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Week 16 DraftKings Cash-Game Picks

By Jared Smola 11:06am EST 12/23/22

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QB

Gardner Minshew, Eagles ($4,800)

Any $4,800 QB is worth considering in cash games. But this isn’t just any $4,800 QB. It’s a $4,800 QB who’s had success in the NFL and is now playing behind a sturdy offensive line and with beaucoup weapons.

Minshew sports a solid 63% completion rate and 7.0 yards per attempt across 30 NFL appearances and 22 starts. Much of that came with bad Jaguars offenses. He made 2 starts for the Eagles last year, coming away with 242-2-0 and 186-2-1 passing lines.

Those Eagles offenses didn’t have A.J. Brown. Philly is also getting TE Dallas Goedert back for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys.

That’s not an easy matchup. But Dallas, missing its #2 and #3 CBs, has slumped to 15th in Football Outsiders’ pass defense DVOA over the past 5 weeks.

As a bonus: We don’t need to worry about weather with Minshew, on a week where many games will be played in sub-optimal conditions.

Also consider: Patrick Mahomes ($8,400), Geno Smith ($5,800)

RBs

We’re playing Minshew so that we can pay WAY up at RB …

Christian McCaffrey, 49ers ($8,800)

McCaffrey is getting absurd usage, averaging 19.0 carries and 7.0 targets over his last 3 games. He’s topped 28 DK points in all 3 of those outings.

McCaffrey runs into Washington’s 3rd-ranked RB defense on Saturday. But he’s gonna put up fantasy points if he gets another 25+ opportunities.

Derrick Henry, Titans ($8,600)

Henry’s last 4 rushing lines vs. Houston:

32-219-2

34-250-2

22-212-2

32-211-3

The Texans’ run defense is playing better now than it was when Henry smoked them back in Week 8. But you better believe he’s gonna get the rock over and over again on Saturday with Malik Willis back under center.

Henry has also tallied 2+ catches in 6 straight games, averaging 3.3 targets, 2.7 catches and 40 receiving yards per game over that span.

Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs ($5,900)

This might feel a little point chasey – but McKinnon is getting the usage to support the big recent production. He’s averaged 8.0 carries and 6.3 targets over his last 3 outings, with a bunch of that coming in the red zone. Only 6 RBs have totaled more expected PPR points during that span.

Next up for McKinnon is a struggling Seahawks defense that ranks 25th in Football Outsiders’ pass defense DVOA and 31st in run defense DVOA over the last 5 weeks. Seattle has allowed a RB to score 18.9+ DK points in 4 straight games.

Also consider: Dalvin Cook ($7,200)

WRs

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chiefs ($5,800)

JuJu has racked up 19 catches on 21 targets over the last 2 weeks, scoring 22.4 and then 17.8 DK points. Dating further back, he’s averaged 8.3 targets on a 19.5% share over his last 7 full, healthy games.

The Seahawks rank 3rd in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs on the season. But they’ve been much more beatable lately, sinking to 25th in Football Outsiders’ pass defense DVOA over the last 5 weeks.

D.J. Moore, Panthers ($5,500)

We’re putting our hard-earned money on Sam Darnold, which is … uncomfortable. But Darnold has targeted Moore on 23% of his passes over the last 3 weeks. Moore has caught 60% of those targets and averaged a big 19.6 yards per catch.

He gets the Lions’ 28th-ranked WR defense on Saturday. The matchup looks particularly good for Moore, who has seen an increased 68% slot rate over the past 3 weeks. The Lions are the worst defense in adjusted fantasy points allowed to slot receivers.

Marquise Goodwin, Seahawks ($4,300)

Goodwin is by no means a lock. We’re talking about a 32-year-old who’s reached 500 receiving yards in just 1 NFL season. But I like the risk/reward profile on him at this price tag.

WR Tyler Lockett’s absence should turn Goodwin into a near every-down player in what’s been an efficient passing game for most of the season. The matchup is good against Kansas City’s 18th-ranked WR defense. And Seattle’s passing volume should be elevated as 10-point underdogs.

Although it’s largely been as the team’s #3 WR, Goodwin has been efficient this season, with a 71% catch rate and 14.3 yards per catch.

Also consider: Justin Jefferson ($9,300), D.K. Metcalf ($7,100)

TE

Noah Fant, Seahawks ($3,400)

We’ll need to keep an eye on Fant leading up to Saturday’s kickoff. He’s listed as questionable with a knee injury that held him to just 1 limited practice this week. HC Pete Carroll said Thursday, though, that he fully expects Fant to play.

If that’s the case, he has the potential to play a bigger role with WR Tyler Lockett out. Fant has already tallied 3+ catches and 34+ yards in 5 of his last 6 games. He’s getting a Chiefs defense that ranks 25th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs.

If Fant ends up sitting, we can pivot to TE Will Dissly ($2,700), who would be an even better dollars-per-point value.

DST

Cowboys ($2,600)

The Cowboys DST is at its lowest price since Week 5 – likely because of the expected matchup vs. Jalen Hurts. QB Gardner Minshew is a very capable backup, but it’s still an upgrade for Dallas.

Among main-slate DSTs, only the Patriots are averaging more DK points per game this season than the Cowboys’ 10.5.

Also consider: Eagles ($2,200)