Daily Fantasy Football Best Bargains 2021: Week 14 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
Baker Mayfield, Browns ($6,500/$5,200): Mayfield’s production has been ugly all season, and him being banged up in multiple places won’t help. But it’s real hard to find a startable QB on the cheap in DFS, and I wouldn’t consider the likes of Zach Wilson, Trevor Lawrence or Jared Goff startable with their Week 14 matchups. Mayfield does have blowup potential, even if it’s very unlikely, and the Ravens secondary is severely banged up. With a week off to get healthy, and both RBs on the field to command the defense’s attention, I could definitely see a 250-yard, two-touchdown effort for Mayfield in this one, providing a usable performance while you’ve loaded up on a premium WR and RB.
Running Backs
Chuba Hubbard, Panthers ($6,500/$5,900): Hubbard wasn’t special in the games Christian McCaffery missed this year, but he was plenty useful. Cam Newton looms as a serious threat to his ceiling because he’ll likely vulture TD opportunities, but Hubbard will definitely be on the field in goal line situations. Ameer Abdullah also threatens to eat into Hubbard’s snap count, but after Newton’s pitiful performance two weeks ago, the game plan will likely be run-heavy, leaving Hubbard as the preferred option in Week 14. From Weeks 3-8, Hubbard averaged nearly 18 carries and four targets per game, so he presents a high floor vs. Atlanta’s shoddy defense.
Devonta Freeman, Ravens ($6,300/$5,700): Freeman has been getting it done for the Ravens, and he’s been a valuable target out of the backfield on top of seeing double-digit carries in five consecutive games. He’s averaging close to 75 scrimmage yards a game since Week 9, and scored three touchdowns in that span. With Lamar Jackson’s accuracy failing him of late, expect Baltimore to lean even more heavily on him moving forward, and for Latavius Murray to continue being used simply to spell the lead dog.
Adrian Peterson, Seahawks ($5,600/$4,700): Peterson is an appealing option for those dumpster diving at the position. He looks completely shot as a runner, but Pete Carroll trusted him on the goal line last week, and he punched one in. Playing him is hoping for these short yardage goal line opportunities, because he’s going to offer close to nothing in terms of yardage, or as a receiver. But Houston’s run defense ranks 28th in the NFL per Football Outsiders, so the chances will be there for him to fall into the painted area. There’s high risk here; these chances could easily go back to Alex Collins, or Rashaad Penny, but AP’s veteran status might be enough for the Seahawks to grant him these valuable touches.
Wide Receivers
Elijah Moore, Jets ($6,300/$5,900): It’s odd to say the Jets absolutely crushed a draft pick, but Moore has been awesome of late, scoring five touchdowns in his last five games, and catching at least four passes in all but one game since Week 8. The offense is hideous, but Moore has managed to be consistent, despite catching balls from Mike White, Joe Flacco, Zach Wilson and Josh Johnson during this stretch. New Orleans isn’t an easy defense, but they’re friendliest to slot receivers, where Moore does a lot of his damage.
Odell Beckham Jr., Rams ($5,900/$5,300): Beckham has caught touchdowns in his last two games, and as he gets more incorporated into this offense, he’s looking like a good bet to score touchdowns down the stretch. He still has explosive speed and separation ability down the field, and he’s retained the athleticism that makes him so dominant in the red zone. With defenses having to double Cooper Kupp, OBJ can feast on mismatches, and be an efficient producer even when he only sees five targets like he did vs. Jacksonville.
Emmanuel Sanders, Bills ($5,800/$4,900): Sanders has been brutal for a long time now. He has not scored a touchdown since Week 5, and he hasn’t been above 65 yards since Week 6. The Bills offense hasn’t been the juggernaut of 2020 either, but Tampa Bay’s battered secondary might be the antidote. The Bucs allow a league-high eight points per game to No. 2 WRs, and Josh Allen is due for an explosion game. Tampa Bay’s offense is going to score, especially with this receiving corps attacking a defense that has lost star CB Tre White. Buffalo will have to keep pace, and that means Sanders getting targeted a bunch.
Tight Ends
Dawson Knox, Bills ($6,000/$5,000): Sticking with the Bills, Knox should have a party vs. the Bucs, who allow the third-most points per game (8.3) to TEs. Knox has had some quiet games since a red-hot stretch from Weeks 2-5, but he’s a constant TD threat (two vs. the Saints in Week 12) and has a plus matchup. Start him with confidence.
Austin Hooper, Browns ($5,000/$3,400): If you need to save money here, Hooper fits the bill and could also make for a beautifully gross stack with Mayfield. He’s the last TE standing in an offense which lacks dependable WRs and he’s got a plus matchup with the Ravens, who allowed David Njoku to score when they met in Week 12.