When setting your weekly NFL DFS lineups, it can be just as helpful to have an idea of whom you DON’T want to include as whom you do. Every Friday we’ll highlight a few players that you might want to fade. When a player appears here, it mainly refers to fading him in cash games. If you play in a lot of large field, multi-entry tournaments, you might consider just being underweight on these players relative to the field rather than not using them at all.
The App is Back! Don’t forget to download the NBC Sports EDGE app to receive real-time player news, mobile alerts and track your favorite players. Plus, now you can check out articles and player cards. Get it here!
Players I’m fading for Week 14 include:
Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns
Baltimore had their number in Week 12 and I’m scared that’s going to be the case again. If you have the ability to shut down the run, you do it, because Cleveland wants nothing more than to run a zillion times a game and keep the ball out of Baker Mayfield’s hands. Baltimore showed two weeks ago that they were up to the challenge, holding Chubb and Hunt to 39 and 20 total yards, respectively. If you want to pay up for RB, there are better options, like Alvin Kamara.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons
For similar reasons, Patterson isn’t high on my list this weekend. I’m honestly not thinking he’s going to be a disaster, but Carolina was one of the few teams that held him somewhat in check. If he hadn’t scored in their first meeting, his 35 rushing yards and 37 receiving yards wouldn’t be worth much. Against Dallas and Tampa Bay, also good run defenses, Patterson has also struggled in the last three weeks. Teams have figured out that he is the main offensive threat Atlanta has, and they’ve keyed in on stopping it. Like the Ravens with Chubb, Carolina is a team that is up to the challenge.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
There are a lot of expensive QBs that I like this weekend, and Allen is the one I have the least exposure to right now. He’s most expensive, and will have a hard time reaching value with his legs against the Bucs. This is the marquise game in a lot of respects, and could be a profitable shootout, but I’m saving my Allen and Stefon Diggs lineups for tournaments, hoping for a similar fantasy outcome from a cheaper QB option (Dak Prescott, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson).
Editor’s Note: Looking for an added edge? Dominate all season long with our DFS Toolkit. Use our Lineup Optimizer to come up with winning lineups for DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo! Click here for more!
T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions
My feeling is that Hockenson will be playing Sunday in Denver and that his light or no practice sessions are just to make sure his hand is in best shape possible for the game. However, even though he has been trending up lately, Hockenson is still in one of the worst matchups possible with the Broncos, who allow the third-fewest fantasy points to the position. His mid-range salary is also not where I want to be at TE this week – this applies to guys like Kyle Pitts also. I’d rather spend up on Travis Kelce or George Kittle, or totally punt with a Nick Vannett or Gerald Everett.
Titans D/ST
I’m someone who likes a good defense in a good matchup and I don’t mind paying for it. The Titans are priced up for the matchup with Jacksonville, but this is not a good defense. They have only nine interceptions and five fumble recoveries all season. They average 2.4 sacks per game, and 24 points per game to opponents. Jacksonville isn’t a team that allows a lot of sacks of Trevor Lawrence. They’ve had their moments, scoring three defensive touchdowns, and the Jaguars are almost the lowest scoring team in the league, but I’ll take a cheaper Chargers unit at home against the Giants over them easily.
Players I like, but who are expected to have high ownership in Week 14 include: Tom Brady, Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott, Alvin Kamara, Dontrell Hilliard, Travis Kelce, Chris Godwin, Saints D/ST, Chargers D/ST, Denver D/ST. You might consider deviating away from this player pool and pivoting in large GPPs if you’re after a more unique lineup.
