FanDuel NFL lineup: Week 17
Wide Receivers: Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons-$8,400; JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers-$7,300; T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts-$6,700
Jones had one of his best games of the season last week, with seven receptions for 149 yards against the New Orleans Saints. He seems to always be dealing with something, and this week it’s ankle and thumb issues. But Jones proclaimed he’s “good to go” after Thursday’s practice, and his availability for Sunday against the Carolina Panthers is not in doubt.
Jones had six catches (on 12 targets) for 118 yards against the Panthers in Week 9, and it’s shaping up to be a very favorable matchup this week. Carolina has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers now, (ESPN PPR scoring), including a touchdown to the position in six straight games from Week 9-Week 15.
Jones always has a boom-or-bust element to him. But as long as he plays, Week 17 should bring a nice boom.
With Antonio Brown out, Smith-Schuster had six receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown against the Houston Texans on Christmas night. Over the last two games, with Brown injured early and then out, the rookie out of USC has 12 receptions (on 13 targets) for 189 yards.
The Steelers have something to play for in Week 17, as a win over the Cleveland Browns gives them a chance to have homefield advantage through the AFC playoffs. But Ben Roethlisberger and Le’Veon Bell are both expected to be rested anyway, which makes Landry Jones Pittsburgh’s starter under center this week.
The Browns have been pretty good against wide receivers overall this season, ranking in the top half of the league (ESPN PPR scoring). But they have allowed at least one touchdown to the position in 10 of 15 games, and their success holding wide receivers in check can be chalked up in part to game scripts and the sixth-fewest targets (260) allowed to the position.
The Steelers tend to play down to their competition, and Cleveland has a top-10 run defense. So passing to move the ball could be in order all game on Sunday, even with Jones playing quarterback, and I still like Smith-Schuster to threaten double-digit targets.
Hilton had his fourth 100-yard game of the season in Week 16, with six receptions (on a season-high 12 targets) for an even 100 yards against the Baltimore Ravens. His previous 100-yard game game against the Houston Texans in Week 9, and the Colts’ No. 1 wide receiver gets a rematch in Week 17.
The Texans are 27th in the league against the pass. By connection they’ve allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers (ESPN PPR scoring), and they are tied for the second-most touchdowns allowed to the position (18). In the first game against Houston, Hilton had five catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
With a glance at what is immediately above him in price at wide receiver, Hilton is a fantastic value at $6,700 on FanDuel this week.