Week 12 DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Football Picks, Lineup Tips for Sunday
NFL fans participating in Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) games for Sunday only are in an odd position in Week 12. No teams are on bye, but six of them played during the Thanksgiving day slate.
With the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts playing on Monday night, this leaves 24 teams in action on Sunday. Of those teams, several have key injuries. Matthew Stafford and Joe Mixon have already been ruled out, while Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields and Cincinnati Bengals wideout Ja'Marr Chase will be game-time decisions.
The player pool isn't as deep as it might be in other weeks—especially considering DFS stars like Josh Allen, Justin Jefferson, Saquon Barkley and Amon-Ra St. Brown have already played.
None of this means that managers can't find a quality lineup with what's available, and we're here to go over some winning tips and strategies for the Sunday schedule.
Take a Chance on Geno Smith
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith has been a big DFS surprise this season. Not much was expected of the Seattle offense in the first post-Russell Wilson campaign, but Smith has had things humming.
On the year, Smith has thrown for 2,474 yards with 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He's completing a league-best 72.8 percent of his passes and has also run for 218 yards and a score.
Of course, not everyone has been shocked by Smith's success.
"I always say Geno threw the best ball that I have played with. I really truly believe that in terms of the spiral, the catchability of it," former NFL wideout Eric Decker said, per Jayson Jenks and Mike Sando of The Athletic.
Smith has been a consistent DFS producer—with two touchdowns in each of his last four games—and he has a tremendous matchup on Sunday. The Las Vegas Raiders have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season, according to FantasyPros.
It's worth taking a chance on Smith this week, as he's a cheaper option than, say, Lamar Jackson or Justin Herbert. He's not a true budget play, but with a price point of $6,000 on DraftKings and $7,600 at FanDuel, managers can save a few fantasy bucks—Herbert, for example, is a full $1,000 more at DraftKings.
That savings could help squeeze an extra elite skill player into the lineup.
Stack Up on Buccaneers
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Smith is probably the better play over Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, but several Buccaneers are likely to shine on Sunday.
Tampa will visit the struggling Cleveland Browns and has had two weeks to prepare. The Browns have been plagued by blown coverages and miscommunication in the secondary this season, which should lead to some big gains for receivers like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
There aren't too many must-start receivers playing on Sunday, aside from Miami Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill. Grabbing Godwin or Evans (or both) should provide a safe floor at receiver.
Evans is priced at $5,700 at DraftKings and $7,600 at FanDuel. Godwin is going for $6,000 and $7,000 at DraftKings and FanDuel, respectively.
Pair a Bucs receiver with rookie running back Rachaad White, who topped 100 rushing yards in Week 10 and appears poised for a bigger role.
"I think it was excellent to see him go out there and play an extended amount of snaps," offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich said, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "I don't know if he was ready for that many earlier."
With Leonard Fournette (hip) doubtful, White could have a huge day. The Browns have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing backs this season.
White is going for just $5,100 at DraftKings and $6,400 at FanDuel. He's a must-play for any manager seeking an RB bargain.
Circle the Raiders for Both High-Floor and Budget Value
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It's been a disappointing season for the Raiders thus far, but the Las Vegas offense has had its bright moments. Running back Josh Jacobs has already racked up 930 rushing yards, 251 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Wideout Davante Adams has caught 64 passes for 925 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Jacobs and Adams are both pricey options for Sunday but should have extremely high floors against Seattle. The Seahawks have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. They've been much better against opposing receivers—fifth-fewest fantasy points allowed—but Adams has become a target hog in recent weeks.
Over his last three games, Adams has been targeted an average of 14.6 times.
Jacobs is going for $7,700 at DraftKings and $8,700 at FanDuel. Adams costs $8.600 at DraftKings and $9,000 at FanDuel.
Managers can find a potential sleeper in tight end Foster Moreau as well. With Darren Waller on injured reserve, Moreau—who is tied for fourth on the team in receptions—will be a go-to target.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.
Moreau is a budget option ($3.5K at DraftKings and $5.4K at FanDuel) who can slot in for managers looking to splurge at other positions. Those going for a lower-tier tight end instead of Travis Kelce or Mark Andrews should give Moreau strong consideration.
*Fantasy scoring information via FantasyPros. Injury information via NFL.com.
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