DraftKings Cash Game Core: Week 12

Running Back

Before we get to the individual plays at RB, I want to throw out a quick thought. We’re now in the second half of the season. This is when games tend to slow down, the weather starts to play a greater factor, and teams tend to rely more on their running games to get them down the stretch. At this point in the season, it may be time to start considering a third RB instead of a 4th WR in the flex. This is slate-dependent, of course. Last week was a good week for 3RB and this week may have that same opportunity.

Christian McCaffery ($9000) is no longer the slam-dunk play he was the past couple of weeks when his price was below $9k but he still offers one of the highest floors at the position and faces a mediocre Dolphins defense. CMC has been targeted 18 times since Newton returned to the Panthers and this looks like the offensive game plan going forward. Najee Harris ($8200) has also shown a terrific floor and finds himself in a matchup with the team welcoming the most targets to RBs per game at 9.8 (which is an absurd 26% target rate to the position). Cordarrelle Patterson ($6500) is the cheapest option among the pass-catching RBs with high floors but we have to wait out the injury news with him to find out if he’ll be available. The salary on Saquon Barkley ($6300) is interesting and with a new play-caller, perhaps he’ll finally be unleashed. In-game injuries have been his stumbling block over the past few years though, so he’ll carry some risk. Aaron Jones ($6000) is also at an intriguing salary versus the Rams, who are tougher against WRs than the RB and TE positions. The Packers have some OL injuries to worry about so quick dump-offs and screen to Jones might make sense for them.

Miles Sanders ($5100) is a solid value based on his usage and the way the Eagles offense has found its identity as a run-heavy group. His 8.4 DK points last week would be a disappointment at any price but the 17 opportunities (16 carries and 1 target) and near 100-yard game last week (not to mention Hurts vulturing all the TDs) indicates his role as the lead dog in that backfield (Jordan Howard is doubtful) may be secure for at least one more week. With Michael Carter ruled out for the Jets we have the opportunity to guess right on which of their remaining two RBs might be able to post a solid, price-considered score at a deep discount. Ty Johnson ($4300) and Tevin Coleman ($4000) ended up with 20 snaps apiece last week in the game Carter was injured. It appears the Jets want to use Coleman more as the runner and Johnson as the passing-down back. A target is worth at least twice as much as a carry (some say 3x as much) which points to Ty Johnson as the guy with the more valuable opportunities but it might be Coleman who gets any Green-Zone carries for TD attempts. Neither are safe plays, they are just a cheap bet on 12 points to help us get to the better plays elsewhere for this slate. The Texans present the same scenario with Philip Lindsay’s release. Do we want to bet on David Johnson ($4500) or Rex Burkhead ($4200) to post 12-15 points? I’m not sure. But, they are interesting to consider if willing to punt away one of our RB spots this week. Nyheim Hines ($4000) might be the best of these bottom-dollar plays because of his match-up against the Buccaneers presenting more of a challenge in the running game for RBs, especially if Vita Vea is back. Only the Eagles defense allows a shallower Average Depth of Target against them than the Bucs and Tampa is allowing 8 targets per game to funnel to RBs with 14.3 PPR points resulting from them (second-most for the main slate). The Bucs secondary has gotten missing starters back over the past couple of weeks with Carlton Davis a possibility to return this week. I would guess Hines becomes a big part of Frank Reich’s game plan here.

Wide Receiver

Normally, I like to pair at least one of my quarterback’s WRs with them, but if I’m rostering Newton or Taylor, then I don’t feel that need and it opens up the WR board to stack more towards game environments that look to have high scoring passing-games involved. The top passing team in the NFL is the Buccaneers, so I will look to their WRs. As of writing, both Mike Evans ($7200) and Antonio Brown ($5500) did not practice on Wednesday and the Thursday report hasn’t been released. Chris Godwin ($7000) was limited in Wednesday’s practice. Based on the way the Colts defense has allowed fantasy points, I would rank the three as Evans > Brown (this is more based on Brady’s love of throwing to him) > Godwin > Tyler Johnson ($3900). All that being said, I might just end up using Gronk in this spot.

The top play for WR is Cooper Kupp ($9600) but his price is so restrictive he’s hard to plug in and love the rest of the roster. Given this matchup is one of the premier matchups on the slate, I don’t mind sliding down in salary to get a piece of the Rams offense through either Odell Beckham ($5000) or Van Jefferson ($4900). Sean McVay has shown in the past he is willing to scheme up touches for someone he wants to get involved in his offense and he’s said this week that OBJ will have a big role this week. When McVay makes those types of comments, he’s usually followed through. On the other side of this matchup, Ramsey on Adams for his salary is too rich for me. I suspect a lot of outlets to Aaron Jones and perhaps they land a couple of their deep shots through Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($4100), who had 10 targets in a shootout last week.

The Steelers have the top passing matchup of the slate when we look at how often they pass and compare that to how often their opponent (Cincinnati) forces the pass. That makes Diontae Johnson ($6600) and Chase Claypool ($6000) primary plays for me. The floor is higher with Johnson than Claypool and I don’t understand why he’s being priced so low…still. We rarely see a player’s salary converted into a near 2x dollar-per-target ratio. Johnson has seen 13 targets five times this year, including four of his last five.  

Going back to the first thought in the paragraph, if I were to stack a WR with either Newton or Taylor, it’s going to be D.J. Moore ($6200) or Brandin Cooks ($5800). Both are reasonably priced for their roles and have solid upside but scary floors. Outside of the three game environments already discussed, I’ll be looking for value plays at WR. Seems odd to see Mike Williams ($5700) at this low of a salary, so he’s at the top of my value list. Denver is a tough pass defense but Williams has that big-play ability to post a decent price-considered score off of just a couple of catches (as long as one is a big play). Brandon Aiyuk’s ($5300) role has blossomed over the last four weeks making him a solid option at his salary. Below $4k at WR is rough. Nothing stands out as a decent floor play down here at the moment (aside from Tyler Johnson if injuries open it up for him), so we’ll have to see if injuries, Covid, or other arrangements open up a spot for a cheap receiver to be relevant this week. The lack of decent options down here points me more toward Nyheim Hines as an RB/WR type play for $4000 if I’m reaching for extra salary.

Tight End

Kyle Pitts ($6100) should be one of the busiest TEs this week and is his team’s top target in the passing game. The matchup is neutral but his talent and usage suggest he’s in for a great week. Noah Fant ($4600) is in a good spot against a Chargers defense that funnels targets into the TEs and just allowed the Steelers TEs to catch two touchdowns last week. No team has allowed more fantasy points to the TE position like the Eagles have. Evan Engram ($3800) is hard to trust but deserves consideration. Jonnu Smith ($2700) gets to face his former employer and his teammates have been expecting him to break out sooner or later. This might be the game for that.

Defense/Special Teams

The Titans are too short-handed to compete with the elite teams in the league (and the Texans) making the Patriots DST ($3900) the top play on the slate if we have the salary to get there. Otherwise, I’m looking at the Panthers DST ($3100) and the 49ers DST ($3100) in the mid-range salary area. For salary relief, I’m looking at the Falcons DST ($2500) who are also taking on an offense that is losing too many starters to injury and are starting to grasp Dean Pees’ scheme better. And, I don’t mind the Texans DST ($2300) against Zach Wilson and the Jets who are down Michael Carter and possibly Corey Davis.

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.