Where has the time gone? Two weeks are left in the NFL regular season and while the pros are vying for playoff spots and season long fantasy owners are going for the championships, you DFS vets are simply playing another week. As always this late in the season, be careful that you aren't drawing too much out of numbers that pertain to the whole season, as the red hot stretch from Weeks 2-4 aren't really going to do much for you in Week 15.

The games with the highest projected point total from Vegas is the 50 total for the Green Bay-Arizona matchup, though it should be noted that a few books are offering a 51.5 line on Jacksonville-New Orleans game in the face of Drew Brees' questionable status. The second highest total is 48, projected for the Washington-Philadelphia game. Carolina-Atlanta and Pittsburgh-Baltimore both have 47.5 totals that are buoyed by heavy team totals for the favorites (Carolina - 27 and Pittsburgh - 29). Take note of those games in particular as we enjoy when points are on tap.

There is still plenty of value calling far down on the player lists in DraftKings' player pool. We'll note the chalkier plays in the "other names" quick hit, but the full blurbs will be reserved for plays that require some context.

Week 16's Cheap DraftKings Quarterback DFS Plays

Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB, NYJ): $5,200 - vs. NYJ

The last time the Jets played the Patriots, Fitzpatrick threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns (while also rushing for 29 yards) as the Jets fell just short of tying the game up and sending it to overtime, and Fitz fell just short of that sweet 300 yard bonus. Chris Ivory was pretty darn ineffective in that game and the Patriots are tough to run on, not to mention Bilal Powell has been getting more and more involved (I'll use this part to tell you that you should take Powell at $3,900), but that's beside the point. Or is it? It speaks to more of a passing game that is being utilized here by the Jets, spearheaded by the dynamic duo of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker of course. The Jets know they need to win out if they want a chance to make the playoffs, and their hopes fall on their defense and the arm of Fitzpatrick. Your hopes would do well to rely on that too.

Ryan Tannehill (QB, MIA): $5,200 - vs. IND

Honestly Jay Cutler was here before, but with Alshon Jeffery doubtful I just don't feel great about it and would rather write up a little ditty on Tannehill in a good spot against a Colts' defense that is getting worked over. The Dolphins lean on the running game often, and Tannehill is very inconsistent, but Miami's own defense has yet to really take a stand it may fall on Tannehill's arm to keep Miami in the game. Rishard Matthews is coming back into the fold for Miami and joins an emerged DeVante Parker and the stud slot receiver in Jarvis Landry. Tannehill may very have a 0.3% ownership rate in big fields, and I'd say he certainly has a greater chance than that to break 25 points.

Other cheap plays: Jameis Winston, $5,500 vs. CHI, Tyrod Taylor, $5,500 vs. DAL, Alex Smith, $5,100 vs. CLE.

Week 16's Cheap DraftKings Running Back DFS Plays

Cameron Artis-Payne (RB, CAR): $4,300 - @ATL

The man known as CAP ended up getting the bulk of the running back touches for Carolina with Jonathan Stewart out against the Giants in Week 15, and Stewart is out again this week. While Cam Newton is still the best runner on the squad, Artis-Payne should have the opportunity to rack up some touches against a Falcons defense that is quite weak against the run. Match this up with the heavy team total in favor of the Panthers and you've got a recipe that really sets up well for the ground game. Fire up CAP.

Frank Gore (RB, IND): $4,000 - @MIA

Speaking of defenses that really can't stop the run, here are the Dolphins! They somehow revitalized even the Giants running game to the point where it existed a couple of weeks ago. That's really something. Danny Woodhead gashed them last week of course, and Donald Brown even ran for a big chunk of yards against them. Frank Gore is next up, and while the Colts offense is really struggling here with a beaten up Matt Hasselbeck leading the troops (and Gore is "beat to crap"), the opportunity is worth it. Dan Herron isn't poaching much of anything here, and if there is a chance at points, it will be Gore's to score.

Joique Bell (RB, DET): $4,000 - vs. SF

Ameer Abdullah is still outsnapping Bell (barely, last week it was 22-21) and Theo Riddick still gets his downs (he had 13 snaps) but the point here is that Joique Bell has been running quite well as of late and he is the biggest back who has the best shot at goal line plunge in a given week. The Lions are favored and the 49ers are really on the downswing right now, and will be without Shaun Draughn this week as well. San Francisco needs to hit the offseason and fast. Detroit's defense should be able to contain Blaine Gabbert and the 49ers, leaving most of the work for Detroit's offense to come with a lead and should be able to go through the ground game. Theo Riddick really shouldn't be needed in this one, and Abdullah and Bell should get theirs.

 

Jay Ajayi (RB, MIA): $3,000 - vs. IND

Remember that thing about Frank Gore going against the lousy Dolphins defense? Yeah well the flipside of this ain't so bad either. Jay Ajayi outsnapped Lamar Miller 31-18 last week even though Miami had to abandon the run quite swiftly as they fell behind to San Diego early. Ajayi ran well in his limited action, as Dan Campbell and Zac Taylor are both firmly committed to the running game (as they've said a few times now) and it appears that Miller is really being phased out as they see what they have in the future. If you need a minimum priced guy to throw at the wall and hope to see him stick, Ajayi is your man.

Other cheap plays: Christine Michael, $4,400 vs. STL, Karlos Williams, $4,500 vs. DAL, Tim Hightower, $4,500 vs. JAC, James White, $4,700 @NYJ.

Week 16's Cheap DraftKings Wide Receiver DFS Plays

Rueben Randle (WR, NYG): $3,500 - @MIN

Hahaha I hate myself. Maybe you've read enough of my work or have spoken to me in the chat room, but I'm a Giants fan at heart. I had high hopes for Randle when he came into the fold for Big Blue, that he could do what Ramses Barden failed to do. It has been a mixed bag so far, with a lot more duds than flashes. All the same, opportunity does not wait for you and right now Randle is being thrust into the #1 WR role for New York team that is technically not eliminated from playoff contention yet. They are coming off of yet another heartbreaking last minute loss to Carolina, but Minnesota is A) not 100% healthy and B) may have nothing to play for come Sunday night. If the Packers and Falcons both lose before Minnesota suits up on Sunday night, the Vikings will have clinched a playoff spot with their specific seeding to be determined by Week 17's tilt against the Packers. I won't speak much about Randle because you know what you're getting in him by now. He's a mid-range guy whose line relies greatly on what head is on his shoulders that day. This is more about the state of his opponents and the game around him on Sunday night. Randle could pay off greatly here for this price.

Nate Washington (WR, HOU): $3,200 - @TEN

Nate Washington is Houston's very own boom or bust DeSean Jackson zero route guy. This means he is the tournament play here against a Titans team that has been given the business lately. The Texans are hoping that Brian Hoyer will be ready to go on Sunday, but their hopes are much lower when it comes to Cecil Shorts. He has not been practicing and while we don't celebrate injury, it bodes very well for Washington that Shorts will be out. He has shined in games where Shorts has been inactive, and while the Titans might not put up much of a fight with Zach Mettenberger in command, the Texans will still have to move the ball. The Titans may shift lots of their coverage towards DeAndre Hopkins, leaving Washington in man coverage that can beaten deep. It's been a long time since Nate Washington put up nine catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins, but that is the tournament upside line you want to chase here.

Keshawn Martin (WR, NE): $3,000 - @NYJ

Julian Edelman still really doesn't look like he's ready to go (though who ever knows with the Patriots and their injury reports). He, Brandon LaFell, and Danny Amendola have all been limited in practice this week. LaFell should be good to go, they just want to limit the activity on his foot. The other two are question marks. If they both cannot go then Keshawn Martin is the #2 WR behind LaFell. If one of them can go then Martin will still have a chance at working against Jets' cornerbacks not named Darrelle Revis. The Patriots lost LeGarrette Blount and even when they did have him they don't attack the Jets with a north-south run game. This will be on Tom Brady's arm to win. Martin may be one of the key pieces here that eats for New England against the only real weakness the Jets have.

Other cheap plays: Dwayne Harris, $3,000 @MIN, Jermaine Kearse, $3,200 vs. STL, Markus Wheaton, $4,100 @BAL, Stefon Diggs, $4,400 vs. NYG.

Week 16's Cheap DraftKings Tight End DFS Plays

Kyle Rudolph (TE, MIN): $3,300 - vs. NYG

Kyle Rudolph shouldn't be in any danger of sitting even if the Vikings clinch, and while the Vikings' passing offense can something barely generate enough volume to give even one receiving option a worthwhile stat line. Stefon Diggs scored twice last week after being absent from the sheet for a while, but while Diggs lied dormant for a while it was Rudolph who stepped in for a while and saw an uptick in targets. The Giants have good perimeter cornerbacks who should be able to limit Diggs. What they don't have is any good linebacker or safety that can cover a tight end with even the slightest degree of athleticism. Greg Olsen made value last week on just one play, a busted coverage on a play action call where the safeties didn't realize Olsen had leaked out for a pass until maybe three seconds after I had already started yelling at the television. His biggest hindrance is Teddy Bridgewater and the playcalling, but if he can get around 6-7 targets, he could pay out at this price.

Eric Ebron (TE, DET): $2,900 - vs. SF

He was recommended last week against the Saints in a good spot and twice he fell short of the endzone, once on a big play down the right sideline and once across the middle where he missed the goal line by a few inches. Calvin Johnson has something up right now where he is not carrying this team, if anyone it is Golden Tate who is doing so. The 49ers rank 24th against the tight end in FootballOutsiders' DVOA metric. Ebron has a much clearer path to snaps and usage again thanks to a season ending injury to Brandon Pettigrew, who he had been splitting time with at tight end since Pettigrew had come back from another injury. No one is going to feel thrilled about playing Ebron, but there is very little surrounding him that is really discouraging here. There also just really aren't many other cheaper plays that have his upside.

Darren Fells (TE, ARI): $2,500 - vs. GB

Here's the minimum price dart throw. This game is slated to have plenty of points going around and while Fells is fifth on the pecking order in Arizona behind the trio of great receivers and David Johnson at running back, Carson Palmer can still generate plenty of offense and while Green Bay performs well in terms of DVOA, they still are 23rd in terms of fantasy points allowed to the tight end on DraftKings. Tack on the fact that this game should be quite the high scoring affair and you've got a mighty fine dart there. Such craftsmanship.

Other cheap plays:  Jacob Tamme, $3,200 vs. CAR, Heath Miller, $3,400 @BAL, Will Tye, $3,500 @MIN.

Week 16's Cheap DraftKings Defense DFS Plays

Minnesota Vikings, D/ST: $2,500 - vs. NYG

Nothing really jumps out in the ranks of the cheaper defenses, so we'll put the microscope down on the Vikings-Giants game and look at a spot where the Vikings could just pick on a Giants team that flounders without it's offensive lightning bolt in Odell Beckham. The Giants running game has been invisible all year and the Vikings have Linval Joseph, Anthony Barr, and Harrison Smith all participating in limited practices. If they get two of them back for Sunday, you're in a good spot to fire them up.

New York Giants, D/ST: $2,200 @NYG

Now let's say the Vikings do indeed get presented with the opportunity to rest their players. Those defenders can rest up to be as healthy as possible for Minnesota's extremely important game against Green Bay in Week 17. Most critical to this is the notion that Adrian Peterson could sit. The Giants' defense is truly not that good, but they have playmakers sprinkled throughout their roster and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is just as good a bet as any to cash in a pick six. If they get to face the Vikings' B squad, that's a good pivot from the Vikes if you wait until SNF to decide based on the results of the day's games.

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