DFS Building Blocks – Week 12
We get a heavy dose of rivalries this week, starting off with the Thanksgiving games which are already in the books. There are inter-divisional clashes all over the slate, and we are diving into all of them to pick out the best DFS matchups for you to profit from on Sunday.
The Eagles and Bills clash will steal the headlines, but there are some juicy games in the early window as well. Can CJ Stroud get another momentous victory over their division-leading rivals, the Jags? Let’s see what is in store for us in week 12.
Game Overviews
New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: New Orleans Saints (-105); Atlanta Falcons (-115)
Spread: Atlanta Falcons -1
Total: 42.5; Opened: 41
Desmond Ridder has returned for Atlanta, and Arthur Smith has already confirmed he will start the rest of the way. With both Heinicke and Ridder looking bad in their starts, this change-up doesn’t really move the needle at all. Life will still be difficult for the Falcons receivers, and a matchup with New Orleans’ excellent secondary suggests they are better left out.
The one sign of promise in Atlanta was the usage of Bijan Robinson before the bye. After weeks of pressure from the public, did Smith finally give in? Robinson received over 20 carries for the first time in his career, converting them into 95 yards and a touchdown. It is a stiff test against New Orleans, but if he continues to dominate the backfield, his ceiling will be very high on a weekly basis. Hopefully, the Falcons used the bye to get him more involved.
It looks like Derek Carr might clear concussion protocol in time for this game. Surprisingly, that is actually bad news for Chris Olave, who received just one target from Carr before he got injured in the last game. Saints’ backup quarterback, Jameis Winston, is much more of a gunslinger, targeting Olave 8 more times, resulting in 94 yards and a touchdown. If Carr plays, I would leave Olave out. The connection is not there, and Atlanta’s secondary is very good.
Alvin Kamara is the best bet on the Saints’ offense. His receiving work gives him a solid floor and negates the bad matchup against Atlanta’s defensive line. Michael Thomas’ injury means that AT Perry and Rashid Shaheed are in play. I lean towards AT Perry, who picked up more work than Shaheed after Thomas left, but Shaheed has the big-play upside in a tournament (and is still very cheap on DK).
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Carr + Kamara + Bijan + Pitts
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Kamara
Bijan
Pitts
Smith
Hill
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
AT Perry
Shaheed
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Pittsburgh Steelers (-120) ; Cincinnati Bengals (+100)
Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers -1.5
Total: 35.5; Opened: 35.5
A Joe Burrow-less Bengals will tackle their division rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, at Paycor Stadium on Sunday. With Jake Browning and Kenny Pickett at quarterback in this one, I expect a heavy dose of running-back action. Joe Mixon should be used to alleviate the pressure off Browning, who has only attempted 15 professional passes. It’s not an ideal matchup, but he figures to be the whole offense. I can’t be trusting Jamar Chase or Tyler Boyd, making Mixon the only playable Bengal.
Kenny Pickett is also not a quarterback I like relying on. The Bengals are 2nd in the league for interceptions, with 12, and Pickett’s lousy 6 passing touchdowns on the year is far from impressive. Nevertheless, the Bengals have suffered some injuries in the secondary and are susceptible to the odd big play. I like Diontae Johnson to pick up enough targets to justify a look. And George Pickens may benefit from the combination of the squeaky wheel and the coaching change.
As is the case with the Bengals, I expect the running back position to be used heavily by Pittsburgh as well. Jaylen Warren had somewhat of a breakout game last week, taking 9 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers’ new offensive coordinator was the team’s running back coach before, so we could see him get more carries moving forward. He is definitely preferred over Najee Harris, but both running backs are good options against a Bengals secondary that are giving up the second-worst yards per carry this season (4.6). I’ll be locking in Warren in most lineups, hoping to be early on the change.
Both defenses are good options, and it is worth keeping an eye on Pat Freiermuth. You don’t want to be playing the tight end, but it will be interesting to see how involved he is on his return. He could fill in as a cheap lottery-pick option though if you need to save salary.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Warren + Steelers D/ST
Warren + Pickens/Johnson
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Warren
Chase
Johnson
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Freiermuth
Carolina Panthers @ Tennessee Titans
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Carolina Panthers (+160) ; Tennessee Titans (-190)
Spread: Tennessee Titans -3.5
Total: 36.5; Opened: 37.5
It’s not been a particularly exciting season for Derrick Henry, but this stands out as a huge opportunity for a vintage King Henry game. The Panthers are second last against running backs in fantasy, giving up an average of 114.8 yards per game. Despite having a few rough games, Henry is still averaging over 4 yards per carry on the season, and the Jaguars are giving him the ball. I like Henry a lot this week.
I won’t be going anywhere else on the Tennessee offense though. This is a game where they can rely on Henry and should limit how much their rookie quarterback, Will Levis, throws the ball. He has connected with Deandre Hopkins for a few deep touchdowns this year, but he is too erratic to rely upon. I don’t see there being enough volume to get Hopkins home this week.
For Carolina, it’s the same story as it is most weeks. Adam Thielen exists as our friendly PPR scam, but no one else can be trusted. The Titans are good against the run, so passing the ball should be the primary game plan for Carolina. No one other than Thielen can get open, so he should be good for another 10+ targets.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Henry + Thielen
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Henry
Thielen
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Spears
Mingo
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Indianapolis Colts -2.5
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+115); Indianapolis Colts (-135)
Spread: Indianapolis Colts -2.5
Total: 43.5; Opened: 42.5
A surprisingly fun matchup here, with plenty of offensive playmakers going up against two leaky defenses. The standout play is Michael Pittman, who is averaging 9.8 targets per game. Tampa Bay is dead last when it comes to opponent passing yards per game over the last three weeks, placing Pittman in a potential blow-up spot. Josh Downs is also a great cheaper option for the same reasons and can be added to a Minshew and Pittman stack.
After missing much of the beginning of the season, Jonathan Taylor has now fully retaken the starting role. His matchup is not as juicy as the receivers’, but he is one of the most talented backs in the league. He has had 19 targets in the six games he has played so far and is a lock for over 15 carries. The volume and talent combination makes him a solid option, despite the matchup, but at his expected high ownership, I’ll be looking elsewhere. Similar to the Cowboys passing game on Thanksgiving, the public isn’t seeing a lot of running back options and they’re loading up on Taylor, so we’ve got an opportunity to get leverage simply by playing the should instead of the could. The Colts should be focusing on the passing game in this one.
Tampa Bay’s running back is a good option as well, but I still prefer the passing game here. Rachaad White has gone over 15 points in each of the last five games. The Indianapolis Colts are giving up the 4th most points to the running back position, which makes White an option. He is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry but is getting home each week thanks to his usage in the receiving game, but caution that the Colts do a good job limiting RB catches.
It should be a good week for Tampa Bay because I like the matchups for the receivers as well. Mike Evans is the leader in the Buccaneers’ receiving corps, with 780 yards and 7 touchdowns on the season.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Evans + Pittman
Minshew + Pittman + Downs + Evans
Mayfield + White + Evans + Pittman
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
White
Evans
Pittman
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Cade Otton
New England Patriots @ New York Giants
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: New England Patriots (-195); New York Giants (+165)
Spread: New England Patriots -3.5
Total: 34.5; Opened: 34.5
I won’t lie, there is not much to be excited about here. This is a game between two teams that figure to be picking at the top of the NFL draft and have been struggling greatly on offense. In fairness, Tommy DeVito did make some nice throws last week, but the Commanders’ defense is one of the worst in the league.
Saquon Barkley had a fantastic game, rushing for 83 yards and gaining another 57 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air. The Giants offense will need to run through him, but Bill Belichick has a good record of taking away an offenses number one weapon. For me, Barkley as the second-most expensive running back on DraftKings is a bit too rich. That offense, led by DeVito, gives him such a low floor, that I will be giving Barkley a miss.
On the Patriots’ side, we might have another backup quarterback. Mac Jones was benched after a poor run of form, but a Bailey Zappe boost doesn’t sound likely to me. The offense lacks explosive playmakers and moving the ball has looked hard.
The only players I would back are Rhamondre Stevenson and Demario Douglas. Those are the two that have the most juice, and now, following the team’s bye, hopefully, Douglas will see more targets. Rhamondre is the better runner in the backfield and is a talented receiver as well. The Patriots should have a rare positive game script in this one, which makes Stevenson a good play.
I’m also prioritizing the Patriots DEF this week. And have found myself forced into Ezekiel Elliott on some of those rosters on FD, where TDs are more important. I wouldn’t play Elliott unless forced too, and unless you’re also playing the Patriots DEF.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Stevenson/Elliott + Patriots DEF
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Stevenson
Douglas
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Zeke
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Jacksonville Jaguars (-125) ; Houston Texans (+105)
Spread: Jacksonville Jaguars -2
Total: 48.5; Opened: 45.5
Just one game separates the Jags and Texans in the AFC South. There is a lot riding on this early afternoon clash, and you can fire up all the big fantasy names. Travis Etienne has been quiet in recent weeks, but this is a game where they will need their star running back. He should get plenty of volume in the rushing and receiving game, but the Texans are underrated on defense.
Calvin Ridley bounced back last week and now gets to go up against a Texans secondary who have struggled in recent weeks. They are 25th on a passing yards conceded per game basis, making Ridley and Christian Kirk good plays. Ridley is $6,000 and Kirk is $5,700, so I lean towards the higher upside with Ridley. The Texans are a bottom-10 team against tight ends as well, so Evan Engram looks good at that position, and he’s cheap. The Jags stack is a good one this week, but not a priority for me.
There is also plenty of stacking potential on the Houston side. CJ Stroud is playing some fine football this year, and the Jags are a bottom-10 team against quarterbacks in fantasy. With Nico Collins now healthy and Tank Dell breaking out in fine fashion, Stroud is spoilt for choice when dropping back to pass. I see a big game for him and his receivers this week making them my preferred stack in this game. And even opening up Collins and Dell as individual plays.
The Jags are much better against the run than the pass. They are giving up the 7th fewest fantasy points to the position, and with Dameon Pierce returning to the lineup, you are better off leaving out the backs.
Houston is also a really cheap, underrated DEF is you need to save salary somewhere.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Stroud + Dell + Collins + Engram
Lawrence + Etienne + Ridley + Dell
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Etienne
Ridley
Kirk
Dell
Collins
Engram
Schultz
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Zay Jones
Texans DEF
Cleveland Browns @ Denver Broncos
Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver
Time: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
Money Line: Cleveland Browns (+100) ; Denver Broncos (-120)
Spread: Denver Broncos -1.5
Total: 36.5; Opened: 36.5
The resurgence of the Denver Broncos has surprised everyone, but facing off against the Cleveland Browns is not an enticing prospect. In their four-game win streak, Russell Wilson has been efficient and protected the ball, not throwing an interception in any of the games.
Sean Payton has also tried to limit how much Wilson is passing the ball, which is a blueprint they should carry over to this game. The Browns’ secondary is amongst the best in the league. They are averaging just 98 passing yards conceded over their last three games, giving up a completion percentage of just 55%, which is the lowest in the league. Therefore, we won’t be utilizing the services of Jerry Jeudy or Courtland Sutton this week.
You can look the way of Javonte Williams though. Prior to a disappointing outing against Minnesota, Williams had gone over 18 fantasy points in back-to-back games. He is a powerful back in the run game and useful as a receiver as well. He is the only Bronco you can start this week.
On the Browns side, the running game should continue to dominate, but it is very difficult to figure out the usage. Jerome Ford got off to a good start last week and dominated touches in the first half, only to make way for Kareem Hunt in the second. The split makes both players difficult to trust, but Denver ranks dead last against the run, giving up 160 yards per game. The excellent matchup makes them both a flex, with Jerome Ford being the slight favorite.
I am also not a big fan of the receivers for Cleveland. Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s victory last week was a nice story, but I don’t trust him to supply Amari Cooper. Denver have improved against the pass in recent weeks, and their lack of a run defense suggests to me that Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt will be the focus of the offense.
David Njoku remains a fine option at tight end though. He has been very consistent and had 15 targets last week from Thompson-Robinson. Denver is also dead last against tight ends in fantasy, so he is one of the starts of the week.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Williams + Ford + Njoku
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Ford
Hunt
Williams
Njoku
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Jaleel McLaughlin
Los Angeles Rams @ Arizona Cardinals
Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Time: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
Money Line: Los Angeles Rams (-120) ; Arizona Cardinals (+100)
Spread: Los Angeles Rams -1.5
Total: 44.5; Opened: 46.5
This is a good opportunity to see where Kyler Murray is at in his return to the field. The Rams’ pass defense has declined in recent weeks, and they have some young corners that can be exploited. The lack of connection with Marquise Brown has been confusing, given how well they hooked up last year. They have narrowly missed on a few deep shots, and this could be the week they finally connect. At just $5,200, I think Brown is a great option at wide receiver.
A connection that has been working is the one with Trey McBride. McBride has had two games with 9 or more targets and over 20 fantasy points in the last four weeks. He is used in a lot of creative ways and has one of the highest ceilings at the tight end position. Another receiver to consider is Rondale Moore. He caught a deep touchdown from Kyler last week and was a popular target when the two were on the field together last year. And Greg Dortch is involved with Michael Wilson out. He’s dirt cheap on both sites, but especially on DK. He could get 3x his salary on targets alone.
Both running backs are in play this week as well. Kyren Williams is back from injury and should pick up the same bell-cow role he had before. His usage as a receiver gave him a fantastic weekly floor. James Connor is the other bell-cow in this game. He has had at least 14 carries in his last 2 games, averaging at least 4.4 yards per carry in both, but he’s not a top option for me, rather save salary with Dortch or Moore or pay up for McBride instead.
When looking at the Rams receivers, it is quite simple. If Cooper Kupp misses with injury, Puka Nacua will be one of the best plays of the week. It also brings Tutu Atwell in as a cheap flex play. Atwell surpassed 15 fantasy points three times when Kupp was sidelined at the beginning of the year.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Kyler + Brown + Nacua + McBride
Stafford + Nacua + McBride + Dortch
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Williams
Brown
Moore
Nacua
Atwell
McBride
Dortch
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Royce Freeman
Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Time: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Money Line: Kansas City Chiefs (-425) ; Las Vegas Raiders (+340)
Spread: Kansas City Chiefs -8.5
Total: 42.5; Opened: 44.5
The Chiefs have bossed this fixture, winning 10 of the last 11 games. There are problems for the Chiefs on offense though. Their inexperienced wide receiver group cost them a victory over the Eagles, and only one team has scored less than them in the second half of games this season. Kelce is not playing like his usual dominant self, and it is triggering some underwhelming fantasy performances from Mahomes.
Nevertheless, the Raiders are not a good defense. They are giving up the 6th most fantasy points to the running back position, making Isiah Pacheco a fantastic start this week. He has been running very well recently. He ran for 4.7 yards per carry against the Eagles’ number-one run defense last week and will be an important factor this week as Kansas City try to get the run game going. He’s expected to be popular though, making me more inclined to go back to Mahomes.
This is a week where we can trust the Mahomes and Kelce stack again after a few rocky weeks. If they are going to get some fluidity in the offense, it will be through the future Hall-of-Fame tight end. Rashee Rice is a lottery pick in the flex, but the wide receiver room in KC is honestly such a mess that it might be better to leave them aside.
For Las Vegas, I am not a big fan of their two stars this week. Josh Jacobs has seen his target share drop massively with the new head coach and quarterback combo. Davante Adams had a good game last week, but he now has to face off against Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who has locked down stud receivers all year, including holding AJ Brown to just one catch last week. I prefer Jacobs of the two, including in full game stacks.
With Adams seeing a heavy dose of Sneed, that could free up some opportunities for Jakobi Meyers. A bounce back game from him could be in order this week.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Mahomes + Jacobs + Kelce
Mahomes + Pacheco + Kelce + Meyers
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Mahomes
Pacheco
Rice
Jacobs
Meyers
Kelce
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Kadarius Toney
Michael Mayer
Buffalo Bills @ Philadelphia Eagles
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Time: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Money Line: Buffalo Bills (+145) ; Philadelphia Eagles (-170)
Spread: Philadelphia Eagles -3.5
Total: 48.5; Opened: 47.5
Our final game is the big one. The good news is that you can fire up all the studs with confidence. Both quarterbacks are stellar options and face favorable matchups in the passing game. The Eagles are giving up the second most points to quarterbacks in fantasy, and the Bills are banged up in their secondary. This should be a high-scoring game, with lots of fantasy points.
The outfield player with the highest ceiling has to be Stefon Diggs, going up against an Eagles secondary that is giving up the most fantasy points to the wide receiver position. Diggs has had a few down weeks, but he is still the focal point of the passing attack and will see big volume this week.
Gabe Davis gave us a goose-egg last week but is a proven performer in big games. This is a big game, and I won’t put you off him, especially in a game stack. Dalton Kincaid also should be heavily owned, and Khalil Shakir, as a cheaper option in the flex, could work as well. He has popped up with some big plays recently.
In terms of the running backs, it is a bit harder to say. James Cook is the only one worth starting, but he is subbed out on short yardage and red zone carries. His ownership will be low, so might be worth a dart throw, but I would keep exposure low. This should be one for the passing attacks.
When the Eagles take to the field, AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith should be the standout options, with Dallas Goedert’s injury freeing up more targets for them. AJ Brown is the preferred option, but Smith also has the potential to go big at a reduced price. D’Andre Swift is a good play at running back, going up against a unit that are giving up 4.5 yards per carry – which is 29th in the league.
There are stacks galore in this one. Enjoy!
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Allen + Swift + Diggs + Davis + Brown
Hurts + Brown + Diggs + Kincaid
Allen + Diggs + Smith + Kincaid
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Swift
Cook
Brown
Smith
Diggs
Davis
Kincaid
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Shakir
The Lineup Build
It is hard to get away from the Eagles and Bills game this week, so we will need to build a lineup around that game. It will be expensive though, so that will form a stars and scrubs lineup.
I will also be looking to the Colts and Buccaneers’ game, which I expect to be high-scoring. The lack of a stand-out quarterback does make things a bit harder on the stacking perspective, but we will see what we can do when we get there.
Finally, the Texans and Jags game should be another brilliant contest from an offensive perspective. Plenty of options to choose from there!
I’ll be mixing and matching from all three of the games all the way up to kickoff. This is also a good week to play around with multiple entries, either stacking up the Bills and Eagles in different ways, or loading up on some other games in the event the Bills and Eagles disappoint. People have made a lot of money that way… if you’re not first, you’re last.
FD
Look at what you can build around the Bills and Eagles.
Allen + Swift + Diggs + Davis + Brown all in one lineup if you add…
Warren + Freiermuth and Dortch and Texans DEF
That’s a lot of star power from the top game environment of the week without taking extreme lottery picks (Freiermuth and Texans could fit that description but both have better than expected chance at performing well).
If you want to target another game, play around with this…
The Jaguars’ quality against the run pushes me in the direction of CJ Stroud for our stack in the Houston vs Jacksonville game. The Texans will need to do their damage through the air, and Tank Dell and Nico Collins should be the main beneficiaries. They come in alongside Calvin Ridley to fill all the wide receiver slots.
Etienne joins Ridley as the Jags’ representatives, with Rhamondre Stevenson taking the other running back slot. He should have a heavy workload against the Giants.
We have to look at some cheaper options for the rest of the lineup, and David Njoku stands out as one of the best values on the week. The flex spot is filled by Rondale Moore, and the Bengals come in as the defense. They will need to play well against Kenny Pickett to make up for the loss of Joe Burrow.
DK
Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen are in the top three most expensive quarterbacks on all platforms. Allen is the chosen quarterback for our stack, and he comes in $200 cheaper than Hurts on DraftKings, so the big clash between the Eagles and Bills will be the focus here.
Diggs and Shakir join Allen as our Bills stack, with DeVonta Smith representing the opposition. We have already blown a lot of the budget, so Jerome Ford and Jaylen Warren come in as cheaper running back options. Njoku then comes in at tight end to form a mini-stack with Ford.
There is only enough budget left to put the Falcons in as our defense and Demario Douglas as the flex.
Yahoo
I am going to opt for Gardner Minshew to head up my Colts and Buccaneers stack. The Buccaneers’ secondary has been giving up a hell of a lot of yards recently, and I trust Minshew to sling it this weekend. Pittman and Jonathan Taylor join him, with Mike Evans filling the second wide receiver slot for the Bucs.
Pacheco fills the second running back slot, forming a mini-stack with the Chiefs’ defense and Jakobi Meyers who will be their opponent on Sunday.
The final two slots are another mini-stack, this time focusing on the Cardinals. Marquise Brown and Trey McBride – welcome to the team!