In a week in which Christian McCaffrey’s salary is a whopping $10,500 on DraftKings, we definitely have to find some value down low if we want to roster players of his caliber. As always seems to be the case, there are some good players to be had for less than $5,000. Let us examine the DFS cheap plays.
Kalen Ballage, Dolphins RB, $3,800
Despite Miami winning last week (yes, they still suck), I’m not going to get too excited about the team’s players. Still, Ballage is worth a look at running back with this salary because starter Mark Walton begins serving a four-game suspension Sunday. Ballage will face a Colts defense that ranks among the league leaders in defending running backs, but he doesn’t have to do much (a touchdown and 40-50 yards rushing) to make him worth the low price.
Devin Singletary, Bills RB, $5,000
Back from an early-season hamstring injury, Singletary has taken over in Buffalo, amassing 95 yards on 20 carries, including a touchdown, while adding three receptions for 45 yards against the Redskins last week. On Sunday, he will go against a Cleveland Browns defense that is one of the league’s worst against the run.
Darius Slayton, Giants WR, $4,200
Slayton was a phantom on the field last week against the Cowboys, catching just one of four targets for six yards, despite playing nearly all of the offensive snaps. The combination of playing a weak Jets secondary and the absence of fellow receiver Sterling Shepard, who will miss the game after suffering a concussion, could lead to a big day for number 86 this Sunday. Slayton caught two touchdown passes against the Lions in Week 8, so he is capable of a decent ceiling for that $4,200 salary, making him one of the prime DFS cheap plays.
Alex Erickson, Bengals WR, $3,900
Erickson has been building momentum as the season progresses, catching 18 passes in the past three weeks for 281 yards during that span. He is sneakily averaging 16.8 DFS points on DK during those three weeks, which makes him a good bet on Sunday at that $3,900 salary, especially against a Baltimore defense that ranks 23rd in the NFL against opposing wide receivers in DFS.
OJ Howard, Buccaneers TE, $3,300
This one is probably among the most boom or bust DFS cheap plays, as Howard has averaged just three targets and 2.2 catches per game in his first six games of 2019. He will face the famed(?) Arizona Cardinals defense, which is pitiful against opposing tight ends, giving up a league-high 810 receiving yards, and nine TDs to that position.