DraftKings NFL picks, Week 17: Best bargains in DFS play

All-In: Titans, Steelers, Eagles, Raiders

These are the teams we aim to stack the deck with when constructing our lineups, as the teams involved are fighting for a chance to make the playoffs. The Tennessee Titans either win or go home, while the Pittsburgh Steelers need a win and a simultaneous Titans loss.

The Philadelphia Eagles will win a division title and a first-round home playoff game if they beat the New York Giants in East Rutherford, NJ. Otherwise, they must hope and pray for a Dallas Cowboys loss at home to the Washington Redskins.

The Oakland Raiders need a win and concurrent losses by the Steelers, Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. Adding to the fun for football fans: all of these games are late-afternoon contests!

Raise: Packers, Patriots

These teams should also be heavily featured in lineups, as they’re playing for more than just pride. The 49ers, had they been included in the main slate, would’ve appeared here, as they can clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye with a win. If they lose to the Seahawks, the Niners drop all the way down to a No. 5 or 6 seed and start the playoffs a week earlier, on the road.

More from NFL Spin Zone

• Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
• Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
• Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
• Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens

Should the 49ers lose, the Green Bay Packers could clinch both a first-round bye and that coveted No. 1 seed with a victory. Meanwhile, the New England Patriots need only defeat the Miami Dolphins at home in Foxborough to clinch a first-round bye.

Call: Chiefs, Saints

Squads in this tier are worth hitting up for solid fantasy bargains, but it makes sense to be less invested when (or if) their situations turn sour. For example, the Kansas City Chiefs can win a first-round bye with a Patriots loss, but they’re merely playing for seeding otherwise.

The fortunes and fantasy prospects of both the Seahawks and New Orleans Saints improve with a Packers loss, as both teams could score a first-round bye in that scenario, coupled with wins of their own. Their outlooks aren’t as rosy if the Packers handle their business against the Detroit Lions.

Only Call if Others Fold: Texans, Cowboys

These two teams have something to play for, but only if they’re dealt a great hand. The Houston Texans can move up to the No. 3 seed, but it would require a Chiefs loss. The Cowboys need an Eagles loss and a win of their own to win the NFC East and host a home playoff game; otherwise, they’re out.

If You’re Feeling Lucky: Giants, Redskins, Broncos, Lions, Panthers, Dolphins, Chargers

The New York Giants are one of a few teams that can’t make the playoffs, yet relish the opportunity to play the role of spoiler for a division rival. Others include the Washington Redskins, who face the Cowboys, and the Denver Broncos, who could end the Raiders’ slim hopes.

While the Lions, Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, and Los Angeles Chargers can’t bounce anyone from the playoffs, they sure can make life harder on their division rivals this weekend.

Fold: Pretty much everyone else

The Baltimore Ravens are locked in as the 1 seed in the AFC, so they’ll be resting several key starters. They’re generally a team to avoid in Week 17, with a few exceptions: we don’t recommend Robert Griffin III (who starts in place of Lamar Jackson), but Justice Hill (BAL vs. PIT, $4,600) and Gus Edwards (BAL vs. PIT, $4,800) will handle running back duties instead of Mark Ingram, and Hayden Hurst (BAL vs. PIT, $3,200) is an excellent value if Mark Andrews plays sparingly, as expected.

Two other playoff teams have situations set in stone: the Buffalo Bills have secured the No. 5 seed in the AFC, and the Minnesota Vikings will be the sixth seed in the NFC. Neither is able to change their fortunes for the better with a win, so both are likely to rest key starters and treat Week 17 as a pseudo-bye week.

Some predict Mike Boone (MIN vs. CHI, $5,300) will thumb his nose at those who lost their season-long championships last week with him in the lineup. That’s an unlikely scenario, given that the Chicago Bears rank near the Top Five in rushing yards allowed per game.

Meanwhile, the Bears square off against a Vikings team that may or may not be mailing it in, and has nothing to gain with a win. Likewise, the New York Jets draw the Bills, a squad that also can’t impact its fate, for better or for worse.

It wouldn’t be a terrible idea to play Allen Robinson (CHI at MIN,$7,200) in DFS lineups, as Robinson has quietly been one of the most consistent wide receivers in all of fantasy football. Meanwhile, Le’Veon Bell (NYJ at BUF, $5,800) and Jamison Crowder (NYJ at BUF, $5,100) are solid bets to outperform their pricetags.

The picture becomes murkier for non-playoff teams playing other non-playoff teams. Most will play their starters, but for how long? How many of these teams want to get a deeper look at bottom of the roster players?

The Cleveland Browns face the Cincinnati Bengals, and neither team wants to lose to the other in that intrastate rivalry. Baker Mayfield has improved his play down the stretch, but he’ll be challenged to repeat that success, even in this juicy matchup, given the injuries to his top two wideouts.

Nick Chubb (CLE at CIN, $7,500) has lost touches to Kareem Hunt, thanks to the latter’s receiving prowess. However, the former Georgia Bulldog is a decent start against a porous Bengals rushing defense.

Joe Mixon (CIN vs. CLE, $7,200) is the best bet to rack up numbers in this matchup, although Tyler Boyd (CIN vs. CLE, $6,700) is also well-positioned to put up respectable figures. Both are priced accordingly, however, so perhaps Tyler Eifert (CIN vs. CLE, $3,400) is the best value here. Therefore, I’ll pass.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons can both put up points, and their matchup has the highest over/under of any Week 17 game. However, with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Calvin Ridley, and potentially Julio Jones missing from this tilt, the under somehow seems enticing.

Breshad Perriman has exploited weak secondaries in back-to-back weeks, but the Atlanta Falcons defensive backfield has leveled up down the stretch. While he’s no longer a bargain at his current price of $6,700, Justin Watson (TB vs. ATL, $4,900) most definitely is.

On the Atlanta side of the ball, only Austin Hooper (ATL at TB, $5,800) is trustworthy, although Russell Gage (ATL at TB, $4,400) is an enticing upside play.

The Los Angeles Rams against the Arizona Cardinals might offer a couple of worthwhile play, but it’s hard to get amped for many of these options beyond Cooper Kupp (LAR vs. ARI, $6,800), Tyler Higbee (LAR vs. ARI, $5,600), and Christian Kirk (ARI vs. LAR, $4,700), who won’t have Jalen Ramsey to contend with.

It is worth noting that Larry Fitzgerald (ARI vs. LAR, $4,500) is playing in his final (?) home game. This alone offers intrigue for him as a high floor option, despite Kyler Murray‘s nagging hamstring injury.

Finally, what we’ve all been waiting for: a pair of middling defenses against a duo of mediocre offenses with nothing on the line! The Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts are destined to produce a yawner that will never be remembered as long as we all shall live: given the injuries and inconsistencies, there isn’t a single player on either team I’d recommend in good conscience.

Next up is our position-by-position breakdown of the best NFL Week 17 DraftKings bargains, hand-picked with unique Week 17 situations in mind. Huddle up and start with the quarterback plays.