DraftKings Bargain Bin: Week 6
The purpose of this column is to feature players that are underpriced on DraftKings. In addition I will be isolating players to target due to injury, and therefore are expected to receive an increase in usage.
Too Cheap to Ignore
Quarterback
Russell Wilson – $7,600 vs Dallas Cowboys
I never like to be the guy to overreact to an excellent game, especially when it happens on Monday Night Football for all to see. That said, it is hard to ignore Wilson after a dominant performance on the big stage. His combination of price and matchup this week is difficult to fade. While the Cowboys have been better than most thought they would be, they are not world beaters either. Russell is coming off a game where he ran for 120+ yards. While a repeat performance isn’t likely, Wilson should be able to run for a good 50 yards or so versus the suspect Dallas run defense, which is practically like a free TD. Add in the fact that Seattle should score at least 3 or so total TDs (which Russell will hopefully have a hand in) and you can see that he makes for a solid selection this week.
Running Back
LeSean McCoy – $6,000 vs New York Giants
Rostering McCoy on your DFS teams this season has not been a +EV so far this season. A third of a way into the season, LeSean has yet to have a game that reminds you is one this league’s truly elite backs (at least he’s suppose to be). He’s been a disappointment and a game against the Giants isn’t all that enticing, so what gives? Well, I’m a sucker for a sale, and McCoy is just too cheap to ignore. He hasn’t been productive, but the usage has been there. He’s seen at least 21 touches/looks in 4 of 5 games this season and despite his lack of production, McCoy should be fed plenty once again this week. Maybe this will be a breakout game. I’d expect the herd to be somewhat hesitant to roll with LeSean due to his slow start, so if he does hit, he can pay off immensely in a a tournament.
Joique Bell – $3,700 at Minnesota Vikings
Hopefully this works out better than the reverse scenario last week when Joique was unavailable. First, we need confirmation that Reggie Rush will be out but all signs are pointing to Bell coming back from his concussion this week. Reggie has been limited in practice thanks to a gimpy ankle he suffered last game, so if he is unable to go, Joique should see a significant rise in touches. Additionally, while it doesn’t directly relate to Bell, it also appears that star WR Calvin Johnson will be out so you’d have to figure that the running game (and passes out of the backfield) will be leaned on more heavily. Even if Bush does play, I wouldn’t completely scratch out Bell, but Joique becomes an immense value at this price if Bush can’t suit up.
Wide Receiver
Roddy White – $4,800 vs Chicago Bears
You are going to want to purchase as many shares of this ATL-CHI game as possible. Vegas has posted an over/under of 54, which is by the highest number on the board. For a complete list of Vegas lines, check out our NFL: Vegas Odds Page. Roddy, while not exactly living up to his strong reputation he’s built up over the years with some inconsistent play, has been heavily targeted in the passing game and is a cheap way to get some action in this game. Disregarding the last game, White has seen a healthy average of ten balls thrown his way in his three games prior and converted two of those passes for touchdowns. If ever there was a “get-right” game, it’s a contest versus a vulnerable and depleted Bears defense at home.
Tight End
Larry Donnell – $3,500 vs Philadelphia Eagles
Its amazing how things can change so dramatically in just one week. Larry was the shiny new object that peaked the interest of many after hauling in three TDs on Thursday Night Football just two games ago. Coming off a stinker this last weekend (and getting shutout on the stat sheet), recency bias suggests that few will be on Donnell vs the Eagles. Prior to his most recent game, Larry has been targeted at least six times in every other Giants game. It doesn’t hurt that his 6’5 frame makes for a huge red zone target, and Donnell makes for an excellent route to buy some cheap shares to a NYG-PHI game that should be one of the weekend’s most explosive.
Running Back
Bishop Sankey – $3,500 vs Jacksonville Jaguars
The breakout game is coming. Sure, we heard this last week from Coach Whisenhunt and it did not come to fruition, but this week we have reason to believe as it appears Shonn Greene will be forced to miss this game with a hamstring injury. If Green is out, Sankey should have no issue topping 15 touches as he’ll split carries with Dexter McCluster, but will likely be given every opportunity to earn himself a bigger role in the offense. Oh, and Bishop will get to take on the inept defense that is the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Branden Oliver – $5,500 at Oakland Raiders
Opportunity is everything in DFS. Few people had ever heard of Oliver, let alone would have considered rostering him just a few weeks back. It’s amazing how quickly things can change as Branden is looking like a shiny, tempting object this week. Coming off a breakout game vs a pretty solid NYJ defense, the Darren Sproles lookalike is prime to build on that performance versus the Raiders. With Donald Brown and Ryan Mathews both out, Branden is projected to get the bulk of the work out of the backfield against the putrid Raiders’ defense.
Wide Receiver
Mohamed Sanu – $5,300 vs Carolina Panthers
The issue of rostering Sanu is a bit of a quandary. One one hand he is the Bengals unquestioned best healthy receiver with both A.J. Green and Jones out, but on the other, he still feels a little overpriced considering his talent. The presumed game plan for the Bengals is that they will try to run both Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill down the Panthers throats, but when they do pass, the smart money is that Mohamed will be involved. The Panthers are expected to be down two corners, so that will make Carolina that much more vulnerable through the air.
Tight End
Jordan Reed – $3,200 at Arizona Cardinals
Jordan is officially questionable on the injury report, but signs are pointing to him making his return this week. Muddling up the situation even more is the fact that this is a Sunday late afternoon game, so be sure to have a strategy in place just in case Reed is a no go as DraftKings allows you to late swap players out. The benefit of all this hoop jumping is that few will bother with Reed and just move on to another tight end, thus keeping his ownership percentage down. Whenever Jordan has been on the field, he’s produced at a higher level than his pedestrian asking price. The prospect of playing the Arizona Cardinals, a team that has historically had its issues vs containing TEs, makes Reed that much more tempting when building your tournament lineups.