There are so many question marks in Week 17 that it feels like a much smaller slate to work with than what we really have. There are several stars who may sit out, or might play just a few series. As a result, however, there are also a handful of value plays expected to get 15 touches or 6+ targets. Let me show you how I navigated the slate to build a safe cash game lineup.

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Quarterback

Phillip Rivers (LAC): $8,300 vs OAK
We need Rivers to reach 16.6 FanDuel points to hit value, and he has gotten fantasy owners at least 15.6 in 6 of his past 7 games, so that by itself if reassuring about his reliability. When you add in the fact that he is fighting for a playoff spot, going up against a mediocre secondary, and perhaps most importantly, likely going to be without Melvin Gordon, then you’ve got to be thinking that the floor won’t even come into play. We could see 40+ passes out of him, giving us a significant ceiling at QB.

Running Back

Jamaal Williams (GB): $6,700 @ DET
This weekend, the Packers are without Aaron Jones and obviously without Aaron Rodgers. Williams has seen that combination five times this season and here are his numbers in them:

22 touches for 118 yards and 1 TD
23 touches for 123 yards
25 touches for 135 yards and a score
22 touches for 95 yards
21 touches for 74 yards

Three of those games were against top quadrant run defenses, and seeing that he gets the Lions, who are a bottom quadrant opponent, and fading quickly, he is as good of a bet as anyone to reach 100+ total yards once again with 20+ touches.

Marshawn Lynch (OAK): $6,600 @ LAC
Ladies and gentlemen, we may be looking at Marshawn’s final NFL game this weekend. You will be pleased to know that it is against the worst run defense in football. Last week, he touched the ball a whopping 27 times and went for over 90 yards against the best unit in football. Expect the Raiders to feed him the ball countless times and if that happens, 100+ is more likely than not.

Wide Receiver

Keenan Allen (LAC): $8,600 vs OAK
Consider everything I wrote about Phillip Rivers without Melvin Gordon, then realize that his 30% target share is 3rd behind only DeAndre Hopkins and Julio Jones in the past three weeks. His floor is 5 receptions for 50+ yards, and his ceiling is the 84 FanDuel points he posted over a three-week span. If Rivers is going to score points, you can bet many of them will also have Keenan involved.

Jarvis Landry (MIA): $7,200 vs BUF
If you are looking for consistency, you’ve come to the right place. Landry has gifted fantasy owners with at least 5 receptions in every single game. His 151 targets are third-highest among NFL players, so you can bet on a heavy target share in what will likely be a negative game script. His ceiling appears to be limited, but we just need him to hit value, and Landry gives you as good of a shot as anyone to do that.

Will Fuller (HOU): $5,100 @ IND
Seeing Fuller’s name in a cash game lineup should seem odd to you as he has been a boom or bust player throughout his career. Much of that, however, is due to DeAndre Hopkins hogging a league-leading target share. With the Texans resting him for Week 17, we can expect Fuller to be a major beneficiary. He could see 8+ targets for the first time since DeShaun Watson was throwing him passes, and all it takes is one reception for Fuller to hit value, as we all remember.

Tight End

Rob Gronkowski (NE): $8,500 vs NYJ
You ought to start your lineup here and build around it. Gronk is in another world at this point with at least 15 FanDuel points in each of his last four games and 20 points per game in that time. The Jets have not done much to stop the pass all year, and with home-field advantage on the line for the Patriots, you can rely on Gronk to play the full game and see another 8 to 12 targets.

Kicker

Giorgio Tavecchio (OAK): $4,500 @ LAC
Much of the fight at this point in the season is to avoid poor weather conditions. Giorgio travels to Los Angeles, where it will be 65 degrees and without wind. The Chargers haven’t given up much in the way of field goals this year, but at the minimum price, it is difficult to beat Tavecchio’s upside and safety combo.

Defense/Special Teams

Broncos DST (DEN): $4,500 vs KC
It isn’t as though I do not believe Patrick Mahomes will be a good NFL quarterback. It is quite the opposite actually. Rather, it is the fact that Tyreek Hill, likely Kareem Hunt, and perhaps even several starting linemen will be resting to get ready for the playoffs. Without a supporting cast, I wouldn’t bet on any rookie quarterback to avoid sacks and turnovers against a stellar opponent like the Broncos.

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Thanks for reading. If you haven’t already, please check out the FantasyPros Football Podcast (below) that I co-host with Mike Tagliere. Good luck this season.

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