DraftKings NFL picks, Week 17: Best DFS fantasy football values
By Drew DeLuca
Week 17 DraftKings NFL Values: Wide Receivers
Premium Tier ($7,000 and up): Twelve wide receivers find themselves in the top price tier this week. Davante Adams (GB at CHI, $9,200), the highest-priced option of the bunch, is three receiving touchdowns away from 20 on the season; only Randy Moss (23 in 2007) and Jerry Rice (22, 1987) have reached that rarefied air.
Other high-priced performers of note in this tier are Calvin Ridley (ATL at TB, $8,500), Stefon Diggs (BUF vs. MIA, $8,100), Allen Robinson II (CHI vs. GB, $7,700), rookie Justin Jefferson (MIN at DET, $7,600), and Mike Evans (TB vs. ATL, $7,500), each one as steady as they come and well worth the investment. Robinson may have his hands full with Jaire Alexander, so if we had to fade one, he’s our choice; of these four great options, we’ll take our chances with Evans and use the discount to fortify our lineup in other places.
Since we like Irv Smith to play a larger role in the passing game, we see a lower floor for Adam Thielen (MIN at DET, $7,400), who’s still a great play based on his incredible matchup. We’d rather go with DK Metcalf (SEA at SF, $7,300), who has seen eight or more targets in four of his last five games; we absolutely love the second-year Mississippi product at this price point.
Mid-Tier Values ($6,000 to $6,900): Our three selections from this group are Brandin Cooks (HOU vs. TEN, $6,900), Chris Godwin (TB vs. ATL, $6,600), and the suddenly (and once again) inconsistent Corey Davis (TEN at HOU, $6,200). We believe Cooks is fairly priced; he’s our choice from this trio, as the Titans have been the third most generous team in the NFL to fantasy wide receivers over the last four weeks.
Value Tier ($5,000 to $5,900): Marquise Brown (BAL at CIN, $5,900) crossed the stripe last Sunday for the fourth time in the last five weeks. Unfortunately, he saw only four targets, and the idea of a touchdown-dependent 5’9″ wide receiver gives us pause. We’d rather trust other boom-or-bust options in this price range, most notably Amari Cooper (DAL at NYG, $5,800), Tyler Lockett (SEA at SF, $5,800), or D.J. Moore (CAR vs. NO, $5,700).
CeeDee Lamb (DAL at NYG, $5,200) interests us, as does the inexplicably low-priced Jamison Crowder (NYJ at NE, $5,000); he and his Jets teammates have less to worry about with Stephon Gilmore on injured reserve. While we prefer Crowder’s floor, we’re interested in Curtis Samuel (CAR vs. NO, $5,300) this week: the former Ohio State Buckeye received seven carries last week, and should see at least as many touches out of the backfield in Week 17 with Christian McCaffrey and Mike Davis expected to miss the season’s final game.
Bargain Bin: Rashard Higgins (CLE vs. PIT, $4,500) has been a pleasant surprise for the Browns this season; he’s due to come off their COVID list later this week. Meanwhile, Kendrick Bourne (SF vs. SEA, $4,300) should see plenty of targets with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk out for Week 17.
Laviska Shenault, Jr. (LAX at IND, $4,200) has seen six or more targets in three straight games, and stands to benefit if D.J. Chark misses yet another game. Highly-touted rookie Jerry Jeudy (DEN vs. LV, $4,200), meanwhile, looks to bounce back from a horrific game, while Darnell Mooney (CHI vs. GB, $4,100) is quietly poised for the breakout game that many have been waiting for.
A few conditional GPP dart throws ww like are John Brown (BUF vs. MIA, $3,600), who’s a great value assuming he comes off the COVID list in time, Keelan Cole (JAX at IND, $3,400), and Richie James (SF vs. SEA, $3,100). The allure of the latter will be determined by the game day status of D.J. Chark, so unless Brown is cleared, James looks to be the safest play of the three at the moment.
Best Buy: It’s DK Metcalf, with Evans a distant second. Either way, we feel like we’re getting Top 5 WR production at a bit of a discount. We’d pair either or both with Crowder, if we could.