DFS week 17 starts early this week with a big-time Christmas Day doubleheader. Happy Holidays to all our readers and followers and let’s get right to our Main Slate cash game lineup recommendations. We will spotlight core plays to help you build your DFS lineup on Fanduel and DraftKings. In creating a successful lineup, we research and find positional values to see where you can save money and players with projected low ownership who can pay 2x-2.5x of their listed DFS salary.
You bank on getting a minimum of 20 points from the quarterback position. You can not miss this position. Expect to pay up at the tight-end position. You can save at other spots. A successful strategy can be the QB-TE stack. These core plays will give you a nucleus for your DFS build. The fantasy point-per-game averages referenced are those across FanDuel scoring rules.
These recommendations are designed to give you players we feel will be low-owned and good value and help you create a unique DFS build. We want a DFS lineup that is different from the masses and most likely made with an optimizer. Look for single or smaller slates to build your DFS bankroll. Expecting to hit the Sunday million jackpot regularly is not statistically sound.
DFS Quarterback
Lamar Jackson ($8k DraftKings and $8.6k Fanduel)
We are not messing around at quarterback in this slate, Lamar is chalk and we save salary elsewhere. The statistics are obvious, Lamar is the overall QB1 and it is hard to fathom how he can account for so many passing touchdowns on such low volume. In three of his last four games, Jackson his pass attempts were in the 20s and yet he still managed seven touchdown passes.
Jackson has just one rushing touchdown in his last eleven games but is still averaging 26.07 fantasy points per game. So from that perspective, Jackson’s fantasy output could be potentially even better. Houson’s defense is decent against opposing quarterbacks, ranking 14th in fantasy points per game allowed to the position. However, Jackson is match-up proof, failing to reach 20 fantasy points just twice in the last 15 games.
Additional options: CJ Stroud
DFS Running Back
Joe Mixon ($7.7k DraftKings and $8k Fanduel)
When researching the slate, there were no real stand-out options at running back. Derrick Henry was an obvious possibility but with us using Jackson as our quarterback, we settled on Joe Mixon. Despite the tough match-up, Mixon could potentially see a bump to his overall volume due to the injury to Tank Dell.
Across his last four games, Mixin is averaging over 18 touches a game, and with the potential for me, we like this play. Mixon is the overall PPR RB13, so it is not like we are rostering a punt play. There is also a strong possibility he has suppressed ownership with Henry on the slate and the difficult match-up. This is a risky choice but we are banking on the volume to carry us.
Additional options: Kareem Hunt, Jaylen Warren
DFS Wide Receiver
Xavier Worthy ($5.6k DraftKings and $6.6k Fanduel)
Xavier Worthy provides us with salary relief with us spending up at quarterback and running back. Worthy also gives us the ability to roster the Kansas City WR1 and exposure to Patrick Mahomes. Worthy has seen 11 targets in each of his last two games, totaling 33.6 fantasy points. The Steelers’ defense is showing cracks off late and Joey Porter Jr., their top corner, is highly questionable with a knee injury.
Pittsburgh ranks just 28th in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers and 20th overall against the pass. Rostering Xavier Worthy at his DFS price tag is a low-risk and high-reward scenario in this slate.
Additional options: George Pickens, Hollywood Brown, John Metchie
DFS Tight End
Pat Freiermuth ($3.9k DraftKings and $5.3k Fanduel)
Pat Freiermuth is a borderline TE1 this season, coming into week 17 as the overall TE13. The way to attack the Kansas City defense is via the tight end, as they rank dead last in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. Freiermuth inexplicably had just three targets last week versus the Ravens after having a touchdown catch in his prior three games.
Ironically, the other option we pondered was Dalton Schultz, who scored 13 fantasy points versus Kansas City last week. However, with us rostering Joe Mixon we chose Freiermuth as our DFS tight end. Another boon for us is that the expected return of George Pickens should open up the middle of the field even more for the Pittsburgh tight end.
Additional options: Dalton Schultz
Defense/Special Teams
Pittsburgh Steelers ($2.8k DraftKings and $4k Fanduel)
We chose the Steelers simply because they are at home and with their pass rush, always have the potential to create turnovers and sacks. In their last four home games, the Steelers’ defense is averaging 10.5 fantasy points, has 10 sacks, and forced 10 turnovers.
We do not recommend paying up for defenses and the Pittsburgh is the second cheapest unit on the Christmas Main Slate. As we stated above, they will most likely be without Joey Porter Jr. but expect to get back three starting defense players this week.
Additional options: Baltimore Ravens
DFS Tournament Stacks
Patrick Mahomes-Xavier Worthy-Kareem Hunt/ Chris Stroud-Nico Collins-Dalton Schultz/Lamar Jackson-Ma
Conclusion
Each week in DFS, your pay line for FanDuel is approximately 125 points, which equates to 2x per player. For example, a player with a $4500 salary needs 9 points. DraftKings pay line is approximately 134 points, which is 2.5x per player. So, for a $4500 salary, that player would need 9.9 points. We want to offer you player options that are projected for low ownership. Good luck with your DFS builds and please like and follow us on social media!
