I hope that everyone continues to be profitable playing NFL DFS even if the math says that’s impossible. Regardless, last week is in the past and we have a new week of action in front of us. I intend to help you make Week 14 of NFL DFS a week to remember as you finish in the green. With that being said, let us jump right into my top Week 14 DFS picks.
Each week, I will take a look at one option at each position that can be a nice piece in your lineup. Additionally, I will provide one stud and one value option to target along with one expected bust.
NFL Week 14 DFS Picks
Quarterback
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos, $5,800
Shocker, we are targeting the Los Angeles Chargers. That has been the case all season, and it is well deserved. Opposing quarterbacks are scoring the fifth most DraftKings points against the Chargers, and Russell Wilson should continue on that trajectory. It is also telling that we are at that point even with the Chargers facing some pretty terrible quarterbacks.
Wilson is averaging about 200 passing yards per game this season with 21 touchdowns compared to seven interceptions. Three of those interceptions came in last week’s loss to Houston. Overall, Wilson has been pretty solid as of late, and there is not a shortage of weapons for him to throw to. Let’s take advantage of the veteran with our Week 14 NFL DFS Picks
Running Back
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals, $6,100
With Joe Burrow sidelined, it makes sense that the Bengals would lean on the running game. In facing the Indianapolis Colts this week, Joe Mixon has a premium matchup and he will be getting the volume to exploit it.
Last week, Mixon carried the ball 19 times for 68 yards while also scoring two touchdowns. Additionally, Mixon was active in the passing game as he caught six of seven targets for 49 yards. Going forward, we should see a similar workload from Mixon, and on Sunday he should be able to keep the success going.
Wide Receiver
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos, $6,100
For all the reasons that we are targeting Russell Wilson, the same logic applies to Courtland Sutton. If we are trying to take down a large tournament, stacking is often a viable option.
Sutton has developed a nice connection with Wilson as the top receiving option for the Broncos. Last week, that translated into just two catches on seven targets, but Sutton did catch a touchdown pass. It was the ninth touchdown of the season for Sutton as he continues to be a go to scoring option for Wilson. Overall, Sutton has 50 catches for 637 yards with touchdowns. In just three games he hasn’t recorded a touchdown pass, and I would expect it to stay at that mark this week.
Tight End
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons, $3,700
At this point, it is very clear that we need to adjust our expectations with Kyle Pitts. The same can be said for the Atlanta Falcons offense, or perhaps lack thereof. Last week though, Pitts was the leading receiver for the Falcons.
Pitts was targeted eight times, and he turned that into four receptions for 51 yards. This week, Pitts has one of the better matchups against opposing tight ends as he faces Tampa Bay. If he continues to be the leading receiving target for Atlanta, there figures to be a little room for upside. It also helps that the price is right here.
Defense
Cleveland Browns, $3,000
It has been a strong season to this point for the Cleveland Browns. The Browns are first with just 280 yards allowed per game and also with just 153 passing yards. When it comes to points, teams are averaging 20 points a game against Cleveland which is good for 10th in the league.
This week, they face a Jaguars team that is middle of the road offensively. Trevor Lawrence is dealing with an ankle injury, and while it is still trending towards him taking the field, we have to have some concern. The Browns do make things happen defensively with nine interceptions and seven fumble recoveries to go along with 34 sacks. There is enough here to make an impact from a DFS perspective.
DFS Stud
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints, $8,200
It has been an up-and-down season for Alvin Kamara, and a lot of it has been volume and role-dependent. After two straight weeks of nine carries each, Kamara bumped up to 15 and 14 in the past two weeks. While he gained just 51 yards, Kamara did find the end zone twice while continuing to be a factor in the passing game. Kamara was targeted eight times, and he turned that into six receptions for 58 yards.
With New Orleans dealing with injuries to Michael Thomas, Rashid Shaheed, and Taysom Hill, Kamara’s volume is bound to increase. We have seen him catch double-digit balls in games earlier this season, and that is a very likely outcome for this week. The matchup against the Carolina Panthers is a favorable one, and something Kamara is bound to exploit.
DFS Value
Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars, $3,000
With Christian Kirk sidelined, there is an opening in the Jacksonville receiving hierarchy. Based on what we saw last week, Parker Washington is in position to take advantage of that opportunity. After Kirk exited last week, Washington caught all six of targets for 61 yards and a touchdown. Washington now has another week under his belt to find his groove in the Jaguars’ offense. It certainly was a good sign to see his productivity and efficiency last week as well.
DFS Bust
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers, $7,600
We have seen Austin Ekeler’s price drop this season, but it is for good reason. Quite simply, Ekeler has struggled this year, and last week, that hit a low note. The running back did have 14 carries, but they were good for only 18 yards. In nine games this year, Ekeler is averaging only 3.5 yards per carry and the results simply have not been there.
Ekeler has just five combined touchdowns through nine games, and the Chargers are starting to get restless here. There has been talk about Joshua Kelley taking on a larger role. This week, Ekeler does have a great matchup against Denver, but we can’t let that cloud our judgment with the potential for a decreased workload. To this point, Ekeler needs to show that he is up to the task, and there isn’t enough there this year to warrant an investment.
Week 14 Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End