This article is part of our DraftKings NFL series.
With just four weeks remaining in the regular season, DraftKings is running a RotoWire Championship. Qualifiers will run from Weeks 14-16, with the top 31 lineups (out of a 250-entry field) making it through to the final in Week 17. Here's the link for this week's rake-free qualifier, which has a buy-in of just $5.
My username is jd0505 and I'll make sure to toss in a couple of my GPP lineups, primarily using players mentioned or listed in this article.
It should be a fairly relaxing week, as there aren't many unsettled injury situations that are truly concerning. I'll still be keeping a close eye on all injury news, but I suspect that I could make all my lineups Friday night and not want to make any changes Sunday morning.
I'll post in the comments if any key situations crop up Friday or Saturday, but for now, I'm feeling pretty good about my favorite plays for Week 14.
Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger, PIT vs. CIN ($6,800) – Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh offense need no introduction, so let's instead talk about the Cincinnati defense. Yes, DPOY candidate Geno Atkins will inevitably destroy a few plays every game, and Carlos Dunlap makes for an excellent sidekick on the defensive line. The rest of the front seven, while far from impressive, is at least in good shape from a health standpoint. The real issue is the secondary, with starting cornerback Adam Jones (foot) and starting safety George Iloka (groin) both unable to play. Slot cornerback Leon Hall (back) also appears shaky, leaving sub-par Dre Kirkpatrick as the team's only healthy corner with any significant NFL experience. It should be a fun weekend for Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant, with DeAngelo Williams also a strong bet to get in on the fun.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, NYJ vs. TEN ($5,400) – The price tag somehow hasn't caught up to Fitzpatrick's production, possibly because he got hurt after just five pass attempts in Week 8. He's still averaging a solid 18.9 DK points per game, with his top two performances coming the last two weeks. This Jets-Titans game has real shootout potential, as the respective strengths and weaknesses of the two teams strongly suggest that both should deploy pass-heavy game plans. I'm not actually confident that they will do so from the outset, but both teams have shown a willingness to abandon the run when necessary. And even with Darrelle Revis (concussion) expected to return, Marcus Mariota is good enough to make a game of it.
Other options:Tom Brady, NE at HOU ($7,800); Blake Bortles, JAX vs. IND ($6,000); Tyrod Taylor, BUF at PHI ($5,400)
Running Back
LeSean McCoy, BUF at PHI ($6,100) – Between the obvious value and the revenge narrative, McCoy will surely be among the most popular options at his position. Regardless, he's a strong play in any kind of contest, having recorded four consecutive games with 20+ touches and 100+ scrimmage yards, despite facing a brutal slate of defenses. Even after last week's bounce-back effort in New England, the Philadelphia defense will present Shady with his most favorable matchup since Week 9 against the Dolphins.
Ryan Mathews, PHI vs. BUF ($3,400) – Nobody wants to mess with the Philly backfield this week, as it's widely being viewed as some kind of complete mystery. Sure, there's some chance DeMarco Murray gets right back to his normal workload, but Mathews is the better bet to lead the team in carries. Murray's reduced workload last week wasn't "matchup-based" or even the result of Chip Kelly liking Darren Sproles and Kenjon Barner – it was strictly a response to the obvious reality that Murray is hurting his team. I strongly suspect that the carries allotted to Sproles and Barner last week will now fall into Mathews' more-than-capable hands. I don't usually play two running backs from the same game in one tournament lineup, but the Murray-McCoy combo could be huge this week.
Other options:Devonta Freeman, ATL at CAR ($7,700); Doug Martin, TB vs. NO ($6,200); DeAngelo Williams, PIT at CIN ($6,000); Thomas Rawls, SEA at BAL ($5,800)
Wide Receiver
DeAndre Hopkins, HOU vs. NE ($8,500) – With Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham both standing out as excellent and obvious plays this week, Hopkins will likely have single-digit ownership in large tournaments, even though he offers the same ceiling as his aforementioned position-mates. Although I'm actually a big fan of this New England defense and its excellent cornerback duo, massive volume should make up for any efficiency issues. Both teams figure to throw the ball a ton, and the Texans will likely be playing from behind in the second half. With Brian Hoyer headed for 40+ pass attempts, Hopkins is a strong bet to see double-digit targets.
Alshon Jeffery, CHI vs. WAS ($6,900) – The Bears' newfound devotion to their running game had me somewhat worried, but with so little competition for targets, Jeffery shouldn't ultimately be affected. He's still a legit WR1 in season-long leagues, making him comparable to guys in the $7,500-$8,500 range on DraftKings. As a bonus, his recent game log will keep ownership rates reasonable, even though Jeffery saw 11 and 12 targets the past two weeks.
Danny Amendola, NE at HOU ($5,200) – With at least seven receptions and 11 targets in each of his last three appearances, Amendola is getting the kind of consistent volume that's usually reserved for the $7,000+ wide receivers (and Alshon Jeffery). Though he isn't as talented as those guys and mostly makes a living on short gains, Amendola is easily good enough to outperform this kind of price tag. He should probably be in all cash-game lineups and is also a strong tournament play, albeit with a slight downgrade in order if Rob Gronkowski (knee) returns. A Brady-Amendola-Hopkins stack won't be cheap, but the combination of floor and ceiling is terrific.
Other options:Odell Beckham, NYG at MIA ($9,100); Antonio Brown, PIT at CIN ($8,900); Allen Robinson, JAX vs. IND ($8,000); A.J. Green, CIN at PIT ($7,900); Brandon Marshall, NYJ vs. TEN ($7,600); Calvin Johnson, DET at STL ($7,400); Jarvis Landry, MIA vs. NYG ($6,300); Sammy Watkins, BUF at PHI ($6,100); T.Y. Hilton, IND at JAX ($5,900); Martavis Bryant, PIT at CIN ($5,700); Vincent Jackson, TB vs. NO ($4,500); Doug Baldwin, SEA at BAL ($4,500); Marvin Jones, CIN vs. PIT ($4,200); Anquan Boldin, SF at CLE ($4,000); Dorial Green-Beckham, TEN at NYJ ($3,700); Cecil Shorts or Nate Washington, HOU vs. NE ($3,600/$3,400)
Tight End
Zach Ertz, PHI vs. BUF ($2,600) – Held back by Philly's quarterbacks and various red-zone misfortunes, Ertz is actually a pretty good player and is averaging six targets per contest. The game log makes him a tough sell for cash games or single-lineup players, but even though he's yet to record 15 DK points, his talent and recent usage hint at legitimate 20-point upside. He's no longer losing snaps to Brent Celek, and perhaps even more important, he goes out for more pass routes than any of the Philadelphia wide receivers. Tyrod-Watkins-Ertz is another sneakily awesome large-tournament game stack that very few people will use. You could even throw Ryan Mathews in, which would basically allow you to do whatever you want with the other five roster spots.
Other options:Delanie Walker, TEN at NYJ ($5,600); Tyler Eifert, CIN at PIT ($5,600); Ben Watson, NO at TB ($4,400); Julius Thomas, JAX vs. IND ($4,200); Zach Miller, CHI vs. WAS ($2,700); Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TB vs. BUF ($2,700)
Team Defense/Special Teams
Detroit Lions vs. STL ($2,700) – Any conversation about the team defenses has to start with Seattle, the obvious choice for cash-game lineups. Even with massive ownership, I'm not opposed to using the 'Hawks in tournaments; it's just that I'd rather take advantage of a cheaper defense that's in a similarly excellent spot. As gross as the Baltimore offense looks, both on paper and in real life, it actually hasn't been quite as pathetic as whatever the Rams are attempting to do.
Other options: Seattle Seahawks at BAL ($3,500); Kansas City Chiefs vs. SD ($3,200); Chicago Bears vs. WAS ($2,500); San Francisco 49ers at CLE ($2,100)
