Moving onto Week 18 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.
Blaine Gabbert @LAC ($4,800)
What do Lamar Jackson, Joe Flacco and Matthew Stafford all have in common? Yup, an easy one – they’ve all been fantasy studs at the quarterback position over the last month of the season; with Jackson the QB1, Flacco the QB2 and Stafford the QB8 since week 14. Ok, what else links these 3 top-tier options that have won countless re-draft leagues and secured big returns in DFS for those savvy enough to roster them…that’s right, all of them are being rested this weekend as the NFL regular season draws to a close – Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the madness that is week 18 in fantasy football.
In true week 18 fashion, we kick off the bargains column with a quarterback who hasn’t made an NFL start in over 5 years (God bless these dead-rubber games), KC’s Blaine Gabbert. The former 1st round draft pick (yes, I’m serious) will lead out the Chiefs in Patrick Mahomes’ absence, with the $450m man getting the week off due to KC winning the AFC South and locking their spot as the #3 seed in the playoffs. Gabbert’s last start came on New Year’s Eve 2018 for Tennessee in a 17-33 loss against an Indianapolis Colts team led by Andrew Luck, and has attempted just 40 regular season passes since. Now aged 34 and a season removed from being Tom Brady’s backup in Tampa, the No.10 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft will get to air it out against a Chargers defense allowing over 275 passing yards per game to opposing QBs. Travis Kelce is 16 yards shy of his 8th consecutive 1,000 yard season – so expect Gabbert to at least eclipse that. I’m not expecting much from Gabbert, but the opportunity is there, and if nothing else I am confident he’ll have his best fantasy output of the last 5 years this Sunday.
Jeff Driskel @CIN ($4,000)
Never has a meme been more fitting to describe a situation that Joe Flacco and the Cleveland Browns find themselves in entering week 18. Sitting at 7-5 after back-to-back losses in Denver and Los Angeles, and now on their 4th starting quarterback of the season, Browns fans could be forgiven for thinking their season was over…how wrong they were. After that initial loss to the Rams, the 38-year old former Super Bowl MVP led Cleveland though their 4-game winning streak, securing the 5th seed in the AFC playoffs and earning a well deserved week off as the team head down-state to Cincinnati. With Flacco napping up, Jeff Driskel will lead the Browns against the team that gave him his first snaps as an NFL pro. Driskel is 1-9 as a starter in his career but will be looking for his 2nd win against his old team, and with the Bengals allowing nearly 270 passing yards per game and over 20 fantasy points to opposing QBs – there’s a chance he may just get it. Priced up at $4000 (the position minimum at quarterback) Driskel gives you a starter at the lowest possible cost – if you want to spend big elsewhere, he’s a legitimate option.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire @LAC ($4,900)
As I alluded to in my write-up on Blaine Gabbert, the Chiefs will be resting starters (I mean, I had a write up about Blaine Gabbert, of course they’re resting starters). Like Travis Kelce, Isaiah Pacheco is chasing a 1,000 yard season…unlike Travis Kelce, Isaiah Pacehco is nursing multiple injuries heading into the week, with the Chiefs No.1 rusher suffering from a shoulder and a quad injury following his best running performance of the year last time out. With the sophomore back banged up, and the playoffs on the horizon, my bet is Pacheco sits, allowing 4th year back and former 1st round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire to see more action. CEH is running at only 3.3 yards per carry, but should be able to volume his way into fantasy relevance at SoFi on Sunday against a Chargers defense ranked 23rd against the run. He’ll likely cede work to La’Mical Perine, but CEH is a good bet for a goalline touchdown if the Chiefs get within the 5.
Chase Brown v CLE ($4,600)
After 3 consecutive games of over 50 total yards, it’s been back to reality for the Bengals rookie rusher, seeing just 11 total opportunities in his last 2 contests. Joe Mixon saw 21 carries in Cincinnati’s week 17 loss on the road in Kansas City, the 2nd highest number he has seen all year…but with that loss, the Bengals are out of the playoff picture and may want to look to the future to see just what they have in their 5th round draft pick. Mixon is entering the final year of his 4-year contract in Ohio and Brown, the 59th overall pick in the CFL draft in the summer, may be the man to replace him. We’ve already seen Brown’s big play ability on the ground and through the air. Expect him to see a much larger workload in this all Ohio clash on Sunday as Cincinnati looks to go over .500 to end their year.
Jaleel McLaughlin @LV ($4,400)
When fantasy managers heard Javonte Williams would be healthy in time for the start of the season, there was a collective celebration…one tinged with excitement. Those who witnessed the former Tar Heels’ rookie season back in 2021 and drafted him high in their re-draft leagues were left disappointed last year after the 2nd round draft pick unfortunately tore his ACL and LCL after a mere 4 games, prematurely ending his season. Despite being touted to start the year on the PUP, Williams was ready to go week 1, but as has been the case with so many great backs who suffer significant injuries…he just wasn’t the same explosive player he was prior to being hurt. Along with injury, part of Williams’ downfall has been at the hands of his teammate; Jaleel McLaughlin, a surprisingly UDFA rookie out of Youngstown State. McLaughlin holds the all-time NCAA rushing record with 8,166 yards in his time at college, along with 79 touchdowns. We’ve seen flashes from the 23-year old, particularly as a receiver out of the backfield. With Williams’ injury history and the Bronc’s season all but over, McLaughlin should see increased usage as the Broncos head to Sin City to take on the Raiders this weekend.
Greg Dortch v SEA ($4,600)
As a Trey McBride owner in my long-term dynasty league, you can imagine my levels of disdain I was feeling towards Cardinals wideout Greg Dortch every time he got a look from Kyler Murray in their upset victory over the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. Dortch led the team in receptions and yards, hauling in all 7 of his targets (T-1st with McBride) for 82 scoreless yards. Given Dortch and tight end McBride accounted for 45% of team targets and 56% of the teams total receiving yards, fantasy managers were justifiably disappointed that none of Kyler Murray’s 3 touchdown passes found either of the pair in the 35-31 shootout win. Prior to Murray’s return in week 10, Dortch had seen 2 targets all year, since Kyler resumed his duties under centre, Dortch has seen 35 targets in only 6 games. Kyler clearly trusts the 5th-year receiver out of Wake Forest, and after the partnership’s 100% success rate in Philly, expect Murray to once again be looking for Dortch in the open field. Seattle are a middle of the pack defense against the pass – but Murray will be out to prove just why he is the guy for Arizona ahead of the 2024 draft.
Darius Slayton v PHI ($4,000)
Moving on from one receiver who just torched the Eagles to another who’ll be looking to do just that this weekend. The Giants close out their season with the visit of divisional rivals Philadelphia, both teams sitting at 1-3 in their last 4 outings. The Tommy DeVito era in New York is over, and with it so are the Giants memories of winning football games. Tyrod Taylor will be under centre for the G-Men as they look to improve to 6-11 and get their revenge on the Eagles for their week 16 defeat on the road in Pennsylvania. One man benefitting from T-Mobile’s return is speedster Darius Slayton, with the 5th-year receiver posting his best 2 outings on the year in the last fortnight thanks to Taylor’s ability to sling a deep ball. Slayton has put up a combined 196 yards and 2 scores in the Giants defeats to the Rams and this weekend’s opponents, and will look to make it 3 games in a row with a touchdown against the league’s worst passing defense. Slayton is a big play dart throw, but at only $4000, he could 4x his salary in one play.
D.J. Chark v TB ($3,700)
I’m unsure what surprises me more; that I am recommending a Carolina Panther receiver not named Adam Thielen, or that Chark is only $3700 just 2 weeks removed from a 98-yard and 2 touchdown performance against the Packers. The only way was down for the former LSU Tiger after his career day versus Green Bay, but even those with the lowest of expectations would have been disappointed with D.J.’s 1 reception for 18 yards in Carolina’s shut-out loss on the road in Jacksonville last time out. The silver lining on that very dark cloud was Chark’s 6 targets, T-1st on the team with the veteran Theielen, who himself only had 38 yards (team leading I’ll add). It’s been a year to forget for Carolina, and with the No.1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft already secured, what have they got to lose…oh yeah, they traded that away to the Chicago Bears. Well, the latter part of that still stands – with a guaranteed 32nd place finish and a game against their divisional rivals – Bryce Young and co will look to give those in attendance something to cheer about on Sunday afternoon. The Bucs rank 31st against opposing wideouts, giving up over 185 yards on average to the position each week. Chark could be a very sneaky play at a bargain $3700.
Jonnu Smith @NO ($2,900)
For one final time this season, let’s spin the ‘Arthur Smith Wheel of Fantasy (mis)Fortune’. Trying to pick which (if any) Atlanta Falcon will be relevant for fantasy on any given week has been challenging to say the least. The Falcon’s Head Coach has been a thorn in the side of all fantasy managers this season, and with the news that owner Arthur Blank has already decided on Smith’s fate, I am expecting nothing less than every single one of this Atlanta team to go off as they head to New Orleans to take on the Saints. Unbelievably, the Falcons (at 7-9) are still in playoff contention, needing to win in Louisiana on Sunday, whilst at the same time hoping Carolina can overcome the Bucs in Charlotte. Despite being the No.2 tight end on the team, Jonnu Smith is the 4th leading receiver in Atlanta behind only Drake London, Bijan Robinson and fellow TE Kyle Pitts. Despite putting up a goose egg last timeout, Smith is 3rd on the team in total receiving yards and only 1 TD behind Pitts and Bijan on the year through the air. We’ve seen Smith go for 60+ yards on 4 occasions already this season, including a 100 yard game back in week 9 against the Vikings. He’s a crap-shoot at $2900, but one we’ve seen pay off already this year on numerous occasions.
Noah Gray @LAC ($2,500)
Remember earlier I noted Travis Kelce was just 16 yards short of his 8th consecutive 1,000 yard season…well as soon as he gets those 16 yards expect the guy who plays on the Chiefs (one for the Swifties out there) to hit the pine…or more likely the locker room, so he can get changed in time for the Golden Globes ceremony being held a few miles from SoFi in Beverly Hills. Kelce’s regular season is over immediately after he eclipses the four-figure mark, paving the way for the 3rd-year Gray to pad out his stats on the year against a very generous Chargers pass defense. We know how it goes, backups always have good rapport with fellow backups, so expect Blaine Gabbert and Noah Gray to be on the winning Milly Maker roster…I don’t make the rules. Gray has hauled in 74% of his targets on the year for 305 yards and 2 scores…he’s more than competent at the position and should get an opportunity to show why the Chiefs drafted him in the 5th round back in 2021.
Los Angeles Chargers v KC ($2,800)
The eagle-eyed amongst you will note that I have already highlighted 3 Kansas City Chiefs in this column as potential price-friendly starts for your lineups this week. What I would remind you all however is that those same 3 players are all backups, and don’t start week in week out for a reason. There is certainly a world that exists where Blaine Gabbert throws for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns at SoFi on Sunday…but there is an equal probability the former 1st rounder (nope, still can’t believe it) tosses 3 pick-sixes in his opening 3 drives and gives the Chargers defense a bumper fantasy day. With a whole host of starters out for KC, the Chargers will be looking to end their season at home on a high…or they could get shredded yet again by an opposing QB, but at $2800 I’m willing to roll the dice.
Los Angeles Rams @SF ($2,600)
As with their roommates, I like the Rams DST this week purely based on their opponents potential starting lineup. The 49ers have clinched the No.1 seed in the NFC and with it, home field advantage through the playoffs…so expect Mike Shanahan to give a lot of his key men a breather when the Rams roll into town this weekend. We already know Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey are 100% out of Sunday’s clash, with Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle likely to also sit in a bid to avoid any injuries ahead of the 49ers’ postseason push. San Francisco are the worst possible matchup on the year for opposing defenses, but not this version of the team. The Rams will also sit key men, so think of this more as a pre-season game where anything could happen. It may be backups vs backups at Levi’s Stadium, but I would expect more mistakes to come on offense, making the Rams DST a nice budget pick on the slate.
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Image Credit: Jay Biggerstaff – USA TODAY Sports
