Devising the perfect Daily Fantasy Sports strategy for the NFL can be a challenge, which is why I'm here to assist.
On DraftKings, it's important to remember you're playing full-point PPR with bonuses if a player surpasses 300 passing yards, 100 rushing yards or 100 receiving yards.
Here is my optimal lineup for Sunday's $3 million Fantasy Football Millionaire contest, but can be utilized as a foundation in other games and platforms.
All prices listed are courtesy of DraftKings with a $50,000 budget.
These lineups have netted $260, so I'm in the black $20 through 13 weeks.
— QB: Joe Burrow, Bengals ($7,000)
Burrow is actually 0-4 against the Browns, but has averaged 309 yards and two touchdowns in defeat. I'm thinking he and red-hot Cincy get off the schneid against a Cleveland defense that isn't as good as it looked last week against the Texans. Burrow will cost you a full $1,000-plus less than Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts or Josh Allen.
— RB: Tony Pollard, Cowboys ($6,700)
Both Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott are viable smash candidates against a Houston defense allowing the most fantasy points to running backs this season. Pollard is a more attractive option (with a higher ceiling) in DraftKings full-PPR format because of his usage in the pass game.
— RB: D'Andre Swift, Lions ($5,800)
Swift clearly surpassed Jamaal Williams as Detroit's RB1 in Detroit's blowout of the Jaguars last week. Even if Williams regains the hold on the rushing share, Swift still has 14 targets over the past two games. Also, the Vikings have allowed the seventh most receptions to opposing running backs. He has the highest ceiling of any sub-$6,000 option at the position.
— WR: Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals ($7,900)
Chase looked healthy in his return against the Chiefs last week. He has 22 receptions (29 targets) for 359 yards and four TDs in his last three games.
— WR: Tyler Lockett, Seahawks ($6,500)
Seattle could be even more pass-happy than usual with Kenneth Walker likely out against the Panthers. Lockett has scored a TD in five straight games and a hip injury kept DK Metcalf from practicing on Thursday and Friday. Metcalf could be limited if he's active Sunday afternoon.
— WR: DJ Moore, Panthers ($5,500)
Moore finished as the overall WR11 in PPR formats in Week 12 with Sam Darnold under center for the first time this season. Darnold was Carolina's starting quarterback for the first nine weeks of 2021 and Moore was also the overall WR11 in PPR in those nine games.
— TE: Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans ($2,700)
Okonkwo has had five targets in back-to-back games, and could be in line for even more volume with Treylon Burks still in the NFL's concussion protocol. The rookie is first in Yards per Route Run (2.75) and first in Yards After the Catch per Reception (10.4) among tight ends this year. The Jaguars are a top-12 matchup, making him the premium punt option this week.
— FLEX: David Njoku, Browns ($3,900)
I usually don't utilize two tight ends in my optimal lineup, but Amari Cooper didn't practice Friday after injuring his hip during Thursday's practice. Njoku could be Deshaun Watson's primary target if Cooper is out or limited, making him a solid bring back option for my Bengals stack.
— DST: Dallas Cowboys ($3,800)
I normally don't pay up for a defense, but Dallas has the highest floor and ceiling at home this week against a putrid Houston offense that will be without it's two best wide receivers on top of everything else that's wrong with it. The Cowboys are tied for second in turnovers forced (21), first in pressure rate (29.3 percent) and first in sacks (48), according to Pro-Football-Reference.
