- Week 16 DFS Cheapskate Plays is here to spotlight a few budget-friendly players who can help you stretch your salary cap without sinking your lineup.
We’re not chasing the “studs”. If I don’t mention the slate’s most expensive QB, it’s not because I think he’s a bad play; it’s because you don’t need me to tell you they will score the most points. The real purpose here is to dig for value, the affordable (cheap) options that make it possible to fit those high-priced studs into your build.
Of course, these picks come with more risk, and they don’t have the same floor as the proven stars. But when they hit, the payoff is huge. DFS is ultimately a game of points per dollar: a $4K player scoring 20 points (5x value) actually outperforms an $8K player scoring 24 points (only 3x). That’s why we hunt for these gems. They give you a better return on investment, even if they whiff more often.
Player prices are referenced from DraftKings, but the concept applies across all major DFS platforms.
Week 16 Cheapskate Quarterback
Shedeur Sanders $4,600, CLE vs Bills
At just $4,600 in Week 16 DFS, Shedeur Sanders carries significant value as a pivot play with real upside against the Buffalo Bills. Sanders’ best performance of the season came in Week 14, when he threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns through the air, while adding a rushing score. Although recent struggles temper expectations, that explosive outing confirms his downfield upside, a trait you want from a low-owned QB option.
The Bills’ offensive firepower means Cleveland may need to keep pace through the air. When a team is playing from behind, the passer sees more attempts, more opportunities for big plays, and a higher fantasy ceiling. A projected high-tempo, high-scoring affair would push Sanders into volume passing situations he must embrace to keep the Browns competitive.
Since taking the reins as the Browns’ starter, Sanders has delivered efficient downfield production, ranking among the league’s better quarterbacks in yards per attempt and “hero throw” rate. In the Week 15 loss, Sanders was 2-for-4 for 89 yards on throws traveling at least 20+ yards. At this price, Sanders projects as a medium-high-ceiling, very low-cost DFS weapon, especially if the Browns fall behind early and he’s forced to throw.
Week 16 Cheapskate Running Back
Aaron Jones Sr. $5,200, MIN at Giants
Aaron Jones checks every box DFS players look for when chasing a Milly Maker ceiling in Week 16. He enters this matchup as the Vikings’ clear lead back, carrying a steady snap share and a workload that has quietly stabilized at exactly the right time of the season. Over the past month, Jones has consistently led the backfield in touches, outpacing the other Vikings running backs both on the ground and through the air. That dual-threat role matters, especially on a slate where raw points and correlation can separate lineups at the top.
The matchup against the Giants pushes Jones firmly into tournament-winning territory. New York’s defense has struggled mightily against running backs in 2025, allowing efficient rushing production, chunk gains at the second level, and consistent receiving output to backs. They’ve been especially vulnerable in space, which plays directly into Jones’ strengths as a receiver and open-field finisher. This isn’t just a rushing spot. It’s a full-usage environment.
Minnesota’s offensive structure also works in Jones’s favor. The Vikings operate with a condensed target tree, with much of the offense flowing through their top playmakers. When defenses sell out to limit the perimeter passing game, Jones benefits with designed touches, checkdowns, and red-zone usage. That creates multiple paths to ceiling outcomes. He doesn’t need a perfect game script to get there.
Week 16 Cheapskate Wide Receiver
Justin Jefferson $6,000, MIN at Giants
Justin Jefferson enters Week 16 with the exact profile DFS players hunt when chasing ceiling. At just $6,000, Jefferson is priced closer to secondary receivers than the most dominant wideout in football, and that disconnect creates a rare tournament opportunity. Jefferson almost never dips into this range. The last time a perennial stud got priced down like this was Derrick Henry, and he responded with two scores on 21 touches.
Minnesota’s offense still runs through Jefferson in every meaningful situation. He commands one of the highest target shares in the league, leads the Vikings in air yards, and remains the first read on third downs and in the red zone. When the Vikings throw, Jefferson is the offense. That usage alone gives him one of the safest ceilings on the slate, but the matchup pushes it even further.
The Giants’ defense has consistently struggled against wide receivers, allowing heavy yardage totals, explosive plays, and tournament-winning spike weeks to perimeter alphas. New York has been especially vulnerable to receivers who can win both downfield and after the catch, which plays directly into Jefferson’s skill set. If this game stays remotely competitive, Jefferson’s path to double-digit targets is clear.
Week 16 Cheapskate Tight End
Taysom Hill $2,500, NO vs Jets
Taysom Hill’s multi-dimensional role creates rare DFS upside that few players on the slate can match. Saints running back injuries have forced New Orleans to lean into creativity and unconventional personnel usage. That environment historically unlocks Hill’s most explosive fantasy outcomes. Hill is not a traditional tight end and never has been. He functions as a runner, short-yardage quarterback, and red-zone finisher. With the Saints’ backfield thinned by injuries, New Orleans has leaned into creativity, and history shows Hill thrives when traditional roles break down.
Hill’s career profile includes more than 30 rushing touchdowns, a reminder of how often he’s been trusted near the goal line. When the Saints need physicality or deception, Hill becomes the call, especially inside the five. That matters against a Jets defense that has quietly struggled against the run in 2025, allowing over four yards per carry and surrendering several blow-up rushing performances late in the season. The Jets have also shown vulnerability to tight ends leaking into space, particularly when defenses overcommit to stopping perimeter weapons.
This is not a floor play. It’s a leverage play. Hill doesn’t need 10 targets to break the slate. Six to eight designed touches, a handful of snaps under center, and one red-zone conversion can turn a modest salary into a tournament-swinging outcome. In large-field DFS, Taysom Hill remains one of the purest chaos buttons available.
Week 16 Cheapskate Defense
Cincinnati Bengals $2,500, CIN at Dolphins
The Cincinnati Bengals DST profiles as the kind of uncomfortable, volatility-driven play that can swing a Milly Maker in Week 16. This is not about season-long defensive rankings or safe projections. This is about context, quarterback chaos, and turnover opportunity, and this matchup delivers all three. Miami has effectively waved the white flag by turning to rookie Quinn Ewers, making his first NFL start behind an offense already struggling with protection, rhythm, and confidence.
Rookie quarterbacks consistently elevate DST ceilings, and Ewers enters one of the most difficult environments for a first start. Cincinnati’s defense has shown the ability to capitalize on mistakes, especially when opponents fall behind the sticks and are forced into obvious passing situations. That’s exactly the game script Miami risks with an inexperienced quarterback under center. Increased dropbacks lead to sacks. Sacks lead to hurried throws. Hurried throws lead to turnovers, which is where DFS defenses make their money.
Miami’s offensive instability amplifies the upside. This is a unit that has already struggled with interceptions, timing, and ball security throughout the season. Now remove continuity at quarterback, lower the stakes with playoff elimination, and ask a rookie to manage NFL pressure. That’s a recipe for defensive splash plays. Cincinnati doesn’t need to dominate every snap. They need a few moments of chaos.
DST scoring is about spikes, not safety. A couple of sacks, a forced turnover, and one defensive touchdown can flip tournaments. In Week 16, the Bengals DST checks every box as a low-owned, high-leverage Milly Maker swing built entirely on disruption.
For help filling out the rest of your lineup, check out the FSAN Rankings Page.