The NFL regular season is nearing the end as we turn the calendars to a new year. With all of the college bowl games, it brings us a huge 14-game main slate on Sunday. Despite the big slate, there are only two games with a Vegas total of over 47 points: marquee matchups between the Cowboys and Cardinals and the Chiefs and Bengals.
As you would expect, we will want to get some pieces of those two games into our DraftKings and FanDuel cash game lineups, especially the passing games. However, there are also some strong plays from teams who are a touchdown or more favorite that we should be focusing on at running back. It is going to be fun Week 17! Happy New Year!
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The players below are ones I’m looking at for cash game considerations for Week 17 main slates:
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
Trey Lance (SF): $4,800 vs. HOU
While the 49ers are leaving the door open for Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) to play on Sunday, it seems more likely that Trey Lance will get the start. He has a dirt-cheap price tag on DraftKings and draws a good matchup against the Texans that should play to the rookies’ strengths.
The Texans rank 15th DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) against the pass this season, but the real damage from Lance should come on the ground. In the two games Lance played significant snaps, he averaged 11.5 carries for 65 yards on his way to 15-plus DraftKings points in each outing.
Other notables: Dak Prescott (DAL): $6,700 vs. ARI, Jalen Hurts (PHI): $6,600 vs. WAS
FanDuel
Patrick Mahomes (KC): $8,500 vs. CIN
This week, there should be enough savings at other positions to pay up at quarterback for Mahomes playing in one of the games with the highest Vegas total of the week. In recent weeks, Mahomes seems to have found his groove in the passing game with eight touchdown passes over the last three games.
He will face a Bengals pass defense that has allowed 273 passing yards (30th) and 1.8 touchdown passes (25th) per game over the last five weeks. In a game with the highest shootout potential on the slate, I’ll get my piece of the Chiefs offense with Mahomes.
Other notables: Matthew Stafford (LAR): $7,600 vs. BAL, Dak Prescott (DAL): $7,400 vs. ARI
Running Backs
DraftKings
David Montgomery (CHI): $6,500 vs. NYG
Montgomery has a lot of things working in his favor this week. The Bears are close to a touchdown favorite at home against the Giants, who have allowed an average of 116 rushing yards (27th) and 0.8 touchdowns (20th) per game to running backs over the last five weeks.
Another plus for Montgomery is the heavy workload that the back has been getting over the last few weeks, which has included at least six targets in each of the previous four games. It should be another busy day for Montgomery.
D’Andre Swift (DET): $6,000 vs. SEA
All indications point to Swift returning to the field this week and resuming the primary role in the Lions’ backfield when facing the Seahawks. His involvement in both the running and passing games gives us a high floor that plays well in any game environment.
The matchup against the Seahawks is slightly above average as they have allowed 98 rushing yards (23rd) and 0.8 touchdowns (23rd) per game on the ground the running backs this season. Through the air might be the more significant opportunity for Swift as the Seahawks have allowed a league-high 7.3 receptions for 67 yards per game to pass-catching backs.
Other notables: Ronald Jones (TB): $6,300 vs. NYJ, Eli Mitchell (SF): $6,000 vs. HOU, Chase Edmonds (ARI): $5,700 vs. DAL
FanDuel
Ronald Jones (TB): $7,000 vs. NYJ
With Leonard Fournette out, Jones got 20 carries and three targets last week, which he converted into 81 total yards and a score against a solid Panthers run defense. There should be more holes to run through this week against the Jets rush defense that ranks 29th DVOA.
The Jets have allowed 114 rushing yards (29th) and 1.5 rushing scores (32nd) per game to running backs this season. Jones still has a reasonable price tag for the volume he will get in a favorable matchup.
Rashaad Penny (SEA): $6,900 vs. DET
I’m surprised I’m not seeing more buzz about Penny this week. He just ripped off 135 rushing yards and a score against the Bears and had 137 rushing yards and a pair of scores three weeks ago and is the lead back for the Seahawks right now.
The Seahawks are at home as a touchdown favorite against the Lions, who rank 28th DVOA against the run and have allowed 107 rushing yards (27th) and 0.9 touchdowns (28th) per game to running backs this season. Penny isn’t involved in the passing game, which limits his appeal on DraftKings, but at this price, he is a must-play for me in cash games on FanDuel.
Other notables: Eli Mitchell (SF): $7,800 vs. HOU, David Montgomery (CHI): $7,200 vs. NYG, Darrel Williams (KC): $6,200 vs. CIN
Wide Receivers
DraftKings
Jaylen Waddle (MIA): $6,700 vs. TEN
Over the last four weeks, the Dolphins’ rookie wideout has been a PPR stud, with at least nine targets and eight catches in each game. He has also topped at least 61 yards in six straight games.
The high volume for Waddle plays perfectly into the Titans’ weakness of allowing a league-high 14.9 receptions for 192 receiving yards per game to wide receivers this season. Add in the 1.13 touchdowns allowed per game to wide receivers, and Waddle could be on his way to another 8-10 catch day for 90-plus yards with a score.
Antonio Brown (TB): $6,100 vs. NYJ
With the ailing Buccaneers receiving options, Brown jumped right back into the mix in his first game since Week 6 with 15 targets that he converted into 10 catches for 101 yards last week. Assuming that the questionable tag is just maintenance, Brown should continue to be busy as the top receiving option for Tom Brady.
While Brown’s salary rose on DraftKings, it doesn’t seem like it spiked enough to keep him out of our cash game lineups against the Jets in a game where the Buccaneers have the highest Vegas implied team total on the slate.
Other notables: CeeDee Lamb (DAL): $7,100 vs. ARI, Tee Higgins (CIN): $6,900 vs. KC, Christian Kirk (ARI): $5,800 vs. DAL
FanDuel
CeeDee Lamb (DAL): $7,200 vs. ARI
I want to jam in as many as possible from the two high Vegas total games at wide receiver. While Lamb hasn’t found the end zone in five straight games, that should change this week against the Cardinals secondary that has allowed 2.0 touchdowns (32nd) per game to wideouts over the last five weeks.
The Cardinals have also allowed 16 receptions (31st) for 183 yards (27th) per game to wide receivers over the last five weeks. Lamb has been the most targeted Cowboys receiver over the last four weeks and for the season, which should get him a big piece of the pie.
Tee Higgins (CIN): $7,000 vs. KC
Higgins has been on fire for the Bengals pass attack, including putting up 12 catches for 194 yards and two touchdowns last week. He has now topped 114 receiving yards in four of his previous five games.
Higgins is still somehow cheaper than his running mate Ja’Marr Chase ($7,600), so let’s continue to ride Higgins, at least in cash games. Using either Bengals wide receiver gets you another piece of the two high Vegas total games.
Other notables: Tyreek Hill (KC): $8,200 vs. CIN, Jaylen Waddle (MIA): $7,000 vs. TEN, Christian Kirk (ARI): $6,400 vs. DAL
Tight Ends
DraftKings
Foster Moreau (LV): $3,800 vs. IND
With Darren Waller still out, Moreau makes his way into the conversation for cash games on DraftKings with his reasonable salary, recent production, and favorable matchup. Over the last two games, Moreau has secured at least four receptions for 65 yards in each outing.
This week, the Raiders tight end draws a plus matchup against the Colts, who have struggled to stop opposing tight ends, giving up a league-high 6.6 receptions for 67 yards to go along with 0.5 touchdowns (23rd) per game.
Other notables: Dallas Goedert (PHI): $5,100 vs. WAS, Cole Kmet (CHI): $3,400 vs. SEA
FanDuel
Dallas Goedert (PHI): $5,800 vs. WAS
While I am interested in paying up for Travis Kelce, my lineup feels stronger overall if I save some bucks at tight end with Goedert. Goedert has topped 105 yards in two of his last three games, including putting up seven catches for 135 yards against Washington a couple of weeks ago.
He should be a big part of the Eagles’ offense in a game with playoff implications against Washington. Washington has allowed 5.0 receptions (20th) for 64 yards (26th) per game to tight ends over the last five weeks.
Other notables: Travis Kelce (KC): $8,200 vs. CIN, Foster Moreau (LV): $5,200 vs. IND
Defense/Special Teams
DraftKings
Colts (IND): $2,900 vs. LV
Forcing turnovers will be the key for the Colts defense to pay off this week against the Raiders. The Raiders have coughed up 2.0 turnovers (28th) per game over the last five weeks, while the Colts have forced 2.1 turnovers (2nd) per game this season.
Other notables: Saints (NO): $3,400 vs. CAR, Dolphins (MIA): $2,800 vs. TEN
FanDuel
Dolphins (MIA): $3,600 vs. TEN
The Dolphins lead the league in sack this season (3.0 per game) and over the last five weeks (5.5 per game). Meanwhile, they will face a Titans offense that has been sacked 3.0 times per game (29th) this season and 3.5 times per game (30th) over the last five weeks.
Other notables: Chargers (LAC): $4,000 vs. DEN, Colts (IND): $3,900 vs. LV
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