Fantasy

11/12/22

9 min read

Rookies Present Value in Week 10 DFS Cash Games

Week 10 DFS Main Slate Cash Games

Quarterbacks

Patrick Mahomes - (DraftKings: $7,900 / FanDuel: $8,500)

If you are paying up for one quarterback this week, it's going to be Patrick Mahomes. I know Josh Allen is typically our go-to here. But that injury has scared me off for cash this week, and I'd be surprised if Allen even plays this Sunday. Mahomes leads the league both in passing yards and touchdowns. The Kansas City Chiefs, just like the Buffalo Bills, are a team that continues to pass at a high rate despite the scoreboard.

I'm not worried about Mahomes even if they get up big on the Jaguars because who they are as an offense keeps Mahomes relevant in fantasy, regardless. Last week he attempted 68 passes, nearly an NFL record, and had his second consecutive 400+ yard game. Sportsbooks also project Kansas City to score 30 points in this game, and Mahomes will likely be involved in most of them. There aren't a lot of high over/under on this slate. With this matchup set at 50.5, we must take the points where we can. Mahomes is about as safe as it comes this week and has been averaging 27.7 DraftKings points this season which is just 2 points behind Josh Allen. 

Tua Tagovailoa - (DraftKings: $6,700 / FanDuel: $8,100)

Another game where we are just fishing for points on a barren point slate is Tua Tagovailoa going up against the Cleveland Browns with a 48.5 over/under. I won't lie that this game makes me a tad nervous because it genuinely can go one of two ways. In one case, Tagovailoa just unleashes and throws all over a porous Cleveland secondary with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. There is also a case where the run games of each team slow this thing down altogether. I'm going to say Tagovailoa's arsenal of passing weapons will thrive against the Cleveland Browns defense, ranked 18th in pass defense DVOA.

High-powered passing offenses can pick on the Browns defense, and it doesn't get much more high-powered than Miami. Tagovailoa is leading the league right now in passer rating and yards per attempt. Hearing that the Cleveland Browns are also 30th in DVOA against deep passes, and we all know Tyreek Hill lives and dies by the deep ball, should perk up your ears. It should help that Tagovailoa has been feeding Hill the deep ball at a highly successful rate this season. The two could connect a couple of times for a really great fantasy outing. 

Honorable Mention: Justin Fields - (DraftKings: $6,500 / FanDuel: $8,300)

Deep Sleeper: Trevor Lawrence - (DraftKings: $5,400 / FanDuel: $7,000)

Running Backs

Saquon Barkley - (DraftKings: $8,600 / FanDuel: $9,500)

The price has finally caught up with the pedigree, people. Barkley is finally the most expensive running back on the slate, deservingly so. I won't drag on too much regarding Barkley because you know he's worth playing. But I especially like him this week, even at the high price tag, for several reasons. One of them is he's had a week of rest with the Week 9 bye to get his body in a better position to handle his extreme workload. Barkley hardly ever comes off the field and is the focal point of the entire New York Giants offense.

If there is any running back who should have an absolute day against the Houston Texans that allow the most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, it's Saquon. He could have a career day if we're being honest here. The Texans allow an average of 188 rushing yards per game and have allowed top 3 fantasy finishes to the running backs with similar workloads to Barkley. The Giants are also heavy home favorites in this contest, and we know that typically bodes well for fantasy production at the running back position. He's in too good of a spot to pass up, so I'm trying to save at other positions salary-wise to get Barkley into my lineups.

Josh Jacobs - (DraftKings: $7,600 / FanDuel: $8,400)

Everyone expects this game to be an ugly one. You have Jeff Saturday, just thrown into the dumpster fire now known as the Indianapolis Colts, as his first-ever head coaching experience going up against the Las Vegas Raiders, who just put up an impressive zero on the scoreboard last Sunday.

But that's okay. The time is now to go back to the days of Josh Jacobs being an absolute workhorse and RB1 on a weekly basis. We are only two weeks removed from Jacobs going on a nearly month-long fantasy scoring spread of 30+ DraftKings points. He still has that in his arsenal with his usage and involvement, especially in games where Las Vegas is leading the charge.

I don't see how the Raiders don't heavily lean on the run-funneled Colts defense this week. The Colts rank 17th in rush defense DVOA and just lost Shaquille Leonard yet again to injury. There's no way the Raiders will need to throw the ball like madmen, and I think both sides of the ball will be running a ton. Jacobs is too cheap for his potential ceiling here.

Honorable Mention: Dameon Pierce - (DraftKings: $6,300 / FanDuel: $7,700)

Deep Sleeper: Jamaal Williams - (DraftKings: $5,900 / FanDuel: $7,500)

Wide Receivers

Tyreek Hill / Jaylen Waddle - (DraftKings: $9,100 / FanDuel: $9,000)(DraftKings: $7,600 / FanDuel: $8,200)

Tyreek Hill is absolutely dominating the wide receiver position here in 2022. He leads the NFL with 1,104 receiving yards, has 45 receptions of 10+ yards, and 19 receptions of 20+ yards. He's simply doing whatever he wants out there and is doing what he does best, gaining chunk yardage and big plays down the field. He is an every-week potential slate breaker and gets an excellent matchup against the Cleveland Browns. The Browns play a lot of zone coverage on defense, and Tyreek Hill has thrived in this area, ranking 1st in receiving grade and yards per route run against zone coverage, according to PFF. He is a no-brainer if you can afford him in your lineup.

If you need some savings but still want your hands on this matchup, then his counterpart Jaylen Waddle also provides for the fantasy frenzy. He's the WR9 in fantasy points per game and produces like a WR1. The Browns are 26th in defensive pass DVOA against #2 WRs, and there are not many #2 WRs who have produced like Waddle. I love these two this week, and I also love a bring back with Amari Cooper or even Donovan Peoples-Jones if you're looking to save more salary after paying up for the Dolphins receivers.

Chris Olave - (DraftKings: $6,800 / FanDuel: $7,500)

I am in love with what Chris Olave is doing this season. He continues to stay on my list of cash plays, and it's been working out for us, considering he's always priced under what his opportunities leave him capable of producing. Chris Olave is the air yard king leading the league with 137.1 air yards per game. We can only hope this will lead to his breakout game soon.

This week can be that week, considering the New Orleans Saints are facing a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that allows the most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. New Orleans isn't working with much else, and Chris Olave is the guy Andy Dalton is looking for every passing play. I know Jarvis Landry comes back this week, but this isn't particularly bad for the rookie wide receiver, who can hopefully get a tad bit less attention from the defense.

Honorable Mention:  Christian Kirk - (DraftKings: $5,900 / FanDuel: $6,800)

Mid-Range Wide Receivers Worth Mentioning: 

Jerry Jeudy, Darnell Mooney & Rondale Moore

Deep Sleeper: George Pickens - (DraftKings: $5,000 / FanDuel: $5,600)

Tight Ends

T.J. Hockenson - (DraftKings: $5,300 / FanDuel: $6,000)

This tight-end slate is challenging to navigate, and honestly, Travis Kelce should be listed atop here for me. Hypothetically speaking, he is; he always is. But he comes with a heavy price tag, and you already know he's a good play on any given Sunday. I'm going to talk about some of the less apparent plays for us, like T.J. Hockensen. The Vikings looked like they'd been waiting for someone like Hockensen at the tight end position all along. In his first week on the team, he caught all 9 of his targets for 70 yards trailing just behind Justin Jefferson on the team in targets but was actually first in receptions. While he never caught a touchdown in Week 9, he still drew 3 red zone targets and looks to remain heavily involved in this Minnesota offense.

So how can I not look at Hockensen this week, despite the hard matchup I'm going to have to assume the Vikings will need him to keep pace with Buffalo? The Bills defense is not particularly forgiving to the tight end position. But perhaps that is more a result of the competition they've faced. They have only played three tight ends this year who fit a style more suited to Hockensen. One of them was Freiermuth, who exited with an injury early. Kelce was able to put up 108 yards on them, and Andrews was the focal point to stop for the defense. Having Justin Jefferson on the offense helps open things up for Hockensen, and I can see him having a good day here.

Cole Kmet - (DraftKings: $3,400 / FanDuel: $5,300)

It is hard to look at all of these tight end picks. But this is the week to punt on the position. It's a less-than-ideal layout, and I will be targeting either high over/unders or good matchups. Cole Kmet checks both of those boxes for me this week. The Bears have a 48.5 over/under with a 25.5 team total. Chicago and Justin Fields have finally arrived and have been playing better lately. Luckily, with that territory comes the ascendence of players like Cole Kmet.

We went from 2021's season of 0 touchdowns for Cole Kmet to three touchdowns over the last two games. They finally have seemed to put it together. Now he gets a matchup against the Detroit Lions, who have been giving up the fifth-most fantasy points per game and fourth-most touchdowns to opposing tight ends. He's an easy choice to get pieces in this matchup for a cheap price tag.

Honorable Mention: Greg Dulcich - (DraftKings: $3,400 / FanDuel: $5,900)

Deep Sleeper: Foster Moreau - (DraftKings: $3,200 / FanDuel: $5,200)

D/ST

Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers - (DraftKings: $4,000 / FanDuel: $5,000)

Tennessee Titans vs. Denver Broncos - (DraftKings: $3,200 / FanDuel: $4,400)

Honorable Mention: Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams - (DraftKings: $2,700 / FanDuel: $4,000)

Deep Sleeper: Minnesota Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills (with no Josh Allen) - (DraftKings: $2,200 / FanDuel: $3,200)

WATCH MORE: Has Tua Tagovailoa Put Himself Into MVP Conversation?

 

 

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