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The top daily fantasy football lineup picks for DraftKings in Week 13. Ben Rolfe's NFL DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
We once again have a quality Sunday slate to look at in Week 13. Unfortunately, we do lose the New Orleans Saints from the slate but with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams back we receive a big boost in talent. In addition, we have some questionable pass defenses facing each other in some games which is always a nice boost. This week is very different to last week when there was little value at running back. This week all of the value is at the running back position and there is little value at the wide receiver and tight end positions. However, there are ways to work your lineup so you can have a high-end quarterback, high-end receivers and a solid tight end in a week which could have some really high scores. Below are my DraftKings DFS Lineup Picks for Week 13.
These DraftKings lineup recommendations are based on matchups, performances so far, overall upside/talent levels, opportunity, and other factors such as Vegas odds, home field advantage, and more. There are quite a few great value plays available, so read on to find out which players are the best for Week 13.
Good luck with your DraftKings DFS lineups!
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DraftKings DFS Quarterbacks - Week 13 Picks
Russell Wilson - SEA vs. SF (DK $6,300)
I got a bit too cute with my quarterback suggestions last week and I want to move away from doing that this week. Wilson has been slowly improving as the season has worn on and his offensive line has got better. Improvement through the season has been something we generally see from Wilson so this is no surprise. This week he gets to face a San Francisco defense who have been allowing an average of 22.7 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks on the road. In addition, they are coming off a road game in which they caused Jameis Winston very little trouble and have now had to fly cross country and play on the road again. This should be a nice spot for Wilson to have success.
Lamar Jackson - BAL @ ATL (DK $5,900)
The Falcons defense has a lot of issues. They have struggled in pass defense a lot this season, as demonstrated by opposing quarterbacks average fantasy score of 25 against them. In addition, playing in the dome does not help their defense sometimes as the controlled environment has allowed quarterbacks to have success, scoring an average of 25.6 fantasy points in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium this season. They might be getting Deion Jones back this week which will be a plus but generally, this team has had problems tackling and against a quarterback like Jackson that is a scary problem to have. Jackson could be in line for a very good week against this Falcons defense.
DraftKings DFS Running Backs - Week 13 Picks
Matt Breida - SF @ SEA (DK $5,800)
The best shot the 49ers have in this game is to control the clock and make the Seahawks defense spend time on the field. In order to do that they will need to rely heavily on Breida, who has been superb recently. The shifty running back has back to back 100-yard games and scored two touchdowns in the Monday night game against the Giants. This week he faces a run defense who have allowed an average of 205 fantasy points per game to opposing #1 running backs. Surprisingly at home, they have actually allowed 23.7 fantasy points to opposing #1s but have then had success against the second and third string backs. I expect Breida to see somewhere in the region of 20 touches and have a shot to reach 20 fantasy points this week.
Phillip Lindsay - DEN @ CIN (DK $5,400)
Lindsay has been the feel-good story of 2018 so far. In the last five games, he has averaged 14.8 carries per game and 86.8 rushing yards per game. Additionally, he has scored five rushing touchdowns in that time and had at least one reception in each of those games. This week he faces a Cincinnati defense allowing 21.0 fantasy points per game to #1 running backs in total and 22.2 per game when playing at home. Lindsay has asserted himself as the number one back and now he gets to go up against a defense that is having a lot of problems tackling people. This should be a fun game for the young rookie from Colorado.
Gus Edwards - BAL @ ATL (DK $4,800)
He is nursing a little bit of an injury so you may need to see how that plays out but Gus Edwards is tearing it up right now. The rookie out of Rutgers has had back-to-back 100-yard rushing games in the last two weeks and also scored a touchdown against the Bengals. Now he faces a Ravens team who have had trouble tackling and are surrendering 27.9 fantasy points to opposing #1 running backs when playing at home. Having Lamar Miller on the field helps to open things up for Edwards who should be able to have a big day on Sunday.
DraftKings DFS Wide Receivers - Week 13 Picks
DeAndre Hopkins - HOU vs. CLE (DK $8,200)
Hopkins was schemed out of the game last week by the Titans and while that will happen from week to week I do not think the Browns have the players to do it. Therefore, I expect a big bounce back from Hopkins this week against a defense who are surrendering 24.5 fantasy points per week on the road to opposing #1 wide receivers. People are expecting to have a decent amount of scoring in this game as the total has already been bet up from 45 to 48 since opening earlier this week. Hopkins should be key for the Texans if that is the case.
Davante Adams - GB vs. ARI (DK $7,900)
Adams continues to see a decent amount of targets in the Packers offense, despite the struggles of the team. This week I expect the Packers to try and make a statement and keep themselves in the playoff hunt. I think the Packers will try and go for the throat in this game and Adams should be a big part of that. In addition, the Cardinals are giving up over 20 fantasy points to opposing #1 wide receivers on the road in 2018.
Josh Reynolds - LAR @ DET (DK $4,900)
If you look at Reynolds season as a whole it does not look good. However, when you look at his performances without Cooper Kupp in the lineup things get better. In two games without Kupp, Reynolds has had 13 targets, eight receptions, three touchdowns and 121 receiving yards. Detroit has been fairly good against receivers this season but there is so much quality in the Rams offense that I can see Reynolds getting lost in the shuffle and having a big day.
DraftKings DFS Tight Ends - Week 13 Picks
Greg Olsen - CAR @ TB (DK $4,100)
I think this is going to be a high-scoring game and Vegas agrees with me, with an over/under set in the mid-50s. The issue is that I do not trust any of the Panthers receivers to have a big day. However, I do trust Olsen to make plays, especially against a Tampa Bay defense surrendering 15.5 fantasy points per game to opposing #1 tight ends.
Cameron Brate - TB vs. CAR (DK $3,700)
The same theory as above stands about the high scoring game. I trust Mike Evans more than any Panthers receiver but the Buccaneers also do not have a great run game so should be throwing more. Brate had an end zone reception last week and seems to have developed a good rapport with Jameis Winston over the last couple of years. In addition, Carolina is allowing 17.5 fantasy points to tight ends this season, and double digits to #1 tight ends on the road. He is not the cheapest option but he is a cheap enough option to allow you to squeeze a couple of high priced receivers into your lineup.
DraftKings DFS Defenses - Week 13 Picks
Chicago Bears @ New York Giants (DK $3,300)
The Bears defense is incredible and the Giants offensive line has issues. That is not a great combination for Eli Manning who will likely be under pressure all game long. At this point, I am almost penciling in a touchdown from this defense each and every week.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Oakland Raiders (DK $2,500)
The Chiefs defense is not great but then again neither is the Raiders offense. If you cannot afford the Chiefs this is the best matchup of the slightly cheaper options. This could feel like a really nice pick if Eric Berry is able to start on Sunday.
