Week 15 Draftkings Short Slate Primer

Check out our thoughts on our Short slate video!

Early Slate:

QB:

The QB group in the early slate has a lot of big games, but they are in either bad spots, injured, or have key players injured. I’m pretty much out on playing any of Tua, Mahomes, or Fields on this slate at their price.

Jordan Love is the top QB option for me in the early slate, as he’s back at home this week vs a bad Buccaneers secondary. He’s cheap enough that you can double-stack him and still afford some key pieces at RB. I also like Flacco and Levis as solid plays with decent match-ups.

For deeper sleepers, Desmond Ridder is coming off his best game, so it’s tough to expect it twice in a row. Given the context of this slate, he’s another option who could be lower-owned. If you want a min-priced QB Case Keenum is starting for the Texans against a weak Titans secondary. Unfortunately, Houston’s receivers are banged up as well.

RB:

This is where I want to spend my salary this week, and will likely try to be using my FLEX spot. Kamara and Barkley are the most expensive backs and both are strong plays, but the two best plays are probably Bijan Robinson and Raheem Mostert (if Achane sits).

In addition to those four options, Derrick Henry and Rachaad White are very good plays at the top as well. Breece Hall is coming off a great game, and is always worth considering in GPPs.

Lower down I like Elliott, or picking one of the Chiefs, and Browns running backs. All seem like in pretty decent spots, and offer some nice savings. Though not as appealing, grabbing one of the Texans backs (mainly Singletary) is also potentially a way to find some value.

WR:

Between the injuries, tough match-ups and weather I’m mainly out on the top of the WR board. Even if Tyreek Hill plays, do you really want to play him in this game against the Jets at that price? I have a little consideration for Mike Evans and Adam Thielen, but really don’t have a lot overall.

The first receiver I am in on is DeAndre Hopkins, followed closely by Rashee Rice and Amari Cooper. I think the low-6,000 range is very strong and I wouldn’t mind doubling up there. The Packers receivers are great options, and the Texans receivers are cheaper than their role should be. Depending on how a few other injury decisions land some other receivers could come into play. Overall though, it’s not a strong week for WR in this slate.

TE:

This is an ugly slate for TE outside of Travis Kelce so I do not mind paying up for the league’s top TE. The next two are Taysom Hill and Schultz who are both coming back from injury, and don’t have great match-ups. Hill also is so dependant on situational football. He won’t even get cracks at the end zone if the right situation doesn’t occur.

I don’t mind Njoku, Pitts or even Hunter Henry. But if I’m not paying for Kelce, I will probably go down to Tucker Kraft or Chig Okonkwo most of the time.

Late Slate:

QB:

You can make a case that any of the 6 QBs are absolutely valid when considering price and ownership. Of course, Allen and Prescott have the highest upside and could be in a true shoot-out game. We’ve seen Purdy though put up 23+ DK points at $1,200 less, in 5 of the last 6 games.

Howell has consistently been at 20+ DK points, and has shown a ceiling of over 30 this year. Murray has had 20+ in 2 of 4 games since being back, and historically has a massive ceiling (despite the tough match-up). Stafford has been over 22+ DK points 3 games in a row, and has the easiest match-up on the slate, and is the lowest priced.

Now if Allen and/or Dak are putting up 35+ DK points you will probably need them regardless of price. But even if they end up the highest scoring in the high 20’s, you could still be fine taking one of the other QBs at the lower cost and conceding a couple points.

RB:

McCaffrey and Williams are both in fantastic spots with incredible roles, so locking at least one if not both makes a lot of sense in this three-game slate. Especially since they have clearly the two best match-ups.

Will they need probably 1 or 2 TDs and multiple catches to pay off their price tags? Absolutely, but those projections are very reasonable in this game.

Pollard is in a solid spot as well, and he’s had TD variance go against him lately. Maybe you get lucky and Dowdle doesn’t vulture him this week. Cook has looked great, but the match-up is very tough. Feels like a bit of a trap game here.

I don’t mind Gibson now that Robinson is out with an injury, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up extremely highly owned. An interesting pivot could be James Conner. Conner has run the ball really well this year. The match-up is tough and his receiving production is down, but so is the price tag.

WR:

Who don’t you want at WR on this slate is the better question. Any of the Cowboys, Bills, 49ers, and Rams starters should be considered top options. My favorites are CeeDee Lamb and Cooper Kupp, but really all are in play.

For value trying to guess which Washington receiver might be in play can be fun (or painful). Coming off the bye week, hopefully Terry McLaurin and Josh Dotson are more involved in the game plan. Curtis Samuel should remain a fixture as well.

For some value Demarcus Robinson is interesting, especially if Tutu Atwell is out. Michael Gallup is worth a shot, though his role has been wildly inconsistent. It also looks like Michael Wilson, will be back this week for Arizona.

TE:

For TE honestly you can grab someone from any team here. Kittle, McBride and Ferguson have the best role. Kincaid is now back to splitting time with Knox (who does offer some cheap value). Logan Thomas and Tyler Higbee are fine options as well.

My favorite is probably Ferguson given the price and match-up/role. The Bills are missing some key LBs and safeties, so Ferguson could have an easier time. He’s also $1,000 savings from Kittle, and has had an incredible RZ role.