NFL DFS picks Week 12: Best sleepers, value players for FanDuel, DraftKings lineups

Happy Thanksgiving week, everyone! The holidays are about family, friends, food, and football, and we have a full slate of NFL games on the docket for daily fantasy fun. With such a plentiful spread of DFS options on DraftKings and FanDuel, you'll want to include some values and sleepers in your lineups (like cranberry sauce and cornbread) so you can afford some proven, consistent high-priced plays (like turkey and ham). 

All season long, we have been crushing DraftKings and FanDuel tournaments by targeting sleepers and under-the-radar value plays. We scour the DK and FD player pools to pinpoint the best investments based on matchups and stat trends. By capitalizing on affordable sleepers in certain DFS roster spots, we leave ourselves the budget to greatly improve other roster spots with weekly studs. Let's face it: in order to afford a Tyreek Hill ($8,800 on DK), you must invest in the occasional Latavius Murray ($5,000).  

This column has consistently produced this season, and readers are seeing healthy returns on their DraftKings and FanDuel accounts. We have averaged 10-12 hits per week, with a per-player average of right around 20 DraftKings points. That was no different in Week 11, with another 10 notable hits. Check out last week's highlights:

Not our greatest week by any stretch of the imagination, but that's still 10 plays with an average of 17.2 points at an average cost of just $4,960. That kind of cheap production will always put you in the running for DFS winnings.

Let's have ourselves a little Thanksgiving feast of DFS values and sleepers. For this week only, in addition to our featured write-ups and "best of the rest" for the main Sunday slate, we will also provide a separate list of our favorite DraftKings and FanDuel values for the Thanksgiving slate. It's DFS gluttony at its finest! Happy Turkey Day to you and yours, and good luck this week! 

All player values are from DraftKings and FanDuel. All stats are from NFL.com and Pro Football Reference.

WEEK 12 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel

NFL DFS Picks Week 12: QB sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

Geno Smith, Seahawks vs. Raiders (DK: $6,000 | FD: $7,600)

Smith averages 19.5 DK points per game this season, and he posted 20-plus points in each of Seattle's past two games. Now he's coming off a bye week to face the always-generous Raiders, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to QBs this season (DK and FD). We love Smith this week — he could deliver main course satisfaction at a side-dish price. 

Derek Carr, Raiders at Seahawks (DK: $5,700 | FD: $7,300) 

What do you know, we highlight both QBs from this West Coast duel! Carr has been no stranger to the DFS values column over the years, mainly because his frequent duds against elite defenses keep his costs from vaulting into the $7,000-$8,000 range on DraftKings. But he usually gets it done in plus-matchups, and he's coming off a win over a tough Denver D in which he logged nearly 24 DK points. That's impressive considering the Broncos have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to QBs. Well, Seattle has allowed the 11th-most QB fantasy points, so we're all over Carr this weekend. We project him at 250 passing yards and two TDs, which would put us in the low 20s without depleting too much of our budget. 

More Week 12 QB values for the Sunday slate: Tom Brady, Buccaneers at Browns (DK: $5,900 | FD: $7,400); Taylor Heinicke, Commanders vs. Falcons (DK: $5,300 | FD: $6,500); Russell Wilson, Broncos at Panthers (DK: $5,400 | FD: $6,700); Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers vs. Saints (DK: $5,600 | FD: $6,800)

Best Thanksgiving QB values: Jared Goff, Lions vs. Bills (DK: $5,200 | FD: $6,900); Mac Jones, Patriots at Vikings (DK: $5,100 | FD: $6,500)

WEEK 12 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

NFL DFS Picks Week 12: RB sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins vs. Texans (DK: $5,900 | FD: $7,700) 

Christmas came early with these price tags. Wilson has averaged 20.8 fantasy points per game as a Dolphin, and Houston is the worst rushing defense in the NFL. Mike McDaniel clearly likes JWJ over Raheem Mostert as Miami's RB1, and the Dolphins get plenty of red-zone attempts (4.7 per game over Miami's past three games, tied for most in the NFL). This is a no-brainer, like gravy over turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. (Update: With Mostert out, Wilson Jr. presents even more value, but he'll be a chalkier pick.)

Rachaad White, Buccaneers at Browns (DK: $5,100 | FD: $6,400)

The stars seem to be aligning for the Bucs rookie. He's easily been more effective than veteran Leonard Fournette, who is dealing with a hip injury this week. Now White gets to run all over a Browns defense that has surrendered the second-most fantasy points per game to running backs this season. Don't overthink this one — he won't come this cheap again. (Update: With Fournette out, White presents even more value, but he'll be a chalkier pick.)

Latavius Murray, Broncos at Panthers (DK: $5,000 | FD: $6,200) 

Melvin Gordon has fumbled his last goal-line carry as a Bronco. Denver waived the veteran on Monday after losing for the seventh time in 10 games, and fellow veteran Murray will be the direct benefactor of the dismissal. Murray has quite clearly been the best Broncos RB since Javonte Williams suffered his season-ending knee injury, scoring three TDs over Denver's past four games and catching 10-of-12 targets for 58 yards in that span. With bell-cow usage, he has a floor similar to what we saw against the Raiders last week: right around 50 rushing yards and 25 receiving yards plus a TD. We'll take that for $5,000, just like we'll take Stove Top stuffing over homemade. 

Other Week 12 RB values for the Sunday slate: Dameon Pierce, Texans at Dolphins (DK: $6,100 | FD: $6,900); Samaje Perine, Bengals at Titans (DK: $5,600 | FD: $6,600); Antonio Gibson, Commanders vs. Falcons (DK: $5,400 | FD: $6,100)

Best Thanksgiving RB values: D'Andre Swift, Lions vs. Bills (DK: $5,600 | FD: $6,200); Devin Singletary (DK: $5,700 | FD: $6,900) and James Cook (DK: $4,400 | FD: $5,500), Bills at Lions; Damien Harris, Patriots at Vikings (DK: $5,500 | FD: $6,400)

WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

NFL DFS Picks Week 12: WR sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

Terry McLaurin (DK: $5,800 | FD: $7,500) and Curtis Samuel (DK: $5,000 | FD: $6,500), Commanders vs. Falcons 

TMC should be jumping for joy after news broke from Washington that Taylor Heinicke will remain the Commanders' starting QB. That's great, as the Commanders have been winning games and McLaurin has been fed the football -- two things that weren't happening when Carson Wentz was under center. This matchup is as juicy as an over-basted turkey. The Falcons have yielded the third-most DK points and second-most FD points this season, so fire up McLaurin and give Samuel a shot if you need an even bigger bargain buy. 

Courtland Sutton, Broncos at Panthers (DK: $5,600 | FD: $7,100)

Sutton gets good volume (18 targets over the past two games) and has seen upticks in yardage (146 yards over the past two weeks). He just needs to get back into the end zone, something he hasn't done since Week 4. We think it's happening this week. Carolina has allowed 13 passing TDs on the season while surrendering the sixth-most receiving yards in the NFL. 

Zay Jones, Jaguars vs. Ravens (DK: $4,600 | FD: $5,700)

Need a super sleeper for the weekend? Try Jones out for size. He caught eight-of-10 targets for 68 yards in Week 10, and Doug Pederson and the Jags have had an extra week to prepare Trevor Lawrence for a big game against Baltimore. With Marcus Peters likely spending most of his Sunday shadowing Christian Kirk, Jones could break away for a home-run score. 

Other Week 12 WR values for the Sunday slate: Tyler Boyd, Bengals at Titans (DK: $5,900 | FD: $6,700); Allen Robinson II, Rams at Chiefs (DK: $5,500 | FD: $5,800); Joshua Palmer, Chargers at Cardinals (DK: $5,400 | FD: $6,800); Brandin Cooks, Texans at Dolphins (DK: $5,200 | FD: $6,400); Drake London, Falcons at Commanders (DK: $4,900 | FD: $6,100)

Best Thanksgiving WR values: Darius Slayton, Giants at Cowboys (DK: $5,000 | FD: $6,400); Michael Gallup, Cowboys vs. Giants (DK: $4,600 | FD: $5,700); Isaiah McKenzie, Bills at Lions (DK: $4,000 | FD: $5,200); Marvin Jones Jr., Jaguars vs. Ravens

WEEK 12 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em

NFL DFS Picks Week 12: TE sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

Foster Moreau, Raiders at Seahawks (DK: $3,400 | FD: $5,400)

Tight end is as shallow as my daughter's kiddie pool, but Moreau could save us from the slumps with his massive sleeper appeal. He couldn't get much going against the Broncos, but Denver has one of the best defenses in football. Seattle, on the other hand, does not. Moreover, the Seahawks have become Cardinals-like in their inability to cover tight ends, surrendering the most FanDuel points and the second-most DraftKings points to TEs. The opportunities will be there -- Moreau has seen 26 targets over the past five weeks — and sportsbooks list the over/under for this game at around 48 points. Head to the Island of Foster Moreau. 

Other Week 12 TE values for the Sunday slate: Gerald Everett, Chargers at Cardinals (DK: $4,400 | FD: $5,200); Cole Kmet, Bears at Jets (DK: $3,900 | FD: $5,300); Greg Dulcich, Broncos at Panthers (DK: $3,700 | FD: $5,300)

Best Thanksgiving TE values: Hunter Henry (DK: $3,100 | FD: $4,900) and Jonnu Smith (DK: $3,000 | FD: $4,700), Patriots at Vikings

NFL DFS Picks Week 12: D/ST sleepers, values for DraftKings, FanDuel

New York Jets vs. Bears (DK: $3,300)

DraftKings currently has the Jets listed as the eighth-most expensive D/ST and FanDuel has them as the most expensive. Capitalize while you still can because we think there's a chance Justin Fields (left shoulder) doesn't suit up for this contest. Even if he does, the Jets have been low-key good all season. Gang Green has posted 10 DK points in back-to-back weeks and scored 55 combined points over the past five weeks. Get some Sauce (Gardner) for your DFS feast!

Denver Broncos at Panthers (FD: $3,800)

The Broncos' defense would be talked about much more if not for the fact that their offense has been woeful all season. Denver has allowed an NFL-low 16.5 points per game this season, and now faces a Carolina offense that has been as hopeless as a tryptophan-induced movie marathon on Thanksgiving night. 

Other Week 12 D/ST values for the Sunday slate: Chiefs vs. Rams (DK: $2,800 | FD: $4,900); Bears at Jets (DK: $3,200 | FD: $4,200)

Best Thanksgiving D/ST values: Patriots at Vikings (DK: $3,000 | FD: $4,200); Vikings vs. Patriots (DK: $3,100 | FD: $4,000)