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DraftKings NFL Picks, Week 12: Best bargains in DFS play

By Drew DeLuca

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 27: Calvin Ridley #18 of the Atlanta Falcons converts a two point conversion with his reception in the second half of an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 27: Calvin Ridley #18 of the Atlanta Falcons converts a two point conversion with his reception in the second half of an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 20: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans breaks through the grasp of two Los Angeles Chargers to score a touchdown during the second half at Nissan Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 20: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans breaks through the grasp of two Los Angeles Chargers to score a touchdown during the second half at Nissan Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

Running Backs

Hitting on dependable running backs is a must for NFL DFS players. Alvin Kamara (NO vs. CAR, $8,200) hasn’t been the same player this year while battling injuries, but finds himself in a great spot this weekend, given DraftKings’ PPR scoring format.

Meanwhile, many will understandably flock to Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (CLE vs. MIA, $5,600) at his price point, but Nick Chubb (CLE vs. MIA, $8,100) is the one who’ll set both the stat sheet and the Dolphins defense on fire. Oh, and please sign us up anytime Saquon Barkley (NYG at CHI, $7,900) is priced out of the top five, regardless of the opponent.

Jaylen Samuels (PIT at CIN, $7,200) is priced a bit too high for my liking, but owners who find enough change to spare when locking up their lineups may want to look Samuels’ way. With James Conner out, Samuels is a sure-fire bet to finish with respectable numbers in PPR formats against a weak Bengals defense.

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Only Dalvin Cook, Christian McCaffrey and Melvin Gordon have scored more fantasy points than Derrick Henry (TEN vs. JAX, $6,900) over the last three weeks, and two of those players are on a bye week. Henry is therefore as good of a bet as anyone to finish as a top three fantasy running back in Week 12, as only three players have more rushing touchdowns than Henry this season: McCaffrey, Cook and the mercurial phenomenon known as Aaron Jones.

Le’Veon Bell (NYJ vs. OAK, $6,400) has been a let-down for his fantasy football shareholders this season, but a matchup against the Raiders should change things. Only five teams have allowed more rushing yards per game over their last three contests. Given the volume Bell figures to receive, he offers top-tier upside at a mid-tier price, especially the 31st ranked red zone defense in terms of touchdowns allowed.

David Montgomery (CHI vs. NYG, $5,500) ranks inside the Top 15 in rushing attempts this season, so he’s another example of a volume-based running back facing a favorable matchup. The New York Giants, a middle-of-the-pack red zone defense, ranks near the league’s bottom third in rushing yards allowed per game this season. The Giants coughed up 34 points to the Jets last week, and have allowed 27 or more points in six straight contests, so DFS players can certainly do a lot worse for the price.

James White (NE vs. DAL, $5,300) was a disappointment against the Eagles last week, as Brady completed passes to ten different receivers. However, White’s seven targets were still second-most on the team; only Julian Edelman saw more. Given Sony Michel‘s continued struggles, expect White to play a larger role in the gameplan against a Dallas Cowboys rushing defense that has quietly finished in the bottom fourth of the league over the past three weeks.

Miles Sanders (PHI vs. SEA, $5,000) had been one of the most electrifying Eagles offensive players entering Week 11, so Bill Belichick made it a priority to shut him down last week: Sanders saw only four targets, and compiled only nine yards on two catches. As a result, Carson Wentz was forced to rely on an underwhelming cast of wide receivers, who quite literally dropped the ball in their attempts to make plays against one of the league’s best secondaries.

After watching the Eagles wide receivers log just six catches on 17 targets, it’s fair to expect Sanders to shoulder a much larger role in the passing game this week.

Lower priced honorable mentions will face off this Sunday in our nation’s capital: Derrius Guice (WAS vs. DET, $4,700) continues to knock off the rust in his efforts to assume the role of lead back in Washington. He earned a bit more run by doing all of the work on this 45-yard touchdown reception.

Meanwhile, Bo Scarbrough (DET at WAS, $4,200) emerged on the scene as the lead rusher in the Detroit Lions‘ backfield last week, scoring a touchdown of his own against his former Cowboys teammates. J.D. McKissic‘s presence as a receiving threat caps Scarbrough’s ceiling somewhat, but the former Alabama Crimson Tide standout still offers standalone value as a red zone threat at his current low price.

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