DraftKings NFL picks, Week 16: Best DFS fantasy football values
By Drew DeLuca
Week 16 NFL DraftKings Values: Wide Receivers
Premium Tier ($7,000 and up): Electric wideout Tyreek Hill (KC vs. ATL, $9,000) finds himself on the premium shelf this weekend, thanks to a juicy matchup against a feeble Atlanta Falcons secondary. Meanwhile, Allen Robinson II (CHI at JAX, $7,700) practiced fully on Tuesday despite a lingering hamstring issue; assuming he plays, he should be in prime form this weekend for a revenge matchup against his former team and should light up an exploitable secondary.
Mid-Tier Values ($6,000 to $6,900): Baker Mayfield’s resurgence has lifted our expectations for the always-steady Jarvis Landry (CLE at NYJ, $6,900), who offers as high of a floor as anyone in this price tier. With Robert Woods at less than 100 percent due to a lingering thigh injury, we prefer Cooper Kupp (LAR at SEA, $6,600); the Eastern Washington product has reeled in 18 of his last 19 targets and is primed for a big day against an improving, yet still vulnerable Seattle Seahawks secondary.
Diontae Johnson (PIT vs. IND, $6,300) rebounded nicely from a rough outing the previous week but faces a tough matchup against a much better-than-advertised Indianapolis Colts defense. Meanwhile, Brandin Cooks (HOU vs. CIN, $6,200) should see plenty of targets against an overachieving Cincinnati Bengals pass defense that’s coming off a short week.
Value Tier ($5,000 to $5,900): The once inconsistent Marquise Brown (BAL vs. NYG, $5,700) hasn’t lived up to this “Hollywood” nickname, but he has logged four straight games with 13 or more fantasy points. For the price, we prefer Amari Cooper (DAL vs. PHI, $5,700) who should fare better against Darius Slay than he did last time around, thanks to a calf injury that kept the Philadelphia Eagles star cornerback on the sidelines last week.
Deshaun Watson’s default second option Keke Coutee (HOU vs. CIN, $5,400) was limited in practice on Tuesday by an ailing foot, but he’ll be a key part of the offense should he suit up on Sunday. With Michael Gallup (hip) limited, expect CeeDee Lamb (DAL vs. PHI $5,300) to break out against an Eagles defense that once again has injury problems of its own.
Russell Gage (ATL at KC, $5,100) warrants consideration, but only if Julio Jones misses yet another game. However, there are a half dozen cheaper options that we like even more, starting with Sammy Watkins (KC vs. ATL, $5,000), who has seen six or more targets in three of four games since returning from injury; the former Clemson product has seen the field on 80 percent or more of offensive snaps over the past two games and faces a weak secondary.
Bargain Bin: A pair of Higginses may suit budgets in this price range: Rashard Higgins (CLE at NYJ, $4,800) has stepped up in a big way down the stretch this season, and Tee Higgins (CIN at HOU, $4,700) should re-emerge as a top option in the passing game while Tyler Boyd recovers from a concussion.
Yet another Clemson standout makes the cut, as Mike Williams (LAC vs. DEN, $4,500) is primed for a big day, thanks to Keenan Allen’s bum wheel. Jamison Crowder (NYJ vs. CLE, $4,500) seems criminally underpriced, given the expected game script and his recent usage trend: the possession receiver extraordinaire has caught seven or more targets in two of his last three contests.
Last but not least, we have our eye on Darnell Mooney (CHI at JAX, $4,000). The Tulane product has been everything fantasy football enthusiasts expected Anthony Miller to be this season: he’s scored a touchdown in two straight games while catching 10 of the last 13 passes tossed in his direction.
Best Buy: So many choices, so few lineup slots, but we’ll roll with Allen Robinson, if healthy. If not, we like Cooper Kupp this week, paired with either Sammy Watkins or Mike Williams.