Daily Fantasy Football 2023 Week 11: Best Plays And Bargains On FanDuel and DraftKings
The best way to cash on weekly fantasy football sites is to load up on as many stars with good matchups as possible. Here, you'll find the best plays and top bargains at each position on FanDuel and DraftKings. And remember, scoring is IMPORTANT. Here are Fanduel’s and DraftKings’ scoring systems.
For each position I’ll provide the best big name, the best mid range value, and the best low-price bargain. At the end, I’ll also list a big name to avoid at each position.
Quarterback
Best Big Name
C.J. Stroud, Texans ($8,000/$7,000): Stroud is getting priced with the big boys now, and it’s well-earned after throwing for 826 yards and six touchdowns in his last two games. Stroud is absolutely cooking right now, and he’s got a date with the Cardinals, the NFL’s third worst pass defense per FTN Fantasy, on deck. Stay in the flames.
Mid Range Value
Justin Fields, Bears ($7,400/$6,900): Fields is back, and while his season-long numbers look gross in some areas, he had been heating up before he got hurt. Fields was in the middle of a bad game vs. the Vikings when he went down, but prior to that he’d tossed eight touchdown passes and thrown for 617 yards in the previous two games combined. The Lions aren’t exactly a cake matchup, but they’re not incredibly daunting either, and few QBs offer as much rushing upside as Fields does. There’s risk for sure, but the upside is QB1 on the week.
Thrift Store
Matthew Stafford, Rams ($6,700/$6,400): Stafford’s price tag is very low, and that’s a gift to us, because he’s actually played very well this season. Stafford is inside PFF’s Top 10 QBs for the season and began the year with four straight games with 250+ passing yards. Where he’s been deficient is throwing touchdown passes; he only has one game with multiple passing scores in 2023, a bizarre number with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua at his disposal. His first game with Kupp back resulted in the two-TD game, and now that he’s returning with both receivers active, he should be a QB on the upswing.
Running Back
Best Big Name
D’Andre Swift, Eagles ($7,300/$6,700): Swift stands out this week, as the Eagles come off a bye week and have a surprisingly tough Chiefs defense on the dockett in primetime. Kansas City’s defense has been strong in all phases, but they’re especially tough on the pass, while Philadelphia has the NFL’s No. 2 run blocking offensive line. Swift has averaged 4.5 yards per carry this season, and if the Eagles decide to run the ball down KC’s throats rather than test their Top 5 pass defense, Swift will be able to pile up yardage and maybe even find the end zone for the second time in three games.
Mid Range Value
Tony Pollard, Cowboys ($6,900/$6,600): I simply can’t quit Pollard, who was a dud in a smash matchup last week. It was deceiving though; Dak Prescott was absolutely on fire, and it would’ve been silly to not let him cook. Pollard also saw a good number of goal line touches, and while he didn’t convert them in this one, a problem in 2023, touchdowns are fickle. A little bit of luck, especially in the best matchup in football this year for opposing RBs (Carolina) should fix what ails him. At least for one week.
Thrift Store
Keaton Mitchell, Ravens ($5,500/$4,800): Mitchell’s price remains depressed because his snap share is alarmingly low. But even with limited work, Mitchell has scored in back-to-back games and been over 60 yards from scrimmage. We can’t make the Ravens use Mitchell more, but it’s hard to imagine he doesn’t eat into Justice Hill’s snaps when he’s proven to be, by far, the most explosive RB on the team. Gus Edwards will still dominate short yardage and goal line scenarios, but Mitchell has shown thus far he can strike from distance. Cincinnati ranks as the NFL’s fourth-worst run D this season, so each time Mitchell does touch the ball could be potentially electrifying.
Wide Receivers
Best Big Name
Cooper Kupp, Rams ($8,200/$8,100): Kupp makes for a fun stack this week with Stafford. Things haven’t been great for him since returning from injury, as the last three weeks have seen Kupp deal with poor QB play and Puka Nacua changing the Rams’ need to rely on Kupp play after play. Still, Kupp showed upon his return that when he is the focus, he can still go off; his first two games back saw Kupp go for over 100 yards both times, with a score against the Cardinals. Whether he’s force fed or not, we can rely on Kupp to be consistently open, and make plays once he’s got the ball in his hands. He’s overdue for a blowup game, and I want him in my lineup.
Mid Range Value
Terry McLaurin, Commanders ($6,800/$5,800): The Giants are in full tank mode, and their secondary is vulnerable to big plays. McLaurin is a nightmare matchup for that kind of raw secondary. The Commanders’ offense has been surprisingly potent for most of the season, but the goodies have been spread around; McLaurin has yet to top 100 yards in a game, and he only has two scores on the year. This lines up to be a signature eruption game.
Thrift Store
Rashee Rice, Chiefs ($5,600/$5,300): You can’t run on the Eagles, so the Chiefs will have to throw, and Rice is their best wide receiver. Philly isn’t a bad pass defense, but they do prefer to have their opponents throw the ball a bunch for shorter gains. That’s where Rice has lived this season, except he has above-average skills after the catch. Rice might be able to bust some big plays in this one, but if not, he’s also been Patrick Mahomes’ second read in the end zone.
Tight End
Best Big Name
Travis Kelce, Chiefs ($8,000/$8,100): Kelce has suffered through two down weeks and a bye, so best believe he’s coming back healthy, focused and ready to carve up an Eagles defense that has the worst-ranked DVOA vs. opposing TEs (47.4%). This is the week to spend big on the top TE and not get cute.
Mid Range Value
Trey McBride, Cardinals ($5,900/$4,400): Maybe you do want to get cute though. If so, McBride makes a ton of sense. Houston is surrendering a league-worst 70.2 yards per game to opposing TEs, and McBride has seen 8+ targets in two of his last three tilts. Opportunity + a great matchup = a smart play, and McBride also has the benefit of being a legitimately explosive player too.
Thrift Store
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans ($4,800/$3,200): This isn’t a great week to be cheap at this position, but if you insist, Okonkwo could make some plays. It has been a disgusting ride in 2023, as he has only made it to 35 yards once, and he’s scored zero touchdowns. But he’s seen four or more targets in each of his last five games, he has Jonnu Smith-esque after the catch capabilities, and Jacksonville gives up the fourth-most yards per game to TEs (63.7). I don’t love it, but he has a chance to outperform his 2023 norms.
Quarterback to Avoid: Josh Allen, Bills ($9,000/$8,200)
Running Back to Avoid: Isaiah Pacheco, Chiefs ($6,100/$6,300)
Wide Receiver to Avoid: Adam Thielen, Panthers ($7,000/$7,500)
Tight End to Avoid: Dalton Schultz, Texans ($6,800/$5,000)