Week 17 DraftKings Main Slate – Optimal Lineup Plays
Before we get into the Week 17 DraftKings Main Slate, I owe everyone a big, big apology for Week 16. Ugh. I didn’t realize I was going against Amari Cooper in not one, not two, but THREE semifinal matchups season-long. Had I known that, he would have been an easy start for me because that’s generally my luck. Needless to say, I didn’t have a great weekend in season-long, but we had a lot of the top plays for Week 16, including three of the top four QBs, the top RB, three top six WRs, three of the top four TEs, and a top 5 D/ST.
Hit: Justin Fields, Baker Mayfield, Joe Flacco, Nick Mullens, Bijan Robinson, Chuba Hubbard, Aaron Jones, Breece Hall, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Justin Jefferson, Mike Evans, DK Metcalf, Jameson Williams, Evan Engram, David Njoku, Chig Okonkwo, Jets, Browns,
Miss: Geno Smith, Kenneth Walker, Roschon Johnson, DJ Moore, Curtis Samuel, Jonathan Mingo, Treylon Burks, Trey McBride, Cade Otton, Bears, Packers
N/A: Trevor Lawrence, D’Onta Foreman
We have reached the final week of the season-long regular season, Week 17. For DFS, we still have a ways to go with Week 18 and the playoffs! We have 13 games on the slate this week, so this is the biggest player pool we’ve had in the last few weeks. The QB position is going to be high to mid-level priced options. The RB position has a wide range, from high to lower. The WR position is very deep this week. This could be a Travis Kelce week, depending on if you’re willing to spend on him. Let’s get to Week 17.
QB
Jalen Hurts $8300 (vs. ARI) – Jalen Hurts gets a home matchup with the Cardinals defense in a must-win game to keep pace for the division and home field. We saw what another running QB, Justin Fields, did to this defense in Week 16.
CJ Stroud $7100 (vs. TEN) – The Texans are fighting for a division title and desperately need Stroud back. If he returns this week, it’s to be a great matchup with Nico Collins in the lineup.
Brock Purdy $7000 (@ WAS) – Brock Purdy had an abysmal game MNF and likely lost the MVP award. I think he comes out with something to prove in Week 17 against the dead-last Commanders defense.
Kyler Murray $6300 (@ PHI) – Kyler Murray was able to find success in Chicago against a red-hot Bears defense. Now, he finds himself in a situation where he will likely be chasing points against a weak secondary.
Jacoby Brissett $4900 (vs. SF) – It has been announced that Sam Howell has been benched. Brissett has looked pretty good the last two weeks in garbage time and made both games close the last two weeks. In a game that projects to have more garbage time, this is a good pay-down option.
RB
Christian McCaffrey $9600 (@ WAS) – This is a week where CMC could have a nuclear game to justify his price. We saw what Breece Hall did to this defense with Trevor Siemian.
Kyren Williams $8300 (@ NYG) – Kyren Williams has been a revelation this year for the Rams and is one of the few true workhorse backs left in the NFL. D’Andre Swift and Kenneth Gainwell found success running against the Giants in Week 16. Kyren should have the same success.
Austin Ekeler $6700 (@ DEN) – It has become harder to trust Austin Ekeler in any format this season. However, he loves to show out in Denver. He went to HS and college in Colorado, and his career stats in Denver are strong. Makes him worth using as a lower ownership percentage player.
D’Andre Swift $6500 (vs. ARI) – Is D’Andre Swift finally back on track? He is averaging 19 carries in the last two games and gets the dreadful Cardinals run defense. The biggest concern for Swift is the TDs vultured by Jalen Hurts.
Javonte Williams $5600 (vs. LAC) – Javonte has a solid Week 17 matchup with the Chargers defense. He scored a rushing TD and two-point conversion against a stingy Patriots defense. The Broncos might bench Russell Wilson, which means they may lean more on Williams and the run game.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire $5300 (vs. CIN) – The last man standing possibly in the Chiefs backfield for Week 17. McKinnon is on IR, and Pacheco suffered a concussion in Week 16. CEH is in line to be the feature back in a solid matchup against the Bengals. Solid price for a workhorse.
If Jacobs is out, Zamir White $5100 (@ IND) – If Josh Jacobs is out again, Zamir White is worth using for this price. He has looked strong the past two weeks and gets another good matchup.
Tyjae Spears $4700 (@ HOU) – With Stroud clearing protocol, the Titans could find themselves chasing points. When they are behind, Spears has been a top option in the passing game for them. He is a good pay-down option.
WR
Tyreek Hill $9300 (@ BAL) – Jaylen Waddle suffered an injury in Week 16 and could miss some time. We saw Aiyuk have some success against Baltimore on the outside last week. Tyreek is pretty matchup-proof, and this game could decide home-field in the AFC, so I expect him to be heavily involved.
Devonta Smith $7300 (vs. ARI) – I’m choosing the lower-priced option in the passing game against the Cardinals’ defense.
Nico Collins $7200 (vs. TEN) – With Stroud back, I love Nico Collins in this spot.
Deebo Samuel $7700 Brandon Aiyuk $7000 (@ WAS) – I like both options, depends how much you can afford to spend on a 49ers WR.
Rashee Rice $6900 (vs. CIN) – Rashee Rice has become the number one WR for Mahomes, and the Chiefs are going to want to avenge a bad loss to the Raiders.
Chris Olave $6800 (@ TB) – Chris Olave has a great matchup against the Bucs secondary and could be a smash start at this price.
Terry McLaurin $5500 (vs. SF) – Terry McLaurin has produced with Brissett and will likely have a lot of garbage time to compile stats.
Noah Brown $5100 (vs. TEN) – Noah Brown has a good matchup and is a much lower-priced option than Nico Collins. I like them both this week if Stroud is back.
Demarcus Robinson $4600 (@ NYG) – Robinson has been red hot the past four weeks, scoring a TD each game, and is a great value at this price.
Demario Douglas $4300 (@ BUF) – Demario Douglas has been one of the more reliable passing game options for the Patriots. I anticipate they will need to throw the football in Buffalo.
Greg Dortch $4200 (@ PHI) – If Hollywood Brown sits again, Kyler will need another option outside of Trey McBride. The Eagles’ secondary has been vulnerable, making Dortch a good lineup filler.
DJ Chark $3600 (@ JAX) – DJ Chark revenge game incoming! Chark returns to Jacksonville to face his old team. Week 16 was the best the Panthers’ offense has looked all season, with Bryce Young putting up 30 points. Now, they get the Jaguars reeling defense.
TE
Travis Kelce $7000 (vs. CIN) – It has been very tough to find weeks worth paying up for Travis Kelce this season, but this may be one of them. The Chiefs are going to be angry and looking to avenge their Christmas Day loss to the Raiders. The Bengals have been brutal in defending TEs. Maybe we will finally get a vintage Kelce game.
Trey McBride $5900 (@ PHI) – The Eagles have also struggled to defend TEs. McBride has been able to produce regardless of matchup. The Cardinals will need to chase points here.
Isaiah Likely $4600 (vs. MIA) – Likely has done a great job filling in for Mark Andrews. He has become a reliable target for Lamar Jackson. I like him this week against the Dolphins.
Darren Waller $4500 (vs. LAR) – Darren Waller’s best game came with Tyrod Taylor this season. Tyrod Taylor will start for the Giants in Week 17 and gets a great matchup.
Chig Okonkwo $3600 (@ HOU) – If Tannehill starts again, I like paying down for Okonkwo. He gets a solid matchup against the Texans’ defense.
Logan Thomas $3500 (vs. SF) – With Brissett starting for the Commanders, Logan Thomas could be in line for a nice workload. Brissett has shown a propensity to look Logan Thomas’ way, and the 49ers have struggled against TEs the past few weeks.
D/ST
If you can afford them: 49ers $4200 (@ WAS)
Rams $3500 (@ NYG), Bears $3400 (vs. ATL), Colts $3200 (vs. LV)
If Lawrence sits: Panthers $2700 (@ JAX)
Don’t forget to bring all your start/sit questions to our Sunday Live Start/Sit show starting at 8 a.m. PST on the Razzball Fantasy YouTube Channel!
For more from TJ and his Razzball content, find him on Twitter @T_Redding28 for lineup updates and additional plays based on weekend updates/injuries.
