Analysis

6/6/23

5 min read

10 Best Ball Value Options on Underdog Fantasy for 2023 NFL Season

DraftKings and Underdog Fantasy are the two primary gaming platforms in the best ball market. Even if you’re not a high-volume best ball drafter, it’s in your best interest to know which players are more of a value on which platform. 

To frame that another way, if we’re going to line shop in sports betting, we should be ADP shopping in best ball. Let’s explore 10 of those value options on the Underdog Fantasy platform.

Remember, many of these values will disappear in the coming weeks after this article’s publish date.

>> READ: DraftKings Best Ball Values

Underdog Best Ball Values

Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Underdog ADP 55.4 vs. DraftKings ADP 44.2

It looks like Joe Mixon is staying with the Cincinnati Bengals this season. Samaje Perine looked like a better player than Mixon last season, which is one of the concerns surrounding Mixon. 

Perine signed with the Denver Broncos this offseason, and the Bengals’ depth chart behind Mixon is pretty thin. Even if Mixon has regressed, he has limited competition for touches, and he’ll run behind the best offensive line of his career this season. 

If you target Mixon, he’s almost a full round cheaper on Underdog.

Cam Akers, RB, L.A. Rams

Underdog ADP 76.6 vs. DraftKings ADP 70.6

There are two significant positives surrounding Cam Akers. The first is he could have a bell-cow role this season. The second is that he has a Week 17 matchup against the New York Giants, who were well below average against the run last season. 

A six-pick disparity between these two platforms isn’t enormous, but Akers often slides half a round or so past his ADP on Underdog. If you’re going to target Akers, you should do so on Underdog.

Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

Underdog ADP 98.7 vs. DraftKings ADP 86.1

Dak Prescott missed multiple games and had a bit of a down year last season. If he returns to his 2021 form, when he scored 330.6 fantasy points on Underdog despite missing a game, he’ll be a win at current costs. Additionally, Prescott has an appealing Week 17 matchup against the Detroit Lions.

On Underdog, you can create a strong quarterback duo with Prescott and another mid-round option.

Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

Underdog ADP 100.5 vs. DraftKings ADP 84.4

Alvin Kamara’s off-field incident could result in a multi-game suspension. His mid-round cost on both platforms reflects that concern. That said, the New Orleans Saints have a premium offensive line, one of the easiest schedules in the league and Derek Carr is an upgrade at quarterback. 

Kamara is the home run swing mid-round running back. If Kamara didn’t have a looming suspension, he’d be a third-round pick.

Brian Robinson, RB, Washington Commanders

Underdog ADP 107 vs. DraftKings ADP 99.2

Brian Robinson had 205 carries to just nine receptions last season. He’s a grinder back that’s more expensive on DraftKings’ full PPR platform. It makes more sense to target Robinson at over a half-round value on Underdog.

Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Baltimore Ravens

Underdog ADP 111.7 vs. DraftKings ADP 95.5

Odell Beckham will turn 31 in November. He missed all of last season because of a knee injury, and he’s part of a suddenly crowded Baltimore Ravens wide receiver corps. We can all reasonably expect the Ravens to be more pass-centric in Todd Monken’s new offense, but Lamar Jackson’s season-high in passing yards is 3,127.

Jackson achieved that figure during his 2019 MVP campaign. That’s the only time he’s breached 3,000 yards passing in a season. If you’re going to draft Beckham in that type of situation, do it at a 16-pick value on Underdog.

Jerick McKinnon, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Underdog ADP 127.9 vs. DraftKings ADP 114.1

On the downside, Jerick McKinnon is 31, and he’s not quite the explosive athlete he was in the past. On the positive side, McKinnon has a clear path to retaining his pass-centric role in Patrick Mahomes’ offense. 

McKinnon’s ADP has climbed steadily on Underdog for weeks, and he’s best in full PPR formats. That said, getting him a round later on Underdog is appealing, especially if you need a Chiefs bring-back to compliment a Bengals stack for Week 17.

Matthew Stafford, QB, L.A. Rams

Underdog ADP 160 vs. DraftKings ADP 148.5

Durability is becoming a concern for the veteran Matthew Stafford, who missed eight games last season. That said, he’s at least a borderline Hall of Famer a year removed from winning a Super Bowl. If you’re going to stack up Cooper Kupp with Stafford, you can get Stafford a round later on Underdog.

Dawson Knox, TE, Buffalo Bills

Underdog ADP 176.3 vs. DraftKings ADP 164.6

The Buffalo Bills drafted tight end Dalton Kincaid in the first round, sending Dawson Knox’s best ball stock plummeting. However, Knox has an average annual salary of more than $10 million, and he’ll be in Buffalo through 2024 if not 2025.

Knox has 15 touchdown receptions during the past two years, and he will play significant snaps in Josh Allen’s offense. He’s an interesting boom-or-bust, late-round option that you can get at a value on Underdog.

Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers

Underdog ADP 192.2 vs. DraftKings ADP 173.7

If you roll the dice on Brock Purdy bouncing back from his throwing elbow injury this season, do it on Underdog at an 18.5-pick value.


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