2022 Week 12 DraftKings Slate-Breakers

Patrick Mahomes v LAR ($8,200)

Mahomes is pretty much always in consideration when it comes to slate-breakers. He is just that good. On the season he has only had two games where he hasn’t scored multiple TDs, and has had 6 games with 300+ yards. The Rams defense is an effective unit, but we have seen this season that they can give up plays through the air.

Geno Smith v LV ($6,000)

Smith is having a great season for the Seahawks, and fresh off a bye week has a nice matchup. The Raiders secondary is a unit that you can pick on without question, and the way that Smith has been able to get the ball out to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett is great. Feels like he is going to be a popular selection, but it’s hard to tell with the number of teams playing on the slate.

Tom Brady @CLE ($5,800)

The Tampa Bay offense hasn’t hit the heights of previous seasons. The thing that is missing is TDs- the attempts are there. Off the back of a bye week, a matchup with the Browns secondary could be the turnaround for the offense. 

Also consider Joe Burrow @TEN ($6,700), Trevor Lawrence v BAL ($5,500) & Jimmy Garoppolo v NO ($5,600)

Austin Ekeler @ARI ($8,500)

Ekeler is almost an automatic selection each week at the moment. The Chargers offense just needs him to step up week after week. He is getting a huge amount of carries out of the backfield as well as a number of checkdown passes. That floor week to week really means he rarely buries your team, but he comes with a great ceiling too. This matchup isn’t really one to target, but it’s not one to actively avoid either- the Cardinals have given up an average of 24.2 DKPts to the position this season.

Kenneth Walker III v LV ($6,900)

The Seattle offense is performing well through the air, but it is built on the back of establishing the ground game. Walker is given effectively all of the carries out of the backfield, and last time out in Germany, is getting more involved in the passing game.

James Conner v LAC ($6,600)

Conner struggled to do much last time out, but the whole offense did in Mexico. But, a matchup against the Chargers who struggle to stop production on the ground is a perfect get-right here. The Chargers have given up an average of just under 30 DKPts on the ground, and Conner has even less competition out of the backfield since the team waived Eno Benjamin.

Jeff Wilson v HOU ($5,900)

Wilson has really hit the ground running since his trade to Miami. Wilson was on the field for 61% of the snaps last time out, with 49% the week before. Not only is he on the field, he is getting touches too- averaging 13 carries and 2.5 receptions in Miami. Against the worst run defense in the league, it’s a great selection at sub $6k.

Latavius Murray v CAR ($5,000)

Murray really has had an interesting season, playing for two different teams in the UK this season, then becoming the starter for one of them. Melvin Gordon being released and Chase Edmonds on IR means that Murray’s path to touches in this offense isn’t going to be challenged. The Panthers are definitely a team you can get too, giving up an average of 26.1 DKPts this season.

Also consider Leonard Fournette/ Rachaad White @CLE ($5,800/ $5,100), Samaje Perine @TEN ($5,600)

DK Metcalf/ Tyler Lockett v LV ($6,500/ $6,200)

The Raiders secondary is a middling one. They haven’t given up a huge score to a receiver for a number of weeks, but then they haven’t really faced any top-tier receiver since forever. The duo of Metcalf and Lockett are performing well together, and the best thing is they don’t really eat into each others production. Of the two I’d prefer Lockett, but I’m fine with either.

Chris Godwin @CLE ($6,000)

To start the week I was in on Evans as the receiver to stack with Tom Brady, but I’m moving towards Godwin now. His target share is great in the offense, and really the thing that is really missing from his box scores is TDs. That is really the issue of this offense being honest, but this Cleveland secondary can be beaten through the air. As a result, I like Godwin as a pivot from Evans.

Terry McLaurin v ATL ($5,800)

McLaurin is getting targets from a QB that just doesn’t really mind too much when it comes to airing it out. He is getting around a quarter of all targets in the offense and is about to face the Falcons poor secondary. This might be chalky at the price, but you have eat chalk sometimes.

DJ Moore v DEN ($5,000)

Moore becomes interesting for me with the Panthers announcing that Sam Darnold is going to be the starting QB. When Darnold was the QB previously, Moore was heavily targeted. With a lack of offensive firepower we should see something similar here. I’m not saying that he crushes for a big yardage total, but with DK’s PPR scoring I’ll take all the checkdowns for a nice floor.

Treylon Burks v CIN ($4,200)

Burks had his coming out party last week against the Packers, and I truly thought his price would be higher. This is a run-first offense, which hurts Burks floor, but he has big play ability as we just saw. There aren’t alot of players that can really hit high numbers at this price-tag. Might be a chalky play, certainly feels like I’m chasing the points but with expensive plays elsewhere, you need to take some risks.

Also consider Mike Evans @CLE ($6,700), Amari Cooper v TB ($6,400), Allen Robinson II @KC ($5,500), Marquise Brown v LAC ($5,300) & Garrett Wilson v CHI ($4,300)

Travis Kelce v LAR ($7,700)

Kelce is almost two players in one, with just how many points he is scoring this season compared to other TEs. Some will look elsewhere, with the Rams giving up less than 10 DKPts on average to the position, but Kelce is truly matchup-proof. A nice (expensive) stack with Mahomes is a nice way to start your lineup.

Tyler Higbee @KC ($4,200)

The Rams are needing to fill the huge gap left by Cooper Kupp being out of the offense. There are no doubt going to be players that pop up at times, but the two most reliable are going to be Allen Robinson and Higbee. Higbee is getting a good number of targets, and you really aren’t paying for it with this price tag. The Rams are going to need to throw the ball in this one to try and score, which should help Higbee.

Foster Moreau @SEA ($3,400)

The Raiders offense isn’t great for receivers that aren’t named Davante Adams, but this matchup attracts me to Moreau. This selection isn’t with out risk, as Moreau has only have double-digits in Week 10, where he scored a TD. But, no risk it, no biscuit.

Also consider Greg Dulcich @CAR ($3,700), David Njoku v TB ($3,600) & Tyler Conklin v CHI ($3,100)

Carolina Panthers @DEN ($3,000)

The Panthers offense hasn’t been good this season, but the defense has actually been serviceable. They have given up points to the opposition, but they have been able to be viable for fantasy. With the way that Denver’s offense has struggled this season, the Panthers could be a nice pivot from the Chiefs.

Kansas City Chiefs v LAR ($2,800)

The Chiefs as a sub $3k option is going to attract just a supreme amount of people for a few reasons. Firstly, the Chiefs defense are actually a great fantasy unit with 32 sacks, and 12 turnovers this season. Secondly, this Rams offense is just……not going to be what we are used to seeing. Matt Stafford & John Wolford are out, so they are wheeling out Bryce Perkins to lead this offense that now doesn’t have it’s star Cooper Kupp.

New Orleans Saints @SF ($2,400)

The Saints defense have had back-to-back games where they have limited their opposition to 15 or less points. Yes, they have given up yardage, but their bend don’t break defense has worked this season. The pass rush has been effective all season with 32 sacks recorded this season. Jimmy G has shown previously, if you increase the pressure on him he can falter.