DraftKings NFL: Best lineup for Week 15
By Joe Romano
Week 15 of the NFL season is here, time to take a look at all the options on DraftKings to prepare to win the week!
Am I the only one that hates seeing that Week 15 in the title? We are just too close to no more football. However, we still have enough time to take advantage of the availability to win big money on DraftKings.
The NFL has a full slate again. Unfortunately, there will be some big missing pieces from Thursday’s Chiefs-Chargers game. The NFL was smart enough to put some duds on their annual Saturday in December slate. Sunday and Monday night take a bunch of talent from the pool as well. For this week’s main slate the teams that will be missing are the Chiefs, Chargers, Texans, Jets, Browns, Broncos, Rams, Eagles, Panthers and Saints. The Thursday, Sunday and Monday slate really hurt how fun this week could have been.
With all that being said, it just means the smarter fantasy players will win. Here is a breakdown of the top five players at each position and some options for value plays.
Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers – $6700
You know it is a weird week when a quarterback who threw for under 80 yards a week ago tops the list. Russell Wilson is having a solid season and surprising folks with how well Seattle has played. Last week was a down week on Monday night against a solid Vikings defense. Things get easier this week with the 49ers and their defense ranking 28th in points per game to quarterbacks.
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots – $6600
The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a terrible road loss to the lowly Oakland Raiders. That turned this weekend’s matchup against New England into an essential must win. Not good for Ben Roethlisberger, who’s struggled to get his team’s victories over the Patriots. His statistics are solid with 19 touchdowns, to seven interceptions in nine career games. The Steelers, at home, should be able to move the ball against a Patriots defense that was gashed by the Dolphins a week ago.
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts vs Dallas Cowboys – $6400
If ten weeks ago you looked ahead of the schedule and saw the Colts-Cowboys game, you’d think it would be a meaningless December game. Instead, both teams are fighting for the playoffs with massive implications of the outcome of this bout. Indianapolis was able to bounce back in Week 14 to end the Texans nine-game win streak thanks to Andrew Luck. The likely comeback player of the year was one yard shy of 400 and threw two touchdown passes. Dallas will be the toughest defense Luck has faced. This is a tough place to start the former first overall pick with the way the Cowboys defense is playing.
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings vs Miami Dolphins – $6200
If you watched any of Monday’s game or were on Twitter you’d be under the impression that Kirk Cousins stinks. While that may be true, that game was not an indication of how well he can play at times. This week feels like a time where Cousins shines. The Vikings are at home against a Dolphins defense that has surrendered the second most points per game to quarterbacks over the last four weeks. Cousins excels in these types of matchups, and not in primetime.
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons vs Arizona Cardinals – $6000
The Atlanta Falcons will lean on the fact that they’ve been bitten by the injury bug to explain the team’s lackluster performance this season. Truthfully some of that blame has to fall on Matt Ryan who could not look further from his MVP form. Ryan has a surprisingly tough game ahead with the Arizona Cardinals. This defense is playing like some expected it could at the beginning of the season led by Chandler Jones and Patrick Peterson. Ryan looks like a stay away this week.
Value Quarterbacks
Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals – $5400
One of the weird things that happened last week were all the last place teams winning. One of those teams were the Oakland Raiders. Derek Carr is still fighting to win, which should be encouraging for anyone wearing silver and black. Carr has struggled at times this season but has been sharp against weak defenses. One of the weakest awaits in Cincinnati this week. The Bengals allow the second most points per game to quarterbacks this season.
Jeff Driskel, Cincinnati Bengals vs Oakland Raiders – $5100
This is a tough week to find value at quarterback outside of the top 8-10 players. Jeff Driskel may be your best bet towards the bottom of the ladder. Driskel looked okay in last week’s game against the Chargers talented defensive unit. He’s still a dink-and-dunk type player who struggles with pressure. Luckily he’s facing the NFL’s worst defense at getting after the quarterback. With the time he should have, and the weapons around him, Driskel could be in for a surprise Sunday.