Moving onto Week 14 of the 2023 season, and we are going to give you some DraftKings bargain bin plays for the week. These are plays that are on the ultra-value/ GPP contrarian side. So generally avoid these plays in cash game lineups, but in GPPs- especially big fields go for it!
You can find all of our DFS content here, and be ready for the week.
Jake Browning v IND ($5,200)
Let’s start the week 14 Bargains column by playing a game of Guess Who (or simply Guess The Quarterback just in case anyone at Hasbro is reading this and attempts to sue me for trademark infringement). Ok, here we go…Is this player a quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals; yes! Does this player have a passer rating over 100 on the season; he sure does! Did he just put up over 350 yards passing on the Jacksonville Jags defense on Monday Night Football in a 34-31 overtime victory; he did indeed! Are his initials J.B.; why yes, they are! Ok, this is easy; it‘s Joe Burrow right…wrong! There’s a new J.B. at the helm for the Bengals and just like his initial twin and team mate Joey B has done so many times, Jake Browning put on a show under the lights in Prime Time this past Monday. Browning’s 354 passing yards were the 2nd highest allowed by Jacksonville all year, with only Josh Allen’s 359 yard effort back in week 5 eclipsing the UDFA out of Washington. Let’s not get carried away though, this was only Browning’s 2nd ever NFL start but fantasy managers should be buoyed by the performance as the Bengals host the 7-5 Indianapolis Colts. The Bengals at 6-6 are very much in the playoff picture after Pittsburgh’s loss to New England on TNF and against a Colts defense that allowed Will Levis to pass on them for 224 and a score, J.B. may be a great value start at $5200.
Joe Flacco v JAX ($4,700)
In his first start since January, Joe Flacco gave us the most Joe Flacco performance imaginable as the 38-year old veteran posted a modest 254 yard passing performance for 2 touchdowns and an interception. At 7-5 and 2 games back on the Ravens in the AFC North, the Browns only hope of post-season football is via a Wildcard spot; and starting Joe Flacco at QB is their best shot at doing just that. Cleveland welcomes Jacksonville to the Dawg Pound this weekend, the very defense that we’ve just discussed Jake Browning carving up for over 350 yards. Flacco has reverted back to the practise squad for now, but with DRT still yet to clear concussion protocol, the former Raven looks a safe bet to get his 2nd start in a Browns uniform on Sunday. Jacksonville are very generous to opposing QBs so there’s hope Flacco can give you great value for your $4700 outlay.
Dameon Pierce @NYJ ($5,000)
*puts on Ron Burgundy voice* Welcome back to fantasy relevance Dameon Pierce? After missing 3 games with an ankle injury, Pierce finally got back on the field for 5 whole carries in the Texans week 12 defeat to Jacksonville. The narrative that the team were “easing him in” checked out as Houston’s No.1 back saw 63% of the carries last time out against Denver, converting his 15 attempts into 41 yards and a score. Appearing to be fully fit, the sophomore back out of Florida should look to see a significant workload against a Jets defense allowing an average of 146 yards to opposing rushers. Devin Singletary will undoubtedly see a notable number of carries, but against the No.1 pass defense in the league, Houston may have to rely on their ground game more than usual in this one. Rookie sensation C.J. Stroud should still be able to get it done, but expect both runners on the Texans to see more work on Sunday with Pierce being the main beneficiary.
Keaton Mitchell v LAR ($4,900)
There are only 3 players in the NFL averaging a higher yards per carry than Baltimore’s rookie running back; Derrick Gore (11.5 YPC), Israel Abanikanda (11.0 YPC) and De’Von Achane (9.5 YPC). Given Abanikanda has 1 attempt on the season for 11 yards and Gore 2 for 23 (with a long of 23) we can safely rank Mitchell’s 9.3 yards per carry as 2nd in the league behind Miami’s explosive 1st year rusher out of Texas A&M. Mitchell paced the Ravens backfield in their week 13 win with 9 carries to Gus Edwards 8 putting up 64 yards with his opportunities compared to Edwards 26. Mitchell isn’t just the future of this backfield, he is the present and should see his workload continue to increase at home to the Rams this Sunday. LA does have one of the better run defenses in the league, but Mitchell’s ability to burst out of the backfield gives him an upside that very few other rushers possess. I’m expecting at least 1 big play on the ground from the rookie, coupled with his usage in the passing game – he’s a mid-floor, high-upside start for only $4900.
DeeJay Dallas @SF ($4,700)
If points were awarded for having the most intimidating DraftKings headshot, Seattle’s DeeJay Dallas would be an auto-start every single week (seriously, go check it out, it’s terrifying). Normally I wouldn’t be recommending a guy who is a distant 3rd on the depth chart, but with both Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet nursing injuries and yet to fully practise this week; DeeJay Dallas may be in for a significant workload when the Seahawks head to the Bay area for this divisional matchup. Now in his 4th year with Seattle, the special teamer has proven to be useful when given an expanded role. In his rookie and sophomore seasons, any time Dallas was given at least 8 carries, he returned over 40 yards or a touchdown, including a 58 yard/2 touchdown performance against Sunday’s opponents back in 2020. This one is a punt, and only recommended if at least 1 of Walker and Charbonnet sit, but there could be starter level upside with Dallas for only $4700.
Drake London v TB ($4,600)
It’s been hard going this year for the No.8 overall pick of the 2022 draft. London is on pace for 71 receptions for 885 yards and 3 touchdowns this season; not too dissimilar from his rookie production of 72 grabs for 866 yards and 4 scores. It hasn’t been a disaster for the Falcons leading receiver, but it hasn’t been the jump we were all hoping for in his sophomore year. The former USC Trojan has only topped 100 yards all season, back in week 6 and hasn’t found the end zone since week 4 in Jacksonville. I am expecting one, if not both of those to change this weekend as Atlanta hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their pass funnel defense in the early kick offs. The Bucs are allowing a staggering 193 yards to opposition wideouts and with only Mack Hollins, KhaDarel Hodge and Van Jefferson alongside London in the receiving room – that’s a lot of yards on offer for highest drafted WR in the 2022 class. Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson will see looks from Desmond Ridder, but against the best rush defense in the NFL, Atlanta are going to have to turn to the passing game if they want to make it 3 wins on the bounce in this tough divisional matchup.
Odell Beckham Jr. v LAR ($3,800)
Last week was the first time OBJ had gone under 100 receiving yards or had failed to find the end zone since week 8 in Arizona. The 31-year old veteran was sparingly used, as were most of the Ravens pass-catchers as their run game tore up the Los Angeles Chargers for almost 200 yards at SoFi Stadium. Week 14 presents an entirely different challenge for Baltimore as they welcome the other tenants of SoFi, the Los Angeles Rams, to Maryland, looking for a win that could see them retain their spot as the No.1 seed in the AFC. This matchup currently has an O/U of just 40 points, with the Ravens starting at 7.5 point favourites, but with a fully fit offense for only the 3rd time this season, I don’t see how Matt Stafford and company don’t come out all guns blazing in their bid to reach the post-season. Lamar Jackson is dealing with an illness that held him out of Thursday’s practise, this may limit his usual ability to scramble out of the pocket, so expect Jakson to lean on his receivers more in the Ravens quest to seal home field advantage on the road to the Super Bowl. You’ll struggle to find a better option at the price than OBJ.
Zay Jones @CLE ($3,700)
You’ll struggle to find a better option at the price than OBJ…except possibly Jacksonville’s Zay Jones. The 7th year veteran returned to the Jags starting lineup in week 11 after a 6 week absence due to a knee injury, and has slowly been getting re-integrated into the team’s plans. Last week’s OT loss to Cincinnati saw Jones record his highest target, reception and yardage totals on the season with the former East Carolina Pirate corralling 5 of his 8 targets for 78 yards. Jones’ increase in use is in no small part to the core injury sustained by the team’s leading receiver Christian Kirk, and with Kirk set to be sidelined for the foreseeable, Jones may once again be a fantasy darling down the stretch for managers (remember that 109 yard/3 touchdown performance in week 15 last season?). It’s likely Jacksonville may be without Trevor Lawrence, limiting Jones’ upside, but at only $3700 he’ll be in a tonne of my lineups.
Brevin Jordan @NYJ ($3,100)
Repeat after me. Brevin. Jordan. Is. A. Tight. End…Brevin Jordan is a…WIDE RECEIVER! The Texans sophomore “tight end” posted a career high 64 receiving yards in the team’s 22-17 win over Denver last time out in the absence of Dalton Schultz. With Schultz yet to practise this week, it appears as if the 2nd year “tight end” and former Miami Hurricane is in line for another week of starter’s snaps, which should mean plenty more looks from C.J. Stroud. Jordan’s 4 targets last weekend were a season high and he will look to build on those against a solid New York Jets pass defense in East Rutherford on Sunday. Despite Gang Green being near unbeatable at the wideout position, they are susceptible to the tight end, so expect Stroud to use Jordan plenty if he’s feeling the heat from the Jets pass rush. On a slate with very few safe tight end options, Jordan presents a possible floor others don’t have without a touchdown.
Michael Mayer v MIN ($2,900)
Halloween is but a distant memory, as are all the Michael Meyers puns I got to throw about just as the Raiders rookie tight end was heating up in mid-October. Mayer’s role in the Las Vegas passing game has seen an increase since week 10, with the Fighting Irish alum seeing 14 targets in his previous 3 outings, establishing himself as the 3rd option through the air for Aidan O’Connell. The Raiders play host to a Vikings team fresh off their week 13 bye, but prior to their week off, Minnesota allowed Chicago’s Cole Kmet to haul in all 7 of his targets for 43 scoreless yards. Mayer is certainly a dart throw, but with his expanding role in this offense he is unlikely to goose egg your lineup on the week.
Carolina Panthers @NO ($3,000)
Remember how last week pretty much the entire New Orleans receiver corps was banged up? Well add tight end Taysom Hill to the list as well as starting quarterback Derek Carr. The Saints are decimated with injuries, and while it is anticipated that Carr will start against Carolina this weekend, my expectations for this offense are low. The Panthers rank 2nd in the league against opposing QBs, and getting to face a sub 100% Derek Carr or Famous Jameis Winston only strengthens them as a top selection this week. If Taysom Hill sits, the Panthers defense can focus all their attention on Alvin Kamara in an attempt to stop the run. The Saints are 5 point favourites coming into the weekend, and rightly so based on recent form – but don’t be shocked if this ends up a much closer game than Vegas predicts. The Panthers DST could be the top scoring fantasy pick on either side of the ball in this one.
Kansas City Chiefs v BUF ($2,600)
What has happened to the mighty Chiefs defense that was carrying fantasy teams in the earlier part of the season? Since week 11 this unit has only posted a combined 11 fantasy points, 1 short of the 12 they scored in week 9 against Miami in Frankfurt. KC have recorded only 3 sacks in their last 2 games, with 0 interceptions or forced fumbles, at the same time allowing 740 total yards to the Green Bay Packers and Las Vegas Raiders…not good reading for DC Steve Spagnuolo. The Chiefs welcome Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills to Arrowhead this Sunday, an offense that has committed 20 total turnovers through 12 games this season. Be under no illusion, this could get ugly for KC if Buffalo come to play – but as the 4th lowest cost DST on the slate, the Chiefs can produce an elite performance for your fantasy team…just temper expectations.
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