Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow ($6.5K) vs. Arizona Cardinals
Burrow bounced back with his best game of the season last week, and he gets another favorable matchup Sunday. Quarterbacks have averaged 2.5 passing touchdowns against Arizona over the last six weeks, and CB Garrett Williams was just lost for the season. The Bengals have the league’s highest team total (31.5 points) this week.
Jacoby Brissett ($5.7K) @ Cincinnati Bengals
Brissett finally disappointed fantasy managers last week, as he struggled (-13.6% CPOE) and didn’t see his usual volume thanks in part to the Falcons having four 10+ play drives. He’ll get an opportunity to rebound against a Cincinnati defense allowing the second most passing scores (31) and the fourth most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Brissett has been the QB8 since taking over despite last week’s dud, and he’ll benefit from a matchup with the highest total (53.5 points) in Week 17.
Philip Rivers ($4.7K) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Colts surprised everyone by coming out pass-heavy Monday night, and Rivers played well during Indy’s loss. His DK salary was locked in before the performance, so Rivers looks like a bargain. He faces the NFL’s most extreme pass-funnel defense, as Jaguars’ opponents own the league’s highest pass rate (64.7%) by a significant margin. No running back has reached even 75 rushing yards versus Jacksonville this season, and the Colts are near touchdown underdogs, so volume should be there for grandpa Rivers.
Others: Drake Maye ($6.8K), Trevor Lawrence ($6.1K), Geno Smith ($4.4K)
Running Backs
Ashton Jeanty ($6.1K) vs. New York Giants
Jeanty just scored 10+ more fantasy points than any other running back versus Houston this season. Last week’s explosion will unfortunately raise Jeanty’s ownership Sunday, but he’ll be tough to fade in a prime matchup. The Giants have ceded an NFL-high 5.5 YPC this season and the second most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to running backs over the last five weeks. Jeanty has been majorly held back by his teammates during his rookie season, but he’s proven to be a special player with huge upside.
Rhamondre Stevenson ($5.9K) @ New York Jets
Stevenson played all but one snap after TreVeyon Henderson left with a concussion last week. Assuming Henderson misses Sunday’s game, Stevenson looks like a borderline RB1 against the Jets. New York has been gashed for the third most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to running backs over the last five weeks despite just facing a New Orleans team down to its RB4.
The Jets have been one of the worst run defenses since trading Quinnen Williams, and their opponents own the league’s third highest rush rate. The Patriots sport the second highest total (28.5 points) on the slate, so Stevenson is a DFS target this week.
Tony Pollard ($5.5K) vs. New Orleans Saints
Pollard has surpassed 100 rushing yards three straight games, including becoming just the second running back to do so versus Kansas City this season last week. Pollard’s day would’ve been bigger, but he was tackled at the one-yard line and also lost rushing scores to Tyjae Spears and to a silly penalty. Cam Ward has thrown multiple scores in three straight games after failing to do so over his first 12, as Tennessee’s offense is improving. The Titans are small underdogs (+2.5 points), so game-script shouldn’t be an issue.
Others: De’Von Achane ($8.5K), Chase Brown ($7.4K), Michael Carter ($5.2K)
Wide Receivers
Ja’Marr Chase vs. Arizona Cardinals
Joe Burrow has uncharacteristically struggled when throwing to Chase this season, but no player is due for more touchdown regression. Chase has zero scores over the last seven games, when he’s seen 86 targets and averaged 89.6 receiving yards. Chase also has the most dramatic splits in the league this year, as he’s averaged 30.0 DK fantasy points at home compared to 13.4 on the road.
Arizona just lost corner Garrett Williams for the year, and Chase stands out on a DFS slate missing five of the top eight WRs in this week’s consensus ranks.
Wan’Dale Robinson ($5.7K) @ Las Vegas Raiders
Robinson is coming off a fantasy dud in a tough matchup against a Vikings’ defense that remarkably hasn’t allowed a passing touchdown over their last six games. Robinson has been fantasy’s WR22 in PPR scoring this season, and there’s hope Jaxson Dart throws more Sunday facing a Las Vegas defense that struggles to pressure the quarterback.
Jakobi Meyers ($5.3K) @ Indianapolis Colts
Trevor Lawrence has an 8:0 TD:INT ratio over the last two weeks, and he’s playing at the highest level of his career. Sunday’s matchup could turn into a shootout, as both teams have pass-funnel defenses; the Colts have allowed the second fewest YPC (3.8) but the third most fantasy points to wide receivers. Sauce Gardner will likely remain out, and Meyers routinely sees targets inside the 10.
Others: Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($8.6K), Chris Olave ($7.2K), Josh Downs ($4.2K), Tre Tucker ($3.8K)
Tight Ends
Trey McBride ($7.5K) @ Cincinnati Bengals
McBride’s record streak of consecutive games (16) with at least five catches came to an end last week, but he gets the most favorable matchup possible Sunday. Tight ends haven’t exploded versus Cincinnati over the last two weeks, but the Bengals have still allowed 23% more fantasy points to the position than any other team this year. This matchup has the highest total (53.5 points) of the week, but McBride admittedly will be popular.
Others: Harold Fannin Jr. ($5.0K), Taysom Hill ($2.7K), Michael Mayer ($2.5K)
