Only the Colts and Saints are on a bye, so we have a plethora of options to choose from this Sunday. There's potential for some high-scoring games, including when the Steelers take on the Bengals. Let's dig into the Sunday FanDuel NFL DFS slate and highlight some of the top players to consider.
The Games
A lot of the focus of NFL DFS picks is on individual players. Skills certainly matter, but finding game environments that are likely to promote a lot of points scored is a way to narrow the focus of our player pool.
| Over-Under | Road Team | Road Team Total | Home Team | Home Team Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41.5 | Panthers | 19.5 | Falcons | 23.5 |
| 47.5 | Buccaneers | 20.5 | Bills | 26.5 |
| 43.5 | Chargers | 23.5 | Jaguars | 20.5 |
| 47.5 | Bears | 23.5 | Vikings | 25.5 |
| 42.5 | Packers | 25.5 | Giants | 17.5 |
| 48.5 | Bengals | 21.5 | Steelers | 27.5 |
| 37 | Texans | 21.5 | Titans | 15.5 |
| 48 | 49ers | 25.5 | Cardinals | 23.5 |
| 48.5 | Seahawks | 23.5 | Rams | 26.5 |
| 38.5 | Ravens | 23.5 | Browns | 14.5 |
| 44.5 | Chiefs | 24.5 | Broncos | 20.5 |
There are two games with a total below 40 points and five with at least 47; the favorites with the highest totals include the Steelers, Rams and Bills.
Value Options
Aaron Rodgers, PIT vs. CIN ($7,300): The Bengals have allowed a league-high 33.3 points per game and the third-most passing yards per game. Rodgers exploited their weakness in Week 7, tallying 249 passing yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Coming off a bad performance against the Chargers last week, Rodgers could rebound in a big way.
Michael Wilson, ARI vs. SF ($5,500): The Cardinals are running out of healthy wide receivers. Zay Jones tore his Achilles in Week 10 and then Marvin Harrison Jr. was ruled out for Week 11 after undergoing surgery to address an appendicitis. Wilson could now be the team's de facto WR1 and faces a 49ers defense that's allowed the fourth-most receptions to wide receivers in the league.
Other Value Options
QB Jacoby Brissett, ARI vs. SF ($7,000)
QB Jameis Winston, NYG vs. GB ($6,000)
RB Jaylen Warren, PIT vs. CIN ($7,000)
RB RJ Harvey, DEN vs. KC ($5,800)
RB Emari Demercado, ARI vs. SF ($5,300)
WR Tez Johnson, TB at BUF ($5,900)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson, NYG vs. GB ($5,800)
WR Christian Watson, GB at NYG ($5,800)
TE Jonnu Smith, PIT vs. CIN ($5,100)
TE Noah Fant, CIN at PIT ($5,100)
Stacks to Consider
Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars
Justin Herbert ($8,200) threw for just 220 yards and one touchdown against the Steelers in Week 10, which ended his streak of four games with at least two touchdown passes. He already has 19 touchdowns through the air, putting him four behind his entire total from last season. His touchdown prowess is of note for this matchup against the Jaguars, who have given up the fourth-most scores through the air in the league.
A top option to pair with Herbert is Ladd McConkey ($7,500), who had four catches for 107 yards and one touchdown last week. After a slow start, he has 30 receptions for 418 yards and three touchdowns over his last five games. The key: 46 targets during that span after just 34 in his first five games.
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have had their issues on defense, allowing 24.4 points per game and the most passing yards in the league. They couldn't stop the Bengals in Week 7, allowing 33 points on their way to a loss. In that game, Joe Flacco ($7,800) threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns. The veteran quarterback has at least two touchdown passes in four straight games and attempted at least 45 passes three times during that span.
The Steelers have already had their bye, but they have still allowed the most receptions to wide receivers in the league. They had no answer for Ja'Marr Chase ($9,400), who caught 16 of 23 targets for 161 yards and one touchdown in their previous meeting. Over his last five games, Chase has been targeted a stunning 72 times, leaving him with 50 receptions for 567 yards and four touchdowns. While his salary will do a number in your budget, he could be well worth it in a Bengals' stack.
Other Stacks to Consider
Buccaneers – Baker Mayfield ($8,000) + Emeka Egbuka ($7,900)
Vikings – J.J. McCarthy ($6,800) + Justin Jefferson ($8,600)
Titans – Davis Mills ($6,700) + Nico Collins ($8,300)
High-Price Heroes
Josh Allen, BUF vs. TB ($9,000): The Bills are coming off a disappointing loss to the Dolphins, scoring only 13 points. Despite their inability to put many points on the board, Allen threw for 306 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while adding 31 yards on four carries. That marked his sixth game of the season with at least 30 rushing yards, as well as his sixth game with at least two touchdown passes.
It's difficult to find a good stacking option for Allen given the struggles the Bills have had at wide receiver. To make matters worse, Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) is trending towards sitting out. This could be one of those occasions where Allen tries to put the team on his back, providing the kind of stats both through the air and on the ground that make DFS lineups win.
Trey McBride, ARI vs. SF ($7,700): Wilson is the potential value option on the Cardinals because of their injuries at wide receiver, but the player with a much higher floor within that offense is McBride, who already leads the team with a 28.9 percent target share. Not only does he have four games with at least 11 targets, he has racked up a career-high six touchdowns, including a score against the 49ers in Week 3. With the potential for double-digit targets in this rematch, McBride is an excellent choice for those who are willing to spend up at the tight end position.
The Smash Spot
Josh Jacobs, GB at NYG ($9,100): In what was a defensive battle between the Packers and Eagles last week, Jacobs emerged with 107 total yards and another touchdown. He has scored in all but one game this season, including three games with multiple. He's gotten 39 red-zone carries, including 13 from inside the five-yard line. He has been busy, regardless of where the Packers have been on the field, with at least 16 carries in all but two games.
It doesn't get much more appealing than a workhorse running back against the Giants. On their way to yet another disastrous season, the Giants have given up the most yards per carry to running backs in the league. They have also allowed nine rushing touchdowns to the position, which is tied for the third most.
