We often approach crafting our fantasy lineups as if salary restrictions were lifted. ‘Start anyone,’ is the initial mantra and then work from there. On Sunday, it appears as if we could basically ‘start anyone’ and leave it there.
It is clear that matchups are dictating salaries in Week 17 significantly more than general expectations for each game, and the costs for some players are outrageously imbalanced. Most notably, players that might not even see the field – but would excel if they did – are incredibly over-priced. By avoiding these situations, we can basically fill out the rest of our daily fantasy rosters however we wish.
Based on our expected Week 17 DFS game flow analysis performed earlier, we can carry our thoughts into actual lineup positions. The long list of players that fit the requirements set forth by the projected flow of the game was cut dramatically by the requirements set forth by salaries.
Below are Sporfolio’s DFS Week 17 Plays:
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford – We generally love targeting a player that is coming off a perceived bad performance that lowered both his price and expectations, but also has a longer history of better play. Enter Matthew Stafford, the MVP candidate who suffered an injury to a finger on his throwing hand a few short weeks ago. The ill-effects were felt in Stafford’s matchup with the Giants’ defense, but we can look to the quarterback’s rushing touchdown against Dallas as an indication that his condition is improving – Stafford had to bulldoze through the defensive line, as well, initiating contact. For a Lions offense that has the second-fewest rush attempts in the league, Stafford will be throwing often on Sunday night as his team tries to secure the NFC North title at home. Green Bay’s defense is allowing the third-most passing touchdowns and fourth-most passing yards in the league.
Kirk Cousins – There appears to be only one negative against starting Kirk Cousins on Sunday, and even the lone concerns is probably a non-issue. That is, the Giants’ defense has allowed the sixth-fewest net-yards-per-pass-attempt and are, technically, talented enough to slow down Cousins. Just not on Sunday. The Giants may be acting like they will be playing their starters throughout the game but, as we depicted in the introduction to our game-by-game analysis column, such words cannot be trusted. Even if it proves to be true, Washington will absolutely be leaning on its stellar passing attack – second-most net-yards-per-pass-attempt in the league – to carry it to a potential playoff berth. Cousins has the weapons and game flow expectation to explode.