Devising the perfect Daily Fantasy Sports strategy for the NFL can be a challenge, which is why I’m here weekly 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 it 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 $145, so that leaves me $20 in the hole with an average score of 144.24 points through nine weeks.
Year-To-Date Results
Week 1: 170.52 points
Week 2: 141.30 points
Week 3: 130.78 points
Week 4: 152.50 points
Week 5: 162.32 points
Week 6: 146.56 points
Week 7: 156.78 points
Week 8: 139.86 points
Week 9: 97.54 points
QB: Joe Burrow, Bengals ($6,800)
Burrow is finally healthy and has been masterful the last two weeks against two formidable opponents in the 49ers and Bills. He’s passed for multiple touchdowns in four straight games, averaging 283.25 passing yards per game, including two 300-plus yard efforts, and he’s actually $100 cheaper than C.J. Stroud on the other side of this game.
RB: Tony Pollard, Cowboys ($7,300)
Pollard hasn’t scored a TD since he scored twice against the Giants in Week 1. That was also Pollard’s lone 20-point effort on DraftKings this season. An implied total of 11 points for the G-Men means a positive game script and an opportunity to get his season back on track.
RB: Najee Harris, Steelers ($4,900)
Harris is the overall RB13 in PPR formats since Week 7 with 199 total yards, 10 receptions and two TDs in three games. He’s also been Pittsburgh’s preferred red zone option, with eight red zone opportunities the last three games (Jaylen Warren has two).
WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals ($8,600)
Chase has a bruised back from hitting the turf pretty hard last week against Buffalo, but he practiced twice to finish the week and should be good-to-go come Sunday. Tee Higgins, however, will be sidelined with a hamstring injury he suffered Wednesday in practice. The last three games Higgins has missed or been limited by injury in, Chase has produced 32 receptions on 46 targets for 361 yards and four TDs.
WR: DK Metcalf, Seahawks ($6,800)
The Commanders have allowed the fifth-highest PPR points per target and the second-most receiving TDs since Week 4, while also allowing the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
WR: Tank Dell, Texans ($5,500)
Nico Collins has been ruled out this week with a calf injury, but DraftKings only bumped Dell’s price by $200 despite the dynamic rookie erupting against the Buccaneers in Week 9 for six receptions, 114 yards and two scores. Dell has led Houston in routes (64), targets (15) and receiving TDs (two) the last two games with Collins healthy. Dell or tight end Dalton Schultz would work perfectly as a bring back option to any Bengals stack you build this week.
TE: Irv Smith Jr., Bengals ($2,700)
Burrow targeted his tight ends on 13 of his 44 passes last week against the Bills and that was with Higgins being active. Of the four tight ends Cincinnati utilized, Smith ran the most routes with 22 — Tanner Hudson ran 13 and Drew Sample ran five. The Texans are allowing the third-most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
FLEX: Rondale Moore, Cardinals ($3,000)
Moore had at least six receptions and eight targets in four of the last five games he played with Kyler Murray at QB before Murray suffered a torn ACL last season.
DST: Dallas Cowboys ($4,400)
An undrafted rookie named Tommy DeVito is starting at QB against the No. 1 defense in fantasy (12.5 points per game) on the road after the Cowboys just lost a close rivalry game at Philadelphia with his top pass catcher (Darren Waller) and right tackle (Evan Neal) both out. Plus, the Giants are averaging 10 points per game since Week 3. Normally, I don’t pay this type of premium for a defense, but this is too good to pass up.
