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Week 12 was about as average as you can get for the FanDuel Bargain Buys. We hit on 60% of our picks, which is right around our year to date average of 58%. Last week's picks were paced by Alex Smith (QB5) and Jared Cook (TE4). This was the second consecutive week for Smith to be featured in this article and with the Broncos on the slate this week it's hard to see that changing. With no more byes and three teams playing on Thursday we're bringing you this week's bargain buys early and including the Thursday games for the first time all year.
Quarterback
- Highest Priced Player: Peyton Manning- $11,000
- Average Priced Player: Colin Kaepernick and Ben Roethlisberger- $7,900
Best Bang for your Buck: Andy Dalton ($7,600 vs. San Diego). There aren't many matchups as juicy as the Chargers secondary and if there's one thing Dalton has proven this year is that he can take advantage of a good matchup. Think back to Dalton's performances against Buffalo and Detroit earlier this year and you have a good idea of what he may do against San Diego.
Bargain Buy: Alex Smith ($7,000 vs. Denver). Smith has been a top six option at quarterback each of the past two weeks and that includes his road matchup with Denver two weeks ago. Now he gets the Broncos at home and the Chiefs will be without Justin Houston on defense. If the Broncos score even more against the Chiefs in week 13, Alex Smith will throw even more, which would mean huge value at this cost.
Running Back
- Highest Priced Player: Jamaal Charles and LeSean McCoy- $9,600
- Average Priced Player: Three players- $6,800
Best Bang for your Buck: Rashad Jennings ($6,700 vs. Dallas). Jennings has been outstanding since Darren McFadden went out with yet another injury and the Cowboys defense has been terrible ever since Sean Lee went out. There are rumblings that McFadden may return this week, but even if he does, expect Jennings to see a big part of the workload, because he's been the more effective back. As long as Lee is out this defense will struggle to stop the run and Jennings will have a big day.
Bargain Buy: C.J. Spiller ($5,700 vs. Atlanta). Spiller has had a week to rest his ankle, and now gets an outstanding matchup against a Falcons defense that has been thrashed by running backs far less talented than Spiller. You never would have guessed at the beginning of 2013 that you would have had a chance to start Spiller as a bargain on FanDuel...so take advantage of it!
Wide Receiver
- Highest Priced Player: Calvin Johnson- $10,100
- Average Priced Player: Danny Amendola- $6,700
Best Bang for your Buck: Victor Cruz ($6,500 vs. Washington). Cruz has been maddeningly inconsistent this season, but there's no better cure for inconsistency than facing the Washington defense. Anquan Boldin was basically the only option in the receiving corps last week and he had his way with this secondary. Expect Cruz to get back on track in week 13.
Bargain Buy: Dwayne Bowe ($5,300 vs. Denver). Bowe has seen a major uptick in his production the last two weeks and like I mentioned above in Alex Smith's section, the Chiefs are going to need him. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie still isn't practicing and if he isn't healthy there isn't anyone in the Broncos secondary that can handle Bowe. He's been building up to a monster week and this should be it.
Tight End
- Highest Priced Player: Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham- $8,200
- Average Priced Player: Garrett Graham and Jared Cook- $5,200
Best Bang for your Buck: Charles Clay ($4,900 vs. Jets). The Jets have struggles with covering tight ends this year and after Mike Wallace's performance last week I expect the Jets to devote all of their attention to Wallace. It's as tough as ever to find bargains at tight end, but Clay feels like the best option in week 13.
Bargain Buy: Anthony Fasano ($4,600 vs. Denver). This is simply a case of picking a tight end in an offense that should be in the need to throw the ball a ton against Denver. Fasano has seen more action in the red zone in recent weeks, which generally is a good indicator of touchdowns to come, like the one he scored last week.
DEFENSE
Detroit vs. Green Bay. There's been a lot of talk already about how bad the Lions pass defense is and I won't deny that. However, I do think the Packers will have to throw the ball to move the ball and I don't have faith in Matt Flynn's ability to protect the football. I can absolutely see the Lions pass rush getting to Flynn and forcing multiple turnovers. They're a bit of a boom or bust play, and I'm shooting for a boom.
Kicker
Robbie Gould vs. Minnesota. A good kicker in a dome against a bad defense? I'm sold. Gould has not been a great performer lately but that should change against Minnesota. Chicago should have no trouble moving the ball which should mean plenty of scoring opportunities. When you're talking about cheap kickers, opportunity is all you can ask for.
Contact Heath at cummings@footballguys.com or on Twitter @heathcummingssr
