Cracking DraftKings: Week 16

A position-by-position overview of the cash and GPP contests available this week on DraftKings.

Ben Cummins's Cracking DraftKings: Week 16 Ben Cummins Published 12/20/2025

© Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Favorite Fantasy Game Environments

  • Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins - Over/Under 50.5
  • Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas Cowboys - Over/Under 49.5
  • Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals - Over/Under 47.5

Favorite Additional Fantasy Spots

  • Detroit Lions at home vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - Implied Team Total 29
  • Houston Texans at home vs. Las Vegas Raiders - Implied Team Total 26
  • Buffalo Bills on the road vs. Cleveland Browns - Implied Team Total 26.5
  • New Orleans Saints at home vs. New York Jets - Implied Team Total 22.5
  • Minnesota Vikings on the road vs. New York Giants - Implied Team Total 23

Cash Games

Quarterbacks

Rank Player Opponent Salary
1 Jacoby Brissett vs Falcons $5,300
2 Justin Herbert at Cowboys $6,000
3 Jared Goff vs Steelers $6,300
4 J.J. McCarthy at Giants $4,900

How in the world is DraftKings this behind on Jacoby Brissett's price? $5,300 is extremely cheap. Brissett leads a Cardinals offense that ranks second in both Pass Rate Over Expected (PROE) and Early Down Pass Frequency (EDPF). In his nine starts this season, he's averaging 300.9 passing yards per game (Would lead the NFL over the full season), 2 pass touchdowns per game (Would rank third over the full season), and 22.8 DraftKings points per game (Would rank second at the quarterback position over the full season). Brissett is playing at home in the dome against an average Falcons defense. Brissett is a cash game lock and a solid play in tournaments as well.

Justin Herbert quarterbacks a Chargers offense that ranks seventh in PROE and fourth in EDPF, and he ranks seventh in pass touchdowns per game (1.6) and 12th at the quarterback position in DraftKings points per game (18.9). Herbert's production has wavered recently, correlated with the loss of important offensive linemen, but that doesn't project to play as much of a role in this favorable spot in a dome against a Cowboys defense that ranks dead last in both EPA/Play Allowed and Dropback EPA Allowed. Dallas's cornerback, DaRon Bland, has played 286 more snaps than any other cornerback teammate. He's out for the season due to a foot injury. Herbert is in play in all formats.

Jared Goff is playing at home against an average Steelers defense. He leads a Lions offense that ranks sixth in EPA/Play, and he ranks third in passing yards per game (262.3), second in pass touchdowns per game (2.1), and ninth at the quarterback position in DraftKings points per game (19.4). Dan Campbell and the Lions offense project to keep their foot on the gas with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance. Detroit's offense has the highest Implied Team Total (29) of the week. Goff is in play in both cash and GPPs.

J.J. McCarthy is a salary saver option in cash priced at just $4,900. McCarthy has played better over the past two weeks, albeit against two of the worst defenses in the NFL. Yet, nothing changes this week as McCarthy has another favorable spot against a bad Giants defense that ranks just 28th in EPA/Play Allowed and 21st in Dropback EPA Allowed.

Running Backs

Rank Player Opponent Salary
1 Jahmyr Gibbs vs Steelers $8,500
2 De'Von Achane vs Bengals $8,800
3 Bijan Robinson at Cardinals $8,700
4 James Cook at Browns $7,700
5 Tony Pollard vs Chiefs $5,400
6 Michael Carter vs Falcons $5,400
7 Tyrone Tracy Jr. vs Vikings $5,700

The Lions have the highest Implied Team Total (29) of the week, and they're 6.5-point home favorites. Jahmyr Gibbs gets to attack a Steelers defense that ranks 25th in Rush EPA Allowed. He ranks tenth in opportunities per game (19.5), sixth in total yards per game (113.9), and second in touchdowns (16). Gibbs is a fantastic play in all formats.

De'Von Achane ranks seventh in opportunities per game (20.3), fifth in total yards per game (116.9), and 11th in touchdowns (11). He gets to play at home against a bad Bengals defense that ranks 31st in EPA/Play Allowed and 29th in Rush EPA Allowed. This is an awesome spot. The only question marks are Miami's quarterback change and whether paying for his salary is worth it. But he's certainly in play in all formats.

Bijan Robinson is playing in a dome in Arizona against a questionable Cardinals defense that ranks 24th in EPA/Play Allowed, and 17th in Rush EPA Allowed. Robinson leads the NFL in total yards per game (132.7) and ranks third in opportunities per game (22.5). Robinson is a very good play in both cash and tournaments.

The Bills are 10.5-point favorites, and James Cook has a matchup he can exploit against an average Browns defense that ranks 16th in Rush EPA Allowed. Over the past two weeks, the Browns have allowed 184 rushing yards to the Titans and 142 rushing yards to the Bears. Cook ranks fourth in opportunities per game (21.8), fourth in total yards per game (120.4), and seventh in touchdowns (12). He's a good play in both cash and GPPs.

The Chiefs are 3.5-point favorites, but we really have no idea how accurate that line is now that Patrick Mahomes II is out for the season and the Chiefs have been eliminated from playoff contention. Tony Pollard gets to play at home against a Chiefs defense that ranks just 26th in EPA/Play Allowed and 19th in Rush EPA Allowed. Over his past two games, Pollard is averaging 20.5 opportunities and 136.5 total yards. He has also scored three touchdowns over that span. Pollard, priced at just $5,400, is in play in all formats due to the matchup and affordable salary.

Bam Knight, Trey Benson, and James Conner are all out due to injury, making Michael Carter RB1 for the Cardinals this week. Emari Demercado returned from injury last week but only played on 11% of offensive snaps. Meanwhile, Carter played on 80% of offensive snaps, saw 18 opportunities, and racked up 94 total yards last week. Carter is playing at home against a Falcons defense that ranks 20th in Rush EPA Allowed.

Tyrone Tracy Jr.'s averages over his past five games: 18.4 opportunities per game and 94 total yards per game. He's coming off a two-touchdown game and now gets to play at home against a Vikings defense that ranks 21st in Rush EPA Allowed. Priced at just $5,700, Tracy is a reasonable cash consideration.

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