DraftKings NFL Picks, Week 14: Best bargains in DFS play

Defense/Special Teams

Low-priced value is easy to find at most positions, but it’s hard to save a few bucks on defenses in DraftKings. Paying through the proverbial proboscis for the juiciest matchups has been a way of life for many DFS fanatics, but values do exist from time to time, especially for those with higher risk tolerances.

The Green Bay Packers (vs. WAS, $4,000) will play rude hosts to rookie Dwayne Haskins and the hapless Washington Redskins, so their billing as the week’s top-priced defense is well-deserved. The Redskins will be well-served to keep it on the ground as much as possible, and if they do get production from Guice and Adrian Peterson, they could make those who pony up for the Packers pay dearly.

Unlike the Chicago Bears last week, the Minnesota Vikings (vs. DET, $3,800) have seen NFL tape on third-string-turned-starting quarterback David Blough. This explains why DraftKings has the Vikings rated as the second highest-priced defense on the slate.

It’s hard to recommend the Philadelphia Eagles (vs. NYG, $3,400) after their defensive debacle against the Dolphins last week, but a rainy, primetime Monday night game against turnover-prone Eli Manning, who historically plays poorly in Philly, is too juicy of a matchup to ignore. I know, I know: fool me once…sigh. Fool me twice. Someone’s going to be a fool here: Eli or me.

The Atlanta Falcons (vs. CAR, $3,000) absolutely tore Kyle Allen to shreds in their last meeting: zero touchdowns, four interceptions. Despite the firing of head coach Ron Rivera days ago, little has changed to make us paint a rosy outlook for the young Panthers quarterback. The Falcons’ secondary has played at a much higher level down the stretch, and the defense has logged at least two sacks or interceptions in four of their last five games.

The Tennessee Titans (at OAK, $2,600) have been a solid but unspectacular under-the-radar option for much of the season. They have recorded at least one takeaway in nine straight, rank seventh in the league in points allowed and travel to Oakland to take on a sputtering Raiders offense that can’t get out of its own way of late.

Digging deeper, the risk-averse should shield their eyes from the paragraph below. Some DFS enthusiasts wish to spend coin at other positions might consider defenses that make others nauseous.

The Arizona Cardinals (vs. PIT, $2,400) host a Steelers offense led by Devlin Hodges, its third different quarterback of the season. The Steelers will also be without James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster. One caveat: the Cardinals have yet put up a defensive effort that can match the last two posted by the aforementioned Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. IND, $2,300), who host dinged-up Marlon Mack and an Indianapolis Colts squad that is once again missing T.Y. Hilton.