This article is part of our DraftKings NFL series.
Sunday's 12-game slate has a few games expected to be high scoring, with four totals above 48 points while six games have spreads of at least six. A few injury absences have led to some underpriced players who could be popular in cash games and GPPs, and because of the totals, we actually have multiple games that are easily stacked from a pricing perspective.
QUARTERBACKS
Patrick Mahomes, KC at DET ($7,500): We've gotten to the point (actually, we've probably been here for a while) with Mahomes where you no longer have to consider whether he's a good play, only if he's a good price. Three consecutive games with at least 374 yards and three touchdowns to start the season, and the oddsmakers are expecting plenty more, giving them a 30.5-point team total on DraftKings Sportsbook, the highest of the week. The Lions defense comes in having allowed the 16th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks through three games, and while they've faced the decent group of Kyler Murray, Philip Rivers and Carson Wentz, Mahomes continues to be in a tier all his own. Lamar Jackson is the second-highest-priced quarterback at $6,900, but there is enough value at other spots to justify paying up for Mahomes, a situation that could make him popular in cash games.
Daniel Jones, NYG vs. WAS ($5,300): Jones' first NFL start last week couldn't have gone any better, as he threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 28 yards and two more scores in a 32-31 win over the Buccaneers in Tampa. Up next is a matchup against a Washington defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, including 20.44 fantasy points to Mitchell Trubisky last week. Jones will have his up-and-downs this season, as any rookie quarterback does, but his low price and excellent matchup will surely have people considering him as one of the cheapest options at the position. On the flip side of his game is Case Keenum ($4,900), who has thrown for more than 300 yards twice and multiple touchdowns in each game this season. The Giants are one of the four teams that have given up more fantasy points to quarterbacks, so there's an understandable pull toward Keenum even if he's just not that good.
Jared Goff, LAR vs. TB ($6,300): Because there are a number of viable low-priced quarterbacks on the slate and Mahomes at the top, the middle tier may be a bit ignored in cash games, though they certainly shouldn't be in GPPs. Goff has a great matchup against the Bucs defense that got obliterated by Jones last week, and it only helps for stacks that he has three receivers he targets heavily. The Rams are big 9.5-point favorites, but with the expectation that Tampa Bay will have to throw to catch up in a game with a 49.5-point total, it's a perfect situation for a game stack. Meanwhile, Philip Rivers ($6,200) comes in as the biggest favorite of Week 4, with the Chargers giving the Dolphins 15.0 points in Miami, though the total of 44.0 doesn't scream for a game stack as much as the Rams game does. A similar situation applies to Russell Wilson ($6,100) and the Seahawks, who are 6.0-point favorites over the Cardinals in a game with a 48.0-point total. Wilson is fresh off a monster game against the Saints, as he passed for 406 yards and two touchdowns while adding 51 rushing yards and two more touchdowns, and that was preceded by 300 yards and three touchdowns against the Steelers. The Cardinals defense has been as bad as expected this season, and their high pace of play creates more fantasy-point opportunities for all players involved. As a result, pretty much any quarterback against the Cardinals is in consideration, and Wilson's ability to score points with his legs only helps his floor.
RUNNING BACKS
Wayne Gallman, NYG vs. WAS ($4,600): The only word I can use to describe those in the RotoWire subscriber chat who discuss playing Gallman in cash games is "dread." Phrases like "I want to but I don't" and "UGH. Is Gallman really in play?" are confusing to me if only because he's a cheap starting running back likely to get plenty of touches for a team facing a relatively bad defense, and his team is favored at home. Jones under center may give some question, but we've seen clear examples of running backs doing well with running quarterbacks (and Jones isn't a runner like Lamar Jackson), and the fact they have a rookie under center could have Gallman used a little more. He's obviously not Saquon Barkley (ankle), but the opportunity is there for the right price. If you really dislike it, Washington's Chris Thompson is only $100 cheaper and could be used a decent amount in the passing game if the Giants are able to get ahead of Washington.
Marlon Mack, IND vs. OAK ($6,100): Mack hasn't been great since his Week 1 explosion against the Cardinals, but a home game against Oakland as a 6.5-point favorite is a solid recipe given the Raiders have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. With the Colts passing game significantly less dangerous without Andrew Luck, the ability to rely more heavily on Mack should give him enough touches to easily pay off his salary. While Mark Ingram ($6,600) and Nick Chubb ($6,400) could have solid performances in their matchup, the slight salary savings to Mack makes sense coupled with his better opportunity. Seattle's Chris Carson ($5,700) will certainly get some consideration because of his matchup against Arizona, but after losing a fumble in each of their first three games, another and he could be toast. And if you're sitting there thinking that Derrick Henry ($6,300) has a great opportunity against Atlanta because they give up a ton to PPR backs, Henry really isn't a great pass catcher and they could be playing from behind against the strong Falcons offense. If anything, Devonta Freeman ($5,000) makes more sense, particularly if Ito Smith ($3,700) is ruled out again.
Christian McCaffrey, CAR at HOU ($8,800): McCaffrey is the most expensive player on the slate, which comes when you have two games with more than 30 fantasy points. He benefited greatly from a 76-yard rushing touchdown last week to put up a big score against Arizona, and he now faces a Texans defense that allowed good running back performances to the Saints in Week 1 and Chargers in Week 3, with much of that production coming from receptions, an area that falls right into McCaffrey's wheelhouse. Speaking of the Chargers, Austin Ekeler ($8,000) has a great matchup against Miami, though it is on the road and you have to wonder how much they'll use him if they get up early. Then again, you could easily go with the assumption that they get up early because of Ekeler, in which case $8,000 is almost underpriced.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Keenan Allen, LAC at MIA ($7,600): Allen leads the league with 29 receptions, 42 targets, 404 receiving yards and 496 air yards, and his three touchdowns are more than all but three players. He now faces a Miami defense that has been absolutely destroyed by everyone they've faced, and the only hesitation is that the Chargers could get ahead early and stop throwing the ball to the most thrown-at receiver in the league. He's been a tremendous cash-game asset because of his consistency and volume, and he showed his GPP upside just last week when he caught 13 of 17 targets for 183 yards and two touchdowns. There are a number of elite wide receivers who should be considered, with DeAndre Hopkins ($7,700) and Julio Jones ($7,800) just as viable as Allen, especially now that Jones has decided to score a touchdown in every game instead of never. We also can't ignore Odell Beckham ($7,300), who could be heavily targeted in a game the Browns need to score in, but he probably isn't as reliable as the others.
Trey Quinn, WAS at NYG ($3,000): This section was initially set to talk about Terry McLaurin ($4,500), who leads Washington in targets, receptions, receiving yards, air yards and aDOT, but a hamstring injury suffered during practice Thursday could keep him out Sunday, a significant blow to their passing game. McLaurin's absence should boost the targets for Paul Richardson, who comes in with 15 catches on 19 targets for 135 yards (165 air yards and an 8.7 aDOT), and his $3,700 salary is pretty solid for a player who has a touchdown in back-to-back games. However, Quinn has been serviceable in his three games, and he comes in with one more target and two fewer catches than Richardson. He's certainly more of an underneath player, as his 102 air yards and 5.1 aDOT show, but if the targets are there then he makes for a significant value because of DraftKings' full point per reception. The other side of this game also has a great option in Sterling Shepard ($5,800), who is the most consistent and best pass catcher for the Giants. He was excellent last week, catching seven of nine targets for 100 yards and a touchdown, and there's little reason to think Jones will move away from him, especially since tight end Evan Engram ($5,700) is pretty much their only relevant receiver.
Cooper Kupp, LAR vs. TB ($6,500): The Rams are significant 9.0-point favorites in a game with the second-highest total on the slate (49.5), and Kupp comes in with more (or the same number of) receptions (23) than Brandin Cooks ($6,200) and Robert Woods ($6,100) have targets. His 5.9 aDOT doesn't leave a ton to be desired in terms of downfield plays, with Cooks' 18.4 really sticking out in comparison, but Kupp also gets his short looks when it counts, leading the team with four red-zone targets and two receiving touchdowns (both came last week when he had 11 catches on 12 targets for 101 yards). Kupp's volume should stay high against the weak Buccaneers defense, though he seems more suited for cash games than GPPs. Speaking of cash games, the Arizona duo of Christian Kirk ($5,100) and Larry Fitzgerald ($5,400) will always garner attention because of their high pace of play, and the other side of that game has Tyler Lockett ($6,300), who was targeted 26 times in the past two games, catching 21 for 233 yards and a touchdown. Rolling with Lockett obviously requires some faith that Wilson will keep throwing as much as he has, though the GPP upside favors DK Metcalf ($4,800), who leads the team with 341 air yards while posting an impressive 17.9 aDOT. Unfortunately, he has caught only nine of his 19 targets this season.
TIGHT ENDS
Travis Kelce, KC at DET ($7,300): You can play around and hope to land on the right Chiefs wide receiver or just pay up for Kelce knowing he'll get his looks. Sammy Watkins ($6,700) has been targeted 21 times in the past two games, though he hasn't broken 65 yards and has zero touchdowns over that span. Meanwhile, Mecole Hardman ($5,100) has just 11 targets but two touchdowns and Demarcus Robinson ($5,200) has 10 targets but three scores. Kelce actually has just one touchdown on his 17 targets in the past two games, but he's ripped off 196 receiving yards and will always be the most consistent member of the group. As such, he's expensive, and it wouldn't be crazy to save money with either Engram or Darren Waller ($5,200), the latter of whom looks to be the only realistic receiving option for the Raiders after catching 13 of 14 targets for 137 yards last week at Minnesota. He's not getting down field at all, but that volume of targets can't be ignored.
Will Dissly, SEA at ARI ($3,600): Dissly figures to be a popular pay-down option this week because he scored three touchdowns in the last two games and now faces a Cardinals defense that has been destroyed through the air, particularly by tight ends, with T.J. Hockenson ($3,300) scoring 28.1 against them in Week 1, Mark Andrews ($5,000) 28.2 in Week 2 and Greg Olsen ($4,200) 25.5 last week. However, Dissly is not Hockenson, Andrews nor Olsen, so you're taking this leap with the expectation that any tight end can dominate the Cardinals defense as opposed to just very talented pass-catchers. Fading Dissly in cash is a topic we discussed on our Week 4 DFS Preview podcast, with the point being that if you don't want to play him and he explodes, a Dissly explosion isn't really that many raw points, so you can probably make up for it elsewhere, a situation that's a bit different than fading someone like Gallman.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
Broncos vs. JAX ($2,900): Paying up for the Chargers ($3,800) makes sense against a terrible Miami team, but there are actually a few positive situations worth considering. With the goal of finding defenses that will force turnovers and potentially turn them into touchdowns, the Rams ($3,500) at home against Jameis Winston looks like a great opportunity, especially since they are $100 cheaper than the Giants dumpster fire defense (facing Keenum will do that, though). However, we can go even cheaper for a team like the Broncos, who are much better at home and seem poised to break out after going three games without a single sack. The Gardner Minshew ($5,200) show has been fun, and while he hasn't thrown an interception since Week 1, the Broncos have enough pass rushers who might force him to make a few mistakes. In a similar range, the Texans ($3,100) at home against Kyle Allen and the Panthers looks like it could be interesting, as does the Falcons ($2,900) against the Titans if they are forced to throw to catch up.
