Week 16 of the DraftKings NFL slate continues today. And if it is anything like two of the first three games of the week, it has the chance to be something special. As we already have two game of the year candidates alone this week. The highest-scoring games usually provide the best chance of that, and the highest projected game this weekend is the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions. The points line for that game is currently 52 points, with the Lions having the highest team total of the week at 29.5. And the Los Angeles Chargers and the Dallas Cowboys, with a projected point total of 50.
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Those are some spots to target for a ton of points and potentially great games. The only real potential for some nasty weather is in Cleveland for their game against the Buffalo Bills, with winds gusting around 25 miles per hour and not dropping below 20 throughout the game. We saw what happens if the winds let up, as they did in Seattle on Thursday. However, for our favorite quarterback, we will feature a game we have already mentioned.
Favorite DraftKings NFL plays for Week 16
Quarterback
Favorite Play: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (6.3K)
Having an almost 30-point team total is too high to ignore. Goff is coming off a game where he had to throw the ball 41 times against the Los Angeles Rams. He likely will not be asked to do that against the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, it may not matter as the Pittsburgh Steelers allow the fourth-most passing yards. The Steelers will also be without Nick Herbig and T.J. Watt in this matchup. I expect those injuries to come back and hurt the Steelers, unlike last week against the Miami Dolphins. Goff is a high-end QB1 in a fantastic matchup against an injured Steelers defense. I could also see the angle of playing Rodgers on DraftKings, given they’re likely to be behind for most of the game, but I prefer Goff in this matchup.
Contrarian Play: Gardner Minshew, Kansas City Chiefs (4.5K)
The Kansas City Chiefs have the fifth-lowest point total on the week at a projected 20 points. That is a product of the Chiefs missing star receiver Rashee Rice, and of course, Patrick Mahomes. However, Minshew finds himself with a whole week of preparation and a great matchup. The Tennessee Titans give up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. And they are giving up the fifth-most estimated points against the pass. With Kansas City having a bottom-12 rushing attack, and the team only being favored by three points, they should lean on Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy. The only thing that gives me pause is that the Chiefs are not playing for anything, but with a backup quarterback already in, this could be a chance for Minshew to prove himself and for us to save salary on DraftKings.
Running Back
Favorite Play: De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins (8.8K)
Not listing Achane as my favorite play would feel wrong, even with the quarterback change and the highest DraftKings salary at the position. Achane’s role is still elite, with 19 touches per game, which ranks eighth among running backs. Jahmyr Gibbs could stake a claim here, but I am going with the running back going against the worst fantasy defense in the league against the position. The Cincinnati Bengals are giving up the third-most yards per carry. They are also giving up the most 20+ yard runs in the league with 18. Achane ranks first in that category with 12 runs of 20 or more yards. Achane is my RB1 for the week and is a safe bet to rack up the fantasy points even with Quinn Ewers at quarterback.
Contrarian Play: Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6.7K)
Nothing says contrarian play like a player who left managers disappointed in a primetime game the week before. Many DraftKings Showdown players and fantasy managers were not too happy that a touchdown went to Sean Tucker at the goal line last week. This spot is a great one for Irving to get that touchdown back and bounce back in a big way. In his rookie year, Bucky Irving had 180 total yards in both of his games against the Carolina Panthers. Carolina’s defense is still allowing the tenth-most fantasy points and the seventh-most touchdowns to the position. That is an improvement over last year, when they were allowing the most fantasy points to the position. However, this is still an excellent spot for Irving to be a value on DraftKings.
Wide Receiver
Favorite Play: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions (8.4K)
In lineups I am playing Jared Goff in, I want one or both of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. And I want one of them even without Goff. I prefer St. Brown on DraftKings because the Steelers have the lowest average depth of target against opposing offenses. St. Brown is coming off an excellent game against the Los Angeles Rams. He had 44.4 DraftKings points in the game. The Steelers are in the bottom third of the league in allowing big plays through the passing game. So, Williams could be limited in the matchup. The Lions will move the ball at will regardless, and will have at least one player crack the optimal lineup, and I believe the St. Brown and Goff stack will be the key on this Sunday.
Nico Collins was also a strong consideration for this selection as the Raiders give up the ninth-most fantasy points. However, the 11.5 team total for the Las Vegas Raiders scares me, as the game could be over before it starts. The Philadelphia Eagles dominated them last week, and A.J. Brown finished as WR28, and DeVonta Smith as WR54, with Dallas Goedert getting the touchdowns. So, a reasonably high ceiling, but concerns about the game script for Collins.
Contrarian Play: Jakobi Meyers, Jacksonville Jaguars (5.5K)
The matchup against the Denver Broncos could push DraftKings users away from Meyers. It shouldn’t be, considering Jakobi Meyers has been the key to unlocking this Jacksonville offense. Since trading for Jakobi Meyers, the Jaguars have averaged 33 points per game, the most in the NFL in that span. Meyers has been a consistent target for Trevor Lawrence, seeing at least six targets since Week 11. I will happily take the DraftKings salary discount for what has been an unstoppable offense recently.
Tight End
Favorite Play: Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals (7.6K)
Even with his extremely high DraftKings salary, which is $2,000 more than Brock Bowers. It is hard not to pick McBride in any scenario if you have the team configuration to do so. The Arizona Cardinals throw the ball more than anyone in the league. And even in a challenging matchup, it does not sway my decision. He had a tough matchup last week against the Houston Texans and still broke the slate. I will likely play the Cardinals’ passing game anytime they are underdogs. Look for McBride to have another massive game on DraftKings after his 40.4-point game last week.
Contrarian Play: T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings (3K)
J.J. McCarthy is starting to figure it out at the NFL level. And while the New York Giants are a difficult matchup for tight ends, they are only for tight ends. They are giving up a ton of fantasy points to the other three offensive positions. And that will cause Hockenson to go overlooked in this matchup. At his DraftKings salary of $3,000, he provides an okay floor, with at least four targets in four of his last five games. Many DraftKings users will flock to Darren Waller or Mike Gesicki in that potential shootout, and I do not blame them, but Hockenson could be a viable option at a cheaper DraftKings salary.
Final Thoughts
This week, there are plenty of high-scoring games to choose from. A game stack from the Steelers and Lions could look like rostering Gibbs, Goff, one of the wide receivers, and Metcalf as a bring-back option. In addition to that, many great matchups that I have not mentioned. Bijan Robinson against the Cardinals defense that gives up the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs. Along with Ja’Marr Chase in a potential shootout with the Miami Dolphins. So, the options feel endless this week.
As always, adjust to the news before kickoff, trust your gut, don’t tweak just to tweak your lineups, and have a great Week 16 on DraftKings.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 16 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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