Daily Fantasy Football 2023 Week 16: 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
Justin Fields, Bears ($8,300/$7,100): Fields is a bit shakier week to week than the typical best big name, but his upside in any given game is QB1. Fields is pretty much the highest-upside rushing QB in football on a week-to-week basis, and in Arizona he faces one of the worst overall defenses in football. Arizona is vulnerable in every phase of the game, so while they’re likely to give up a bunch of yards on the ground, they’ll also be amendable to him connecting with D.J. Moore on chunk plays. He’s cheaper than the super-elite options, and in this matchup he’ll produce just like them.
Mid Range Value
Gardner Minshew, Colts ($6,800/$5,900): Minshew might not consistently deliver fantasy goods, but his ceiling is pretty high, and he has a very friendly matchup in Atlanta, who rank 30th against the pass. Michael Pittman being out does hurt, but the Colts lowkey have capable pass-catchers behind him. Minshew can definitely provide value on a very reasonable cost.
Thrift Store
Geno Smith, Seahawks ($6,600/$5,800): Smith is confirmed to be starting this week, and his matchup is once again great. The Titans have been a sieve to pass attacks all year, and while their run D has slipped as well, making it less automatic that Smith will be throwing the ball a ton, but with elite receivers like D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and the emerging Jaxon Smith-Njigba tormenting the Titans, it’d be surprising if he doesn’t turn in a very good game. I’m expecting two touchdowns minimum, while maybe a little light on yardage.
Running Back
Best Big Name
Josh Jacobs, Raiders ($7,300/$6,300): Jacobs is in line to suit up for this week’s matchup against the Chiefs, and if he plays, he’s a great play. The Chiefs have become dreadful against the run, having given up 100+ yards on the ground in eight straight games before the Patriots helped them out last week. When he’s active, Jacobs absorbs all the work like a sponge and catches the ball too, and he’ll be facing a defense that allows 4.72 yards per carry to opposing RBs. Smash spot.
Mid Range Value
D’Andre Swift, Eagles ($6,800/$6,100): On Monday vs. Seattle, Swift reminded the Eagles that when he gets enough volume he’s lethal. He ran for 74 yards on 18 carries in the loss. The Eagles have dropped three straight, and received a public tongue-lashing from Jalen Hurts. They have the Giants this week, a perfect opponent for getting right in all phases of the offense. Every relevant Eagle is a good play in this one, but Swift matches up particularly well vs. a struggling Giants run D. Swift hasn’t scored in four games, so he’s due, as are a lot of Eagles.
Thrift Store
D’Onta Foreman, Bears ($5,900/$4,700): Arizona has the league’s third-worst run defense, and while I’m anticipating Fields running wild on it, I’d be willing to gamble on Foreman punching in a TD or two on them for this low, low price. Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert are pesky options that limit Foreman’s ceiling, but if you can strike for multiple scores – definitely possible – at this cost, you’ve got a great shot at killing it for the week.
Wide Receivers
Best Big Name
Stefon Diggs, Bills ($8,900/$8,600): Diggs is way overdue for a big game. He’s only topped 50 yards once in the last five games and scored one TD in that span. This week he’ll face a fading Chargers defense that gives up 89.9 yards per game to WR1s, second-most in the NFL. It’s been tough for him of late but he also posted 100+ yards in five of his first six games this year. They count too, and he remains an elite player.
Mid Range Value
Chris Olave, Saints ($7,300/$6,600): Before missing last week, Olave had been coming on very strong. He put up either 100+ yards or a TD (sometimes both) in each of the last five games he’d played. He returns in time to take on the Rams on Thursday night, a team allowing 83.9 yards per game to WR1s.
Thrift Store
Alec Pierce, Colts ($5,300/$4,000): Pierce is an extremely risky play, as he has only two performances this year in which he put up 50 yards. That has more to do with the types of routes he’s asked to run rather than his talent level, and when the Colts do connect with Pierce, it’s exciting. I expect Pierce to be more involved with Pittman concussed, and a very favorable passing matchup (Atlanta). This won’t be for the faint of heart, but the payoff can be huge.
Tight End
Best Big Name
David Njoku, Browns ($6,600/$5,300): Njoku’s been on fire lately, and Joe Flacco is very comfortable winging it a ton so the work will be there. His matchup is cake (Houston), so you mix high volume, big talent and a good matchup, and you have an excellent DFS play.
Mid Range Value
Hunter Henry, Patriots ($5,300/$4,100): Henry has the best matchup in football this year for opposing TEs (Denver), and he’s arguably the top pass-catcher on the team. He’s dealing with a knee injury he picked up Sunday, so monitor that, but if he’s a go he’s a smash play. And if he can’t go, a pivot to the extremely low-priced Mike Gesicki might be worth your time.
Thrift Store
Juwan Johnson, Saints ($5,100/$3,200): Johnson was a touchdown machine last year, and while that hasn’t carried over, he did score last week. The Saints are going to be throwing in this one, and the Rams rank in the bottom five in the NFL vs. opposing TEs. Taysom Hill looms, as does Jimmy Graham as a goal line TE vulture, but Johnson is on the field more than Graham, and is a pure TE, unlike Hill. The floor here is a goose egg, but he has a bit more TD upside than is typical for this price point.
Quarterback to Avoid: Lamar Jackson, Ravens ($7,700/$7,600)
Running Back to Avoid: Jonathan Taylor, Colts ($9,000/$7,200)
Wide Receiver to Avoid: Davante Adams, Raiders ($7,500/$7,300)
Tight End to Avoid: Dalton Schultz, Texans ($5,800/$4,600)