This article is part of our DraftKings NFL series.
Here are my favorite DraftKings tournament plays for Week 13, picking from the main slate that only includes games on Sunday afternoon. The focus here is on value more so than projected ownership, but it's still a nice bonus if a player doesn't figure to be a popular choice.
Quarterback
Jameis Winston, TB (at GB), $5,600 - I'm assuming Winston is actually healthy, considering the 4-7 Bucs have no incentive to put their franchise QB back on the field if there's serious risk of a re-injury during the stretch run of a lost season. Absent the past three weeks with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, Winston returns to a highly favorable matchup, facing a Green Bay defense that's allowed opponents to complete 68.8 percent of their passes for 7.8 yards per attempt. The Packers might rank last in QB production surrendered if not for the fact that game context has often dictated a run-heavy approach from opponents since Aaron Rodgers (collarbone) went down in Week 6. Only nine teams have faced more rush attempts (28 per game) while 21 have faced more passes (33.5), and yet volume shouldn't be a major problem for Winston this weekend with the Bucs listed as 2.5-point underdogs and Doug Martin (concussion) likely sidelined. Mike Evans ($7,100) and DeSean Jackson ($4,700) also carry favorable price tags, as do Green Bay's Jamaal Williams ($4,700) and Davante Adams ($6,500). The over/under of 44 seems too low, especially with the forecast calling for very tame weather by Wisconsin standards.
Other options: Tom Brady, NE (at BUF), $7,800; Drew Brees, NO (vs. CAR), $6,500; Case Keenum, MIN (at ATL), $6,000; Josh McCown, NYJ (vs. KC), $5,500; Tyrod Taylor, BUF (vs. NE), $5,400; Brett Hundley, GB (vs. TB), $5,100
Running Back
Carlos Hyde, SF (at CHI), $5,900 - I'm recommending Hyde for a third time in four weeks (and the fourth was the 49ers' bye), still eager to take advantage of the gap between his volume and price. He was a bit of a disappointment last week against Seattle, finishing with 13.8 DraftKings points despite getting 16 carries and a team-high 13 targets (seven catches). The touch volume was everything we'd hoped for, and his snap share even hit a season-high mark of 90 percent in an effort that gave him at least a dozen DK points for the ninth time in 11 tries this year. With Jimmy Garoppolo likely providing at least a small upgrade over C.J. Beathard (knee/hip) at quarterback, Hyde has a nice opportunity to score his first touchdown since Week 6 on Sunday, creating potential for a huge game once his steady workload is taken into account. The Chicago defense has been underrated for most of the season, but it's fallen off a bit since a Week 9 bye and now has to play the rest of the year without OLB Leonard Floyd (knee)
Marshawn Lynch, OAK (vs. NYG), $4,800 - This is an unusual week for running backs, featuring a strong choice of selections in the mid-to-low price tier of $4,500-$5,900, with Jamaal Williams ($4,700) set to surpass them all as my favorite play at the position if Aaron Jones (knee) misses another week. As for Lynch… I normally avoid backs that don't contribute much in the passing game, but there's good reason to make an exception this week, especially after watching him reach 20 DK points twice in his past three games. With Michael Crabtree (suspension) and Amari Cooper (concussion/ankle) both sidelined, the Raiders likely will lean on their rushing attack more than usual, and they're favored by 7.5 points with an implied total of 24.75. Lynch gets a big boost if the Giants don't have 340-pound run stuffer Damon Harrison, who was held out of practice all week with an elbow injury. "Snacks" is arguably the league's most disruptive run defender, currently on pace for this third straight 70-tackle campaign, which is unprecedented for a defensive tackle in the modern game.
Other options: Todd Gurley, LAR (at ARI), $8,200; Jordan Howard, CHI (vs. SF), $6,500; Devonta Freeman, ATL (vs. MIN), $5,700; Dion Lewis, NE (at BUF), $5,500; Kenyan Drake, MIA (vs. DEN), $4,900; Duke Johnson, CLE (at LAC), $4,800; Adrian Peterson, ARI (vs. LAR), $4,800; Alex Collins, BAL (vs. DET), $4,500
Wide Receiver
Demaryius Thomas, DEN (at MIA), $5,300 - He may not be much else, but Trevor Siemian at least represents a clear upgrade on Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch, thereby bringing the Denver pass catchers back into play as solid DFS options just in time for a lovely matchup against Miami's flaming trash heap of a secondary. The Dolphins haven't been terrible in terms of raw points allowed to wide receivers, but they've given up 9.1 yards per target and a 64.7-percent catch rate — both hideous marks. Even with stud safety Reshad Jones patrolling the middle of the field, Miami's cornerbacks have been consistently overmatched. I typically roster Emmanuel Sanders rather than Thomas when they're both playing, but Sanders still hasn't made it off the injury report since hurting his ankle Week 6. Given that the price discrepancy is small, I prefer the healthier Thomas.
DeVante Parker, MIA (vs. DEN), $4,500 - With the Dolphins essentially down to one healthy running back for a matchup against a vicious run defense, common sense dictates that Jarvis Landry should be busy this Sunday. The problem is that he'll likely spend most of the game working out of the slot against the impeccable Chris Harris, while Parker and Kenny Stills ($4,700) will get outside matchups with Bradley Roby and third-round rookie Brendan Langley in the absence of noted chain-snatcher Aqib Talib (suspension). Derek Carr picked on Langley after Talib was ejected last week, and Roby ranks 62nd among 86 qualified cornerbacks with 1.27 yards allowed per cover snap, per Pro Football Focus. Parker pulled a disappearing act while playing with Matt Moore the past two weeks, but the 2015 first-round pick has recorded at least four catches, eight targets and 66 yards in the five games he and Jay Cutler have both started and finished. Should the duo make it six, which admittedly is no sure thing, Parker will be in a good spot to vastly outperform his lowest price tag (by a wide margin) this season.
Other options: Julio Jones, ATL (vs. MIN), $8,600; Brandin Cooks, NE (at BUF), $7,700; Adam Thielen, MIN (at ATL), $7,500; Mike Evans, TB (at GB), $7,100; Michael Thomas, NO (vs. CAR), $6,900; Davante Adams, GB (vs. TB), $6,500; Cooper Kupp, LAR (at ARI), $6,400; Robby Anderson, NYJ (vs. KC), $6,300; Stefon Diggs, MIN (at ATL), $6,200; Golden Tate, DET (at BAL), $6,100; Marqise Lee, JAX (vs. IND), $5,200; Corey Davis, TEN (vs. HOU), $4,900; Emmanuel Sanders, DEN (at MIA), $4,900; DeSean Jackson, TB (at GB), $4,700; Jermaine Kearse, NYJ (vs. KC), $4,300; Marquise Goodwin, SF (at CHI), $4,000; Dontrelle Inman, CHI (vs. SF), $3,900; Josh Reynolds, LAR (at ARI), $3,500
Tight End
Travis Kelce, KC (at NYJ), $7,000 - With discount options aplenty at the other positions, I naturally find myself gravitating toward Kelce and Gronk at tight end. Gronk's team context obviously puts him in a better spot to score touchdowns, but Kelce's edge in receptions and targets gives him a similar ceiling on DraftKings, a PPR site with 100-yard bonuses. Oddly enough, Kelce has thrice topped Gronk's season-high mark of 26.6 DK points, each time combining a 100-yard outing with a trip to the end zone. With the Chiefs' tight end coming off a disappointing outing last week, recency bias should keep his ownership lower than Gronkowski's, even though Kelce is a bit cheaper and has a slightly better matchup.
Other options: Rob Gronkowski, NE (at BUF), $7,300; Delanie Walker, TEN (vs. HOU), $5,600; Jared Cook, OAK (vs. NYG), $5,400; Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NYJ (vs. KC), $4,000; Julius Thomas, MIA (vs. DEN), $3,500; C.J. Fiedorowicz, HOU (at TEN), $2,800
D/ST
Baltimore Ravens (vs. DET), $3,100 - While not one of the QBs I typically take aim at, Matthew Stafford isn't quite good enough to justify this mid-range price tag for an elite defense playing at home. Listed as a three-point favorite against a Lions team that can't run the ball even when Ameer Abdullah (neck) is healthy, the Ravens figure to face an onslaught of pass attempts, providing plenty of opportunities for sacks and turnovers. Stafford has only thrown six picks this season, but his rediscovered patience allowing plays to develop has taken a toll in the form of 36 sacks and lost six fumbles. This isn't the dink-and-dunk Detroit offense of the past two seasons — Stafford has bumped up his YPA to a career-best 7.62 at the expense of his completion percentage, sacks and fumbles.
Other options: Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. IND), $4,500; San Diego Chargers (vs. CLE), $4,000; Los Angeles Rams (at ARI), $3,600; Tennessee Titans (vs. HOU), $3,400; Oakland Raiders (vs. NYG), $3,100; New Orleans Saints (vs. CAR), $2,800; New York Jets (vs. KC), $2,500; Arizona Cardinals (vs. LAR), $2,200
