Sunday’s Best NFL DFS Core Plays: GPP Building Blocks – Week 11

Welcome to my NFL Daily Fantasy Sports guide for this Sunday’s games! In this article, I’ll walk you through my strategic approach for selecting top players and crafting optimal lineups to give you a winning edge in NFL DFS for 2024. I’ve thoroughly analyzed each game and position to highlight the best plays and explain the reasoning behind my selections.

*I’ll be updating this article on Sunday morning if there are any changes. Be sure to check back for the most current and accurate DFS plays.

Quarterback Rankings

• Geno Smith
• Jameis Winston 
• Jared Goff: Ranking the top three QB’s was difficult. Fine with any of them depending on your receiver builds.  
• Sam Darnold
• Bo Nix
• Drake Maye

Running Backs

Kareem Hunt

The Buffalo Bills give up the most fantasy points to running backs (30.3 per game) on the slate. They have been decent at stopping the run, allowing just the 15^th most rush yards per game (123 yards), which has improved over the last three games (100 yards per game). They have also only allowed five rushing TDs. The real damage comes in the passing game to running backs. They have been targeted a league-high 84 times (10 games), allowing also a league-high receptions (66) and receiving yards (545). They are also tied with the Titans for the most receiving TDs, allowing to backs (5). This lines up great for Kareem Hunt, who is a talented pass catcher, coming off a 10-target game, while the Chiefs lack reliable receivers in what has the potential to be a shootout. Hunt’s salary is still suppressed at $6,700; if he scores (which I think he does), you will have to have him. 

De’Von Achane

He is most likely the first guy in your lineup. He is still way underpriced on DraftKings for his role as a lead back and top receiving target in the Dolphins offense. The matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, who travel across the country to South Beach, is just too good to ignore. The Raiders are 29^th in DVOA against the run while giving up 26.7 fantasy points per game to the position. 

Audric Estime

We saw Estime get the Lion’s share of the work against the Chiefs last game as the RB1. This came after the coaching staff said they were “going to give him a look”, in the press. This week Sean Payton was quoted saying “I was encouraged, He’ll continue to get more reps. While Joe Lombardi said, “If he keeps running the ball the way he did, It appears (he will continue to be the lead back)”.  Estime is only $4,500 on DraftKings, so getting anything north of 10 carries would be a solid price tag for him. Atlanta has made some improvement stopping the run but is still ranked 19^th in DVOA against the run. They have only allowed two rushing TDs on the season, which I was surprised to see, however, I am still willing to take a shot in GPPS to see what Estime has in the tank. 

Nick Chubb

You take a shot on Chubb at $6,000 as a buy-low opportunity going against the Saints that allows the most rushing TDs (12) on the slate. That’s all there is to it. He has not looked like his old self over the past three weeks so that certainly is concerning. However, against the Bengals, he was just being eased back in and his last two weeks against the Ravens and Chargers were no easy matchup. If you play Nick Chubb this week you are simply buying the dip here before he breaks out against a very beatable opponent in New Orleans. 

Christian McCaffrey

He is my second preference behind De’Von Achane. If you can fit him, load him up. 

Others to consider:

• Jahmyr Gibbs
• Alvin Kamara 
• Kenneth Walker
• Rhamondre Stevenson
• David Montgomery 

Wide Receiver 

Cedric Tillman

The volume for Tillman, at $5,300 on DraftKings is too hard to ignore. He is averaging 10 targets per game ever since Jameis Winston took over and draws a solid matchup against the Saints. New Orleans showed life last week against Atlanta, but that will be difficult to sustain with the loss of Marshon Lattimore. They allow the 7th most fantasy points to receivers on the year while being ranked 26th against the WR2. It is debatable if Tillman is the WR1 (who the Saints have played very well) or the WR2, but we have to remember this isn’t the same Saints secondary they had with Lattimore. Expect Jameis Winston to come out slinging in the Super Dome and for Tillman to be the key beneficiary. 

George Pickens

The Ravens are the worst team in the league defending the wide receiver, particularly on deep passes. They give up 47 fantasy points per game to the position (which was inflated after last week’s massive showing by Ja’Marr Chase). They have allowed the most receiving TDs (16) and total receiving yards (1992), which is over 200 more than the next worst team (Lions). Pickens is going to be Russell Wilson’s first look, and although his price tag has gone up, he is still a solid click in your DFS lineups (maybe more so in cash than GPP)

Calvin Ridley

Don’t look now but Calvin Ridley is back. He is coming off a two-TD game against a very difficult Chargers secondary. With DeAndre Hopkins out of town, Will Levis has been fighting for his job just forcing his top receiving option to the football for three weeks straight. Ridley has put up double-digit points in the past three weeks, assisted by pure volume. The game script here calls for plenty of passing from the Titan’s offense. The Vikings have allowed a lot of receivers production (3^rd most fantasy points to the position) in similar game scripts particularly to start the season. 

Jameson Williams

The Lions being without Sam LaPorta helps everyone on the offense. Williams finds himself in a particularly interesting spot being priced as a mid-tier receiver who moves all over the field in a very exploitable matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The trio of Tyson Campbell, Jarrian Jones, and Ronald Darby, have been one of the worst secondaries in the league and now face a top two-offense lead by Jared Goff back in the Dome in Detroit. You are getting a touchdown out of at least three Lions, and Williams is in as good of a spot (salary considered) as all of them. 

Garrett Wilson

Nothing has changed for this Jets offense. They keep losing, but Aaron Rodgers is going to continue to force-feed his guys. Wilson draws the best primary matchup this week against Jaylon Jones, while Davante Adams is dealing with a wrist injury (although expected to play). 

Jauan Jennings

He gets the majority of the slot routes for the 49ers. George Kittle is unlikely to play meaning Purdy should push it to Jennings, Pearsall, and Samuel at a slightly higher rate. Jennings’s salary is more palatable than the Deebo Samuels, giving him a slight edge over the other San Francisco pass catchers. 

Additional Underpriced options:

• Courtland Sutton
• DeAndre Hopkins
• Patriots receivers

Others to consider/mix in MME

• Cooper Kupp: Christian Gonzalez should shadow Puka Nacua
• Justin Jefferson 
• Zay Flowers
• Tre Tucker

Tight End Rankings

• Dawson Knox: Increased opportunity, low salary, facing the worst team in the league defending the tight end.
• David Njoku
• Mark Andrews
• Taysom Hill 
• Hunter Henry 
• Davis Allen: Emerging TE1 for Matt Stafford at only $2,500

A lot of these injuries we will be discussing on the livestream tomorrow. 

Again, I will update this article if anything changes. Be sure to come back and check for the most up-to-date plays.