NFL DFS Week 13 Example Lineups: Top Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel

Published: Dec 04, 2022
Updated: Sunday 12/4 at 12:10pm ET
How are those NFL Week 13 DFS lineups coming along? If you're like me, you are probably finding it a lot easier to create GPP tournament lineups than it is to create high-quality, zero-fat cash lineups. That's because the value on this slate is extremely limited, especially at the running back position. Even if we eventually hear that Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon doesn't clear concussion protocol before Sunday's games, it's not like Samaje Perine is at some great bargain price. That means we are probably looking for our value at the wide receiver and tight end position and when you're sifting through those low-end options, none of them are really standing out as quality cash-game plays.
For GPP tournaments? Absolutely. Give me all those sub-$5K receivers as potential pay-downs. But for cash, we have to be a lot more selective. This is where using the NFL Week 13 DFS Ownership Projections can come in handy. Go through it and see which bargain receivers most people seem to be on for GPP tournaments and you might be able to slide them into your cash lineup and hope the rest of your tourney is on them as well.
As for the tight end position, I keep wanting to come back to Travis Kelce because he is, legitimately, the only reliable tight end we have. But in order to use him, especially on DraftKings, we are either going to have to go the ol' 2-TE route or find some other DFS bargain plays we feel like we can get away with. This is where I feel the pricing is better on FanDuel . And by better, I just mean easier for building cash lineups. And maybe that's the strategy to employ – sticking to GPP tournaments on DK and play our cash games on FD. It's what I usually tend to do anyway for my own personal lineups. I've discussed the pricing several times during the course of the season so that shouldn't come as any real surprise, but maybe this is the week where it stands out enough to you as well.
Not to worry. I will still provide examples of cash lineups on DK. You will still have that sounding board for comparison. I just want to make sure the transparency is there.
Just a few notes here about the lineups below...
The cash lineups were built solely off the players I put in the Playbook. These are the guys who, unless I have indicated otherwise, offer up the higher floor and will help you cash in your Double-Ups and 50/50s. For GPP tournaments, particularly the large-field ones, you need to find alternative routes to the cash line. I will utilize players from the Playbook and the DFS Dart Board to fill in the gaps, but what I am looking for are some lower-owned stacks that make sense based on expected game flow and other news. You may also see in the GPP lineups, there may be some names I haven't discussed this week on the site, but have talked about during the week on the Fantasy Alarm Show or even on the Fantasy Alarm Sunday Gameday Show on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. You will also notice, though, that others on the site have mentioned some of these players in places such as the position coaches, so it's not like we're trying to hide anything from you. The only time, and I mean the only time you will see a player in a GPP lineup who hasn't been discussed is if we are using a stack and need a player from the other team coming back. But it's rare when that happens.
Again, these lineups are meant to serve as examples for you; a sounding board, as I said. They are not meant for you to plug in as your own. That's the lazy way and we don't condone it. We are trying to teach you how to be a better DFS player; we aren't lineup-sellers. You should be creating your own lineups using all the information we provide you throughout the week and then coming here to see if there is anything you may have missed or simply for an alternative perspective.
Best of luck to you this week and let's make some money!
SUNDAY MORNING NOTES:
According to Adam Schefter:
Jaguars’ RB Travis Etienne, listed as questionable for Sunday due to his foot injury, is expected to play vs. the Lions, per source
Doctors still have not cleared Bengals’ RB Joe Mixon to play Sunday vs. the Chiefs, per source. Mixon remains in concussion protocol and would have to be cleared Sunday to play vs. the Chiefs. If Mixon cannot play, the Bengals would lean once again on RB Samaje Perine.
Washington RB Antonio Gibson, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a foot injury, is expected to play vs. the Giants despite limited practice work all week
49ers WR Deebo Samuel, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a deep thigh bruise, plans to play vs. Miami
Bengals’ WR Ja’Marr Chase, who has missed the past four games with a hairline hip fracture and is listed as questionable for Sunday, is expected to play vs. the Chiefs
Broncos’ WR Jerry Jeudy, listed as questionable for Sunday due to an ankle injury, is expected to play vs. the Ravens barring any pre-game setbacks
The Lions are activating first-round pick Jameson Williams, the former Alabama standout WR who tore his ACL during last season’s national championship game. Williams is available to make his NFL debut Sunday vs. the Jaguars
Players out Sunday include Kadarius Toney, Mike Williams, Corey Linsley, Elijah Mitchell, Aaron Donald, Matthew Stafford, Denico Autry, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Robert Quinn, David Njoku, Brandin Cooks, Derek Stingley Jr., Christian Darrisaw, David Bakhtiari and Jaquan Brister
Other News:
Bears placed QB Trevor Siemian (oblique) on injured reserve.
Broncos activated RB Mike Boone from injured reserve.
Seahawks downgraded RB Travis Homer (knee/illness) to out for Week 13 against the Rams.
Titans RB Hassan Haskins was downgraded to out for Week 13 against the Eagles.
Ravens elevated WR DeSean Jackson for Week 13 against the Broncos.
Giants WR Kenny Golladay was added to the injury report with an illness.
Commanders TE Logan Thomas (ribs) was removed from the injury report and will play in Week 13 against the Giants.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports Commanders EDGE Chase Young is unlikely to play in Week 13 against the Giants.
POTENTIAL WEATHER CONCERNS:
Nothing to impact any of the games on NFL Sunday
GPP STACKS:
As a reminder, when you're stacking in GPP, you always want to run someone back from the opposing team. One-sided games often turn to a running back seeing higher-than-usual volume or the back-ups start to play. For a stack to really pop, the other team needs to keep things competitive.
Chalk Stacks (Expect High Ownership):
*Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, JuJu Smith-Schuster or Skyy Moore (Mixon or Chase or Higgins coming back)
*Bengals: Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Joe Mixon or Tee Higgins or Tyler Boyd (Kelce or JuJu or Moore coming back)
Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, Christian Kirk, Travis Etienne or Zay Jones or Marvin Jones (Jamawful or Swift or St. Brown or Chark coming back)
Lions: Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jamaal Williams or D'Andre Swift or DJ Chark (Kirk or Etienne or either Jones coming back)
*Chargers: Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Josh Palmer or Austin Ekeler (Jacobs or Adams coming back)
Raiders: Derek Carr, Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs or Mack Hollins (Ekeler or Allen or Palmer coming back)
*Eagles: Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith or Quez Watkins or Miles Sanders (Henry or Burks coming back)
Seahawks: Geno Smith, DK Metcalf, Kenneth Walker or Tyler Lockett (K Williams or Jefferson coming back)
Vikings: Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen or Dalvin Cook or T.J. Hockenson (Wilson or Knight or Moore coming back)
Possible Lower-Owned Stacks:
Ravens: Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, Demarcus Robinson or Gus Edwards or Kenyan Drake (Sutton or Murray coming back)
Browns: Deshaun Watson, Amari Cooper, Nick Chubb or Donovan Peoples-Jones (Pierce or Collins coming back)
Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle or Jeff Wilson or Raheem Mostert (McCaffrey or Aiyuk or Kittle coming back)
49ers: Jimmy Garoppolo, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk or Christian McCaffrey (Hill or Waddle coming back)
Packers: Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones, Christian Watson or Allen Lazard (Montgomery or Claypool coming back)
Bears: Justin Fields, David Montgomery, Chase Claypool or Cole Kmet (A Jones, Watson or Lazard coming back)
Steelers: Kenny Pickett, George Pickens, Najee Harris or Pat Freiermuth (London or Patterson coming back)
NY Giants: Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Darius Slayton (Robinson or McLaurin coming back)
NY Jets: Mike White, Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore or Tyler Conklin or Zonovan Knight (Cook, Jefferson or Thielen coming back)
Commanders: Taylor Heinicke, Terry McLaurin, Brian Robinson or Logan Thomas (Barkley or Slayton coming back)
Dart Throw Stacks:
Falcons: Marcus Mariota, Drake London, Cordarrelle Patterson (Pickens or Harris coming back)
Texans: Kyle Allen, Nico Collins, Jordan Akins or Dameon Pierce (Chubb or Cooper coming back)
Broncos: Russell Wilson, Courtland Sutton, Greg Dulcich or Latavius Murray (Andrews or Edwards coming back)
*denotes favorite
Pos | Player | Team | Opponent | Salary | Proj. Draft% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
QB | Patrick Mahomes | KC | CIN | $8,300 | 8.1% |
Pivot | Jalen Hurts | PHI | TEN | $8,000 | 3.9% |
RB | Dameon Pierce | HOU | CLE | $5,900 | 14.0% |
RB | Brian Robinson | WAS | NYG | $5,300 | 5.9% |
Pivot | Derrick Henry | BAL | DEN | $8,100 | 9.6% |
WR | Ja'Marr Chase | CIN | KC | $7,900 | 8.4% |
Pivot | A.J. Brown | PHI | TEN | $7,800 | 5.2% |
WR | Nico Collins | HOU | CLE | $4,200 | 9.1% |
Pivot | Joshua Palmer | BUF | NE | $5,600 | 4.4% |
WR | Jameson Williams | DET | JAC | $4,700 | 1.4% |
Pivot | Quez Watkins | ARI | $3,800 | 3.3% | |
TE | Travis Kelce | KC | CIN | $7,900 | 8.6% |
Pivot | George Kittle | SF | MIA | $5,000 | 4.6% |
FLEX | Skyy Moore | KC | CIN | $3,100 | 3.7% |
DST | Pittsburgh Steelers | PIT | ATL | $2,600 | 7.9% |
$49,900 |
Player News
Panthers released TE Jordan Matthews.
Matthews converted to tight end a few years ago and hasn’t made much noise at the position. The change has, however, likely kept him in the league for a few more seasons. He appeared in four games with the Panthers last year but didn’t record any stats on offense. The Panthers also released or waived WR Dax Milne, C Andrew Raym, and TE Colin Granger.
Dolphins released LS Blake Ferguson.
The team also waived CB Ryan Cooper Jr., DT Neil Farrell and OL Chasen Hines. Ferguson has been the team’s long snapper for five seasons and earned a three-year contract extension just before the 2023 season. He should be able to find work snapping footballs farther than the average snap elsewhere in the league.
DetroitLions.com’s Tim Twentyman believes rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa “could make his earliest impact on special teams.”
It’s not much of a surprise, as most rookies cut their teeth with special teams duties. Twentyman mentioned return duties as a possibility, though the former Razorback never returned kicks or punts in college. At 6'4/212 with 4.43 wheels, TeSlaa is an explosive athlete who never translated his physical traits to on-field production at Arkansas. The Lions clearly saw potential for him to do so in the pros and traded two future third-round picks to move up to No. 70 overall for him. It’s going to be a slow burn for TeSlaa in the pros, making him a dynasty-only fantasy option.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team does not “have any feelings on competition” when asked about the quarterback room.
O’Connell was asked about a potential quarterback competition on the Rich Eisen Show Wednesday and was unclear on whether J.J. McCarthy would have to compete to start. He said, “we’ve got an obligation as coaches to put our players in position to attack that competition phase.” O’Connell discussed first putting Brett Rypien and the newly acquired Sam Howell in a position to play before any competition would occur. He continued that McCarthy is “owning it” this offseason and is taking snaps from starting center Ryan Kelly. After missing last season with a torn meniscus, McCarthy has been ramping up workouts in the offseason and is the front-runner to start for the Vikings in 2025. As of now, Howell looks to be reinforcement at the backup spot in case it turns out McCarthy is not ready to start.
Texans re-signed DT Foley Fatukasi.
Fatukasi initially joined the Texans last offseason on a one-year contract. The 30-year-old was a rotational defensive lineman, tallying four tackles for loss and one sack. He returns to Houston for 2025, where he will be a part of a deep Texans front seven.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Tyreek Hill’s second wrist surgery was part of the original plan and his timeline remains unchanged.
Hill announced the second surgery on social media and Pelissero quickly added some context to the situation. The speedy receiver suffered the wrist injury just before the start of the season and it lingered throughout the year, though he never missed a game because of it. If the second surgery truly is a non-story, an offseason to recover might be what Hill needs to return to form after a down 2024 season. On the other hand, Hill is 31 years old, played his worst football last year, and his offense prioritized targets for Jonnu Smith and De’Von Achane. As it stands, Hill might have the highest risk-reward split in fantasy drafts.