DraftKings NFL picks, Week 10: Best DFS fantasy football values

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Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers (Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) /

DraftKings NFL Week 10 values: Running Backs

Alvin Kamara is the highest-priced active running back on the DraftKings main slate, but we’ll let others pay the $8,200 price tag. While we love and respect Kamara to the fullest, he has failed to score 20 or more fantasy points in two of his last four contests; the return of Michael Thomas figures to eat into his target share from here on out, and Latavius Murray will continue to steal a handful of carries, for good measure.

Aaron Jones (see “Best Buy” below) is our favorite premium-priced running back by a long shot. Who among the next tier ($6,000 to $6,900) is worth paying up for?

Some are understandably laying down chalk for either Nick Chubb (CLE vs. HOU, $6,800) or Kareem Hunt (CLE vs. HOU, $6,700). However, James Conner (PIT vs. CIN, $6,900), who was a non-factor last week in a smash spot against the Dallas Cowboys due in large part to an unexpected negative game script, should be a much bigger piece of the game plan in Week 10.

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With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger missing virtually every single snap in practice this week, we’ll double down on this take. In fact, we expect many to make the mistake of fading Conner based on last week’s disappearing act.

Further down in this pricing tier: James Robinson (JAX at GB, $6,600) is more or less game-script proof, and an even better buy a $300 discount, Josh Jacobs (LV vs. DEN, $6,500) is always a solid play, no matter the opponent, and we have no qualms about starting Miles Sanders (PHI at NYG, $6,400) in his first game back. Chase Edmonds (ARI vs. BUF, $6,300), who underwhelmed last week, is the only other player we’d consider from this group.

In the value tier ($5,000 to $5,900), we can’t ignore Darrell Henderson (LAR vs. SEA, $5,900), who no longer carries and injury designation (quad). However, we’d almost rather dial-up fellow Memphis product Antonio Gibson (WAS at DET, $5,600) instead.

Gibson has been losing targets in the passing game to J.D. McKissic (WAS at DET, $4,900), a solid value in his own right, but the rookie’s performance as a runner has been equal parts surprising and unparalleled:

Others in this price range we like include Leonard Fournette (TB at CAR, $5,500) and Phillip Lindsay (DEN at LV, $5,000), who are both outperforming their team’s Week 1 starters at their positions. We’re even more bullish on Duke Johnson (HOU at CLE, $5,000): a high-floor option due to his receiving prowess, he’ll inherit David Johnson’s workload in a favorable matchup, which happens to be a revenge game against his former team, the Cleveland Browns.

Best Buy: With Christian McCaffrey back on the shelf, our favorite premium buy at the position this week is Aaron Jones (GB vs. JAX, $7,100), a guy we’ve got as a lineup anchor everywhere. It’s hard to pass on a back of his caliber with a matchup this scrumptious, especially at a price that’s $1,100 lower than Kamara’s.

Bargain Bin: Running backs of consequence in the sub-$5,000 price range are few and far between, but no better value can be found in this range than Mike Davis (CAR vs. TB, $4,000), who reprises his role as the Carolina Panthers’ primary ballcarrier, albeit in an unfavorable matchup.

Talented, yet sparingly-used rookie Cam Akers (LAR vs. SEA, $4,200) is an intriguing GPP dart throw in the event of a Henderson injury flare-up, but given the PPR scoring format employed by DraftKings, we’d rather roll with Travis Homer (SEA at LAR, $4,000) if Carlos Hyde and Chris Carson are ruled out. Two other cheapos to watch are Miami Dolphins teammates Matt Breida (MIA vs. LAC, $4,000) and Salvon Ahmed (MIA vs. LAC, $4,000); depending on the gameday injury status of the former, either could serve as a cheap option for “Zero RB” strategists in Week 10.

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