Devising the perfect Daily Fantasy Sports strategy for the NFL can be a challenge, which is why I’m here weekly to assist.
On DraftKings, it’s important to you’re playing full-point PPR with bonuses if a player sures 300 ing yards, 100 rushing yards or 100 receiving yards.
Here is my optimal lineup for Sunday’s $2.25 million Fantasy Football Millionaire contest, but it can be utilized as a foundation in other games and platforms.
All prices listed are courtesy of DraftKings with a $50,000 budget.
These lineups have netted $205, so that leaves me $120 in the hole with an average score of 139.67 points through 17 weeks.
Year-To-Date Results
Week 1: 170.52 points
Week 2: 141.30 points
Week 3: 130.78 points
Week 4: 152.50 points
Week 5: 162.32 points
Week 6: 146.56 points
Week 7: 156.78 points
Week 8: 139.86 points
Week 9: 97.54 points
Week 10: 129.98 points
Week 11: 151.90 points
Week 12: 160.06 points
Week 13: 112.68 points
Week 14: 122.82 points
Week 15: 130.82 points
Week 16: 139.80 points
Week 17: 128.20 points
QB: Dak Prescott, Cowboys ($8,000)
Dallas needs a victory to secure the NFC East title and the NFC’s No. 2 seed. Prescott obliterated a weak Commanders secondary on Thanksgiving, throwing for 331 yards and four touchdowns. Washington is allowing the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Since Week 12, it has allowed the sixth-most ing yards per game, the seventh-highest yards per attempt and the second-highest er rating.
RB: Jordan Mason, 49ers ($4,600)
I don’t anticipate the Niners and Rams showing much of anything on offense on the off-chance they play each other again in the playoffs. There should be a lot of volume in the ground game on both sides. Christian McCaffrey has been ruled out with a calf injury and Elijah Mitchell likely will rest as well given his own lengthy injury history, so I’m thinking Mason will be the beneficiary of a substantial workload. He has 170 yards on 34 carries (5.0 yards per carry) and three TDs this season.
RB: Pierre Strong Jr., Browns ($4,000)
Cleveland is locked into the No. 5 seed and likely will rest Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt. I’ve been a fan of Strong since his days at South Dakota State (he was No. 5 in my running back rankings for the 2022 NFL Draft). He’s flashed explosiveness in limited action with Cleveland and the Patriots, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. The Bengals are allowing the league’s third-highest yards per carry (4.6) to opposing running backs this season.
WR: CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys ($9,300)
Lamb already has set career-highs in targets (168), receptions (122), yards (1,651) and TDs (12) this season. He’s had at least 16 points on DraftKings in 11 straight games. The Commanders don’t have a defensive back on their roster who has any hope to contain Lamb.
WR: Justin Jefferson, Vikings ($8,500)
Minnesota remains mathematically alive for the playoffs, but a win is needed this week to have a shot. Jefferson needs 118 yards to reach 1,000 yards for the fourth straight season, despite missing almost two months. He had six receptions for 141 yards and a TD on Christmas Eve against the Lions, who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
WR: Justyn Ross, Chiefs ($3,000)
The talented Ross will see his most playing time this season with Kansas City resting most of its starters against the Chargers. Since Week 12, the Bolts have allowed the sixth-most PPR points per target and the third-most receiving TDs to perimeter wide receivers. Also, if Christian Kirk is active for the Jaguars in a must-win game against the Titans, you can easily pivot. Kirk is carrying a minimum price tag but has a chance to play after being activated off injured reserve.
TE: Austin Hooper, Raiders ($2,700)
Hooper has played at least 85 percent of the offensive snaps with rookie Michael Mayer sidelined and the Broncos are allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends.
FLEX: Rachaad White, Buccaneers ($7,600)
Tampa Bay will clinch the NFC South and a home playoff game next week with a win at Carolina or will be out of the playoffs with a loss. I’m thinking the Bucs lean on White, who has carried the ball at least 20 times in four of the last five games. The Panthers have allowed the most rushing TDs (21) in the NFL, and the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs this season.
DST: New York Giants ($2,300)
The G-Men are averaging 12.4 points on DK in their last five games at home and just produced 10 points against the Eagles in Philly two weeks ago despite losing 33-25.
