Devising the perfect Daily Fantasy Sports strategy for the NFL can be a challenge, which is why I'm here to assist.
On DraftKings, it's important to remember you're playing full-point PPR with bonuses if a player surpasses 300 passing yards, 100 rushing yards or 100 receiving yards.
Here is my optimal lineup for Saturday's $2.5 million Fantasy Football Millionaire contest, but can be utilized as a foundation in other games and platforms.
All prices listed are courtesy of DraftKings with a $50,000 budget.
These lineups have netted $260, so that leaves me $60 in the hole through 17 weeks.
— QB: Josh Allen, Bills ($8,400)
No matter what happens on Sunday, we've already won knowing Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin has turned a significant corner with his health after suffering a cardiac arrest on Monday night against the Bengals, but I do anticipate Allen and his teammates being emboldened by the positive news. In his last four games against the Patriots, the MVP candidate is averaging 250.5 passing yards and 39.5 rushing yards with 10 passing touchdowns against zero interceptions.
— RB: Najee Harris, Steelers ($6,100)
Harris has 92 total yards or at least one TD in eight straight games. He's the overall RB8 in PPR formats since Week 10 and the Browns are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs.
— RB: Jonathan Williams, Commanders ($4,300)
Both Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson are out this week. Williams profiles as a better option over Jarret Paterson with his three-down pedigree — his receiving chops are especially important on DraftKings and with rookie QB Sam Howell under center — and should see a majority of the touches against the Cowboys.
— WR: Stefon Diggs, Bills ($7,900)
Diggs has appeared almost human in his last three games, but in five games against the Patriots since he joined Buffalo, he has 33 receptions (49 targets) for 465 yards and five TDs and I imagine he'd like to find some rhythm with Allen before the playoffs get going.
— WR: Tee Higgins, Bengals ($7,600)
My Spidey sense tells me Joe Burrow will target Higgins a bunch early against the Ravens to help his wide receiver put the memory of Monday night behind him. Also, Higgins has been really good lately. Throw out the Bills game and him essentially being a late scratch against the Browns in Week 14, and he has a TD in four straight.
— WR: Michael Gallup, Cowboys ($4,100)
Dallas can still win the division with a win and an Eagles loss (and potentially the top overall seed if the 49ers lose as well). Gallup has at least five receptions, 60 yards or a TD in three of four career games at Washington.
— TE: Tyler Higbee, Rams ($4,400)
Higbee has been the overall TE4 since Baker Mayfield took over at quarterback for Los Angeles in Week 15 and the Seahawks are allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
— FLEX: Rashid Shaheed, Saints ($4,200)
Shaheed is one of the better values on the slate against the Panthers, who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season and have allowed the second-most DraftKings points per game to perimeter wide receivers since Week 11. Shaheed has 290 yards on 17 receptions (17.06 yards per catch) and a TD in the last four games.
— DST: Minnesota Vikings ($2,900)
Nathan Peterman will replace an injured Justin Fields at quarterback for the Bears this week. Peterman has the highest interception rate (9.2%) among signal-callers who've attempted at least 100 passes since the AFL and NFL merger, according to StatHead.
