DraftKings NFL Daily Fantasy Picks for Week 13

Matt Barkley (yes that Matt Barkley) may be the key for DraftKings domination this week. (Getty Images)

– John Bandinelli

Hey everyone, welcome to week 13. There are 13 games on the slate this week and there’s a bit of weather to deal with for a few of the matchups. It looks like the games in Green Bay and Chicago have a 90% chance of precipitation. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati also have slight chances for some rain. We have a lot of options at every position this week. Unfortunately, this post will be shorter than usual. Finals week is coming up and I’m loaded up with school work so, check the notables sections for some additional players to look at this week. I wanted to go with some more off the radar picks this week. Hopefully it makes building your lineups a little easier. The usual suspects like Aaron Rodgers, David Johnson and the obvious others are all still in play. There are a lot of opportunities save salary this week and spend up for stud players.

QB

High End/Solid Start
Matt Ryan (ATL) – $6800
Kansas City has given up the most fantasy points to quarterbacks in the past 4 weeks just edging out the 49ers. Ryan had an okay go of it last week against Arizona, winning by a comfortable margin. With a lot of people likely to be looking at a Brees and company at home again this week, Ryan could be a lower owned option for those who want to differentiate themselves from the rest of the field.

Bargain
Matt Barkley (CHI) – $5000
With Jay Cutler to undergo season ending surgery on his shoulder Matt Barkley will likely play the rest of the season for the Bears. Chicago played from behind most of the game last week allowing Barkley to throw the ball a bunch and put up some impressive numbers. At the minimum price, facing a 49ers defense that has allowed a league high 11 passing TDs in the last 4 weeks, he’s worth a look in tournaments. The Bears could end up playing from behind again if their defense can’t get Kaepernick the field.

Notables
Matthew Stafford (DET) – $7000
Jameis Winston (TB) – $6200

RB

Solid Start
Theo Riddick (DET) – $6800
Jordan Howard and Spencer Ware are the two backs everyone will be going after this week. Their both good picks, but if you want to try something different there’s Theo Riddick. He hadn’t had a great season but has earned 25+ fantasy points twice on the road this season. He’s been marked questionable again this week, but that’s been the routine for weeks now. This game had the highest over/under on the slate and Riddick is a solid rusher as well as a pass catcher. All signs point to a shoot out.

Bargain
Jeremy Hill (CIN) – $4300
I’m taking Hill again this week. He earned just enough to make him valuable last week and I think he could earn more than that this week. As I’m writing this the current weather forecast shows a 33% chance of rain of at kickoff with that chance increasing as the game progresses. Hill did most of his damage through the air last week and if it does rain both teams will likely keep it on the ground and utilize short passes which is right in Hill’s wheelhouse.

Notable
Carlos Hyde (SF) – $5300

WR

DeAndre Hopkins could give you a leg up on the competition against a soft Green Bay secondary. (Getty Images)

Solid Start
DeAndre Hopkins (HOU) – $6000
Hopkins price is the lowest it’s been all season and I’m buying low here. Green Bay has allowed 7 reception TDs to wide receivers in the past 4 weeks, which ties them for last in the league with 5 other teams. The obvious reason that Hopkins hasn’t had a better year is QB Brock Osweiler. He hasn’t been great on the road, and they’re facing the Pack at Lambeau this week. If Brock wants to keep his job, he needs to bounce back this week, take advantage of a soft Green Bay secondary and get the ball to his playmakers. This a high risk/high reward play, I won’t have a lot of Hopkins this week but I will have some limited exposure to him.

Bargains
Anquan Boldin (DET) – $4100
Boldin is one of those TD dependant picks, but with this game having the highest O/U of the week, I think he’ll be involved in someway or another. He has seen an increase in targets, seeing 9 a game in the past 2 weeks. His price has come up due a solid showing last week, but it’s right around where it’s been most of the season. He’s the type of receiver where he’s in the position to earn 12-15 fantasy points and that would be money well spent at around $4k. 16-18+ and it’s a homerun pick.

Marquess Wilson (CHI) – $4000
Wish I could’ve made this pick last week. Wilson clearly has some chemistry with Barkley under center and with Cutler injured Cole Meredith’s numbers are dropping off. Alshon is suspended and the Bears have virtually nothing coming from the TE position. I’m expecting more of the same from Wilson this week against the 49ers. I’m not sure if he’ll go off as big but, he will likely be highly owned after last week. He’s one of those plays where I’ll want to be above the field in terms of ownership. So if 50% of people play him then I want 65-75% of him in my lineups.

Notables
Dontrelle Inman (SD) – $5200
Tyreek Hill (KC) – $4600
Taylor Gabriel (ATL) – $4000

TE

Solid Start
Travis Kelce (KC) – $4700
Kelce is averaging over 7 targets a game and despite not having a TD since week 8, has 15 red zone targets on the year, which is enough for most in the league. Atlanta ranks in the bottom third of the league in pretty much every category against TEs. Solid pick, solid matchup and hopefully a solid return on the investment.

Bargain
Vance McDonald (SF) – $2900
McDonald is the only pass catcher that has shown any sort of consistency for the 49ers since Kaepernick has taken over. He’s not putting up crazy numbers but, he is earning enough to hit his value. I’d like to take other receivers from this unit but as of right not Vance is the only one showing up week to week. The Bears have allowed over 150-yards and 3 TDs to TEs through their last 3 games.

Notables
Martellus Bennet (NE) – $4800
C.J. Fiedorowicz (HOU) – $3800
Coby Fleener (NO) – $3500

DEF

Bargain
Tampa Bay – $2500
10 sacks, 5 interceptions and 48 total fantasy points in their last 3 games. The Buccaneers defense appears to be getting it together when it counts most; the last 4 weeks of the season. Philip Rivers has thrown 8 INTs in his last 4 games. Plus, San Diego is a team that’s struggled to close out games this season.

Notables
Denver – $3900
Baltimore – $3000

That’s all for this week. As usual feel free to comment or tweet me with comments, questions, concerns, complaints, jokes etc. Good luck this week.

– John Bandinelli (Twitter)