NFL FanDuel DFS: Week 16 Early Only Cash Plays
Got your Week 16 NFL FanDuel lineups all set and looking for a good reason to avoid tinkering with them? Make some more lineups on some smaller slates!! This article will focus on the top cash game plays for the 1PM only slate on Fanduel.
For the newbies, NFL FanDuel cash games are simply the games in the Fanduel lobby that are 50/50 or close to that to win. These are basically all of the games other than the tournaments, and guaranteed prize pool tournaments (GPP’s). Head-to-Head’s (H2H), 50/50, and double-ups would best summarize cash games.
NFL FanDuel DFS: Week 15 Recap
I am a big fan of transparency, and I will be the first to admit I do not always get them right. But I think if you appreciate the conclusions I come to by you doing further research yourself, then I know you will be back for another read. Again, I am always here to help so reach out to me on Twitter, and that sample lineup is just a SAMPLE cash lineup. Regardless, I will play it every week, and we will track it right here!
QB – Josh Allen – $7,600 – (19.76)
RB – Ezekiel Elliott – $8,800 – (14.3)
RB – Dalvin Cook – $6,200 – (28.8)
WR – Adam Thielen – $8,200 – (2.9)
WR – Amari Cooper – $6,600 – (6.3)
WR – Corey Davis – $5,800 – (4.8)
TE – Eric Ebron – $6,500 – (1.3)
FLEX – Derrick Henry – $6,100 – (29.74)
DEF – Minnesota Vikings – $3,900 – (13)
(120.9)
It turned around right away after a bad week, as this week’s sample lineup was good in all formats. The 120.9 FDP was good for almost a top-ten finish in all of my 100-man 50/50’s, and was also good for a little better than a minimum cash in GPP’s.
Derrick Henry was easily the difference with his fantastic follow-up to the prior weeks four TD performance. He was only 4-7% owned in my cash games, as the masses gravitated towards Saquon Barkley in his tough match-up with Tennessee. Barkley was 60-65% owned, and only managed a disappointing 7.6 FDP. Fading bad chalk like that is exactly what I am trying to do here weekly, so let’s move along and dig in to this weeks targets, and see if we can do it again!
NFL FanDuel DFS: Week 16 Cash Plays (1PM Only)
QB – Dak Prescott – Dallas Cowboys – $7,300
It wouldn’t be an early only NFL article if we didn’t go right at the Buccaneers defense right? If you have been along for this ride this season, you will note that whoever the offense is against Tampa Bay, I am on board. This week the Cowboys will face them at home, and this one could get ugly.
For the reason that I don’t think Tampa will stay in this game, I will note that I think Zeke is easily the top target from this week. Prescott could be in line for a big game as well, but he is quite a bit less consistent than Elliott. Regardless, this price is too low for any QB against the Buccaneers, and Prescott will get some looks this weekend. The only thing holding me back on going all in on Dak is BDN at minimum price. Uh, that’s Nick Foles in case you missed it…
***Also Consider: Baker Mayfield $7,700 – Nick Foles $6,000***
NFL FanDuel DFS: Week 16 Cash Plays (1PM Only)
RB – Ezekiel Elliott – Dallas Cowboys – $8,800
I was ready to go all in on Christian McCaffrey, despite the hefty price tag, but the news that Cam Newton has been shut down for the season, has me pumping the brakes quick. The match-up is still fantastic, as the Falcons struggle with receiving backs, but with this defense being able to focus solely on CMC, I think there are better spots on this slate. Running back is actually pretty loaded, and for me it all starts with Zeke.
I am on a full Barkley fade as well, as the Giants just don’t have anything to play for, and will likely be careful with the future of their franchise these last two games. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are still trying to win their division, and this offense still goes through Elliott.
There hasn’t really been a back that has done more for their team this season, and the amount of volume Elliott is receiving is uncanny. People still don’t view Zeke as a pass catching back, yet he has 72 receptions for 543 yards through the air this season. Add 1349 rushing yards to that total and Zeke will likely go over 2000 combined yards for the season in this game. He should run all over Tampa, and is a lock for me.
RB – Nick Chubb – Cleveland Browns – $7,900
Chubb struggled a bit against tough defenses in Houston and Carolina the previous two weeks, before getting back on track last week in Denver. He received just 22 carries combined in those two tough weeks, but was back to a full load last week, gaining 100 yards on 20 carries. This week should be more of the same, as the Browns will face the other defense I love to attack, the Cincinnati Bengals.
In the first meeting between these two teams back on November 25th, Chubb was relied on heavily. He carried the ball 28 times for just 84 yards, and added a touchdown. He was slightly active in the passing game in that one as well, gaining an additional 44 yards and adding another touchdown. That game was at Cincinnati, and it was good for 26.3 FDP. I think does even better this week at home, if he manages to find the end zone multiple times again.
***Also Consider or FLEX: Dalvin Cook $7,100 – Marlon Mack $7,000 – Elijah McGuire $5,700***
NFL FanDuel DFS: Week 16 Cash Plays (1PM Only)
WR – DeAndre Hopkins – Houston Texans – $8,900
The buzz around the DFS community is that we could see a little Julio Jones in cash this week, and Hopkins really isn’t getting much love. For my salary, if I am paying up at receiver, I am paying the $200 more for Hopkins without question. Despite his recent success, I am still team #NeverJulio, and his match-up against Carolina is nowhere near as good as Hopkins has against Philly.
The Eagles have been getting torched by good wide receivers all season, and are now ranked 31st against the pass. Hopkins meanwhile, is coming off of a 10 catch, 170 yard, two touchdown performance against the Jets, and now sits as a top-five receiver on the season. He has amassed 1321 yards on 94 catches, and has found the end zone 11 times. I am pretty set on my running backs so I won’t be able to pay up here in cash, but if you want to run out a running back under $6K like Elijah McGuire or Jamall Williams, I say pay up for Hopkins, and fade Julio as always.
WR – Stefon Diggs – Minnesota Vikings – $7,300
It’s been pretty quiet the last few weeks for Diggs and his teammate Adam Thielen, but this week the Vikings will be at Detroit, looking to get things back on track. My guess is that Lions shut down cornerback Darius Slay will be shadowing Thielen in this one, which makes Diggs a much better target for me.
Last time these teams met, Diggs was hot, but was forced to miss that game. Thielen was easily held to four catches and just 22 yards, but did score the lone receiving touchdown of the afternoon. It has been three weeks since Diggs has seen double-digit targets, and I think that changes this week.
This defense should focus on a healthy Dalvin Cook up front, and Diggs could be in line for a big game. He has been second fiddle to Thielen all year, but is putting up some impressive numbers himself. Currently Diggs sits ranked in the top-ten in receptions, targets, and receiving touchdowns. He has 92 catches on 133 targets, and has found the end zone seven times. This is as good of a one-two punch in the league as any, and I think the Vikings will have to throw a ton in this game.
WR – Amari Cooper – Dallas Cowboys – $7,000
Once again picking on Tampa Bay here, and hopping right back on the Cooper bandwagon. After a bad week last week which brought his hot streak to an end, my thoughts are most are going to jump right off the wagon. With how bad this Bucs defense is though, I am not sure you can jump off quite yet.
I am not sure I would be here if the opponent was different, and this is strictly match-up based. I am far from a Cooper believer, but you certainly cannot discount the two monster games he has had within the last month. He is still too cheap at $7K, and just makes perfect sense for cash games. While I don’t think it will be mega-chalk, Cooper will see some ownership.
***Also Consider or FLEX: Julio Jones $8,700 – Adam Thielen $7,600 – Antonio Callaway $5,100***
NFL FanDuel DFS: Week 16 Cash Plays (1PM Only)
TE – Eric Ebron – Indianapolis Colts – $6,100
After three weeks of looking like Andrew Luck‘s new favorite target, Ebron was mega chalk last week once again, and this time he finally had a rough game. I was hard on the bandwagon rolling with Ebron last week, and he only caught one pass for eight yards on just three targets. In those previous three games, Ebron totaled 31 targets and caught three touchdown passes. Don’t let one bad game sway you away quite yet.
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This is a fantastic match-up, as the Giants have not defended tight ends well, but there has to be some hesitation due to last week. I am personally torn, but the rule of thumb in DFS is always forget about the previous day, and never let recency bias make your decision. The only tight end getting more targets as of late is Zach Ertz, and if I can a way to pay up for him instead, that would be the only way I fade Ebron.
***Also Consider: Zach Ertz – $7,400***
DEF – Dallas Cowboys – $3,700
For the first time in a bit of writing this article, I do not see a clear-cut favorite this weekend as far as defenses go. The most expensive defenses either have a semi-difficult match-up, or there is just some other factor, like being the road for example. As I was picking this position apart for this slate, I stopped and gave the Patriots a hard look at $4,300, and I think I found the chalk. People will still attack the Bills offense with opposing defenses, and with this being a home game for the Pats, this is a great spot for them. However, I am not paying that much for defense this week, and in fact, it looks like the perfect week to go as low as possible salary wise.
That brings us to $3,700 and the Dallas Cowboys, who will be at home, facing turnover prone Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This defense is solid, but hasn’t been posting huge FDP games at all as of late. In my opinion, this might be the best match-up for the price, but I see Philadelphia way down there at $3,200, and just scratch my head.
The Eagles are in fact producing FDP’s as of late, forcing three turnovers in each of the last two games. This will be another tough match-up with Houston, but with the way this defense is playing as of late, this to me was the no-brainer. While I think Dallas is in the best overall spot, with Philly $500 cheaper, it really makes no sense to pay any more than this in my opinion.
***Also Consider – Philadelphia Eagles – $3,200***
NFL FanDuel DFS: Week 16 Sample Cash Lineup (1PM Only)
The line-up below is meant to be illustrative only to further back-up the logic laid out in previous slides. It is not an optimal line-up. It is in fact, just a “Sample Lineup.”
QB – Nick Foles – $6,000
RB – Ezekiel Elliott – $8,800
RB – Nick Chubb – $7,900
WR – Stefon Diggs – $7,300
WR – Amari Cooper – $7,000
WR – Antonio Callaway – $5,100
TE – Zach Ertz – $7,400
FLEX – Dalvin Cook – $7,100
DEF – Philadelphia Eagles – $3,200
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I hope you enjoyed some slate specific coverage today. You can find me on Twitter with the link at the top of the page. Reach out to me if you would like to see more of this! We have TONS of FREE content here from many incredibly talented writers at FantasyCPR, and new stuff to check out constantly. As we try to cover more and more angles of fantasy sports, you will see more articles focusing on the smaller slates among the different NFL DFS sites. Good luck on the early slate!