Welcome to the Week 17 DFS NFL picks article for Draftpot, a brand new way to play fantasy sports. Draftpot is similar to other DFS sites except there is no salary cap restrictions. They offer two separate game types(Fan Mode/GM Mode). For NFL, Fan Mode allows you to build a roster of 1 QB,2 RB,3 WR,1 TE,2 FLEX,1 K,1 DEF without salary restrictions. You can roster anyone you want. In GM Mode, you also roster the same positions but have a Drafpot Points Per Game(DPPG) cap. Each player have a PPG value attached to their name which is a reflection of their previous 16 games played. This gives a more transparent look at player value.
Need other NFL Picks? Chris Raybon's Week 17 NFL Plays and our Week 17 Value Plays piece.
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When making my picks I will be looking at a multitude of information (Vegas lines, totals and player props, targets, defensive matchups, injuries, offensive line rankings and of course DPPG) to break down all the players in the pool to provide you with the best analysis possible for the slate at hand.
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To win a tournament in Fan Mode you won't be able to just pick the top players at their positions each week. You will need to differentiate yourself with some low ownership picks. One way I love doing this is picking good players who are coming off a bad to horrible week. Recency bias plays a huge part in daily fantasy and is something we can use to our advantage to gain an edge on the field in large field GPP tournaments. I feel there is a tremendous opportunity for this here in week 14 with the number of poor performances by top players last week.
Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons (DPPG - 14.98)
Opponent- vs. NO
The Falcons missed the playoffs and will be looking to accomplish a few things in their final game. First off you can bet they want to close the year out strong for their home fans. Second, Julio Jones has an outside chance to break a few NFL records. More about Julio in the WR section but long story short if he is to come close to the records Matt Ryan is going to have to have a monster game. This will not be out of the question as the Falcons host the Saints and their awful defense.
Stack With - Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman
Ben Roethlisberger - Pittsburgh Steelers (DPPG - 18.69)
Opponent- @ CLE
The Steelers need to win and see the Jets lose to the Bills on Sunday to make it into the Playoffs. With both games kicking off at the same time, they will have to concentrate on their own task in beating the Browns. Big Ben put up 379 yards through the air with three touchdowns earlier in the year and will be looking for a bounce back game after a puzzling defeat to the Ravens last weekend.
Stack With - Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, Heath Miller
Also Consider: Ryan Fitzpatrick - New York Jets @ BUF (18.73 DPPG)
Deangelo Williams - Pittsburgh Steelers (DPPG - 10.15)
Opponent- @ CLE
It will be a tough matchup as the Browns have been a top 5 defense vs. RB's the last three weeks. This does not worry me however as the Steelers need to win to have a shot at the playoffs and will look to crush the Browns on Sunday. He is a very good receiver out of the backfield and should easily see 5+ targets to go along with 20+ carries which should provide a ton of upside.
Frank Gore - Indianapolis Colts (DPPG - 12.67)
Opponent- vs. TEN
With his career possibly coming to an end on Sunday Gore will be looking to go out with a bang and follow up last weeks strong performance. He rushed 15 times for 85 yards and 2 TD's and looked like vintage Gore mowing over tacklers on his way to the endzone. The Colts passing game hasn't been anything to write home about so Gore could even see 20+ carries on Sunday as he is just over 100 yards away from another 1,000 yard season in his hall of fame career.
Also Consider: Adrian Peterson - Minnesota Vikings @ GB (DPPG - 14.45)
Julio Jones - Atlanta Falcons (22.01 DPPG)
Opponent- vs. NO
He will most likely be one of the highest owned WR's this week. This shouldn't scare you off though. If you fade him you could miss out on a monster performance and be left in the dust in tournaments. Julio has a chance to break two NFL records(Single Season Receptions & Yardage) Sunday and will need a big game to do so. He needs 17 catches to pass Marvin Harrison and 243 yards to pass Calvin Johnson. He also draws a fantastic matchup vs. the terrible Saints defense.
Antonio Brown - Pittsburgh Steelers (21.46 DPPG)
Opponent- @ CLE
I really feels like a week where the Pittsburgh Steelers go off for 30+ points. They are motivated to make the playoffs and need a win and some help to make it. It all starts with the Roethlisberger/Brown connection. Brown was 3rd in the league averaging 11.7 targets per game and has put up 123 receptions for 1,647 yards and 9 touchdowns. He should easily see another 10+ targets this week against the weak Browns secondary making him an elite play.
Also Consider: Micheal Floyd - Arizona Cardinals vs. SEA (DPPG 12.63)
Zach Ertz - Philadelphia Eagles (DPPG - 11.39)
Opponent- @ NYG
He has led all Tight Ends in targets(37) the last three weeks and has turned them into 26 receptions for 298 yards and a touchdown. He has clearly become one of Sam Bradford's favorite targets and approaches a great matchup Sunday vs. the Giants who bleed points to Tight Ends.
Travis Kelce - Kansas City Chiefs (DPPG - 12.16)
Opponent- vs. OAK
The Chiefs have been red hot winning nine games in a row and have put themselves in a position to win the division in Week 17. They would need a win vs. Oakland and San Diego to upset the Broncos. As for Kelce he has put up two straight weeks with double digit fantasy points and now gets an elite matchup vs. the Raiders who rank near the bottom in points allowed to Tight Ends.
Also Consider - Zach Miller - Chicago Bears vs. DET (DPPG - 7.19)
St. Louis Rams (DPPG - 8.88)
Opponent- @ SF
The Rams Defense gets a great matchup in Week 17 vs. the 49ers who have allowed the most sacks(52) of any team in the NFL. Add to that the Rams rank 7th in sacks(40) themselves, and it could be an ugly day for Blaine Gabbert and whoever may take over for him in the second half.
Washington Redskins (DPPG - 7.44)
Opponent- @ DAL
The Redskins have been pretty consistent this year on defense recording multiple sacks in seven of their last eight games. They have struggled with interceptions(9) this season but get a great matchup Sunday vs. the Cowboys who will be starting rookie Kellen Moore.
Blair Walsh - Minnesota Vikings @ GB (DPPG - 11.13)
Opponent- @ GB
It will be a bit risky as they play outdoors in Green Bay but Walsh has been extremely clutch from 50+ yards. He kicked two 50+ yarders last week(5 total FG's) and should have plenty of opportunities again this week as the Vikings have struggled to capitalize when getting to the opponents side of the field.
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