The current week of DFS is always my favorite week. The slate is clean, and we are not forced to deal with our draft day mistakes. It is all about honing in on value plays and which ones to slot in our DFS lineups.
The holiday week has produced a busy NFL schedule, resulting in an eight-game slate on DraftKings and nine for FanDuel.
This article aims to decipher values in the lobbies. It is not meant to be a roster builder. Instead, it will help identify key players priced below their production potential based on various factors for DraftKings and FanDuel.
This slate is a little different based on how the NFL schedule has played out over the holiday. A skinnier group of games leaves fewer value options. In some contests, paying up may be one of the better approaches and filling in with values along the way.
NFL Week 17 DFS Value Plays
Quarterbacks
Bryce Young (QB – CAR) vs. Buccaneers | $5,600 (DraftKings)
Since returning from a short stint of observation from the bench, Young has shown growth and flashes of the kind of play that led to him being a first-overall selection. Since then, he has finished as a QB2 in seven of eight contests, two of which were inside the top ten. In that span, he averages 206.2 passing yards, 1.2 passing touchdowns, and 22 rushing yards per game.
The Buccaneers allow the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. They surrender an average of 266.9 passing yards and 1.6 passing touchdowns to the position.
Young is GPP play that works best in multi-entry contests. His salary works well to pay up at other positions without sacrificing a reliable floor. The addition of more rushing since his return as a starter is a welcome production bump for fantasy purposes. Finally, the matchup is good enough to put Young in value territory for this slate.
Jayden Daniels (QB – WAS) vs. Falcons |$8,500 (FanDuel)
With the skinny main slate, the options are limited, and some value is found in the higher-priced options. Daniels represents the possible top overall quarterback play on this slate and is within the top five overall for the week. Despite throwing two interceptions last week, Daniels managed five touchdowns and 81 rushing yards in last week’s upset over the Eagles. He has seven games of QB7 or better this season. Between his arm talent and rushing ability, Daniels remains a high-floor/high-ceiling option on a weekly basis.
The Falcons allow the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. They have allowed 28 passing touchdowns this season, currently tied for first in the NFL.
It’s a good matchup, and Daniels is poised to dominate. However, he will be chalky and thus better utilized in cash contests.
Running Backs
Rachaad White (RB – TB) vs. Panthers | $5,700 (DraftKings)
“Wait, but what about Bucky Irving?” Many folks may have mentally exclaimed. So let’s clear the air right up front. Bucky Irving is a great play on this slate. I know it; you, dear reader, know it, and so does basically everyone else you’ll be playing against. At $6,700 in a blissful matchup, Irving is one of the chalky big plays of the week. Therefore, due to ownership, he is almost locked in as a cash game-only asset. This brings us to Rachaad White.
Last week, White coughed up a costly fumble that relegated him to minimum carries (3/10) but did not ultimately hamper his usage as a pass-catcher (7/8 for 50 yards). Barring injury, Irving will continue to operate as the 1A of this backfield. That does not remove White from fantasy relevance, especially in large-field GPP contests. Even in a diminished role last week, White still managed 11.0 PPR points. He has only missed the double-digit mark three times this season.
Let’s discuss the matchup. The Panthers allow the most fantasy points to the position. On a per-game basis, they allow the most rushing yards (141.1), tied for the most rushing TD’s (1.1) to running backs.
The matchup is a smash spot for both backs on this Bucs squad. It comes down to who is better at cost and in what contest. Irving is a cash-game darling on this slate and might be one of the most heavily rostered running backs not named Saquon Barkley. That leaves White as the potential GPP back to roster in a game that features a 48-point over/under.
Breece Hall (RB – NYJ) vs. Bills | $7,900 (FanDuel)
Breece Hall has not truly lived up to preseason expectations this season. Heralded as a potential overall RB1 this season, fantasy managers have been met with mediocre outings despite the volume. However, he still retains the volume that could explode into production in the right matchup with the right circumstances. Hall is averaging 22.3 opportunities per game, which is a work-horse type of volume that could pay off dividends in the right matchup.
The Bills might just be that matchup. They allow the third-most fantasy points to running backs. They allow 97.5 rushing yards, 0.7 rushing touchdowns, and 0.4 receiving touchdowns.
Hall has volume on his side, which offsets the higher salary. On this slate, he can be used in both cash and GPP contests and represents an RB1 ceiling.
Wide Receivers
Calvin Ridley (WR – TEN) vs. Jaguars | $5,500 (DraftKings)
Thus far, the difference between Mason Rudolph and Will Levis is that Levis provides some rushing upside. The difference for the skill position players is nearly negligible. In four starts with Rudolph, Ridley is averaging 7.2 targets per game. He has had one WR1 finish in that span. In their last matchup against the Jaguars, Ridley saw 12 targets.
The Jaguars allow the fifth-most fantasy points to receivers. On a per-game basis, they surrender the third-most receiving yards and 1.1 touchdowns to the position.
With an over/under of 39.5, Ridley possesses a high target floor, but the quality of those targets is coming from a career backup quarterback. Ridley should be used in GPP contests as opposed to cash, and even then, he remains a ceiling play for multi-entry contests.
Jordan Addison (WR – MIN) vs. Packers | $7,000 (FanDuel)
Addison enters week 17 as the WR16 in fantasy points per game (12.7). He is WR8 in receiving touchdowns (8) despite being the WR39 in targets. He has been both efficient and dangerous to score anytime he reels one in. He has two overall WR1 weekly finishes over his last five games. Addison is a weapon that has a floor of WR79 and a ceiling of WR1 for any given week.
In a crucial divisional matchup, the Packers have been stingy against wide receivers. They allow the second-fewest fantasy points to the position. However, they are entering this game with Quay Walker, Evan Williams, and Jaire Alexander all ruled out.
The defensive attention will be focused on trying to limit Justin Jefferson; Sam Darnold should have time to find and target Addison elsewhere. He can be utilized in both cash and GPP contests.
Tight Ends
Juwan Johnson (TE – NO) vs. Raiders | $3,500 (DraftKings)
In an offense void of Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara, the target tree gets a bit more skimpy and sickly looking. Chris Olave may suit up, but is reliant on the inconsistent downfield accuracy of rookie Spencer Rattler. If anyone other than Kendre Miller has the opportunity to produce in this contest, Juwan Johnson is the most likely candidate. A sure-handed target across the middle is one of the better bets for short to intermediate targets and production.
The Raiders defense applies plenty of pressure, but seems agnostic of the tight end position. They allow the fifth-most fantasy points to the position.
Johnson is a plug-and-play floor option for GPP contests, freeing up some salary for other positions. Consider him a touchdown or bust option at rock-bottom pricing.
Chig Okonkwo (TE – TEN) vs. Jaguars | $5,400 (FanDuel)
Mason Rudolph has basically targeted two pass catchers in his starts this season. Calvin Ridley and Chig Okonkwo. For those less likely to invest in Ridley, Okonkwo operates over the middle as a reliable safety blanket for the Titans. Over his last two games, he has mustered a 26% target share and finished as TE7 and TE2, respectively.
The Jaguars allow the seventh-most fantasy points to tight ends. On a per-game basis, they allow 57.0 receiving yards and 0.5 touchdowns to the position.
The salary is decent compared to the target share, and the matchup is more than friendly. Okonkwo does not command the targets or salary as the guys at the top of the salary food chain, but that does not mean he is not welcome at the production table. He is a GPP contest target for those trying to save a few dollars for other positions.
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John Hesterman is a featured writer and Expert Consensus Ranker at FantasyPros. He also writes for DynastyLeagueFootball.com. For more from John, check out his archive and follow him on Bluesky @John-Hesterman or Twitter/X @John_Hesterman.