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NFL FantasyDraft Week 12: Optimal NFL DFS Lineup

By Matt Vecchio

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 18: Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. #13 of the New York Giants carries the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first half at MetLife Stadium on November 18, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 18: Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. #13 of the New York Giants carries the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first half at MetLife Stadium on November 18, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 11: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons and Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns shake hands after the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns won 28 to 16. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) NFL FantasyDraft
CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 11: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons and Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns shake hands after the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns won 28 to 16. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) NFL FantasyDraft /

Welcome to Week 12 of the NFL FantasyDraft: Optimal Cash Game lineup build! Last week was a little bit of a down week because we went with Carson Wentz and the New Orleans defense finally showed up for what seems like the first time this season. 

This week we have a matchup of two terrible teams as the highest projected point total when San Fran travels cross-country to play the Bucs in Tampa. There are some people who are on Jameis Winston but I just can’t get myself to use him based on the possibility that he doesn’t finish this game if he starts off sluggish which he can definitely do. We do have to get a little creative this week in our NFL FantasyDraft lineups with some of the best offenses either playing on Thursday night or on a bye this week.

NFL FantasyDraft: Quarterback

I like Baker Mayfield a lot this week taking on a  Bengals defense that is just falling apart at this point in the season. Against opposing QBs, Cincinnati has allowed an average of 26.4 FPPG, which ranks dead last in the league. Over his last 4 games Mayfield has thrown 9 touchdown passes to only 2 interceptions and has only gone under 18.8 FP once in those 4 games.

Other options: Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Lamar Jackson, Nick Mullens

CARSON, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Running back Melvin Gordon #28 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs for a first down in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at StubHub Center on November 18, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Running back Melvin Gordon #28 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs for a first down in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at StubHub Center on November 18, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

NFL FantasyDraft: Running Backs

Melvin Gordon is my pick to be the highest scoring running back this week in all of fantasy this week. Gordon has an easy match-up against a Cardinals defense that allows an average of 126 rushing yards and 34 receiving yards to running backs on the year. This Cardinals defense has allowed more than 100 rushing yards in seven games on the year, most recently 152 yards to the Raiders in week 11. My second running back this week is Josh Adams of the Eagles in a match-up with the Giants this week. Over their last 3 games the Giants are averaging 152.3 rushing yards allowed per game and Adams has emerged as the Eagles lead back leading the team in carries the past 3 weeks.

Other options: Marlon Mack, Nick Chubb, Joe Mixon

NFL FantasyDraft: Wide Receivers

I have a love/hate relationship with Jarvis Landry, but this is where I landed this week teaming him up with my QB choice in Mayfield. Landry is relatively inexpensive for a WR seeing 10.6 targets per game and a 50% target share in the red zone on the season. Eventually something has to give for Landry, right? Hopefully this week against a poor Cincinnati defense is the week he goes off. My second WR choice for my lineup this week is Odell Beckham Jr. in a match-up with the Eagles and their 31st ranked defense against wide outs this season. Beckham has gone for 18.5 FPPG in 5 of the last 6 games.

Other Options: Josh Gordon, 49ers WR’s, Buccaneers Wr’s

SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 01: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field after defeating the Oakland Raiders 34-3 in their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on November 1, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 01: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field after defeating the Oakland Raiders 34-3 in their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on November 1, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

NFL FantasyDraft: Tight End

This weeks top tight end pick is George Kittle and his matchup against the Bucs and their 30th ranked defense against tight ends. I need to get exposure to this game and Kittle seems to be clicking with new QB Nick Mullens. Kittle has caught 13 of 14 targets from Mullens for 191 yards and a touchdown.

Other options: Chris Herndon, Ed Dickson (Revenge Narrative)

NFL FantasyDraft: DST

My top 3 DST are:

Jacksonville

Baltimore

Buffalo

NFL FantasyDraft Sample cash game lineup:
Note: This is not meant to be a plug and play line-up and is meant for illustrative purposes to give you a foundation to build off each week in NFL DFS.

QB- Baker Mayfield

RB- Melvin Gordon

RB- Josh Adams

WR- Jarvis Landry

WR- Odell Beckham Jr.

TE- George Kittle

Flex- Josh Gordon

Flex- Adam Humphries

DST- Jacksonville Jaguars

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