2023 NFL DFS Week 12 Contrarian Plays: Top DraftKings & FanDuel Picks

Week 12 of the NFL season is here which means it's time to take a look at the DraftKings NFL and FanDuel NFL main slates to figure out which players we should be looking to build our lineups around for our NFL DFS Tournament contests. As ugly as this Week 12 main slate appears from a value standpoint, that's what makes it a great one especially for GPP's when it comes to being contrarian with your lineup builds. If you want to take down the big NFL DFS contests you need to find those high upside contrarian players to put into your lineup that will help you differentiate yourself from the rest of the field and while you don't need to go completely contrarian with your lineup builds it is generally a good idea to find one or two players to put into your lineup each week that may go again the majority of the field in hopes that it will give you a leg up on the competition.
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Top FanDuel & DraftKings NFL DFS Week 12 Contrarian Plays
C.J. Stroud, QB Houston Texans
I don't really get this one but if you look at our projected rostership for the week you will see that Stroud is expected to be less than 10% rostered in GPP contests and if that ends up being true then I need to have him in my lineups this week against the Jaguars. Jacksonville does not stop the pass all that well and Stroud has put together three straight weeks of 20+ fantasy points which included that incredible performance against the Buccaneers where he threw for 470 yards and five touchdowns. He has the upside to take down a GPP and if nobody is playing him then you can bet your last dollar that he will make my player pool.
Ezekiel Elliott, RB New England Patriots
All reports are seemingly indicating that the Patriots are going back to Mac Jones here in Week 12 and therefore many are looking at Rhamondre Stevenson who came away with 20 carries against the Colts in Week 10 before the Patriots bye week. While I think Stevenson is a fine play, I can't help but look at Elliott here who nobody is playing despite the fact that he continues to see a solid amount of carries, gets red zone work and has historically eaten up the New York Giants. If you really want to go against the grain here this week then Elliott, off a bye, against the Giants could be your golden ticket.
Greg Dortch, WR Arizona Cardinals
Everyone is looking at Justin Watson this week along with Khalil Shakir and both of those are fine plays with nice upside but an easy pivot here is to Greg Dortch who saw 75% of the offensive snaps last week and with Michael Wilson again ruled out should see similar workload here in Week 12. I also like that Dortch and QB Kyler Murray have chemistry as Dortch was the teams top target at times when Murray was under center over these past seasons. The Rams do not have a great secondary which I think Dortch can exploit and look to repeat his six catch effort from Week 11.
David Njoku, TE Cleveland Browns
I think Njoku here is just a victim of the price tag. He is in the mid-range when it comes to cost and the Browns are still starting Dorian Thompson-Robinson in Week 12 while being on the road in Denver. The thing is, Njoku had 15 targets last week from DTR and the Broncos are not a good defense against opposing tight ends. If nobody is playing a guy who had 15 targets last week then I'm certainly willing to give him a look in my GPP lineups.
Player News
Free agent CB Stephon Gilmore wants to play football in “the right situation” this season.
The 34-year-old veteran visited the Cowboys pre-draft but left without a contract. Gilmore is no longer an above-average starter, but he did force eight incompletions and record one interception last year. A playoff contender could benefit from signing him as a No. 3 perimeter option, although Gilmore would likely ask to at least compete for the No. 2 role.
ESPN’s Turron Davenport reports that Titans QB Cam Ward is adjusting to the NFL’s speed and field width while learning how to adjust protection against the blitz.
Ward is learning through trial and error, as many rookies do. The young quarterback is now aware that an open receiver in the NFL looks far different than it did in college, even when targeting a linebacker’s coverage. The NFL’s condensed field spacing has also reportedly required Ward to improve his awareness against the blitz. Per Davenport, Ward successfully showcased a lightbulb moment in this regard, which occurred “during team period when Ward recognized where the pressure was coming from and checked to a different protection to block it up.” Ward also notably signaled an audible to Calvin Ridley and connected with the veteran receiver for a touchdown. These are positive steps for a quarterback who currently profiles as a QB2 in re-draft formats.
Speaking to Rich Eisen about the Steelers’ contract talks with EDGE T.J. Watt, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said the “most likely” outcome is that the two sides agree to an extension that resets the market before the season opener.
Pelissero recently reported that the Steelers do not plan to trade Watt, and Watt’s record-setting goals are well known, so the most recent report makes sense. The team will do its best to ensure team-friendly outs exist later in the deal, but for now, Watt appears to be on track for a hefty payday sometime before September 7th. Pelissero states succinctly, Watt’s expected extension “is going to be north of Myles Garrett—it is going to be upwards of $40 million per year.”
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said that there are going to be “decisions for everybody to make” if Tua Tagovailoa is unable to maintain good health this season.
Pelissero made the comments on the Rich Eisen Show today. Pelissero’s comments suggest an organizational reset of sorts could be in order if the worst case scenario plays out and Tagovailoa once again misses significant time. Head coach Mike McDaniel has been unable to keep his team competitive during Tagovailoa’s repeated injury-related absences, and ownership may be looking for an all-around fresh start. Pelissero notes that the Dolphins’ front office created financial flexibility for 2026 via its two recent trades with the Steelers.
Steelers signed GM Omar Khan to a three-year extension through 2028.
Khan was promoted to his current post in 2022. His successful draft picks include WR George Pickens, CB Joey Porter Jr., DT Keeanu Benton, LB Nick Herbig and C Zach Frazier. Khan acquired veterans WR DK Metcalf, TE Jonnu Smith and CB Jalen Ramsey via trade this offseason.
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis believes Vikings WR Tai Felton’s rookie season will be “spent mostly on special teams.”
Lewis notes that Felton could see some snaps on offense if Jordan Addison is suspended in relation to his pending DUI trial. Otherwise, it sounds like Jalen Nailor will be back as the team’s third receiver. Nailor didn’t earn many targets in the WR3 role last year but did cash in with six touchdowns and 414 yards on 28 grabs. Nailor is on the menu as a dart throw in deep best ball formats while the third-round rookie is only intriguing as a dynasty stash.