One of the most fun slates of the season lands in our laps for Week 13 with plenty of high point projections and fun matchups to target.
If you’re playing cash games (double-ups or multipliers), finding the right combination of floor and ceiling is essential. These are the plays that stand out the most for Week 13.
Week 13 DFS Cash Game Advice & Picks
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts @ Ravens | DraftKings: $7,700/FanDuel: $9,200
The Ravens’ defense has shown signs of life in recent weeks, keeping three out of the four quarterbacks they’ve faced outside the top 10. However, it would be naive to think they could clamp down an offensive juggernaut like the Eagles, who have won seven games in a row.
Jalen Hurts has rushed for at least 37 yards in each of his last five games, scoring seven rushing touchdowns in the process. The Ravens are stronger against the running game than the passing game, so this could be a perfect time for the Eagles to get A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith going once again.
Justin Herbert @ Falcons | DraftKings: $5,600/FanDuel: $7,900
Speaking of Ravens opponents, Justin Herbert had a nice but unspectacular game against the Ravens that could have been much better if Quentin Johnston didn’t have potatoes for fingers. Herbert has added at least 32 rushing yards in four of the last five games, along with two rushing touchdowns, bolstering his floor somewhat.
The Falcons have allowed the seventh-most quarterback fantasy points and rank 28th against the pass in DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) with top-six performances allowed to Bo Nix and Derek Carr in their last two games.
Running Backs
Alvin Kamara vs. Rams | DraftKings: $7,700/FanDuel: $8,300
The Rams are a defense we can target week in and week out for fantasy football. When you have a running back who had 77 touches in his last three games that feels like a strong basis for a cash game play.
The Rams have the 10th-worst run defense in DVOA and allow the fifth-most rushing yards per game. They just allowed 46.2 PPR points to Saquon Barkley in Week 12.
Bucky Irving @ Panthers | DraftKings: $5,800/FanDuel: $7,200
The Panthers rank 32nd in run defense DVOA and have allowed the most running back fantasy points this year. They have also given up seven top-12 performances and a league-leading 160.5 rushing yards per game. Over the last two games, Bucky Irving has 25 rush attempts for 160 yards and two touchdowns as well as nine receptions for 82 yards.
Perhaps, more importantly, though, Irving out-snapped Rachaad White in Week 12 and also ran 20 routes to White’s 11. It’s not uncommon to see a rookie take a bigger workload coming out of a bye week. If that’s what we’re seeing materialize here then Irving could be a league-winner down the stretch. He is a potential week-winner in this cupcake matchup.
Brian Robinson Jr. vs. Titans | DraftKings: $6,100/FanDuel: $7,100
This might be a riskier pick than people like for cash games, but as of Thursday, Brian Robinson Jr. was practicing while Austin Ekeler is almost certainly set to miss out due to his second concussion of the season.
Robinson was disappointing in Week 12, due to having to leave the game with injury. In his previous three games, he had at least 70 rushing yards. He’s scored a touchdown in all but three games this year. The Titans have allowed four top-10 performances this year to the running back position, including two since Week 8. The last time Ekeler missed a game, Robinson had 24 touches for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Injury Watch
- Jeremy McNichols (RB – WAS) vs. Titans | DraftKings: $5,400/FanDuel: $6,700
- Braelon Allen (RB – NYJ) vs. Seahawks | DraftKings: $5,000/FanDuel: $5,300
With practice reports a little quieter than usual during Thanksgiving Week we’re yet to hear anything conclusive on a lot of situations, but if Robinson remains limited or Breece Hall should miss out, Jeremy McNichols and Braelon Allen become almost must-start players in cash formats.
Wide Receivers
Puka Nacua @ Saints | DraftKings: $7,600/FanDuel: $8,700
Since returning from injury, Puka Nacua has been the WR7. The Rams’ offense has condensed massively in recent weeks with Cooper Kupp and Nacua combining for a 70% target share in Week 12. Nacua has been over 30% in all of his last three games.
The Saints are worse against the run than the pass but they’ve also allowed the sixth-most wide receiver fantasy points, including a WR5 finish to Jerry Jeudy in Week 11 and a WR11 finish to Drake London in Week 10.
Drake London (WR – ATL) vs. Chargers | DraftKings: $6,500/FanDuel: $7,300
Through 12 games, Drake London has scored 17+ PPR points in half of his games, has as many touchdowns as his previous two seasons combined and is 20 targets away from hitting a career-high. Darnell Mooney sounds like he’s on track to play, but this offense runs through London in the passing game.
The Chargers have allowed four top-four performances to wide receivers since the start of Week 10. Both teams have plenty to play for here and there should be plenty of points on the table.
Ladd McConkey @ Falcons | DraftKings: $6,100/FanDuel: $6,300
The Chargers inexplicably sent targets to Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnston against the Ravens when Ladd McConkey is averaging an 85% catch rate over his last six games. McConkey did put up six catches for 83 yards but it should have been more. The Chargers would do well to lean into the talented rookie over the rest of the season.
The Falcons allow the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and rank 27th in DVOA against No. 1 WRs, as well as 28th against the pass overall. McConkey’s solid floor is entirely suitable for cash games.
Tank Dell vs. Texans | DraftKings: $5,900/FanDuel: $6,400
The Jaguars are quite probably the worst pass defense in the NFL, allowing the fifth-highest amount of yards after the catch per reception (6.23), the second-most receiving yards per game (290) and the highest rate of first downs per route run (0.086), according to Fantasy Points.
Tank Dell is better suited to being a No. 2 WR than the focal point of an offense like he was when Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs were both out injured. Collins is back and drawing attention away from Dell, so it should make things easier for him, particularly against such a weak pass defense.
Tight Ends
Taysom Hill vs. Rams | DraftKings: $5,000/FanDuel: $7,000
Sooner or later there’s no point hating on it and you simply have to accept that Taysom Hill is a part of our lives and a fantasy football asset we should be taking advantage of.
Hill has 30 touches in his last three games, scoring 65.5 PPR points, including a Week 11 score of 41.5 that would have made him the highest-scoring player at quarterback, never mind tight end. The Rams’ defense is a promising unit that can bring pressure but it gives up fantasy points at a top-12 rate to wide receivers, running backs and tight ends.
With the Saints depleted of options, get ready for Hill to be a focal point of the offense for the rest of this season.
Dallas Goedert @ Ravens | DraftKings: $4,300/FanDuel: $6,000
The Ravens have allowed seven top-12 tight end performances this year, with three since Week 7 alone. Overall, the Ravens have given up the 11th-most tight end fantasy points. The middle of the field has been an area they’ve struggled to defend.
Dallas Goedert has been a top-10 tight end in four of the last six games. With Devonta Smith banged up, Goedert can continue to see strong usage.
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