Another prime-time game, another chance for some DraftKings DFS action. And this one looks like just the sort of game that’ll throw up some unlikely heroes. Broncos at Buffalo doesn’t seem like a compelling matchup for a Thursday night slot, but recently at least even the Broncos don’t seem to know if they’re any good. They’ve played the Chiefs twice in the last four weeks, losing 8-19 in Kansas City and then winning 24-9 in the return. Although they did have some help from the miserable weather and Patrick Mahomes’ illness. If Josh Allen doesn’t have flu Denver might not win 15 this week. But, then again, the Broncos’ defense has the talent to pose Josh Allen some awkward questions.
DraftKings Bargains For Monday Night Football
The “Overperforming Rookie” DraftKings DFS Pick – Jaleel McLaughlin
The rookie out of Youngstown State hasn’t exactly cemented a regular role in the Broncos offense. But when he was given a chance, he has impressed.
Generally, the more touches of the ball he gets the better he performs. In Week 4 he touched the ball 10 times and averaged 10.7 yards per touch, the following week he touched the ball 12 times and averaged 7.4 yards.
The Bills defense is ranked 30th in the league for the number of yards they allow per run with 4.9, So Sean Payton will want to exploit that. The 23.9 points per game the Bills are allowing in DraftKings DFS games is the 11th most this season.
The Deep Threat DraftKings DFS Pick – Marvin Mimms Jr.
Another Broncos rookie, Mimms is the ultimate “boom or bust” DraftKings DFS option. In the first 10 weeks of the 2023 season, he has scored –1.1 points in a game and 23.3 in his best game! His highest score came back in Week 2 though and the low point was more recently, in Week 7.
Mimms should line up opposite Rasul Douglas who arrived in Buffalo less than a fortnight ago. And he only played 5% of the snaps last week so he might not be entirely au fait with a new system. Douglas is allowing a passer rating of 105 this season and 10.8 yards per completion. Russ should definitely be looking his way on passing downs. Overall, the Bills are conceding 34 points to wide receivers per DraftKings game.
The Reliable DraftKings DFS Pick – Kalil Shakur
The Bills offense is not as dinged up as their defense is (although Dawson Knox is out), so Josh Allen will have plenty of options. Shakur has been one of his favorites in 2023. He is the Bills’ third wide receiver behind Diggs and Davis. Due to the staccato nature of the Bills’ offense in 2023, Shakur is the Bills’ sixth most targeted player though, behind the tight ends and James Cook. So, he’s not going to be expensive on the DraftKings DFS slate.
Shakur is catching a phenomenal 94.7% of the passes Allen throws in his direction, so the Bills should probably target him more than the tight ends. And with no Knox, they might have to. He should find himself opposite Ja’Quan McMillan who is allowing 65.2% of passes to be completed and has conceded three touchdowns in 2023.
Deonte Harty
If Shakur is the Bills WR3 Harty is just behind him. But he is the most exciting player on their roster. The Bills have even used him on run plays this season. But as their offensive line is built to keep Josh Allen upright, even Harty hasn’t been able to unlock their run game.
Harty is still averaging 7.2 yards per touch though. The Broncos are averaging 34 points per DraftKings DFS game to wide receivers. And Harty is catching 76.5% of his targets this season.
The “It’s Risky, But It Might Just Work” DraftKings DFS Pick – Broncos D/ST
Allen has thrown an interception in each one of his last five games. In fact, he’s thrown nine so far this season. He’s also been sacked four times in his last three games. The Bills offense has turned the ball over nine times in their last five games. It’s been rocky, to say the least.
For their part, the Broncos have recorded nine sacks in their last four games and created nine turnovers in those games. It might be a messy game but one of the defenses is going to feast. And the Broncos’ defense will be the DraftKings DFS bargain pick on this slate.
Main Photo: [Denny Medley] – USA Today Sports
