DFS NFL FanDuel Week 13: Mini Slate Lineup Advice
DFS NFL FanDuel Week 13: Mini Slate Lineup Advice
Welcome to the Week 13 NFL FanDuel Mini article. We’re really coming down the stretch of the 2017 NFL season as we flip the calendar to December. I had a difficult time nailing down a lineup this week for the Mini slate, since there are a ton of different ways you can go with this week. One thing is for sure, this is not a week we should go cheap at the running back position. Let’s go ahead and take a look at my Week 13 Mini slate lineup.
Quarterback
Carson Wentz (PHI): $12,000 @ SEA
Carson Wentz will definitely be in the conversation for MVP with the numbers he has been putting up this season. With that being said, Wentz is actually priced down this week as the fourth-highest salary on the board at quarterback. I think many people will fear the Seahawks defense at CenturyLink Field, but those same people may be forgetting that the Seahawks will be without Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor for the remainder of this season. Since both of these players have gone down with an injury, the Seahawks have not had to face a quarterback close to Wentz’s caliber.
Russell Wilson (SEA): $13,000 vs. PHI
If I do not use Wentz, I will be looking to spend up with the other quarterback in this Sunday night matchup. Russell Wilson has been the best quarterback on FanDuel this season, averaging 23.2 FanDuel points per game. This matchup against the Eagles is not a great one. However, Wilson pretty much has dual responsibility as the Seahawk’s quarterback and running back, since the collection of Seahawk’s running backs have been completely inefficient this year.
Running Back
Todd Gurley (LAR): $14,000 @ ARI
With Le’Veon Bell not included on the Main slate, Todd Gurley is easily the best running back option on the slate. Gurley has been a workhorse in this potent Ram’s offense, averaging 22 touches per game and a superb 122.1 yards from scrimmage per game. The matchup against the Cardinals is not great, but Gurley did score a touchdown and gain a total of 154 yards against this same Cardinals defense back in Week 7.
Jordan Howard (CHI): $12,500 vs. SF
There are a ton of solid routes you can go with your second running back this week, but I really like dropping down a little bit to Jordan Howard, so that we can pay up at one wide receiver spot. Despite the Bears being one of the worst teams in the NFL, Howard has managed to follow up his excellent rookie season with another decent year. The 49ers have been awful against the run this season, allowing 112.9 rushing yards this season. In this very same matchup last season, Howard scored three touchdowns and not a whole lot has really changed on defense for the 49ers this season.
Leonard Fournette (JAC): $13,500 vs. IND
Unlike last week when we had a clear, elite value option (Tevin Coleman) at running back, this week does not present the same opportunity. If you do not use Jordan Howard, I strongly recommend spending up at both running back spots and my second-favorite top priced running back this week is Leonard Fournette. Fournette has not had a huge game since Week 6 against the Chargers, but I strongly believe it has been due to him not being completely healthy since injuring his ankle. This week a couple of Jaguar’s beat writers have said that Fournette finally appears to be 100% healthy. He should be able to dominate this Colt’s defense, who were shredded by Fournette’s teammate (T.J. Yeldon) for a touchdown and 137 total yards back in Week 7.
Wide Receiver
Mike Evans (TB): $12,000 @ GB
By dropping down a little bit to Howard at our second running back spot, it will allow us to pay up for Mike Evans. Similar to Julio Jones last week, I strongly believe Mike Evans could have a similar break out game this Sunday. Evans had 14 touchdowns one year ago compared to only four so far this season, which means he is really due for some positive touchdown regression. The Packers do not have an answer for Evans in their secondary, without a cornerback inside of Pro Football Focus’s top 80 graded cornerbacks. Although Ryan Fitzpatrick was not awful while filling in for Jameis Winston, Winston will be nice upgrade for Evans.
Cooper Kupp (LAR): $9,000 @ ARI
With Robert Woods out with an injury last week, Cooper Kupp saw a season-high in targets (11), receptions (8) and yards (116). With Woods expected to miss a few more weeks and Patrick Peterson shadowing Sammy Watkins, Kupp will be in another great spot to do some damage at a very cheap salary.
Brandin Cooks (LAR): $12,000 @ BUF
Ever since the Patriot’s Week 9 bye, Brandin Cooks and Tom Brady have been completely on the same page. Over his last three games, Cooks has 306 receiving yards and two touchdowns on a team high 27 targets and 18 receptions. Brady and Cooks should be able to keep this connection going this week as they visit the Bills.
Jared Cook (OAK): $8,000 vs. NYG
Another outstanding value option this week is Jared Cook of the Raiders. With Amari Cooper out with a concussion and Michael Crabtree suspended for one game, it is expected that Cook will be the primary beneficiary this week. The matchup against the Giants could not be any better, considering that the Giants have allowed the most FanDuel points to opposing tight ends this season. It will be extremely difficult for me to decide between these two in the Mini format this week. It doesn’t make much sense to pair both together since you would have at minimum $1,500 left on the table if you spent all the way up at quarterback and running back.
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