high 4.0 sacks per game over the last five weeks.
Other notables: Jaguars (JAC): $4,000 vs. NYJ, Steelers (PIT): $3,200 vs. KC
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