NFL Cash Game Lineup Advice: Week 14 (Main Slate)

Week 14 is difficult to write a Cash game lineup advice column for as of Friday morning with so much injury and COVID information looming for so many key players that will greatly drive our DFS lineup decisions for the 11-game Sunday main slate. A few of the key situations to watch are Denver’s backfield news and the skill position news with the Chargers and 49ers.

While some clarity in those situations will help us narrow down our Cash game player pool, there are still plenty of other players in favorable matchups and game environments to use when building out our core lineup for cash games on FanDuel and DraftKings this week. So, monitor the newswire and consider all the players listed at each position while trying to fit the puzzle together for your Week 14 cash lineups.

Win $1 Million playing FanDuel’s NFL Sunday Million

The players below are ones I’m looking at for cash game considerations for Week 14 main slates:

Quarterbacks

DraftKings

Taysom Hill (NO): $5,600 vs. NYJ
My cash game quarterback on DraftKings is likely narrowed down to either Hill or Dak Prescott and will depend on how much value there is at running back come Sunday morning. We all understand what Hill brings to the table when he starts at quarterback for the Saints, high rushing production, and just enough in the passing game to put together a strong fantasy score.

Hill has put up at least 18 DraftKings points in each game in his five starts at quarterback over the last two seasons. This week Hill and the Saints face the woeful Jets defense that has allowed 262 passing yards (28th) and 2.2 touchdown passes (30th) per game over the last five weeks. Add in Hill’s rushing production, and it should be another high-floor game for Hill at a very favorable price tag on DraftKings.

Other notables: Dak Prescott (DAL): $6,700 vs. WAS, Cam Newton (CAR): $5,400 vs. ATL

FanDuel

Lamar Jackson (BAL): $7,900 vs. CLE
While Jackson doesn’t have the best matchup on the board this week with the Ravens traveling to Cleveland to face the Browns, his price point is too juicy to pass up in cash games. Jackson is cheaper than five other quarterbacks and is only $200 more than Taysom Hill. Let that sink in for a minute.

Jackson may have only produced 13.4 FanDuel points in the earlier meeting with the Browns. Still, the Browns’ defense only ranks 21st DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) against the pass this season and have allowed 116 rushing yards (27th) and 1.25 touchdowns (27th) on the ground to running backs. Yes, I know Jackson is technically listed as a quarterback, but we all know he is also their top running back with more than twice as many rushing yards as anyone on the team.

Other notables: Josh Allen (BUF): $8,800 vs. TB, Dak Prescott (DAL): $8,100 vs. WAS

Running Backs

DraftKings

Austin Ekeler (LAC): $8,300 vs. NYG
At running back on DraftKings, early signs point to using at least one of Ekeler or Alvin Kamara to anchor your cash game lineup. Both backs have favorable matchups and three-down roles that include production in all facets of the offense. My lean as of this writing is to side with Ekeler assuming he is cleared to play, while the Chargers may be down a wide receiver or two on Sunday against the Giants.

Ekeler has scored at least one touchdown in four straight games and draws a favorable matchup at home against the Giants. The Giants have given up an average of 103 rushing yards (27th) per game on 4.49 YPC (26th) to running backs this season. They have also struggled to stop pass-catching backs, recently giving up 7.5 receptions (30th) for 56 yards (28th) per game over the last five weeks.

Antonio Gibson (WAS): $6,000 vs. DAL
Gibson has enjoyed a full workload the last few weeks, with at least 19 carries in four straight games and at least six targets in each of the last two outings. The pass-catching role could take a hit if J.D. McKissic is cleared to play, so watch that situation closely and maybe consider a pivot if a viable one is available.

That said, Gibson’s rushing and touchdown potential still put him in the conversation for our cash game lineups. The Cowboys have allowed 102 rushing yards (24th) and 0.6 touchdowns (16th) per game on the ground over the last five weeks to running backs. Washington will try to control the ball on the ground to keep it away from the Cowboys’ high-powered offense.

Other notables: Alvin Kamara (NO): $7,900 vs. NYJ, Leonard Fournette (TB): $7,400 vs. BUF, Javonte Williams (DEN): $5,900 vs. DET

FanDuel

Leonard Fournette (TB): $7,600 vs. BUF
Somewhere along the way, Fournette has turned into one of the top bellcow running backs in the league this season with at least 16 opportunities (carries plus targets) in eight of his last nine games.

This week he will face a Bills defense that has been better against the pass than the run and just lost to a Patriots offense that only passed the ball three times. The Bills have allowed 125 rushing yards (31st) and 1.2 rushing scores (25th) per game to running backs over the last five weeks. Hard to believe we are here, but Fournette is one of the safest running back to roster in cash.

Javonte Williams (DEN): $6,700 vs. DET
The fantasy community was clamoring to see what Williams could do with a full workload, and we were not disappointed when he put up 178 total yards and a score against the Chiefs in a losing effort with Melvin Gordon out last week. Gordon appears to be trending towards playing this week (nuts!) but is Williams still a viable option in cash even if Gordon does suit up?

Given the Broncos matchup this week, the answer may still be “yes.” The Broncos are more than a touchdown home favorite against the Lions, who have allowed 108 rushing yards (29th) and 0.9 touchdowns (28th) per game to running backs this season. In the Broncos’ last two wins (with Gordon playing), Williams averaged 17 touches for 111 total yards per game while scoring once. Williams is a must-play if Gordon is out, but don’t automatically cross him off if Gordon does play.

Other notables: Antonio Gibson (WAS): $7,400 vs. DAL, Josh Jacobs (LV): $7,100 vs. KC, Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC): $6,500 vs. LV

Wide Receivers

DraftKings

Brandon Aiyuk (SF): $5,800 vs. CIN
At this point, it is hard to decipher if Aiyuk becomes a better or worse play if Deebo Samuel is out of the lineup again this week. Last week with Samuel out, Aiyuk didn’t see an increase in targets and had his lowest output over the last three weeks.

I’m of the mindset that Aiyuk is a solid cash game option regardless of the status of Samuel this week. If Eli Mitchell cannot play, the 49ers running back situation is a mess, and the matchup favors the 49ers’ passing game against the Bengals in a potential shootout.

Jerry Jeudy (DEN): $5,600 vs. DET
In five straight games, Jeudy has either led or tied for the lead in targets for the Broncos wideouts. He has reached double-digit DraftKings points in three of his last four games without scoring a touchdown over that span.

This week, Jeudy has a favorable matchup against the Lions, who have allowed 13.3 receptions (28th) for 168 yards (25th) per game to wide receivers over the last five weeks. He has a solid floor, and it feels like Jeudy has been building up to a big spike game, and it could come this week.

Other notables: CeeDee Lamb (DAL): $7,200 vs. WAS, Mike Williams (LAC): $6,000 vs. NYG, Cole Beasley (BUF): $5,000 vs. TB

FanDuel

Tee Higgins (CIN): $6,800 vs. SF
Higgins has exploded the last two weeks with a total of 15 catches on 22 targets for 252 yards and two touchdowns. He is currently dealing with an ankle injury and has a questionable tag, so monitor the situation, but he is a strong option again if he is cleared.

The 49ers have allowed 14.8 receptions (31st) for 172 yards (26th) and 0.8 touchdowns (16th) per game to the wide receiver position over the last five weeks. The matchup has one of the highest Vegas totals on the board, and with a tight line, it could turn into a back-and-forth affair.

Michael Gallup (DAL): $6,100 vs. WAS
For as much as I like the Cowboys’ passing game this week, it feels strange that the only player I’m writing up in this article is Gallup. Gallup has seen at least eight targets in three straight games (granted with Amari Cooper missing two of those games), which has resulted in five grabs in each outing.

The target share could drop a little bit with Cooper finally getting healthy. Still, the target count should remain similar in what should be a high-volume passing game for the Cowboys against a Washington defense that is strong against the run but struggles in pass coverage. Washington has allowed 14.4 receptions (31st) for 185 yards (29th) and 1.4 touchdowns (32nd) per game this season. Gallup will get his piece of the pie.

Other notables: Mike Evans (TB): $7,200 vs. BUF, Mike Williams (LAC): $6,900 vs. NYG, Brandon Aiyuk (SF): $6,400 vs. CIN

Tight Ends

DraftKings

Austin Hooper (CLE): $3,400 vs. BAL
All the stars are aligned for Hooper this week. Both of his fellow tight ends, David Njoku and Harrison Bryant, will miss this week’s game. He also draws a favorable matchup against the Ravens, who have struggled against the tight end position.

The Ravens have allowed an average of 5.8 receptions (27th) for 68 yards (31st) and 0.6 touchdowns (25th) per game to tight ends this season. Using Hooper can absorb all of that production, he will at least triple his low $3,400 salary.

Other notables: Jared Cook (LAC): $3,200 vs. NYG, James O’Shaughnessy (JAC): $2,900 vs. TEN

FanDuel

Travis Kelce (KC): $7,500 vs. LV
Kelce or Kittle? Kittle or Kelce? It might be hard to be wrong between the two this week, and you are certainly using one of them in your cash game lineup on FanDuel. My lean is toward Kelce, given I like his matchup a little bit better, and Kittle could see the return of Deebo Samuel to the 49ers lineup, which could impact his involvement.

Kelce piled up eight catches for 119 yards and a score against the Raiders a few weeks ago which should come as no surprise against a Raiders defense that has allowed 6.1 receptions (29th) for 68 yards (32nd) and 0.75 touchdowns (30th) per game to the tight end position this season.

Other notables: George Kittle (SF): $7,100 vs. CIN, Austin Hooper (CLE): $5,000 vs. BAL

Defense/Special Teams

DraftKings

Panthers (CAR): $2,800 vs. ATL
DraftKings has raised the defensive salary floor to $2,300, bringing more options into the mix for just a few more Benjamins. The Panthers are my preferred slight pay-up playing at home as a slight favorite against the Falcons. The Falcons have allowed 2.8 sacks (28th) and 1.8 turnovers (24th) per game over the last five weeks.

Other notables: Browns (CLE): $2,700 vs. BAL, Giants (NYG): $2,300 vs. LAC

FanDuel

Chiefs (KC): $3,700 vs. LV
The Chiefs defense has put up double-digit FanDuel points in three of their last four games yet still aren’t getting any respect from the FanDuel pricing algorithm. The Chiefs will be at home for the third straight game taking advantage of the home crowd with an inspired defense in a divisional matchup against the Raiders, who they just held to 14 points with two sacks and two turnovers against a few weeks ago.

Other notables: Browns (CLE): $4,100 vs. BAL, Jets (NYJ): $3,000 vs. NO

Import your team to My Playbook for instant Waiver Wire advice

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio

Beyond our daily fantasy football content, be sure to check out our Daily Fantasy Football Tools. From our Value Plays – which allows you to identify players who are projected to outperform their salaries – to our DFS Cheat Sheets – that helps you get a quick read on the day’s players – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.