I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. There is truly nothing greater than a day of food, football, and family… except finding a cheap DFS play that smashes value. And that is just what this article aims to do. This is a much smaller slate due to the three Thursday games, and that makes finding these “lineup makers” even more critical in DFS on FanDuel. Let’s find out who the advanced stats and metrics point to.
Gus Edwards, RB: $5300
The Ravens rushed the ball 44 times last week between QB Lamar Jackson and RB Gus Edwards with both topping 100 yards. While we should expect another heavy workload from this undrafted Rutgers product, Edwards feels like a trap play. He has only one target on the season and a 15.2-percent Juke Rate (below league average). His offensive line drives his production and he has not shown the ability to create on his own. Edwards will be a popular DFS play, and with good reason, but I would lower my exposure to him based on his limited skillset.
Josh Adams, RB: $5700
Last week we identified Josh Adams as a lineup maker and he busted a touchdown on his opening drive. Then the entire Eagles offense sputtered and Doug Pederson abandoned the run game as the Saints piled up the points. The Giants offense is not even in the same league as the Saints, so the Eagles should have plenty of time to feed Adams. He is an extreme value at $5700.
Duke Johnson, RB: $5600
Browns OC Freddie Kitchens is showcasing everything that Bruce Arians displayed in Arizona. This new-look Browns offense is emphasizing running backs in the passing game and in the red zone. Duke Johnson has 13 receptions and three touchdowns over his last two games, and this involvement will continue this week.
Vontaze Burfict Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The Browns will face the Bengals, who have been decimated by injuries to their linebacker core. Vontaze Burfict is the only healthy starting linebacker, and he is a liability in the passing game with his 5.00 (2nd-percentile) 40-yard dash and 79.4 (1st-percentile) Speed Score. Expect another RB-centric game plan from Kitchens.
Marquise Goodwin, WR: $5000
The 49ers-Buccaneers game has the highest implied total on the main slate at 54. This makes any cheap player on these teams rosterable in DFS. The world-class athlete Marquise Goodwin comes in at a heavy discount and makes for an ideal tournament play. Goodwin will be facing the well-seasoned veteran Brent Grimes. Grimes is outside the top-40 CBs in separation when targeted, while Goodwin is #3 in the metric.
D.J. Moore, WR: $5800
With Devin Funchess doubtful on Sunday, Moore will see an elevated target share with his recent success and should dominate in a soft matchup. D.J. Moore broke out in spectacular fashion last week, showing his explosive after the catch ability. He also proved that he can run routes by shaking free from Darius Slay in the red zone for his touchdown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH49t8p_R-U
Moore’s on-field playmaking ability is best-illustrated by his 2.92 Yards Per Route, which ranks No. 8 among qualified NFL running backs and will likely be matched up frequently with Trey Flowers, PlayerProfiler’s No. 100 cornerback.
Cameron Brate, TE: $4400
O.J. Howard, the Buccaneers real TE1, was placed on IR. This allows Cameron Brate to slide into a featured role at a sub-$5000 salary. FanDuel didn’t adjust his price, so he’ll likely be one of the higher-owned players on the slate. While he may not be a strong play, Brate allows you to afford the best running backs and receivers without punting a position.
