It’s all about finding value when playing NFL slates on DraftKings, especially if it’s low-owned value. It’s also about not throwing a lot of salary into a player who underperforms. Each week, because of injury, personnel moves and that occasional hidden gem that no one sees coming, there are player with low salaries and even lower ownership that help break a slate wide open. Then there are those who are covered in red flags. Here are our picks for the best and worst value wide receivers on DraftKings entering Week 9:
Best Values
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts ($6,300)
Mason Rudolph may have his issues at quarterback, but one thing he doesn’t need to work on is chemistry with Smith-Schuster. Even after a miserable first 20 minutes or so against the Dolphins on Monday night, Rudolph managed to find JuJu enough for a monster line of 5-103-1, good for 24.3 DraftKings points. It was JuJu’s first 100-yard game of the season, and with the Colts in the bottom third in pass defense, he could be in for a repeat performance. JuJu has scored at least 17 points in 3 of the past 4 games with Rudolph starting at QB.
Tyrell Williams, Oakland Raiders vs. Detroit Lions ($5,900)
Did you know that in each of the five games Williams has played this season, he’s scored in double-digit DK points? Williams returned from a three-game absence because of a foot injury and put up his second-best scoring game of the season against Houston, with a 3-91-1 line. Williams will likely fly under the radar this week against the Lions at home, but he has proven all year that when healthy, he is a reliable, productive deep threat.
Danny Amendola, Lions at Raiders ($4,700)
On the other side of the ball in Oakland is Amendola, who in the past two weeks has regained his foothold as the dependable possession receiver in the Lions’ attack. Amendola has been targeted 19 times over the past two games and produced big lines in both contests: 8-105 in Week 7 and 8-95 against the Giants on Sunday. The Raiders pose no particular obstacle this week, and an Amendola-Golladay-Stafford stack with Williams on the other side isn’t the worst idea for roster construction.
Worst Values
Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos ($6,600)
As expected, Beckham was mostly neutralized by Stephon Gilmore in Foxboro on Sunday (5-52) and now OBJ draws the blanket coverage of Chris Harris. It seems unlikely that Beckham will fare any better in another brutal matchup, especially with a struggling quarterback.
Terry McLaurin, Washington at Buffalo Bills ($6,200)
The obvious concern here is the status of Case Keenum. If Dwayne Haskins winds up starting, McLaurin cannot be played. Plain and simple. But even with Keenum in the lineup, McLaurin has had three duds in his past four games. He’s an immensely talented rookie. But it’s not happening for him right now, and Haskins just destroys his value, especially on the road against a good defense looking to right it’s own ship.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is jeffgo33) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.