Week 12 of the NFL season is upon us, and with it the DraftKings Millionaire contest. This $20 slate has a prize pool of $3.5 million, with a cool million going to the winner. We take a look at the best value plays on the slate, offering salary flexibility to go for the big prize:
Quarterback
Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans vs. New York Jets ($5,300): He is a long way away from his “TyGod” days, but there’s still life in Taylor’s legs, and it served him well last week against the Titans with two rushing touchdowns in the big upset victory. The best way to attack the Jets is on the ground, as the Jets allow the most fantasy-rushing production in the league. Playing at home, with no rain, should allow Taylor to perform better through the air as well, but his ability to rack up six-point rushing touchdowns makes him an intriguing value option.
Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($5,800): I want leverage over Jonathan Taylor, and Wentz is the perfect man for the job against a Buccaneers defense that allows a surprisingly healthy amount of fantasy production to quarterbacks. When Wentz has been needed to throw the ball, his numbers have been excellent for a sub-6K quarterback, and if Tom Brady has righted his personal ship after a couple of sub-par performances, Wentz will be needed just as much as the MVP candidate in the backfield.
Running Back
Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants ($5,100): Don’t overthink this. With Jordan Howard ruled out, Sanders is the unquestioned lead back once again and he looked pretty good in his first game off IR last week. The Giants are getting destroyed on the ground these days and the Eagles have embraced a run-heavy approach the past three weeks. Sanders should be a 7K back this week. Don’t overthink it.
Ty Johnson, New York Jets ($4,300) at Rex Burkhead, Houston Texans ($4,200): Both of these backs are winners of last man standing situations on their respective teams, and they should find success, as the Jets are the worst team against the run in the NFL and the Texans aren’t a whole lot better. Johnson gets an added boost because of his pass-catching abilities. If I had to pick one, I would probably lean Johnson because of the PPR factor, but Burkhead had 18 carries last week and a similar volume here could net big results.
Wide Receiver
Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings ($5,300): Deebo Samuel is getting all the love in the Bay Area, and understandably so. But don’t sleep on Aiyuk, who comes in at a significant discount and is producing at a similarly high rate. Aiyuk is both solid value and leverage, and you can’t ask for much more on a team that has found its footing offensively and is in the thick of the playoff chase.
Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos ($5,700): I loved Big Mike as the Showdown Captain on Sunday night and Williams did not disappoint, except for the fact that Austin Eckler went insane in the same game. But we’re talking wide receivers here, and Williams took advantage of a shorthanded Pittsburgh secondary to post a 5-97-1 line. The Chargers are riding some momentum off that great-escape win, and the Broncos pass defense at home has been leaky, allowing their only two 300-yard passing games this season in their past four home games.
Tight End
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers ($4,200): I figured Higbee would be much more involved against the 49ers in Week 10 in the wake of Robert Woods’ injury, and he did score the Rams’ lone touchdown in the blowout loss. Now that the Rams have had two weeks to heal up and prepare for life without Bobby Trees I think Higbee does indeed become a focal point of the offense. He had 10 targets in Week 9 and I suspect a similar number here.
Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers ($3,300): Noah Fant is obviously not going away anytime soon, barring injury. Fant remains the top tight end target here, with a 6-3 target advantage last week. But Albert O is making the most of his targets, posting a 3-77 line last week. The Chargers are allowing the second-most fantasy production to tight ends in the league, which means both tight ends are viable, and Okwuegbunam is $1,300 cheaper.
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