RADIO
Monday Night Football is here, and the Baltimore Ravens (8-2) are heading West for a matchup with the Los Angeles Rams (6-4). The Rams are playing desperately in a tough conference, and the Ravens are arguably the hottest team in the NFL over the last month.
However, we're not here for that. We're here to make some money in daily fantasy lineups. The Ravens have a potent offense with big-play threats at every position, and, outside of their offensive line, the Rams are expected to have all of their weapons healthy for the first time in a while.
Whether you're playing on FanDuel or DraftKings, the slightest lineup constructions can make all the difference. Choosing one player over another is the difference between winning a little or a lot. So, let's look at how we're going to construct our lineups.
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DFS Quarterbacks - Week 12 Picks
Lamar Jackson, BAL - FanDuel $17,500 / DraftKings $13,600
If you want the MVP frontrunner in your lineup, he's going to cost you a pretty penny. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been a human highlight reel with his running ability and loaded arm. The Rams Defense has been in the top five over the past month. It's going to be difficult to find a way to fit Jackson into your lineup, but, with his rushing ability combined with his receiving weapons, he's worth every penny.
Jared Goff, LAR - FanDuel $14,500 / DraftKings $8,400
If you want to spend up at the skill positions, Rams quarterback Jared Goff is going to give you a lot more flexibility. He finally has his top three receivers healthy, and his offensive line showed some life over the past couple of weeks. The Ravens' defensive line doesn't have an overwhelming pass rush which is what has caused Goff trouble at times. He still hasn't had an outstanding game like we saw so many times last year, but this could be the one in a likely shootout.
DFS Running Backs - Week 12 Picks
Mark Ingram, BAL - FanDuel $14,000 / DraftKings $10,200
Ravens running back Mark Ingram has quietly been a top-10 player in fantasy football this season, and a lot of it has come on touchdowns with 10 total on the season. He's about to face the Rams, who have been the number one defense against running backs over the last month. In their last five games, they've allowed just two players to get over 40 yards on the ground, and one of those was 49ers running back Tevin Coleman with 45 yards. Ingram is a bit touchdown-dependent to consistently count on.
Todd Gurley, LAR - FanDuel $13,500 / DraftKings $8,800
Last week, Rams running back Todd Gurley got involved in the game again, and it worked well for them. Last year, en route to the Super Bowl, the Rams set everything up with the run through Gurley, and, with Goff struggling, that should be their plan again this week. Gurley, when involved, gives you a good floor with his pass-catching ability, and he's been great in the red zone with eight touchdowns so far this season. He's a little cheaper than Ingram, and he should see a better workload.
I'd typically put a third running back in this spot, but there just isn't one behind either of these two that can be counted on to put up consistent production. Both Ravens running back Gus Edwards and Rams running back Malcolm Brown have shown some flashes this year, but they don't have enough consistency for me to put money on it.
DFS Wide Receivers - Week 12 Picks
Cooper Kupp, LAR - FanDuel $13,000 / DraftKings $9,800
Rams wideout Cooper Kupp has cooled off considerably over the last couple of weeks, but he's due for another big game. He's the clear favorite for a stack with Goff, as both wideouts Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods have been dealing with various issues. Kupp has also been a huge big-play threat, as he has over 200 more yards than the next-closest receiver on his team. Even if you don't play Goff, Kupp is the best receiving in this game, and he belongs in your lineups.
Marquise Brown, BAL - FanDuel $9,000 / DraftKings $8,000
If you go with Jackson, Ravens wideout Marquise Brown should be your stack. He can score from anywhere at any time, which is evidenced by his touchdown rate of 1 per 7.5 receptions. He's been compared to current Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson for his boom-or-bust ability, but he's playing with a far more consistent quarterback. He also should avoid the shadow coverage of Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey, which makes life even easier for him.
Brandin Cooks, LAR - FanDuel $9,500 / DraftKings $6,600
I'm nervous about putting Rams wide receiver Brandin Cooks into a lineup because we haven't seen him since Week 8, but, with teammate Woods (personal) still questionable and the Ravens wide receivers being mostly question marks, Cooks gets the nod. Like Kupp, he's a big-play waiting to happen, and the Rams find ways to get the ball in his hands. Especially in DK, you can get him at a significantly cheaper price tag over his teammate Kupp which gives you a cheaper stack.
DFS Tight Ends - Week 12 Picks
Mark Andrews, BAL - FanDuel $12,500 / DraftKings $9,200
Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has been Jackson's favorite target this season, and he has 18 more receptions than Brown, who's next up on the team. He leads the team with six touchdowns, which is just under one-third of Jackson's 19. With Ramsey in the fold, the Rams' weakness on defense is in the linebacking group, which is where Andrews can take advantage of his matchup. He's the most consistent pass catcher on either offense in this game.
Gerald Everett, LAR - FanDuel $8,000 / DraftKings $4,800
Rams tight end Gerald Everett has been rather up and down this season, but the main reason you have to consider him for DFS is thanks to his price tag. He's nearly half the price of Andrews on DK, and he's only two-thirds of the price on FD. If Cooks or Woods struggles in this game, Everett is the guy that Goff is going to look at. He's registered at least one catch in every game this season. The Ravens are allowing less than five points per game to tight ends, so you should temper expectations. Everett is mostly a budget play though.
DFS Defenses - Week 12 Picks
Ravens Defense - DraftKings $5,600
If you're going to pick a defense from this game, it's not going to be the one playing against the potential MVP. It's going to be the one that has registered at least one turnover in each of their last seven games. They've also been increasing their sack totals of late, and, when Goff is under pressure, he makes mistakes. Baltimore took it to Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson last week, and they'll be looking to do it to Goff this week.
