Fantasy soccer sit-and-start recommendation ought to all the time be relative and league-dependent. Word that some gamers are focused for DFS. Good luck together with your Week 17 lineups!
Begin: Sam LaPorta, Brandin Cooks
LaPorta is coming off his quietest sport of the season however ought to bounce again in a good spot Saturday night time. All 9 of his touchdowns have come towards single-high protection, which Dallas makes use of on the league’s second-highest price. The Cowboys have additionally allowed the second-fewest schedule-adjusted fantasy factors to the slot during the last 5 weeks, so LaPorta could possibly be busier than Amon-Ra St. Brown in a matchup with this week’s highest whole (52 factors). LaPorta could possibly be the highest possibility this week at a abruptly loaded tight finish place.
Cooks is averaging 67.2 receiving yards with 4 touchdowns over six dwelling video games this season; he’s averaging simply 19.4 receiving yards over eight video games on the highway. The Lions are a pass-funnel protection permitting the fewest fantasy factors to working backs however the sixth-most to broad receivers this season. The Cowboys have a 29-point implied workforce whole, so Cooks might be began throughout championship week.
Sit: Tua Tagovailoa, Gus Edwards
Tagovailoa is banged up together with his offensive line, Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane and Tyreek Hill, whereas Jaylen Waddle has been dominated out for Sunday. The Ravens are permitting the second-fewest fantasy factors to QBs and NFL-lows in YPA (5.8) and TD passes (15). The Dolphins have a decrease implied workforce level whole than the Jaren Corridor-led Vikings this week. Given Miami’s accidents and the matchup, Tagovailoa is a bench candidate in Week 17.
Edwards has scored in back-to-back video games, however it’s required seven carries contained in the five-yard line. He noticed simply 43% of the snaps final week and misplaced 13-of-23 RB alternatives to Justice Hill, so Edwards managers are banking on one other brief rating. Miami has run protection and has yielded the seventh-fewest fantasy factors to working backs this season.
Begin: Ezekiel Elliott, Stefon Diggs
Elliott continues to dominate New England’s snap share with Rhamondre Stevenson out, together with seeing 10 targets final week. The Patriots sport a lowly 13.5-point implied workforce whole, so Elliott’s upside is restricted, however he’s a workhorse getting all of the high-value touches. Elliott missed Thursday’s observe with an sickness, however he’ll be value beginning assuming he’s good to go Sunday.
Diggs makes an surprising look right here because of someway averaging simply 39.3 receiving yards with just one landing over his final six video games. He’s handled poor sport scripts during the last two weeks, when Josh Allen has averaged simply 18 cross makes an attempt. Diggs led the league in goal share and first-read goal share final week, and he’s scored throughout every of his final 4 video games towards New England’s man-heavy protection. Buffalo has the fourth-highest implied workforce whole (26.5 factors) this week, and the Patriots may need the league’s finest run protection. Don’t sit Diggs in your fantasy championship.
Sit: Drake London
Begin: Bears D/ST
London is averaging simply 3.1 catches and 33.7 receiving yards with one TD over seven video games on the highway this season. Simply two broad receivers have reached 80 yards towards Chicago all season, and the Bears have performed particularly stout cross protection since buying and selling for Montez Sweat. The Falcons have a lowly 17.5-point implied workforce whole, so Drake is a bench candidate but once more this week.
Chicago’s protection ranks first in EPA/play and dropback EPA since Week 11, and Atlanta is averaging the third-fewest factors (13.6) on the highway this season. A banged-up Taylor Heinicke enjoying from behind whereas outside feels like a recipe for the Bears’ fantasy protection to rack up factors.
Begin: DeAndre Hopkins, Nico Collins
Hopkins ought to profit from the seemingly return of Will Levis, and he will get a Texans protection permitting the third-most schedule-adjusted fantasy factors to broad receivers during the last 5 weeks. Hopkins has the second-most air yards within the league and is a robust begin this week towards a pass-funnel Houston protection that’s stingy towards the run (and with an offense that ought to put up factors with C.J. Stroud returning).
Collins returned to a full observe Thursday and can profit from Stroud’s return. Collins is averaging a whopping 103.3 receiving yards, has scored all seven of his touchdowns at dwelling this 12 months, and his goal price jumps with Tank Dell off the sphere (and Noah Brown continues to be restricted by his knee damage). The Titans have allowed probably the most fantasy factors to Collins’ main aspect (LWR) this season, and the Texans have a wholesome projected workforce whole (24.0 factors). Collins must be thought of a top-10 WR this week.
Begin: Josh Jacobs or Zamir White
Sit: Josh Downs
There stays hope Jacobs performs this week, however he’s continued to overlook observe together with his quad damage. White noticed 80% of the snaps final week and can be value beginning if Jacobs sits once more. The Colts have allowed the second-most schedule-adjusted fantasy factors to working backs during the last 5 weeks, and Antonio Pierce likes to ascertain the run with the assistance of a abruptly stingy Raiders protection.
Downs hasn’t reached 10 PPR factors in a sport because the Colts’ Week 11 bye regardless of averaging 6.6 targets over that span. He’s seemingly compromised enjoying by way of a knee damage, and Gardner Minshew has struggled recently. Furthermore, Las Vegas’ finest nook Nate Hobbs performs the slot, the place Downs runs greater than 80% of his routes; the Raiders have ceded the fifth-fewest fantasy factors to the slot this season.
Sit: All Panthers
Begin: Travis Etienne Jr.
Chuba Hubbard is coping with a hamstring damage, and Bryce Younger is getting simply 5.2 YPA with 5 touchdowns over seven highway video games this season. Adam Thielen is averaging 6.2 targets, 3.8 catches and 47.6 receiving yards over his final 5 video games and hasn’t scored a TD since Week 6. Carolina has the second-lowest implied workforce whole (16.0 factors), so Panthers gamers belong on fantasy benches.
Etienne is coming off his worst sport of the season and has been the RB33 since Week 9, however he ought to bounce again within the fantasy championship. He’s seen his YPC drop from 5.1 final 12 months down to three.6 this season because of a heavier workload and poor run blocking, as Etienne leads the NFL in missed tackles compelled. He’s due for landing regression and will see loads of touches this week with Trevor Lawrence dominated out. The Panthers have allowed the third-fewest fantasy factors to quarterbacks however the fourth most to working backs this season, so hold Etienne in lineups.
Begin in DFS: Kyren Williams ($36), Tyrod Taylor ($20)
Williams has averaged 137.6 yards from scrimmage and scored 5 touchdowns over 5 video games since coming back from IR. He ranks prime three in red-zone carries and rush makes an attempt contained in the 10-yard line regardless of lacking 4 video games this season. The Rams offense ranks first in EPA/play, yards per play and factors per drive with their stars on the sphere this 12 months, and Los Angeles has a wholesome implied workforce whole (24.5 factors). The Giants have yielded the fifth-most schedule-adjusted fantasy factors to working backs during the last 5 weeks, so Williams is a DFS constructing block.
Taylor completed because the QB7 throughout a begin earlier this season, and he’s amongst a couple of quarterback choices obtainable on the minimal this week. He takes too many sacks however provides a speeding component that helps his fantasy ground. Furthermore, the Rams have allowed the second-most schedule-adjusted fantasy factors to quarterbacks during the last 5 weeks. Derek Carr simply scored a season-high in fantasy factors by a large margin towards LA final week, because the Rams have develop into among the best matchups for opposing QBs.
Begin: Kyler Murray, D’Andre Swift
Murray has gotten simply 6.3 YPA since coming back from knee surgical procedure, however has completed as a top-12 QB in three of his previous 5 weeks anyway. He put up 20-plus fantasy factors on the highway towards a tricky Bears protection final week and will get a better matchup in Philadelphia on Sunday. The Eagles have allowed the second-most passing touchdowns (31) and the third-most fantasy factors to quarterbacks this season. Anticipate a bounce again from Trey McBride and good fantasy manufacturing from Murray this week.
Swift has been tackled on the one-yard line and didn’t rating on the identical drive an NFL-high six occasions this season. Jalen Hurts stays a given on the aim line, however Swift has clearly been unfortunate with touchdowns this 12 months. He’s averaged 20.5 alternatives during the last two video games and will get an Arizona protection permitting the second-most YPC (4.7) this season. The Cardinals additionally rank final in run protection DVOA and have ceded by far probably the most schedule-adjusted fantasy factors to working backs during the last 5 weeks. This sport initiatives to have a quick tempo and the Eagles ought to rating near 30 factors, so Swift is a top-five RB this week.
Begin: Derek Carr, Chris Godwin
Carr has thrown six touchdowns during the last two weeks and has carried out higher on the highway this season. Tampa Bay has yielded the fifth-fewest fantasy factors to working backs however the ninth-most to quarterbacks this season, and Carlton Davis seems prone to miss Sunday’s sport with a concussion. A more healthy Chris Olave helps Carr develop into a viable starter this week.
Godwin has averaged 11.0 targets during the last three weeks, posting a 41% first-read goal price over that span (in comparison with 23% for Mike Evans). Godwin stays due for landing regression having scored simply as soon as all season regardless of seeing the sixth-most targets contained in the 10-yard line. Baker Mayfield is enjoying properly and firing missiles, so begin Godwin this week.
Begin in DFS: Christian McCaffrey ($42), Jacoby Brissett ($20)
McCaffrey noticed simply 14 carries final week however broke 100 speeding yards for the fourth time over his final 5 video games anyway. He’s gotten 6.8 YPC over that span and leads the NFL with 21 touchdowns this season. San Francisco should journey throughout a brief week and is coping with a number of accidents alongside its O-line, however the offense shall be motivated coming off an embarrassing loss in prime time. The 49ers have the very best implied workforce whole (31+ factors) this week, and the Commanders have allowed the fifth-most fantasy factors to working backs.
It additionally seems like a Deebo Samuel week.
Brissett has produced a landing throughout his final 5 (full) drives and leads the NFL in Passer Score (146.8) and adjusted web yards per try during the last two weeks. He now will get a San Francisco protection touring throughout a brief week whose opponents common the third-most cross makes an attempt this season. The entire for this sport shot up a whopping 7.5 factors since Brissett was named the starter over Sam Howell. Brissett is an attractive DFS play on the minimal this week.
Begin: George Pickens
Begin in DFS: Kenneth Walker ($22)
Pickens had an enormous sport and led Pittsburgh in targets and air yards throughout Mason Rudolph’s first begin final week. He’s an inconsistent participant who’s not a fan of blocking, however Pickens excels towards press and Cowl 3, coverages Seattle makes use of at amongst league-high charges. You’re not simply chasing final sport’s stats when beginning Pickens this week.
Walker’s standing must be monitored after lacking observe Thursday, however he’s a DFS possibility if good to go. K9 noticed 16-of-19 Seahawks’ RB carries final week, and he’s due for regression within the pink zone. Seattle has confronted top-12 run defenses every of the previous six video games, however get a Pittsburgh protection permitting the seventh-most schedule-adjusted fantasy factors to RBs during the last 5 weeks. The Seahawks are 3.5-point dwelling favorites, so sport script must be favorable. Walker is undervalued with an RB20 DFS wage this week.
Begin: Joe Mixon, Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Mixon has an NFL-high 11 carries contained in the five-yard line during the last month, and the Bengals offense might get a lift with Ja’Marr Chase returning to observe this week. The Chiefs have been one of many worst run defenses during the last 5 weeks, so hold Mixon in fantasy lineups.
Edwards-Helaire could lead on Kansas Metropolis’s backfield Sunday with Jerick McKinnon on IR and Isiah Pacheco lacking observe whereas in concussion protocol. La’Mical Perine can even get touches, however CEH noticed 30 with Pacheco out over the earlier two video games (and McKinnon was lively then). The Chiefs have the fifth-highest implied workforce level whole and are prone to bounce again after final week’s dud in a way more favorable matchup. Edwards-Helaire might simply be a top-10 RB this week if Pacheco sits.
Begin: Austin Ekeler, Jerry Jeudy
Ekeler noticed 19-of-23 RB alternatives final week throughout LA’s first sport with out Brandon Staley. He lacks explosion enjoying by way of an damage, however Ekeler ought to proceed to see high-value touches in a good matchup. The Broncos have allowed an NFL-high 5.1 YPC and the second-most fantasy factors to working backs this season. The unfold has dropped to three.5 factors after Denver benched Russell Wilson, so sport script shouldn’t be a problem for Ekeler this week.
Jeudy ought to have an expanded function Sunday with Courtland Sutton (concussion) unlikely to play and Marvin Mims Jr. a late addition to the damage report with a hamstring damage. New quarterback Jarrett Stidham might additionally profit Jeudy, whose goal price (18.8%) from Mr. Checkdown Wilson ranked 63rd amongst receivers. Jeudy is a irritating participant who was badly outplayed by Sutton this season, however he’s a sneaky fantasy begin this week.
Begin: Tucker Kraft, Ty Chandler
Kraft is an elevated function Sunday night time with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks all coping with accidents. Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon are additionally banged up, whereas Kraft continues to impress whereas beginning for an injured Luke Musgrave. He’s a strong begin Sunday night time.
Chandler didn’t see a lot work final week in a tricky matchup however dominated the snaps whereas the returning Alexander Mattison noticed simply 8% of them. Minnesota is prone to concentrate on its working sport extra this week with fifth-round rookie Jaren Corridor making his second profession begin, T.J. Hockenson out and Jordan Addison banged up. The Packers rank second-worst in run protection DVOA during the last 5 weeks, so Chandler is a robust begin Sunday night time.