This article is part of our King for a Day series.
Here are my favorite players for Week 12 on DraftKings…
Quarterbacks
Colin Kaepernick, SF (vs. WAS), $6500 – I didn't think I'd be going back to Kaepernick this season, as everything about the San Francisco offense has reeked of mediocrity, unless you prefer depth at wide receiver to having a true No. 1. Kaepernick himself has probably been the biggest problem, and he hasn't even made up for his mediocre passing with big performances on the ground. Still, my interest is piqued for the first time in weeks, due to the combination of price and matchup. Washington's defense is similar to the Jets' and Buccaneers', with hideous play in the secondary typically erasing the solid work done by the front seven. These teams are especially amenable to giving up fantasy points to quarterbacks and receivers, as opponents often find that running the ball is quite difficult.
Eli Manning, NYG (vs. DAL), $5800 – Coming off five consecutive losses and a five-interception performance, Manning can't be too happy with where his season is headed. Of course, despite the story that's being sold this week, he's mostly been one of the few bright spots for Big Blue. While the Giants are likely headed for a sixth consecutive loss, a home matchup with the Cowboys will give Manning every chance to pile up stats in what should be a high-scoring affair. When these teams met in Week 7, Manning completed 21-of-33 passes for 248 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a 31-21 loss.
other options:Jay Cutler, CHI (vs. TB), $7700; Josh McCown, TB (at CHI), $6600
Notes: I was burnt by betting against the Tampa Bay defense last week, but Cutler and his dangerous receivers are much more reliable than the Redskins, at least in terms of putting up fantasy points. I also like the other side of this game, with McCown returning to Chicago to face the defense that cost him some wins last season. As you can tell, I'm leaning toward the discount quarterbacks more than ever, despite Aaron Rodgers' weekly heroics.
Running Backs
Jamaal Charles, KC (at OAK), $7900 – Charles will likely be a popular choice in contests that begin Thursday, even with his price rising $800 from last week. He offers a fantastic combination of floor and ceiling in this favorable matchup, having scored 16.8 or more DraftKings points in each of his last five games. The last three of those games came against the Jets, Bills, and Seahawks, teams that are all stout against the run when they don't have to deal with Charles. While the Oakland defense isn't actually that awful, the Raiders' putrid offense will likely allow the Chiefs to take a lead, which would favor Charles getting 20-plus touches.
Isaiah Crowell, CLE (at ATL), $3800 – This one is worth keeping an eye on, as teammate Terrance West ($3400) would also make for an excellent option, if there were any indication that he's expected to get most of the work. However, based on what transpired last week, Crowell remains the better bet to start and get most of the carries in Cleveland's first game post-Ben Tate. Few teams like to run as much as the Browns do, and Atlanta's front seven is arguably the worst in the NFL. The Falcons rank dead list in giving up DraftKings points to running backs, which comes as no surprise if you watched them this season.
other options:Eddie Lacy, GB (at MIN), $7300; LeSean McCoy, PHI (vs. TEN), $6200; C.J. Anderson, DEN (vs. MIA), $6000; Rashad Jennings, NYG (vs. DAL) $5100; Trent Richardson, IND (vs. JAX), $4900; Theo Riddick, DET (at NE), $3300
Notes: Lacy has been surprisingly consistent since early in the season, and he has already shredded the Vikings once. McCoy will eventually have his breakout game, with a matchup against the Titans providing his best opportunity yet. Anderson probably won't pile up a ton of rushing yards against the stout Miami defense, but Peyton Manning is running short on players to throw the ball to. Jennings has been a three-down workhorse when healthy, while the Dallas run defense has slowly fallen back toward pre-season expectations. Richardson may not be a good NFL running back, but he should see plenty of snaps and touches in a high-powered offense, and that's always quite valuable. Riddick would be nothing more than a dart throw, unless Joique Bell and Reggie Bush both sit out with injuries.
Wide Receivers
Brandon Marshall, CHI (vs. TB), $7100 – Marshall has exactly 10 targets in each of the last four games, with 15 receptions for 202 yards and three touchdowns to show for it over the last two weeks. He no longer seems to be bothered by his ankle as the Chicago passing game heads into a juicy Week 12 home matchup with the lousy Tampa Bay pass defense. The Bucs did slow down Robert Griffin and the Redskins last week, but given how bad Tampa Bay has been for most of the season, that one is mostly on Washington's offense. Further helping Chicago's cause, the helpless Bucs' secondary may be without top cornerback Alterraun Verner (hamstring) for a third straight week. The Bucs are sorely lacking in depth at cornerback, which helps to explain why they rank 29th in allowing DraftKings points to wide receivers.
Odell Beckham, NYG (vs. DAL), $6100 – Mike Evans is rightfully getting most of the hype, but Beckham may be the best wide receiver from the absolutely loaded 2014 draft class. The former LSU Tiger has quickly emerged as Eli Manning's go-to guy, with at least 10 targets, six receptions and 93 receiving yards in each of the last three games. Prior to the impressive streak, Beckham caught a pair of touchdowns in a Week 7 game against the Cowboys, despite hauling in 4-of-7 targets for just 34 yards. This time, he's still a good bet to find the end zone, but will likely do so as part of a much bigger performance.
Anquan Boldin, SF (vs. WAS), $5200 – Boldin and Michael Crabtree are essentially co-No. 1 receivers, though the veteran is clearly a much more reliable option. Boldin's quietly on pace for a 90-1,101-5 receiving line, which wouldn't be far removed from what he did (mostly) in Crabtree's absence last year. Of course, the bigger draw is Boldin's combination of matchup and price, with the 49ers facing Washington's no-name secondary. A Kaepernick-Boldin pairing may not sound exciting, but it also won't cost you much, and could prove to be quite lucrative.
other options:Demaryius Thomas, DEN (vs. MIA), $8700; Dez Bryant, DAL (at NYG), $8100; Mike Evans, TB (at CHI), $7800; A.J. Green, CIN (at HOU), $7300; Alshon Jeffery, CHI (vs. TB), $7200; Julio Jones, ATL (vs. CLE), $7000; Josh Gordon, CLE (at ATL), $6300; Steve Smith Sr., BAL (at NO), $4800; Percy Harvin, NYJ (at BUF), $4700
Notes: Thomas, he of the seven consecutive 100-yard games, should see even more targets while Denver's other receiving options are banged up. Bryant comes off his biggest game of the season to face an injury-depleted New York secondary that he torched for 9-151-0 last time. Evans is a bit pricey due to his insane three-game stretch, but do we really think the Chicago defense can slow him? Green returned to form in a big way last week, and he still carries a very reasonable price for a player with such a strong track record. Jeffery is an attractive option for all the same reasons as Marshall, making a Cutler-Marshall-Jeffery stack a pricey but intriguing option. Jones continues to disappoint, but I'll keep considering him as an option at $7000. Gordon is the ultimate high-risk, high-reward play, and you'll want to keep an eye on any news nuggets pertaining to his usage. Smith Sr. has been overpriced for most of the season, and he should find a middle ground between his torrid start and recent slump. Harvin appears to be the new centerpiece of the New York offense, though points may be tough to come by against the sturdy Buffalo D.
Tight End
Jacob Tamme, DEN (vs. MIA), $3400 – With Julius Thomas (ankle) and Emmanuel Sanders (concussion) both in danger of missing Sunday's game, Peyton Manning will need someone to throw to besides Demaryius Thomas. It's pretty clear at this point that Wes Welker isn't coming back from the dead, which leaves Tamme and running back C.J. Anderson (along with D. Thomas) as the most likely beneficiaries. That's certainly how it played out last week, with Tamme, Anderson and D. Thomas all tying for the team lead at exactly 10 targets, in a game that saw both Orange Julius and Sanders suffer their injuries.
other options:Rob Gronkowski, NE (vs. DET), $7900; Jimmy Graham, NO (vs. BAL), $7000; Owen Daniels, BAL (at NO), $3100
Notes: Gronkowski and Graham both face tough defenses after disappointing against lousy ones, but I like that the matchups against stout front sevens should lead to plenty of volume for their respective teams' passing games. Daniels isn't an exciting player by any means, but he's a key piece in a Baltimore passing game that should finally get back on track this week.
Team D/ST
Seattle Seahawks vs. ARI, $3200 – While this may not be the same Seahawks defense we saw in 2012 and 2013, it's still a unit to be respected, with more than enough talent to take care of bad teams. The 9-1 Cardinals quite clearly aren't a bad team on the whole, but between Drew Stanton and a still-porous line, the Arizona offense likely has some tough times ahead. Perhaps I've already beaten this drum to death, but I think it's worth mentioning once again that Stanton is awful. True, the Cardinals have mostly been able to hide his deficiencies via excellent coaching and a talented receiving corps; I just don't think that will be enough against the 'Hawks at CenturyLink.
other options:Kansas City Chiefs (at OAK), $3400; Buffalo Bills (vs. NYJ), $3300; San Francisco 49ers (vs. WAS), $3100; San Diego Chargers (vs. STL), $2900; New York Jets (at BUF), $2800
Notes: The Chiefs have everything in place for a big defensive game, and should live up to the lofty price tag. The Bills were disappointing last week, but they'll be home against the Jets on 10 days rest. While I'm still hesitant to completely write off Washington's offense, this is unquestionably a good matchup for a 49ers squad that finally has Aldon Smith. No longer marred by injuries, the Chargers' defense finally returned to form last week, and it now gets another juicy matchup. The Jets may have an awful secondary, but their stout front seven provides cause for optimism against Buffalo's punchless passing attack.
