DFS Cash Game Plays: NFL Week 13
DFS Cash Game Plays: NFL Week 13
The NFL Week 13 slate is ready for us to attack, but first, let's think about how to react to last week's DFS slate. With twelve weeks of data under our belts, it's hard not to overreact to what we saw on the field, particularly as injuries and outlier performances pile up. Let other people chase the outcome stats, and we will instead focus on usage and opportunity.
We will go through each position at a variety of salary levels to see who are the best plays in cash games on DraftKings and FanDuel. For these purposes, a cash game is any contest that pays out more than one-third of the field. While these are also viable GPP options, we are primarily looking for a safe floor combined with high usage that can lead to ceiling games.
DFS Tools
Previous Week's Results
Results in select DraftKings contests:
- NFL MASSIVE $25 Double Up [Single Entry] - 1086/5747
- NFL GIANT $5 Double Up [Single Entry] - 1998/11494
- NFL GIANT $5 Double Up [Single Entry] - 1308/6896
- NFL GIANT $2 Double Up [Single Entry] - 818/4825
- NFL GIANT $10 Double Up [Single Entry] - 1998/5747
- NFL Single Entry $2 Double Up - 592/2873
- NFL GIANT $10 Double Up [Single Entry] - 1308/3448
Winning percentage in Single Entry contests - 100%
Cash line in DraftKings Massive $25 Double-Up contest - 147.6
This was my cash game lineup for all contests in Week 12:
I felt this was a fairly straightforward week after I decided that the plays I was most interested in didn't leave me room for Jalen Hurts (who ended up smashing, of course). I was comfortable with Trevor Lawrence in a game where I thought Houston would be able to keep the Jaguars pushing the gas pedal on offense. The last real decision I had was Travis Etienne at $7,100 or Tank Dell at $6,900 to finish out the roster.
I built my lineups with Etienne, but as I was driving somewhere on Sunday morning I decided to make the switch to Tank Dell. Whatever I was doing that morning, I forgot to make the switch, but thankfully only about 3.5 points separated the two so the mistake of not making the change didn't cost me any cash-game wins. But I was one bad ref call in the Texans-Jaguars game from potentially missing the line because I didn't find time to make the swap.
Be sure you're following me on X (@CableBoxScore) for any updates I make to my player pool as we get closer to lock. I will update that account every weekend with additional players as other news emerges.
Scoring Differences Between DraftKings and FanDuel
A quick primer on DraftKings versus FanDuel scoring for DFS if you are unfamiliar with their platforms.
- On DraftKings, you are selecting nine spots with a total of $50,000 to spend. FanDuel has nine spots with $60,000 to spend, so salaries are slightly higher.
- DraftKings is full PPR scoring, while FanDuel is half-PPR.
- DraftKings deducts one point for a fumble lost and an interception. FanDuel is minus two points for a lost fumble and minus one for an interception.
- DraftKings awards three-point bonuses for 300-yard passing games, 100-yard rushing games, and 100-yard receiving games. FanDuel does not award bonuses.
With those differences in mind, let's look at which players make good selections in Week 13.
Quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa (DK: $7,900, FD: $8,400) has a team total north of 30 points in this matchup against the horrific Washington Commanders pass defense. Over the last month, Washington has allowed three passing touchdowns per game and the second-worst passer rating allowed (124.2). This is going to be an onslaught for Miami against Washington and the only question is will it be through the air or on the ground. I'm betting Tua has a huge game.
Ryan Kirksey
Ryan is a 20-year veteran of fantasy baseball, football, and basketball leagues. He has been writing about fantasy sports, sports betting, and DFS since 2018 and is a member of the FSWA and IBWAA. A native of Houston, he is a die-hard fan of the Astros, Rockets, and - reluctantly - the Texans. When he is not buried under sports analysis and TV show recaps, he works full-time in higher education and can be found pursuing his other passions: drinking coffee and writing about comic book investment and speculation.