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

Tight Ends

Travis Kelce (KC at CHI, $7,000) is the top-priced tight end, and with three 20-plus PPR games in his last five, the price is justified. Still, there are better values at the position, as indicated below.

George Kittle (LAR at SF, $6,500) gets a tough draw on paper, as the Rams rank as one of the tougher defenses against tight ends from a fantasy perspective. However, the Rams gave up 76 yards and a touchdown to Blake Jarwin and Jason Witten last week, so there’s no reason to doubt Kittle’s ability to have a day.

Zach Ertz (PHI vs. DAL, $6,400) will be passed over by many who’ll point to the presence of Dallas Goedert as a limiting factor. Yet, Ertz has managed to see 10 or more targets in five of his last six games, with three touchdowns in his last two games. Ertz is 16 receptions away from his second straight 100-catch season.

Mark Andrews (BAL at CLE, $5,900) has five touchdowns in his last six games. He’s been one of the best tight ends in fantasy this season despite playing through injuries. You know what to do in this matchup against the Browns.

Jared Cook (NO at TEN, $5,000) has managed to rack up at least 80 yards or a touchdown in each of his last three road starts. Over his last five games, Cook has managed to haul in 17 of 22 targets for a 77 percent catch rate; that kind of consistency will inspire Drew Brees to keep looking his way.

Jack Doyle (IND vs CAR $4,500) should shake off a clunker and find success against one of the three best defenses against fantasy tight ends. Why?  Well, the Carolina Panthers haven’t faced many legitimate threats at the tight end position, aside from Austin Hooper in his first game back from injury, Jared Cook (99 yards and a touchdown), and George Kittle (6 catches for 86 yards).

Here’s a partial list of some starting tight ends that have helped prop up the mirage that the Panthers’ defense is great at defending tight ends: James O’Shaugnessy, Jeremy Sprinkle, Jaeden Graham, Jonnu Smith, Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard, and Charles Clay. With TY Hilton and Marlon Mack still banged up, expect Doyle to see plenty of targets, especially in the red zone.

Jacob Hollister (SEA vs ARI $4,200) is my favorite tight end play of the week, hands down. He should be a top-five option at the position this week against a Cardinals defense that has given up seven touchdowns to tight ends in their last six games. As much as I like Doyle this week, Hollister is the superior DraftKings starter in Week 16.

Dallas Goedert (PHI vs DAL, $4,100) has logged six or more targets in five straight games, and should see that volume continue as the Eagles’ wide receiving corps keeps morphing into a M*A*S*H unit. Meanwhile, O.J. Howard (TB vs. HOU, $4,000) and Mike Gesicki (MIA vs CIN, $3,600) are two bargain-bin options who are both in line for huge target volumes against beatable opponents.