Last week was a much better week for me as a cash player. I made the cash line in all of my contests, and I really loved the process as a whole. We hit with Shough, Gibbs, Wilson, and Titans DST.
There was some room to pivot once Flowers was ruled in, which made Bateman less appealing. I also found myself landing on Kittle over and over, and he panned out immensely. On to Week 4!
Week 4 NFL DFS Cash Game Quarterbacks
Quarterback is a position where we can prioritize a combination of price, game environment, and a reliable path to production. Ownership isn’t quite as important at QB in cash games, so I’m primarily looking for players who make the rest of the lineup easier to build while still offering a strong floor.
Trevor Lawrence ($5,900)
This is the most obvious click for cash QBs this week. Great game environment with a 51.5 over/under, and Lawrence has plenty of weapons around him. At this price, he makes a lot of sense for cash.
C.J. Stroud ($5,100)
Kevin spoke about him in his GPP article, and while his ownership doesn’t typically lend itself to a cash line, QB ownership doesn’t matter too much. Houston needs to win this game, and Stroud’s production has been pretty good.
Nico has a chance to play, which certainly should help Stroud.
Week 4 NFL DFS Cash Game Running Backs
Running back is one of the best positions to chase predictable volume in cash games. With some of the slate’s usual high-end options unavailable, finding backs with secure workloads becomes even more important this week.
Christian McCaffrey ($7,700)
We’re going to need some spend-ups this week since Gibbs and Bijan aren’t on the slate, and CMC is my favorite. The volume should be there, and he gives us the kind of floor we’re looking for in cash.
Chase Brown ($6,100)
There is some positive regression that should find Brown as far as scoring goes. His usage has been phenomenal, and he’s in what should be a high-scoring game. At $6,100, I really like the price.
Cam Skattebo ($6,100)
The Giants want to run the ball, and that starts with Cam. The Cardinals also have a bad run defense, which gives him a nice setup. The workload should be there, and I like him quite a bit at this price.
Jeremiyah Love ($5,800)
He finally saw some increased usage this past week, and that combined with a very suspect Giants run defense makes me “LOVE” this play.
Just a note: I wouldn’t play Cam and Love together.
Week 4 NFL DFS Cash Game Wide Receivers
At wide receiver, I’m looking heavily at expected targets and salary. Cash games aren’t necessarily about finding a low-owned breakout performance. We want receivers who have a strong chance of seeing enough opportunities to produce even if they don’t hit their absolute ceiling.
Puka Nacua ($7,500)
It was just announced that he is going to play, and at $7,500, he’s just too cheap for his expected role. If he gets the volume we expect, he has a very high floor.
Garrett Wilson ($6,800)
He has been a constant in my cash builds so far, and I don’t see why we should change now. The volume has been there, and I’m going right back to him.
Parker Washington ($6,500)
Another staple in cash lines has been Lawrence’s favorite target. He let us down a bit last week, but that was largely due to the Jaguars killing the Patriots.
I expect a nice bounce-back in what should be a high-scoring game.
Dontayvion Wicks ($4,300)
We will probably need some salary savings this week, and it comes in the form of the former Packer. Smith and Goedert are going to miss the game, and those targets have to go somewhere.
At $4,300, Wicks gives us some much-needed salary relief.
Week 4 NFL DFS Cash Game Tight Ends
Tight end gives us several different ways to build this week. We can pay for elite target volume, settle into the middle tier, or save salary with a cheaper option in a favorable matchup.
Brock Bowers ($6,900)
In his first game back, he was targeted 14 times! I don’t see that changing. He’s simply too cheap for the kind of usage we can expect from him.
George Kittle ($5,100)
He was a nice pivot for me last week, and he’s a good play again this week. Denver has a weakness against tight ends, and Kittle is still priced very reasonably.
Brenton Strange ($3,200)
His usage isn’t the best, but it did increase this past week. The Bengals are still bad against tight ends, and his price gives us some nice salary savings.
Week 4 NFL DFS Cash Game Defenses
Defense can be highly volatile, which makes spending heavily at the position difficult to justify in many cash builds. I’m looking for affordable defenses with a reasonable opportunity to create pressure, turnovers, or sacks while allowing us to spend our salary on more predictable positions.
Packers DST ($3,200)
They haven’t been good at all, but they’re facing a rookie QB. At this price, I’m willing to take the chance that the Packers can generate some pressure and force a few mistakes.
Rams DST ($2,600)
The price seems too cheap for what this defense can provide. The Eagles haven’t looked great, and they will be missing some pieces.
At $2,600, the Rams give us another cheap option that can help us fit in the higher-priced players we want.
NFL DFS Cash Game Strategy for Week 4
The goal in cash games isn’t necessarily to build the lineup with the highest theoretical ceiling. We’re trying to create a lineup with enough predictable volume and value to consistently finish above the cash line.
That means touches and targets should carry significant weight. Running backs with secure workloads and receivers commanding consistent targets are generally more attractive than volatile players who need a long touchdown to pay off.
Salary also matters. Finding one or two inexpensive players with legitimate roles can allow you to spend on players like Christian McCaffrey, Puka Nacua, or Brock Bowers without sacrificing too much floor elsewhere.
Ownership can also be useful in cash games. Popular plays are often popular for a reason, especially when an injury or pricing mistake creates obvious value. You don’t need to force yourself away from a strong chalk play simply because a lot of other DFS players are using him.
Most importantly, continue monitoring news leading up to lock. Injuries and inactive announcements can completely change the best cash-game lineup construction. A backup stepping into a much larger role at a cheap salary can quickly become one of the strongest cash plays on the slate.
Week 4 NFL DFS Core Plays
| Position | Cash Pick | DraftKings Salary |
|---|---|---|
| QB | Trevor Lawrence | $5,900 |
| RB | Christian McCaffrey | $7,700 |
| WR | Parker Washington | $6,500 |
| TE | George Kittle | $5,100 |
| DST | Packers | $3,200 |
Week 4 NFL DFS Cash Picks FAQ
What are cash games in NFL DFS?
Cash games are DFS contests where a relatively large percentage of the field wins a prize. Common examples include head-to-head contests, 50/50s, and double-ups. Because you don’t need to finish first to win, building around reliable volume and a strong scoring floor generally makes more sense than chasing low-owned, high-variance plays.
What should I look for when choosing NFL DFS cash game players?
Start with opportunity. Running back touches, wide receiver targets, quarterback volume, and overall involvement in the offense can help identify players with reliable fantasy floors. Salary, matchup, injuries, and expected game environment should also factor into your decisions.
Should I worry about ownership in NFL DFS cash games?
Ownership can matter, but it shouldn’t be treated the same way as it is in large-field GPP tournaments. You generally don’t need to fade a highly owned player simply to be different. If a popular player projects as one of the strongest values on the slate, using him can make sense in cash games.
Should I stack my quarterback and wide receiver in cash games?
You can, but stacking isn’t a requirement in cash games. Unlike tournaments, where correlated ceiling is extremely valuable, cash lineups should primarily focus on assembling the strongest collection of individual plays. A quarterback-receiver stack can still make sense when both players independently project well.
Is it better to pay up at running back or wide receiver in NFL DFS cash games?
There isn’t one position you always need to prioritize. The better approach is to identify where the slate offers dependable value and then spend your remaining salary on players with strong workloads and floors. Week 4 offers several running backs and receivers who fit that profile.
How much should I spend on defense in DraftKings cash games?
You don’t necessarily need to spend heavily on DST. Defensive scoring can be volatile, so a cheaper defense with sack and turnover opportunities can provide enough upside while freeing salary for positions with more predictable volume.
When should I finalize my NFL DFS cash lineup?
Don’t consider your lineup final until you’ve checked the latest injury and inactive news before lock. Late injury updates can create new value plays or significantly change the expected roles of players already in your lineup.
What is the difference between NFL DFS cash games and GPP tournaments?
Cash games reward consistency because you only need to beat a portion of the field. GPPs typically reward ceiling, correlation, leverage, and differentiation because you’re trying to beat a much larger field and finish near the very top. A strong cash-game play isn’t automatically a strong tournament play, and vice versa.
Aaron is a DFS Build writer and specializes in NFL DFS cash game plays. He also is a DFS enthusiast that plays NBA and MLB DFS and is an active member in the Discord.
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