Week 11’s lineup featured another over-achieving quarterback performance, with the Packers’ discount DFS duo of Jordan Love and Jayden Reed combining for 38.08 points. Brian Robinson Jr. and Devin Singletary were an effective backfield combination, but our top wideouts, tight end, and flex positions let us down, and we did not finish in the money this Sunday.
FanDuel is serving up another primary Sunday contest, offering $200k to the first-place finisher, following a Thanksgiving Million edition this Thursday. Our lineup picks for Sunday are detailed next.
Quarterback: Baker Mayfield ($6,800)
Mayfield ranks among the top 12 quarterbacks in passing yards, completions, and attempts for a 4-6 Bucs team just a game out of first in the NFC South. Tampa will play their fourth road game in five weeks, and the former #1 pick has been effective for the Bucs despite the team’s 1-3 record in that time.
Mayfield is averaging 39 throws per game in the three road trips during this stretch and has five touchdown passes. His issue has been fumbles and interceptions, which he has four of in the last two weeks, but his floor is high due to passing volume and a team that consistently is playing all 60 minutes in competitive games.
Running Backs: Rachaad White ($7,000) & Isiah Pacheco ($6,600)
White is RB3 in half-point PPR formats over the last five weeks, consistently scoring 12+ points and peaking at 25.4 against Houston in Week 9. He’s seeing 14.2 carries and 5.4 targets per game in this stretch and is Mayfield’s go-to option when the pocket starts to collapse.
Pacheco had cooled off before KC’s bye week, managing just 11.8 points in two games leading up to the Chief’s being off in Week 10. He’ll face a 30th-ranked Raiders rush defense in Week 12 that allows the sixth-most yards per attempt and is one of a dozen teams that have given up 10+ rushing scores this season.
Wide Receivers: Mike Evans ($8,000), Chris Olave ($7,300) & Josh Downs ($5,900)
The Bucs' stack in this lineup could make or break our chances of cashing this week, and we're ok with that. Evans has almost ten more targets in the last two weeks than any other Tampa pass-catcher and has caught a touchdown in four of five games entering Week 12. He's sometimes struggled with drops but is still WR4 since Week 7.
Olave was targeted nine times and had his best fantasy performance of the season in Jameis Winston's first start this season. The 2022 first-rounder posted his best receiving line since October 15 against Houston and will be the focal point of New Orleans' air attack against a below-average Atlanta secondary.
Downs was banged up in the final two games before the Colts' Week 11 bye and should have benefited from rest before this home matchup with the Bucs. Across four games before his injury, he accumulated 29 targets, 23 catches, 315 yards, and two touchdowns.
Tight End: David Njoku ($5,700)
Njoku has caught four or more passes in five straight weeks, including a season-high seven against Pittsburgh on 15 targets from DTR.
We expect him to approach double-digit looks in Denver, where he will face a team that allows the most yards per pass attempt and the fourth-most passing touchdowns in the league.
Flex: Saquon Barkley ($8,000)
During the Giants ' win over the Commanders in Week 11, Barkley had his best game of the year. His 5.9 yards per rush were a season-best, and he punctuated the day with two receiving touchdowns from his new pal, Tommy DeVito.
Barkley figures to reach near 20 touches again when New York hosts New England in Week 12.
Defense: Pittsburgh Steelers ($4,700)
It ain't pretty, but the Steelers know defense. They are a top-ten scoring unit, allowing 19.5 points per game, and rank in the top five in interceptions and fumble recoveries for the season.
They'll face Jake Browning and a Bengals team searching to stay competitive in the only division where all teams are .500 or better. We expect around three sacks and a couple turnovers for the Pittsburgh D in this road matchup.
