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 Sunday's $3.75 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 $160, so I'm in the black $80 through five weeks.
— QB: Tom Brady, Buccaneers ($6,300)
It has kind of flown under the radar, but Brady has been really good the last two weeks. He's completed 74 of 104 passes for 736 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions against the Chiefs and Falcons. His receivers are mostly healthy and he's owned the Steelers in the past. In 15 career games (including three playoff tilts), he's passed for 4,450 yards, with 34 TDs against only five interceptions.
— RB: Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots ($6,000)
Stevenson should be the focal point of New England's offense with Damien Harris sidelined for multiple weeks. The Browns defense is allowing an average of 155 total yards (5.3 yards per carry) and eight total TDs to running backs in five games.
— RB: Eno Benjamin, Cardinals ($4,600)
Both James Conner and Darrel Williams have been ruled out, so Benjamin will operate as Arizona's lead-back and offer plenty of salary relief — assuming you're OK with swallowing a lot of chalk — especially on DraftKings. The Seahawks have allowed the NFL's third-most points to running backs in fantasy.
— WR: Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals ($7,700)
I'll be surprised if Tee Higgins is able to go on Sunday — he missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday with an ankle injury — and the Saints top cornerback Marshon Lattimore has already been ruled out (abdomen). Chase and Joe Burrow are both due a big game. A return to Louisiana (where they broke every SEC record in the books) to face a New Orleans defense that just got torched by the Seahawks feels like a get-right spot.
— WR: Mike Evans, Buccaneers ($7,000)
Pittsburgh has already allowed five receivers (Chase, Nelson Agholor, Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis) to produce at least 100 yards and a TD in a game. Evans is set up nicely to match Davis' explosive effort from Week 5 — he finished with 171 yards and two long TDs.
— WR: Chris Godwin, Buccaneers ($6,100)
Like Chase, Godwin is returning to the state where he played his college ball. He has at least six receptions the last two games and is due for positive TD-regression with 16 receptions in three games and no scores.
— TE: George Kittle, 49ers ($5,100)
Kittle is usually good for at least a few smash games per season. He's due and the matchup is ripe. The Falcons have allowed the NFL's second-most receptions (34) and third-most yards (355) to tight ends and just traded middle linebacker Deion Jones to Cleveland.
— FLEX: George Pickens, Steelers ($4,600)
Pickens' big-play potential could be a problem for aggressive Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis, and the game script should mean increased targets for the dynamic rookie since Pittsburgh will likely be playing from behind early in this mismatch.
— DST: Carolina Panthers ($2,400)
The Rams offensive line is absolutely decimated and are tied with the Colts for most sacks allowed (21) through five games — both the Bears and Commanders have allowed 23 through six games. Rams' QB Matthew Stafford is also tied with Indy's Matt Ryan for the most interceptions thrown (seven).
