Each week of the NFL season, NFL DFS gamers must survey the landscape to find potential building blocks, or the core plays that form the foundation of most lineups. The popular options rise to the top more often than not, but there also are overlooked plays at every position, usually only a couple of names down the rankings list. In this post, we’ll be making our best NFL DFS Week 17 picks on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Stokastic provides a variety of tools for all DFS sports that can help you sort through the large NFL featured slate player pool. These were used when coming up with the recommendations in this article and include, and they are far from limited to such offerings as the NFL DFS Top Stacks tool, player projections, the Boom/Bust tool and the Lineup Generator.
All tools are updated for the DraftKings and FanDuel main slates each week. Additionally, multiple tools are also at your disposal for the sub-slates as well as the primetime “island games” which have turned into one of the most popular DFS offerings on DraftKings and FanDuel. If you’re in the market for more DFS tools, Take a look at the Stokastic Discounts and Coupon Code page as well as the Subscription page to see what packages best suit your needs.
NFL DFS Week 17 Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel
This week so much is in flux with the playoff pictures, incentives (which will loom larger next week) and the biggest player pool that we have seen in a while.
There are a lot of moving parts, so this week the article is highlighting the key situations and while it is more succinct than usual, the standard heavy analysis and research was not skipped over.
Chaos will be present for Week 17 and it will reign supreme next week, though that is our deferred challenge. Be sure to keep some of the powder dry on Sunday as we have the final week of insanity, then a ROBUST playoff docket on tap. For you lucky and savvy gamers, tax harvest as you see fit for the hidden and unspoken discount
Best NFL DFS Week 17 Picks and Building Blocks: Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson (Ravens-Dolphins): DraftKings ($7,700, 8.2% ownership), FanDuel ($7,900, 13.2% ownership)
For all of those FanDuel gamers, do not miss out on Lamar Jackson this week when so many are talking about Jalen Hurts. It should not be overly difficult since the $1,300 discount dramatically stands out, but both currently have the same fantasy point per dollar ratio. Miami has held firm against opposing signal-callers, boasting the 12th best passing DVOA, but this is a road game and Jackson is the master of the dual-threat option. He is coming off a strong performance on Monday Night Football, having knocked out the 49ers in San Francisco. Plus with the help of his defense picking off Brock Purdy four times, Jackson now is the odds-on favorite for the NFL MVP.
This is a key game for both teams as they are battling each other and the Cleveland Browns (11-5) for the best record in the AFC. Each team is already in the playoffs, but a potential bye as well as home field advantage is at stake in this matchup. Miami is going to be without Jaylen Waddle, but they still have a quick-strike offense which means no lead is safe.
Jackson can be played alone or paired with Isaiah Likely, who is also a strong tight end considerations. Rookie Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. are excellent synergistic options as well.
Jalen Hurts (Eagles-Cardinals): DraftKings ($8,300, 17.6% ownership), FanDuel ($9,200, 19.81% ownership)
This is a huge game for the Eagles as they are tied with San Francisco and Detroit for the top record in the National League. Philadelphia also has just a one-game lead over the Dallas Cowboys, so look for the Eagles to play strong at home. Arizona is a 12-point road dog, but the Cardinals have been particularly plucky on offense with Kyler Murray back under center. While that is not going to stop Philly from racking up points, we could get a couple touchdowns from the Cardinals. Three weeks ago they beat the Steelers 24-10 in Pittsburgh, then they put up 29 points on the 49ers in a 45-29 loss. Last weekend it was a 26-16 drubbing by the Bears in Chicago, but anything that keeps Hurts moving the ball is going to be helpful.
Hurts is a fine solo-play, but just know that pairing him with A.J. Brown is going to be one of the most popular stacks of the week. Dallas Goedert is back and in his three games since returning from a fractured forearm, he has 4, 9 and 9 targets, while DeVonta Smith has been heading in the other direction with 10, 5 and 5 in these games. Goedert has the volume edge, but Smith can score from anywhere on the field, will be less popular and just saw Brown top his single-season franchise record for receptions by a wide receiver last week.
Cheapies
The season is winding down and there are quite a few discount dandies under center on Sunday, but everyone comes with a cautionary tale.
Tyrod Taylor will be starting for the Giants and he is still a solid rushing threat, even in a game against the Los Angeles Rams. The veteran will be looking to catch some team’s eye for another backup gig or a chance to re-up with New York.
Russell Wilson has been benched in order to keep him healthy and avoid being locked into two more years on his massive contract in the event of an injury. Instead Jared Stidham will get the nod, with Wilson as the backup. Stidham played the final two games of the season for Las Vegas last year and he was fantasy relevent in each contest. Don’t expect a reprisal of his Week 17 performance when he threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns, with a pair of picks adding 34 more yards on the ground against the 49ers. Courtland Sutton is out and Jerry Jeudy (illness) is questionable. That means a lot of Marvin Mims Jr. (hamstring) if the rookie suits up. If not, then Brandon Johnson becomes a near minimum wide receiver in a game against the pitifully putrid Los Angeles Chargers.
Gardner Minshew is only in play if Michael Pittman Jr. (concussion) returns, in a decent matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, who are somehow still mathematically alive in the playoff picture, for one more week.
Jacoby Brissett (hamstring) is a game-time decision, so we can avoid the Washington quarterback situation, but otherwise he was going to replace Sam Howell. The matchup against the 49ers is a daunting one, so skip the Commanders and sadly downgrade the 49ers who should roll up enough points to make this a laugher as nearly two-touchdown road favorites.
Will Levis (ankle) should be healthy enough to start against the Texans in Houston, so he is yet another lottery ticket who could be part of a “skinny-stack” with DeAndre Hopkins, while loading up the remainder of the roster with stars across the board.
Best NFL DFS Week 17 Picks and Building Blocks: Running Backs
Zamir White (Raiders-Colts): DraftKings ($5,100, 27.2% ownership), FanDuel ($6,100, 26.2% ownership)
Zamir White should be in line for another start with Josh Jacobs a game-time decision with a quad injury that kept him out of last week’s game. Considering he did not practice at all last week or this week, it is unlikely he plays. Indianapolis has the 24th rushing DVOA and White just rolled up 145 yards against the Chiefs in Kansas City as the Raiders pulled off a 20-14 upset. Seven different running backs have rushed for 70-plus yards against the Colts this season and that doesn’t include Tyler Allgeier who had a nice performance with 69 yards and a touchdown on nine carries last week, while teammate Bijan Robinson had 12 totes for 72 more.
Christian McCaffrey (49ers-Commanders): DraftKings ($9,600, 36.6% ownership), FanDuel ($11,000, 20.2% ownership)
Damn, that is a lofty cap hit on FanDuel, but still expect to see Christian McCaffrey on nearly one-quarter of all tournament entries. He has a 24.47 fantasy point projection in half-PPR formats. Just let that sink in for a moment. He is behind only Jackson in the MVP odds and could be the first position player to win since Adrian Peterson in 2012. Washington has the worst passing DVOA and the Commanders have really slipped against the run as well. CMC really needs 100 combined yards and two touchdowns to breakeven at his salary, but that is in play.
Isaiah Pacheco has cleared the concussion protocol, so he should be back to his lead role, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) backing him up. If CEH is out, then it will likely be La’Mical Perine who is mostly a special-teamer or Keaontay Ingram, yes the former Arizona Cardinal, who was called up from the practice squad for depth.
Kyren Williams has seen his salary rise, but now he is in a matchup against the fifth-worst rushing defense that has allowed 15 different running backs to go for at least 50 rushing yards. Williams has a coveted “bell cow” role and this is a must-win game for the Rams to stay ahead of the Seahawks.
Saquon Barkley should get another heavy workload and while it is not a great matchup, he has 19-plus fantasy points in three of his last five games in the full-PPR scoring format.
Jonathan Taylor had 18 carries and a touchdown sort of saved his day from being a complete bust after he managed just 43 yards against the Falcons in Atlanta. He should be around 20 touches once again and in a fantasy-friendly environment.
Javonte Williams has risk since it does not make sense for the Broncos to push him in this lost season. It would not be a surprise to see rookie Jaleel McLaughlin, who actually has more plays of 20-plus yards, with four carries and one reception, than Williams (two carries), despite nearly 150 less opportunities.
Best NFL DFS Week 17 Picks and Building Blocks: Wide Receivers
The popularity diaspora is far flung for the wideouts this week with 26 teams in the player pool. This is the position where we can EASILY find differentiation, without giving up much in exchange. The savvy gamer will be turning cartwheels on Sunday with the plethora of players grading out well.
- How injured is Tyreek Hill, and can he cut on his ankle? Jaylen Waddle is out, so as long as Hill is “mostly” healthy, he should see ample action… and he is projecting to be on around one-in-five lineups. Of course he will be on ohhhhhh, conservatively 99.7% of Tua Tagovailoa rosters, but it looks like the field is mostly staying away from this pairing… Tua has to end up on more than 3% of all tourney lineups… right?
- Demario Douglas is a popular option across the DFS sites, though capping out around 30%. Far from a friendly matchup and Bailey Zappe (rhymes with crappy) is still his quarterback.
- Michael Pittman is in a great spot — how often will the Colts look his way after his concussion?
- The salary continues to climb for rookie Rashee Rice, will he sink or swim?
- Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua get a tasty matchup, can the Giants put up enough points at home to keep Matthew Stafford tossing around the ol’ pigskin?
- Chris Olave gets a pass-funnel defense, but he had his worst outing of the year against Tampa Bay in Week 4, catching one of six targets for a pitiful four yards. Recent game logs tell a far different story.
- Nico Collins is very intriguing on FanDuel ($7,300) with C.J. Stroud expected to be back under center and even on DraftKings ($7,200) he looks like a strong play. Noah Brown is the perfect direct leverage.
Premium Members can check out all the other wide receiver options here.
Best NFL DFS Week 17 Picks and Building Blocks: Tight Ends
Trey McBride (Cardinals-Eagles): DraftKings ($5,900, 16.8%), FanDuel ($6,800, 12.5%)
Even with the dud last week, Trey McBride is being pulled into tournament lineups as the “runback” for Hurts/Brown pairings. The discount is slight this week, but the matchup solid and he had eight targets last Sunday with six catches and 31 yards. That was his second “lowest” volume in the last six weeks. Stay the course, though it may be easier to slide down the salary sheet to get Gerald Everett, Kyle Pitts or Dalton Schultz in “cash games” (i.e. H2Hs, 50/50s and 3-mans).
Travis Kelce (Chiefs-Bengals): DraftKings ($7,000, 16.4%), FanDuel ($6,800, 12.1%)
Is it age or domestic bliss that has Travis Kelce no longer being the formidable plug and play force we have seen for the last half decade? Back-to-back games with single-digit fantasy points are not exactly enticing, but he has seen seven targets in each of the last two matchups, so volume is not an issue. Kansas City still has a two-game lead over the Raiders, but last week’s upset by Las Vegas has them looking at a road game in the second-round of the post season if they do not get their act together.
Premium Members can check out all the other tight end options here.
Best NFL DFS Week 17 Picks and Building Blocks: Defense/Special Teams
This is a crazy week with no D/ST units currently projected for double-digit representation in tournaments on any of the main NFL DFS sites, so here are some quick thoughts.
Denver Broncos are hosting the Los Angeles Chargers and Easton Stick. Even though coach Sean Payton and the franchise are benching Wilson as a business decision, the defense looks great on DraftKings ($2,900) and FanDuel ($3,700). Stick has been sacked eight times in the last two games, though he has tossed just one pickle.
Buffalo Bills they are always a top unit in the NFL, but tis season the fantasy results have been mixed. On tap is a matchup against an overmatched and inexperienced quarterback and what seems to be a disengaged head coach. Three or more sacks in four of the last six games bodes well for a late December game in “The Ralph” for sure.
Los Angeles Rams are going against one of the weakest offensive lines in the league and even though Taylor is a “running quarterback” he is in line for a handful of sacks and a couple turnovers in yet another lost season for the Giants.
As you get your best NFL DFS Week 17 picks and lineups prepped on DraftKings and FanDuel, Stokastic can help. We have more free DFS content on the NFL DFS homepage, premium DFS software including NFL Sims and the Lineup Generator, and the best live shows and videos from your favorite analysts on our YouTube channel.
You can also talk NFL DFS picks and strategy with the team and the rest of our sharp community on the Stokastic Discord!
