DraftKings NFL picks, Week 16: Best DFS fantasy football values
By Drew DeLuca
Week 16 NFL DraftKings Values: Running Backs
Premium Tier ($7,000 and up): Two slam dunks in this tier are Nick Chubb (CLE at NYJ, $7,800) and David Montgomery (CHI at JAX, $7,700). No one needs to be told to start Chubb against the Jets, and the latter has lit up lesser run defenses over the past three weeks; we see no reason why that trend won’t continue against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
We like Austin Ekeler (LAC vs. DEN, $7,600) a bit less than Chubb and Montgomery, but a bit more than Jonathan Taylor (IND at PIT, $7,300). The impressive rookie faces a tough test against a Pittsburgh defense that will be angrier than a beaten hornet’s nest after last week’s embarrassment by the Cincinnati Bengals’ backup quarterback on national television.
Miles Sanders (PHI at DAL, $7,000) is our pick from this group, however. The presence of Jalen Hurts under center has led Doug Pederson to call more RPOs and other plays that suit Sanders’ undeniable talents. Only Nick Chubb has averaged more yards per carry than the second-year Penn State product through 15 weeks of the 2020 NFL season.
Mid-Tier Values ($6,000 to $6,900): If Ezekiel Elliott misses time again, Tony Pollard (DAL vs. PHI. $6,500) proved last week that he’s a trustworthy pivot. Similarly, we’d like Antonio Gibson (WAS vs. CAR, $6,600) a ton more if he wasn’t playing through injury; should he miss more time, J.D. McKissic (WAS vs. CAR, $6,400), who offers a rock-solid floor in DraftKings’ PPR format, becomes a viable play.
Chris Carson (SEA vs. LAR, $6,400) is usually a lock for consistent production, but he’s not completely healthy just yet, and we don’t know which version of the Jekyll-and-Hyde Los Angeles Rams defense will show up. Carlos Hyde should see enough work to cap Carson’s ceiling, and Rashard Penny will see his first action of the 2020 NFL season, so we’d rather save $200 for other positions and go with a higher upside play in the form of J.K. Dobbins (BAL vs. NYG, $6,200).
Value Tier ($5,500 to $5,900): With Clyde Edwards-Helaire sidelined with an ankle injury, Le’Veon Bell (KC vs. ATL, $5,800) gets a spotlight to shine as the lead back. However, with the Chiefs likely to clinch a first-round bye at home against the Falcons, Bell’s second-half usage could end up being a fraction of what most expect.
Melvin Gordon III (DEN at LAC, $5,600) is heating up and should shine in a revenge game against his former team, with whom he shares bad blood. Meanwhile, backfield mate Phillip Lindsay will miss the game with a knee injury, all the more reason to love Gordon at this price.
Bargain Bin: In order, we like Giovanni Bernard (CIN at HOU, $4,800), Darrel Henderson (LAR at SA, $4,500), Ito Smith (ATL at KC, $4,000), Ty Johnson (NYJ vs. CLE, $4,500), and Gus Edwards (BAL vs. NYG, $4,400). Darrell Williams (KC vs. ATL, $4,200) is an option for those who have been understandably underwhelmed by the play of Le’Veon Bell; with the Kansas City Chiefs likely to clinch a first-round bye this week, expect Williams to see more second-half playing time than usual this weekend.
Best Buy: Give us Gordon, who offers the perfect pairing of potent performance projections at the relative price of a pinch of pennies.