This article is part of our Draftster NFL series.
The NFL moves into the final week of the regular season, a week that can be a little more tricky for Daily Fantasy Football. Numerous playoff seeds still need to be hashed out, which means there won't be too many starters receiving rest, but there are some names that may drop a few spots on the prospect of lighter workloads.
Quarterback
1. Aaron Rodgers (GB) at DET - $8,800
2. Matt Ryan (ATL) vs. CAR - $9,000
3. Andrew Luck (IND) at TEN - $8,300
4. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) vs. CIN - $8,500
5. Cam Newton (CAR) at ATL - $7,500
6. Russell Wilson (SEA) vs. STL - $8,400
7. Peyton Manning (DEN) vs. OAK - $7,300
8. Tony Romo (DAL) at WAS - $7,500
9. Eli Manning (NYG) vs. PHI - $7,300
10. Drew Brees (NO) at TB - $7,300
11. Tom Brady (NE) vs. BUF - $6,000
12. Matthew Stafford (DET) at GB - $5,900
Matt Ryan (ATL) vs. CAR - $9,000
The Falcons will face the Panthers for the NFC South Division crown and a playoff berth. Ryan completed 30-of-40 passes last Sunday against the Saints for 322 yards and a touchdown. With Steven Jackson banged up, the passing game will be leaned on a little more this week. Ryan is averaging 30 more yards at home and he has two more total touchdowns compared to on the road. The Falcons can't leave anything behind this week, so expect Ryan to be firing on all cylinders.
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) vs. CIN - $8,500
Like the Falcons-Panthers matchup, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati will be playing for the division crown. When these two teams met earlier this year, Roethlisberger threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns. Roethlisberger is averaging 351 yards passing at home and he has 12 more touchdown passes at home compared to on the road. It's smart to focus in on players playing for something this week.
Cam Newton (CAR) at ATL - $7,500
With the NFC South title on the line, Newton is a solid play. After missing Week 15, Newton came back healthy last week, throwing for 201 yards and a touchdown while adding 63 yards and score on the ground. The Falcons have the fourth worst pass rush and the third worst pass coverage on the season.
Running Back
1. Le'Veon Bell (PIT) vs. CIN - $9,400
2. C.J. Anderson (DEN) vs. OAK - $7,600
3. Arian Foster (HOU) vs. JAX - $9,000
4. Matt Forte (CHI) at MIN - $8,400
5. Eddie Lacy (GB) vs. DET - $6,300
6. Jeremy Hill (CIN) at PIT - $6,000
7. Marshawn Lynch (SEA) vs. STL - $7,100
8. Justin Forsett (BAL) vs. CLE - $6,700
9. Mark Ingram (NO) at TB - $5,600
10. Justin Forsett (BAL) at HOU - $6,900
11. DeMarco Murray (DAL) at WAS - $5,900
12. Jonathan Stewart (CAR) at ATL - $5,700
C.J. Anderson (DEN) vs. OAK - $7,600
In last week's article I mentioned Anderson as being my favorite play of the week and that remains the same in Week 17. Anderson finished last week with 83 yards and a touchdown on the ground, adding eight receptions for 55 yards. Peyton Manning has not looked like the Peyton Manning of old in recent weeks and the bulk of the work is shifting to the running game and Anderson. His price is still very affordable and he is a near must play for me this weekend.
Jeremy Hill (CIN) at PIT - $6,000
Hill is another affordable name who is underpriced in comparison to his production. He torched the Broncos on Monday Night for 147 yards and a touchdown, including an 85-yard run in the first quarter. Hill needs to work on securing the ball, as fumbles remain an issue, but for his price he is well worth the risk.
DeMarco Murray (DAL) at WAS - $5,900
Murray is priced way down this week and that comes with a lot of uncertainty about his status going into Sunday. Outside of an already tough matchup with the Redskins rush defense, the Cowboys may choose to sit Murray to heal for the playoffs, as they really have nothing to play for with the No. 3 seed already locked up. Keep an eye out on news all week, as if he does play, his price is very enticing.
Wide Receivers
1. Julio Jones (ATL) vs. CAR - $9,100
2. Antonio Brown (PIT) vs. CIN - $9,500
3. Calvin Johnson (DET) at GB - $9,300
4. Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG) vs. PHI - $9,600
5. Jordy Nelson (GB) vs. DET - $8,900
6. Demaryius Thomas (DEN) at OAK - $8,200
7. Dez Bryant (DAL) at WAS - $7,900
8. A.J. Green (CIN) at PIT - $6,000 (Questionable – Bicep)
9. Emmaunel Sanders (DEN) vs. OAK - $7,200
10. Randall Cobb (GB) vs. DET - $7,700
11. Kelvin Benjamin (CAR) at ATL - $6,900
12. Jeremy Maclin (PHI) at NYG - $5,900
Julio Jones (ATL) vs. CAR - $9,100
After suffering a hip injury in Week 14 against Green Bay and sitting out Week 15, Jones was able to lead Atlanta in receiving in Week 16 with 107 yards on seven receptions. Though it was clear Jones wasn't 100 percent, it shows a lot about his tenacity in wanting to help lead the Falcons to the playoffs. Jones is the perfect pairing if you're thinking about playing Ryan, as the two are in line for a huge game against a weak Carolina pass defense.
Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG) vs. PHI - $9,600
There isn't much more that can be said about Beckham. Since the Giants' Week 8 bye, Beckham is averaging 126 receiving yards with eight touchdowns in eight games. He has yet to see below double-digit targets, and he has six touchdowns in his last three games alone. His production has spiked his price to the top of the list, but after not being named to the Pro Bowl, Beckham has one more week to showcase his talents. Those talents get to face the 25th ranked pass defense of Philadelphia.
A.J. Green (CIN) at PIT - $6,000 (Questionable - Bicep)
This is strictly a money-saving play with massive upside and massive risk. Green suffered a bruised bicep in the first quarter against the Broncos and was unable to haul in a pass on the night. Most reports out of Cincinnati say Green will be able to play, and the Bengals will need him with the division crown on the line. His price took a nice dip for an elite talent, but his health would need to be figured out before locking him into your lineup.
Tight End
1. Jimmy Graham (NO) at TB - $6,500
2. Rob Gronkowski (NE) vs. BUF - $7,000
3. Greg Olsen (CAR) at ATL - $5,800
4. Martellus Bennett (CHI) at MIN - $4,300
5. Delaine Walker (TEN) vs. IND - $5,100
6. Julius Thomas (DEN) vs. OAK - $3,800
7. Travis Kelce (KC) vs. SD - $4,800
8. Coby Fleener (IND) at TEN - $4,800
Jimmy Graham (NO) at TB - $6,500
After only compiling eight catches in three games, Graham got back to his ways last week with six receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown. That also included double-digit targets for the first time since Week 12. The Saints are eliminated from the playoffs, but New Orleans should still field their regular starters for the season ender against Tampa Bay.
Greg Olsen (CAR) at ATL - $5,800
After back-to-back 10-reception games, Olsen put up a dud in Week 16 only catching one pass on three targets for 21 yards. Olsen has been a huge boom-or-bust player this year, but with a matchup against Atlanta for the division crown on the horizon, Newton will give Olsen the volume of targets needed to be successful. Atlanta's pass defense remains weak, being ranked dead last in passing defense and total defense.
Delaine Walker (TEN) vs. IND - $5,100
Walker has had his ups and downs this season, but he still remains a popular target in the Tennessee offense. Though the Titans have now turned to third string quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, he still attempted 35 passes in Week 16 against the Jaguars. The Titans face the Colts in the season finale, a team that has struggled mightily against tight ends this year.
Kicker
1. Cody Parkey (PHI) at NYG - $3,800
2. Stephen Gostkowski (NE) vs. BUF - $3,800
3. Randy Bullock (HOU) vs. JAX - $3,700
4. Adam Vinatieri (IND) at TEN - $3,600
Defense
1. San Francisco (vs. Arizona) - $3,800
2. Houston (vs. Jacksonville) - $4,100
The Arizona-San Francisco matchup brings the lowest Vegas total of the season at 36.5. With Arizona starting rookie Logan Thomas, expect the Niners defense to end the season on a high note by playing spoiler against the drifting cards.
Salary Saver Plays:
QB: Jay Cutler ($4,900)
RB: Latavius Murray ($3,300)
WR: Charles Johnson ($4,700), Julian Edelman ($3,200 - Questionable)
Last Week's Lineup:
QB: Russell Wilson (39.36)
RB: C.J. Anderson (27.80)
RB: Tre Mason (15.30)
WR: Brandon LaFell (13.40)
WR: Jordy Nelson (29.30)
TE: Jason Witten (22.00)
FLEX: Joique Bell (16.70)
K: Adam Vinatieri (1.00)
D: Baltimore (9.00)
TOTAL: 173.86
I finally broke routine a bit and paid more than minimum price for a quarterback, and I got a taste of the good life while doing it. Russell Wilson's price was strangely down to $6,500, a price I wasn't able to pass up. He ended up being the highest scoring quarterback on the week.
I rolled out two of my favorite plays of the week at running back, including one I labeled a must play in last week's article in Anderson. Anderson compiled 138 total yards and a touchdown against a bad Bengals defense. The other play I really liked last week was Mason. Back in Week 13 against the Raiders Mason exploded for 164 total yards and three touchdowns. Since that game he has had to face top rushing defenses in Washington and Arizona, which dropped his price and took his name off the map a bit. The Rams offense isn't can't do much through the air, so when a favorable matchup comes along for Mason, it is best to exploit it.
I took a bit of a risk at wide receiver with LaFell, a player I figured would be lightly owned. With Edelman out, the rest of the receiving core would absolve some of his double-digit targets. LaFell didn't finish with a huge total, but he had a respectful fantasy line. To compliment LaFell, I went with Nelson once again. It's hard for me to justify not playing Nelson weekly when his price remains in the $7,000-$7,500 range.
I took a bit of a risk on Witten at tight end, hoping to exploit the Colts poor defense against the position while taking advantage of a high Vegas total. This played to my advantage, as he was able to haul in a touchdown pass with 90 yards receiving.
I rounded out my team with Bell, a play that a quarter into the game was not sitting well with me. Little did us fantasy players know was Bell was being held out of the first quarter as discipline for missing a team meeting. He found the end zone in the fourth quarter to save the day.
In the end this team took third in the $11 Blitz, a strong profit for the week.
