Thanksgiving has come and gone, and the playoff race in the NFL surges on. As we dive into Week 14, the excitement of daily fantasy sports (DFS) is palpable. The Sporting News is here to equip you with a fresh batch of DFS sleepers and value plays, ensuring you dominate your DraftKings, FanDuel, and SuperDraft tournaments this weekend.
The Importance of Value in DFS
The No. 1 key to success in daily fantasy is straightforward: identifying value. You won’t win any DFS jackpots if you don’t maximize your budget during lineup construction. Striking a balance between proven weekly studs and high-value sleepers is crucial—think of it like mixing good cheap gifts with your kids’ big-money presents. It’s all about getting the most bang for your buck!
For years, this column has illuminated the undervalued gems each week on DraftKings, FanDuel, and now SuperDraft. Sure, anyone can spot the elite DFS stars, but it’s the sleepers and value plays that truly separate lineups from the crowd. These savvy picks can help you rake in some real holiday bonus money.
Last Week’s Highlights
Throughout the season, we love to highlight our biggest hits from the previous week to showcase the effectiveness of our strategies. Let’s take a look at our successes from Week 13, featuring each player’s salary and their final DraftKings points production:
| POS. | PLAYER | WEEK 12 GAME | SALARY | POINTS |
| QB | Russell Wilson | Steelers at Bengals | $5,700 | 30.9 |
| QB | Anthony Richardson | Colts at Patriots | $5,500 | 23.2 |
| QB | Drake Maye | Patriots vs. Colts | $5,600 | 20.4 |
| RB | Bucky Irving | Buccaneers at Panthers | $5,800 | 27.5 |
| RB | Chase Brown | Bengals vs. Steelers | $6,200 | 19.0 |
| WR | Ladd McConkey | Chargers at Falcons | $6,100 | 23.7 |
| WR | Marvin Harrison Jr. | Cardinals at Vikings | $6,000 | 17.0 |
| TE | Pat Freiermuth | Steelers at Bengals | $3,500 | 18.8 |
| TE | Hunter Henry | Patriots vs. Colts | $4,200 | 14.5 |
| DST | New York | Jets vs. Seahawks | $2,500 | 16.0 |
Bing, bang, boom! That’s a tidy list of 10 hits—some of which were big hits—in a week filled with busts. Wilson, Irving, McConkey, and Freiermuth were our featured sleepers for their respective positions, so excuse us while we pat ourselves on the back!
Week 14 DFS Sleepers and Value Picks
Let’s carry over the momentum and unveil our Week 14 DFS sleepers and value picks on DraftKings, FanDuel, and SuperDraft. We’ll highlight the most affordable high-value options at each position, along with their listed costs or scoring boosts on each DFS site.
Best NFL DFS Sleepers for Week 14: Quarterback
Sam Darnold, Vikings vs. Falcons (DK: $6,100 | FD: $7,600 | SD: 1.3x)
Darnold has had a few ups and downs this season, but overall, he’s been impressive, averaging 18.6 points per game. He’s eclipsed 24 DK points in two of the past three weeks. This week, he faces a mediocre Falcons defense that has allowed the 7th-most DK points to QBs. Darnold is primed for a shootout against Kirk Cousins, and we expect him to finish among the top five QBs in Week 14.
Other QBs with strong Week 14 value:
- Kyler Murray, Cardinals vs. Seahawks (DK: $6,000 | FD: $7,800 | SD: 1.3x)
- Russell Wilson, Steelers vs. Browns (DK: $5,900 | FD: $7,700 | SD: 1.3x)
- Will Levis, Titans vs. Jaguars (DK: $5,000 | FD: $6,600 | SD: 1.5x)
Best NFL DFS Sleepers for Week 14: Running Back
Isaac Guerendo, 49ers vs. Bears (DK: $5,400 | FD: $5,200 | SD: 1.5x)
Guerendo is the hottest waiver-wire commodity in season-long leagues and should be your top value play in DFS contests. He’s averaging 4.9 yards per carry and has scored two rushing TDs on limited touches. With Kyle Shanahan’s “next man up” mentality, now is the time to hitch your wagons to Guerendo!
Other strong Week 14 RB values:
- Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants vs. Saints (DK: $5,800 | FD: $6,600 | SD: 1.45x)
- Tony Pollard, Titans vs. Jaguars (DK: $6,400 | FD: $7,500 | SD: 1.25x)
- Jerome Ford, Browns at Steelers (DK: $4,900 | FD: $5,400 | SD: 1.6x)
Best NFL DFS Sleepers for Week 14: Wide Receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks at Cardinals (DK: $6,300 | FD: $8,000 | SD: 1.2x)
JSN has stepped up as the No. 1 receiver for the Seahawks, and with both teams vying for the NFC West title, this game could turn into a shootout. Over the past five games, he’s recorded 33 catches for 510 yards and three touchdowns. His floor is solid, but his ceiling is sky-high!
Other strong Week 14 DFS values at WR:
- DJ Moore, Bears at 49ers (DK: $6,100 | FD: $6,600 | SD: 1.2x)
- Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals vs. Seahawks (DK: $6,000 | FD: $6,800 | SD: 1.2x)
Best NFL DFS Sleepers for Week 14: Tight End
Cade Otton, Bucs vs. Raiders (DK: $4,400 | FD: $5,600 | SD: 1.35x)
Otton has quietly emerged as a top option, ranking as the TE8 in PPR formats this season. With Chris Godwin on IR, he’s poised for a boost in targets. Facing the 3rd-most generous defense to TEs in fantasy, Otton is set to shine this weekend.
More Week 14 TEs worth a look:
- T.J. Hockenson, Vikings vs. Falcons (DK: $4,300 | FD: $6,300 | SD: 1.45x)
- Pat Freiermuth, Steelers vs. Browns (DK: $3,800 | FD: $5,500 | SD: 1.55x)
Best NFL DFS Sleepers for Week 14: D/ST
Tennessee Titans vs. Jaguars (DK: $2,800 | FD: $4,000)
With Trevor Lawrence out, the Jaguars are in a tough spot, and the Titans’ underrated pass rush could capitalize on this. It’s a risky play, but the potential for a solid return is there.
Other decent D/ST plays for Week 14:
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Bears (DK: $3,100 | FD: $4,600)
- New Orleans Saints at Giants (DK: $2,900 | FD: $4,400)
As we gear up for another thrilling week of NFL action, remember that identifying those hidden gems can make all the difference in your DFS lineup. Good luck, and may your fantasy teams soar to new heights!
