Welcome to the DFS Dart Board for NFL Week 12!
If you're new to Fantasy Alarm/DFS Alarm, the Dart Board is an add-on to the Playbook that I started three or four seasons ago. It came about when I was building GPP lineups and realized I needed more salary relief. As I dug through my notes to see who stood out the most among those players at a more affordable price, it hit me. When I put players in the Playbook, I am thinking primarily about cash lineup plays -- guys with a high floor who I could conceivably put into my core-group and build a lineup around. After those players, I would mix in a handful of guys who had boatloads of upside and were in soft match-ups, but I wasn’t paying as much attention to their salary as I should have. And that's where the Dart Board came into play.
Every now and then, when building lineups while using particular stacks, you need some salary relief. You need a guy who may not be minimally priced, but low enough to give you the flexibility you need to get someone like Dalvin Cook or DK Metcalf in as a flex play or something. Occasionally you may see a min-priced QB or TE in here, but more often than not, this space is reserved for running backs and wide receivers who are $5,500 and lower on FanDuel or like $5,000 or lower on Draft Kings.
Now while we call this a Dart Board, keep in mind that every player has been carefully researched. We're not up here picking players all willy-nilly, desperately hoping they hit. We're looking for the cheapest bargains possible who still have the strongest potential to give you at least a 3-5x return on what you pay.
All set? Great. Let's take a look at who we've got this week...
Pos (Click to sort ascending) | Player (Click to sort ascending) | Matchup (Click to sort ascending) | DK (Click to sort ascending) | FD (Click to sort ascending) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RB | Ty Johnson | BUF @ NO Thu 8:20 | 4300 | 5200 |
The Texans have one fo the absolute worst run defenses in all the NFL. They're 23rd in DVOA against the run, allowing 133.5 rushing yards per game and have coughed up 15 touchdowns on the ground. With Michael Carter now on the shelf, Johnson likely slots in as the new primary, even though Tevin Coleman is still there. Both will get work with Coleman likely seeing more early-down carries, but Johnson has a bigger burst, is a solid pass-catcher and should be able to produce at a strong level against a tomato can defense. Game Type: GPP Weather: Mostly cloudy | ||||
| RB | David Johnson | BUF @ NO Thu 8:20 | 4500 | 5400 |
When the Texans cut Phillip Lindsay, they left the ground game to be split between Johnson and Rex Burkhead with the latter handling some early-down work and the former being the primary pass-catcher. That's pretty much how it landed last week with Burkhead seeing 18 carries to just 13 for Johnson, but over the last two games, Johnson has been targeted nine times to zero for Burkhead. The Jets are allowing 132 rushing yards per game, they've allowed a league-high 20 rushing touchdowns this season, they rank 28th in DVOA against running back pass-plays and are allowing 61.3 receiving yards per game to them. For this price, I don't see why not. Game Type: GPP Weather: Mostly cloudy | ||||
| WR | Odell Beckham | CAR @ MIA Sun 1:00 | 5000 | 5800 |
Yes, Van Jefferson comes in slightly less expensive, but who are you going to use as a GPP dart throw, him or OBJ who specializes in the dramatic, deep-pass? He'll likely be on display in a similar fashion to how they went to him during his debut two weeks ago. They'll hit the run pretty early, maybe throw a short pass or two, but expect them to unload pretty quickly and take some shots downfield against a secondary that is notorious for giving up the deep ball. We won't call him a rich man's DeSean Jackson just yet, but that's what it feels like. Game Type: GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
| WR | Marquez Valdes-Scantling | BUF @ NO Thu 8:20 | 4100 | 5600 |
If the Rams use Jalen Ramsey on Davante Adams, something we expect to see, then you've got Robert Rochell and Darious Willims trying to contain MVS, Randall Cobb and Equinimeous St. Brown. The trio doesn't exactly scream “elite talent," but MVS is coming off a 10-target week with 123 yards and a touchdown and looking for more action this week. With a Week 13 bye, MVS is looking to make a very big splash before heading in. Game Type: GPP Weather: Mostly cloudy | ||||
| WR | Mack Hollins | BUF @ NO Thu 8:20 | 3300 | 5300 |
Who doesn't love three touchdowns over the last five games and a price tag so cheap, you'll have more money for the rest of your lineup than you'd ever believe? OK, we're getting slightly ahead of ourselves, but given the limited number of games, we have a very limited number of dart-throws. Most will go to the Tennessee receivers again, but I'll take my chances with a close-to-minimum price guy who has four red zone targets over the last three games. Game Type: GPP Weather: Mostly cloudy | ||||
Ty Johnson, RB | ||||
The Texans have one fo the absolute worst run defenses in all the NFL. They're 23rd in DVOA against the run, allowing 133.5 rushing yards per game and have coughed up 15 touchdowns on the ground. With Michael Carter now on the shelf, Johnson likely slots in as the new primary, even though Tevin Coleman is still there. Both will get work with Coleman likely seeing more early-down carries, but Johnson has a bigger burst, is a solid pass-catcher and should be able to produce at a strong level against a tomato can defense. Game Type: GPP Weather: Mostly cloudy | ||||
David Johnson, RB | ||||
When the Texans cut Phillip Lindsay, they left the ground game to be split between Johnson and Rex Burkhead with the latter handling some early-down work and the former being the primary pass-catcher. That's pretty much how it landed last week with Burkhead seeing 18 carries to just 13 for Johnson, but over the last two games, Johnson has been targeted nine times to zero for Burkhead. The Jets are allowing 132 rushing yards per game, they've allowed a league-high 20 rushing touchdowns this season, they rank 28th in DVOA against running back pass-plays and are allowing 61.3 receiving yards per game to them. For this price, I don't see why not. Game Type: GPP Weather: Mostly cloudy | ||||
Odell Beckham, WR | ||||
Yes, Van Jefferson comes in slightly less expensive, but who are you going to use as a GPP dart throw, him or OBJ who specializes in the dramatic, deep-pass? He'll likely be on display in a similar fashion to how they went to him during his debut two weeks ago. They'll hit the run pretty early, maybe throw a short pass or two, but expect them to unload pretty quickly and take some shots downfield against a secondary that is notorious for giving up the deep ball. We won't call him a rich man's DeSean Jackson just yet, but that's what it feels like. Game Type: GPP Weather: Sunny | ||||
If the Rams use Jalen Ramsey on Davante Adams, something we expect to see, then you've got Robert Rochell and Darious Willims trying to contain MVS, Randall Cobb and Equinimeous St. Brown. The trio doesn't exactly scream “elite talent," but MVS is coming off a 10-target week with 123 yards and a touchdown and looking for more action this week. With a Week 13 bye, MVS is looking to make a very big splash before heading in. Game Type: GPP Weather: Mostly cloudy | ||||
Mack Hollins, WR | ||||
Who doesn't love three touchdowns over the last five games and a price tag so cheap, you'll have more money for the rest of your lineup than you'd ever believe? OK, we're getting slightly ahead of ourselves, but given the limited number of games, we have a very limited number of dart-throws. Most will go to the Tennessee receivers again, but I'll take my chances with a close-to-minimum price guy who has four red zone targets over the last three games. Game Type: GPP Weather: Mostly cloudy | ||||