This article first appeared on RotoBaller.com
RotoBallers, welcome to Week 12 of the daily fantasy football season. In this column, you will find my recommended DraftKings DFS Lineup Picks to target for Week 12 of the NFL season.
The goal is to identify players to start on DraftKings this week based on various factors including the opponent, the player’s opportunity, analysis of the game’s matchups, and the DraftKings price.
Let’s find some DFS lineup sleepers, and win on DraftKings. Good luck in Week 12!
[sc name=”Google Inline Ad”]
DraftKings Quarterbacks – Week 12 DFS Picks
Marcus Mariota – TEN @ IND (DK – $6,300, FD – $7,800)
Mariota is looking to be one of the more popular cash game options this week, since he ins’t that expensive, and he is up against the Colts who have the 26th DVOA overall. Mariota always brings extra value to DFS, since he has the rushing upside, which can get you a touchdown which is worth more than a passing one. Those extra points, plus the rushing yards is what can separate your lineup from others, and pull you into the cash. Mariota has four passing touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown over the past four weeks, and has thrown for over 260 yards in twice in that same span. Paring him with a receiver is always a good option, but not totally needed since he has the rushing upside.
Andy Dalton – CIN vs CLE (DK – $6,000, FD – $7,200)
Dalton is at home against the Bengals, who are just simply terrible against the pass, as they have the 24th DVOA. Dalton has five touchdowns in his past two weeks, and is going to be one of the most popular options this week. Stacking against the Browns seems to work nearly every week, and this one should be no different. When the Bengals played the Browns in Week 4, Dalton had 286 yards, four touchdowns, and no picks. If you can afford to pair him with A.J Green do that, or pivot to Brandon LaFell if you need a cheaper option.
DraftKings Running Backs – Week 12 DFS Picks
Carlos Hyde – SF vs SEA (DK – $5,500, FD – $6,600)
Hyde is always a good option in DFS, since he is somewhat game flow independent. That means he will see the ball regardless if the 49ers are up or down in the game. That is the type of player you want to target since the volume will be there each and every week. He has 16 or more total touches in five straight weeks, and has two touchdowns over that span. He is up against Seattle, who when he faced them earlier in the season, he ended with 124 rushing yards on 15 attempts, with three catches out of the backfield. Hyde only has four touchdowns for the entire year, which means he has been on the wrong side of touchdown variance. For the amount of times he sees the ball per game, he is bound to get into the end zone soon enough. We saw last Monday night were the Seahawks defense was very vulnerable, so don’t be afraid attacking them.
Kareem Hunt – KC vs BUF (DK – $8,000, FD – $7,700)
Hunt got off to a blazing hot start this season, but hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 3. He is truly on the wrong side of touchdown variance, considering he has 21 or more total touches in three of the last four weeks. He is at home against the Bills, who have the 31st DVOA against the run, and have shown in the past few weeks how truly bad they are at defending it. This is an ideal spot for him to get back on track, and with the Chiefs being 10 point home favorites, the correlation between him, and the Chiefs defense, could make a good stack for your lineup.
DraftKings Wide Receivers – Week 12 DFS Picks
Alshon Jeffery – PHI vs CHI (DK – $6,300, FD – $7,100)
Jeffery is up against his former team this week, so fire up the DFS revenge game narrative. Not that you needed another reason to play Jeffery, since he has been killing it, but no reason to fade him with match up. He has seven or more targets in four of the last five weeks, and has four touchdowns over that same span. He is up against the Bears, who have the 12th DVOA against the pass, but the 26th DVOA against WR1. Consistency has been there, match up is there, and revenge game is there.
Corey Davis – TEN @ IND (DK – $4,900, FD – $5,400)
It is clear from the Titans coaching staff that they are trying to get Davis more involved in the passing game, as he has 22 targets over the past three weeks. He did miss a bunch of time this season due to injury, and has yet to find the end zone this season. This match up is also fantastic for Davis, since the Colts have the 27th DVOA against the pass, which puts him in a spot to find the end zone for the first time. Good price tag on him, and he is seeing the volume, so viable in cash games this week.
DraftKings Tight End – Week 12 DFS Pick
Tyler Kroft – CIN vs CLE (DK – $3,900, FD – $5,700)
If you are a believer in some of the DFS flowcharts, then this is a spot for you. The Browns cannot defends against tight ends, that is a fact, and if you choose to follow the flow char, you simply play whatever tight end they are up against. Cue Tyler Kroft music. He had one of his best games of the season against the Browns in Week 4, where he had six catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns. He isn’t that expensive, and has one of the best match ups you could ask for, the Browns has the 32nd DVOA against tight ends.
DraftKings Defense – Week 12 DFS Pick
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers – (DK – $3,900, FD – $4,800)
The Steelers are playing on Sunday night, so you will have to play one of the expanded slate on DraftKings to have access to them. They are in a great spot this week, since they are going up against Packers QB Brett Hundley, who is turning the ball over left and right. The Steelers are rolling on defense right now, as they haven’t allowed more than 18 points in any of their last seven games. They have 11 sacks and five picks over their last three weeks, which lines up perfectly with the turnover prone Packers team.