DraftKings Bargains: Week 12
We have an ugly slate of games this week. There aren’t that many promising match-ups for us to hang our hats on. There are six games with implied point totals of 45 points or less. We also have to deal with nine of the games kicking off at 1:00 pm while just having two games at our disposal for the 4:00 pm slate. If anything, the weird slate of games should create an added dynamic to our roster constructions this week.
With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the top bargains on DraftKings this week:
QUARTERBACK
Jeff Driskel, DET ($5,500)
Driskel will be on the road this week against the Washington Redskins. This game has a 40-point over/under which is one of the lowest implied point totals on the slate. Vegas isn’t expecting a heavy dosage of scoring but that doesn’t mean this game won’t exceed expectations.
If you want to target a cheap quarterback with a low ownership rate, then Driskel is a player you should consider rostering. Due to the low implied point total, the field is going to lean away from him. He’s just not a sexy option that many people will want to pursue.
In his last two games, Driskel has averaged 44 rushing yards per game. He is also averaging 23.26 DraftKings points per game. His ability to run the ball elevates his floor, making him a safer option than advertised. With six pass attempts of 20 yards or more in the last two weeks, Driskel isn’t afraid to chuck the ball downfield. He is averaging a deep pass attempt on 8.11 percent of his pass attempts. If he connects on a couple of his deep shots then he could be in for a big game.
The Redskins run a very slow-paced offense, ranking last in the league with 34.08 seconds per play while in neutral game script. If they get the chance to dictate the pace of the game, then Driskel and the entire Lions offense won’t receive enough opportunities to hit their upside. This makes him a very risky option and should only be used sparingly in GPP contests as a contrarian option. The risk is worth the reward if he hits because you will gain some ground amongst the field if he can produce a QB1 week.
Other options: Carson Wentz $5,600, Baker Mayfield $5,900, Jameis Winston $6,200
RUNNING BACK
Kareem Hunt, CLE ($5,600)
In his first two games back from suspension, Hunt ranks third amongst running backs with 17 targets. He will get the opportunity to play against the Miami Dolphins. The Browns are 10.5 point favorites in this game and the over/under is set at 45 points. If everything goes to plan, Cleveland should take a commanding lead early, providing a positive game script for Hunt to rack up some stats in the box score.
Look for Hunt to see some extra opportunities to tote the rock once the Browns establish a sizeable lead. The team is going to want to see what they have in Hunt and they are more likely going to want to ride him if they are in a favorable position late in the game against a softer opponent like the Dolphins.
DraftKings has Hunt set at a middle-of-the-road price point. His usage in the passing game could allow him to see just enough work to become fantasy relevant. With him sharing the backfield with Nick Chubb, he shouldn’t be heavily owned amongst the field, making him an easy contrarian play in GPP formats.
There is some risk associated with Hunt. Since he’s sharing the backfield with Chubb, he might not see enough touches for him to hit RB1 status. The Dolphins has been surprising their opponents lately and they haven’t been as easy of an out as they were during the beginning of the season. This game could lean the other way and become surprisingly close if the Browns start the game flat, derailing the positive game script for Hunt and limiting his exposure to break off many big plays.
Other options: Brian Hill $4,900, David Montgomery $5,500, Joe Mixon $5,900
WIDE RECEIVER
Josh Gordon, SEA ($4,200)
Tyler Lockett is dealing with an injury. It looks like he’s going to play, but the injury might impact his usage. Gordon might see a larger workload in a favorable matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles’ secondary. Seattle is going to be able to throw the ball at will against them and Gordon could benefit from the cake matchup.
The over/under for this game is set at 48 points and Vegas has a tight spread with the Eagles being one-point favorites. The Eagles will need to push the pace and put points on the scoreboard to give Seattle a reason to lean on the pass. If not, then they will be more than happy to run the ball down Eagles throats and play ball control. We need both teams to move the ball at will in this game to maximize Gordon’s fantasy success.
The field is going to chase DK Metcalf who is priced at $6,300. He’s also a good option to throw into lineups, but Gordon is much cheaper and will serve as a risky contrarian play with high upside. Considering the risk, your exposure should be limited just in case he bottoms out. There’s a chance that the Seahawks obtain a sizeable lead early in this game causing them to want to run the ball and play keep away from the Eagles offense.
Other options: DeVante Parker $5,200, Tyrell Williams $5,900, Jamison Crowder $6,200
TIGHT END
Jason Witten, DAL ($3,500)
I’ve been saying it all season long, but the tight end position as a whole is very murky. We don’t know who is going to perform on a week-to-week basis. It’s best to either pay for one of the top tight ends or just go for one of the cheapest options.
I’m highlighting Witten this week. He’s very cheap at $3,500 and will be playing a tough New England Patriots defense which will cause Dak Prescott to be a little more creative when he drops back to pass. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Patriots leave the middle of the field open for Witten to run through since he doesn’t have the big play speed to burn them after the catch.
His low price tag limits his risk and will allow you to jam in other higher-priced players into your lineup. Witten just needs to catch a few passes and fall into the end zone to finish the week as a TE1. The TE12 is averaging 10.55 fantasy points per week, scoring no more than 13 fantasy points on any given week. It doesn’t take much to finish as a TE1 and Witten could see enough volume to be fantasy relevant at his position.
Other options: TJ Hockenson $3,400, Mike Gesicki $3,400, Dallas Goedert $3,700
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