DraftKings NFL Week 16: Picks and Sleepers

Tough slate this week, but the absence of Antonio Brown opens the door for other Steelers receivers

Quarterbacks

  • Top Shelf

    • Russell Wilson ($7,000) – The lone player to qualify for a “Top Shelf” candidate, Wilson played TERRIBLY in a blowout loss to the Rams. You can’t expect two duds in a row, especially in a game Seattle needs to keep their playoff hopes alive.
  • Retail Price

    • Cam Newton ($6,800) – Newton was my favorite QB in Week 15 and he more than delivered. He finds himself in another plus matchup at home against the Buccaneers while playing arguably his best football of the season.
    • Nick Foles ($6,300) – Low swinging Foles left the Giants defense biting into the proverbial pillow last week, and now he looks to get the Eagles closer to home field advantage in a plus matchup at home versus the Raiders.
    • Dak Prescott ($6,000) – Dak has been subpar at best, but now he welcomes back Zeke who opens up so much in the passing game and makes his play action lethal. Dallas smells the blood in the water from Seattle’s last game.
  • Bang For Your Buck

    • Kirk Cousins ($5,400) – Cousins has his lowest salary of the year, and despite the matchup with Denver, he still finds himself at home with a decent chance to outproduce his cost. If you need to spend down, he’s not a bad option.
    • Drew Stanton ($4,500) – Stanton is taking over for Gabbert in Arizona and gets the lucky draw of the Giants defense. Stanton is a real stretch play if you are looking to punt at the QB position, but the Giants have been very forgiving to offenses. Look at what Foles just did.

Running Backs

  • Top Shelf

    • Kareem Hunt ($8,400) – The old Kareem Hunt is back folks. Andy Reid finally woke up and fed his best weapon resulting in a huge day for Hunt and the Chiefs. He should keep it rolling at home as favorites against the Dolphins.
    • Ezekiel Elliott ($8,000) – He’s baaaaaaaack. Don’t look now, but this elite RB is back and likely pissed off after missing six games from suspension. He used that time to get RIPPED and in better shape for the Cowboys down the stretch who face Seattle at home. The Seahawks just got gashed by Todd Gurley.
    • Melvin Gordon ($7,200) – If I want a lower priced “top shelf” guy (if that makes sense) then it’s gonna be Gordon. His usage is still extremely high in both the rushing and receiving game. Plus, if Keenan Allen is still dealing with his back injury that leads to more touches for Melvin.
  • Retail Price

    • Devonta Freeman ($6,500) – Freeman more than took advantage of a lone backfield in Tevin Coleman’s absence. He had an extremely productive day and his salary goes unchanged thanks to the MNF game. If Coleman is out again, Freeman should run wild for a second straight contest.
    • Christian McCaffrey ($6,400) – CMac had himself a day in the win for Carolina receiving 12 carries and 6 catches. He averaged 5.3 and 12.2 yards per run/catch on the day showing how good he is in space. He should be due for another big game against awful Tampa Bay.
    • Dion Lewis ($6,000) – It’s nice enough to draw the awful Buffalo Bills run defense at home in a game where your team is the favorite. Add in that Rex Burkhead won’t be there to steal goal line work, and you just pray Mike Gillislee or James White don’t eat into Dion’s work.
    • Alex Collins ($5,600) – Collins underwhelmed last week but has the chance to correct that in a sweet spot versus the Colts.
  • Bang For Your Buck

    • Duke Johnson ($4,500) – Johnson has been fairly consistent for the Browns and stays involved in the passing game. He’s got a pretty low price in what might be the Browns last chance at winning a game this year.
    • Kerwyn Williams ($4,300) – As discussed on the latest podcast, Williams was on his way to a nice game before a quad injury hampered his production. The Giants have been generous to all opposition so Kerwyn is a long range play here.
    • Wayne Gallman ($3,900) – Gallman’s use in the passing game has made him roster worthy the past two weeks. On the road as dogs, I could see New York playing catchup and working their young back into the rotation.

Wide Receivers

  • Top Shelf

    • DeAndre Hopkins ($8,400) – Hopkins showed that he’s both matchup and QB proof with his skill. He’s as consistent as they’ll come.
    • Michael Thomas ($7,600) – Another super consistent guy, Thomas has been shredding secondaries and won’t stop now at home versus Atlanta.
  • Retail Price

    • AJ Green ($6,700) – A very bad game drastically dropped Green’s price. You generally don’t see him this low so he’s worth a flier especially at home.
    • JuJu Smith Schuster ($6,400) – With AB sidelined, JuJu becomes arguably Pittsburgh’s most talented receiver. Houston’s secondary has been burnable, and JuJu looks a lot nicer in the #1 role.
    • Jarvis Landry ($6,300) – The Chiefs have given up the most points to WRs, and Landry has caught at least 5 balls in every game. He’s not slowing down now.
    • Michael Crabtree ($6,300) – Double digit targets in back to back games and clearly the best receiver in Oakland’s offense. A prime time game against Philly should be nice especially after Eli somehow just carved them up.
    • Martavis Bryant ($5,600) – Bryant seems like the better bet for a touchdown in Pittsburgh’s offense and provides a lower salary than JuJu. Another solid play in a high scoring offense.
    • Nelson Agholor ($5,200) – Touchdowns in three of four games, with double digit points in all of those. Agholor hasn’t flustered with Foles under center and should continue to be a big part of this offense.
  • Bang For Your Buck

    • Keelan Cole ($4,700) – Cole exploded out of nowhere in what we thought Dede Westbrook would do. His super high target numbers are eyebrow raising, as Jacksonville should have another solid day offensively.
    • Kendall Wright ($3,800) – Wright has really stepped up the last two games and has seen heavy volume numbers. If that trend can keep up against the terrible Browns team, there’s no reason the success can’t keep coming.

Tight Ends

  • Top Shelf

    • Travis Kelce ($6,900) – Kelce has the best matchup of the big three at home against the Dolphins. His ego probably needs a boost after Gronk’s dominating performance against the Steelers.
    • Zach Ertz ($6,000) – Kelce sets up the nicest, but Ertz comes roughly 1k cheaper with just as good a matchup against the Raiders. Foles showed the ability to spread the ball around, and Oakland defense isn’t going to slow down Philly.
  • Retail Price

    • Eric Ebron ($3,700) – Ebron has come out of hiding the last few games and really asserted himself in Detroit’s offense. The Bengals have just been awful as of late and have been struggling against opposing TEs.
    • Antonio Gates ($2,500) – Minimum price at the position for ol reliable with Hunter Henry sidelined for the rest of the season. Henry was playing extremely well, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gates pick up right where his teammate left off.

Defenses

  • Top Shelf

    • Baltimore Ravens ($4,100) – A vaunted defense at home against the sack and turnover prone Colts. What’s not to love here?
    • Chicago Bears ($3,500) – The Bears are a sneaky good defense and now get the Browns featuring the most turnover prone QB in Deshone Kizer.
    • Carolina Panthers ($3,100) – Carolina’s defense has been up and down, but at this price at home against Winston and the Bucs it’s gonna be very hard to pass up on this matchup.
  • Retail Price

    • Dallas Cowboys ($2,500) – Need help at defense, Dallas doesn’t look so bad here. The return of Zeke provides a spark to the entire team, and Seattle was just whipped by the Rams and looked god awful.

Author

  • THE Inaugural 2016 RSJ Fantasy Football League Champion. Owner of a #bigbrain, and lover of football, baseball and college hoops. When not grinding for the RSJ, can be found captaining his beer league softball team.

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