DraftKings NFL Picks, Week 12: Best bargains in DFS play
By Drew DeLuca
Don’t bark up the wrong tree when looking for the best Week 12 DraftKings NFL bargains in DFS play. We’re breaking down the best deals at each position.
Orchard veterans know that the best apples are rarely the ones within easy reach. The best, sweetest fruit is found by searching through the leaves or reaching just a bit out of your comfort zone. The same holds true in DFS play on DraftKings: chalk plays are nice but finding hidden gems is the difference between a Sunday night prize and a worm-filled lineup that’s teeming with regret.
When creating a lineup, building around a base of cant-miss studs is always a solid approach. At the quarterback position, Russell Wilson (SEA at PHI, $6,800) and Matt Ryan (ATL vs. TB, $6,700) are two high-priced options that should be highly owned on DraftKings this week.
Ryan is the play over Wilson this week as the Philadelphia Eagles‘ secondary is finally healthy. They’ve allowed zero passing touchdowns in their last two games (shutting out some guy named Tom Brady in the process) and haven’t allowed more than 17 points in a game since Kirk Cousins lit up the beleaguered, injury-riddled unit in Week 7.
Cross them off your list of cupcakes, then keep reading on to discover our budget-friendly picks for Week 12.
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr (OAK at NYJ, $6,100) doesn’t quite fit the perception of a “can’t-miss stud,” and some might balk at calling him a “bargain” at a price tag north of $6,000. However, few quarterbacks have been as consistent this season: Carr has thrown for 285 or more yards in four of his last five games, tossing nine touchdowns and only two interceptions during that span. A juicy matchup against a porous, bottom-tier New York Jets pass defense awaits.
Baker Mayfield (CLE vs. MIA, $6,000) is playing better football of late after posting three straight games without an interception against three solid pass defenses: the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos. On deck is a home slate against the Miami Dolphins, who are allowing over 30 points per game this season. Expect Mayfield to finally remind us all why he was widely regarded as a top-five fantasy quarterback entering 2019.
Sam Darnold (NYJ vs. OAK, $5,800) continues to perform against the front end of a long stretch of soft opponents, scoring 20 or more fantasy points in his last two games, including a four-touchdown performance on the road last week against the Washington Redskins. The trend should continue against an Oakland Raiders pass defense that ranks in the league’s bottom five in terms of yards allowed per pass attempt.
Last week, I was alone on an island with my recommendation of the mobile Jeff Driskel (DET at WAS, $5,500). Thanks to a Redskins secondary that scares no one, here I am again. Driskel has quietly compiled 88 yards rushing in his two starts to go along with four touchdowns (one rushing) and only one pick.
Meanwhile, Josh Norman has been nothing short of awful against marquee wide receivers this season, so a Driskel/Kenny Golladay stack could free up a ton of cash for those looking to stockpile talent at other positions. Only the Cincinnati Bengals have given up more yards per pass attempt in the last three games.
Nick Foles (JAX at TEN, $5,400) gets no respect. In his first game back after a lengthy 10-week absence due to a serious shoulder injury, Foles was sharp against a better-than-advertised Indianapolis Colts secondary, throwing for 296 yards while completing over 70 percent of his passes. As the Tennessee Titans defense continues to regress, Foles makes a great under-the-radar play for those looking to save some coin at the quarterback position.