Daily Fantasy Football Best Bargains 2021: Week 12 Top DFS Values on DraftKings and Fanduel
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 FanDuel and DraftKings that will let you splurge elsewhere. And remember, scoring is IMPORTANT. Here are Fanduel’s and DraftKings’ scoring systems.
Quarterbacks
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers ($6,500/$5,700): Garoppolo doesn’t have a particularly high ceiling or overly favorable matchup (Vikings), but he does have two touchdown passes in each of his last three games. The Vikings offense will move the ball on San Francisco, and Jimmy G has his full complement of pass catchers healthy (George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk). We haven’t seen the big splash game this year from him, but his touchdown output is increasing as his dudes get healed up, so he has an opportunity to be a QB1 on the week for a near-backup price tag.
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers ($6,600/$5,200): Roethlisberger, like Jimmy G, is at an appealing price this week, with a decent matchup (Bengals), and quietly improving statistics. Last week Big Ben threw the ball 44 times, his second-most attempts on the season, and finished with 273 yards and three touchdowns. He’s thrown five touchdowns in the last two weeks, and zero picks. He’s going to be a bit TD-dependent, but he’s taking care of the ball (no picks since Week 5), and he’s in a groove with WR Diontae Johnson. The ceiling is still there for Big Ben, and his floor is rising.
Running Backs
Miles Sanders, Eagles ($6,100/$5,100): Sanders is healthy, and the Eagles have realized that running the ball is in their best interest. He walked back into 16 carries last week for 94 yards, and with Jordan Howard injured, Sanders is in line for a massive workload moving forward. Pair that with the Giants’ 30th-ranked Rush DVOA per Football Outsiders, and we have ourselves a smash opportunity. Expect the majority of tournament winners to have Sanders in the RB2 or FLEX spot.
Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers ($5,800/$5,300): Wilson’s finish was disappointing in Week 11, but if you didn’t watch the game, you may not know that he was all alone in the end zone and Garoppolo overthrew him on a one yard pass. That TD would’ve completely changed our outlook on his performance, which was otherwise fine. The yardage wasn’t great, but he saw 19 carries and unfortunately was vultured on a rushing TD by Deebo Samuel. My optimism will be tempered if Elijah Mitchell returns to action, and I’d consider pivoting to the next bargain pick, but even if Mitchell plays, Wilson will have a sizable enough role that he is playable.
Ty Johnson, Jets ($5,200/$4,300): Johnson is risky, because it’s possible the Jets lean on Tevin Coleman, who is more expensive this week. However, Johnson has been the better back this season, and his skill set replicates Michael Carter’s more than Coleman’s does. The matchup is excellent – Houston’s got the 27th-ranked Rush DVOA – and the Jets are probably returning rookie Zach Wilson to the starting lineup, which means they’ll want to pound the rock. Johnson should have a decent day on the ground, and sprinkle in some receptions.
Wide Receivers
Michael Pittman, Colts ($6,600/$5,600): Pittman’s price has dropped after two mediocre games, and we get to take advantage of a heavy hitter slumming it with the WR2s. Pittman is an excellent receiver who had 71 yards vs. Jacksonville, which is respectable, and then struggled vs. the Bills with Jonathan Taylor accessing a break tackle cheat code. This week’s date with the Bucs is more favorable, as their secondary is banged up, and they allow 8.6 points per game to WR1s. After this week Pittman’s price will go back up, so enjoy the discount while you can.
Hunter Renfrow, Raiders ($6,200/$5,600): Renfrow had an off week vs. the Bengals on Sunday, but he is currently the Raiders’ best receiver, and had seen eight or more targets in three straight games prior to this dud. On Thanksgiving Dallas will turn this into a shootout, and Derek Carr will be looking for Renfrow with star CB Trevon Diggs locking down one of Las Vegas’ outside speedsters. I think Renfrow will find the end zone for the third time in four weeks.
Cedrick Wilson, Cowboys ($5,600/$3,500): Staying in the same game, Wilson could smash against a Raiders secondary that ranks 22nd against the pass. Dak Prescott is coming off an abysmal game vs. the Chiefs, and Ezekiel Elliott got banged up in the loss. The matchup and Zeke injury dictate this is a Dak game, and Wilson is going to get fed with Amari Cooper and Cee Dee Lamb both likely to miss this week. Michael Gallup is the No. 1, but Wilson is probably going to lead the team in targets as he works underneath and in the intermediate areas.
Tight Ends
Dan Arnold, Jaguars ($5,100/$4,000): Arnold’s doughnut vs. San Francisco was inexplicable, and I’m throwing it in the trash. He didn’t see any kind of snap reduction, it was flat out a tough matchup in which the Jaguars played like garbage. Atlanta should be much friendlier, and prior to the zero he put up, Arnold hadn’t seen fewer than seven targets in three weeks. He has not shown a super high ceiling this year, and hasn’t found the end zone yet, but he should return to his reliable 60-70 yard self.
David Njoku, Browns ($4,900/$3,100): Njoku is admittedly a very risky, potentially week-ruining choice. Njoku is uber athletic and has shown flashes this year of insane playmaking, but the Browns offense is just harshly limiting of all its pass-catchers. The reason he’s here, is that the Ravens are the best matchup in football for opposing TEs; Baltimore gives up the most points per game (8.9) and the third-most yards (72.7). Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant may also be the ones to take advantage of this plush matchup, but I’m choosing Njoku of the three because I think he has the best chance of a long TD.
Evan Engram, Giants ($5,500/$3,800): Engram shouldn’t be as risky as he is, because he is on the field a ton and sees regular targets. The problem is that this offense is awful, and his targets are among the lowest value targets in football because Daniel Jones is just not good. Still, he has scored in two of his last three, and the Eagles allow the second-most yards per game to TEs (74.1) and the third-most points (8.5). They’re basically as bad as the Ravens, and Engram has a clearer path to targets. But he still could be a total non-factor, which is evidenced by his price tag. Based on how much risk he carries, I’d rather save the money and roll with Njoku.