There are an abundance of tools at FantasyLabs to use for your NFL DFS lineups each week. Our most popular tools are our NFL Player Models, which house our NFL DFS projections from Sean Koerner.
You can use these projections in our models with our Lineup Builder to hand-build your lineups or use our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups for your NFL DFS tournaments.
In this article, we will go position by position, highlighting my favorite plays for both cash games and single-entry/three-max GPP contests. These plays are also viable in large field tournaments but do not focus on ownership percentages.
NFL DFS Cash Game + Single-Entry GPP Locks
NFL DFS Quarterback Picks
Jalen Hurts ($7,200 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel) Philadelphia Eagles vs. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have a really strong defense, but they struggle big time against opposing wide receivers, and the Eagles have one of the most talent receiving corps in the league. Hurts is simply too cheap compared to the other quarterback options on the slate. His rushing floor is so high that he really does not have to do nearly as much as a Burrow, Purdy, or even Mahomes to smash value at his price tag.
Also, his rushing touchdown equity is so high anytime Philly gets around the goal line that a two-touchdown game on the ground is always in play. The Eagles are only one-point home favorites this week, which means Hurts’ services will be needed deep into the second half, unlike so many of their games already this year, including last week against the Giants.
At just $7,200, Hurts is probably $1,000 too cheap in a game that’s going to be extremely competitive.
NFL DFS Running Back Picks
Christian McCaffrey ($8,000 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel) San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles
McCaffrey would be a great play if this were a great running back slate, but he becomes a standout play when you look at the options available to us this week. Jerick McKinnon is in a timeshare with Isaiah Pacheco, and Miles Sanders is a yardage and touchdown back in a three-way timeshare against an elite rush defense. Even Joe Mixon has to deal with the emerging Samaje Perine, as Cincy has shown zero qualms about giving him work in high-leverage spots.
The Eagles have been quite susceptible to opposing running backs this season, sitting 24th in yards per carry allowed and 19th in rush defense DVOA. CMC’s receiving floor and touchdown equity are so high that he would be a great play against anybody at $8,000, but when you look at the contextual factors of the slate, there’s really zero opportunity cost in fading him. Also, to add fuel to the fire, Elijah Mitchell looks very questionable to play in this game with a groin injury, which would only further cement McCaffrey’s three down + goal-line role.
NFL DFS Wide Receiver Picks
Ja’Marr Chase ($7,600 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel) Cincinnati Bengals @ Kansas City Chiefs
Chase is hands down the best receiver play on the slate. Outside of last week, where the Bengals were up big and went run-heavy in the second half, Chase had received 12 or more targets in five of his previous six games. No other receiver on this slate gets that kind of volume. With the total of this Chiefs/Bengals game skyrocketing to 52.5, there’s a good chance of a back-and-forth affair here with these two explosive offenses.
Not only has Chase been getting elite volume, but he’s in a dream spot this week against a Charmin soft Chiefs pass defense. KC has given up the sixth most DraftKings points to opposing wideouts and have allowed the second most receiving touchdowns on the season, behind only the Titans. Oh, by the way, in Week 17 of last season, Chase went for 11 catches, 266 yards, and three touchdowns against this very defense.
This is setting up as another eruption spot. Chase seems like a strong bet to go over his 18 fantasy points on PrizePicks props.
Deebo Samuel ($5,700 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel) San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Despite the elite secondary of the Eagles, Samuel is simply too cheap for both his role and his upside in this spot. Much like it affects McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell potentially missing this game would not only give more work to Samuel in the run game, but it would likely force San Francisco into more pass-heavy situations when McCaffrey is getting a breather. I doubt we see very much of Tyrion Davis-Price or Jordan Mason in this game.
We saw the sky-high ceiling Samuel possesses just two weeks ago against the Seahawks when he took a short pass 74 yards to the house and finished with 6/133/1 on nine targets. Fading Deebo is always a scary thought due to that exact situation that played out against Seattle, which is that he’s a threat to score anytime he touches the ball from anywhere on the field. I very much prefer finding the $1,300 to get up to him over Brandon Aiyuk.
NFL DFS Tight End Picks
Travis Kelce ($7,800 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel) Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals
This one comes with a caveat. It’s really difficult to make a roster this week with all three of CMC, Ja’Marr Chase and Kelce, with a non Brock Purdy quarterback and like the rest of your roster. You would essentially have to double punt with a tight end in the flex while also playing a Kadarius Toney/Marquez Valdes-Scantling at wide receiver. Don’t get me wrong, on a two-game slate that’s 100% viable, but the 2v2s and 3v3s will always look better on the other side.
That said, Kelce is obviously a phenomenal play this week. We know about his prowess in the playoffs and that continued last week against the Jaguars, where he somehow hauled in 14 passes (!) for 98 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Chiefs do not try and get cute in the postseason, so Kelce is going to remain the focal point of this offense and get another 10+ targets this week against a defense that ranks 23rd in DraftKings points allowed to opposing tight ends. He’s really as safe of a play as it gets this week, making this decision of who to fade between him, Chase, and CMC extremely tough
Hayden Hurst ($3,000 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel) Cincinnati Bengals @ Kansas City Chiefs
If you choose not to play Kelce, it pays to drop all the way down and run Hurst in this likely shootout with the Chiefs. At just $3,000, you really do not need him to do much, and you know he’s going to be on the field quite a bit if the Bengals are throwing. Hurst had a real nice game against Buffalo last week, catching five of six targets for 59 yards and a touchdown. He remains a safety blanket for Joe Burrow and is always a threat in the red zone.
Feel free to run Hurst in the flex also if you need a punt play, as he’s just as strong of a bet to reach value as some of the wide receivers priced $500 or more above him.
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