DFS Cash Game Breakdown 2019 Week 17

Quarterback

Robert Griffin III, Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh announced that the Ravens would sit a number of starters including Lamar Jackson. Jackson's backup, Robert Griffin III, did not get a significant price hike on DraftKings.

He did on Fanduel, so look to Jameis Winston chasing a 5,000 passing yards season versus the Falcons defense this week.

But on DraftKings, RG3 is the guy. Griffin has been a fine passer this season, filling in when Jackson buries teams by the third quarter. He's completed 70.6% of his 17 passes at 7.1 yards per attempt. Removing kneels, he's rushed six times for 26 yards.

Griffin enters a system tailormade for him because it's essentially made for the next iteration of his style. Take the discount on Lamar-lite this week with Griffin.

Running Back

Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens

Another player who will sit on Sunday is Mark Ingram, who suffered a calf injury last week. Gus Edwards will draw the start in his place.

Edwards has been with Baltimore for two seasons and has been wildly efficient in mostly a reserve role. He's rushed for 1,299 yards on 249 carries, good for 5.2 yards per carry. Last season, in six starts and 11 appearances, he was targeted just twice. He's been targeted six times this season, which may not seem like a lot, but is significant when you consider most of his carries have come when the Ravens were almost completely done passing. Edwards caught all six targets.

As a starter, Edwards should push for 20 touches this week.
 

Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers

Some people may be afraid of a reduced workload for McCaffrey in a meaningless Week 17 but interim head coach Perry Fewell has already announced that the Panther will play all of their starters this week. That's good news for CMC, who's chasing a handful of milestones and records:

• Yards from scrimmage - 215 yards needed
• Receiving yards for a running back - 11
• The third - 1,000/1,000 season - 67 receiving yards
• 2019 total touchdowns - 1 behind Aaron Jones

He's going to play until he gets at least one, if not multiple of these.

Wide Receiver

Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

Because we're saving at quarterback and one of our running back spots, it's easy to get up to the best receiver in football.

Michael Thomas isn't looking to set any major records on Sunday, but he can extend his record 145 receptions in a season. If he garners any MVP votes, it would be the first time a receiver has done so in 20 years.

Luckily for Thomas, the Saints haven't locked up a playoff bye week but a win over Carolina will secure them the No. 2 seed at worst. With the motivation to win, keep locking Thomas.
 

Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals

Christian Kirk has posted a few down weeks and his price on both DraftKings ($4,700) and Fanduel ($5,700) reflects that. What it doesn't reflect is the volume he's seen. Since his Week 10 explosion, Kirk has been targeted seven times per game. Despite that, he has just 182 yards and no scores over that stretch.

The Cardinals face the Rams this week as 7-point dogs. This should keep them passing and get Kirk back on track.

Tight End

Tyler Higbee, LA Rams

Gerald Everett returned last week and had no measurable impact on Tyler Higbee's role. Higbee played 62/70 snaps and went over 100 yards for the fourth straight week. Over the past four games, Higbee has averaged an 11-109.5-.3 line. He's topped 20 DK points in all of those games.

Now he gets the flowchart matchup that is Arizona. The Cardinals have allowed 19.6 DK points per game this season, 4.7 more than the next-worst team in the league. They've given up 15 touchdowns to tight ends. Nine is the next-highest total.

Defense

Green Bay Packers

The Packers face one of the worst offenses in the league: the David Blough led Detroit Lions. They have averaged 15.7 points and 270.3 yards per game. Both marks would be worst in the league on the entire season. Unsurprisingly, the Packers are 10-point favorites.

Despite all of this, the Packers are outside the top-10 defenses by cost on DraftKings.