DraftKings NFL picks, Week 16: Best bargains in DFS play

Wide Receivers

Michael Thomas (NO at TEN, $9,300) is only 11 receptions away from Marvin Harrison‘s single-season record. We think he could easily break it with a week to spare. With the Saints on the road in Week 17, it’s not like the team will leave one or two on the table for him to break the record at home, so don’t expect Drew Brees to hold back.

Julio Jones (ATL vs. JAX, $8,000) saw an insane 20 targets last week with Ridley out and Hooper working his way back into the offense. Expect that volume to continue, ensuring a high floor and a respectable ceiling.

Davante Adams (GB at MIN, $7,800) squares off against a Vikings pass defense that ranks 31st in points allowed to wide receivers. Expect Aaron Rodgers‘ favorite target to see double-digit targets and at least seven catches for 100+ yards and a touchdown

Tyler Lockett (SEA vs. ARI, $7,600) scared away some DFS suitors with his inconsistency down the stretch. I’m not one of those people. The Cardinals have the league’s worst pass defense, and the Seahawks’ QB/WR combo of Wilson and Lockett are well-positioned to exploit it.

DJ Moore (CAR at IND, $6,900) has emerged as one of the more consistent options in all of fantasy football. Starting him is a bet that Will Grier can’t be much worse than Kyle Allen, a reasonable wager for a logical person to make against the Indianapolis Colts defense.

DeVante Parker (MIA vs CIN 6800) faces a top-10 Cincinnati Bengals pass defense, at least on paper. But honestly: why pass against a team that you can run all over? The legitimacy of the Bengals defense is in question, and the Dolphins don’t have much of a ground game to speak of; expect Parker to test the Bengals secondary early and often.

Amari Cooper (DAL at PHI, $6,700) flat-out owns the Eagles, period. As long as he and Dak Prescott are starting for the Dallas Cowboys in Philly, Cooper should start for you.

Keenan Allen (LAC vs. OAK, $6,300) is a must-start at this price against a vulnerable Raiders secondary. Likewise, Courtland Sutton (DEN vs DET, $6,200) is staring down a very favorable Week 16 matchup.

Terry McLaurin (WAS vs NYG, $6,200) just chewed up and spit out the Eagles secondary to the tune of 130 yards and a touchdown while catching all five of his targets. I’d warn everyone about recency bias if 1) this was an isolated incident; 2) he wasn’t drawing another soft matchup against an already poor defense that cut Janoris Jenkins, one of its best defensive backs, loose.

Breshad Perriman (TB vs HOU, $6,000) is a worthwhile start, given the probable volume he’ll see in Week 16 against a below-average Houston Texans secondary. The absence of both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin is a blessing and a curse: Perriman’s volume should go through the roof, but his efficiency should take a hit with stiffer coverage.

I’m old enough to remember starting Breshad’s Dad, former Detroit Lions receiver Brett Perriman, in a fantasy football championship lineup. Life now comes full circle: I’m now starting his son Breshad this weekend in my family league championship. Pass me my cane, please.

Anthony Miller (CHI vs. KC, $5,900) seems underpriced, given how large of a role he’s played in the Chicago Bears passing game, and how productive he’s been in the process. Miller has seen nine or more targets in four of his last five games; he scored 11 or more fantasy points in all of them, including two touchdowns and two 100-yard games in two of his last three contests.

Tyler Boyd (CIN at MIA $5,800), while John Ross should take the top off the defense, should then allow Andy Dalton to do some work underneath. With rain and wind potential factors and Joe Mixon sure to draw plenty of attention, a big day from Boyd in a ball-control passing game could very well be in the cards.

Lower priced options include a couple of talented Clemson products who have underwhelmed this season: Mike Williams (LAC vs. OAK, $5,000) is finally scoring touchdowns again, and Sammy Watkins (KC at CHI, $4,700) is actually healthy. Williams draws a soft, demoralized Raiders secondary, and Watkins should take advantage of a mismatch against 5-7 slot corner Buster Skrine.

Justin Watson (TB vs. HOU, $4,600) is one to watch. While Breshad Perriman will be a target monster this week, second-year Penn product Justin Watson is also in line for more work and draws a beatable Texans secondary after seeing eight targets and hauling in his first NFL touchdown last week.

Greg Ward (PHI vs. DAL, $4,200) Ward has drawn an impressive 18 targets over his last two games. Few at this price point will see nearly as many passes, and with Ward clearly earning Wentz’s trust of late, he’s a steal of a deal.

Allen Lazard (GB at MIN $3,600) has my attention at this price as a wide receiver who’s catching passes from Aaron Rodgers and sees the field on 78 percent of his team’s snaps. Other than Davante Adams, Lazard, is the only Green Bay Packers player at any position to receive at least three targets in his last three games, cementing his status as the clear No. 2 wide receiver in the offense.