This article is part of our DFS NFL series.
OwnersBox's SuperFlex contests provide participants with a chance to roster up to two quarterbacks per lineup, opening up the opportunity for major scoring boosts and a more entertaining fantasy sweat overall.
Each week of the NFL regular season, we'll break down appealing candidates in the main Sunday slate for OwnersBox's NFL SuperFlex DFS contests.
Quarterbacks
Patrick Mahomes, KC at CIN ($7,900)
Mahomes comes at a slight discount over Josh Allen ($8,100) and Tom Brady ($8,000), yet he naturally offers as much or more upside in a sneaky-good matchup. All the hype around the Bengals following Week 16 is naturally surrounding Joe Burrow's stellar performance, but somewhat sliding under the radar is the fact Cincinnati has allowed the fourth-most passing yards per home game (270.4) while also giving up 10.8 yards per completion and a 68.7 percent completion rate. The Bengals are also tied for the second-highest explosive pass play rate allowed (10%), which naturally dovetails nicely for fantasy purposes with Mahomes' gunslinger tendencies and explosive pass-catching weapons.
Kyler Murray, ARI at DAL ($7,500)
Murray offers no shortage of upside but may actually be a bit lower-rostered than usual given the Cardinals' recent swoon. However, even in defeat, Murray has found a way to remain productive, scoring 25 fantasy points against the Colts on Christmas Day thanks in part to a 74-yard rushing effort. The Cowboys have been a more vulnerable pass defense at home (247.0 PYPG allowed) than on the road (235.3) and are tied with several teams for second-highest explosive pass play rate allowed (10%). Moreover, Dallas has allowed a 61-261-4 line on the ground to quarterbacks, which brightens Murray's outlook and his overall ceiling in a game the Cardinals figure to be particularly aggressive.
ALSO CONSIDER: Ryan Tannehill, TEN vs. MIA ($6,000)
Running Backs
Jonathan Taylor, IND vs. LVR ($7,900)
Sometimes the obvious choice is the right one, and such is the case with Taylor in Week 17. There is a good chance rookie Sam Ehlinger is making his first NFL start for the Colts with Carson Wentz on the COVID-19 reserve list. Naturally, there's a chance the Raiders crowd the box a bit more due to not worrying as much about the Colts passing attack, but there's also a possibility that Taylor is leaned on even more heavily than usual. The Colts' offensive line is elite and certainly capable of winning its fair share of matchups against overloaded fronts, and the Raiders check in about middle of the pack with 115.7 rushing yards per game allowed. Moreover, Las Vegas has been very vulnerable to pass-catching production by running backs, yielding a 90-589-6 line through the air to the position.
David Montgomery, CHI vs. NYG ($6,800)
Montgomery came through nicely in Week 16 against the Seahawks thanks in large part to his pass-catching prowess, as his 7-61 line through the air helped lead to a season-high 23 fantasy points. Montgomery also logged 21 carries in that contest, and although he didn't get much with those totes (45 yards), the workload was certainly encouraging. Montgomery is likely to be in for another busy afternoon in Week 17 against the Giants, considering the frigid temperatures and high likelihood of a favorable game script for the ground attack. New York has allowed 126.1 rushing yards per road game and 4.4 RB yards per carry overall, as well as an elevated 86-666-2 line through the air to the position.
ALSO CONSIDER: Melvin Gordon, DEN at LAC ($5,500)
Wide Receivers
Davante Adams, GB vs. MIN ($7,900)
Adams, much like Taylor at running back, is a clear-cut option if you're paying up at receiver, yet he's still a highly appealing option in a game in which the Packers could be playing to clinch the NFC's top seed. That scenario would come to fruition if the Cardinals pull off an upset against the Cowboys earlier in the day, but in any scenario, Adams should be in for another one of his typically mammoth workloads against the division-rival Vikings. Adams has at least eight targets in six of the last seven contests, a sample that includes four games with double-digits looks. He lit up Minnesota for 30 fantasy points on the strength of a 7-115-2 line in the first meeting between the teams, and the Vikes are allowing an elevated 9% explosive pass play rate, along with an NFC-high 2,822 receiving yards to wideouts.
Tyler Lockett, SEA vs. DET ($6,700)
Lockett had a down performance against the Bears in snowy conditions last week, posting just six fantasy points. He also missed the Week 15 contest against the Rams while in COVID-19 protocols, but he'd posted double-digit fantasy-point tallies in five of the six previous contests. His downfield speed could certainly yield some handsome dividends against a Lions defense allowing a 10% explosive pass play rate and significant success in the deep passing windows.
Antonio Brown, TB at NYJ ($6,300)
Brown finally got a chance to fill a No. 1 receiver role again for the first time since his Pittsburgh heyday, and the mercurial veteran responded with a 10-101 line on 15 targets against the Panthers in Week 16. Mike Evans did return to team facilities Thursday and appears set to be activated from the COVID-19 list in advance of Sunday's kickoff, but that's actually good news for Brown's prospects – an already suspect Jets defense that's allowing a 70.1 percent completion rate and 10.6 yards per completion at home will have to devote less attention than it otherwise would have to him, and Brown also certainly still has the speed to capitalize on the co-NFL-high 12% explosive pass play rate New York is allowing.
ALSO CONSIDER: Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET at SEA ($5,900)
Tight Ends
George Kittle, SF vs. HOU ($6,500)
Kittle is in a premium spot for this critical Week 17 home matchup, irrespective of whether it's Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) or Trey Lance under center. The star tight end commands a significant target share nearly every week, and he'll head into the favorable scenario having scored 15 to 39 fantasy points in three of the last four games. Kittle may actually be a tad less rostered than usual as well due to the super-sized Sunday slate and the fact he did turn in a dud against the Titans in Week 16, but Houston checks in having surrendered a 74-859-7 line to tight ends and passer ratings of 93 or greater in five of the six passing windows.
Zach Ertz, ARI at DAL ($5,000)
Ertz makes for an intriguing salary-saving option to pair with Murray against a Cowboys defense that's been tough at limiting wideout production. Dallas has allowed a 71-846-5 line to tight ends, and 14 of the 20 touchdown passes the Cowboys have conceded have been in the three short/intermediate passing windows. Ertz has a solid 11 red-zone targets in nine games with Arizona while averaging just under seven targets per contest, and he's logged a whopping 24 looks over the first two games of DeAndre Hopkins' current absence with a knee injury.
ALSO CONSIDER: Rob Gronkowski, TB at NYJ ($5,900)
