DraftKings NFL: Best lineup for Week 13

The bye weeks are finally behind us. The NFL is in all out playoff push mode. This is the best time of year to play and win in DraftKings.

With Thanksgiving weekend all wrapped up, the NFL is ready to make it’s push towards the playoffs. There are a few weeks left where the Sunday slate is as full as it can be. A time of year where you have to shine as a daily fantasy player. There will be some tough choices and having all the information will help.

Let’s start with those throwing the passes.

Quarterbacks

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs @ Oakland Raiders – $7600

Welcome back to the main slate Mr. Mahomes. The MVP candidate is a full $1000 higher than any other quarterback during the main slate. That is for good reason too, Mahomes is shredding every team he plays, even on “down weeks”. Week 13 should not be one of those weeks with a trip to Oakland. The Raiders rank as the twelfth highest scoring defense for quarterbacks. However, they’ve allowed the third most touchdown passes at 24. Mahomes, off the bye week, is a great play if you can find value at other positions.

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – $6600

A theme that has run all season is quarterbacks playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense being given inflated value. The Buccaneers did okay last week with Nick Mullens. They do not have the luxury of playing a third string quarterback this weekend. Instead they get MVP candidate Cam Newton coming to town. Newton has 12 career games against the Buccaneers and in those games has 27 touchdowns. If you want to take a step back from Mahomes, Newton is the perfect replacement.

Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions – $6400

It is nice to see Jared Goff getting fantasy love. It seemed like earlier this season Goff was constantly coming in towards the middle of the pack in pricing and was a value. Now he is properly priced towards the top. This weekend, coming off a bye, Goff travels to Detroit to play a Lions defense that ranks just outside the top-10 in points allowed to quarterbacks. That is a bit misleading though as Detroit has surrendered the third most passing touchdowns this season. Goff, like the two players above him is a great bet for a solid week.

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers – $6300

This is a good week to be a quarterback in the NFL. Another MVP candidate, Russell Wilson, has a positive matchup. This week the Seahawks stay at home to play the reeling 49ers. This San Francisco team has been ravaged by injuries and defensively has looked sub-par. The defense ranks eighth in points allowed to quarterbacks. They are also tied for the fourth most passing touchdowns surrendered. Wilson is on a tear and that should continue, especially with Doug Baldwin getting healthier each week.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers vs Arizona Cardinals – $6200

All the first four quarterbacks in the top-five pricing are in great matchups. The last of the bunch is Aaron Rodgers who has been in the spotlight a ton this week. He simply does not look like his inhuman self this season and people are noticing. Green Bay’s offensive remedy may not come this weekend against the Cardinals. Arizona is giving up the 29th most points per game to quarterbacks. They have an elite pass rusher and corner combination. If Rodgers continues to play up-and-down they Packers could struggle at home against the Cardinals defense.

Value Quarterbacks

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions vs Los Angeles Rams – $5400

The Los Angeles Rams offense does two things. It puts pressure on the opposing defense but it also forces the opposing offense to feel the need to score on every possession. While that may not be good for real football, it’s great for fantasy. The opposing quarterback for that Rams team this weekend is Matthew Stafford. He’s struggled this year but is in a great matchup. Los Angeles ranks as the tenth friendliest defense to opposing quarterbacks. This is the perfect game script for Stafford who’s also thrived in “garbage time” in a lot of his career.

Case Keenum, Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals – $5200

It is hard to keep quarterbacks playing the Bengals defense off this list. Even if that quarterback is Case Keenum who has been towards the top of the league in interceptions this year. Cincinnati ranks as the friendliest defense for quarterbacks on the season. Keenum has elite skill position players at his disposal. This should be a week where the Broncos continue their hot streak. The only concern here is that the Bengals, with a backup quarterback, get down big early and Keenum is not asked to throw as much.

Josh Rosen, Arizona Cardinals @ Green Bay Packers – $4900

This was a tough decision to round out the quarterbacks. Josh Rosen, in my eyes, was the most pro-ready quarterback in the draft. However, he’s surrounded by a lack of skill positions and stuck behind one of the worst offensive lines in football. Luckily that may not matter much this weekend against the Packers. Arizona has a better chance of winning this game than most believe and it starts with Rosen. When kept clean he’s been very good. Green Bay does not get after the passer and may help with Rosen’s continued development.