With a few games on Saturday this week and our usual slate of primetime contests, Sunday’s main DFS slate will be without the likes of the Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, and Philadelphia Eagles, amongst others. We have 10 games on the board, including three games with a total north of 45 points, which seems like a million compared to past weeks. Of course, we have plenty of projected low scoring affairs, and a lot of uncertain situations, a la the health of C.J. Stroud and Tyreek Hill. By taking a look at projected game and team totals, as well as our NFL DFS Week 15 player projections, we’ll get a good look at how we can best optimize the wide receiver position in our NFL DFS lineups. From superstar receivers to top NFL DFS stacks, the NFL DFS WR Coach will have multiple plays at various pricing tiers to help construct your lineups. Without further ado, let’s dive into this week’s DFS WR Coach, highlighting the top plays, values, and fades at the wide receiver position to help build your NFL DFS lineups for Sunday’s main slate on DraftKings and FanDuel.

 

NFL DFS WR Top Tier Picks

CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

Lamb is matchup-proof and worth every penny every week in DFS. If the weather holds, this is a good environment for fantasy production, and Lamb has at least nine targets in seven straight games. In fact, over his last seven games, he has 10 or more targets in five games, 100+ yards in four of them, and a touchdown in all but one of them. He’s expensive, but if you like Dallas to score some points in this one, you’ll love the fact that in the nine games this year that Dallas has scored at least 30 points, he’s scored a touchdown in seven of them, and posted 70+ yards in six of them.

Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

If you have the money and want to do it, playing both Kupp and Nacua has every opportunity to be profitable. Yes, the Rams will run it and give Kyren Williams plenty of work, but the passing attack has the bigger advantage, as the Commanders are allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to receivers over the last four weeks. Kupp has found the end zone in back-to-back games, garnering at least eight targets in each game, while Nacua has nine receptions for 189 yards and a touchdown over the last two weeks. Oh, we’ve also seen the Rams manufacture some touches for Nacua, too, as he has three carries for 40 yards over the last two weeks. Who’s going to have at least one GPP lineup with Stafford, Kupp, and Nacua? This guy will!

Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

While Samuel didn’t have as big of a game as his teammate Aiyuk did against Arizona earlier this year, I’m not discounting Samuel whatsoever this week. Over the last three weeks, Samuel is averaging 19.1 yards per reception, while scoring six touchdowns! In this crazy run he’s on, he’s averaging 127.4 total yards and two touchdowns per game! The Cardinals have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to receivers over the last four weeks, and if they leave Marco Wilson on the bench, Samuel will see rookies Garrett Williams and Divaad Wilson on the perimeter. Advantage Samuel. I really like AIyuk this week, too, but I’m going to ride the hot hand with Samuel.

Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Evans should see a good bit of Corey Ballentine, who has allowed the seventh-most yards in coverage over the last four weeks, not to mention 17.1 yards per reception and 123.6 passer rating when targeted, per Pro Football Focus. With Chris Godwin getting a ton of work last week, maybe fewer people look to Evans this week. I think Godwin is in a fine spot against Keisean Nixon, too, but Evans is my preferred play, Don’t be quick to forget that prior to last week’s game, Evans had five touchdowns over his last four games, and I will note that Baker Mayfield has logged 14 of his 20 touchdowns on the year on the road this season. Evans is scoring this week against a Green Bay defense that has allowed the 11th-most fantasy points per game to receivers over the last four weeks. If Jaire Alexander were to return, my preference may switch to Godwin, but let’s see how the week plays out.

NFL DFS WR Mid-Tier Picks

Garrett Wilson, New York Jets

With Zach Wilson under center, Wilson is a great play, regardless of the matchup. Wilson returned under center for the Jets last week, and [Garrett] Wilson goes on to catch nine of 14 targets for a season-high 108 yards. Jalen Ramsey tends to stay on one side of the field, and Wilson’s slot snaps against Miami should prove to be advantageous. He’s played at least 30 percent of his snaps in the slot in six straight games, and against Miami a few weeks back, he caught seven of 10 targets for 44 yards and a touchdown. He seems entirely too cheap on DraftKings in particular at $5,800.

DJ Moore, Chicago Bears

Ownership on Moore shouldn’t be high this week, given that the Bears are facing the stout Cleveland defense. However, Chicago gave Moore three rushing attempts last week, so there is a concerted effort to get the ball in his hands. Oh, he was also targeted 10 times. Volume is a beautiful thing, and Moore is averaging a hearty 10.3 targets per game over the last four weeks. We’ve seen passing attacks get to this Cleveland defense at times, and Moore is too talented of a receiver to fade because of the matchup. I won’t be using Moore in cash, but in GPPs, I’ll take the chance, though his price is more appealing on DraftKings than FanDuel.

DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans

His big game on Monday against Miami likely pushes up his ownership a bit here, but his ability to make contested catches combined with Will Levis’ willingness to throw it downfield should be a recipe for success against Houston. Sure, Hopkins won’t go into the slot much, meaning he’ll see a good bit of Steven Nelson and Derek Stingley, but opposing quarterbacks are challenging these Houston corners downfield, and having some success. Call it a revenge game if you want, as Hopkins faces the team where he spent most of his career, but if Houston bottles up the run game, something they have done much better at this season, Hopkins has every opportunity to feast with his rookie gunslinger under center.

Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

It happened! Rice played 85 percent of the snaps last week, which was a new season high, and the third week in a row that he set a new season high in snap share. It took long enough, but Kansas City is realizing that he’s the best wide receiver that they have, and good things happen when he gets the football. Sure, he lost a fumble last week, but he at least catches the ball and is someone Patrick Mahomes can trust. Rice is still very affordable on both sides, though he represents a slightly better value on FanDuel, where he costs 10.8 percent of your budget, compared to 12.2 percent on DraftKings. Over the last three weeks, Rice is averaging 7.7 receptions and 81 yards per game, while totaling at least nine targets in each of those three contests. The Patriots will look to lock down Kelce, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Rice lead the Chiefs in targets, receptions, and yards in this matchup.

NFL DFS WR Value Picks

Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers

We’ll have to see what Christian Watson’s status is, but ultimately, here’s where I’m at with Reed this week. If Watson is out, I LOVE Reed. If Watson plays, I really, really like Reed. The Bucs have allowed the fourth-most yards to wideouts over the last four weeks, and Reed saw a career high 10 targets against the Giants last week. Sure, it resulted in just eight catches for 27 yards, but fortunately, he had four carries for 38 yards and his second rushing touchdown in that game. He’s got the most juice on the offense, and the Packers are hell-bent on getting the football in his hands. Only four teams have allowed more fantasy points per game to receivers than the Bucs this season, and while Reed has been a bit touchdown dependent of late, there’s few better matchups for a receiver than this one. Christian Izien, Tampa Bay’s slot corner, has allowed the seventh-most yards in slot coverage this season, per PFF, not to mention a 106.3 passer rating when targeted.

Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders

This game could turn out to be rather fantasy-friendly, and I love to attack the Rams with slot receivers. Prior to the team’s bye in Week 13, Samuel had 16 targets in the team’s last two games, resulting in 13 receptions for 165 yards. Over the last four weeks, the Rams rank in the bottom third of the league in targets and yards allowed to the slot. Samuel primarily lines up in the slot for Washington, and interestingly enough, the Rams have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to receivers over the last four weeks.

Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills

I think the Cowboys see the success they had last week with having Stephon Gilmore on A.J. Brown, so maybe they replicate that here with Stefon Diggs. If that’s the case, Davis will see DaRon Bland, who aside from the interceptions and touchdowns, can be a bit boom-or-bust at the cornerback position. Well, Davis is the epitome of boom-or-bust, but in a GPP lineup, this is the environment for him to give us one of his patented 100+ yard days with a touchdown or two. His matchup isn’t as friendly as a teammate of his you’ll read about later, but Dallas has allowed the third-most yards and seventh-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the last four weeks, so any stack of this game for GPPs should feature Davis.

Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills

Sure, he saw just one target last week against Kansas City, but he had 162 yards receiving combined in the two games prior. He’ll get arguably the best matchup on the field for the Kansas City wide receivers, as he’ll log the most slot snaps for the Bills. Dallas’ primary slot corner, Jourdan Lewis, is Pro Football Focus’ 115th ranked corner (out of 119), and no cornerback has allowed more yards or receptions in slot coverage over the last four weeks. If the weather stays fine for this game, there should be plenty of points scored, and Shakir is a logical flier in this contest.

NFL DFS WR Fades

Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers

I can’t do it with Bryce Young anymore. Yes, you want the slot receiver going against Atlanta, but there are far better, and safer options than Thielen, despite the good matchup. The Falcons kept Thielen in check back in Week 1 this season, and Thielen is averaging just three receptions per game over the last three weeks. The Falcons are one of just two teams that have not allowed a receiving score to receivers over the last four weeks, and playing Thielen is getting too cute on this slate.