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Joe Nicely's DraftKings NFL DFS picks and lineup sleepers for the Week 13 (December 2024) Main Slate. His top daily fantasy football lineups to target for DraftKings DFS contests.
Hi RotoBallers, and welcome back to our DraftKings Main Slate article. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday this week! As we fight through the turkey-induced hangover, we'll dive into the interesting 10-game Week 13 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 13, and this article includes a couple of my favorite options for 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 13 slate together!
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DraftKings Quarterbacks - Week 13 DFS Picks
Jalen Hurts - PHI at BAL ($7,700)
Let's kick things off with Week 13's premier matchup as the Eagles travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens. This one features arguably the NFL's two best DFS quarterbacks in Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson, and while you could target either one here, I'll lean Hurts due to the slight salary discount on DraftKings.
Hurts' DFS output has been muted in the last two weeks, as Philly has been content to lean on Saquon Barkley heavily. However, that might not be possible against a Baltimore brick-wall run defense that's been one of the league's most prominent pass-funnel units in the league this season.
If forced to turn to the air, Hurts should find some success. The Ravens have allowed the most passing yards in the NFL to opposing QBs. In addition to the potential for passing fireworks, we also have Hurts' elite rushing ability and high TD equity around the goal line.
Justin Herbert - LAC at ATL ($5,600)
Herbert's passing numbers took a backseat over the first month of the season due to new Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh's desire to establish the run and a tough, physical culture in Los Angeles. However, the reigns have been loosened on Herbert as the season has progressed, and he's now attempted 32 or more passes in six of L.A.'s last seven games.
He's also seen a noticeable uptick in his rushing production and has gained 29+ yards on the ground in four of the team's last five games.
justin patrick herbert
📺 | @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/PzzlVrDAKk
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 26, 2024
We could see both those numbers spike this week in a friendly domed matchup against Atlanta. Not only will the Chargers be without starting running back J.K. Dobbins, but Herbert draws a great matchup against a Falcons unit that ranks 28th in Pass Defense DVOA and has allowed the NFL's third-most passing TDs (21) to the QB position.
DraftKings Running Backs - Week 13 DFS Picks
Alvin Kamara - NO vs. LAR ($7,700)
Fresh off getting destroyed for 302 total yards by Saquon Barkley, the Los Angeles Rams travel to New Orleans to face another talented dual-threat back in Alvin Kamara.
The Saints legend has crossed 100 total yards in six of #CheckdownGawd Derek Carr's eight games this season. Kamara has been a true workhorse for New Orleans. He leads all NFL running backs in targets (73) and is eighth in carries (183) this year. Don't overthink this one...Kamara's matchup and workload are elite, while his DK price point is very reasonable.
Bucky Irving - TB at CAR ($5,800)
The Week 13 narrative around Carolina will be how well they played against Kansas City last week, but let's not forget that this Panthers' squad allowed 30 points to the Chiefs and still ranks dead last in the NFL in Run Defense DVOA. So while the team as a whole might be showing some fight, this Carolina defense is still one we very much want to target in DFS.
We can get our exposure fairly inexpensively this week via Bucs running back Bucky Irving. The rookie has been hyper-efficient this season while breaking into Tampa's backfield rotation, ranking sixth in the NFL with 5.9 yards per touch.
Coming out of the bye, Bucky Irving & Rachaad White both had 12 carries in Wk 12
Forget for a moment that Bucky outgained White by 50 yards on the ground
The bigger story is Irving running 20 routes to White’s 11 & out-targeting him 6-1
That has been the one thing in the way… pic.twitter.com/2yQgY2biKg
— Scott Rinear (@MunderDifflinFF) November 26, 2024
While the Bucs frustratingly insist on keeping Rachaad White largely involved - and even mixing in Sean Tucker - Irving has clearly been their best back. A career-best outing last week against the Giants should only earn him more opportunities in this smash spot against the Panthers.
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DraftKings Wide Receivers - Week 13 DFS Picks
Nico Collins - HOU at JAX ($7,900)
One of my favorite players to watch in the NFL; I never need much of an excuse to roster Nico Collins. However, he's objectively in a smash spot this week against a Jaguars defense that's one of the worst in the league. Jacksonville's secondary is one of just three in the NFL that's allowed over 2,000 receiving yards and 10 TDs to the WR position this season.
Nico Collins has had 33 and 77-yard touchdowns taken away due to penalties over the past two weeks.
Neither penalty was exactly the reason why the score occurred. In another simulation where both scores had counted, Collins would be THE WR1 in fantasy since returning from injury pic.twitter.com/5hVWyNGHSL
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) November 25, 2024
Collins himself torched the Jags for 151 yards and a score on 12 catches back in Week 4. After a five-week injury absence, he's looked awesome since returning to the Houston lineup in Week 11 while having multiple long TD catches called back due to penalties. Nico is averaging a shade over 24 DraftKings points in games where he's been "fully healthy" this season, and his GPP upside is massive in this spot.
Tee Higgins - CIN vs. PIT ($6,500)
With the Bengals coming off a Week 12 bye, we might be catching Higgins at his healthiest point of the season. He's been phenomenal when able to suit up this year, earning 10+ targets in half of his six 2024 appearances while actually edging Ja'Marr Chase in target share when both have been on the field.
Chase will play an important role in Higgins' production this week against Pittsburgh, as the Bengals superstar will likely draw the coverage of Joey Porter Jr. for large portions of this game, which should leave Higgins free to wreak havoc. On paper, the Steelers defense isn't normally one we want to target, but Cincy sports a projected team total of 25 points, and this matchup features an O/U of 47.
DraftKings Tight Ends - Week 13 DFS Picks
Taysom Hill - NO vs. LAR ($5,000)
Entering straight-up "IDGAF" mode since Dennis Allen's firing, interim head coach Darren Rizzi appears to have a Sean Payton-level of affection for Taysom Hill, as New Orleans has deployed the jack-of-all-trades liberally in Rizzi's two games at the helm.
#Saints interim HC Darren Rizzi on Taysom Hill’s workload:
“I think our usage with him these last couple weeks is really what we’re kind of trying to trend towards. A little bit of everything, not too much of anything. He’s obviously a huge part of what we do… The more he’s on… pic.twitter.com/KnDIDdWPGI
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) November 27, 2024
Hill has operated as the Saints' de facto WR1 in the absence of Chris Olave and has garnered a 22.2% target share since Allen's firing ahead of Week 10. He's also earned 11 rushing attempts over the last two weeks. In the Rams, Hill draws a matchup against a unit that's been one of the NFL's worst at containing (conventional) tight ends.
Evan Engram - JAX vs. HOU ($4,800)
After spending the last few weeks in the DFS equivalent of Siberia with Mac Jones under center, Evan Engram moves back into relevancy with the news that Trevor Lawrence is expected to return to the Jags' lineup in Week 13.
In five games together this season, Lawrence has targeted Engram an average of 6.8 times per game, which includes 10+ targets in two of their most recent games together following Christian Kirk's season-ending injury.
Engram's Week 13 matchup against the Houston Texans can't be described as a smash spot, but there are some reasons for optimism. Houston has allowed the NFL's third-most receiving TDs to the tight end position and is expected to be without Jalen Pitre this week.
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