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 150 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
Patrick Mahomes ($8,200 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel) Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams
With no Josh Allen or Jalen Hurts available on this slate, and with Justin Fields questionable to play, the clear top option in terms of floor/ceiling combination is by far Mahomes. Lamar Jackson has been too inconsistent to trust in cash games, while Kyler Murray will be playing his first game in three weeks.
Enter Mahomes, who has now thrown for 300+ yards in each of his past five games and gone over 30 DraftKings points in four straight and in five of six. While Kadarius Toney will miss this game, Mahomes will have JuJu Smith-Schuster back from his concussion while also getting more snaps for dynamic rookie Skyy Moore.
The Chiefs have the second-highest implied team total on the slate at 28.75 and are 15.5-point home favorites against the Rams, whose season is all but over.
Mahomes is going to smash here.
Geno Smith ($6,000 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel) Seattle Seahawks vs. Las Vegas Raiders
If you don’t prefer to spend up this week, Geno Smith is shaping up to be the best points-per-dollar quarterback play on the slate. The Seahawks are back home and coming off their bye, and boast the fourth-highest implied team total on the slate at 25.75 points. The Raiders have allowed 23 points or more in eight of the 10 games they’ve played this season and rank dead last in pass defense DVOA.
Smith has been incredibly consistent this season as well, posting over 19 DraftKings points in six of 10 games this year while hitting 15 and 17 in two others.
While not boasting the highest ceiling, you basically know what you’re getting with Smith, and in a pristine home spot at just $6,000, he is viable in all formats.
NFL DFS Running Back Picks
Jeff Wilson Jr. ($5,900 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel) Miami Dolphins vs. Houston Texans
There is not a whole lot that needs to be said here. Raheem Mostert is doubtful this week, meaning Wilson will be the lead back against arguably the worst run defense in the NFL at just $5,900. He’s going to be the highest-owned player on the slate by far, and while you could always make a case to fade someone like that, I really don’t think there’s any merit to fading JWJ in this spot in tournaments. In cash games, you are locking him in and moving along.
The Dolphins have the highest implied team total on the slate at 30.5 and are 14-point home favorites. The Texans invite teams to run against them, and it’s really hard to envision Wilson not challenging for the 100-yard bonus and scoring a touchdown.
Eat the chalk.
Rachaad White (5,100 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel) Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cleveland Browns
With Leonard Fournette listed as doubtful to play in this game, White will step into one of the best roles a running back could have in the NFL. Tom Brady loves checking down to his running backs, as Fournette had six or more targets in five of the nine full games he’s played in this season. White had already started eating into his workload and will now have the backfield all to himself in this dream spot against the Browns.
Cleveland ranks dead last in rush defense DVOA and have allowed the second most DraftKings points to the position. White costs just $5,100 on DraftKings — and while there are likely a few more paths to failure than there are for Jeff Wilson, you are absolutely locking the rookie in cash games.
NFL DFS Wide Receiver Picks
Tee Higgins ($6,900 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel) Cincinnati Bengals @ Tennessee Titans
This is strictly predicated on Ja’Marr Chase sitting this week, as Higgins would be too cheap for his role at just $6,900 on DraftKings. Higgins is coming off a mammoth game against the Steelers last week, hauling in nine of 13 targets for 148 yards. The Titans have been getting torched by wide receivers this year, having allowed the second-most touchdowns, fifth-most receiving yards, and third-most DraftKings points allowed to the position.
Joe Mixon has been ruled out for this game, which should naturally lead to a more pass-heavy approach by the Bengals, and if Chase does indeed sit, we know where those targets are going. I don’t think people realize what kind of talent Higgins truly is or that last week’s game log is more predictive than the previous two games sans Chase.
Keenan Allen ($6,100 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel) Los Angeles Chargers @ Arizona Cardinals
Allen seems fully healthy for the first time this season, and it showed last week against the Chiefs as he posted five catches for 94 yards on eight targets. Now with Mike Williams ruled out, Allen can turn back into the target hog he was last year. We know Allen is not going to get there strictly on efficiency, so it’s important for him to see heavy volume, and at just $6,100, his projected role is too strong for his price.
This Chargers/Cardinals game features the highest total on the main slate and could definitely lead to some fireworks. Arizona’s defense is also coming off a dismantling at the hands of the 49ers on Monday night. There are projected to be a ton of plays run in this game, and Allen should benefit.
NFL DFS Tight End Picks
Travis Kelce ($7,700 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel) Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams
If you do choose to pay up in cash, it absolutely has to be for Kelce, who’s coming off another one of his nuclear games against the Chargers, where he caught six passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns. He and Mahomes are absolutely locked in right now, and with the Chiefs’ pass rate amongst the league’s highest — we know the volume will be there. As mentioned above in the Mahomes write-up, the Chiefs have a monster total and are playing at home against a dead team.
Kelce’s $7,700 tag is a bit steep, but we absolutely know what we’re getting, and he could absolutely blow every other tight end out of the water in terms of DraftKings points. Feel free to run him in all formats without hesitation.
Hayden Hurst ($3,300 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel) Cincinnati Bengals @ Tennessee Titans
Hurst is a good play with or without Ja’Marr Chase in the lineup but would become a fantastic option if he does end up sitting at just $3,300. Joe Mixon being out also would swing a few more targets his way as well. The Titans rank 21st in DraftKings points allowed to the tight end position, and we are really not looking for a ton from Hurst to pay off value here.
Punting is usually the way to go in cash games, and Hurst is popping as one of the best points-per-dollar plays on the slate at the position. Obviously, he’s not the sexiest play on the board, but he could easily go something like 6/48/1 and smash at his price.
Get $100 Sign-up Bonus!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Understanding Ceiling Projections for NFL DFS Tournaments
NFL DFS Showdown: Lineup Optimizer Rules and My Favorite Angle in Chargers vs. Chiefs
Steelers-Browns Same Game Parlay: NFL Player Prop Picks, Over/Under, More, Using Parlay IQ for Thursday Night Football
Week 4 NFL DFS Top Model Picks and Value Plays on DraftKings and FanDuel
