12/30/2018 - NFL Week 17 - Picks of the Week

NFL Week 17 - Picks of the Week

QB (DK/FD)

Ben Roethlisberger (7000/8700 ) - Look for Big Ben to go all out today in a must win game against one of the league's worst defenses. Expect him to throw 40+ times with a banged up backfield.

Matt Ryan (6300/8500) - Now the Falcons have nothing to play for but they are going against Tampa Bay and their horrible pass defense. QBs against Tampa Bay have been a thing all year, so why stop now in week 17.

Nick Foles (5900/7600) - Saint Nick is looking to take his Eagles to the Promised Land. He threw for 400+ last week and look for him to air it out again in this must win game. 

Lamar Jackson (5600/7700) - We saw Jackson air it out a little more last week and he could do it again this week. The rushing upside and a must win game means you have to have some shares of him in your lineups.

Sam Darnold (5200/7500) - We called last week's coming out party and this week I expect more of the same.  New England is playing for the bye so they aren't calling off the dogs meaning the Jets will probably be playing from behind.  Look for Darnold to pass early and often as he proves he is the QB of the future for the Jets organization.

RB (DK/FD)

Joe Mixon (6700/7500) - The Bengals are decimated with injury and Mixon is really the only playmaker they have left. Sure they have nothing to play for but I'm sure the Bengals wouldn't mind playing spoiler to the Steelers. The Ravens wouldn't mind either.

Elijah McGuire (5300/6300) - Back to that Jets offense that has largely been ignored all year before last week. McGuire didn't disappoint last week and I don't expect him to this week either.  He catches the ball out of the backfield so don't be afraid to pair him up with Darnold.

Sony Michel (5200/7200) - The Patriots need the bye even though Brady is a robot he needs the week off.  The Patriots seem to be a run first team now with Michel leading the way. He could push close to 20 carries as the Pats play with the lead.

Jeff Wilson Jr (4400/5800) - The 49ers are without Matt Breida, and two of their wide receivers. Wilson is going to get 20+ touches going against a team that has nothing to play for. He's too cheap for that kind of volume.

Royce Freeman (3500/4700) - Remember in the beginning of the year when Freeman was supposed to be the number one back in Denver? Well with Lindsay out this week he will get the rock.  Dirt cheap across the industry he gives you great value to allow you to pay up elsewhere.

WR (DK/FD)

JuJu Smith-Schuster (8300/7900) - Antonio Brown is banged up but probably going to play. The Steelers must win and JuJu was just announced this week as the team's MVP. That's a lot of motivation against a horrible defense.

Julian Edelman (7600/7100) - If the Patriots do pass it, the ball is going to Edelman. Gordon is done, Gronk has been bad and is going up against Jamaal Adams and one of the best teams at defending the TE. Edelman has also been looked at a ton in the red zone giving us that TD upside.

Adam Thielen (7400/7200) - There was a time when Thielen was priced as the top overall receiver on the slate. He's now priced down too low even against a solid Chicago D.  Don't be afraid to load up on Thielen in a must win game.

DaeSean Hamilton (5000/5400) - A couple weeks ago he was a dart throw we got on, now he's getting all sorts of buzz across the industry.  He's still too cheap for the amount of targets he gets, and while they aren't downfield targets he should pick up a couple more short targets with Lindsay out.

Jordy Nelson (4900/5200) - He has seen 11, 7, 8 and 10 targets the last 4 weeks. Oh and when he played KC 4 weeks ago he had 10 catches for 97 yards.  The KC defense is beatable and Carr's recent infatuation with Jordy is real. Fire him up.

TE (DK/FD)

Zach Ertz (6700/7800) - If your spending up at TE (something I rarely do), I would look at pairing up Ertz with Foles as the Eagles try to win their way into the playoffs.  Oh yeah and he had a whopping 16 targets last week!!

David Njoku (3700/5600) - Big things were expected out of Njoku this year and we didn't quite see them. We have seen flashes, and I think we could see more this week against a strong Baltimore D who's weak spot is covering the TE.

Chris Herndon (3400/5800) - He has not received any love as far as a price increase given his recent production and I'm not complaining. He will be my most owned TE who has done nothing but produce the last couple of weeks. Pair him up with Darnold and thank me later.

Defense (DK/FD)

New York Giants (2100/3300) - A bit risky but I like cheap defenses and the Giants are going against a Cowboys team that has nothing to play for. 

Kansas City (2600/4400) - Kansas City at home in December. Enough said.

              

                    -Matt @DFSToday

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