The bargain basement DFS plays are back for Week 13. Everyone knows to start Aaron Rodgers and Julio Jones most weeks. What can bring home the money in DFS is finding players who will produce at a lower salary but might not be on many lineup cards.
Here’s a look at some players in Week 13 who have low salaries but are worth considering for your rosters:
Quarterbacks
Tyrod Taylor, Bills
DraftKings: $5,700
FanDuel: $7,400
Taylor is one of the better bargains on DraftKings at any position this week.
Taylor has a salary of just $5,700 despite scoring at least 18 DraftKings points in five of his six games. His salary is surprising given the fact Taylor has a Top 10 matchup this week.
The Raiders give up the ninth most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Oakland’s defense allows an average of 282.9 yards and 1.8 touchdowns per game to opposing quarterbacks.
The Raiders have done a good job at defending running quarterbacks. They only allow an average of 9.2 yards per game on 2.0 attempts. Oakland has faced some mobile quarterbacks too in Marcus Mariota and Cam Newton. While those quarterbacks do run from time-to-time, Taylor is the biggest running threat the Raiders defense will face to date.
Taylor has been putting up consistent fantasy numbers all year. He averages 18.3 DK points and he has one of this week’s top matchups. Taylor is one of the best plays on the board for the money in what has the potential to be a high-scoring game.
Running Backs
Darren Sproles, Eagles
DraftKings: $4,400
FanDuel: $5,500
Wendell Smallwood was supposed to be the lead back with Ryan Mathews out last week but it was Sproles who saw a majority of touches against the Packers. Sproles only carried the ball three times but he also caught 5-of-7 targets for 48 yards.
The Eagles fell behind last week, so Sproles was involved more in the passing game. He could be used again this week against the Bengals given the matchup. Cincinnati’s defense gives up the 12th most fantasy points to running backs. The area where the Bengals really struggle is giving up receptions to running backs.
The Bengals defense gives up an average of 5.8 receptions and 43.8 receiving yards per game to opposing running backs. Sproles has at least four receptions in a game five times this season. Expect him to be heavily involved in the offensive gameplan this week.
Sproles has scored at least 10 DK points six times this year and in four of his last five games. He won’t win you a week all by himself but for the price, Sproles isn’t the worst low-salary Flex play.
Wide Receivers
Dontrelle Inman, Chargers
DraftKings: $5,200
FanDuel: $5,200
Inman caught six passes for 119 yards and a touchdown against the Texans. He’s seen nine targets in two of his last three games (six last week). Tyrell Williams suffered a shoulder injury and might miss Sunday’s game, so Inman could be getting even more looks this week.
The Buccaneers defense has been playing better recently but they still allow the 15th most fantasy points to wide receivers. Tampa Bay has struggled against good quarterbacks this year for the most part. The Buccaneers defense gives up an average of 12.1 receptions, 159 yards and 1.3 touchdowns per game on 20.8 targets.
Inman has been known in the past as a receiver that has a big game then disappears but he’s been getting targeted by Philip Rivers for a month. Now with Williams less than 100 percent, Inman will have an even bigger role in San Diego’s offense. He’s a nice play this week in a beatable matchup.
Tyreek Hill, Chiefs
DraftKings: $4,600
FanDuel: $5,800
Hill scored three touchdowns (return, rushing and receiving) Sunday night against the Broncos. He finished with nine catches for 52 yards on 10 targets.
Jeremy Maclin has missed three games with a hamstring injury and Hill has taken over as the Chiefs No. 1 receiver. Over that span, Hill has caught 23 passes for 194 yards and scored two touchdowns. He’s been targeted 28 times. Maclin returned to practice this week but even if he returns against the Falcons, Hill will still be a big factor.
Hill delivered in a tough matchup last week. He has a much more favorable one this Sunday versus the Falcons. Atlanta’s defense allows the 12th most fantasy points to wide receivers. Opposing receivers average 14.4 receptions, 169.6 yards and 1.3 touchdowns per game on 23 targets against the Falcons.
Hill has scored 20.1, 10.1 and 32.5 DK points in his last three games. He’s still being greatly undervalued at a salary of $4,600, especially considering the matchup.
Tight End
Cameron Brate, Buccaneers
DraftKings: $3,600
FanDuel: $5,500
Brate had a tough two-game stretch where he faced the Chiefs and Seahawks. Those two teams allow the third and eighth fewest fantasy points to tight ends respectively.
Things ease up some for Brate this week. The Chargers rank in the middle of the pack against tight ends (19th). It’s a tough matchup but not unbeatable for Brate. Before his games against the Chiefs and Seahawks, Brate had scored in three straight.
Mike Evans dominates targets in Tampa Bay’s offense but Brate is one of Jameis Winston’s favorite options in the red zone. He’s scored at least 11 DK points five times this year. Brate should hit that mark again this week.
Defense
San Diego Chargers
DraftKings: $2,900
FanDuel: $4,500
The Chargers may have the highest ceiling of any defense with a salary under $3,000 at DraftKings this week.
The Buccaneers aren’t turning the ball over as much as they did earlier in the year but San Diego’s defense is one of the best in the NFL at causing turnovers. The Chargers defense has 14 interceptions, recovered nine fumbles and scored four touchdowns on the year. They’re the only defense to force a turnover in every game. That’s bad news for Jameis Winston. He ranks tied for third in the NFL with 11 interceptions.
The Chargers defense has scored at least 13 DK point in three of their last four games. If you’re searching for a lower-salary defense with upside this week, San Diego is worth a look.
