Joey Ricotta | September 28th, 2019
Welcome in. Hopefully, everyone had a great week and is as excited as I am for this week’s games. The goal of the cash game article is to outline some of the safer plays, while also, providing options that will help you create the most optimal builds. The whole point of it all is to make some money. Sometimes we won’t, but putting ourselves in the best position to do so is the main thing. That goes without saying, but can sometimes get overshadowed by the results on a week to week basis.
All people want to know is how many points a guy scored, and not necessarily the route in which they got there. DFS is not only a science but a math equation. Let’s dive in, put the pieces together, and try to solve it. Here are my favorite Cash Game Plays for week four.
Disclaimer: As I debuted last week, again there will be a lock emoji next to a few of my favorite plays. All of the guys mentioned are viable for cash games, but the ones with a lock emoji are going to be fixtures in my main lineup.
Quarterback
Russell Wilson ($6,100 DK, $7,800 FD)
Wilson is playing very well to start the season. He’s been forced to make more happen because of the mediocre rushing attack showcased thus far by the Seahawks. Last week, Wilson threw a career-high 50 times against the New Orleans Saints and racked up 44.34 DraftKings points. Playing against a fast paced team in the Arizona Cardinals, it will mean more attempts for Russ. The Cardinals are 24th in passing yards allowed per game (286.3) and have allowed the third-most DK points per game to opposing quarterbacks (29.49). Wilson is an excellent option if you have leftover salary to spend.
Daniel Jones ($5,300 DK, $7,300 FD)
Washington is a nightmare match-up for college teams. For the pros, however, they don’t really pose as much of a threat defensively. While this isn’t exactly a college level defense, over the course of his college career, Jones rushed on average over 11 times per game and he ran the ball in for two touchdowns last week. Along with rushing for two scores, Jones also threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns. Washington ranks in the bottom third of the league in passing yards allowed per game (260.7). Josh Norman is a shell of what he used to be and the other corners aren’t really worth mentioning. The upside and the high floor is there to build a solid cash game lineup with Danny Dimes.
Always In Play: Patrick Mahomes
Punt Option: Case Keenum (Don’t love it)
Running Back
Christian McCaffrey ($8,800 DK, $9,000 FD)
Run CMC is a do it all, all-purpose back. I didn’t need to tell you that but I figured I’d set the table before he eats because that’s exactly what he’s going to do again Sunday. Well, that’s what we hope anyway. The best way to look at it, McCaffrey is the best top dollar option on the slate because he is virtually match-up proof and Dalvin Cook has the difficult task of taking on the Chicago Bears. Carolina’s pro bowl offensive lineman Trai Turner has been ruled out for Sunday’s game.
Greg Little will get his first start at left tackle, while Daryl Williams is expected to move over to right guard. Turner being out is a big hit to the Panthers and all of this shifting around makes it a bit of a question mark as to how it will play out Sunday. The Houston Texans have a good group of pass rushers who might be able to get some pressure on Kyle Allen. Although they are almost certainly keying in on McCaffrey, the Texans are middle of the road in rushing yards per game against (108). Run CMC is always included in the passing game and he might be even more so as a safety valve if Allen sees a ton of pressure.
Austin Ekeler ($8,000 DK, $8,100 FD)
Our cash cow’s window of opportunity might be closing sooner than we thought. Melvin Gordon has reported and may actually suit up Sunday because of a calf injury sustained by Justin Jackson. Being that Gordon has only been with the team a few days, he’s not expected to get a ton of work in this game. An entirely different situation from last week’s Dallas Cowboys versus Miami Dolphins game. The Cowboys went ahead by a decent number and plugged in Tony Pollard who had himself a nice day, while also limiting Ezekiel Elliott‘s ceiling.
This won’t be the case with Ekeler. I expect him to get full run with him likely losing his starting role next week. The Dolphins have allowed a league high 208 rushing yards per game. Ekeler’s averaged 4.2 yards per carry and has received no fewer than six targets in any game thus far. Fire up Ekeler and feel good about it.
Wayne Gallman ($4,600 DK, $5,800 FD)
The Giants are searching for an answer to replace or replenish what they’ll be missing from Saquon Barkley. Obviously, they don’t have a second option that can play quite like Barkley, but no NFL teams do. Barkley left Sunday’s game with a high ankle sprain, that’s expected to sideline him at least 4-8 weeks. Do I think Gallman is the slate-breaker? No, and I think we need to limit our expectations. But he could easily pay off his cheap price tag, especially if he gets 15-20 touches. The Redskins are allowing the fifth-most rushing yards per game (142). Through three games, Barkley had 19 targets, second most on the team. If Gallman is used anything like Barkley was being used, he should see between 4-6 targets.
Also In Play: Kerryon Johnson, Marlon Mack
Punt Option: None (Gallman is as cheap as I’ll go in cash games)
Wide Receiver
Kenny Golladay ($5,900 DK, $6,700 FD)
Targeting receivers against Kansas City will be a thing as long as the Chiefs continue to be great offensively. The Lions should be trailing much of the game and be forced to throw. Also as their defense isn’t that great. Whether it’s Charvarius Ward or Bashaud Breeland doing the majority of coverage against Golladay, he should be able to have himself a nice day. Golladay ranks eighth in the NFL with 16.4 TAY (average targeted air yards), and he gets a high volume of 38.54% of his team’s total intended air yards. Look for Golladay to bounce-back nicely after last week’s dud.
Terry McLaurin ($4,500 DK, $6,300 FD)
Scary Terry looks like the real deal and is striking fear in opposing secondaries. Hence the name Scary Terry. Whether he lines up the majority of the game against Janoris Jenkins or Deandre Baker, McLaurin should be able to have a field day. Both cornerbacks have been getting roasted by opposing wide receivers this season. Terry has a touchdown in each of the first three games of the season and is averaging eight targets per game. Even if Keenum for some reason struggles and gets benched, his replacement would be Dwayne Haskins. Haskins and McLaurin are no strangers as they connected on 72% of passing attempts for 19.3 yards per reception in college at Ohio State.
Always In Play: Keenan Allen, Larry Fitzgerald
Punt Option: Preston Williams
Tight End
Darren Waller ($5,200 DK, $6,700 FD)
What’s in your wallet? Well, if Waller was in your lineups last week, there’s probably a decent chunk of cash stuffed in there. He had a near perfect day, catching 13 of 14 passes thrown his way for 134 yards. He even ran the ball once for seven yards. For the season, Waller has caught an outstanding 89.66% of passes thrown his direction, and Derek Carr loves throwing the ball his way. Waller is by far the most targeted on the team, taking up 30.85% of the team targets. He gets a solid match-up against the Indianapolis Colts who give up the sixth-most DK fantasy points per game to the tight end position.
Will Dissly ($3,600 DK, $5,400 FD)
Dissly hauled in six of seven targets for 62 yards and a score last week. In week two, he grabbed five out of five targets for 50 yards and two touchdowns. It’s safe to say he’s becoming a focal point for Russell Wilson and Seattle. Making matters more telling, the Seahawks traded Nick Vannett to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2020 fifth-round pick. Signifying they believe in Dissly as their number one option at tight end moving forward. He gets a nice match-up this week against the Arizona Cardinals who rank dead last in fantasy points allowed to the tight end position. He’ll be highly owned, but the value is rock solid for cash games.
Also In Play: Travis Kelce and Evan Engram
Punt Option: None (Dissly is as cheap as I’ll go in cash games)
Defense/Special Teams
I like to look for cheaper defenses than most people feel comfortable with. I felt like I needed to say that as almost a disclaimer before we get going. This doesn’t necessarily make these defenses “safe,” although I know that’s normally the goal in cash games. Because of the unpredictability at the position, I’m more willing to punt defense in hopes of finding some cheap turnovers. Here are two defenses to target, one for each of the two main sites.
Chicago Bears ($3,400 DK)
The Bears get a match-up with the Minnesota Vikings in an expected grind it out, defensive battle. I expect, as do many others, the Bears to focus on shutting down Cook. Kirk Cousins had plenty of problems with the Bears D last season. If he’s forced to throw more than the Vikings would like, turnovers could follow.
Minnesota Vikings ($4,000 FD)
As aforementioned, the game against the Bears sets up to be an offensive struggle. Mitchell Trubisky has shown a tendency to be erratic at times. Given the fact that the Vikings defense is cheaper than normal, I’d be willing to take a discount here in hopes of a turnover or two.
Other Options: Los Angeles Chargers (@ MIA), Indianapolis Colts (vs OAK)
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