By Carey Stevenson
QB: Nick Mullens vs. Detroit DraftKings salary: 5,300
RB: Devon Achane vs. Dallas DraftKings salary: 7,100
RB: Chuba Hubbard vs. Green Bay DraftKings salary: 5,700
WR: Jordan Addison vs. Detroit DraftKings salary: 6,000
WR: DK Metcalf at Tennessee DraftKings salary: 6,700
WR: Jameson Williams at Minnesota DraftKings salary: 3,700
TE: TJ Hockenson vs. Detroit DraftKings salary: 5,800
FLEX: DJ Moore vs. Arizona DraftKings salary: 6,900
DST: Panthers D/ST vs. Green Bay DraftKings salary: 2,400
Reasoning: If you told me before the season that i would be trotting out some of the QB plays that i have in recent weeks I’d tell that i lost my mind, but here we are. Injuries combined with the statistical underachieving of some of the top QBs has opened up more options into the “sure, why not?” territory. Nick Mullens falls squarely into the category and i love his surrounding’s this week. He’s playing for one of the better play callers in the NFL, has a very good group of weapons at his disposal, will be in a game that should be played at an elevated pace and has good odds to be the highest scoring game on the slate. Now because of the reasons i laid out, Mullens figures to be popular so my first risk taking step here is to stack him without Justin Jefferson. Jordan Addison’s big play ceiling combined with the likelihood that Hockenson falls under the radar with Trey McBride and David Njoku’s recent hot streaks gives me comfort that this combo won’t be landed on often. Jameson Williams is coming off a season high 72% of routes per fantasylife.com and makes for an obvious cheap attachment game.
I alluded to it on twitter earlier this week so i had to stay on brand and run my favorite skinny stack of the week here. Chuba Hubbard and Panthers D/ST just makes so much sense and fit so cozy in a lot of builds to save money and get different. The obvious concern here for Chuba is high end ceiling but he’s a price pivot to Ty Chandler, will get volume regardless how the game goes and has a good matchup versus a exploitable Packers run defense. And then we have an underpriced Carolina D/ST led by stud DC Ejiro Evero. Shout out to Jeff Haseley who pointed out that the Panthers have yet to allow a 300 yard passer this season, rank 3rd in total defense and pass defense and have held 8 QB’s below 200 yards passing. Now they have been vulnerable on the ground and we’ll need to reconcile that but an up and down Packers offense going on the road, likely without Christian Watson and Luke Musgrave and possibly without Jayden Reed and AJ Dillion doesn’t sound like one i need to be overly concerned with. Overall the hope is that by sprinkling the Panthers defense on like garnish, we get a few more carries from Chuba as the Panthers offense plays keep away, with one (fingers crossed) or more (hey, it is almost Christmas) of those carries landing in the end zone.
Before i prep for slates i try to compile a list of the highest ceiling plays at each position. After I’ve done my research i go back and try to poke holes in those players cases and see who makes it thru. Devon Achane made it thru and I’m shocked he hasn’t for more people. His opportunity has moved that far off of where it was when he was breaking fantasy pre injury. He still looks just as explosive, the Dolphins run rate has climbed and it’s no reason to think that won’t at least stabilize considering what happened to the Cowboys run defense last week and the presence of their monstrous pass rush. Achane can get it done on the ground or via the quick passing game with the health of the Dolphins offensive line being a concern. As we’ve seen with him, it doesn’t take 20 touches for him to get where he needs to and love landing on such a high ceiling at low rostership.
My first inclination with my last 2 spots was to find another skinny stack but i opted to just go with plays i liked the most. DK Metcalf and DJ Moore landed on that ceiling list with Devon Achane this week. Both have good matchups, target shares and the ability to put up a score that make them essential. While they both will be played i don’t think either reaches problematic levels of rostership.
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