Best Daily Fantasy Football Plays for Cash Games – Week 14

By Ha Kung Wong  Daily Fantasy Football

Twitter: @FBGarbageTime

I hope you followed my advice last week for your cash games, because if you did, you won money.  But hey, I don’t judge, I’m giving you all another chance in Week 14!  And don’t forget, for those of you in seasonal leagues, you can still check out my Waiver Favors column for pickups help!

Cash Games, for those who don’t know, are essentially the lowest risk games.  They include “50/50” games, in which half the entrants win about 1.8x the entry fee, and “Double Ups”, in which slightly less than half the entrants win 2x the entry fee.

Since there’s so many different sites, and I can’t cover them all, I’ve decided to cover just the most popular sites, including Fan Duel, Draft Kings and Yahoo! Daily Fantasy.

First of all, as a general rule for 50/50 Cash Games, there’s a basic target of points per salary cap spent that you’d like to look for:

• For Fan Duel try to target at least 2 fantasy points per $1000 spent.
• For Draft Kings, try to target at least 2.5 fantasy points per $1000 spent.
• For Yahoo! Daily Fantasy, try to target at least 0.6-0.7 fantasy points per $1 spent.

Remember, this article is not focused on GPP (Tournament) Games, JUST Cash Games.  Feel free to use a few of these suggested players as a base when constructing a GPP lineup, but you’ll have to take some chances on a few low cost, upside players as well.

So, without further to do, here are my suggestions for the Best Daily Fantasy Football Plays for Cash Games in Week 14, along with they’re prices on Fan Duel (“FD”), Draft Kings (“DK”) and Yahoo! Daily Fantasy (“Y!”).

Quarterback

As I said last week, you’re welcome to pay up for a QB this week, but I think there are a good mid-tier / mid-cost options that I’d rather go with, including the four on this list.

Russell Wilson vs. BAL (FD: $8500 / DK: $6300 / Y!: $36)

• Russell Wilson has been ridiculously hot over the last three weeks.  Not only has he led his team to three straight wins, which pulled them back into playoff contention, but he’s set highs at QBR for the year (above 90 for three straight weeks), had at least 260 passing yards and 3 TDs each week, and thrown a grand total of 0 interceptions.  Baltimore has been terrible, and promises to be even more terrible if Matt Schaub can’t suit up, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Seahawks run away with this.  But regardless, even up big against Minnesota in week 13, Wilson kept throwing and the Seahawks kept scoring.  His price is slightly higher than the rest on this list, but he’s my favorite QB play of the week.

Jameis Winston vs. NO (FD: $7800 / DK: $5500 / Y!: $35)

• Talking about hot, Jameis Winston has also been heating up as of late.  Sure, he’s anything but consistent, having QBRs throughout the season anywhere between 6.7 and 94.7, but when he gets good matchups, he generally does well.  And with Matt Evans, Vincent Jackson and Austin Sefarian-Jenkins all finally healthy at the same time, I think Winston has the tools to make the next step.  For example, just look to his Week 11 matchup against a weak Philadelphia secondary where he scorched them for 5 TDs.  And now he faces the New Orleans Saints defense, which has allowed 35 receiving TDs this year, good for most in the NFL.  In fact, that’s 7 MORE than the next worst team, the Philadelphia Eagles.  I’d say there’s a better than even chance that Winston has multiple TDs in this one.

Blake Bortles vs. TEN (FD: $7700 / DK: $6000 / Y!: $34)

• Sometime you just have to ride the hot hand.  Bortles isn’t winning games, but he’s putting up some serious numbers.  And now facing a weak Indianapolis defense, I wouldn’t be surprised if he puts on a another show.  The price is still reasonable and the upside is significant.

Tyrod Taylor vs. PHI (FD: $7500 / DK: $5400 / Y!: $33)

• Before the season started, people thought Matt Cassell would be the starting QB in Buffalo.  But that wasn’t the case as Tyrod Taylor came out of nowhere to lead the Bills to strong start.  The Bills haven’t been as good recently, but Taylor appears to have healed 100% and has slashed some serious upside with his connection with WR Sammy Watkins and his ability to scramble out of the pocket and run with the ball.  The PHI defense is getting torched every week by opposing QBs, most recently by Matt Stafford who threw 5 TDs against them.  Sure, the Philly defense stepped up a little bit against Tom Brady, but if Winston and Stafford can do it, why not Taylor?

UPDATE

Ben Roethlisberger vs. CIN (FD: $8300 / DK: $6800 / Y!: $34)

• I never really have a issue with rostering Big Ben, but with the news that CB’s Pacman Jones and Leon Hall are likely to be out along with FS George Iloka, the Bengals will essentially be using their “second team” secondary against the Steelers.  With Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton all playing at high levels, Ben could be a solid cornerstone for your line up, especially on Y! where is price is particularly reasonable.

Running Back

Generally speaking, there are again a lot of value plays at RB this week, so don’t pay up for the big names.  Try these instead.

Doug Martin vs. NO (FD: $8000 / DK: $6200 / Y!: $32)

• Quick, which defense has allowed the most yards per game to opposing running backs?  Give up?  That would be the New Orleans Saints.  And who’s playing the Saints in Week 14?  The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the rejuvenated “Muscle Hamster” Doug Martin.  Maybe Tampa Bay just keeps throwing on New Orleans, but I suspect Martin will get at least 20 touches against an extremely weak run defense.  He torched Philadelphia for 235 rush yards in Week 11, and followed that up with two consecutive 90+ yard performances.  Decent upside here for the price.

Thomas Rawls vs. BAL (FD: $7400 / DK $5800 / Y!: $26)

• His price has come up a bit, but still hasn’t caught up to his production. Sure, Baltimore’s run defense isn’t half bad, but seeing as how the best case scenario for the Ravens is that a less than 100% Matt Shaub is behind center, I think Seattle will have some time to salt away on the ground.  As I mentioned last week, Rawls has been nothing short of Beastmode Jr. over the last couple weeks subbing in for Lynch.  Still a very high floor and upside at a really affordable price.

David Johnson vs. MIN (FD: $6500 / DK: $4300 / Y!: $22)

• David Johnson is playing on Thursday, so he’s probably not going to be in play for most DFS players.  But if you’re playing in a contest that starts Thursday, particularly on DK or Y!, don’t think about this, just plug him in and move along.  HC Bruce Arians has said Johnson will AGAIN get up to 25 touches this week since Andre Ellington is still out with turf toe.  Minnesota’s pass defense is better than it’s run defense, so getting the lead RB on a hot Arizona team, even with the slightly increased price, is still a STEAL.

Shaun Draugn vs. CLE (FD: $6500 / DK: $4800 / Y!: $19)

• Since Carlos Hyde and Reggie Bush went out for the season, and the 49ers basically hired every running back available on the street not named Ray Rice, Shaun Draugn has emerged as the every down starter.  And when I say every down, I literally mean EVERY down.  Combine that with the fact that the Cleveland Browns allow the second most yards per game to opposing running backs and I think you have serious DFS upside for the price.  He’s a particularly good deal on Y!.

Wide Receivers

If you saved money on RBs as a suggested, you’ll have money to pay up for some WRs this week, so don’t hesitate to take more than one of these!

Odell Beckham Jr. vs. MIA (FD: $9300 / DK: $9100 / Y!: $35)

• Giants really need a win to stay in the NFC East division hunt (which, by the way, is one of the most pathetic playoff hunts I’ve ever seen).  So Eli is going to keep slinging it and OBJ is going to keep making one handed grabs.  He’s matchup proof until further notice, and his price has not increased.

Antonio Brown vs. CIN (FD: $9300 / DK: $8900 / Y!: $34)

• His price has gone up slightly on FD and DK, but come down on Y!.  He’s a PPR monster and is matchup proof when playing with Big Ben under center.  Big Ben is under center.  Add Brown to your roster.  Rinse and repeat.

Allen Robinson vs. IND (FD: $8500 / DK: $8000 / Y!: $31)

• Hurns returns, but Bortles will continue to lock on to Robinson.  Indy has given up the fourth most receiving yards per game to opposing receivers.  His price has come up, but if you’re paying up for receivers, as we saw last week, he’s got serious upside.

Jarvis Landry vs. NYG (FD: $7100 / DK: $6300 / Y!: $30)

• Landry’s just too good not to bounce back.  And this week, he plays the New York Giants, the team that has allowed the MOST receiving yards per game to opposing receivers.  His price has actually come down a bit, so don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, slot him in and move on.  If you’re looking for cheap exposure to this game, I’d also consider DeVante Parker (FD: $5900 / DK: $4000 / Y!: $15) as long as Rishard Matthews remains out.

Brian Hartline vs. SF (FD: $5300 / DK: $3700 / Y!: $11)

• This one is not for the faint of heart.  Brian Hartline has very quietly piled up 26 receptions in the last four weeks.  He doesn’t get tons of yards, but with Johnny Football back under center and Travis Benjamin questionable for the game, Hartline can be a decent value play based on volume and PPR points alone.  Plus, the 49ers allow the 6th most receiving yards per game to opposing receivers in the NFL.  If you need someone cheap to fill out your roster, he’s worth consideration. [UPDATE: Both Hartline and Benjamin are listed as Questionable, so keep a close eye on this before finalizing your roster.]

Tight Ends

Greg Olsen vs. ATL (FD: $6600 / DK: $6900 / Y!: $24)

• If you’re going to pay up for an elite TE, Olsen is my choice.  He’s the number one receiver in Carolina, and Cam basically locks on to him for critical down and distance situations.  Plus, he’s a huge endzone target.  The Falcons are reeling, and they’re defense has been lenient.  It’s like converting your TE position to a FLEX and adding a WR instead.

Jordan Reed vs. CHI (FD: $5900 / DK: $5100 / Y!: $20)

• Cousins is terrible.  I think we can all agree with that.  It doesn’t always work out, but Reed had the second most targets on the Redskins in Week 13.  I have less confidence this week in Reed, but the Bears defense isn’t anything to be scared of, and targets do equal opportunity in a must-win game for Washington.

Scott Chandler vs. PHI (FD: $5800 / DK: $3800 / Y!: $14)

• If you’re on DK or Y1, he’s no longer minimum price, but he’s still much lower than his actual value, so this is again another one of those don’t waste time thinking about it things, unless you’re really hurtin’ for salary.  Only FD accounted for his lead TE role in New England, and even at that price I like him fine (though I’d rather pay up for Olsen).

Zach Miller vs. WAS (FD: $4900 / DK: $2700 / Y!: $10)

• Martellus Bennett is out for the season due to injury, leaving the resurgent Zach Miller as the TE1 in Chicago.  He did some serious damage without Bennett, and I discussed him in my regular pickups column as a decent upside add.  If you need a cheap TE for close to minimum price to fill out your roster, Miller is decent choice.

Defenses

Seattle vs. BAL (FD: $5300 / DK: $3500 / Y!: $15)

• There’s a chance that Jimmy Clausen is under center for the Ravens this week, throwing the ball to Kamar Aiken and Chris Givens.  That, my friend, would be a fantasy defense feast.  Only problem is if the Ravens go ultra conservative and just run the ball 50 times.  Of course, Matt Shaub could still suit up and play, which means you’re guaranteed at least one pick-six.  This is my favorite defense play regardless of who’s behind center in Baltimore.

Denver vs. OAK (FD: $5400 / DK: $3400 / Y!: $15)

• Oakland has been struggling of late, and Denver has been keeping the pace slow in recent games.  As I mentioned last week, I know they’ve been mediocre without Ware [UPDATE: DeMarcus Ware now on track to play for Week 14, making this an even better play in DFS], but they do continue to have the most sacks in the NFL this season (41).