The end of the NFL fantasy season is always the most challenging time to play DFS, but it’s becoming even more troublesome with updated COVID-19 protocols. Nearly 100 players entered protocols on Monday alone, and there will undoubtedly be some significant changes before games commence.
It has left a ton of value on the table, though, so we have a good read on the slate as of Wednesday morning. With that in mind, let’s get into this Week 17 card for cash games.
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Quarterbacks
DraftKings
Josh Allen (BUF): $9,000, vs. ATL
Allen somehow didn’t make the Pro Bowl, but he’s certainly an MVP frontrunner. That’s tough to understand, but DFS sites know this is the best quarterback in fantasy. The Bills signal-caller leads all quarterbacks with 26.3 DraftKings points per game. He’s been even better recently, averaging 33 points across the last three fixtures. That’s terrifying for a Falcons defense ranking 29th in DraftKings points allowed to opposing quarterbacks this season.
Kyler Murray (ARI): $7,300, at DAL
Murray has struggled in the second half, but this price is getting ridiculous. The highest-priced quarterback earlier in the season still ranks fourth in fantasy points per game. He’s a good value here at this diminished cost, especially since Murray has at least 59 rushing yards in three of his last four games. That gives him a high floor in what should be one of the week’s highest-scoring games behind a 51-point total.
The end of the NFL fantasy season is always the most challenging time to play DFS, but it’s becoming even more troublesome with updated COVID-19 protocols. Nearly 100 players entered protocols on Monday alone, and there will undoubtedly be some significant changes before games commence.
It has left a ton of value on the table, though, so we have a good read on the slate as of Wednesday morning. With that in mind, let’s get into this Week 17 card for cash games.
Win $1 Million playing FanDuel’s NFL Sunday Million
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
Josh Allen (BUF): $9,000, vs. ATL
Allen somehow didn’t make the Pro Bowl, but he’s certainly an MVP frontrunner. That’s tough to understand, but DFS sites know this is the best quarterback in fantasy. The Bills signal-caller leads all quarterbacks with 26.3 DraftKings points per game. He’s been even better recently, averaging 33 points across the last three fixtures. That’s terrifying for a Falcons defense ranking 29th in DraftKings points allowed to opposing quarterbacks this season.
Kyler Murray (ARI): $7,300, at DAL
Murray has struggled in the second half, but this price is getting ridiculous. The highest-priced quarterback earlier in the season still ranks fourth in fantasy points per game. He’s a good value here at this diminished cost, especially since Murray has at least 59 rushing yards in three of his last four games. That gives him a high floor in what should be one of the week’s highest-scoring games behind a 51-point total.
FanDuel
Patrick Mahomes (KC): $8,500, at CIN
This isn’t the top quarterback we’re accustomed to, but Mahomes is still a beast. He’s got his team amid an eight-game winning streak and is averaging 28 FanDuel points per game across his last three outings. That’s second to Allen in that span, so it’s clear he’s back to the stud we all know and love. The matchup is the icing on the cake, though, with Cincinnati surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.
Matthew Stafford (LAR): $7,600, at BAL
Stafford burned us with three picks last week, but he’s typically too reliable to be this cheap. You actually have to scroll down to find him sitting 10th in quarterback pricing on this slate. That’s criminally low for Stafford, who has scored at least 23 FD points in eight games this season en route to a 21-point average. He should reach one of his high-upside games in this matchup, with Baltimore ranking 30th in FD points against opposing signal-callers.
In Consideration: Jalen Hurts (PHI): $6,600 DK, $7,900 FD, at WAS
Running Backs
DraftKings
Ronald Jones (TB): $6,300, at NYJ
Jones was the first player I recommended for both sites last week, and he provided everything I hoped for. He has now scored at least 16 DK points in the five games Leonard Fournette has missed dating back to last season. More importantly, Jones is getting about 20 carries and four targets a game in those outings, averaging nearly 130 total yards and a touchdown per game in this expanded role. The matchup isn’t too shabby either, with the Jets surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing running backs.
Sony Michel (LAR): $5,800, at BAL
It’s weird Los Angeles has transitioned from Darrell Henderson into Michel, but it’s made the latter a sensational fantasy option. Now that Henderson is out with an MCL injury, Michel should see almost 100 percent of the team’s snaps. He’s been close to that recently anyway, averaging 22.3 carries and 2.8 targets over the last four games played. He’s also averaging 17.5 DraftKings points per game in that span, making it hard to understand why he’s sitting below $6,000.
FanDuel
Jonathan Taylor (IND): $10,000, vs. LV
Not much needs to be said here with Taylor. He’s quite simply the best running back in the NFL, running away with the yardage and touchdown crowns. That has led to Taylor tallying at least 17 FanDuel points in 11 of his last 12 games. Only one other player averages 17 FD points per game all season, making Taylor the best cash-game play on every slate. Vegas is also allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing rushers this season.
Devin Singletary (BUF): $6,000, vs. ATL
Singletary was everything we try to avoid in cash games through the first 10 weeks, but something has changed in Buffalo. He’s the primary guy now, averaging 12.6 carries over the last five games and 4.7 targets over the previous three. That has led to Singletary scoring at least 12 FD points in each of those three outings, a fantastic total from someone this cheap. This situation couldn’t be better either, as Buffalo enters this matchup as a massive 14.5-point favorite against a 27th-ranked Atlanta run defense.
In Consideration: Rashaad Penny (SEA): $6,100 DK, $6,900 FD, vs. DET
Wide Receivers
DraftKings
Cooper Kupp (LAR): $9,500, at BAL
If Taylor is the best cash-game running back, Kupp is the best cash-game receiver. He leads all players with 28 DraftKings points per game, scoring at least 16 all but twice this season. That absurd floor is impossible to match, and Kupp leads all pass-catchers in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. Facing a Baltimore team owning a 28th OPRK against opposing wideouts is the cherry on top of this tasty sundae.
Antonio Brown (TB): $6,100, at NYJ
Brown is the third-highest-priced receiver on FanDuel, and you have to scroll two pages to find him on DraftKings. That alone makes him a good option at just $6,100, especially since he ranks third at the position with 21 DK points per game. This price tag is mind-boggling with Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, and Fournette all sidelined. The Jets allowing a league-worst 30 points per game only adds to Brown’s immense value.
FanDuel
Stefon Diggs (BUF): $8,000, vs. ATL
The Bills are one of the highest-projected offenses on this slate, and it’s easy to see why. Allen is the league leader in fantasy points and gets to face one of the NFL’s worst defenses. That means he should feed his top weapon with ease. Diggs led all wideouts in fantasy points last season. He hasn’t been quite that good this year, but scoring at least 11 FanDuel points in nine of his last 10 games is all you can hope for from a cash-game receiver.
Hunter Renfrow (LV): $6,900, at IND
With Darren Waller injured and Henry Ruggs out of the league, Renfrow has become Derek Carr‘s only option. The former Clemson pass-catcher has at least 11 FD points in six of his last eight games, receiving at least nine targets in five of his last seven. That’s a high workload from a sub-$7K player, especially since Indianapolis owns a 24th OPRK against opposing receivers. Trailing in this game, albeit less likely if Carson Wentz can’t play after landing on the COVID-19 reserve list Tuesday, would yield even more targets for Renfrow.
In Consideration: Deebo Samuel (SF): $8,700 DK, $9,000 FD, vs. HOU
Tight Ends
DraftKings
Mark Andrews (BAL): $7,400, vs. LAR
Andrews is finally the highest-priced tight end! This has been a long time coming for the best tight end all season. Andrews leads the position with 19 DK points per game and has been absolutely ridiculous recently. He’s scored at least 29 DK points in each of the last three games, combining for 29 catches for 366 yards and four touchdowns. Not many tight ends have those averages for the season, making Andrews an easy option on every slate.
FanDuel
Travis Kelce (KC): $8,200, at CIN
Kelce sat out last week, but he should be ready to go after passing COVID protocols. He’s dominated this position for five years, ranked top-three in each of those seasons. Kelce is second to Andrews with 13.9 FanDuel points per game this year and is coming off a 36-point masterpiece in his most recent outing. That’s terrible news for the Bengals, who allow the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.
In Consideration: Rob Gronkowski (TB): $6,200 DK, $6,700 FD, at NYJ
Defense/Special Teams
DraftKings
New England Patriots D/ST: $3,900, vs. JAX
The Patriots have been the best D/ST for most of the season but have fallen to second at the position after a few massive games from Dallas. In any case, this is one of the best defenses around, and it’s a truly scary spot for the Jaguars. Jacksonville ranks dead-last with 14.5 points per game and just lost James Robinson in Week 16. That’s why the Patriots enter this matchup as a 16-point favorite in a game with a 42-point total, leaving Jacksonville with a week-worst 13-point projection.
FanDuel
San Francisco 49ers D/ST: $4,600, vs. HOU
Houston has been a little better recently, but this is still one of the worst offenses in football. The Texans currently rank 30th in points scored and last in total yardage. They’ll go up against one of the NFL’s hottest defenses, with San Francisco ranking inside the top-10 of total defense over the last seven weeks. That’s why the Texans are projected for just 17 points and could struggle even to reach that total.
In Consideration: Buffalo Bills D/ST: $3,500 DK, $4,500 FD, vs. ATL
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
