Every week, the first step of your DFS homework should be to examine the opening Vegas odds on all the NFL games for that week. Through some fairly simple algebra, it is easy to derive a spreadsheet that predicts team totals for every game, thereby allowing you to develop a rudimentary game script to help narrow down your decisions for the week.
Once the appealing (and unappealing) games have been highlighted, it becomes easier to focus on those games to help build your core of players for that week; the caveat, however, is that the NFL is a dynamic league, and anything is subject to change from Tuesday to Sunday...so keep that in mind as the week progresses and always monitor player injuries, weather conditions, and potential roster moves. Let's take a look.
[Blue font indicates games *not* on the DFS main slate.]
UPDATED FRIDAY DECEMBER 13th @ 10 AM (EST)
BYE WEEK: None
Three Stars
Quarterbacks
- Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
- Jared Goff (Lions)
Running Backs
- Derrick Henry (Ravens)
- Jahmyr Gibbs/David Montgomery (Lions)
Receivers
- Zay Flowers/Rashod Bateman/Mark Andrews (Ravens)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown/Jameson Williams/Sam LaPorta (Lions)
Team Defense
- Ravens
Two Stars
Quarterbacks
- Kyler Murray (Cardinals)
- Josh Allen (Bills)
Running Backs
- James Conner (Cardinals)
- James Cook (Bills)
- Brian Robinson Jr (Commanders)
Receivers
- Marvin Harrison Jr../Michael Wilson/Trey McBride (Cardinals)
- Khalil Shakir/Amari Cooper/Keon Coleman/Dalton Kincaid (Bills)
Team Defense
- None
One Star
Quarterbacks
- Brock Purdy (49'ers)
- Joe Burrow (Bengals)
- Jayden Daniels (Commanders)
- Sam Darnold (Vikings)
Running Backs
- Patrick Taylor Jr. (49'ers)
- Chase Brown (Bengals)
- Josh Jacobs (Vikings)
Receivers
- Deebo Samuel Sr./Jauan Jennings/George Kittle (49'ers)
- Ja'Marr Chase/Tee Higgins/Mike Gesicki (Bengals)
- Terry McLaurin/Noah Brown/Zach Ertz (Commanders)
- Justin Jefferson/Jordan Addison/T.J. Hockenson (Vikings)
Team Defense
- Commanders
- Vikings
- Jets
- Eagles
