This is the last normal slate of the season. Week 18 is always a nightmare to talk about, but this one is fantastic. Many of you are also playing for your season-long championships, and it’s arguably the most impactful fantasy week of the year. We want to hit when things are this important, so let’s get into this Week 17 card.
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The players below are ones I’m looking at for GPP considerations for Week 17
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
Matthew Stafford (QB – LAR): $6,600 at NYG
We’ve always known Stafford has one of the best arms in the NFL, and it’s encouraging watching him work with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua once again. The health of this roster has led to Stafford scoring at least 18 DraftKings points in five consecutive fixtures, scoring at least 23 fantasy points in four of those. That streak should continue against a team like New York, ranked 20th in passing yards allowed.
Derek Carr (QB – NO): $5,500 at TB
Carr gets a lot of crap, but he’s been a solid quarterback from a DFS standpoint. The Saints signal-caller is averaging over 15 DK points per game, scoring a season-high 29 DraftKings points in his most recent outing. That’s the sort of upside we’re looking for from a GPP player, and another upside game could be in play against Tampa’s terrible secondary. The Bucs are posting a 26th OPRK against opposing quarterbacks.
FanDuel
Justin Fields (QB – CHI): $8,200 vs. ATL
Fields has always been an elite GPP option because of his wheels, showcasing a 40-point ceiling numerous times throughout his career. We love how he’s looked since returning from an injury, scoring at least 25 FanDuel points in two of his last three games. That form should carry over against Atlanta, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
Baker Mayfield (QB – TB): $7,200 vs. NO
Baker has taken his game to another level this season. He was close to being out of the league altogether, but he’s averaging over 17 FD points per game in a bounce-back season. He’s also scored at least 20 FD points in three consecutive outings, posting a 23-point average in that span. New Orleans is not as scary of a matchup as it was earlier in the year, posting an 18th OPRK against opposing quarterbacks.
Running Backs
DraftKings
Austin Ekeler (RB – LAC): $6,700 at DEN
Ekeler has been one of the biggest busts in fantasy this season, but it’s bizarre to see him below $7K. This guy was flirting with five figures this past season, and he can return to that form on any given Sunday. It’s way more likely against a team like Denver, allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs.
Najee Harris (RB – PIT): $5,000 at SEA
It’s hard to believe that Najee is just $5,000. He’s still the top running back in this Pittsburgh offense, scoring 14 DK points last week. He also had nearly 20 carries and is regularly recording 15 touches a game. No player getting 15 touches, and most of the goal-line opportunities should be this cheap, especially against a 26th-ranked Seattle run defense.
FanDuel
Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND): $8,400 vs. LVR
Most people will use Christian McCaffrey and Kyren Williams in their exceptional matchups, but it’ll likely have JT rostered far less than he should be. This was the top running back in fantasy in two of the past four years, and we’re finally seeing him return to a full workload. Taylor has double-digit fantasy points in six consecutive outings, receiving at least 18 carries in four of those. A home game against the Raiders should keep him rolling because the Colts are a favorite in a tasty game script.
Javonte Williams (RB – DEN): $6,500 vs. LAC
This is risky, but Javonte has the ability to be a great player in a GPP. This is still the starting running back for the Broncos, averaging 13 FanDuel points per game across his past eight outings. That’s all you can ask for from a $6,500 running back, and we didn’t even mention that LA allows the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing rushers.
Wide Receivers
DraftKings
Chris Olave (WR – NO): $6,800 at TB
With so many teams on this massive slate, many fantasy managers will overlook Olave. That’s silly, considering what we saw last week, with Olave recording nine catches for 123 yards on 13 targets. He’s got at least 114 receiving yards in three of his past four fixtures and is developing into one of the best wideouts in the NFL. The matchup is the icing on the cake, with Tampa posting a 30th OPRK against opposing receivers.
DeAndre Hopkins (WR – TEN): $6,000 at HOU
This veteran receiver has been all over the map this season, but his upside games are tough to overlook. D-Hop has at least 25 DraftKings points twice this year. He also has at least 10 DK points eight times and might be force-fed against his former team. Houston owns a 25th OPRK against opposing wideouts this year.
FanDuel
Calvin Ridley (WR – JAX): $7,100 vs. CAR
Ridley has been inconsistent all year, but not many players have a higher ceiling. We saw that last week, with Ridley registering 23 FanDuel points. What we love is that he’s blowing up with Christian Kirk sidelined, averaging 10.5 targets over his last four fixtures. Carolina is not a concerning matchup either, ranked 30th in points allowed.
Marquise Brown (WR – ARI): $6,200 at PHI
This Arizona wide receiver group has been the worst in the NFL, but Brown is undoubtedly their best option. He’s missed the past two games because of a heel injury, but he’s still the best receiver on this offense. We can’t overlook that in this fantastic matchup with Philly, surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing receivers. We’re not so sure that Brown will even play, but he’s an excellent GPP play if he’s able to go.
Tight Ends
DraftKings
Dalton Schultz (TE – HOU): $4,300 vs. TEN
This Texans passing game has been obliterated by injuries, losing Nico Collins and Tank Dell. That’s left Schultz as one of the primary pass-catchers in this offense, scoring at least 11 DraftKings points in seven of the last nine games he’s finished. Schultz is also averaging 7.5 targets in those games, which is incredible since CJ Stroud might make his return to action here.
FanDuel
Taysom Hill (TE – NO): $5,500 at TB
Hill has been horrible over the past two weeks, but his upside is challenging to overlook. The versatile tight end had at least 14 FanDuel points in four of his previous six games before that poor stretch. That was the second-highest total among all tight ends, and that sort of ceiling is sensational in a GPP. The matchup is fantastic, too, with Tampa allowing the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.
Defense/Special Teams
DraftKings
Denver Broncos D/ST: $2,900 vs. LAC
Denver let me down last week, but we want to go back to them. This has still been a top-5 defense over the past two months, and this matchup with LA couldn’t be much better. The Chargers are missing their top quarterback and top receiver, averaging just 15 points per game across their past five fixtures. That’s evident in the Vegas lines, with Denver entering this matchup as a 5.5-point favorite in a game with a 38-point total. Good luck finding another sub-$3K defense projected to allow just 16 points.
FanDuel
Carolina Panthers D/ST: $3,400 at JAX
The Jaguars have been turning the ball over like crazy, posting a 22nd OPRK against opposing D/STs. That’s surprising when looking at the players on that offense, but they don’t look right. That terrible form makes them an intriguing matchup against an underrated Carolina defense, allowing the fourth-fewest passing yards in the NFL. We’re also looking at a game with a 37-point total, which could benefit both of these defenses.
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
