By Justin Sablich (@JustinSablich)
Welcome to Week 13 of the FanDuel season, which offers the first full slate of N.F.L. games to choose from in quite a long time. Below are the players I particularly like this week, as well as a few lineup possibilities (play them at your own risk).
Quarterback
Philip Rivers (LAC; $8,000) — He’s coming off his best performance of the season (434 passing yards and three TDs) at Dallas and will be at home this week with a matchup against the Browns. Rivers has been consistently good at home of late, with two touchdowns and no interceptions in each of his last three games in Los Angeles. The Chargers are the biggest favorites of Week 13. He’s a steal at $8,000 and the ideal cash game play this week.
Jared Goff (LAR; $7,900) — The Rams are a big home favorite as well this week against the Cardinals. Goff has at least 20 points in three of his last four games, with two of those topping 25. He managed 19.7 points against the Cardinals in Week 7. He’s a safe bet to get at least 20 points this week.
Value Pick: Tyrod Taylor (BUF; $7,300) — The Patriots-Bills game has the highest projected over-under of Week 12. You’d rather have Tom Brady ($9,100) than Taylor, but this is a much more affordable way to get a piece of this high-scoring game.
Running Back
Leonard Fournette (JAC; $8,700) — This should be a big bounce-back performance for Fournette against the Colts. He’s been hampered by an ankle injury, but he practiced this week in full for the first time since Week 10. Fournette is pricey, especially with his recent struggles, but that should only benefit you in tourneys as his ownership should slip a bit.
Jordan Howard (CHI; $7,500) — How do you not love Howard at this price against the N.F.L.’s worst defense? Do not be fooled by the last two weeks, when the 49ers held the line against the feeble Giants’ and Seahawks’ run games. Before last week’s dud, which should keep his ownership down, Howard was averaging at least 21 rushing attempts per game over the previous eight.
Value Pick: Jonathan Stewart (CAR; $5,200) — This is a super cheap way to get in on what should be a high-scoring Saints-Panthers matchup. He has a touchdown in two of the last four games and should see around 15 carries given his typical usage this year.
Wide Receiver
Adam Thielen (MIN; $7,800) — He was held without a touchdown for the first time in four weeks on Thanksgiving, but still hauled in 8 of his 11 targets. He has 64 targets since Week 6 (fourth most in that span) and is matching up this week with Brian Poole, who, according to ProFootballFocus.com, is second among all cornerbacks in receptions allowed (49).
Davante Adams (GB; $6,500) — This is an unbelievable steal at this price. He’s more than proven his value even without Aaron Rodgers throwing to him, with at least 16 points in each of the last three games. Against the Bucs and an exploitable cornerback in Robert McClain, he should continue to roll.
Value Pick: Ted Ginn Jr. (NO; $5,500) — He’s the wide receiver version of Steward this week: a cheap way to get in on the Panthers-Saints matchup. He’s a big play threat but has also had a solid floor for most of this season, with at least 10 points in six of the last nine games, and at least six receptions in each of the last two.
Tight End
Kyle Rudolph (MIN, $6,000) — It rare to find a tight end with as high a ceiling as Rudolph has at this price, as his two touchdowns last week illustrated. He’s an excellent tournament play.
Value Pick: Jared Cook (OAK, $5,500) — The Raiders should be able to exploit this fantastic matchup with the Giants, especially with Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree not around.
Tournament Lineup
Cash Game Lineup
