Hopefully, everyone has recovered from Thanksgiving and is ready to dive into the 10-game NFL Week 12 DFS main slate on Sunday. It is an odd week with nine of the 10 games featuring a tight Vegas line of fewer than four points which should make for some great back-and-forth action.
There are plenty of strong options to consider for our Cash game lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel, however without any obvious value options, building a lineup that fits together and has a full complement of pieces you feel comfortable with rostering in a cash lineup is a challenge. Therefore, my lineups have taken on a more balanced salary distribution and are forgoing the high-priced studs.
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The players below are ones I’m looking at for cash game considerations for Week 12 main slates:
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
Cam Newton (CAR): $5,600 vs. MIA
Plugging in a cheap Cam Newton at quarterback on DraftKings was the optimal play last week with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score on his way to 26-plus DraftKings points. With his salary rising just $500, it seems like the right move again this week for Cash games on DraftKings with the Panthers facing the Dolphins.
Hopefully, everyone has recovered from Thanksgiving and is ready to dive into the 10-game NFL Week 12 DFS main slate on Sunday. It is an odd week with nine of the 10 games featuring a tight Vegas line of fewer than four points which should make for some great back-and-forth action.
There are plenty of strong options to consider for our Cash game lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel, however without any obvious value options, building a lineup that fits together and has a full complement of pieces you feel comfortable with rostering in a cash lineup is a challenge. Therefore, my lineups have taken on a more balanced salary distribution and are forgoing the high-priced studs.
Win $1 Million playing FanDuel’s NFL Sunday Million
The players below are ones I’m looking at for cash game considerations for Week 12 main slates:
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
Cam Newton (CAR): $5,600 vs. MIA
Plugging in a cheap Cam Newton at quarterback on DraftKings was the optimal play last week with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score on his way to 26-plus DraftKings points. With his salary rising just $500, it seems like the right move again this week for Cash games on DraftKings with the Panthers facing the Dolphins.
The Dolphins have allowed 291 passing yards (30th) and 1.8 touchdown passes (28th) per game this season. They have also ranked 26th in rushing yards allowed to quarterbacks over the last five weeks. Another three total scores from Newton this week will easily pay off his low salary.
Other notables: Aaron Rodgers (GB): $6,900 vs. LAR, Joe Burrow (CIN): $6,200 vs. PIT
FanDuel
Tom Brady (TB): $8,200 vs. IND
Brady has put up consistent fantasy production all season with multiple touchdown passes in six straight games while topping 300 yards in three of those games. The Buccaneers have the highest Vegas implied point total on the slate for their matchup against the Colts.
The Colts have surrendered 2.3 touchdown passes (31st) per game this season to go along with a 23rd DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) against the pass according to FootballOutsiders. Another multiple touchdown game from Brady is coming.
Other notables: Matthew Stafford (LAR): $7,700 vs. GB, Joe Burrow (CIN): $7,100 vs. PIT
Running Backs
DraftKings
James Robinson (JAC): $6,200 vs. ATL
While I would love to pay up for Christian McCaffrey, it might not be an optimal lineup construction this week unless some deep value opens up. Instead, I’ll look to roster running backs that have a heavy workload in the mid-priced range like Robinson.
Robinson has at least 14 touches and a score in each of the last two games which have included eight targets. He draws a plus matchup this week against the Falcons who have allowed 115 rushing yards (28th) and 0.8 touchdowns (21st) per game to running backs over the last five weeks. They have also allowed 6.6 receptions (27th) for 51 yards (27th) per game through the air to pass-catching backs. It could be a busy day for Robinson.
Darrell Henderson (LAR): $5,800 vs. GB
Henderson has had two weeks to rest with the Rams on bye last week and should return to his three-down role as the Rams’ primary back heading into a marquee matchup on the road against the Packers on Sunday. Henderson has an average of 17.8 DraftKings points per game on the road this season.
The Packers have been decent against opposing running backs when looking at the raw numbers but rank 24th DVOA against the run this season. Henderson has a very reasonable salary for a back involved on the ground, through the air, and at the goal line for a high-scoring offense.
Other notables: Christian McCaffrey (CAR): $9,000 vs. MIA, Miles Sanders (PHI): $5,100 vs. NYG, Dalton Hilliard (TEN): $4,600 vs. TEN
FanDuel
Joe Mixon (CIN): $8,000 vs. PIT
Mixon has been on a roll over his last five games with at least one touchdown in every game and multiple scores in each of the last three. He has at least 18 touches in four of those five games and should be heavily involved in a key matchup against the Steelers this week.
The Steelers run defense has been swiss cheese over the last five weeks allowing 112 rushing yards (27th) and 1.25 touchdowns (29th) per game to running backs on 4.92 YPC (29th). Keep riding Mixon while he is running hot.
Miles Sanders (PHI): $6,100 vs. NYG
This is a scary recommendation to make for a cash game lineup. Sanders and the Eagles coaching staff have done nothing to make us feel comfortable with rostering him in a GPP let alone a cash game lineup. However, on a week that we are desperate for value, here we are.
Sanders did have 16 carries for 94 yards in the last game. The Eagles will be without Jordan Howard this week which should keep Sanders as the lead back in a plus matchup against the Giants. The Giants rank 30th DVOA against the run and have allowed 104 rushing yards (27th) per game on 4.55 YPC (27th) to running backs this season. Fingers crossed.
Other notables: Dalvin Cook (MIN): $8,100 vs. SF, James Robinson (JAC): $7,600 vs. ATL, Darrell Henderson (LAR): $7,300 vs. GB
Wide Receivers
DraftKings
Chris Godwin (TB): $7,000 vs. IND
Godwin has racked up at least six catches in four straight games and has scored three times during that stretch. With Antonio Brown still out, Godwin should get plenty of looks working out of the slot against the Colts.
The Colts have done well against the run this season which should push Brady and the Buccaneers to pass against a defense that has allowed 13 receptions (23rd) for 146 yards (19th), and 1.4 touchdowns (29th) per game to wide receivers over the last five weeks.
Dionate Johnson (PIT): $6,600 vs. CIN
Johnson is a target hog in the Steelers passing game with 13 targets in four of his last five outings. He will continue to get fed the ball in a key divisional matchup against the Bengals. Johnson averaged seven receptions for 88 yards and a score in two meetings last season. With a depleted Steelers receiving corp, Johnson will be busy again on Sunday.
Other notables: Deebo Samuel (SF): $7,900 vs. MIN, Keenan Allen (LAC): $7,400 vs. DEN, Michael Pittman (IND): $5,600 vs. TB
FanDuel
Mike Evans (TB): $7,500 vs. IND
As is usually the case when the Buccaneers passing game is in play, Godwin is the receiver of choice on DraftKings and Evans is the preferred option on FanDuel due to his touchdown opportunities. Evans has scored in four straight games and five out of six.
The Colts have done well against the run this season which should push Brady and the Buccaneers to pass against a defense that has allowed 13 receptions (23rd) for 146 yards (19th), and 1.4 touchdowns (29th) per game to wide receivers over the last five weeks.
Keenan Allen (LAC): $7,000 vs. DEN
Allen is not the type of receiver I typically roster in cash games on FanDuel due to his lack of touchdowns. However, his target volume has repeatedly pushed him into solid production for his salary even without a score.
Allen has at least 11 targets in each of the last four games which have resulted in an average of at least six catches and 77 yards as a floor. Allen draws a great individual matchup this week according to ProFootballFocus metrics while working out of the slot against the Broncos who have allowed 1.25 touchdowns per game (26th) to wide receivers over the last five weeks.
Other notables: Deebo Samuel (SF): $8,000 vs. MIN, Ja’Marr Chase (CIN): $7,700 vs. PIT, Michael Pittman (IND): $6,600 vs. TB
Tight Ends
DraftKings
Rob Gronkowski (TB): $4,400 vs. IND
Gronkowski returned to the lineup for the Buccaneers last week and had a strong return with six catches on eight targets for 71 yards. His salary remains very reasonable on DraftKings and is an ideal cash game option who has a solid floor and plenty of touchdown upside.
He’ll face a Colts defense that has allowed 6.1 receptions (29th) for 63 yards (28th), and 0.6 touchdowns (25th) per game to tight ends this season. Seems like a week for a Gronk smash or two.
Other notables: George Kittle (SF): $6,400 vs. MIN, Evan Engram (NYG): $3,800 vs. PHI
FanDuel
Pat Freiermuth (PIT): $5,300 vs. CIN
We want touchdowns out of our tight end spot on FanDuel and Freiermuth has provided four total touchdowns over the last four games. He has also seen at least six targets in five straight games.
Over the last five weeks, the Bengals have allowed 5.3 receptions (18th) for 74 yards (30th), and 0.8 touchdowns (28th) per game to the tight end position. It looks like it is a week to save some salary at tight end on FanDuel.
Other notables: George Kittle (SF): $6,700 vs. MIN, Evan Engram (NYG): $5,500 vs. PHI
Defense/Special Teams
DraftKings
Texans (HOU): $2,300 vs. NYJ
The Texans defense has been putting up the fantasy points the last two games with 15 against the Dolphins and 16 against the Titans. They could keep it rolling against the Jets in the return of Zach Wilson. Over the last five weeks, the Texans lead the league in takeaways and the Jets lead the league in turnovers.
Other notables: Steelers (PIT): $2,700 vs. SF, Jaguars (JAC): $2,200 vs. ATL
FanDuel
Bengals (CIN): $3,300 vs. PIT
The Bengals’ defense has produced multiple sacks in four straight games. They will be at home in a high-stakes divisional matchup against the immobile Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers.
Other notables: Chargers (LAC): $3,600 vs. DEN, Dolphins (MIA): $3,400 vs. CAR
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