Welcome to the bar! The Week 14 DFS Cocktail Hour is here to satisfy your thirst for DFS football strategies. We’ll be looking at useful ingredients that you can use as part of your weekly DFS plays. Additionally, we’ll mix up my cocktail from this week’s Operation: Domination program.
A reminder that we’re looking at cash games on the DraftKings Classic mode, using the Sunday through Monday games. Of course, you’re welcome to pour one out in a GPP tournament using this advice as well. All player scores mentioned use DraftKings scoring as displayed by FantasyData.com.
Week 14 DFS Cocktail Hour: Base Spirits
Our base spirit this week is a strong one. Josh Allen ($7,700) is one we haven’t used yet, but we’re probably overdue. Allen may have come into the league with questions about his accuracy, but he’s certainly silencing his critics (if he hasn’t already.) Mr. Hailee Steinfeld is currently holding a career-best 69.4% completion percentage. That’s good for fourth in the league. The best part is, he’s not shortening up his throws to do it, as he’s also averaging a career-high 8.1 passing yards per attempt.
All that has him on pace to throw for over 4,000 yards. And of course, he’s got that sweet, sweet rushing floor. Allen leads all quarterbacks in total rushing yards and touchdowns. Just when you think he’s due for some touchdown regression, he’s on pace for over 15 rushing scores. That would also be a career high, and his third straight season with at least 12 touchdowns on the ground. That makes him about the perfect DFS quarterback. This week, he faces the Bengals. Cincinnati’s defense surrenders the fifth-most points to opposing quarterbacks. Accordingly, let’s splurge on the Week 14 DFS Cocktail.
Take it straight up?
Normally, we’d pair our passer up with the target we feel will have the corresponding best day. Sort of doubling down on our bet, as it were. But, as my Operation: Domination co-host Dan Mader likes to point out, Allen is one of a few guys with whom you don’t necessarily have to pair anyone. Allen has game-winning potential with his legs alone. And in the pass game, he doesn’t necessarily have a top target (or a top-tier one, at least.) You can probably spend that same money elsewhere and benefit from Allen’s day even more than if you did divine the correct Allen target. But, if you are dead-set on playing a target for your passer, then… maybe… Could you consider Khalil Shakir ($5,300)?
Certainly, Shakir has been a bit frustrating- heck, the whole Buffalo pass offense has. But, he’s still on pace for career-highs in targets, catches, and touchdowns. Shakir is, quite literally, the entire wide receiver room in Orchard Park. Cincinnati hasn’t surrendered a ton to opposing wideouts, but Shakir will see targets. And two weeks ago, he had a WR11 finish in DraftKings scoring against a tough Texans’ D. I don’t love the play, so I’ll be keeping a hard eye on Dalton Kincaid‘s ($4,300) game-time status. Cincinnati is historically bad against tight ends. He (or maybe even a $2,800 Dawson Knox in Kincaid’s absence) would make a great DFS play.
Souring Agent
If you don’t end up playing a Bills tight end, might I suggest something Strange? Brenton Strange ($3,900) has only been able to play in seven games this season. Regardless, the third-year player has emerged as a reliable target for Trevor Lawrence. In two games since returning from injury, he’s the TE4 overall in DraftKings scoring. For those two games, he caught eight of nine targets for 138 yards and a score. As a result, that performance was good for a TE4 DraftKings finish in Week 12 and a TE7 showing in Week 13. The Colts are favored in the game, and surrender the fourth-most points to the tight end position. And Parker Washington‘s likely absence could mean more intermediate targets for Strange. He’s an affordable option who could return great value.
Sweetener
How about a little (Cleveland) Browns-sugar in the Week 14 DFS Cocktail? Running back Quinshon Judkins ($6,400) is the RB12 in DraftKings salary, about level with his ECR this week. Cleveland’s workhorse is averaging the fourth-most carries per game in the league. Now, he gets a Tennessee Titans defense giving up the ninth-most points to opposing running backs. That’s thanks in large part to surrendering the second-most touchdowns in the league on the ground. But it’s also due to giving up the eighth-most yards per rush attempt. This is the lowest Vegas point total on the slate, and Cleveland is favored. Judkins is a high-scoring back who does it on volume most every week. When you marry that up with the possibility of an efficiency boost thanks to the defense, it makes for a very tempting DFS play.
Garnishes
As always, how you dress up the rest of your Week 14 DFS Cocktail is up to you. I’ve actually given you three plays here, so there’s still plenty of spots to fill in your lineup. Are you looking for some more affordable options? Check out GOYAADI’s DFS Cheapskate plays.
Week 14 DFS Cocktail: The Chinstrap
It’s that time of year in Fantasy Football. Time to put on your hard hat and go to work. Long ago in the black-and-white days, my coaches used to tell us to buckle our chin straps and get to it. In honor of that spirit, we’re doing a bit of a riff on a cocktail called the Blue Collar.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Rye Whiskey
- 1/2 oz. Sweet Vermouth
- 1/4 oz. Maraschino Liqueur
- 1/4 oz. Triple Sec
- Splash of Campari
- Optional Bitters (Angostura and/or Orange)
- Ice
- Lemon Twist (garnish)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients except lemon twist in a mixing glass and stir until well-chilled. Then, strain into a lowball glass over ice and garnish with a lemon twist. Slàinte mhath!
A few notes:
- If you find the drink too bitter, try omitting the bitters and/or the Campari
- Be sure to actually twist your lemon peel to express the oils and help release the fragrance. Remember, the best garnishes aren’t just for looks!