SB Nation brings you the top Daily Fantasy options each week through the regular season and into the playoffs. This is the most difficult week to break down, with so many star players sitting and so many unknows thrust into big roles. Nevertheless, here are the top value plays of the week, with an eye toward low ownership and high upside.
Top daily fantasy football plays for Week 17 of the NFL season
With Week 17 of the NFL season upon us, we take a look at some of the best values to be found on Draftkings and FanDuel, and some players worth fading.
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Quarterback
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons ($6,800 DK, $8,400 FD)
Right now, we want players who will deliver four quarters of volume, and nowhere is that more likely than in the Falcons-Panthers game, where playoff berths and seedings are all on the line. Newton disappointed last week in a smash spot against Tampa Bay, but he continued to make a difference as a runner, and the Falcons have been burned by running quarterbacks all season. Newton ran for 86 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries in the first meeting with Atlanta. Newton has 14 rushes in each of the past two weeks.
Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams ($6,700 DK, $7,700 FD)
The unstoppable Jimmy G has the Bay Area overflowing with optimism for the 2018 season after knocking off Jacksonville last week for his fourth victory in a row. With each victory, Garoppolo’s DK point total has increased, topping at 23 points against the Jags. Now he gets a Rams team that is calling off the dogs in advance of the playoffs, making Garoppolo a terrific option once again.
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers ($6,300 DK, $7,800 FD)
No playoffs on the line here, but the Lions are going with their top guns, and that’s great news for Stafford, who gets to take target practice against a decimated Packers secondary that has allowed three passing scores a game over the past month.
Kirk Cousins, Washington at New York Giants ($6,200 DK, $7,600 FD)
This game is all personal for Cousins, who is the top free agent quarterback in the 2017 offseason. This is Cousins’ final tryout for prospective suitors, and the Giants defense is more than willing to lend an assist. Consider, Cousins dropped nearly 24 DK points on a clearly superior Denver defense last week.
Discount Darling: Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans ($5,500 DK, $6,600 FD)
There are a handful of sub-5K guys getting starts this week (Pat Mahomes, Paxton Lynch, Landry Jones) and none of them hold any appeal for me, especially since most, if not all, of these subs will be missing their primary receivers. Brissett gets a great matchup with all his weapons against a terrible defense at home in a weather-neutral game where points will be scored. Brissett had his second-best fantasy game of the season (23 DK) against the Texans in Week 9. He can easily do it again.
Avoid: Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys ($6,400 DK, $7,600 FD)
The Eagles are treating this game like a preseason game, with the starters likely not playing more than a half, if that much. There are simply too many viable four-quarter options to make playing Foles even a remotely good idea.
Also consider: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks; Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints; Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills.
Running back
LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins ($8,000 DK, $8,200 FD)
Remember all the preseason talk about the Bills riding McCoy ragged this season? Well, as it turned out, McCoy had 20 carries and five targets in the same game just four times. But one of the four came against Miami two weeks ago, resulting in McCoy’s fourth-highest fantasy total. With a playoff berth on the line, there’s no reason for the Bills not to load up on McCoy. His high-volume opportunity makes him the best high-priced option on the board.
Kenyan Drake, Dolphins vs. Bills ($7,200 DK, $7,000 FD)
The Bills are dead last in points allowed to running backs, and Dion Lewis took full advantage last Sunday. Now, it’s Drake, who has been brilliant almost every week for Miami since Damien Williams got hurt, who gets a shot at ruining Buffalo’s season. Drake had 23 DK points in his first meeting with the Bills.
Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars ($5,500 DK, $5,800 FD)
DeMarco Murray has a torn MCL, and though the team was holding out hope that Murray could miraculously play on Sunday, he was ruled out on Friday. Henry is going to get the bulk of the work against a Jacksonville team that might be resting players throughout the game. Although Henry has stumbled in previous must-play scenarios, he is, without question, a must play.
Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions ($5,200 DK, $6,700 FD)
Williams had his best weeks of the season when Brett Hundley was quarterback. This week, Williams faces the Lions, who are allowing the second-most points to running backs in PPR leagues, which makes him a great draw in DraftKings’ full-point PPR contests. It’s a tough sell, considering the way the Packers’ season has crashed and burned, but the numbers don’t lie.
Discount Darling: Samaje Perine, Washington at New York Giants ($4,400 DK, $6,400 FD)
Perine topped 100 yards just twice this season, but one of those times came against the Giants on Thanksgiving night. He is back to carrying the ball between 14-17 times per game and still gets a handful of pass targets. The Giants allow 100-yard games to running backs pretty much every week, so Perine has a great chance for another big outing.
Avoid: Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders ($7,400 DK, $8,400 FD)
Gordon’s availability is really up in the air right now, as the Chargers have added a running back off the practice squad as insurance in case Gordon’s ankle injury keeps him out of this must-win game. Even in a great spot, it’s too much uncertainty to tolerate with so many cheaper, high-upside backs out there. If Gordon is ruled out, Branden Oliver is a terrific value play at 4K, which could be paired with a high-priced replacement at another position in a late-swap maneuver.
Also consider: Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys; Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints; Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers.
Wide receiver
Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers ($8,200 DK, $8,400 FD)
How disappointing has Jones been this season? He’s only topped 20 DK points four times this season. One of those weeks did come against the Panthers in Week 9, when he caught 6 of 12 targets for 118 yards. If he actually holds onto the 39-yard touchdown pass this time, he will be a DFS hero.
Marquise Goodwin, San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams ($6,600 DK, $6,900 FD)
Hopefully the recency bias is strong with this one. Goodwin has been Jimmy Garoppolo’s top target in his four games as starting QB, including 25 targets combined in Weeks 14 and 15. But Goodwin predictably struggled last week against Jacksonville. That won’t be an issue this week, with the Rams resting key players. Goodwin is back on track for another big day.
Marvin Jones, Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers ($6,500 DK, $7,300 FD)
The Lions are not resting their starters despite being knocked out of playoff contention. The Packers back end is a sieve. Jones has owned the Packers in his career and dropped a 7-107-2 on them in Week 9. He should have his way one more time at home.
T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans ($5,900 DK, $6,700 FD)
When Hilton played against the Texans in Houston in Week 9, he put up a 5-175-2 line. Like Goodwin, Hilton is another receiver on the verge of 1,000 yards and there won’t be a lick of defense played in this one. And, as we know, Hilton always plays better at home.
Discount Darling: Josh Doctson, Washington at New York Giants ($4,400 DK, $5,800 FD)
In all honesty, I hate suggesting Doctson for anything other than a sit. I just don’t think he’s very good. When you get targeted 13 times and catch two, as happened last week, that’s not the mark of a great receiver. But, he does have three touchdowns in his past five games, and one of those came against the Giants, who have arguably the worst pass defense on the planet. Kirk Cousins is going to chuck the ball all day, so maybe, just maybe, if Doctson gets 13 targets, he’ll catch more than two of them.
Avoid: Juju Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns ($7,300 DK, $7,300 FD)
We already know Ben, Bell and Brown are not playing. Do we really know for how long Juju is going to be out there? And do we have a lot of confidence in Landry Jones to get him the ball enough to take advantage? Those are two questions that give me enough reason to pass on a player carrying that much salary.
Also consider: Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers; Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals; Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins.
Tight end
Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans ($4,700 DK, $5,400 FD)
Like Hilton, Doyle had a big week against the Texans in Week 9, with eight catches. Doyle has 12 catches on 18 targets the past two weeks, and there’s little reason to think the volume will subside in a game that won’t feature much defensive resistance.
Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers ($4,500 DK, $5,600 FD)
Ebron is arguably the hottest tight end in football right now after his 5-83-1 line last week, his second straight game with a touchdown. His good times should keep right on rolling this week against the decimated Packers.
Antonio Gates, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders ($4,200 DK, $5,700 FD)
Gates turned back time last week, lighting up the Jets for a 6-81-1 line. He should be the main red-zone focus this week, especially with Melvin Gordon playing hurt. Gates’ salary jumped after his big game last week, but remarkably there are few surer bets at the position.
Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins ($3,700 DK, $5,600 FD)
Clay is back to being Tyrod Taylor’s top receiver, garnering 19 targets over the past two weeks. All he’s missing is a touchdown to make him a top-tier play, but that is a very real possibility in a game the Bills have to have to make the playoffs.
Discount Darling: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams ($2,800 DK, $4,600 FD)
Kittle and Jimmy Garoppolo finally connected for a touchdown last week, as Kittle looks to finish his rookie season on a high note. Kittle has had two of his best three games of the season, fantasy-wise in the past two weeks, so he’s trending high, even as his salary remains enticingly low.
Avoid: Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys ($6,000 DK, $7,100 FD)
The Eagles are only playing their starters preseason minutes, and that’s too few at too steep a price to justify using Ertz in this spot.
Also consider: Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers; Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks; Vernon Davis, Washington.
Defense
Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears ($3,900 DK, $5,400 FD)
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns ($3,900 DK, $5,400 FD)
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders ($3,600 DK, $4,900 FD)
New England Patriots vs. New York Jets ($3,500 DK, $5,100 FD)
Discount Darling: Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs ($2,900 DK, $4,500 FD)
