Week 17 fantasy football playbook
Matchups to exploit, sneaky DFS picks and the latest rankings to make the most of your Week 17 fantasy football contests.
Thanks again for being a loyal reader and subscriber! Keep reading for the latest fantasy football rankings, injury news, players trending up and down, and more. Best of luck in Week 17!
Quick links: Latest Week 17 rankings | DraftKings and FanDuel projections
🤕 Pain Index: Week 17
The above are my own estimates, sometimes based on unofficial media reports. Always double-check before benching a player and consult the latest NFL injury report.
↕️ Week 17 QBs: Matchup breakdown
💪 Stud vibes
Jacoby Brissett had nine-straight QB1 fantasy finishes before last week’s untimely bust, but if you survived it, he’s in line for a bounce-bacl against Cincy, who have yielded the second-most touchdown passes in 2025 … With multiple passing touchdowns in five straight games, a career-high, and finishing as the top-scoring fantasy QB in each of the last two weeks, it’s hard not to get excited for Trevor Lawrence against the Colts, who have allowed the second-most passing yards on the year.
🥶 Bust vibes
The 39.5 projected point total for the Texans-Chargers game is one of the lowest this weekend, and given that these two teams are the toughest matchups for QBs based on FPPG this season, this makes sense. So don’t expect much from C.J. Stroud or Justin Herbert.
🍟 DK value menu
Bargain-bin buy: Quinn Ewers (MIA) - $4.3K; proj: 14.1 DK pts
Best affordable value: Jacoby Brissett (ARI) - $5.7K; proj: 19.2 DK pts
Worth the extra coin: Joe Burrow (CIN) - $6.5K; proj: 21.6 DK pts
🔥 DFS hot take
“Before last week’s outing, Brissett had attempted at least 40 passes in seven of nine starts. That is a ton of volume, and a lot of his best performances have come as a large underdog. … Brissett is slightly cheaper than Lawrence across the industry, making him a solid alternative if you can’t afford the Jaguars’ QB.” — Matt La Marca, Fantasy Labs
View the latest DraftKings and FanFuel projections and value grades
↕️ Week 17 RBs: Matchup breakdown
💪 Stud vibes
No team yet to play this week has allowed more FPPG to backs than the Jets over the last six weeks. Rhamondre Stevenson could be in for a killer outing depending on whether TreVeyon Henderson clears concussion protocol before kickoff. …
🥶 Bust vibes
Chuba Hubbard has made it difficult for Rico Dowdle owners down the stretch in terms of eating into his work, with neither back topping 55 scrimmage yards over the last two games. A nasty matchup with Seattle should keep Dowdle in bust territory. … Since Week 12, the Chargers have yielded just one TD and the fewest rushing yards to opposing backs, which makes Woody Marks’ return to the field a lot less exciting for those thinking about starting him in their title games.
🍟 DK value menu
Bargain-bin buy: Michael Carter (ARI) - $5.2K; proj: 12.6 DK pts
Best affordable value: Ashton Jeanty (LV) - $6.1K; proj: 20.2 DK pts
Worth the extra coin: De’Von Achane (MIA) - $8.5K; proj: 20.5 DK pts
🔥 DFS hot take
“I don't love Achane's price here, but Achane still posted nearly 5.5 YPC with Quinn Ewers at quarterback last week. On the season, Achane ranks fourth in both receptions and receiving yards at his position. This is important because no team has allowed more receiving yards to running backs than Tampa.” — Harley Schultz, The Huddle — Mike Clay, ESPN
View the latest DraftKings and FanFuel projections and value grades
↕️ Week 17 WRs: Matchup breakdown
💪 Stud vibes
Jauan Jennings has seven touchdowns in his last seven games, and he has an excellent matchup lined up against Chicago. … As Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars stormed their way to six-straight wins, Jakobi Meyers has been rock solid, averaging 13.6 FPPG. Meanwhile, the Colts secondary has floundered down the stretch, and now have allowed the second most receiving yards on the season. … D.J. Moore has topped 21.9 PPR points in each of the last two games, and with Rome Odzue still out, more should be coming.
🥶 Bust vibes
Khalil Shakir has failed to hit double-digit fantasy points nine times over his last 11 games, and has a brutal matchup with Philly and shutdown CB Cooper DeJean. … As a Ladd McConkey owner, I know how frustrating he’s been this season. He came through in a very favorable matchup with Dallas last week, but expect the opposite against the stout Texans.
🍟 DK value menu
Bargain-bin buy: Tre Tucker (LV) - $3.8K, proj: 10.0 DK pts
Best affordable value: Jakobi Meyers (JAC) - $5.3K; proj: 14.2 DK pts
Worth the extra coin: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA) - $8.6K; proj: 21.3 DK pts
🔥 DFS hot take
“Smith-Njigba’s upside is self-evident; he averages +3.0 more DK FPG than any other WR on this slate, with a slate-high 5 games of 28.0 or more DK FP under his belt. … Chase is probably a better play in a vacuum, but maybe not (for tournaments) when Chase is drawing nearly 2X as much ownership.” — Scott Barrett, Fantasy Points
View the latest DraftKings and FanFuel projections and value grades
↕️ Week 17 TEs: Matchup breakdown
💪 Stud vibes
Harold Fanin has a 31 percent target share since Week 12, which just happened to be when Shedeur Sanders took over behind center. Fanin has has hit double-digit fantasy points in each of his last four games and gets one of the best fantasy matchups for TEs this week in the Steelers — if he suits up, that is (Questionable). … The Bucs have yielded the second most FPPG to TEs since Week 11, and the most TDs since Week 12. With Darren Waller a consistent red-zone threat, and the recipient of the most targets from Quinn Ewers last week outside of Jaylen Waddle, this could be a big one for those brave enough to start him in a title game.
🥶 Bust vibes
Dalton Kincaid has failed to return to his “pre-injury” production because he’s actually not fully healthy. Getting the worst fantasy matchup for his position this week is not going to help. … Despite being red-hot over his last three games, scoring at least 12.2 PPR points in each, Dallas Goedert faces one of the toughest matchups for TEs. The Bills have only let a TE hit paydirt three times all season.
🍟 DK value menu
Bargain-bin buy: Michael Mayer (LV) - $2.5K, proj: 9.0 DK pts
Best affordable value: Juwan Johnson (NO) - $4.2K; proj: 11.4 DK pts
Worth the extra coin: Trey McBride (ARI) - $7.5K; proj: 18.6 DK pts
🔥 DFS hot take
“McBride posted his lowest yardage total of the year in Week 16. He's in a prime spot to bounce back against a Bengals defense that has surrendered the most fantasy points (an average of nearly 22 per game) and 15 TDs to the position since the start of 2025.” — Liz Loza, ESPN
View the latest DraftKings and FanFuel projections and value grades