DraftKings.com NFL DFS Week 16 Picks and Plays for Cash Game and GPP Lineups
Week 16 of NFL DFS is here, and everyone is looking to play for the big daily fantasy football money at DraftKings. Every week, we’ll bring you our top NFL DFS picks at each position, separating them into Cash and GPP plays. To keep up with all things PlayPicks, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
As with any daily fantasy sport, the advice below is relevant for fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than in real life due to matchup, price, gameflow, and various other factors. This is important to remember when constructing a roster at any of the daily fantasy sports sites.
Weather will play a key factor in NFL games going forward, so make sure to check the forecast for each Sunday. Wind is our real enemy on the fantasy front.
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Best Week 16 NFL DFS Quarterback Plays
Cam Newton vs. TB ($6.8K DraftKings) – Cash/GPP
Cam Newton has gone through his swings this season, getting hot for several weeks before cooling off for several more. He seemed to catch fire again last week, scoring 31 DK points against the Green Bay Packers. Tying his team for first in the AFC South with that victory, the Panthers’ QB appears locked in. Tampa’s 31st-ranked passing DVOA won’t be able to slow the former Heisman winner down. Newton, with Greg Olsen back, has plenty of upside in a big divisional matchup this weekend. He’s viable in all DFS formats.
Drew Brees vs. ATL ($6.5K DraftKings) – Cash/GPP
I’ll admit, I wasn’t originally on Brees, considering the Saints’ 20-17 loss at Atlanta just two games ago. Then, I saw their implied total of more than 29 points, with a -5.5 spread. Atlanta’s defense has over-achieved this season, and their offense has its moments. But Brees at home? With those Vegas numbers? In a must-win game? (Well, at least when it comes to winning the division.) No way can I fade that. The Falcons just allowed 299 passing yards and three passing touchdowns to Jameis Winston. A fired-up Saints squad should live up to Vegas’ expectations, and Brees will lead that charge.
Mitch Trubisky vs. CLE ($4.7K DraftKings) – GPP
The Cleveland Browns rank 28th in passing DVOA, while the Bears are just now starting to unleash their rookie prospect. Let’s get braver: Mitch Trubisky is potentially the future of the franchise. I guess now’s as good a time as any for these two teams, seasons long over, to meet. Trubisky is coming off an outing against Detroit in which he scored 16.8 DK points. The week prior, against Cincinnati, he dropped 21.3 DK points. The Browns have shown themselves very adept at stopping the run this season, which should naturally lead to a more pass-heavy approach from the Bears. Trubisky is a high-upside play at this price point, but stick to GPP.
Drew Stanton vs. NYG ($4.6K DraftKings) – Deep GPP
With a defense ranking 25th in passing DVOA, the Giants will likely struggle all the way to the end of a devastating season. Even against Drew Stanton, I’m not sure they can hold their own. In the past two weeks, they’ve allowed opposing teams to score 30 and 34 points. Stanton, meanwhile, hasn’t played much this season, but did put up two 15-point games in his two starts. He’s a gamble, but isn’t the late-season veteran quarterback resurrection an annual thing now? I like that narrative, as Stanton has the matchup to break out for a career game at the age of 33. Of course, I’d like to clarify that the aforementioned is not the likely outcome.
Secondary options: Dak Prescott, Kirk Cousins, Jared Goff, Tom Brady, Philip Rivers
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Best Week 16 NFL DFS Running Back Plays
Christian McCaffrey vs. TB ($6.4K DraftKings) – Cash
Christian McCaffrey hasn’t yet figured out how to run the ball at the NFL level, but he sure does know how to get work in the passing game. The rookie first-rounder has 101 targets this season, and the departure of Kelvin Benjamin only opened up more work for him. While Greg Olsen is back, which means fewer targets for McCaffrey, his 10+ carry, 5+ target workload gives him a great floor. Any additional work on the ground or through the air is just additional upside.
Mark Ingram vs. ATL ($8.1K DraftKings) – GPP
The RB committee in New Orleans oftentimes makes Mark Ingram’s salary difficult to reconcile. But this week, he gets an Atlanta team that ranks 30th in rushing DVOA, though they have shut down opposing RBs as of late (including the Saints two games ago). This go-around, however, Vegas pins New Orleans at -5.5 with an implied total of 29.25. In a division rivalry, the Saints will look to correct their errors from the first meeting. Playing at the Superdome will definitely help. Ingram should see his work in the passing game continue to grow (18 targets the past three weeks). He’s a high-upside GPP option if you want exposure to this Saints offense at home.
LeSean McCoy @ NE ($7.8K DraftKings) – GPP
Plenty will run from LeSean McCoy, as this game has blowout potential and it’s at New England. But McCoy reemerged in the passing game last week with four catches for 48 yards and a touchdown, to go along with 50 yards and a score on the ground. The Patriots rank dead last in rushing DVOA, and the Bills have put together back-to-back wins now. The Pats have also allowed 51 points to opposing teams, in aggregate, over the past two weeks. McCoy once again will likely go under-owned, but he’s worth a gamble if you think this game can stay somewhat close. The Patriots’ loss to the Dolphins, a team the Bills just beat, would suggest it’s possible.
Ezekiel Elliott vs. SEA ($8.0K DraftKings) – GPP/Cash
Ezekiel Elliott returns just in time to help save the Cowboys’ season. Dallas is still in the hunt, a game back on the Atlanta Falcons. If they want to get in, they’ll need Elliott to carry this offense as he did prior to his suspension. Now, the Seahawks had a very good run defense, up until last week when Todd Gurley racked up four total touchdowns and 180 total yards against them. With all the distractions and injuries in Seattle, I’m bullish on Elliott, who has the ability, and will almost certainly have the workload. He should be on your GPP and Cash radars.
Secondary options: Todd Gurley, Dion Lewis, Devonta Freeman, Melvin Gordon, Kareem Hunt, Kerwynn Williams
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Best Week 16 NFL DFS Wide Receiver Plays
Keenan Allen @ NYJ ($7.7K DraftKings) – Cash/GPP
Michael Thomas was in this exact spot last week — first on this list, facing the New York Jets, sitting at a not-so-modest salary. He delivered with nine receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown. With Hunter Henry placed on IR, Keenan Allen should see his target total creep back up into the double digits over the coming weeks. The Jets also rank 30th in WR1 DVOA, and Allen has scored 20+ DK points in four of the past five Chargers’ games, making him a high-floor, high-upside play for your Cash and GPP lineups.
Kenny Golladay @ CIN ($3.3K DraftKings) – GPP
With T.J. Jones headed to IR, Kenny Golladay is the clear-cut third receiver on this team. The rookie has looked good at times this season but never from a fantasy perspective. However, last week he saw five targets, his highest volume of the season, and Jones’ injury probably gets him a couple more targets this week. With Theo Riddick also dealing with injury, Detroit will likely be operating short-handed. Golladay should see his highest workload to date, and he seems like a sneaky-good play. A breakout game is possible against a middle-of-the-pack Bengals defense.
Kendall Wright vs. CLE ($3.8K DraftKings) – GPP
Twenty-four targets in the past two weeks. 24. At just $3.8K, with that kind of volume, Kendall Wright seems like as good an option as any if you’re looking to punt your second wide receiver slot. The Browns also rank 28th in passing DVOA. With the Bears giving Mitch Trubisky more run, Wright’s workload should be there for a third consecutive week.
Robert Woods @ TEN ($6.5K DraftKings) – Cash
The Tennessee Titans have been exposed over the past few weeks as a not-so-good football team with an overachieving defense. But that defense just allowed Jimmy Garoppolo to throw for 381 yards and a touchdown last week. Now, they’ll have to focus their gameplan around Todd Gurley, who’s fresh off a four-touchdown performance. With a legitimate quarterback and a freak in the backfield, Woods has excelled as a WR2 in this offense. Fortunately for him this week, the Titans rank 32nd in WR2 DVOA. Many will flock to Sammy Watkins at just $4.4K. Stick with Woods.
Secondary options: Sammy Watkins, A.J. Green, Brandin Cooks, Larry Fitzgerald, Dede Westbrook
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Best Week 16 NFL DFS Tight End Plays
Greg Olsen vs. TB ($5.2K DraftKings) – GPP/Cash
The Panthers’ top pass-catching option returned to form last week with nine receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown. This week, he gets a Tampa Bay defense ranking 21st in TE DVOA. With double-digit target upside, $5.2K is a steal. Olsen should be considered in Cash and GPP. After all, wouldn’t you pay $5.2K for a wideout with Olsen’s upside?
Antonio Gates @ NYJ ($2.5K DraftKings) – Cash
The Hunter Henry era has come, but a lacerated kidney—an injury I’m certain feels just as horrible as it sounds—will keep the second-year tight end on the injured reserve. This means future Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates will be called on, once again, to serve as the top tight end in this offense. Gates, who has just four catches in the Chargers last five games, did catch a touchdown last week. It’s his first since Week 2. Without Henry, Gates is in too good a position to pass up at $2.5K. I think you need him in Cash.
Secondary options: Cameron Brate, Eric Ebron, Vernon Davis, Austin Seferian-Jenkins
Best Week 16 NFL DFS Defense Plays
Carolina Panthers D/ST vs. TB($3.1K DraftKings) – Cash/GPP
The Panthers will be without Thomas Davis (suspension) this week against Tampa Bay. Fortunately for them, they’re playing … Tampa Bay. In their past four outings, the Bucs have scored 20, 20, 21, and 21 points. Their inability to find that second gear has largely been a result of inconsistency in the offense as a whole. Very rarely do they get the running game, play-action, and passing game working as a cohesive unit. Just look at last week, when Winston threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns but the Bucs still managed to score just 21 points. They couldn’t even manage a field goal. I digress.
Carolina racked up 16 DK points the last time these two played, and that’s without scoring a defensive touchdown. Lock them in at home against the Bucs.
Cincinnati Bengals D/ST vs. DET ($2.4K DraftKings) – GPP
If the mere $3.1K salary for the Carolina D/ST is too rich for your blood, the Bengals D/ST make for an interesting contrarian play against the Detroit Lions. The Lions perennially underachieve, and their one-dimensional offense is a big reason why. And the Lions, like the aforementioned Bucs, don’t really run away with games even when things are clicking. In their last four games, they’ve scored between 20 and 24 points, winning two. Now, they may be without Theo Riddick, who left last week’s game against Chicago with a wrist injury. They’ll also be without most of their starting offensive line, something that led to three sacks last week. The rather-injured, low-upside Lions don’t scare me, and Cincy at $2.4K doesn’t have to do much to crush value.
Secondary options: Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST, New England Patriots D/ST, Kansas City Chiefs D/ST
