DFS Strategy Week 5: Best Bargains on Draft Kings at Every 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
Derek Carr, Raiders ($5,200): Carr finally went off last week, throwing 58 times for 437 yards and four touchdowns. The Raiders’ defense is awful, so it’s going to be this way most weeks. This week, Carr heads to Los Angeles to face the Chargers in what will basically be a Raiders home game. The Chargers’ offense is legit, so ride Carr in yet another AFC West shootout. He’s possibly my favorite play this week.
Dak Prescott, Cowboys ($5,500): It’s really fun to nail it with someone that not many other players are using. If you choose to go with Prescott, that’s the category you’ll find yourself in. Dallas’ passing game is much maligned, and for good reason; it’s utterly devoid of talent. Sometimes, however, that doesn’t matter. The Texans’ defense has been horrendous in 2018, and it’s been especially putrid vs. the pass. If Prescott’s ever going to have a nice night through the air, it’s against this collection of sieves. Also, Prescott has wheels, which provides a high floor to go with the matchup upside here. Carr’s a better bargain, but if you think he can’t replicate last week’s bonanza, Prescott is a fine option.
Blake Bortles, Jaguars ($5,500): Bortles had a sweet matchup last week and had a nice game, throwing for 388 yards and two scores vs. the Jets. Bortles is perfectly viable in DFS when the matchup is right, and in Week 4 he is up against a Chiefs defense that currently ranks second-to-last in the NFL per FootballOutsiders.com. Like Prescott, Bortles has some upside on the ground as well, raising his floor.
Running Backs
Sony Michel, Patriots ($5,400): Michel is one of the biggest winners in terms of fantasy value this season, getting a huge opportunity with Rex Burkhead being placed on IR. In his first game as the clear lead back, Michel ripped Miami apart, rushing 25 times for 114 yards and a touchdown. Michel has complete ownership of the early down work, big play potential, and an offense that is getting pieces back. With Rob Gronkowski banged up, and a short week to prepare, don’t be shocked to see Michel get a lot of volume Thursday night against the Colts.
Aaron Jones, Packers ($4,300): Jones may be in an annoying committee in Green Bay, but he is the top talent in that committee, and he’s already seeing double-digit carries. Jones is the RB to own if you’re going to have a piece of the Packers’ backfield, and he’s looking at the Lions front seven this week like Sansa Stark eyes a lemon cake. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry last year and is already averaging 6.3 in 2018. If he got a full workload he could absolutely explode at a really bargain price tag.
LeSean McCoy, Bills ($4,900): McCoy’s value is near rock bottom, and while I hate him right now for season-long owners, his matchup here is sneaky and tasty. Tennessee’s record is impressive, but while they’re riding high, they’re secretly crappy (25th per FootballOutsiders) against the run. This is a road, trap matchup vs. the Bills. Ask the Vikings about this spot in the schedule. McCoy’s ribs are a little worrisome – that could be why he’s continued to see low usage – but he’s also had bad game scripts. If McCoy can get even 15 totes, he will do damage.
Wide Receivers
Amari Cooper, Raiders ($5,500): I’m a sucker for a cake matchup, and Cooper has the best one possible. For all his inconsistency, Cooper is the Raiders’ No. 1 receiver. This week he faces the Chargers, who are the literal worst team in the NFL against No. 1 receivers. In what I’m expecting to be a shootout, Cooper is a must start. When he hits, he is WR1 good. He should be that good for the second week in a row.
Cole Beasley, Cowboys ($3,800): Beasley isn’t an exciting player to fire up, but he has the most consistent role in the Dallas passing game. While most weeks that makes for middling production, this matchup vs. the Texans is juicy. Beasley makes for a cheap stack with Prescott, and he has a decent chance at scoring a touchdown in this game, especially if RB Ezekiel Elliott is hindered.
Ryan Grant, Colts ($4,500): The Colts are probably going to have to pass a ton against the Patriots Thursday night, and top WR T.Y. Hiilton might not be able to go. If so, that pushed Ryan Grant into top billing, and WR1s have fared well vs. the Patriots. New England ranks 29th against No. 1 receivers, and while Grant is no star, he could wind up performing like a WR2 or a solid FLEX this week in your DFS lineup.
Tight Ends
Eric Ebron, Colts ($4,600): Ebron is still not getting respect despite playing with Andrew Luck, and scoring in three of four games. The matchup this week actually isn’t great, as New England has been the second-best team in the NFL vs. opposing tight ends, but I’m overlooking that because Ebron’s TD upside can erase a low-target outing.
Geoff Swaim, Cowboys ($2,800): Swaim is probably an even better bet than Beasley. The little-known TE has seen 12 targets over the Cowboys’ last two games, scoring last week vs. the Lions. Houston’s porous pass defense is the worst in the league vs. TEs, and he is so cheap that even if he stinks you’ll have high-priced talent all around him.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jaguars ($2,900): ASJ carries risk. He’s not in a pass-happy offense, and he’s competing with three quality WRs and a pass-catching running back this week for work. With that said, he’s a big body in the end zone and he is up against the NFL’s third-worst defense against TEs. He’s seen at least four targets in every game this year, so chances are he will not give you a zero. He’s solid for this price.