In probably the least surprising news of the weekend, the DFS options for this large of a slate are countless. We did, of course, narrow down the list — with some relative ease, too — but there are so many viable plays that we found it even more powerful to trim the list and truly lean on some of our favorite setups in weeks.
Based on our expected Week 17 DFS game flow analysis and Week 17 Games to Target published 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
Kyler Murray – Nothing gets people’s attention quite like a losing streak, but that streak becomes eye-popping as soon as we include other elements that are all trending in the wrong direction. Specifically, the Arizona Cardinals have lost three consecutive games, and the football-watching world is starting to sour on the team. In addition, the offense has failed to score 17 points in each of the last two weeks as well as 24 points all-but-once since Week 9. At the center of this downward spiral has been quarterback Kyler Murray, but through injury and poor play. His team is heading to the postseason and has a huge matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday where, despite the Cowboys’ ability to turn teams over, they still bleed yards. Murray has lost both salary and popularity, and we’re targeting a rebound performance by him this week.
Tom Brady – It’s never overly difficult to write anything in support of using Tom Brady in a DFS lineup, but it becomes laughably obvious when we have decades — plural — of statistics to back up this type of play. Simply put, Brady will be playing against the New York Jets for the 37th time in his career. The numbers are off-the-chart but, even if they weren’t, we would be able to point to New York’s current defensive metrics. They rank dead last in yards and points allowed. Brady won’t have his full receiving corps at his disposal, but he should have no problem thriving once again.