DFS Cash Game Breakdown 2019 Week 14

By Kyle Dvorchak
Kyle Dvorchak

Quarterback

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Just keep playing Lamar Jackson in your cash games. Don't play anyone else. Jackson's 977 rushing yards and seven scores would give him 139.7 fantasy points through rushing alone. That would rank seventh among all backs without factoring in receiving work.

He's also second in the NFL with 25 passing touchdowns and inside the top-20 with 2,532 passing yards.

Jackson is the best value on the slate regardless of site.

Running Back

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

Both Fanduel and DraftKings appear to think that defenses matter based on their pricing of Alvin Kamara. DraftKings has him at $7,000 and he costs $7,400 on Fanduel.

Kamara has played four games since returning from injury:
  • 9.8 carries per game
  • 9.5 targets per game
  • 95.5 total yards per game
The Saints face a difficult matchup versus San Francisco but they do so at home, as 2.5-point favorites. They also have a top-10 implied team total (23.5 points) on the main slate.

Kamara hasn't put up the same numbers that he did last year but the volume is there and so are the yards. Fade the touchdown variance and take the discount this week.

Patrick Laird, Miami Dolphins

Patrick Laird is a better play on DraftKings, where he'll get a whole point for each one of his many receptions.

Laird is in line to start for the Dolphins this week as Kalen Ballage was placed on IR earlier in the week. The rookie UDFA handled 10 of the team's 12 running back carries that didn't go to Ballage last week.

Laird's real draw is his receiving work. He has caught 10 passes for 94 yards over the past three games and was a dominant pass-catcher out of the backfield at Cal.

Because of his receiving-equity, Laird is game-script proof and he's cheap.

Wide Receiver

Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints


Lowest DraftKings points in a game this season: Thomas had a season-worst performance on Thursday and still put up double-digit points. Before that, his lowest was 16.4 points.

Because Thomas is averaging 11 targets per game and catching 83.3% of those targets per game-both marks lead all NFL wide receivers-he has the same floor as any of the elite running backs.

This week he's at home, favored, and cheaper than usual. Lock him in.

Robby Anderson, New York Jets

The high-priced players are where the value is at this week so it's time to go cheap with our second choice at wideout. Robby Anderon, facing the Miami Dolphins, is the obvious choice.

Miami has been bad to opposing receivers all year but their defense has fallen apart as of late. They have allowed their opponents' top wide receiver to average a 9.3-140.7-1.7 stat line over the past three games. But is Anderson the Jets' top receiver?

In their previous three games, Anderson has 18 targets to Jamison Crowder's 21. However, Anderson has 174 more air yards. His .5 WOPR (weighted opportunity rating) is much higher than Crowder's .41.

Buy the Jets' No. 1 option in a cakewalk matchup.

Tight End

Ian Thomas, Carolina Panthers

Greg Olsen has yet to practice as of Wednesday, nor has he cleared concussion protocol. That puts Ian Thomas in line to start at tight end for the Panthers.

Last season, Thomas played on at least 75% of the team's snaps in each of their final five contests. Over that span, he averaged a 5-49-.4 line, good for 12.3 PPR points per game.

This week, Thomas is the minimum price on DraftKings and Fanduel. He's the key to getting the studs in your lineup.

Defense

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa is a smash play on DraftKings as they meet the two easiest heuristics for a cash defense-at home and favored-and they're the fifth-cheapest defense on the main slate.

On Fanduel, they're much more expensive relative to the alternatives but they're still the third-least expensive defense that's a home favorite.

The Colts offense has also been hamstrung by the absence of T.Y. Hilton. Hilton has missed every game but one since Week 8. He played a season-low snaps in Week 12.

The Colts averaged 22.3 points through Week 8. Since then they've averaged 20.6 points and have been held under 18 in three of five games.

With Hilton expected to miss Week 14, fire up the Bucs against a deflated offense.