This article is part of our FantasyDraft NFL series.
Each week, RotoWire provides picks and values for FantasyDraft lineups. Users have a salary cap of $100,000 to select a lineup comprised of one quarterback, two running backs, two receivers, a tight end, two flex spots and one defense. The scoring is standard point-per-reception.
To roster some top-tier players in tournaments or in cash game lineups, you need some lower-priced sleeper options with upside. That's what we aim to bring you in this column.
Here are our fantasy football value picks for Week 17 on FantasyDraft.
QUARTERBACK
Ryan Fitzpatrick, $10,600 vs. BUF
Fitzpatrick has been incredible this season, notching 29 touchdown passes and more than 3,700 yards. He has more yards than Cam Newton, more touchdowns than Philip Rivers, and has thrown for a higher completion percentage than Aaron Rodgers. He has been very consistent in terms of fantasy production as well; notching at least 15 fantasy points in all but one full game this season, and that came in Week 1. He faces the Buffalo Bills in Week 17, who have given up double digit passing touchdowns 10 times. At his price of just $600 over the minimum, he makes for an excellent value play on FantasyDraft.
Brock Osweiler, $10,200 vs. SD
Osweiler is priced far too low at just $200 above the minimum on FantasyDraft considering his recent play. He has 63 fantasy points in the last three games. While his matchup against the Chargers defense isn't ideal--San Diego has been excellent against the pass and struggled on the ground this season--with Osweiler's price and him being one of the few quarterbacks all but guaranteed to play the entire game in Week 17, he's worth a flier on FantasyDraft.
RUNNING BACK
Bilal Powell, $8,800 vs. BUF
Powell has played the role of Dion Lewis, James White and Theo Riddick for the Jets of late, making him an attractive option on FantasyDraft given the full PPR scoring. He has 14 or more fantasy points in four straight games, catching 25 passes over that span. Pass catching backs have had success against Buffalo this season, which gives Powell a good matchup. White had 11.2 receiving fantasy points against the Bills, Darren Sproles had 12.5 fantasy points against Buffalo, and Dion Lewis caught six passes for 98 yards against them in Week 2. With Powell's price and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, he makes for a great play on FantasyDraft in Week 17.
Cameron Artis-Payne, $8,500 vs. TB
Jonathan Stewart and Fozzy Whittaker will likely not play on Sunday, and Mike Tolbert is a passing-game back who may get a goal line carry or two. Other than that, it is all Artis-Payne. At just $8,500, he could touch the ball 15 times, which makes him a very solid option on FantasyDraft. He faces the Bucs, who have given up a rushing touchdown in three straight games and have allowed at least 15 fantasy points to opposing running backs in seven of the last nine contests. Artis-Payne is set to be the feature back in an offense that runs the most often in the NFL, so it makes sense to play him in cash games and tournaments in Week 17.
WIDE RECEIVER
Willie Snead, $8,800 vs. ATL
Snead has been very consistent as of late, notching 75 yards or more in three straight games. As a volume catcher, he has been a cash game floor play, but given his matchup in Week 17 he makes for a contrarian tournament play as well. The Falcons have been incredible against opposing receivers this season, which will keep people away from the Saints' wide receivers based on matchup. In the last four games, however, the Falcons have allowed more than 600 yards and four touchdowns to opposing receivers.
Martavis Bryant, $10,500 vs. CLE
Bryant had just two touches for 10 total yards last week, which will impact his ownership given the recency bias. This bodes well for those who want to select Bryant this week, as he has a terrific matchup against the Browns. Cleveland has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers this season, including 11 touchdowns in the last six games. In the last game against Cleveland, Bryant caught six passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. He is a terrific play as a stack option with Ben Roethlisberger, but he also makes for a good play in cash games as well with a safe floor, given the fact that he has 12 or more fantasy points in all but two games this season.
TIGHT END
Gary Barnidge, $8,700 vs. PIT
Barnidge looks to end the season as a top-flight tight end, which is exactly what we have seen from him all season long. The only tight ends to average more fantasy points per game are Greg Olsen, Delanie Walker, Jordan Reed and Rob Gronkowski. Since Week 3, Barnidge's lowest output (other than 5.5 against the Bengals) is 7.7 fantasy points, and that came in Week 16 against the Chiefs, who rank among the best in the NFL in defending the tight end. He has had at least 10 fantasy points in every other game in that span. In Week 17 he faces the Steelers, a team that has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. Austin Davis is the Browns' quarterback, but Barnidge has proven to be successful regardless of who is throwing him the ball.
DEFENSE
Cincinnati Bengals, $6,400 vs. BAL
The Bengals defense has been one of the better fantasy units in the NFL, but yet it continues to fly under the radar. Only five teams average more fantasy points per game than Cincinnati, and given their matchup in Week 17, the Bengals defense makes for a terrific play against the Ravens. Baltimore has Ryan Mallett as their quarterback, and he remains one of the slowest in the NFL in terms of pocket movement. This bodes well for the Bengals' pass rushers as they look to add to their already high season sack total of 41.
