NFL DFS Value Plays: Week 13 Bargain Bin for DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo Includes Derek Carr, Jonathan Taylor, Calvin Ridley, more

Welcome to the Week 13 main slate edition of RotoBaller's NFL DFS Bargain Bin for the 2024 NFL season, where the goal is to touch on some potentially mispriced players across the industry who find themselves in favorable matchups and/or suddenly expanded roles.

Each week, I’ll give you my thoughts on where there may be some value spots to exploit. On this 13th main slate of the 2024 campaign, I'm glad to report that value-salary players are abundant on Yahoo, FanDuel, and DraftKings.

In addition to offering multiple candidates at each position, I'll list at least one more player to consider, along with some site-specific value plays when applicable.

NFL DFS Bargain Bin Intro

Before we go NFL DFS Bargain Bin hunting, here are a few particulars about format and content.

The nature of the beast with value plays is at least a modest amount (and sometimes substantially more) of risk. Therefore, the Bargain Bin may be a bit more of a roller-coaster ride on some slates than your typical “tout” article!

Naturally, that doesn’t mean there isn’t an upside to be had. All of these selections are, therefore, suitable for GPPs and can also often serve as solid cash-game plays while often helping you accommodate multiple higher-priced studs into your lineup.

Typically, I’ll suggest players who are value-priced across three major DFS sites (DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo). However, there are certainly occasions where one or more sites price a player significantly lower than others. Whenever possible, I’ll typically at least note those players as an “XYZ site special.”

This article is by no means intended to serve as an exhaustive list of all value options for the week. Rather, it’s meant to take a deeper dive into those I feel offer some of the best combinations of savings and upside.

The goal is to recommend truly affordable players, as opposed to say a player priced just $300-$400 away from the highest-priced option at his position. I don’t have set-in-stone price limits in mind for each site, but I do consider legitimate affordability a very important criterion.

Quarterback DFS Value Plays

Derek Carr, NO vs. LAR | DK: $5,100, FD: $7,300, Yahoo: $23

Despite working with a rag-tag group of receivers due to injury, Carr has been making the best of the situation and providing solid fantasy returns over the last several games. The veteran signal-caller, with a big assist from Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill, has been able to help lead the Saints to wins in Darren Rizzi's first two games as interim head coach.

Carr has thrown for a pair of TDs apiece in the last two contests while compiling 269 and 248 yards in those games as well. Even with Hill stealing occasional snaps, Carr is an excellent value option against a Rams defense that was just trampled by the Eagles and that's allowed 19 touchdown passes on the season overall, along with 11.4 yards per completion on the road.

DEREK CARR WITH AN ABSOLUTE DIME TO Rashid Shaheed FOR SIX 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tFQMeJGeQk

— ESPN (@espn) October 8, 2024

Will Levis, TEN at WAS | DK: $5,000, FD: $6,700, Yahoo: $20

Levis has rather quietly begun to make strides down the stretch of an ugly season overall for the Titans. The second-year signal-caller comes into Week 13 having come alive with 295- and 278-yard passing yardage tallies in his last two games, a pair of contests where he's also thrown for a trio of touchdowns. Levis also generated a pair of scoring tosses in Week 10 against the Vikings, giving him a solid 5:2 TD:INT since returning from injury.

Levis now takes aim at a Commanders defense that's surrendered a 19:4 TD:INT thus far on the season, as well as 11.1 yards per completion over the last three games. While the Commanders have very impressive yards-per-game metrics against the pass, they've started to display some vulnerability of late, with the Cowboys' Cooper Rush's 247-yard, two-touchdown performance in Week 12 the latest example.

ALSO CONSIDER:

• Matthew Stafford, LAR at NO | DK: $5,800, FD: $7,400, Yahoo: $24

DraftKings-Yahoo Special:

• Justin Herbert, LAC at ATL | DK: $5,600, Yahoo: $28

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Running Back DFS Value Plays

Jonathan Taylor, IND at NE | DK: $6,900, FD: $7,900, Yahoo: $28      

It would have been difficult to fathom Taylor ever having a spot in a value plays article, but after a couple of down games, here we are. The talented back's salary is the most eye-catching on DK, but he remains well below the top tier on both FD and Yahoo as well. Taylor has just 92 yards on 35 carries in his last two games, but his most recent contest saw him log only 11 carries against a tough Lions defense.

The stage could be set for a big Week 13 resurgence for Taylor, considering the opposition. The Patriots have been a sieve against the run all season, allowing 130.0 rushing yards per game on the road and 13 total TDs to running backs. Meanwhile, Taylor has a modest five touchdowns but 30 red-zone touches, and he's still averaging 4.4 yards per carry despite some of his recent inefficiency.

Jonathan Taylor has 5 out 7 games with 100+ yards …and 5 TDs in there and no one says a word….

JT has 2 bad games in a row only running out of gun and behind 3 Rookie OL and now he’s washed???

This is a Designed Run with 3 starting OL…

Gtfo

pic.twitter.com/TemNoOYF8i

— Talkin’ Colts (@TalkinnColts) November 26, 2024

Bucky Irving, TB at CAR | DK: $5,800, FD: $7,200, Yahoo: $29

Robinson appears back to full health after missing two games due to a hamstring injury, as he posted a 16-63-1 line on the ground in the Week 11 loss to the Eagles last Thursday night. The talented running back has now had extra time to rest up for this highly favorable matchup, one that has facilitated plenty of fantasy-friendly performances for running backs this season.

Dallas checks in having allowed the second-most rushing TDs to running backs (13), along with 4.6 yards per carry to the position. The Cowboys have also conceded an elevated 11.0 yards per reception to running backs, which opens up the possibility of Tracy being able to complement his production in that manner.

ALSO CONSIDER:

• Najee Harris, PIT at CIN | DK: $6,000, FD: $6,900, Yahoo: $25
• Gus Edwards, LAC at ATL | DK: $4,300, FD: $5,900, Yahoo: $11

Wide Receiver DFS Value Plays

Marvin Harrison Jr., ARI at MIN | DK: $6,000, FD: $7,900, Yahoo: $23    

Harrison has significant upside despite the fact he's struggled to display it recently, and he'll be in a game environment that should require the Cardinals to remain aggressive, making him an intriguing play at his salary this week. The Vikings have been a better defense against the run than the pass, which has helped lead to Minnesota facing an NFL-high 66.4% pass play rate.

The Vikings have given up the third-most catches to wide receivers (162) and third-most receiving yards (2,075) to wideouts while also tying for fifth-most touchdown passes surrendered to the position (13). Minnesota has surrendered a league-high 43.1 DK points per game to the position as a result, and Harrison is a threat to exploit those vulnerabilities despite his recent modest performances.

Calvin Ridley continues his resurgencepic.twitter.com/IwCvh9J7yD

— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) November 24, 2024

Calvin Ridley, TEN at WAS | DK: $5,800, FD: $6,800, Yahoo: $25

Ridley makes for an excellent stacking partner with Levis, considering the chemistry the two have demonstrated recently. Ridley's speed is finally being unlocked and Levis has shown impressive touch while targeting him downfield, with the duo connecting on 14 occasions for 235 yards and two touchdowns on 21 targets since the quarterback returned to the field.

Ridley is already commanding a robust 25.8 percent of the Titans' targets and an especially elevated 48.2 percent of the team's air yards while boasting an average depth of target of 15.5 yards. With the Commanders vulnerable to some chunk plays through the air as illustrated in Levis' entry, Ridley is a viable tournament or cash game play at his salaries.

Adam Thielen, CAR vs. TB | DK: $4,800, FD: $5,800, Yahoo: $18

Thielen had a solid return from IR in Week 12 and should be ready to ramp up his snap count in a Week 13 matchup against a Bucs team that typically forces teams through the air due to their effectiveness against the run. In fact, Tampa Bay is conceding the second-highest pass play rate in the league on the road (67.2 percent), and with Mike Evans back on the field, the Bucs still have enough firepower to also keep Carolina in an aggressive mode offensively.

Thielen was able to log a solid 35 snaps and record a 3-57 line on four targets in Week 12. Bryce Young has been playing much better since returning to the starting role, and the veteran wideout figures to resume being one of his favorite targets as was often the case last season. The fact Tampa Bay is surrendering an NFC-high 290.4 passing yards per road game certainly brightens Thielen's outlook, as does the fact fellow wideout Jalen Coker has been ruled out for Sunday's game with his quadriceps injury.

ALSO CONSIDER:

• Brian Thomas, JAX vs. HOU | DK: $5,500, FD: $6,700, Yahoo: $22

Tight End DFS Value Plays 

Dallas Goedert, PHI at BAL | DK: $4,300, FD: $6,000, Yahoo: $15    

Goedert has recorded multiple receptions in three games since coming back from his stint on the injured list, and he's logged a respectable 13 targets over that span. The veteran tight end remains a complementary option in the passing game, but he's capable of breakout performances and just recorded a solid 61 receiving yards on five receptions two games ago against the Rams.

Goedert could be poised for one of his better performances in the Week 13 showdown against the Ravens, considering the matchup. Baltimore has struggled with tight ends all season, surrendering a 72-790-2 line to the position along with an average of 13.8 DK/10.6 FD points per game to the position.

🔥 Dallas Goedert went crazy in LA@goedert33 | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/Afc0HWWM11

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 22, 2024

Hunter Henry, NE vs. IND | DK: $4,200, FD: $5,100, Yahoo: $15

Henry has consistently been a favorite of rookie quarterback Drake Maye, which is unsurprising given how trustworthy Henry is with both his hands and routes. The veteran tight end has posted a 35-355-1 line on 49 targets since Maye took over the starting job, averaging 10.9 DK points per contest in the process.

The Patriots will face a tight-end-friendly offense in Week 13, as the Colts have been generous to the position all season. Heading into Week 13, Indianapolis is tied for second-most receptions surrendered to the position (69) and for third in touchdowns allowed to TEs (six), leading to the Colts conceding an average of 14.3 DK/11.4 FD and Yahoo points per game.

ALSO CONSIDER:

• Austin Hooper, NE vs. IND | DK: $3,200, FD: $5,000, Yahoo: $11

DraftKings-only Special:

• Taysom Hill, NO vs. LAR | $5,000

DraftKings-FanDuel Special:

• Cade Otton, TB at CAR | DK: $4,600, FD: $6,200
• T.J. Hockenson, MIN vs. ARI | DK: $4,400, FD: $6,500

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