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Joe Nicely's DraftKings NFL DFS picks and lineup sleepers for the Week 12 (November 2024) Main Slate. His top daily fantasy football lineups to target for DraftKings DFS contests.
How's it going, RotoBallers? Welcome back to our DraftKings Main Slate article. Known around the fantasy football world as "Bye-Mageddon," Week 12 certainly offers up some unique challenges from a DFS perspective. Don't worry, we'll work through those difficulties to find the best plays we can on this slate.
These DraftKings lineup recommendations are based on matchups, projected DK points and ownership, overall upside/talent levels, and opportunity, as well as factors such as Vegas odds, home-field advantage, and more. There are quite a few great plays available on DK for Week 12 and this article includes a couple of my favorite options at each position.
Also, be sure to check out our weekly FanDuel DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win MORE in 2024! Good luck with your DraftKings DFS lineups -- let's dominate this Week 12 slate together!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
- Running back (RB) rankings
- Wide receiver (WR) rankings
- Quarterback (QB) rankings
- Tight end (TE) rankings
- Defense (D/ST) rankings
- Kicker (K) rankings
- FLEX rankings
- Dynasty rankings
DraftKings Quarterbacks - Week 12 DFS Picks
Jayden Daniels - DAL at WAS ($7,000)
On a Week 12 Main Slate that has no Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, or Joe Burrow, Washington's Jayden Daniels could prove to be a real separator at the QB position. The rookie comes in off a couple of floor performances against stiff competition (Steelers and Eagles), but he'll face nothing of the sort this week in the Cowboys.
This Dallas defense has been shredded in every way imaginable this season. The 'Boys have been especially friendly to opposing QBs, relinquishing the second-highest yards per attempt and passer rating in the NFL in 2024. Don't be lulled to sleep by Daniels' recent underwhelming outings, as this is a serious get-right spot for a high-upside player who's topped 25 DraftKings points four times this season.
Anthony Richardson - DET at IND ($5,600)
With Indy's two-game Joe Flacco experiment officially over, A-Rich returned to the lineup last week to drop 29.1 DraftKings points on the Jets. Richardson's dual-threat ability was on full display against New York, as he logged 32 yards and two rushing TDs on 10 attempts, as well as 272 yards and a score through the air. The outing was a nice reminder of what the young Colts QB is capable of from a DFS perspective.
Somebody check on Jalen Mills. My God Anthony Richardson. pic.twitter.com/eAduraIfPv
— CLew 🏈🏀⚾️🥊 (@droppedballspod) November 17, 2024
Facing the Lions in Week 12 isn't an easy task, but this game does feature the second-highest projected point total on the main slate (49.5). Detroit has relinquished a chunky 6.45 yards per carry to opposing QBs on the ground this season and Richardson is averaging 7.3 rushing attempts per game while also possessing an elite goal-line role.
DraftKings Running Backs - Week 12 DFS Picks
De'Von Achane - NE at MIA ($7,500)
At the risk of being redundant, I'm including Achane here for the second straight week. As long as Tua Tagovailoa remains in the Miami lineup, Achane remains an elite option.
He topped 20 DK points last week, marking the fifth time in six games he's reached that feat with Tua in the lineup. His role as the Dolphins lead back also continues to solidify, as his touch count of 58 over the last three weeks dwarfs that of both Raheem Mostert and Jaylen Wright.
In addition to his work on the ground, Achane has also been serving as Miami's de facto WR2 in the passing game. In four games since Tua returned to the 'Fins lineup, the second-year RB has been targeted a whopping 25 times. He'll face a New England defense that ranks 28th in DVOA against the run in Week 12.
Brian Robinson Jr. - DAL at WAS ($5,600)
Simply put, I'll be targeting any running back against the Cowboys for the rest of the season. Dallas has been consistently dusted by opposing RBs and comes into this matchup against Washington fresh off getting lit on fire by Joe Mixon on Monday Night Football to the tune of 109 rushing yards and three TDs. The abysmal 'Boys have allowed the NFL's fifth-most DK points to the RB position this season.
Brian Robinson Jr. this season:
8 Games
7 Touchdowns pic.twitter.com/ezNN0gGEKl— StatMuse Football (@statmusefb) November 15, 2024
Working his way back from an injury that cost him two games, Robinson returned to his relatively normal workload in Week 11. He saw 17 touches against a tough Eagles defense, which he converted into 72 total yards and a score. Despite his multi-game absence, he's still handled 28 red-zone touches and scored seven TDs this season. He's a cash-game and single-entry lock at just $5,600 on DK.
WEEKEND ADD: Kareem Hunt - KC at CAR ($5,700)
Tacking on the rare weekend add here, as confirmation comes that Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco will be out against the Panthers. His absence makes the veteran Hunt a smash-button option. He's a veteran player who will garner workhorse-type volume in a terrific matchup at a very moderate price point. The ownership will be extremely high, but it's undoubtedly a premium spot for Hunt.
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DraftKings Wide Receivers - Week 12 DFS Picks
Courtland Sutton - DEN at LV ($5,800)
The Denver passing game is rapidly improving as the season progresses and Courtland Sutton has emerged as the clear-cut alpha of the Broncos receiving corps. Sutton has target counts of 11/10/9/8 with two outings of 100+ receiving yards over Denver's last four.
He also should have some positive TD regression coming his way, as he's only found the end zone three times in 2024 despite ranking fourth in the NFL in red-zone targets.
Courtland Sutton’s been nearly unstoppable the past four weeks 😤 pic.twitter.com/wPSpoUjdfb
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) November 20, 2024
Calvin Ridley - TEN at HOU ($5,700)
DeAndre Hopkins' departure from Tennessee has led to a spike in Calvin Ridley's volume and production. He's been targeted 38 times over the Titans' last four, converting those opportunities into two outings of over 25 DK points.
While I don't have tons of faith in Will Levis, Ridley draws a too-good-to-ignore matchup against the Texans in Week 12. Houston's secondary has been surprisingly leaky in 2024. The Texans have allowed the NFL's most TDs (16) and seventh-most DK points to the WR position this season.
DraftKings Tight Ends - Week 12 DFS Picks
Travis Kelce - KC at CAR ($5,800)
This profiles as a screaming spot for a Kelce bounce-back following a two-catch, eight-yard stinker in KC's loss to Buffalo last week. Seeing his fewest targets (four) since Week 7, Kelce watched fellow tight end Noah Gray catch two TDs against the Bills. Look for Patrick Mahomes to pepper his superstar with targets in this one.
In what's perhaps the least surprising statement of the week, the Panthers have struggled to contain opposing tight ends. Carolina has relinquished the league's most TDs and third-most DK points to the position in 2024.
Jonnu Smith - NE at MIA ($4,100)
It admittedly feels a bit "chasey" going back to Jonnu Smith following a 6/101/2 explosion that resulted in 31.1 DK points last week against the Raiders, but this breakout has been brewing since Tua Tagovailoa's return to the Miami lineup.
Smith has been targeted 24 times over the Dolphins' last four games while earning a 20% first-read share since Tua got back under center in Week 8, making him the third option on this Miami offense behind De'Von Achane and Tyreek Hill (and ahead of Jaylen Waddle).
The Patriots run the 3rd-most man coverage. Tyreek Hill leads the Dolphins with a 29.5% first-read target share, a 50.7% air yards share, and 2.30 yards per route run against man coverage.
Jonnu Smith is a sneaky target earner when facing man coverage, with a 25% target rate and… pic.twitter.com/mrfoJtcu1z
— Corbin (@corbin_young21) November 21, 2024
Smith draws a middling, but beatable Week 12 matchup against the Patriots. New England has coughed up 498 yards and four TDs to opposing tight ends this season. With the Dolphins offense trending up, Smith possesses plenty of upside relative to his $4.1K price tag.
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