DraftKings just released their Best Ball product and kicked it off with a $20 tournament that pays $1 million to first. There are also lower-cost tournaments and cash games, referred to as Sit-and-Go. Only available on mobile, the app has preset rankings that contain a number of glaring choices that are ripe for exploitation. Where do Awesemo’s projections differ the most?
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DraftKings Best Ball Rankings: Five Players to Draft Ahead of their ADP
5. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, No. 20 Default DraftKings Best Ball Rank
This one is likely to change, but DraftKings is currently behind on the news circuit. Damien Williams opted out of the 2020 season, leaving Edwards-Helaire as the clear lead back in the league’s best offense. Over the past three seasons, only four teams have produced more touchdowns from running backs than the Chiefs (57). Kareem Hunt, as a rookie, scored 11 times and posted 1,782 yards from scrimmage. Edwards-Helaire isn’t going to see as many touches as Hunt did (325), but he’s going to get the rock often.
Between Williams’ opt-out and LeSean McCoy leaving in free agency, Kansas City is missing 212 rush attempts and 71 running back targets from 2019. Edwards-Helaire should have no problem taking advantage of the targets specifically, as that was his specialty in college. He caught 55 passes for 453 yards in his final season at LSU. He was no slouch in the running game either though, carrying the ball 215 times for 1,414 yards and 16 scores.
After taking him with the final pick of the first round, it was clear that Kansas City saw a workhorse back in Edwards-Helaire. Now there are no barriers to him achieving that role early in his rookie season. This value pick is likely true for every site’s preset rankings.
4. Cooper Kupp, No. 40 Default DraftKings Best Ball Rank
DraftKings has the entire Rams passing attack ranked too low.
- Cooper Kupp: +21 (Awesemo’s rankings have him 21 spots higher)
- Robert Woods: +18
- Tyler Higbee: +10
- Jared Goff: +7
Despite taking a step back in 2020, the Rams were still 13th in yards per pass attempt while throwing the ball the third-most times per game (39.5). Their offense regressed, but the defense crumbled, so Sean McVay had to crank up the passing rate and pace. Los Angeles cut their time per play down by 1.2 seconds while increasing their passing rate 5.6%. They may not have had the same on-field success as 2018, but the fantasy engine kept turning.
Kupp finished as a top-five receiver while Woods just missed the WR1 cutoff as the 14th-best receiver. While seeing little playing time in the first half of the season, Higbee’s blazing stretch to finish the season saw him leap to the No. 8 overall tight end.
The Rams aren’t the NFL’s next great offense, but they’re not as DraftKings’ rankings would lead you to believe either.
3. Kareem Hunt, No. 106 Default DraftKings Best Ball Rank
Hunt joined Cleveland in Week 10 and was immediately put to work as the team’s receiving back. He saw 44 targets that he converted to 37 catches for 285 yards. He also added 43 rushed for an additional 179 yards. Hunt didn’t miss a step during his half-season suspension, as he came to average 5.8 yards per touch. Overall, Hunt averaged 12.7 fantasy points per game, good for the No. 26 overall back. He was a modestly valuable stand-alone piece, and if that were his only role, the 106 ranking would still be low.
That’s not his only job, though. Hunt has plenty of experience shouldering the workload of an entire backfield. He averaged 16.8 rushes per game and 2.9 receptions per game with Kansas City before the team released him. If anything happens to Nick Chubb, Hunt will instantly transform into one of the league’s most used backs. He’ll also return to the tier of elite backs that he sat among while with the Chiefs.
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2. Will Fuller, No. 80 Default DraftKings Best Ball Rank
Fuller is a special player, and the only obvious knock on his resume is health. He has never played a full season and has missed 20 games over the past three seasons. The concerns around his body are real, but there should be no arguing how talented Fuller is.
Deshaun Watson has thrown at least 30 passes to 12 different players. When he targets Fuller, he averages 10.9 adjusted yards per attempt, highest among the 12. For reference, Patrick Mahomes averaged 8.9 adjusted yards per attempt last year.
Fuller is able to be so efficient because of how fast he can get behind defenders. Deep passes are already the most efficient type of throw in the league, and Fuller’s 4.32 40-yard dash only adds to the benefits. Look no further than his 53.7-fantasy-point game in Week 5 of last year. Fuller can string together these chunk plays at will, and DraftKings Best Ball features the 100-yard bonus. That gives drafters even more incentive to smash Fuller in the middle rounds.
1. Travis Kelce, No. 20 Default DraftKings Best Ball Rank
The disrespect DraftKings is showing Kelce cannot be tolerated. The site has George Kittle ranked ahead of Kelce. The Chiefs tight end has led his team in targets and receptions for two consecutive seasons. Being Mahomes’ top option has its benefits. Kelce has led all tight ends in fantasy points in each of the past two years. Even without Mahomes, Kelce was a beast. He finished as the top tight end once and the second-best tight end once in the two seasons prior to Mahomes’ arrival.
Kelce doesn’t get there based on volume alone either. His mark of nine yards per target was top five among tight ends last year, while his 8.9 mark from 2018 was top-10. With 4.66 wheels at 260 pounds, Kelce is one of the most gifted athletes in the league. Combining that with his route-running prowess and Mahomes’ arm creates a recipe for fantasy domination.
Awesemo’s rankings have him as the top tight end by a handful of picks this year and deem him worthy of a late-first-round selection.
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