3 DraftKings Bargains for the Divisional Round
James White, RB, New England Patriots
DraftKings Price: $4,900
Projected Points: 13.8
Projected Value (points per $1,000): 2.82
This might be first and only week in which the top two values come from the same backfield and both of which are under a $5,000 price tag. James White and Sony Michel differ by $200 and 0.44 DraftKings points in our projections. While Michel can certainly find a path to success this week, site preference should lean in favor of White.
White held a 22% target market share over the course of the season and a 17% over his last two games, which accounts for a healthy offense with Josh Gordon, who won't play. The New England Patriots closed out the season with two games against bottom of the division opponents with little push-back, outscoring them 64 to 15. With little need for a specialty player like White, the usage is not surprising.
White is also a performer in the playoffs. In recent years, it would appear that the Patriots prefer to preserve the running back during the season and give him a bigger role in the postseason. In eight playoff games, White averages 10.6 opportunities per game for 49.8 yards per scrimmage and eight touchdowns. The Pats running back has good odds of repeating his touchdown success given he is Tom Brady's number one receiving option in the red zone, accounting for a 29% market share. White is an astounding 10th in the NFL in total red zone targets at 22.
Also in his favor, the Patriots are home favorites, and by only four points, catching a Los Angeles Chargers team on the third straight road game with a second straight visit to the east coast. Still, the Chargers are no slouch defensively as evident by their top-five power ranking.
It could be a struggle for the Patriots offense, but the matchup is prime for White. The Bolts’ defense has allowed the fourth-most targets to running backs this season, with 9.7 yards per target and 80.4% of those passes being completed. White is the obvious pass-catching back in an offense that just so happens to be one of the best in the league, particularly around his skillset.
