We’re into the final quarter of the NFL season as we hit the final set of bye weeks for Week 14. We have 10 teams on this week’s main slate and it is an interesting one as we get a lot of top players, but also lose quite a bit of them. That’s why you’re here, to help build a different lineup compared to others. Sure others will use this, but hey, you never know, you may need just that one player to help you get into the money!
Before I break down all of our picks, here are the most notable scoring rules for DraftKings contests: Full-point PPR, four-point passing TDs, three-point bonuses for 100 rushing yards, 100 receiving yards, and 300 passing. Along with having a $50,000 budget to build a complete lineup.
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QUARTERBACKS
Jared Goff ($5,600)
It’s hard to look past Jared Goff who is coming off back-to-back games with multiple touchdowns. Goff was firing on all cylinders this past Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars and with Minnesota coming into town I expect Goff to be at the top of his game. With the spread being -2.5 for the Lions, I’m thinking this may be the game we see Jameson Williams unleashed as the Vikings Secondary can be beaten.
Tyler Huntley ($5,500)
As of this writing, Lamar Jackson has not been listed OUT but we can assume that the 1-3 week window with a PCL injury will mean he’s out for at least Week 14. Tyler Huntley filled in well last season from weeks 14-18. It’s crazy to think Huntley is starting once again at the same level as he did last year. A divisional game against Pittsburgh is always tough, but we could see a nice bounce-back also with Mark Andrews as Huntley leaned on him heavily last year.
RUNNING BACKS
Jamaal Williams ($5,900) / D’Andre Swift ($5,800)
The running back duo in Detroit is one of the best in the league. Jamaal Williams has a league-leading 14 rushing touchdowns and anytime the Lions are around the goal line, he can score anytime, if not three.
D’Andre Swift is getting healthy at the right time. He scored his third touchdown in his last four games and had 20 total touches. He’s a threat in the receiving game as he has 14 targets (eight receptions) over his last two games. Expect this dynamic duo to have a day.
Isiah Pacheco ($5,700)
When you see Denver on the schedule, you try not to start much against a defense that is this good. That’s just it, the defense may be good, but when Patrick Mahomes is your quarterback you know you have an opportunity to score. The OPRK of the 11th may scare you away from Isiah Pacheco, but don’t fret. Over his last four games, Pacheco has seen no less than 14 carries including scoring a touchdown in his last two.
Over the Broncos’ last three games they have either given up 100 yards or a touchdown. I like Pacheco’s odds to continue with a chance to finish as a back-end RB1.
Zonovan Knight ($5,100)
Will Michael Carter come back? I’m not worried if he does as Zonovan Knight has carved a role out for himself in this offense. Even with a tough matchup against the Buffalo Bills, Knight has shown value in the receiving game as he has eight targets over his two starts. Mike White is a check-down quarterback and with DraftKings being PPR, Knight holds value, especially at this cost.
James Cook ($4,600)
On the other side of the ball, we could be seeing a changing of the guard from Devin Singletary to James Cook. Cook out-touched Singletary (including incomplete passes) 20-15. Cook now has double-digit carries in two of his last three games. If he gets double-digit carries again this week along with the target share we could be looking at a high-end RB2 at a basement price.
Kareem Hunt ($4,600)
For a player who was once well over $6k just continues to drop. Since his Week 2 peak, Kareem Hunt has dropped to his lowest cost for the season as Nick Chubb has been running this offense. We all know Hunt has the talent, it’s just a matter of when this season. Every year we’ve seen Hunt have at least two RB1 finishes by now. This year he went over the 20-point mark once. Still waiting for that second one to hit, and until it does, I have a feeling you will be seeing Hunt’s name here till further notice.
WIDE RECEIVERS
JuJu Smith-Schuster (5,600)
It’s been a tough slate for JuJu Smith-Schuster as he’s been averaging 35 receiving yards over his last three games. His targets (11) and receptions (8) are all less than his Week 9 game against the Titans where he had 12 targets and finished with 10 receptions for 88 yards. Yeah, I know the Broncos secondary is tough, but it’s a Patrick Mahomes offense that you can’t deny. When Mahomes goes against a high-rated pass defense, he does well against them. Smith-Schuster may not score, but I think he bounces back at a nice WR2 value.
Gabe Davis ($5,300)
When you can afford Gabe Davis, you just play him. He has a weekly ceiling of a WR1 and a floor of WR69 every week. You never know when he’s going to put up that massive game, so you just play him. The third week is a charm at this cost. Take it while it’s there.
Michael Gallup ($4,600)
All it took was Michael Gallup to be off the main slate and go off Sunday night. Gallup didn’t finish with the prettiest stat line (four catches, 23 yards) but saved his night with two touchdowns. He was Dak Prescott’s red zone weapon against the Colts. This week against the Texans could be a run-heavy game but I still see Gallup making a difference at WR3 cost.
TIGHT ENDS
George Kittle ($4,300)
With the news of Jimmy Garoppolo being out for the rest of the regular season, George Kittle drops below $5k for the first time this season. Sure he only had three targets and has been slumping for the last two games now. But come on, it’s George Kittle. He’s a hell of a blocker which is why he isn’t putting up many stats with Christian McCaffrey on the field, but that should start changing this week.
Brock Purdy is starting quarterback for the remainder of the season and hopefully, with a week of practice under his belt, we get the Kittle from Week 11 (4/84/2) or even something in the form of 12 plus PPR points. Buy why it’s this low as it could jump back way over the $5k mark as he gets some tight-end-friendly matchups to end the season.
Evan Engram ($3,300)
When I thought it was going to be a Zay Jones week, it turned out to be a Christian Kirk week. The second beneficiary on the Jaguars offense was Evan Engram. Seven targets are nothing to turn your head away from as he turned that into five receptions (seven targets) for 30 yards and a touchdown.
Trevor Lawrence tried getting Engram the ball and with the way the Titans defensive line can play. Lawrence may be looking for Travis Etienne in the screen game but may have to settle more for Engram in quick-out routes to get past the linebackers.
DST
Pittsburgh Steelers ($2,800)
With this being a home game and Tyler Huntley likely being the quarterback, there is a chance that Huntley does similar to what he did last year and throws an interception or two. Furthermore, now that T.J. Watt is back, this defense looks increasingly better. Amazing what one player can bring to this D.
New York Jets ($2,500)
The last time these two teams met Josh Allen threw two interceptions along with taking five sacks. That game was at the Jets, and things could be different. I still like their chances at this cost.
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