DRAFTKINGS DFS CASH PLAYS NFL WEEK 15 2021

DRAFTKINGS DFS CASH PICKS - WEEK 15

It’s going to be a wild one this week, so make sure to stay dialed in to us at Football Diehards as our projections, articles, and ownership percentages will continually be adjusted with the COVID situations as they break (we already have a lot going on). If you’re in your fantasy playoffs, you have quite the battle on your hands. Fortunately DFS removes all that noise, so let’s get right to the picks!

 

QUARTERBACK

TOP PLAY

Josh Allen, BUF ($8100)

This is an odd week so far with no real spend-up option at RB. This will leave some money free to pay up at either QB, WR, or TE, and Allen is the way to go if you’re looking for the top signal caller. On paper it’s not a good matchup (CAR third fewest FPPG allowed the QBs), but Allen is thoroughly matchup-proof, and is this year’s QB1 in regards to FPPG. With no running game to speak of (again), look for Buffalo to let Allen manufacture all of the team’s points, and Gabriel Davis replacing Emmanuel Sanders is only a positive for Allen as it opens up downfield a lot more.

Other options - Kyler Murray, Matthew Stafford

Mid-tier options - Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott

VALUE PLAY

Tua Tagovailoa, MIA ($5700)

I really like the idea of using Tua in cash this week, and his ceiling could even be heightened depending on how the COVID situation shakes out in the Miami backfield. For all the criticism he has gotten, Tua has completed 81% of passes over his last four games with 5 passing TDs and a rushing TD. He has Devante Parker back in the mix (more on him later), and the Jets have allowed the eighth most DK PPG to QBs while ranking 29th in pressure rate.

Other options - Jimmy Garropolo, Ben Roethlisberger

RUNNING BACK

TOP PLAY

NONE

Since this is strictly a cash article, I can’t force paying up for players that I don’t think are good EV+ for the cash builds today, preferring to spend up at WR this week. I will say that if Tony Pollard is once again out, Ezekiel Elliott will warrant a look for cash against the Giants who have allowed 5.2 YPC and will now be without Leonard Williams in addition to everyone else they’ve lost. That said, I still think Zeke is overpriced for how inefficient he has been lately, ranking 40th among all RBs in juke rate and averaging 3.4 YPC over the last four weeks. Najee Harris has a terrible matchup, but is GPP worthy for his touch floor.

Mid-tier options - James Conner (cash lock if Edmonds misses), Antonio Gibson (much stronger play if McKissic misses again)

VALUE PLAY

Darrell Henderson/Sony Michel, LAR ($5900/$5800)

The Rams are a COVID mess right now, so we have to wait and see if Henderson will be active or not. The good news is that these two are only priced within $100 of each other, so you can safely roster Henderson and just pivot to Michel if Hendo is ruled out. Either way, “RB Rams” (shout out to Tecmo Super Bowl fans) is the top RB value of the week against a SEA team that has allowed the second most FPPG to the position and 17 all-purpose TDs, so build your lineups with the thought of locking in whoever the starter is here.

Other options - James Robinson, Jeff Wilson, Michael Carter, “RB Dolphins” (same deal as LAR)

WIDE RECEIVER

TOP PLAY

Cooper Kupp, LAR ($9000)

As Jason (@dfs_numbers) and I spoke about on the sneak preview on YouTube, our preferred method of cash this week is to try and get two elite WRs into our lineups. Even if that winds up being a pipe dream, there is no way I’m fading Cooper Kupp, whose price has inexplicably dropped after going 13-123-1 on 15 targets last week. You could make a case for Kupp as the league MVP this year, as he’s going for the triple crown in catches, yards, and TDs. He has only had one game this year where he had less than ten targets, and even that one gave him nine. With Odell Beckham likely to miss this one, roster Kupp with confidence in cash, and I would go overweight in GPP as well. Pray that COVID stays away from him this week.

Other options - Davante Adams, Deebo Samuel, Stefon Diggs, Diontae Johnson, Tyler Lockett (ALL are cash viable)

Mid-tier options - Jaylen Waddle, DK Metcalf, Brandin Cooks


VALUE PLAY

Devante Parker, MIA ($4300)

If you want to achieve the #dream of two expensive WRs, the third one is going to have to be a cheapie. Fortunately DraftKings has gifted us one in the form of Devante Parker, who immediately returned from injury to go 5-62-0 on a 71% snap share. Even if Waddle remains the team’s WR1, Parker has always had a good rapport with Tua when healthy, and this price tag just doesn’t reflect his talent or the matchup. He’ll be highly owned, so fade away in GPP, but don’t miss the boat in cash lineups.

Other options - Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek, Christian Kirk, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Cole Beasley, Gabriel Davis

TIGHT END

George Kittle, SF ($7500)

Ordinarily I’d say not to spend this money on any TE not named Kelce or Waller, but my goodness what has Kittle been pouring over his Cheerios lately? Over the past two games, Kittle has gone 22-332-3 on 27 targets (yes, in TWO games) and was not hindered in the leastbit last week by Deebo’s return. His knee is sore so that’s something to watch for, but Kittle has a pristine matchup against the Falcons who have allowed the fifth most receptions to TEs.

Other options - None

Mid-tier options - Dallas Goedert, Mike Gesicki


VALUE PLAY

Tyler Higbee, LAR ($4000)
After missing Monday night’s game with a false positive test, Higbee has already been cleared for this week and could be looking at extra targets with the Rams team battling extreme COVID protocols. Higbee’s target and air yards % has been concerning all year, but he’s played over 90% of snaps in all but two games he’s been healthy, so getting a TE on the field for that amount of time makes 4k a really good value this week. The Seahawks have also allowed the fourth most FPPG to the position.

Other options - Gerald Everett, Ricky Seals-Jones, James O’Shaughnessy

TOP FIVE DEFENSES FOR CASH PRIORITY

San Francisco 49ers ($3100)
Buffalo Bills ($3100)

(these two are really interchangeable)

Jacksonville Jaguars ($2800)
Dallas Cowboys ($3600)
Miami Dolphins ($3700)