NFL Week 17 DFS: Cheap Targets and Pricey Fades on DraftKings Daily Fantasy Football
Week 17 got underway with a Thursday night battle between the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. With two good defenses involved, the game was largely decided by big individual performances.
More games in the Week 17 slate are likely to follow suit, which is great for daily fantasy sports (DFS) managers. The challenge, of course, is figuring out where the best values reside.
Below, we'll dive into some of our favorite value plays of Week 17 and examine a few pricer options that might be best avoided.
Get the latest DFS values at DraftKings.
Quarterback
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Target: Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers, $4,900
Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young has been a fantasy disappointment for most of the season. However, he finally had a strong game against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16, finishing with 312 passing yards, two touchdowns and 17 rushing yards.
While Young's latest performance may be a greater reflection on Green Bay's defense than the rookie's true upside, that's fine. Carolina is set to face another bad pass defense in Week 17.
Carolina will visit the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing QBs this season. Managers looking to load up on pricey skill players can consider Young as a sleeper quarterback.
Fade: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills, $8,200
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been, in many ways, the opposite of Young. His scrambling ability gives Allen a solid floor and a decent ceiling, though consistency has been an issue.
Last week, for example, Allen finished 237 passing yards but only 15 rushing yards, one passing touchdown and one interception.
This isn't a great week to bet on Allen's price tag. The New England Patriots have allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs. Managers looking to spend big at quarterback should consider similarly priced options like Jalen Hurts ($8.3K) and Dak Prescott ($7.8K) instead.
Running Back
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Target: Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders, $5,100
The Las Vegas Raiders insist that Josh Jacobs is still their leading tailback. That does add some risk to a Zamir White play in Week 17 because if Jacobs (quad) returns, he could cut into White's workload.
However, White's floor feels fairly high after watching him rack up 230 scrimmage yards, three receptions and a touchdown over the past two weeks. Even in a split-backfield situation, he should produce against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts will be playing at home, but they've allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing RBs. At this price point, White is worth a flex flier.
Fade: Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals, $6,400
We're far lower on Joe Mixon, who seems to fall completely out of the Cincinnati Bengals' game plan when the team gets behind. While chasing the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, for example, Mixon tallied just two receptions and 50 scrimmage yards.
Mixon is far more valuable when Cincinnati is playing with a lead or at close to parity. His upside this week is based heavily on the Bengals' ability to jump out against the Chiefs in Kansas City.
While Kansas City's struggling offense could allow that to happen, Mixon is a boom-or-bust play not worth a second-tier investment. The Chiefs have allowed the 14th-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs.
Wide Receiver
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Target: Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos, $5,100
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy isn't discouraged by his team's decision to replace Russell Wilson with Jarrett Stidham at quarterback.
"He's a great passer. He throws a pretty ball," Jeudy told reporters of Stidham. "Great at anticipating routes. You know, he do it all as a quarterback."
Maybe, Stidham will even get the ball to Jeudy, who has had very few big games with Wilson under center. This would be the week to do it, as the Broncos face the Los Angeles Chargers, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to receivers. With Courtland Sutton also out with a concussion, Jeudy could become Denver's top target.
After catching six passes for 118 yards over the past two weeks, Jeudy is a sneaky-good sleeper play in Stidham's first start of the year.
Fade: Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars, $6,700
There are two reasons to be down on Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley this week. The first is the fact that quarterback Trevor Lawrence is dealing with an AC joint sprain and has already been ruled out.
The second is the fact that Carolina's defense has been quite good against the pass. For the season, the Panthers have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers.
Ridley is coming off a tremendous game (six catches, 90 yards, 2 TDs) against an underwhelming Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary. Don't expect him to replicate that success in Week 17.
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Tight End
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Target: Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers, $3,500
Chargers tight end Gerald Everett has rarely served as a high-ceiling fantasy option in 2023. However, he has a consistent floor that shouldn't be ignored against the Broncos.
Over his last five games, Everett has caught no fewer than four passes with no fewer than 39 receiving yards. In two games with Easton Stick under center, he tallied 12 receptions for 83 total yards.
Managers not looking to spend heavily at tight end should consider Everett. No team has surrendered more fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season than Denver.
Fade: Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills, $4,900
Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid should experience a bounce-back game this week after logging just one reception over the last two. A handful of receptions feels likely, giving Kincaid a fair floor.
However, the rookie remains a boom-or-bust option in this matchup. The Patriots have surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season, and they're quite familiar with the Buffalo offense.
As is the case with Allen, it makes more sense to target similarly priced players like Jake Ferguson ($5.0K) and Cole Kmet ($4.7K) instead of Kincaid this week.
*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros. Injury information via NFL.com.
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