The 2021 NFL playoff race is heating up, teams are starting to separate themselves from the pack, and NFL DFS sleepers and value plays are getting easier to pinpoint when we construct our lineups. We’ve seen injuries, weather, and depth chart issues all play a part in launching under-the-radar players into the DraftKings and FanDuel landscapes, and if you can identify them ahead of you time, you can really clean up in your daily fantasy football contests!
We exist to do just that -- pinpoint sleepers and high-value DFS picks each week. The more value players you add, the more money you’ll have left for proven weekly studs at other roster spots.
MORE WEEK 14 DFS: Best stacks | Lineup Builder
If you read this column last week, you would have benefited from our advice to plug a plethora of low-cost, high-value players into your Week 13 DFS lineups. Here’s a healthy list of our hits from last Sunday, including each player’s DraftKings cost and final PPR output:
- Jared Goff, Lions vs. Vikings (DK: $5,200 | FD: $6,400): 25.9 fantasy points
- Antonio Gibson, WFT at Raiders (DK: $5,700 | FD: $6,200): 22.4
- Elijah Mitchell, 49ers at Seahawks (DK: $6,000 | FD: $7,600): 17.4
- Hunter Renfrow, Raiders vs. WFT (DK: $5,800 | FD: $6,400): 19.2
- Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins vs. Giants (DK: $6,400 | FD: $6,900): 18.0
- Dallas Goedert, Eagles at Jets (DK: $4,500 | FD: $5,800): 28.5
- Logan Thomas, WFT at Raiders (DK: $4,000 | FD: $5,600): 13.8
- 49ers D/ST at Seahawks (DK: $3,000 | FD: $4,200): 9.0
That’s a ton of value—20.7 average PPR points from our positional picks—for a modest average cost of just a little over $5,300! If you started any of these affordable players, you likely saved yourself enough salary to heavily upgrade one or two other positional spots.
Getting the most bang for your buck has always been the name of the game in DFS, so it’s important to do your due diligence before constructing lineups. Leave the deep-diving to us—we are here for you, from the first kickoff through the last play of the 2021 NFL season. Now let’s carry over some of our momentum, and make some more money!
All player values are from DraftKings and FanDuel. All stats are from NFL.com and Pro Football Reference.
WEEK 14 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo
NFL DFS Picks Week 14: QB sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel
Cam Newton, Panthers vs. Falcons (DK: $5,400 | FD: $7,400)
I completely understand if you’re a little gun-shy with Newton, who suffered his worst game as an NFL player his last time out back in Week 12. But hear me out: Panthers head coach Matt Rhule recently fired offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Carolina is coming off a much-needed bye week, and Newton gets a home game against a deplorable Falcons defense this week. There’s nowhere to go from an 8.18-point fantasy performance but up, right? Atlanta has surrendered the third-most fantasy points in the NFL to QBs this season, and it just allowed Tom Brady to complete 38 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns. Newton won’t sniff numbers like that, but he should be able to get close to the 26-point mark he reached in Week 11 against Washington.
Taylor Heinicke, Washington vs. Cowboys (DK: $5,500 | FD: $7,100)
Heinicke and WFT have been one of the better stories of the second half of the 2021 NFL season, and it’s hard not to root for them at this point. They’ve quietly won four games in a row, and inserted themselves squarely into the NFC wild card chase. Now Heinicke and Ron Rivera’s squad welcome a Cowboys secondary that has established a reputation for an all-or-nothing approach. Dallas leads the league in defensive interceptions, but it also ranks 28th in passing yards allowed. I expect we’ll see plenty of targets going the way of running back Antonio Gibson, who has been explosive since he’s gotten healthy, and hopefully some deep shots to stud wideout Terry McLaurin. Sportsbooks are giving Washington an implied total of 22 points, and Heinicke would have to put up around his average of 17.6 points for that to happen. The Cowboys rank 27th in points allowed to QBs, so I expect Heine will finish closer to 20.
Baker Mayfield, Browns vs. Ravens (DK: $5,200 | FD: $6,500)
Mayfield has been banged up with multiple ailments for weeks now, so Cleveland’s Week 13 bye was much-needed. Now the Browns get to welcome a Ravens squad that ranks 25th in fantasy points allowed to the QB position. I think this will be more of a running-fueled game, but I like Mayfield’s ceiling if you need someone in the price range of the low $5,000s. He’s not hopeless—he does have four games with at least 16 fantasy points—and he has a history of playing well against divisional foes. This one’s more of a dart-throw, I’ll admit it, but take the shot in free milli-makers or cheap entries if you want to go high-risk/potential high-reward.
WEEK 14 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
NFL DFS Picks Week 14: RB sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel
Josh Jacobs, Raiders at Chiefs (DK: $6,200 | FD: $7,100)
Jacobs has been superb over the past couple of weeks, combining for 43.2 PPR points against the Cowboys and WFT. He’s averaged a modest four yards per carry in that span but found paydirt in both games. Even better, Raiders QB Derek Carr has looked his way in the passing game. Jacobs caught a career-high nine of nine targets for 38 yards in the Raiders’ loss to WFT, a game that saw fellow running back Kenyan Drake get carted off the field with a broken ankle. The Chiefs rank 20th in rushing yards allowed and 29th in net yards allowed per rushing attempt, so Jacobs is a superb play in what should be a high-scoring divisional game this weekend.
Chuba Hubbard, Panthers vs. Falcons (DK: $5,900 | FD: $6,500)
It’s Chuba-Chuba time in North Cackolacky once again! Christian McCaffrey went down with a season-ending ankle injury in the Panthers’ last game two weeks ago. Hubbard has enjoyed rushing performances of 101 yards and 82 yards in the two games in which he has received 20 carries (24 carries in each game, to be exact), and he’s found the end zone three times this season. Atlanta ranks 27th in PPR points allowed to RBs, so all aboard that Hubbard Hype Train once again!
Javonte Williams, Broncos vs. Lions (DK: $5,900 | FD: $6,700)
I’ve always loved this stud rookie back, but I'm tired of his almost dead-even 50/50 volume split with Melvin Gordon. Then Gordon (hip) got hurt and propelled Williams right into elite rusher territory. Williams possesses the best of both worlds as a rusher -- he’s elusive and quick, but he’s also bruising and strong. He rumbled through the Chiefs for 178 yards last week, 102 on the ground, 76 through the air, and found paydirt for the fourth time this season. He’s a lead back and should be treated as such moving forward. Even if Gordon plays this weekend, Williams is a phenomenal start. Detroit surrenders the third-most fantasy points to running backs on the year.
WEEK 14 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
NFL DFS Picks Week 14: WR sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel
Tee Higgins, Bengals vs. 49ers (DK: $6,400 | FD: $6,800)
Higgins has been absolutely electric the past couple of weeks, hauling in a combined 15 catches for 252 yards and two touchdowns. That’s good for 58.2 total PPR points, for those keeping score at home. I’m all about this late-season reemergence, after an unfathomably slow start to the stud receiver’s sophomore season. It’s safe to say Higgins was a little dinged up earlier in the year, not to mention living in the shadow of explosive rookie Ja’Marr Chase. Well, Higgins appears fully healthy right now, and he also appears to be Joe Burrow’s top target once again. If he suits up, he’s a fine play against a Niners D that just allowed Tyler Lockett to log seven catches for 68 yards and a score.
D.J. Moore, Panthers vs. Falcons (DK: $6,200 | FD: $6,800)
The Panthers have struggled without Christian McCaffrey this season, but you sure can’t blame it on Moore. The stud receiver goes all-out every week for this Carolina squad, regardless of if his QB shows up to play. Moore has nine catches, 153 yards, and a TD over the past two weeks, good for 33.3 PPR points. Against the Falcons’ poor secondary, he should be able to flirt with 20 points this weekend.
Jarvis Landry, Browns vs. Ravens (DK: $5,400 | FD: $6,400)
Ever since Odell Beckham got shipped to LA, Landry has been the man in Cleveland’s passing game. Hell, he was kind of the man before OBJ left! Despite sloppy, inconsistent play from his banged-up QB—and countless injuries to the Browns’ high-powered running attack—Landry has averaged a fantasy output in the double-digits. He has 11 touches for 153 yards and a touchdown over his past two games, and now he gets a divisional battle with Baltimore at home. Sign me up.
NFL DFS Picks Week 14: TE sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel
Dawson Knox, Bills at Buccaneers (DK: $5,000 | FD: $6,000)
Knox might be avoided like the plague after the Bills dropped a huge Monday Night Football game to the Patriots, who completed just three passes for 19 yards. The burly tight end had a forgettable game, catching just two-of-six targets for 14 yards. The highlight of this disappointing affair was a key third-down drop in the first quarter, which seemed to set the tone for Buffalo’s underwhelming night. But let’s look at the bright side: We won’t have to worry about any Nor’easters in Tampa this weekend. Knox should rebound well and get closer to the PPR production in the high teens/low 20s we have come to expect from him.
Gerald Everett, Seahawks at Texans (DK: 3,500 | FD: $4,800)
Gerald!! What happened to you last week, man!? Seven total yards and two drops on the goal line? Sheesh! Well, I’m buying low, because Seattle coach Pete Carroll and QB Russell Wilson absolutely love you. You’ve logged 75 percent of the Seahawks’ snaps in four consecutive games, and been targeted 27 times in that span. That kind of volume in a dome in Houston against an abysmal Texans squad is more than worth the $3,500 price tag.
NFL DFS Picks Week 14: D/ST sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel
Panthers vs. Falcons (DK: $2,800 | FD: $4,800)
The Panthers' defense has been pretty good all year long despite their woes elsewhere. They have posted fantasy outputs of 11-plus points three times this season and now draw a Falcons offense that makes a ton of mistakes. Atlanta yields the most fantasy points in the NFL to defenses. We’re going hard on Carolina, which is terrifying, but sometimes in DFS, you have to take some risks.
