DFS Strategy Week 12: Best Bargains at Each Position on DraftKings

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

Kirk Cousins, Vikings ($5,500): Cousins’ narrative right now is as a bust signing for the floundering Vikings, but it’s not quite accurate. While Cousins may not be the caliber of QB that carries a team to a Super Bowl, even in games where he doesn’t look great he’s mostly produced for fantasy owners. Minnesota looked awful in last week’s loss to the Bears, but against the top-ranked defense in football he threw for 262 yards and a touchdown. This week, he’s back home against a much more forgiving Packers defense that ranks 15th per FootballOutsiders.com. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs are healthy, and RB Dalvin Cook is back; this is a great chance to cash in on a Cousins blowup in what should be a high-scoring, back-and-forth affair.

Josh Rosen, Cardinals ($4,500): Rosen is high risk, and the recommendation here is price-based, rather than centered on how well I think Rosen will play. With that said, Rosen has shown he can be a playable QB. He’s regularly attempting around 40 passes, and last week, when he threw just 21 passes, he managed three touchdowns. The Cardinals are up against the Chargers in Week 12, and while they rank a respectable 13th against the pass, they’re hardly a juggernaut. Los Angeles’ high-powered offense should be able to shred the Cardinals D, creating a friendly game script for Rosen.

Nick Mullens, 49ers ($5,400): Mullens has thrown for 250 yards or more in both his starts this year, and gets to face the Buccaneers this week. I don’t think Mullens is some budding superstar, but any time you can throw someone competent out there vs. this Bucs team it’s probably going to work out.

Running Backs

Dalvin Cook, Vikings ($5,400): Cook is probably the most undervalued player this week based on a horrid showing last week vs. the Bears. Yes, it’s alarming to see a guy who has battled injury all year get stonewalled like a scrub, but the Bears have the best run defense in the NFL, and haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown all season. The overreaction here is gold, because one of the most talented RBs in the NFL is being priced as an RB2 for a week. Green Bay is 24th against the run, so fire him up and enjoy the chunk plays and likely TD.

Josh Adams, Eagles ($3,800): Adams is another talented running back who is being obscured because of his situation. Adams is stuck in a three-way committee, but the perception is off from the reality. Adams assumed the lead role last week, but it wasn’t obvious because of how badly the Eagles were humiliated by New Orleans. Adams wound up carrying the ball just seven times, but even in that limited role he still managed 53 yards and a score. The Giants are not going to be able to torch Philly like that, and Adams will take over Jay Ajayi’s old workload, and possibly even more because of how crappy Corey Clement and Wendell Smallwood have been. This is a total steal.

Elijah McGuire, Jets ($3,600): McGuire’s upside is capped by the presence of Isaiah Crowell, but he’s going to see significant playing time this week when New England, coming off a shellacking and a bye week, step on the field firing on all cylinders. This has the makings of an execution at the hands of Tom Brady, meaning the Jets will be playing catch up all day. If they are forced to throw a million times, they’ll have McGuire out there rather than Crowell. McGuire has the upside of around 100 yards from scrimmage, with the possibility of a TD.

Wide Receivers

Calvin Ridley, Falcons ($5,400): Ridley is my first Turkey Day recommendation. Don’t be fooled by the Saints’ demolition of Carson Wentz last week, this is still an exploitable pass defense. I imagine they’ll do everything in their power to contain Julio Jones; that’s probably impossible, but it will free up favorable matchups for Ridley and Mohamed Sanu. Both are nice plays, but Ridley has more upside as he showed earlier this year when he went on a three-week touchdown rampage. Don’t be shocked if he finds the painted area at least once this Thankgiving.

Allen Robinson, Bears ($5,500): Robinson is far removed from his days as a locked and loaded WR1, but he’s the Bears’ No. 1 receiver, and he’s capable of huge games in good matchups. The Lions defense is very friendly to opposing WRs, and Robinson should be able to capitalize on the matchup. There are reports that QB Mitch Trubisky may have to sit out the game because of an injury; if so, the outlook for Robinson may be even better because Trubisky is more of a runner than prolific passer.

Cole Beasley, Cowboys ($4,200): Beasley completed a Thanksgiving trifecta of pass-catchers. Beasley does not have WR1 upside, but he’s a very stable PPR option and the matchup with the Redskins offers him a chance to take advantage of the 25th-ranked defense vs. slot receivers. Don’t count on a blowup game, but you can feel comfortable using him and not getting hit with a big fat zero.

Tight Ends

Cameron Brate, Buccaneers ($3,600): Brate hasn’t topped 16 yards in the last four games, so why would I recommend him? O.J. Howard, the superior player in every way who stole Brate’s shine, is done for the year with an ankle injury. That, plus the reintroduction of Jameis Winston, with whom Brate had a breakout season last year, makes him an exciting option against the 49ers’ bad defense. Enjoy the touchdown!

Trey Burton, Bears ($4,000): Burton is very touchdown dependent, but the Lions are a great defense to score touchdowns against. I can’t tell you if Trubisky’s presence helps or hurts Burton’s numbers, but regardless of the QB the matchup and price are aligning to create a fantastic play.

Jonnu Smith, Titans ($2,800): Smith has improved as the season has worn on, posting 40+ receiving yards in back-to-back games, and scoring a TD in two of his last three. His matchup with the Texans is very favorable, and he should be able to get in the end zone.