Draft Kings Strategy 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 DraftKings that will let you splurge elsewhere. And remember, scoring is IMPORTANT. Here is DraftKings’ scoring system.
Quarterbacks
Kyle Allen, Panthers ($5,500): We were all ready to bury Kyle Allen after he faltered for two weeks in losses to the Packers and Falcons, but then he messes around and lights up the Saints, in New Orleans, for 256 yards and three touchdowns. I’m not sure if Allen is a good quarterback, but he’s proven he can put up useful numbers at times. A home game vs. Washington’s horrendous defense merits a dart throw.
Andy Dalton, Bengals ($4,700): Dalton is extremely risky, and he was benched this year already, but he is a significant upgrade from Ryan Finley. While the Jets have been red hot of late, they’re a plus matchup based on the whole season’s body of work, and we’ve seen Cincinnati let it fly when Dalton is under center. Dalton has uncorked at least 36 passes in every game he’s started this year, and that’s the only way to move the ball on Gang Green. I’m not expecting a Top 10 performance here, but Dalton could finish inside the Top 15, which is more than enough for $4,700.
Running Backs
Benny Snell Jr., Steelers ($4,700): James Conner is trending toward not playing this week, leaving Snell with a huge workload against a Browns defense that was 20th vs. the run before allowing 92 yards on the ground to Miami. Snell racked up 98 yards on 21 carries last week; while he gets dinged for giving way to Jaylen Samuels in just about all passing situations, he’ll have plenty of rushing attempts with Devlin Hodges under center for Pittsburgh.
Miles Sanders, Eagles ($5,400): Sanders has a cake matchup against the Dolphins this week, and will continue to see a fairly heavy workload if Jordan Howard remains out. Even if Howard returns, Sanders’ role as the pass-catching back is solidified, and he’ll have plenty of chances to break off a huge play or two. I’d be surprised if Sanders doesn’t finish as an RB2 this week.
Phillip Lindsay, Broncos ($5,000): Lindsay has seen close to the workload you want for him the last two weeks, and while he hasn’t had big games, he’s on the verge. He’s averaged about 4.3 yards per carry, and his schedule is about to lighten up. If Denver can throw a few more passes his way, an RB1 afternoon is coming soon. The Chargers entered Week 12 as the 26th-ranked run defense per Football Outsiders, so this week could be the explosion.
Wide Receivers
Tyler Boyd, Bengals ($5,500): Aside from an inexplicable dud vs. Oakland, likely thanks to Ryan Finley, Boyd has been a serviceable FLEXish type fantasy receiver. Even despite Finley, he returned to outright usefulness with a 101-yard, one-touchdown performance against a tough Steelers defense. Boyd should revert to being a PPR machine with Andy Dalton reinstalled at QB, and the Jets have been one of the NFL’s softer pass defenses this season. A WR2 finish looks likely for Boyd, at a very affordable price.
Mecole Hardman, Chiefs ($4,200): Hardman carries great risk because his floor is a goose egg, but the matchup with the Raiders is appealing. If Tyreek Hill doesn’t play because of his hamstring, this price is an absolute steal because it will increase Hardman’s volume on deep shots. Even with Hill active though, Hardman is good enough to turn one or two targets into big points. Especially when faced with a secondary as porous as this one. Hardman’s the kind of receiver you want if you want to blow your budget on Christian McCaffery.
Tight Ends
Ryan Griffin, Jets ($4,300): Griffin’s been hot, and with the Bengals on deck you’re going to want to stay in the flames. Griffin only caught three passes for 13 yards vs. Oakland, but one of those was a touchdown. It was his second TD in as many weeks, and his fifth of the year. Griffin has become a steady part of the Jets offense, and looks to be a major weapon for Sam Darnold in the red zone. The price hasn’t caught up to his role, so ride the wave.
Gerald Everett, Rams ($4,600): Everett has the best matchup in fantasy for TEs (Cardinals), so he’s worth a play even though the Rams currently look like diseased rat ass. Part of the Rams’ struggles have been their matchups; most teams would struggle vs. the Steelers, Bears and Ravens. Everett did succeed against the Steelers too, catching eight passes for 68 yards. I’d expect him to score a touchdown or two against the Cards, and for the Rams to have a get right game.
Greg Olsen, Panthers ($4,400): Olsen makes for a nice stack with Kyle Allen, as he’s one of the most consistently targeted players in the offense, and has a lovely matchup with the Redskins. Touchdowns have not been there for Olsen, so his upside is capped, but the targets and yardage are there so he is unlikely to turn in a total dud. And, Washington might be the elixir needed to get him back in the end zone.