Week 17 Sunday football is here. If you’re competing in DFS tournaments or 50/50 competitions, you’ve come to the right place. Last week’s Sunday DFS picks included a stack of Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins, along with overperforming fantasy football bargains like Joshua Palmer, Kyle Pitts, and the Chiefs D/ST. We’ve gone through Week 17 game scripts and likely scenarios to arrive at the highest-probability high-upside DFS lineup.
As always, these NFL DFS picks are based on FanDuel pricing.
Top NFL DFS picks for Sunday Week 17 | QB and RBs
This lineup’s quarterback and running backs assume a future phenom rookie QB busts out, while the Patriots’ and Bears’ lead RBs are primed for high-ceiling performances in fantastic matchups. Our focus is on optimizing elite potential, knowing that landing two exceptional RBs and a dominant QB could catalyze this lineup into a big winner.
Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers ($6,400)
High-ceiling DFS QBs aren’t usually this cheap. Trey Lance is a high-ceiling dual-threat talent facing a beatable Houston defense. For context, back in Week 4, Lance racked up 20.4 fantasy points against Seattle — in only one half. The next week, he earned 15.6 points in Arizona without George Kittle.
Needless to say, with a healthy receiving corps and four full quarters of productivity, Lance is a great bet to be a top-eight QB this week.
Damien Harris, RB, New England Patriots ($7,400)
It’s fair to assume the Patriots will score at least 3 touchdowns today, and I’d put 50/50 odds on them posting 40+ points. Damien Harris has weekly 20+ point potential against soft defenses. The opposing Jaguars are giving up the sixth-most points in the league.
Remember when New England started 2-4 before reeling off seven straight victories? They can be forgiven for scuffling on offense these past three games against the Bills (twice) and Colts. Today will be a statement game for a proud franchise that’s far more dangerous than most people realize.
David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears ($7,200)
I’ve hyped David Montgomery as undervalued every summer. His fantasy struggles for much of this season should be largely ignored. Through Week 12, he’d had only 15 targets in seven games. It seemed shocking that a guy who had 68 targets last year could be so irrelevant in an area where he’s clearly thrived.
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Nonetheless, in his four games since Week 13, Montgomery has earned 31 targets en route to a 26-174-0 receiving line. Montgomery is quasi-elite when he’s heavily involved in the passing game, and we should expect more of the same today against a beatable Giants defense.
Top NFL DFS picks for Sunday Week 17 | WRs
This lineup has three elite-capable fantasy options at WR. How confident are we that these wideouts will help you win?
Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs ($8,200)
Last week, my semi-finals opponent started Tyreek Hill. I won, in part, because Hill reportedly was “exhausted” in a dream matchup due to his recent bout with COVID. We’ve seen this with other players, such as Tyler Lockett in Week 16 and Odell Beckham Jr. in Week 15.
Travis Kelce, who was recently removed from the COVID list, could face similar challenges in Week 17. I’m all-in on Hill rebounding in what could be a high-scoring affair in Cincinnati. 12+ catches for 150+ yards and 2+ TDs are realistic.
A.J. Brown, WR, Tennessee Titans ($7,500)
I admittedly didn’t trust A.J. Brown in his first game back from injured reserve last week. With Julio Jones (reserve/COVID-19 list) out for Week 17, Brown will be Ryan Tannehill’s unquestioned No. 1 receiver. Not that Jones’ presence would have changed this.
15+ targets is a possibility for Brown, and his ceiling alone makes him a must-start for DFS competitors seeking a big cash prize.
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins ($7,000)
We’re taking three No. 1 team receivers today, and Jaylen Waddle is the third. The rookie has racked up six straight outings with double-digit fantasy points, along with 9+ targets in six of his last seven contests.
He has the sixth-highest catch rate of any wideout with 25+ targets and is facing a Titans defense yielding the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers (41.4 per game). Waddle will be a top-10 fantasy WR in next year’s drafts. He’s a great bet today.
Top NFL DFS picks for Saturday football Week 17 | TE, Flex, D/ST
We have only $16,300 remaining in this top-heavy DFS lineup. What’s the optimal combination for these final three slots?
Stephen Anderson, TE, Los Angeles Chargers ($4,400)
In DFS, we go cheap when we can — we need enough cap space to land potentially elite players. Stephen Anderson gives us that flexibility at his $4,400 price tag. With Jared Cook and Donald Parham out, Anderson should be Justin Herbert’s favorite TE option.
I like that he’s earned looks in 10 games this year, including in each of his last three games, and he’s caught an impressive 83.3% of passes thrown his way. Slot in Anderson as a worthy flyer.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Flex, Detroit Lions ($6,900)
Can Amon-Ra St. Brown do it again? After a painfully subdued start to his promising NFL career, the rookie has awoken the fantasy world in December with four straight performances with 8+ catches and 73+ yards on 11+ targets. A sudden drop-off seems unlikely, even with D’Andre Swift returning to the field.
St. Brown should be a mainstay fantasy contributor for years, and in Week 17 against a porous Seattle pass defense, he can go off once again.
New England Patriots, D/ST ($5,000)
I drafted the Patriots this summer, in part, because of this Week 17 matchup against Jacksonville. I then traded them midseason for a WR upgrade — something I immediately regretted. But hey, I’m in the finals, so it all worked out, and I’m starting the Bucs D/ST against the Jets instead.
Still, if you can start any D/ST today, it would be against the James Robinson-less Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence has only 1 TD in his last eight games. In my picks and predictions column earlier this week, I picked a final score of 37-6. Expect 18+ points for the Pats D/ST.
