The bargain basement DFS plays are back for Week 14. 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 14 who have low salaries but are worth considering for your rosters:
Quarterbacks
Eli Manning, Giants
DraftKings: $5,500
FanDuel: $7,700
Manning is a heck of a bargain this week, especially considering his opponent. Eli has had some big games versus the Cowboys over the years including back in Week 1 when he threw for three touchdowns.
Dallas ranks in the middle of the pack (16th) against quarterbacks. The Cowboys defense allows an average of 285.9 yards and 1.7 touchdowns per game to opposing quarterbacks. Manning, Kirk Cousins (twice), Andy Dalton, Brian Hoyer and Ben Roethlisberger have all scored at least 19 DraftKings points against the Cowboys.
Manning only threw for 207 yards versus Dallas in their first meeting and didn’t put up big fantasy numbers in either meeting last season. Looking at this year though, Eli has topped 17 DK points in four of his last five games and seven overall. Manning is a strong play with one of the lowest quarterback salaries on DraftKings this week.
Running Backs
Darren Sproles, Eagles
DraftKings: $4,400
FanDuel: $5,600
Ryan Mathews is expected back this week against the Redskins. His return should help boast an Eagles running game that’s been non-existent without him. Even with Mathews back, Sproles is likely to still have a big role this week.
The Redskins defense gives up the fifth most fantasy points to running backs. Washington’s defense allows an average of 99.5 yards and 1.2 touchdowns per game to opposing running backs. The Redskins defense also allows five receptions per game to running backs. DeAngelo Williams, Duke Johnson, James Starks and David Johnson all caught at least five balls against the Redskins.
Sproles only caught one pass and scored 3.4 DK points in his first meeting with the Redskins. Since then, he’s topped 10 DK points in five of his last seven games. Sproles should be heavily involved in the offensive gameplan this week even with Mathews back in the lineup.
Wide Receivers
Dontrelle Inman, Chargers
DraftKings: $4,800
FanDuel: $5,500
Inman caught 2-of-5 targets for 49 yards and a touchdown last week against the Buccaneers. It wasn’t a huge game but Inman was the most targeted Chargers receivers on a day when Philip Rivers completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes.
Inman has now scored in consecutive weeks and the targets continue to bet there. He’s been targeted at least six times in six of his last seven games. Last week was the one exception. Inman is seeing more snaps than Travis Benjamin and with Terrell Williams less than 100 percent (shoulder), Inman will continue to be heavily targeted by Rivers.
Inman has a strong matchup this week. The Panthers allow the sixth most fantasy points to wide receivers. Carolina’s defense gives up 14.6 receptions, 184.0 yards and 1.0 touchdowns per game on 21.8 targets to opposing receivers.
Rivers should have a much better game this week and with Williams still batting a shoulder injury, Inman is set up to see plenty of passes come his way in a favorable matchup. He’s well worth the low salary.
Taylor Gabriel, Falcons
DraftKings: $4,300
FanDuel: $5,400
Mohamed Sanu is battling a groin injury and is unlikely to play this week. If he’s held out, Gabriel will get the start against the Rams. Julio Jones is expected to play but he’s dealing with turf toe, so he’ll be less than 100 percent. It all adds up to Gabriel being one of the top bargain plays of the week.
Gabriel has been producing even when Sanu and Jones are healthy. He’s scored four touchdowns in his last five games. Over that span, Gabriel has topped 50 yards receiving four times.
Gabriel hasn’t seen a ton of targets but that should change with Jones and Sanu injured. He has a good matchup to exploit. The Rams give up the 11th most fantasy points to wide receivers. St. Louis defense allows 15.6 receptions, 171.8 yards and 1.2 touchdowns per game on 24.7 targets to opposing receivers.
Gabriel is a solid start even if Sanu plays but if he’s out, Gabriel is one of the top bargains of the week at his $4,300 salary.
Tight End
Jason Witten, Cowboys
DraftKings: $3,100
FanDuel: $5,100
Witten has been hit or miss this year but he hit back in Week 1 versus the Giants. In that matchup Witten caught nine passes for 66 yards on 14 targets.
The Cowboys offense is much different now. Still, the Giants struggle against tight ends and have the corners to match up with Dez Bryant, so Witten could be a factor again Sunday night. The Giants defense allows the 10th most fantasy points to tight ends, compared to the ninth fewest to receivers.
Witten has disappeared from the Cowboys offense over the last three games. He has eight receptions for 70 yards over that span. He won’t be heavily owned but Witten should re-emerge Sunday against a tough Giants defense.
Defense
Pittsburgh Steelers
DraftKings: $2,800
FanDuel: $4,500
The Steelers defense got off to a slow start this season but the unit has come on in recent weeks. Over their last three games, the Steelers defense has scored 22, 11 and 9 DK points. Granted, two of those games came against the Browns and the Colts backup quarterback.
This week the Steelers get a Bills team that predicates everything off its rushing attack but Pittsburgh’s defense only allows 85 yards per game on the ground. Tyrod Taylor will likely be forced to beat the Steelers through the air. Taylor has thrown two touchdown passes and three interceptions in his last four games.
The Bills defense is having trouble stopping a nosebleed right now. If the Steelers can get ahead and play with a lead, it should be another strong fantasy week from Pittsburgh’s defense.
