DraftKings Cash Game Tips
Week 10 brings us several high-quality game environments and great plays. Let’s have a look.
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Quarterback
There are 2 elite options at QB this week and Josh Allen ($7900) leads the way for me against a Jets defense that is better against the pass than the run. The Bills offense isn’t designed to rely on the run and has been in a funk lately so I would expect them to use this as a “get right” spot against a divisional foe. Allen’s got some running ability and may out-rush either of the RBs in this spot. Tom Brady ($7600) is set up to be in a lopsided game and injuries to his pass-catchers could affect my level of interest in this spot. However, Washington is somewhat better at stopping the run than they are against the pass. The Buccaneers will not endure much resistance when they try to pass and when faced with 3rd downs, they are likely to convert and keep drives alive. Washington is dead last in opponent 3rd down conversion rate, allowing 56% of teams to keep their offense on the field. The aggressive nature of the Bucs offense will see them score at least 4 touchdowns before anyone of significance comes off the field. If Washington can put up any sort of fight for any while, it’s only going to keep Brady and company churning out yards and scores.
Some middle-tier options worth considering would be either QB in the Atlanta at Dallas game. Vegas has this game set for the highest total on the slate and these two teams play at a faster than average pace. Dak Prescott ($6900) should have his full arsenal available with the return of Michael Gallup looking likely. The Cowboys have the second-best Net Drive Success Rate, the second-best Net Pass DVOA, and the best Net Adjusted Sack Rate when using Football Outsiders metric to average out numbers for the offense and defense. Matt Ryan ($6000) is a 9.5 point road dog but Atlanta is still projected to score 22.5 points. Ryan is quietly attempting the eighth-most passes in the league and completing a high percentage of them. He’s got great catch and run guys (Pitts/Patterson) to help his yardage totals increase after the catch. Another 300-yard passing game seems possible here and if he scores 3 TDs again, he’s going to smash his modest salary.
The “pay down” QB for me this week is Taylor Heinicke ($5400). Heinicke will be forced to pass against a Bucs defense that has been a dead-zone for opposing running games. Only the Titans have forced more pass attempts per game than the Buccaneers and needed three overtime games to do it. That should mean Heinicke will be throwing often and probably doing some running, too. He’s had 40+ yards rushing in three out of his last five games, so volume in both areas will be in his favor to outproduce his salary this week.
Running Back
The slam-dunk play at RB this week is going to be Najee Harris ($7900). Only the Chargers have allowed more rushing attempts per game than the Lions and Harris leads the league in RB snap share and RB opportunity share. The Dalvin Cook ($8000) off-field stuff will need to be monitored to see if it impacts his playing status this week, but if it does not, then he’s in a game against the Chargers who cannot stop the run at all. Only the Jets have allowed more pure rushing fantasy points to RBs this year and the Chargers have allowed a league-leading 32.1 carries per game. Cook ranks seventh in RB snap share and third in RB opportunity share. The other two top options at RB this week are Christian McCaffery ($8400) who is still coming at a discount (for him) on DK, and Jonathan Taylor ($8100). Taylor has shown amazing vision and footwork this year picking his way behind his talented offensive line for huge gains. Taylor ranks first in Juke Rate and second in Yards Created per game this year.
Cordarrelle Patterson ($6600) is my favorite out of the middle-range salary plays. His role is secure as Matt Ryan’s second favorite target after Kyle Pitts in that offense and he’s in the potential shootout between the Falcons and Cowboys this week, which offers a lot of room for a great price-considered score. James Conner ($6300) is interesting this week, more so if Kyler Murray is out again, but still worth considering either way. With Chase Edmonds out of his way for lead duties and his exceptional green-zone role, he’s got bankable floor against a Panther defense that has been gashed by teams who have committed to the running game this year (see: Dallas, Minnesota, and New England games). Depending on how the injuries shake out in Tampa, Leonard Fournette ($6100) could be another mid-range option this week. If Tampa is without Godwin and Gronk (and we already know AB is out), then Fournette could be relied on as a guy Brady trusts to dump the ball off to against a Washington defense that loves to blitz. Gio Bernard ($4300) could also find himself a bit busier than usual.
Aside from Gio, there are a couple of other RBs in the bargain bin we could consider if we’re trying to carve out some extra salary space. J.D. McKissic ($5200) ought to be very busy this week as the pass-catching back against a Bucs defense that will erase Antonio Gibson’s efforts on the ground and likely have Washington in a lot of passing downs. Tampa forces the second-most pass attempts per game, has allowed the sixth-highest completion percentage but at the second-shallowest Average Depth of Target and the sixth-fewest Yards Per Pass Attempt. This is a great indication Heinicke will be checking the ball down to McKissic and whoever starts at TE for Washington this week. Mark Ingram ($4500) gets very interesting if Alvin Kamara misses this week. Ingram will be stepping into a near every-down role due to the lack of depth the Saints have at the position. He had 15 opportunities last week (9 rushes/5 targets) with Kamara on the field. That should nearly double with all the work to himself.
Wide Receiver
Davante Adams ($7900) seems to be priced like Jordan Love will start again and he’s not playing against a Seahawks defense that has no one capable of covering. I’m interested in Adams as the top WR play on the slate if Rodgers is back. Chris Godwin ($7100) is a top play if he plays. If not, Mike Evans ($6900) becomes increasingly valuable this week. I already liked Evans due to to the nature of the Washington defense being so poor against deep threats. Washington’s defense has allowed the fourth-highest Average Depth of Target, the most Air Yards per Attempt, the third-highest TD rate, and the most fantasy points to WRs in the league. Evans is the better play between him and Godwin (if both are healthy) in contests you’re trying to shave some ownership percentage away. We will want to consider Tyler Johnson ($3300) here as well, should Godwin miss. Quite possibly my favorite WR play this week will be Mike Williams ($6600). Remember this guy? He was playing the “X” receiver position and making all those big plays at the beginning of the year, then he ran into a stretch of the schedule that had defenses that could take him away (to varying degrees). Minnesota will not be one of those defenses and now he’s at a discount. Diontae Johnson ($6800) is the last man standing of the Steelers starting trio of receivers with JuJu on IR and Claypool set to miss a week or more. It’s going to come down to him and Pat Freiermuth (and Najee) to take on the bulk of the passing game work as McCloud and Washington are smaller, lesser-talented receivers that won’t be asked to do too much.
Two of the Cowboys receivers will be on my list due to my interest in that game environment as a whole. They may be better as Single-Entry or 3-Max plays than as cash plays, especially CeeDee Lamb ($7000) due to his $800 price difference between him and Amari Cooper ($6200). The Falcons top cornerback (A.J. Terrell) is their best player on defense and a true shutdown corner but he’s a stationary corner and will only be able to shut down one side of the field. If Gallup is back, then he’s the one most likely to see the most of Terrell as he has been primarily lining up at the outside WR positions on the left and right side. It’ll be Cooper seeing most of their snaps through the slot and against the lesser corner, Fabian Moreau. Russell Gage ($5000) is on my radar right now because of this game environment being so appealing and his routes are primarily run through the slot, which will be away from the threat of Trevon Diggs picking off any passes intended for him. Jerry Jeudy ($5300) is the underneath receiver against a defense that wants you to throw it underneath and should see another 8+ targets this week. He should mostly avoid Slay and Nelson on the outsides and take advantage of the weakest link for Philly’s CB room going against Avonte Maddox in the slot.
If needing to go budget shopping for a WR this week, these are the guys that are most interesting to me: Tyler Johnson ($3300) for reasons noted above, Marquez Valdez-Scantling ($3500) is interesting for SE/3-Max, Rondale Moore ($4400) could be used a bit in Chase Edmonds’ vacated role, and Jamal Agnew ($4500) sees enough work to keep him interesting at his increasing salary.
Tight End
Sticking with my fondness for the ATL/DAL game and loving the narrow distribution of targets on the Atlanta side draws me to Kyle Pitts ($5800) as my top TE play this week. However, I also really like “Washington TE” this week against a TE-friendly Tampa defense. Whether it’s Logan Thomas ($4000), who is still on IR as of Thursday, or Ricky Seals-Jones ($3700) we are looking at TEs that stay on the field in a matchup that will require plenty of passing volume and that volume has funneled 8.8 targets per game to TEs against the Bucs defense. Noah Fant ($4300) is also in a superb matchup against the Eagles defense that has surrendered 19.6 DK points(most in the league) and 8.9 targets per game (third-most) to TEs. Pat Freiermuth ($3900) is Big Ben’s “go-to guy” in clutch moments and has not disappointed. He’s seen at least 6 targets in each of the past three weeks as he fills the role as “slot receiver” from the TE position better than McCloud has as the actual slot guy.
Defense/Special Teams
The Cardinals DST ($3700) saves us some salary from having to get one of the top two DSTs (Steelers or Bills) and should be able to get some sacks and turnover against a flailing Panthers offense led by P.J. Walker, unless Cam Newton is deemed a better option, and even then I’d love this matchup for the Cardinals. The Buccaneers DST ($3500) also makes some sense as they are a high blitz team against a QB that is prone to mistakes and self-inflicted pressure. At least once a game Heinicke makes a very poor choice and one of these games it’s going to cost him a pick-six. The two cheap defenses worth considering this week are the Titans DST ($2600) and the Lions DST ($2300) as they both face offenses that can sputter at times.
Cash Game Core
Using the players listed above, you could construct something along these lines. However, keep in mind, I am not advising using this build. You should come to your own conclusions and build a roster you are most comfortable with for your style of play.
