NFL FanDuel DFS: Week 17 Early Only Cash Plays

Got your Week 17 NFL FanDuel lineups all set and looking for a good reason to avoid tinkering with them? Make some more lineups on some smaller slates!! This article will focus on the top cash game plays for the 1PM only slate on Fanduel.

For those who are unaware, NFL FanDuel cash games are simply the games in the Fanduel lobby that are 50/50 or close to that to win. These are basically all of the games other than the tournaments, and guaranteed prize pool tournaments (GPP’s). Head-to-Head’s (H2H), 50/50, and double-ups would best summarize cash games.

It’s our last week, and I want to say I am thankful for all of you who take the time to include this article in your research. We have a seven-game slate for week 17, and with all 16 games on Sunday, that means we also have a nice afternoon slate. In place of the two-game “Saturday Specials” I have done the last two weeks, I will also have an article for the eight-game PM only as well so keep an eye out for that.

I am sure we will have plenty of playoff football coverage here at FantasyCPR as well, so watch that Twitter machine as well, as we will always let you know when our latest releases are live. Let’s get that W here and go out on top, but first let’s look at last weeks results.

NFL FanDuel DFS: Week 16 Recap

I am a big fan of transparency, and I will be the first to admit I do not always get them right. But I think if you appreciate the conclusions I come to by you doing further research yourself, then I know you will be back for another read. Again, I am always here to help so reach out to me on Twitter, and that sample lineup is just a SAMPLE cash lineup. Regardless, I will play it every week, and we will track it right here!

QB – Nick Foles – $6,000 – (31.94)
RB – Ezekiel Elliott – $8,800 – (13.4)
RB – Nick Chubb – $7,900 – (12.5)
WR – Stefon Diggs – $7,300 – (8)
WR – Amari Cooper – $7,000 – (4)
WR – Antonio Callaway – $5,100 – (0)
TE – Zach Ertz – $7,400 – (29)
FLEX – Dalvin Cook – $7,100 – (12.3)
DEF – Philadelphia Eagles – $3,200 – (5)

                                                                        (116.14)

Back and forth we go I guess. It was a rough week after a great performance last week, so let’s find out what went wrong here. Getting only 12 total FDP from the wide receiving corps is clearly the spot where it all went wrong. Even getting Zach Ertz at 4-5% across my 50/50’s wasn’t enough to sniff cash, as I finished somewhere in the low 80’s out of 100 in my large field 50/50’s.

We have seven games this week, and with 14 teams in action, there are really only two teams on this slate with playoff implications on the line. There is much more going on the afternoon slate, so I will be sure to include a more in-depth breakdown in that piece.

For the noon games though, Just the Patriots and Texans are playing for playoff position, and these will be the two most targeted teams for me on this slate by a mile. Look, it’s the unpredictability of week 17 that makes cash games tough. The best strategy in my opinion, is to make sure the guys you play are playing for something.

NFL FanDuel DFS: Week 17 Cash Plays (1PM Only)

QB -Deshaun Watson – Houston Texans – $8,200

As good of value that there is down below, I like rolling with the Watson/Hopkins at home against the Jaguars this Sunday. The Jags defense has been pretty solid for the last couple of weeks, but this Texans offense should get a boost with Lamar Miller returning after missing last weeks game.

In the first meeting between these two teams, Watson only threw for one touchdown and just 139 yards, but Miller was effective on the ground, amassing 100 yards on 22 carries. Watson was injured leading up to that game, and played through a bruised lung. He made the trip to Jacksonville on a private bus as the injury prevented him from flying, but his throws were obviously limited because of it.

Houston will secure a home playoff and the AFC south division title game with a win, and while it seems like a tough match-up on paper, I am paying up for Watson at QB on this slate. He has been looking like a playoff quarterback the last couple of weeks, despite the tough loss last week against the Eagles on the road. I think Watson and Hopkins hook up for at least one touchdown in this one, and the Texans win the south decisively 27-13.

***Also Consider: Josh Allen $7,700 – Tom Brady $7,600***

NFL FanDuel DFS: Week 17 Cash Plays (1PM Only)

RB – Saquon Barkley – New York Giants – $8,500

Let’s start by saying this, it sounds like the Panthers will hold Christian McCaffrey out of action with nothing to play for. The Cowboys are locked into the six seed, and even though Zeke says he is playing, I do not expect the starters to get much run in that one either. Oh but there is the Saints right? Nope, they have already clinched home field advantage, and Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram will both likely not see even close to their normal volume.

The only top-tier running back that seems safe at this point, is Barkley. The Giants have been out of it all year for the most part, but Barkley has been out there racking up stats every week. He needs just 114 total yards in this game to reach 2000 total on the season, and I am guessing the rookie has his sights set on that mark. He ranks second in receptions for running backs with 87 on the season, and he has found the end zone 14 times. It will be a tough go against this Cowboys defense, but it does not seem the volume will decrease at all.

RB – James White – New England Patriots – $6,500

This looks like a Sony Michel spot, and it very well could be. That is the main reason why I am not 100% comfortable with starting Brady in cash games this week despite the bargain price. However, if you know anything about the Patriots, the playoffs are approaching, and that means it’s James White season, or James White SZN as the kids like to say.

In the first meeting between these teams, Michel did eclipse 100 yards on 20+ carries, and Brady and his receiving back White were out of rhythm, connecting just one time on five targets for five yards. One promising aspect of that, was that they shifted gears and gave White nine carries, which is rare for White who usually does his damage through the air. He busted off 73 yards on those nine carries, as the Pats ran all over the Jets.

***Also Consider or FLEX: Jamaal Williams $6,800 – Elijah McGuire $6,300 – Kalen Ballage $5,100***

NFL FanDuel DFS: Week 17 Cash Plays (1PM Only)

WR – DeAndre Hopkins – Houston Texans – $8,700

Although he carries a questionable tag, he played through the same ankle injury last week, and was limited at Thursdays practice. Hopkins is the most expensive receiver on the board this week for this slate, and even with a tough match-up against the Jaguars, he is my top guy.

Hopkins had an incredible season, and in fifteen games, he failed to reach double-digit FDP just once all season, and he had 9.9 in that game. On this slate, only Davante Adams has a better per game FDP average, as DeAndre is averaging 17 FDP per game. Hopkins ranks second in receiving yards with 1425, and has found the end zone 11 times. After a rough 2017 season with Watson injured, Hopkins is back to being one of the top threats in the league.

WR – Julian Edelman – New England Patriots – $7,100

Edelman is another receiver who has been nothing short of consistent all season long. In 11 games played, he has failed to reach double-digit FDP’s just twice. However, he hasn’t reached 20 FDP in any game either. The Patriots need a win for hopes at home-field advantage and a bye, and my guess is Edelman will likely fall right in that 12-15 FDP range once again.

I want a sure thing here, and I know Brady will target Edelman often in this one as always, as he has seen double-digit targets in six of the last eight games. In the first meeting at New York, he only saw five targets, but turned that into four catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. He could easily get loose again against this Jets defense, and a touchdown here will likely seal the deal on whether or not I cash.

WR – Calvin Ridley – Atlanta Falcons – $5,900

I think this one along with Sterling Shepard are shaping up to be the chalk, as word is that Julio Jones will likely be held out of week 17. Jones is currently questionable with sore ribs and a hip injury, that he has played through pretty much all season. Whether Julio plays or not, I am looking at the value here in Calvin Ridley, as it wouldn’t feel right if we didn’t target the Bucs defense anywhere.

In all seriousness, Ridley is shaping up to be a solid threat opposite Julio Jones, as he has found the end zone nine times this season. If Jones does sit I like him a bit more obviously, but nothing changes for me even if he does play. He had a rough game in the first meeting between these teams, but he is a much better NFL receiver since then. I look for Ridley to find the end zone and easily hit value here.

***Also Consider or FLEX: Kenny Golladay $6,800 – Robert Foster $5,800 – Sterling Shepard $5,500***

NFL FanDuel DFS: Week 17 Cash Plays (1PM Only)

TE – Rob Gronkowski – New England Patriots – $5,800

Gronk is beat up. It’s clear he isn’t 100% if you watch him run routes and try to block (and tackle) you know what I mean. That doesn’t mean he is any less of a match-up nightmare for opposing defenses in my opinion, as he still is nearly impossible to defend with his size and hands alone. I think this may be Gronks last hurrah, and he will do his best as a competitor to help this team make another playoff run.

I have been back on the Gronk bandwagon since the last time these teams met when he scored just his second touchdown of the season, and scored 13.1 FDP. Since then its been up-and-down, as there was last weeks goose egg against the BIlls, and then the dominant eight catch, 107 yard outing against the Dolphins three weeks ago. Regardless, I am on this train for one more week, and I hope to see a Gronk spike or two on Sunday.

***Also Consider: Austin Hooper $5,200 – Cameron Brate $4,900***

DEF – Houston Texans – $5,000

By now you are aware Houston can clinch the AFC south and a home playoff game with a victory, and the word is that Blake Bortles will be back under center for the Jaguars. With this news, my only hope is that I can somehow find a way to get this defense in a lineup or two, although it may not make the grade for the final cash line, because they are just too expensive.

The last time the Jags faced the Texans, Bortles was benched just past the halfway point, after fumbling twice. With the money Jacksonville paid Bortles, they have to give him another shot to sort this thing out, and I don’t like his chances at all against Houston this Sunday.

***Also Consider: New England Patriots $4,100 – Buffalo Bills $3,700***

NFL FanDuel DFS: Week 17 Sample Cash Lineup (1PM Only)

The line-up below is meant to be illustrative only to further back-up the logic laid out in previous slides. It is not an optimal line-up. It is in fact, just a “Sample Lineup.”  

QB – Deshaun Watson – $8,200
RB – Saquon Barkley – $8,500
RB – James White – $6,500
WR – DeAndre Hopkins – $8,700
WR – Julian Edelman – $7,100
WR – Calvin Ridley – $5,900
TE – Rob Gronkowski – $5,800
FLEX – Kalen Ballage – $5,100
DEF – New England Patriots – $4,100

I hope you enjoyed some slate specific coverage today. We have TONS of FREE content here from many incredibly talented writers at FantasyCPR, and new stuff to check out constantly. As we try to cover more and more angles of fantasy sports, you will see more articles focusing on the smaller slates among the different NFL DFS sites. Good luck on the early slate!