2018 Daily Fantasy: DraftKings NFL Week 17 Picks, Predictions & Sleepers

It's a tricky week for DFS.

Fantasy Football is over. The titles have been won and lost, but the one thing remaining is our love of DFS and the ability to make more money in Week 17. With more injuries and now teams resting for playoffs, some studs will be off the slate or just appearing as decoys for their teams.

Quarterbacks:

  • Patrick Mahomes ($7,100)
    • Despite being the current 1 seed in the AFC, Kansas City still needs to win this game to hold onto home field. The Raiders secondary is notorious for being bad, meaning Mahomes will have no trouble picking them apart on his way towards winning league MVP.
  • Jameis Winston ($6,100)
    • Despite the Bucs being out of playoff contention, this is a HUGE game for Winston. His status as the team’s franchise QB moving forward is in question, and a solid performance to end the year would really help keep him around. A generous Falcons defense should set up nicely as a solid proving ground for Winston to try and hold onto his job.
  • Lamar Jackson ($5,600)
    • If the Ravens win, Baltimore is in. Jackson’s passing numbers haven’t been anything to write home about, but the rushing boost propels him into consideration as a valuable DFS play. He’s one of the better cheap QB plays in a must win game.

Image result for jameis winston

Running Backs:

  • Saquon Barkley ($8,200)
    • Nothing to play for, but Barkley is still in on a high number of snaps and operating as the teams bell cow for 2018. Dallas has wrapped up their division and the 4 seed, so they can rest everyone for their Wild Card matchup. Barkley can eat against the backups to close out a stellar year.
  • Damien Williams ($6,100)
    • The losses of Kareem Hunt and Spencer Ware have propelled Williams into a true RB1 in Kansas City’s offense. As we noted for Mahomes, they still need to win and are going to be big home favorites. This leans as a huge positive game script for Williams who’s involved in all aspects of the offense.
  • Sony Michel ($5,200)
    • Sure there’s a little recency bias in here after his big Week 16 game, but Michel performs much better in positive game scripts when the Patriots have a lead. They should be double digit favorites against the Jets, meaning the team can continue to pound the rock with Michel.
  • Jeffery Wilson ($4,400)
    • Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Matt Breida is injured. He’s likely going to sit out Week 17 leaving the backfield open completely for Wilson to assume lead back duties against the Rams. And with the 49ers likely playing from behind, that means more throws and possible dump offs to Wilson for easy PPR gains.
  • Royce Freeman ($3,500)
    • The devastating loss of Philip Lindsay to an injured wrist opens the door for Freeman who was supposed to be the guy this year. Devontae Booker is likely to eat into his workload a bit, but I’d imagine the team would like to give Freeman the chance to be lead back to close out the year against the Chargers.

Image result for damien williams

Wide Receivers:

  • Davante Adams ($8,000)
    • The Packers are out, but that doesn’t mean Adams and Rodgers will be slowing down their blistering 2018 season. Four straight 20+ point games and now a leaky Lions secondary should produce another big game, after a 32 point performance against Detroit earlier in the year.
  • Julian Edelman ($7,600)
    • The only practical receiver left in New England, Edelman is the target hog for Tom Brady in the offense. Gronk looks done, Hogan is a ghost, and Patterson is used mostly for end arounds and sweeps. New England still needs to win this game for a bye, so it won’t be like they coast through the game.
  • Robert Woods ($6,900)
    • He’s been a consistent weapon for the Rams especially since the departure of Cooper Kupp to a torn ACL. The team also likes to use Woods on jet sweep plays where he’s found the end zone a time or two. The 49ers should prove to be a plus matchup for Woods and the passing game heading into the season finale.
  • Adam Humphries ($5,400)
    • The Bucs slot receiver had a great Week 16 with 10 catches for 79 yards off 12 targets. If there’s a receiver I want to roster with Winston at the helm, it would be this guy against a favorable Falcons secondary.
  • DeAndre Carter ($3,600)
    • Thrust into a bigger role with the loss of Demaryius Thomas, Carter converted with 6 catches for 61 yards on 7 targets. He should slide opposite of Hopkins for Week 17 and is in line for a target bump at a discounted price.

Image result for robert woods

Tight Ends:

  • Travis Kelce ($7,200)
    • He had an underwhelming Week 16 performance, but looks to bounce back in a huge spot against the Raiders. This matchup is too good to pass on and the NFL’s best tight end is sure to capitalize on it.
  • Evan Engram ($5,300)
    • He’s awoken from a long slumber of the 2018 fantasy season to become relevant again over the past three weeks. Very annoying, but there’s a good matchup here against a resting Cowboys defense.
  • Gerald Everett ($2,800)
    • Like Woods, he’s seen an uptick in usage with Kupp gone and has been operating as the fourth receiving option for the team. The Rams need to win to secure home field so should look to destroy the 49ers.

Defense

  • Seattle Seahawks ($3,700)
    • The Seattle defense has propelled them into the playoffs, and now face the Cardinals who have been giving up tons of points to defenses this year with Josh Rosen. Playing at home helps as well.
  • New Orleans Saints ($2,700)
    • The Saints defense is rounding into form, and now Taylor Heinicke is out leaving Carolina to start Kyle Allen for the first time ever. Hard to see Allen having much of an impact in this one.
  • Green Bay Packers ($2,400)
    • The Lions have really struggled with injuries to offensive studs like Kerryon Johnson and Marvin Jones. Stafford continues to take sacks and turn the ball over, plus playing at home in cold temperatures should make this a messy game for the Lions offense.

Do you have any early leans? Questions about which guy you should go with this week? Want to yell at me for missing an obvious play? Sound off below or hit me up on Twitter where you can follow for daily news or advice on players.

Author

  • THE Inaugural 2016 RSJ Fantasy Football League Champion. Owner of a #bigbrain, and lover of football, baseball and college hoops. When not grinding for the RSJ, can be found captaining his beer league softball team.

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