This article is part of our FantasyDraft NFL series.
Each week, RotoWire will provide picks and values for your FantasyDraft lineups. Users have a salary cap of $100,000 to select a lineup comprised of a quarterback, two running backs, two receivers, a tight end, one FLEX spot, a kicker and a defense. The scoring is standard point-per-reception.
FantasyDraft is running two headline contests this weekend, each with built-in overlay:
- NFL $60K War Room, $25 entry fee
- NFL $24K Gunslinger, $10 entry fee
- NFL $12K Grinder, $5 entry fee
Without further ado, here are our fantasy football values and picks for Week 17 on FantasyDraft. This may include a top-tier option (star), a value play (value) and a cheap play (punt) at each position.
Quarterback
Value: Connor Shaw, Cleveland Browns $5,900
This is contingent on whether or not Shaw starts for the Browns this weekend, but all indications are that he will get the nod after getting first-team reps in practice. Shaw's price on FantasyDraft is an outlier being priced at $5,900, or $1,600 lower than any other quarterback. Assuming he start, he should be owned in nearly every league simply based on his price. Only 15 defenses are cheaper than Shaw, and only three position players have the same price, all of which have zero fantasy value.
With Shaw's price less than the minimum, he will likely be highly-owned if he is named the starter for the Browns, and he actually has a plus matchup. The Browns face the Ravens, who have allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season, which includes the last two weeks against the Jaguars and Texans, who combined for just 12 fantasy points. Prior to that, the Ravens allowed 14 touchdown passes in five games.
Running Back
Star: Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers $14,900
If you choose a cheap quarterback like Shaw, you will be able to afford some marquee players in your lineup on FantasyDraft. Look no further than Bell, who is the top option at running back this week. Bell faces the Bengals in a battle for the division. Bell has scored at least one touchdown in each of his last five games, and he has averaged 27.8 fantasy points per game over his last nine.
The Bengals are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season and have allowed 84 fantasy points to opposing running backs in their last four games. In the last matchup against the Bengals, Bell rushed for 185 yards, caught six passes for 50 yards and scored three total touchdowns. With the Steelers one win away from the division crown, expect a heavy dosage of the top running back in fantasy football this year.
Wide Receiver
Star: Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants $15,100
Beckham is the top option on FantasyDraft this weekend. Beckham has caught six or more passes for 90 yards or more yards in eight straight games. He also finds the end zone on a regular basis, catching at least one touchdown passes in four of his past five games. Beckham is going through one of the best stretches we have ever seen from a wide receiver in a three-game sample size, totaling 31 catches for 421 yards and six touchdowns for a total of 118 fantasy points on FantasyDraft,
As if Beckham's value needed a boost, he faces the Eagles and will likely line up against Bradley Fletcher in one-on-one coverage. Fletcher has allowed 61 catches for 1072 yards and nine touchdowns in coverage this season. He is last among all corners in yards and touchdowns allowed, and he has the highest passer rating allowed in coverage in the NFL among corners with a similar amount of snaps.
This is a matchup between the best wide receiver in the NFL right now and the worst cornerback in the league. Get ODB in your lineups.
Tight End
Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers $12,500
Gates is currently TE4 in PPR formats like FantasyDraft. He has had an excellent season, averaging 14.6 fantasy points per game. Gates has at least five catches in four straight games, and he has scored 15 or more fantasy points in three of his last four games. With a matchup against the Chiefs, the Chargers will try to be the third straight team to complete seven passes to a tight end. In Gates' last meeting with the Chiefs, he caught three passes for 61 yards and a touchdown.
Kicker
Blair Walsh, Minnesota Vikings $8,100
The Bears have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing kickers this season. Chicago has also allowed opposing kickers to attempt at least two field goals in all but one game. Walsh has struggled at times this year, but he has a good matchup and a big leg.
Defense
A few teams will be starting backups, so take a look at starting defenses against those squads. Here are some of the defenses to consider:
Baltimore against Cleveland
Bills against New England
Raiders against Denver (GPP play only)
Good luck this week, and do not forget to join the fun at FantasyDraft.com and sign up today.
