DFS Cash Game Plays: NFL Week 17
The NFL Week 17 DFS slate is ready for us to attack, but first, let’s think about how to react to last week’s DFS slate. With sixteen weeks of data under our belts, it’s hard not to overreact to what we saw on the field, particularly as injuries and outlier performances pile up. Let other people chase the outcome stats, and we will instead focus on usage and opportunity.
We will go through each position at a variety of salary levels to see who are the best plays in cash games on DraftKings and FanDuel. For these purposes, a cash game is any contest that pays out more than one-third of the field. While these are also viable GPP options, we are primarily looking for a safe floor combined with high usage that can lead to ceiling games.
DFS Tools
Previous Week’s Results
Results in select DraftKings contests:
- NFL MASSIVE $25 Double Up [Single Entry] – 1260/3678
- NFL GIANT $10 Double Up [Single Entry] – 764/2182
- NFL GIANT $5 Double Up [Single Entry] – 2466/7213
- NFL GIANT $5 Double Up [Single Entry] – 1596/4597
- NFL GIANT $2 Double Up [Single Entry] – 1142/3431
- NFL GIANT $10 Double Up [Single Entry] – 1528/4481
- NFL GIANT $10 Double Up [Single Entry] – 1058/2971
Winning percentage in Single Entry contests – 100%
Cash line in DraftKings Massive $25 Double-Up contest – 136.38
This was my cash game lineup for all contests in Week 16:
I thought Week 16 was very tough, especially at running back. All of Breece Hall, Ty Chandler, Rachaad White, Jonathan Taylor, Aaron Jones, and Chuba Hubbard were in play. I only landed on Breece Hall late when I dug more into his planned usage, and that’s likely what ended up saving this DFS squad. My original lineup before lock was this one with Chig Okonkwo at TE and McBride in Flex. But I talked myself out of the two-TE build for what I thought would be a safe 6-8 points from Treylon Burks. Of course, Chig smashed for like 18 points at 22% roster percentage and I was left with a mild sweat throughout the afternoon games.
Be sure you’re following me on X (@CableBoxScore) for any updates I make to my player pool as we get closer to lock. I will update that account every weekend with additional players as other news emerges.
Scoring Differences Between DraftKings and FanDuel
A quick primer on DraftKings versus FanDuel scoring for DFS if you are unfamiliar with their platforms.
- On DraftKings, you are selecting nine spots with a total of $50,000 to spend. FanDuel has nine spots with $60,000 to spend, so salaries are slightly higher.
- DraftKings is full PPR scoring, while FanDuel is half-PPR.
- DraftKings deducts one point for a fumble lost and an interception. FanDuel is minus two points for a lost fumble and minus one for an interception.
- DraftKings awards three-point bonuses for 300-yard passing games, 100-yard rushing games, and 100-yard receiving games. FanDuel does not award bonuses.
With those differences in mind, let’s look at which players make good selections in Week 15.
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts (DK: $8,300, FD: $9,200) gets the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17 that provides a matchup seemingly tailor-made for Hurts’ abilities. The Cardinals have allowed the fourth-most passing touchdowns and the fifth-most rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season. Hurts is a home favorite in this game with the second-highest implied team total on the slate. As a bonus, the Eagles can clinch the division if the Cowboys fall Saturday night, so expect the offense to push the gas pedal all game in this one.
Brock Purdy (DK: $7,000, FD: $8,500) is one of several San Francisco 49ers who will be on this list because they have the dream matchup against Washington and are projected to score more than 31 points, even in a road game where they have traveled across the country. Put Purdy’s four-interception game in the rearview mirror and concentrate on the fact that Washington has allowed the third-most passing yards and the most passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season. Getting Purdy and McCaffrey in your lineups is a way to lock in every single San Fran touchdown on Sunday.
Jacoby Brissett (DK: $4,900, FD: $6,800) gets the call over Sam Howell in that game against Washington and he certainly deserves it after the last two weeks as a mid-game fill-in. All Brissett has done in two part-time appearances is complete 18 of 23 passes for 224 yards and three passing touchdowns. He also has 10 rushing yards per game for an extra little bonus, but Brissett – surely auditioning for his next job – has come out slinging it in December. The matchup stinks, but for under $5,000 on DK, it’s hard to beat that salary.
Running Back
Christian McCaffrey (DK: $9,600, FD: $11,000) is now the most expensive he has been on both sites, but he won’t have a better matchup this season, and it’s entirely possible he has his biggest game of the year. The Commanders have been absolutely torched by running backs this year, allowing top-ten numbers in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns to the position. These same Commanders just allowed 191 total yards and two touchdowns to Breece hall last week and now get the likely Offensive Player of the Year. CMC is worth the salary this week.
Kyren Williams (DK: $8,300, FD: $9,400) has carried the ball at least 20 times in five of his last six games and is now averaging over 22 fantasy points per game on the season thanks to that volume and some elite efficiency. Even when he didn’t catch a pass last week, Williams managed 104 yards and a score. Williams gets McCaffrey-esque usage on this Rams’ offense and now gets the quit-on-the-season Giants and their 4.9 yards per carry allowed over the last three games.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (DK: $5,300, FD: $6,500) looks likely to have a bell-cow role this week with Isiah Pacheco not practicing due to a variety of injuries and Jerick McKinnon on the IR for the rest of the season. In this same situation against New England two weeks ago, CEH had 17 touches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Against Cincinnati, he may have a similar role and the Bengals allow right at 4.0 yards per carry this season.
Zamir White (DK: $5,100, FD: $6,100) looks more and more like he will be a cash game play this week after Josh Jacobs did not practice again on Thursday. It’s a simple equation for White if Jacobs is out. A matchup against the team allowing the third-most fantasy points to running backs (Colts) plus an offense that runs more than 43% of the time the last three weeks equals a strong cash game play on both sites. It’s clear the Raiders want to run rather than have their offense rely on Aidan O’Connell. The Colts are the perfect opponent to continue that trend.
Wide Receiver
Tyreek Hill (DK: $9,300, $FD: $9,800) made his way back last week after missing one game with an ankle injury, and he was able to demand 14 targets which resulted in nine catches for 99 yards. It was a nice game, but certainly a ramp-up to what the Dolphins hope will be Cheetah back at his absolute best for this game to determine the AFC #1 seed. Before the ankle injury, Hill had at least 25 fantasy points in five of six games, and Baltimore has been hurt recently be wide receivers as they have allowed 11.5 yards per catch over the last three weeks.
Deebo Samuel (DK: $7,700, $8,800) gets the same elite matchup as Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey, but we need to watch the injury situation here and pivot to Brandon Aiyuk ($7,000/$7,500) at a slightly lower salary if Samuel misses with a sprained neck. Only the Buccaneers have allowed more passing yards and only the Eagles have allowed more receiving touchdowns than the Commanders. On the season, Washington allows 11.5 yards per completion, which is 31st in the NFL.
Rashee Rice (DK: $6,900, FD: $7,400) may have broken his touchdown streak last week, but he saw a career-high 12 targets and I’m willing to bet Patrick Mahomes is much improved in this must-win game against Cincinnati. Rice is over a 28% target share the last three games and Cincinnati is the only team worse than Washington in yards per completion this year (11.6 through 16 weeks).
DeAndre Hopkins (DK: $6,000, FD: $6,700) continues to dominate target share for the Titans despite who is playing quarterback, but there is always some risk built in. Fortunately, Hopkins gets a strong matchup this week against Houston who are 25th in yards per completion allowed and are bottom-10 in receiving yards allowed to tight ends this season. The last time these teams met, Hopkins was targeted nine times, but only was able to bring in two of them. He is a much stronger play if Will Levis can get back on the field this week.
Demario Douglas (DK: $4,300, FD: $6,100) is nothing more than the guy who is going to get 7-9 targets every week on a bad offense but is never going to cost more than the low $4,000s on DraftKings when you need salary relief for your lineup. Douglas does have double-digit fantasy points in four of his last five games and is playing Buffalo as a heavy underdog. Hopefully, Bailey Zappe is asked to throw a lot in the second half of a potentially ugly game.
Tight End
Trey McBride (DK: $5,900, FD: $6,800) now has five out of his last six games with at least eight targets and his 9.1 fantasy points from Week 16 were the first time he did not reach double-figures since Week 11. He is being used more like a wide receiver than a tight end with Marquise Brown and other wideouts hurt. The Eagles often funnel their pass plays against them to the middle of the field, which has resulted in five tight end touchdowns on the season.
George Kittle (DK: $5,600, FD: $6,700) is simply way too cheap on DK this week considering his recent production and the fact that Deebo Samuel might be dealing with an injury that would limit him in this game. Kittle is now cheaper than McBride and is coming off a game where he had 10 targets and 126 yards. The Commanders just allowed Tyler Conklin and Tyler Higbee to record games with at least four catches, and it’s fair to assume Kittle is in a class far, far above those two.
Chig Okonkwo (DK: $3,600, FD: $5,400) was the cheap tight end you wanted to own last week at $3,100 on DK, so the question is, do we want to try and run it back and hope for similar result? Houston has allowed the third-most receiving yards and fantasy points to tight ends this season, including five touchdowns. If you don’t find yourself with the cash for one of the top options, Okonkwo or Gerald Everett ($3,500/$5,300) should play the role well.
Defense/Special Teams
Houston Texans DST (DK: $3,000, FD: $3,900) gets a home matchup against either Ryan Tannehill or Will Levis with an injured ankle. The Titans have been an offensive wasteland since they beat the Dolphins three weeks ago on Monday night, and the last time these teams met, the resurgent Texans’ defensive line held Derrick Henry to nine rushing yards and one receiving yard.
Denver Broncos DST (DK: $2,900, FD: $4,400) and LA Chargers DST (DK: $2,900, FD: $4,000) play each other in a game that is not likely to feature much scoring. In fact, the implied total is just 36.5 on most sportsbooks, the lowest of the Sunday slate. With Russell Wilson benched, this game will feature Jarrett Stidham against Easton Stick dropping back against two defenses that produce more than 2.5 sacks per game each. These two quarterbacks are likely to combine for a couple of turnovers but give me Denver if I’m forced to pick between the two.
Cash Game Sample Lineup
Using the players listed above, you could construct a roster that looks something like this. However, remember that this is just a suggested build and could change drastically by the time the games kick off on Sunday. You should come to your own conclusions and build a cash game roster that suits the players you prefer and your style of build.
