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Week 17 Draftkings Plays: Christian McCaffrey, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and More

Week 17 DraftKings Plays; One of my favorite aspects of fantasy football has become playing on DraftKings every week.
Week 17 DraftKings

It is so exciting to have real, live NFL football back in our lives. One of my favorite parts is fantasy football. One of my favorite aspects of fantasy football has become playing on DraftKings every week. Every week is like a new puzzle to figure out. Whether you are more of a cash game player or a tournament player, each presents a unique challenge. Let’s take a look at my favorite Week 17 DraftKings plays.

READ MORE: Week 17 Streamers

Week 17 DraftKings Plays

Week 16 Recap

It’s always good to be completely transparent and demonstrate accountability. That’s what I like to do with everything I do and that goes for fantasy football as well. Whether it’s bold takes or DraftKings recommendations, I always like to keep track of wins and losses. It’s good for the readers and helps me learn from mistakes moving forward.

Looking back at Week 16, it was better than Week 15 from a recommendations standpoint. This week only 64% of my recommendations hit the 2.5x value we look for in cash game lineups. This time the quarterback group led the way tied at a 100% success rate. Meanwhile, the wide receiver group brought up the rear at a 50% success rate. Personally, it was not a profitable week this week. We’ll look to get it going even better with the picks and back in the profits in the Week 17 DraftKings plays.

  • Week 16 – $705 → $582 ($123 LOSS)
  • Year Total – $7,136 → $6,736 ($400 LOSS)

Quarterbacks

Jalen Hurts (PHI) – $8,300 v ARI

This week is looking more like a spend-down week at quarterback but if you plan on spending up, Jalen Hurts looks like the best option right now. He’s the most expensive quarterback on the slate but is also in the best spot. This game has the second-highest combined total on the slate at 48 points. The Philadelphia Eagles also have the second-highest implied total at 29.75 points. Hurts is averaging 24.5 DraftKings points per game this season and has scored double-digit DraftKings points in every game except one. The Eagles are facing the Arizona Cardinals who have allowed the ninth-most DraftKings points per game to quarterbacks this year. With Hurts leading one of the best offenses in the NFL and such a great spot this week, there’s no reason to expect anything other than another great game. That makes him one of the best Week 17 DraftKings plays among all quarterbacks.

Tyrod Taylor (NYG) – $4,600 v LAR

Tyrod Taylor is this week’s version of “quarterback who is priced as a backup but is actually starting.” That’s always something to take advantage of as it allows us to spend up at other positions. Taylor is cheaper than approximately 20 quarterbacks who aren’t even playing this week. He also gets a nice matchup as the New York Giants host the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams are great against the run but allow production via the air. They have allowed the eighth-most DraftKings points to quarterbacks. Taylor can also chip in some production with his legs too as evidenced by his 119 rushing yards this year in very limited playing time. Most weeks he will top 20 rushing yards as a starter. This game also has a solid 43.5-point combined total and the Giants are currently 5.5-point underdogs. That should mean the game script should be in favor of more dropbacks for Taylor.

Others to Consider: Jacoby Brissett (WAS) – $4,900 v SF, Geno Smith (SEA) – $5,900 v PIT, Brock Purdy (SF) – $7,000 @ WAS

Running Backs

Christian McCaffrey (SF) – $9,600 @ WAS

Christian McCaffrey is in the middle of another ridiculous season. He currently has 1,395 rushing yards and 537 receiving yards for 1,932 total yards. There are still two more games to go for him to add to that total. McCaffrey also has 21 total touchdowns. He’s averaging 26.7 DraftKings points per game this year. He hasn’t scored less than 14.2 DraftKings points in any game this season and has scored less than 20 DraftKings points only three times. There’s truly nobody in fantasy football that matches his combination of floor, ceiling, and consistency. This week he should have an easy time adding big numbers to his gaudy totals. The San Francisco 49ers take on the Washington Commanders in a game that has the highest combined total on the slate at 49.5 points. The 49ers’ 31-point implied total is also the highest on the slate. On top of that, the Commanders have allowed the fifth-most DraftKings points per game to running backs this season. Everything is adding up for McCaffrey to have another monster performance making him one of the best Week 17 DraftKings plays.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC) – $5,300 v CIN

You know it’s Week 17 when Clyde Edwards-Helaire is one of the top-recommended plays on the slate. That’s exactly what we have here as the Kansas City Chiefs backfield is extremely banged up. Usually, this is “Jerick McKinnon SZN” but he was just placed on the IR. Typical starter Isiah Pacheco is also dealing with an injury that seems likely to keep him out of this game. That leaves Edwards-Helaire, Deneric Prince, and Lamical Perine as the available backfield options for the Chiefs. Edwards-Helaire should get all the work he can handle here and his price is very affordable. The Chiefs have struggled somewhat recently but still have a great 25.5-point implied team total this week against the Cincinnati Bengals. They are also seven-point home favorites which should also be to the benefit of Edwards-Helaire. Assuming he’s able to go himself, he’s in a great spot this week.

Others to Consider: Ezekiel Elliott (NE) – $6,000 @ BUF, Josh Jacobs (LV) – $6,200 @ IND, Kyren Williams (LAR) – $8,300 @ NYG, Devin Singletary (HOU) – $5,600 v TEN, Rachaad White (TB) – $7,600 v NO

Wide Receivers

Chris Olave (NO) – $6,800 @ TB

Chris Olave hasn’t quite made the leap into superstardom that many (myself included) were expecting this season. He’s still having a very good Sophomore campaign. Olave is averaging 16.2 DraftKings points per game this season. He’s scored at least 12 DraftKings points in six straight games now as well. On the season Olave has caught 81 of 129 targets for 1,041 yards and four touchdowns. His 25% target share, 26% TPRR, and 40% air yards share are all very strong marks. Olave is simply a very good wide receiver. This week he gets a great matchup as the New Orleans Saints take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers’ secondary has not been good as they’ve allowed the third-most DraftKings points to wide receivers this year. The Saints currently sit as 2.5-point underdogs in a game with a solid 42.5-point combined total. As a game with a close spread, it could also turn into a sneaky shootout but either way, Olave looks like one of the best Week 17 DraftKings plays at wide receiver.

Quentin Johnston (LAC) – $3,700 @ DEN

Heading into the year, the hope was that Quentin Johnston would be a recommended weekly play but under better circumstances. Beggars can’t be choosers though. There’s no denying that Johnston has been a massive bust so far as a rookie. There have been so many good rookie wide receivers this year that it only exacerbates this fact. He has a great opportunity this week to start turning things around. It seems very likely that both Keenan Allen and Joshua Palmer are going to miss this week’s game. That leaves Johnston as the top wideout available for the Los Angeles Chargers. It would be nice if Justin Herbert was at the helm instead of Easton Stick, but ultimately the volume should be there for Johnston. The matchup against the Denver Broncos isn’t ideal but it’s not one to avoid either. Ultimately, it’s not often that we get a wide receiver under $4,000 with a real opportunity for double-digit targets so that’s something to take advantage of.

Others to Consider: Zay Flowers (BAL) – $5,600 v MIA, Demario Douglas (NE) –  $4,300 @ BUF, Curtis Samuel (WAS) – $4,400 v SF, Rashee Rice (KC) – $6,900 v CIN, Tyreek Hill (MIA) – $9,300 @ BAL, Cedrick Wilson (MIA) – $3,600 @ BAL

Tight Ends

Trey McBride (ARI) – $5,900 @ PHI

Trey McBride has become a staple in this article for basically the entire second half of the season and it’s worked out more often than not. Last week wasn’t a strong week for McBride but he should bounce back this week against the Eagles. He still saw eight targets in that game and has now seen at least seven targets in six straight games. In that span, McBride has seen 53 total targets which is just under nine targets per game. That’s a 150-target pace for a full 17-game season. Those are elite, Travis Kelce-level numbers but McBride still isn’t priced like Kelce is. While Kelce is constantly in the $7,000-$8,000 range, McBride is still under $6,000. On top of the volume, the matchup is nice as the Eagles have allowed the ninth-most DraftKings points to tight ends this season. As previously mentioned, this game has one of the highest combined totals on the slate, and the Cardinals are currently 11.5-point underdogs so the projected game script should be in favor of extra dropbacks. Everything lines up for McBride to be one of the best Week 17 DraftKings plays among tight ends.

Gerald Everett (LAC) – $3,500 @ DEN

Like Quentin Johnston, Gerald Everett is in a “last man standing” situation. As previously mentioned, the Chargers pass-catching corps is extremely banged up. Everett has been a main beneficiary of that with eight targets in three straight games. He hasn’t had a big game in that span but that’s a nice floor for such a cheap option. Everett has now caught at least four passes in five straight games and also scored at least eight DraftKings points in all five as well. He’s averaging 10.4 DraftKings points during that span. In addition to all that, he gets an extremely juicy matchup this week against the Broncos. Denver has allowed more DraftKings points to the tight end position than any other team in the NFL this season. Considering the opportunity, the matchup, and the low price, Everett should be able to return great value once again.

Others to Consider: George Kittle (SF) – $5,600 @ WAS, Dalton Schultz (HOU) – $4,300 v TEN, Chigoziem Okonkwo (TEN) – $3,600 @ HOU

Defense/Special Teams

In terms of choosing a defense/special teams, it’s the last spot I fill in every week. It’s pretty random but there are a few areas to gain an advantage. I aim to target the heavily favored teams as they usually play with a lead. This forces their opponent to throw it more often, which can help lead to extra sacks, turnovers, and hopefully a touchdown. Another aspect to target is turnover and sack-prone quarterbacks. I advise filling out the rest of your lineup first and then picking your favorite D/ST out of the remaining money.

My Tentative Cash Game Lineup

  • QB – Tyrod Taylor
  • RB – Christian McCaffrey
  • RB – Clyde Edwards-Helaire
  • WR – Chris Olave
  • WR – Demario Douglas
  • WR – Quentin Johnston
  • TE – Trey McBride
  • Flex – Rashee Rice
  • DST – Los Angeles Chargers

Best of luck to everyone and let’s enjoy some football and win some money!

Main Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

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