As the calendar rolls into December, expect the unexpected. Injuries are piling up around the NFL. Teams on the verge of elimination from playoff contention may look to sit their key players. Stay tuned for any value that opens up between now and lock time. DFS lineup construction will be very interesting for Week 14. Speaking of Week 14, on tap is a wonderful 10-game slate with six teams on bye. I have done the research to identify my top three cash and GPP plays at the skilled positions, top positional fade, and top stacks to help YOU win big. Without further ado, let’s go over my Week 14 NFL DraftKings picks for the main slate.
Week 14 NFL Picks for the Main Slate
Quarterbacks
Sam Darnold (QB – MIN): DK $6,100 vs. ATL (Cash)
With the Detroit Lions winning a thriller against Green Bay on Thursday night football, Minnesota must win this week to keep pace in the NFC North. That all starts with Sam Darnold. Darnold has been a revelation and sits at QB8 on the season. Over the last 3 weeks, Darnold has scored 20+ DK points twice. The matchup against Atlanta is a good one. The Falcons allow the ninth most DK points to QBs with 19.3 per game (per Pro Football Reference). An easy plug-and-play if I ever seen one.
Will Levis (QB – TEN): DK $5,000 vs. JAC (GPP)
Say what you want about Will Levis’ inconsistent season, but one has to be encouraged by his play the past three weeks. During this span Levis is averaging 261.6 passing yards, 30.6 pass attempts, and 16.96 DK points. Levis also has one of the best remaining schedules for QBs. Jacksonville is such a juicy spot for Levis. They allow the most DK points to QBs with 23.7 per game (per Pro Football Reference). The Jaguars-Titans over/under of (40) will shy many away, but I believe this game has shootout potential. It is very possible Levis achieve his first 20-point DK output of the year being under the radar. Sign me up for this.
Aidan O’Connell (QB – LV): DK $4,800 at TB (Cash)
In a surprising turn of events, Aidan O’Connell finished last week against Kansas City as QB10, completing 23 passes for 340 yards, and two touchdowns. Heading to Tampa Bay this week O’Connell will be in a negative game script environment as (+6.5) point road underdogs. With that being said, this is a fantastic matchup for QBs. The Bucs give up 23.4 DK points per game to QBs, which ranks second most at the position (per Pro Football Reference). What makes O’Connell appealing besides his salary is how reasonably priced his playmakers are. The Raiders may lose this game, but O’Connell should give us another top-12 finish this week.
Brock Purdy (QB – SF): DK $6,200 vs. CHI (Fade)
Everything that could have gone wrong for San Francisco this season has gone wrong, with injuries being the Achilles heel. They currently sit last in the NFC West at 5-7. Brock Purdy has done an admirable job putting the team on his back. Purdy may lead his team to victory this week, but I am pumping the brakes on rostering him. This matchup against Chicago is less than ideal. The Bears allow the second-fewest DK points to QBs with 14.2 and their red zone defense is tops in the NFL (per Pro Football Reference). For $200 more DK, I would rather play Baker Mayfield.
Running Backs
Saquon Barkley (RB – PHI): DK $9,000 vs. CAR (Cash)
Do whatever you have to and get Saquon Barkley in your lineup. Barkley is the best play on the slate hands down. Barkley, an MVP candidate, has been otherworldly with 1,766 total scrimmage yards on the season. Philadelphia is a huge home favorite at (-13.5) against Carolina. The Panthers give up a league-high 31.2 DK points per game to RBs (per Pro Football Reference). Barkley could eclipse 300 total scrimmage yards for a second time this season. Please do not miss out.
Bijan Robinson (RB – ATL): DK $7,500 at MIN (GPP)
The Falcons-Vikings game is a big one for both teams. In my opinion, Atlanta needs this game more because of how tight the NFC South is. That all starts with Bijan Robinson. Fresh off his RB2 finish last week against the Chargers, Robinson faces a much tougher challenge with Minnesota. The Vikings are the second stingiest team against RBs allowing just 17.3 DK points per game (per Pro Football Reference). As a matter of fact, the only RB to rush over 100 yards against Minnesota is Jahmyr Gibbs (116). Most people will focus on rostering the Falcons’ pass catchers (rightfully so), so Robinson makes for a solid leverage play against the field.
Tony Pollard (RB – TEN): DK $6,400 vs. JAC (Cash)
Last week Tony Pollard just could not get it going against Washington. Tennessee got boat raced 42-19. A division matchup against Jacksonville is the perfect bounce-back spot for Pollard. The Jaguars allow 29.2 DK points to RBs per game, which ranks second highest at the position (per Pro Football Reference). The Titans are (-3) point home favorites so Pollard will have plenty of opportunities for a big game. Wheels up for #20.
Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR): DK $6,200 at PHI (Fade)
It has been a remarkable season and career for Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard has surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards in consecutive seasons and received a new contract extension. As happy as I am for Chuba, his matchup against Philly is brutal. The Eagles give up the third-fewest DK points to RBs with 18.1 per game (per Pro Football Reference). Another thing working against Hubbard is Jonathan Brooks’ involvement in the passing game. I would rather pivot to Tyrone Tracy for $400 less DK in a better matchup.
Wide Receivers
Tyreek Hill (WR – MIA): DK $7,100 vs. NYJ (GPP)
With Miami’s playoff chances on life support, they need to do everything possible to win out. The Jets announced on Friday that their top cornerback Sauce Gardner will be unavailable. This puts Tyreek Hill in play. Fellow teammates De’Von Achane and Jonnu Smith have dominated targets the last few weeks so Hill represents leverage. Some have said Hill is washed but he has been playing through a torn ligament in his wrist. On paper, the Jets are the toughest team against WRs allowing 27 DK points per game (per Pro Football Reference). With that being said, I expect Hill to have a good game.
Drake London (WR – ATL): DK $6,400 at MIN (Cash)
As bad as the Falcons played last week, Drake London was one of the few positives. London had nine catches for 86 yards off a career-high 16 targets. The Vikings are solid against running backs but susceptible versus the pass. Minnesota, schedule adjusted, concedes the most DK points to WRs with 42 per game (per Pro Football Reference). London is currently the 2024 WR6 and after this week, he will be firmly back in the top five. Spike week incoming.
Calvin Ridley (WR – TEN): DK $5,700 vs. JAC (Cash)
Lately, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has been receiving notoriety from the fantasy community and scoring touchdowns at an unsustainable rate (caught four in the last three weeks). This has hurt Calvin Ridley’s upside. I expect that to change this week. The Jaguars are the team that keeps on giving. Jacksonville, schedule adjusted, allows the third most DK points to WRs (per Pro Football Reference). I also noticed that in the last few weeks, Ridley tends to do better on even weeks, and this just happens to be Week 14. Do what you will with that info, but I believe Will Levis will look Ridley’s way a lot this week. Top 12 finish on tap.
Jerry Jeudy (WR – CLE): DK $5,700 at PIT (Fade)
On Monday night football Jerry Jeudy played the game of his life against his former team. Jeudy had nine receptions for 235 yards and one touchdown off of 13 targets. Jeudy’s upcoming matchup against Pittsburgh will be a difficult test. To make matters worse, fellow teammate Cedric Tillman will not play, which means Jeudy will likely be guarded by Joey Porter Jr. The Steelers allow the eighth fewest DK points to WRs (per Pro Football Reference). Better days are ahead for Jeudy but count me in on rostering him this week.
Tight Ends
Brock Bowers (TE – LV): DK $6,500 at TB (Cash)
For the second consecutive year, a rookie TE is changing the narrative. Sam LaPorta in 2023, now Brock Bowers in 2024. Bowers’ season is so special that he is currently fourth in receiving yards with 884. The matchup against the Bucs is nice. Tampa Bay, schedule adjusted, allows the sixth most DK points to TEs with 14.8 per game (per Pro Football Reference). At the end of this week, we could be discussing Bowers having his first 1,000-yard season. And more history to chase.
George Kittle (TE – SF): DK $5,800 vs. CHI (Cash)
Throw last week’s Sunday night football snow game out the window. Conditions were tough and the 49ers pass attack was non-existent. George Kittle has been as reliable as any TE in football. Although the Bears defense is legit, they have been susceptible to TEs recently. T.J. Hockenson was TE4 in Week 12 with seven catches for 114 yards and Sam LaPorta TE8 in Week 13 with 3 catches for 6 yards and two touchdowns. It would not surprise me if Kittle finished this week as the TE1. Fully expect a bounce back.
Grant Calcaterra (TE – PHI): DK $3,500 vs. CAR (GPP)
With Dallas Goedert being placed on injured reserve, Grant Calcaterra is now a viable option. However, with such a big spread in this game, and essentially fourth in the target pecking order, Calcaterra will be overlooked. Many will likely pay up at TE this week, but the matchup with Carolina is worth our attention. The Panthers give up the most DK points to TEs with 17.3 per game (per Pro Football Reference). Even if Calcaterra were to have a dud, it would not be a deal breaker to your lineup.
Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL): DK $4,100 at MIN (Fade)
Man, what has happened to Kyle Pitts? I will tell you. Pitts has not scored double-digit DK points since Week 8. During this span, Pitts only has 12 targets total. One could say Pitts has been putting in that cardio work. All jokes aside, the Falcons offense has been hurting without Pitts’ production. Kirk Cousins is going to need all the help he can returning to Minnesota and unfortunately, I do not see it coming from Pitts. The Vikings concede the 11th fewest DK points to TEs (per Pro Football Reference). I would love to be wrong about Pitts, but he cannot be trusted at this point in time.
Top Stacks
1. Bucs-Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan
2. Vikings-Sam Darnold, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison
3. Eagles-Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown
4. Bills-Josh Allen, James Cook, Khalil Shakir
5. Titans-Will Levis, Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley
Make sure to check out all of our Week 14 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!