Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes- Mahomes’ price is back to where it should be at $8,500 on DraftKings, but is still a strong play in all formats. The Falcons have struggled vs the pass for the majority of the season, and are now allowing a league-high 26 DK points per game to quarterbacks. The Chiefs are iInstalled as a massive home favorite, and getting to Mahomes will be a popular move on Sunday.
Jalen Hurts- I have no issues wanting the Chiefs onslaught this week, but it’s going to be hard for me to get off Hurts at $7,000. The knock on him after his first start was that he looked bad throwing the ball and got there based off his legs…and then he responded with 338-3 through the air. The upside/ceiling is tantalizing if he’s going to throw the ball like that, and that would mean his price is still too low. The Cowboys 30 passing TD’s allowed is the second-highest mark in the NFL.
Running Back
David Montgomery- Montgomery became a season-long league winner type player once Tarik Cohen went down, and has hit his ceiling due to a stretch of pristine matchups. That trend continues in Week 16 against the Jaguars, who have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. Monty gets an even bigger bump with gadget player Cordarelle Patterson looking questionable to play.
Melvin Gordon- What says late season NFL like me wanting to build around David Montgomery and Melvin Gordon? Gordon had one of his best games of the season last weekend against the Bills, and he gets a massive bump here with Phillip Lindsay ruled out. He is locked into a three-down role leaving him underpriced on both sites.
Le’Veon Bell- I don’t really want to play Lev Bell, but it certainly makes sense as a huge home favorite. The Chiefs have the highest team total on the slate at just under 32 points, and it’s hard for me to expect the Falcons to stay in the game on the road with no Julio Jones. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is out leaving Bell as the clear lead back for Andy Reid on Sunday.
Darrell Henderson- I think there are five good to great running back plays this week, one being Henderson who I expect to come in under-owned. He is another guy who benefits from injury this week with Cam Akers not suiting up for the Rams. The Seahawks are allowing 25 DraftKings points per game to running backs this season, and don’t forget that Hendo started out 2020 with 20+ DK points in three of his first four games.
Other Options: Austin Ekeler
Wide Receiver
Tyreek Hill- Cheetah needs no introduction, and it seems like he is a lock to play despite being listed as questionable. The Falcons have been a massive pass-funnel defense this season, allowing the third-most fantasy points to wideouts. His newfound volume-driven role helps him pay off these season-high price tags and he can be prioritized in optimal builds this weekend.
Jamison Crowder- Crowder looked healthy in Week 15, and is extremely cheap on DraftKings where his role as a target hog makes him especially valuable. He got up over 75% of the snaps in their last game, and turned in a 6-66 line on eight targets. He will avoid Denzel Ward in the slot, and the Jets should need to throw the ball to keep pace with the Browns offense.
Jalen Reagor- I’ve been a Reagor truther since he was at TCU, and I’ve been waiting for this moment since he was drafted by the Eagles in the first round this past spring. Dallas has surrendered the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, and Reagor is coming off a career-high eight targets in Week 15. This is someone with a massive ceiling, and while he doesn’t profile as someone we typically want in cash games it makes sense this week due to the matchup + correlation with my preferred QB.
CeeDee Lamb + Michael Gallup- Speaking of correlation, I would love to run-back my Hurts stack with one of the Dallas pass catchers. I was all-over Gallup last week, and he looks good-to-go after a hip injury knocked him out of that game. The Eagles secondary is still ravaged with injuries despite Darius Slay returning, and I can see one or both of Lamb/Gallup having a nice game at their price tags.
Other Options: Calvin Ridley, Rashard Higgins
Tight End
Travis Kelce- Kelce is neck-and-neck with DeAndre Hopkins as the leading receiver in the NFL this season. Continuing the trend of basically getting a fourth WR at the TE slot, Kelce is the top projected play at his position. The Chiefs onslaught will definitely be chalky this week at home with a huge team total, and you can use Kelce in a stack with Mahomes or as a one-off.
Donald Parham- Parham is pretty much a lock for me, and I’m super excited he’s going to get a chance to shine this weekend. His routes were already ticking up the last few weeks, and he has two touchdowns on five catches this season. Listed at 6’8 240, Parham is an athletic specimen that was recently the best player in the XFL. Hunter Henry is out, clearing the path for Parham to start and take off vs a decimated Broncos defense in Week 16.
Written by Ben Hossler (Follow @BenHossler on Twitter)
