Week 6 of the NFL season is upon us, and everyone is looking to cash in on the big daily fantasy football money at DraftKings. Every week, we’ll bring you our top DFS NFL picks at each position, separating them into Cash Game and GPP plays. And to keep up with all things PlayPicks, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
As with any DFS sport, the advice below is relevant for fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than they are in real life due to matchup, price, game flow, and more. This is important when constructing a roster. And if you’re looking for new ways to play DFS, be sure and give BOOM Fantasy and DRAFT a try.
In DFS NFL, predicting game flow can be vital. For example, teams winning comfortably are far more likely to lean on their running games, while two teams with poor defenses and high-powered offenses could pay off by getting into a shootout. Later in the season, weather will play a key factor in NFL games, so make sure to check the forecast for each Sunday.
In general, GPP plays are high-risk, high-reward prospects, which can fizzle out and leave you empty handed. That said, if you want to win the big money, you have to take big chances. Sometimes that means fading a safer choice for a risky play with more upside.
Best Week 6 DFS NFL Quarterback Plays
Deshaun Watson vs. CLE ($6.7K DraftKings) – GPP
There will be concern with playing Watson this week, what with the blowout potential and the big jump in price. (Aaron Rodgers is just $600 more.) But Watson seems to be the real deal, with 10 total touchdowns and one interception in the last two weeks, and Bill O’Brien wants to get him as much in-game action as he can. This Texans team is a playoff contender after all.
Watson’s floor isn’t terrible, but given the unpredictable game flow, he’s a GPP-only option for me. His ceiling is still squarely up there with the likes of the aforementioned Rodgers though, considering the matchup against Cleveland’s defense (the third-worst DVOA vs. the pass).
Brian Hoyer @ WAS ($5.1K Draftkings) – GPP
This week, Hoyer gets a Washington defense that looks great on paper but is missing its top defensive player, Josh Norman. (He will miss the next four weeks with a rib injury.) Hoyer, meanwhile, gets the defense giving up the 10th most points to DFS QBs in a low-owned spot due to the matchup. And he’s thrown for 300+ yards and two scores in two of the last three weeks. The game in which he didn’t was against a stout Seattle defense.
As a matter of fact, Hoyer has only struggled against elite defenses, while tearing through lesser defenses (the Rams and the Colts for 30.2 and 25.1 DK points, respectively). Against a weaker-than-normal Washington defense, Hoyer has an upside in the mid-20s, as this game could be a sneaky shootout. He’s GPP-only though, since this could also be a not-so-sneaky blowout.
Matt Ryan vs. MIA ($7.0K DraftKings) – Cash
It’s hard to ever get too excited about rostering Ryan in DFS, but this week he really is in a great spot. The Dolphins haven’t faced an offense nearly as potent as Atlanta’s, and they rank fourth-to-last in DVOA. The Falcons are heavy favorites (-11), so a blowout seems nearly inevitable. That limits Ryan’s upside, but the matchup is just too good for him not to be on your shortlist for Cash Game QBs. He’s averaging 16.0 DK ppg on a fairly difficult schedule, so I think a 20-point week is within reach against the Dolphins.
Aaron Rodgers @ MIN ($7.3K DraftKings) – Cash/GPP
Rodgers is the best quarterback in the NFL right now, and the Packers have won three straight because of him. With uncertainty around the backfield this week, thanks to Ty Montgomery’s broken ribs, Rodgers will, per usual, be tasked with engineering a win through the air.
The Vikings have been below average (23rd in DVOA) versus the pass this season, and Rodgers happens to be way above average at his position. Plus, he’s the only quarterback to score at least 20 DK points each and every week this year. Look for Rodgers to find a way, as he usually does, to get the Packers a victory, and feel very comfortable deploying him in both Cash and GPP lineups.
Tom Brady @ NYJ ($8.3K DraftKings) – Cash/GPP
Favored to score more than 28 points in a blowout, Brady and the Pats will likely have the opportunity to let loose after a low-scoring affair against Tampa Bay. The Jets have been decent against the pass this year but are bottom of the pack (sixth-worst DVOA) against the run. This seems like a great game for the Pats to get Mike Gillislee going, but I’m not sure they will. After all, Gillislee hasn’t had more than 12 carries in any of the last three weeks.
Instead, this feels like a game where Brady comes to life again. Blowout potential and the Jets poor run defense do scare me a bit, as this could turn into a Pats ground attack. But Brady has remarkable upside and should be strongly considered in GPPs. Frankly, his floor is still so high, even considering blowout potential, that he’s a fine, albeit pricy, Cash play as well.
Secondary Options: Drew Brees, Kirk Cousins, Kevin Hogan
Best Week 6 DFS NFL Running Back Plays
Kareem Hunt vs. PIT ($8.2K DraftKings) – Cash/GPP
Hunt has been sensational this season, with four 100+ yard rushing games (100+ total yards in every game) and six total touchdowns. This week, he gets a Steelers defense allowing the third-most DK points to opposing running backs. But why I like Hunt most is that he is a rare example of a DFS RB who is not touchdown-reliant. While he does have a whopping six TDs so far this year, he went scoreless in his last two games but still racked up 19.1 and 17.6 DK points. Hunt will get his touches and yards, providing a very high floor, while his ability to score gives him enough upside for GPP consideration.
Melvin Gordon @ OAK ($7.8K DraftKings) – GPP
This isn’t so much about Oakland’s defense as it is the Chargers’ offense. Oakland’s defense is perfectly average against the run (not so much against backs catching out of the backfield though). And they have a battered secondary, with injuries wreaking havoc on the starting CBs. Yes, this would seem to point more toward the Chargers’ passing attack, but after last week, it’s clear this offense must run through Melvin Gordon.
Gordon, who had struggled with efficiency throughout the first four weeks, came to life against an underachieving Giants defense, rushing for 105 yards and tacking on 58 more through the air. He’s never a lock for 20+ touches, but the Chargers need to give him those looks if they want to actually win games. With a bit more life after finally winning a game this season, expect more of the same: carries in the high teens for Gordon, five or six targets, and the majority of red zone looks.
Jay Ajayi @ ATL ($5.7K DraftKings) – GPP
The Dolphins went back to Ajayi last week with 25 carries, but the lead back did little with them, racking up just 77 yards. He added two more yards on two receptions. Not very efficient.
Ajayi has been disappointing so far this year. Season-long owners are frustrated. DFS owners are scared away by the general incompetence of the Miami offense. But this week is a great buy-low spot in GPPs, as Ajayi faces the seventh-worst defense against the run (DVOA), one which also allows the sixth-most DK ppg to opposing running backs.
We saw Ajayi’s upside last year, and Adam Gase is willing to feed him the ball. He fell short against a tough Titans run defense last week. A softer Atlanta defense should be exactly what Ajayi needs to turn his plethora of touches into triple-digit yards and, with any luck, a visit to the end zone.
Todd Gurley @ JAX ($7.7K DraftKings) – GPP/Cash
I put GPP before Cash for a reason: I think Todd Gurley is quite possibly a must-play in tournaments this week. First off, he’s coming off a 6.0 DK point outing that should stop his ownership against a lowly Jags rush defense from going through the roof. Second, as I just mentioned, the Jags can’t stop the run, ranking 32nd in DVOA against it.
But for whatever reason, Gurley has his duds — like last week against Seattle when he scored just 6 DK points. Then, there was Week 1 against the Colts, when he managed just 40 yards on 19 rushing attempts. That said, in Week 1, he still managed more than 20 DK points (not a dud from that perspective), but he has moments where his yards-per-touch efficiency plummets and he becomes incredibly touchdown-reliant. When the Rams get him going, he’s as good as it gets for a DFS player. They should be able to do that against a Jags team that won’t let you pass the ball.
Secondary Options: Leonard Fournette, Alvin Kamara, Mike Gillislee, DeMarco Murray, Jerick McKinnon
Best Week 6 DFS NFL Wide Receiver Plays
Davante Adams @ MIN ($5.7K DraftKings) – GPP
Aaron Rodgers heavily leaned on Davante Adams this past week against a middling Cowboys defense, targeting him 11 times, the same amount of targets Adams had the previous two weeks combined. He converted seven of those into catches for 66 yards and two scores.
Adams’ prospects are drastically different from where they were a week ago, coming off a devastating shot against the Chicago Bears many believed would lead to missed time. Instead, Adams turned in one of his best professional performances. This week, he faces a Minnesota defense that is 30th in DVOA vs. WR2. With Jordy Nelson banged up, Adams may once again garner the most looks in the passing game, opening up a respectable ceiling at a still-affordable price tag.
DeAndre Hopkins vs. CLE ($8.1K DraftKings) – GPP/Cash
The Texans’ implied total of 28.25 is tied for third-highest on the slate. Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins have connected for four touchdowns in the past two weeks. The Browns have allowed the third-most passing touchdowns on the season. Everything seems to add up. Watson-to-Hopkins is a thing, and you should absolutely consider taking Hopkins over Antonio Brown, as he’s $1.2K cheaper and has basically the same floor and ceiling this week. Still, he’s a better GPP play from my perspective.
Robby Anderson vs. NE ($4.0K DraftKings) – GPP
The Pats defense seemed to figure it out last week, at least to some degree, shutting down the Bucs’ dangerous offense. But there are still glaring holes in this New England defense, making Robby Anderson a great way for DFS players to exploit this Pats secondary.
First of all, the Patriots are dead last in DVOA versus the pass and have given up at least 300 yards passing to every team they’ve played. Second, New England really struggled against the height of the Panthers wideouts two games ago, allowing 174 yards and two scores to the duo of Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess. Anderson is slightly smaller than those two, and he’s certainly not as good as the former, but he’s the tallest wideout on the Jets, and they’re likely going to be playing from behind. This seems like as good a spot as any to roster Anderson in your GPP lineups.
Keenan Allen @ OAK ($7.9K DraftKings) – Cash
The Raiders secondary has been absolutely decimated with injuries, yet last week they were dominated on the ground. Any way you slice it, Oakland’s defense is not playing good football right now. While I like Melvin Gordon the most here, Keenan Allen is another place to look in this game.
Allen is often a hard player to get excited about rostering, given his limited upside. And that will likely be the case again this week, as he’ll be reasonably owned and almost certainly deliver an underwhelming, yet acceptable score in the mid-teens. That makes him an excellent Cash play. It doesn’t hurt that he accounts for more than 25 percent of LA’s targets.
Secondary Options: Marqise Lee, Stefon Diggs, Larry Fitzgerald, DeSean Jackson, Taylor Gabriel, John Brown
Best Week 6 DFS NFL Tight End Plays
Austin Seferian-Jenkins ($4.3K DraftKings) – Cash/GPP
Against a Pats defense allowing the fourth-most DK points to opposing tight ends, Seferian-Jenkins once again has the opportunity to build on his role as Mr. Consistency thus far in 2017. But I think this week, against such a porous secondary, the Jets TE has, potentially, the most upside he’s had, and will have, this season. The Pats are giving up a touchdown per game to opposing tight ends. And with Travis Kelce and Rob Gronkowski banged up, Seferian-Jenkins is fair game in both cash and tournament lineups.
Jordan Reed vs. SF ($5.0K DraftKings) – GPP
Washington coach Jay Gruden has said he expects Reed to be recovered for their matchup against San Francisco this weekend, which is great news for the Redskins offense. Reed is somehow third in targets in that offense, even though his usage has been heavily diminished due to his legion of injuries. Gruden’s vote of confidence, however, suggests we may get the best version of Reed before he inevitably gets hurt again. Take advantage of Reed’s ceiling before that window closes. He’s an elite pass-catching tight end when healthy.
Rob Gronkowski @ NYJ ($6.8K DraftKings) – Cash
Gronkowski always has insane upside. I’m a bit concerned that this week, at that price tag, in what should be a blowout, Gronk just won’t be needed by the team as much as your lineup will need him. His ceiling is limited due to game flow, but he should have no problem getting his.
Secondary Options: George Kittle, Martellus Bennett, Cameron Brate, Ryan Griffin
Best Week 6 DFS NFL DST Plays
Baltimore Ravens vs. CHI ($3.7K DraftKings) – GPP/Cash
Baltimore’s defense has had two great weeks, one horrible week, and two OK outings. Those two great weeks came against the Bengals and Browns (25 and 17 DK points, respectively), and this week they get the Bears. The Ravens are second-best in DVOA, and the Bears are not a good football team. This adds up nicely.
Atlanta Falcons vs. MIA ($3.5K DraftKings) – GPP
Let’s get one thing straight — Atlanta doesn’t have a good defense. That’s not what this is about. It’s about Jay Cutler. Yes, I’m admittedly concerned about the Falcons containing Ajayi, which makes them a bit too risky for Cash in my opinion. But Cutler’s turnover tendencies and general ineffectiveness to date really give this Atlanta defense’s ceiling a bump.
Secondary Options: New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos (LATE SLATE)
