Draft Kings Week 13: Best Bargains at Each Position

The best way to cash on weekly fantasy football sites is to load up on as many stars with good matchups as possible. Due to budget restraints, however, fantasy players must sacrifice other positions to nab the stars they want.

Here, you'll find the top bargains at each position on Draft Kings that will let you splurge elsewhere. And remember, scoring is IMPORTANT. Here is Draft Kings’ scoring system.

The bargains are listed in the order I like them.

Quarterbacks

Tyrod Taylor, Bills ($5,700): Colin Kaepernick has been getting a ton of attention for his work on the ground of late, and for good reason, but don’t sleep on Taylor. He has scored a rushing touchdown (six points in Draft Kings, as opposed to four for a passing TD) in four of his last five games. He has at least five rushing attempts in all but one game in 2016, and he has a cushy matchup vs. a Raiders defense that is weak vs. the pass and the run. Mix in the return of star receiver Sammy Watkins, and Tyrod is ready to roll.

Jared Goff, Rams ($5,000): In just his second career start, Goff chucked three touchdown passes vs. the Saints and their pathetic defense. It’s early to anoint him great, but that outing proved he can be competent against bad defenses. Well, the Patriots have a bad pass defense (26th per Football Outsiders), and Goff is priced as a backup. I love me a starter priced like a reserve.

Matt Barkley, Bears ($5,000): More from the starting QB bargain bin. Matt Barkley has been a backup for a long time, but last week, in his first start ever, Barkley looked competent! He threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns, and honestly could have had much more yardage if his receivers hadn’t slathered their hands in diarrhea during pre-game warmups. I’m not saying Barkley is good; I’m saying he’s competent, and up against an atrocious 49ers defense, and you can’t pass up an okay QB in a great matchup for a backup price.

Running Backs

Theo Riddick, Lions ($5,800): Riddick is slightly expensive for the bargain piece, but he really could wind up as a Top 5 play this week. Detroit is going against the Saints, a defense that’s not only pathetic, but ranks dead last in the passing game against running backs. Riddick leads the Lions’ backfield in touches by a mile – double digits in every game he’s played – and he’s set to go off.

Kenneth Dixon, Ravens ($3,700): Dixon carries some risk, but there’s a lot to like. He matched Terrance West in carries (13) last week, and he’s seen his workload steadily increase. That’s good, because he’s much more talented than West, and the Ravens are indicating they realize it. This week, he could potentially overtake West entirely, and get a bellcow work rate for the price of a third-down back. Also, Miami may be hot, but they are barely inside the Top 20 vs. the run.

Paul Perkins, Giants ($3,800): Perkins is very risky, but like Dixon, the Giants are recognizing he’s their most talented runner. He saw 11 touches vs. the Browns last week and did modestly well. Draft Kings’ perception of Pittsburgh varies from the data at Pro Football Outsiders; DK ranks the Steelers’ 29th in terms of overall RB production, while Football Outsiders places them inside the top 10 against the run. Without many bargains absolutely standing out, Perkins is a decent talent to bet on in what could be a surprisingly good matchup.

Wide Receivers

Sammy Watkins, Bills ($5,500): Keep an eye on injury updates here, but if he’s active, play him! He’s a Top 10 talent at the price of a WR3 here, despite a cake matchup. He’s an excellent, affordable stack with Tyrod Taylor as well, even if his sore foot limits his playing time.

Kenny Britt, Rams ($5,000): Speaking of stacks, Britt should be able to thrive against the Patriots’ lame secondary. New England hasn’t been able to scheme their way into stopping opposing passing games from piling up stats, and Britt is underrated. He’s seen double-digit targets in two of his last four games, and no fewer than six targets in his last seven tilts. The Rams look his way often, so I’m expecting a touchdown.

Marvin Jones Jr., Lions ($4,400): Jones has cooled off severely after a white-hot start, but this would be the week he returns to the elite category. You have to smile when you get to line up a talented receiver vs. the Saints. Matthew Stafford looked Jones’ way 11 times last week, so even if the production didn’t reflect it, his stature may be on the rise again.

Tight Ends

Eric Ebron, Lions ($3,900): Well, I’m all in on the Lions this week what can I say? One week after Ebron put up a doughnut – on one target!!! – no one will want to roster him. But now’s the time! That’s an advantage, and against the NFL’s worst defense against tight ends, it’s one you should not dismiss. The top TEs are hurt, so go with the upside.

Coby Fleener, Saints ($3,500): Okay fine, you can’t get over the threat of a zero Ebron presents. Stay in that matchup, and lean on Fleener, who gets to carve up Detroit’s 31st-ranked D vs. TEs. That’s right folks, these are the two worst defenses in football vs. tight ends. Weird.

Jared Cook, Packers ($2,900): I won’t blame you if you vomit at the idea of trusting Jared Cook, whose picture is next to the definition of “boom or bust.” He does have a 105-yard, one-score performance under his belt this year though, and the Texans are ranked just 28th vs. tight ends. With Rob Gronkowski and Jordan Reed hurt, why spend extra here when you can play the matchups?