Alright folks, and just like that, we are in the final week of the regular season. Week 17 notoriously has the contending teams sitting some of their starters. With that said, there are still some value players you can pick for your daily fantasy lineups since most fantasy leagues had their championships in Week 16. So let’s jump right into this week’s predictions that will hopefully help you start the new year off right!
Top 3 QBs
Justin Herbert – Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers will look to spoil the Chief’s season finale on Sunday. The first meeting Herbert had with the Chiefs was his first start of his rookie season, when he was thrust into the fire. He has made amazing strides since then and I expect him to light it up on Sunday.
Baker Mayfield – Cleveland Browns
Mayfield and the Browns are in a must-win situation on Sunday. If they lose, their playoff hopes will diminish greatly. I see Mayfield putting the team on his back and using last week’s loss to fuel his performance to get the Browns into the playoffs.
Tua Tagovailoa – Miami Dolphins
Tagovailoa and the Dolphins are in the same situation as the Browns. Tua did not play the Bills the first time around and that could give him an edge. Nonetheless, he’ll also be without his mentor Ryan Fitzpatrick on the sideline, so this week will have to be the week he takes the step to show he can produce and get the offense firing on all cylinders.
Top 3 RBs
Jonathon Taylor – Indianapolis Colts
The Colts need a win this week even. The run game should be a focal point to control the clock and for Taylor to enforce his will on the Jaguars. I expect Taylor to score at least twice on Sunday.
Antonio Gibson – Washington Football Team
It’s only fitting that the Washington Football Team will know by kick-off where their fate lies within their division. Gibson is a versatile back that has been one of their best playmakers this year, and by my estimation, will tap into his best performance of the year on Sunday.
D’Andre Swift – Detroit Lions
Swift has gradually been hitting his stride this year. While Detroit and Minnesota have no playoff implications, they’ll surely try to pad their stats. I expect Swift to go for 100+ yards and a few touchdowns.
Top 6 WRs
Mike Williams – Los Angeles Chargers
With Keenan Allen done for the year, Williams will see a fair amount of targets in my estimation. He’s shown flashes this year of being the complete receiver that Chargers saw at Clemson. I think he secures a few touchdowns this week.
Jarvis Landry – Cleveland Browns
Landry was one of the many receivers that were absent in last week’s loss. He is, in my opinion, the heartbeat of the Browns offense and I think he is going to have a career day to get the Browns into the playoffs.
Lynn Bowden Jr. – Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have seen most of the injuries on their offense at the receiver position. Bowden has been more integrated into the offense in the last third of the season. I see him having his first 100+ yard game of his career with a score.
Justin Jefferson – Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson is going to be showing out Sunday in hopes to snag the ROY hardware from the favorite in Justin Herbert. I see him snagging a few touchdowns for 100+ yards.
Allen Robinson – Chicago Bears
Robinson doesn’t get the love he deserves from the Bears front office. I think he shows up in a pivotal week and has a career day to get the contract that the Bears front office has avoided giving him. It’s also an audition for the rest of the league.
Davante Adams – Green Bay Packers
Arguably the most sure-handed receiver in the league, Adams will look to have another big day on Sunday. His rapport with Aaron Rodgers is the best rapport in the league and I expect them to hook up often on Sunday.
Top 3 TEs
Noah Fant – Denver Broncos
The Broncos close the year out against the Las Vegas Raiders in another lost season. The offense hasn’t been great, but the most reliable weapon for Drew Lock has been Noah Fant. These two need to end the season with a bang and head into the offseason on a high note. Eight plus targets for Fant seems very reasonable.
Mike Gesicki – Miami Dolphins
Gesicki’s best game of the year came in Week 2 vs. the Bills. In a pivotal, must-win game for the Dolphins, Gesicki is going to need to step-up for the depleted receiving corps and give Tua the security blanket he’s going to need.
Jimmy Graham – Chicago Bears
Graham has hauled in three touchdowns over the past three games for the Bears and I think he’ll have to come up big for the Bears if they want to upset their bitter rival. He’ll also look to have a better performance than his first game where he was only able to muster 32 yards.
Top 3 Kickers
Tyler Bass – Buffalo Bills
The Dolphins gave the Bills their first test of the season early. Both teams have made significant strides, but I expect the Dolphins defense to slow down the Bills and for Bass to be called on often.
Matt Gay – Los Angeles Rams
I think this game between the Rams and Cardinals on Sunday will be decided by a field goal. The Rams defense is going to keep them in the game and Gay is going to be called on a few times for points and to seal the game.
Chris Boswell – Pittsburgh Steelers
I think the Browns will slow the Steelers offense down with Mason Rudolph at QB. With that being said, I see Boswell carrying some of the point load during this game.
Top 3 DEF/STs
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins defense will have to step up and have one of their best games of the year on Sunday, which could be difficult cause they’ve had a handful of good games. This game will set the tone for the Dolphins in the playoffs.
New York Giants
The Giants have played almost every team this year tough on defense. They’ll need to secure the win Sunday morning and hope that Philadelphia can beat Washington to get them into the playoffs.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns will need their defense to step up big with Pittsburgh starting Mason Rudolph to ensure they can get their long-awaited playoff bid.