Fantasy
11/26/22
5 min read
Cheap Thrills: Week 12 DFS Value Players Under $5500
Thanksgiving has come and gone and after you've sent your family on their way, you can get back to focusing on what really matters: daily fantasy sports. It seems that the folks at DraftKings were too busy preparing for the holidays to set reasonable prices because there are many valuable players this week. This week you must take advantage of these prices and win some money. We are approaching crunch time in the NFL season and as teams fight for their spot in the playoffs, there is sure to be plenty of chaos this week.
Last Week's Results:
Marcus Mariota ($5500) - 17.74 FPTS
Najee Harris ($5500) - 27.6 FPTS
T.J. Hockenson ($5300) - 8.4 FPTS
Here's what I've got for this week:
Kansas City Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco ($5500)
Isiah Pacheco has recently established himself as the premier back in Kansas City. In each of the Chiefs' last two games, Pacheco has gotten more carries than everyone else combined. With Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the IR, it's safe to say that the backfield will belong to Pacheco this week.
Looking at the matchup, the Chiefs are set to host the Rams, who just lost their best player, Cooper Kupp. Additionally, Matthew Stafford will not play this game. This will not be the same shootout thriller we saw in 2018 from these two teams. The Chiefs are favored to win this game by 15.5, one of the biggest spreads we have seen all season. These are the perfect circumstances for Pacheco to have a breakout performance.
At $5500, Pacheco is definitely worth drafting into your DFS lineup. However, he is somewhat limited by his lack of inclusion in the passing game. It would be nice to see him catch some passes out of the backfield in the future, especially given how dynamic the Chiefs passing offense is. Nonetheless, his rushing upside is too great to ignore. I expect Pacheco will be a big part of the Chiefs offense on Sunday, even if the game quickly deteriorates into garbage time.
New York Jets WR Garrett Wilson ($4300)
I'm not going to sugarcoat it; the Jets offense looked less than ideal against the Patriots last week. After watching that 10-3 loss followed by a week of locker room drama, you may be tempted to steer clear of any Jets players this week. However, this is the perfect time to draft the Jets' top receiver at an extremely low value before he plays one of the worst defenses in the league.
Over the last four weeks, the Jets have failed to score more than 20 points. However, they did have to deal with a brutal schedule. They played the Broncos, the Patriots (2x) and the Bills, three of the best defenses in the league. This week is different. The Jets will host the Bears, who have allowed 35.5 points per game over the last four weeks.
Garrett Wilson has looked like one of the best rookie receivers in the NFL. No matter who is playing QB for the Jets, their offense will be much more productive than it has been in each of the last four weeks. This is a must-win game for New York, especially after the Patriots lost to the Vikings on Thanksgiving. The Jets offense may have looked bad recently, but $4300 is an insulting price for the man who is second in receptions and receiving yards among rookie wide receivers this season. Make DraftKings pay for valuing Garrett Wilson this low.
Las Vegas Raiders TE Foster Moreau ($3400)
It has been extremely difficult to pick a good tight end for your DFS lineup this season. You either have to spend $7500+ on Travis Kelce or Mark Andrews or pick a cheaper tight end and hope they don't bust. However, you can save money this week because, at $3400, Foster Moreau will get the job done.
The Raiders have had a disappointing season. After trading for Davante Adams in the offseason, many people expected Vegas' offense to explode. While Adams, along with Josh Jacobs, have had excellent individual seasons, the offense as a whole has been underwhelming. Towards the middle of the season, two of the Raiders' top receivers, Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow, were ruled out. While this essentially ended any Raiders playoff hopes, it did open opportunities for backup players such as Mack Hollins and Foster Moreau.
So far, Foster has been decent in replacing Darren Waller. However, he does only have one touchdown on the season. This week will be Moreau's best opportunity to have a breakout game. The Raiders are playing the Seahawks, who have allowed the second most fantasy points to tight ends this season. With Seattle's defense focused on containing Davante Adams, Moreau should find himself open plenty of times throughout this game. At $3400, if Moreau reaches double-digit fantasy points, he will have exceeded expectations.
Just picture yourself on Sunday watching your DFS lineup explode while you have a mouthful of leftover turkey. Is there anything more you could ask for? In all seriousness, I am very thankful for what the 2022 NFL season has brought us so far and I am thankful for anyone who reads these articles. As we move from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I hope everyone remembers what matters most: friends, family, and football.
WATCH MORE: Four Critical Fantasy Stats for Week 12
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