Welcome to Week 17 and the last “full” slate of the 2016 season. It is far from a full slate, however, with several teams set to rest key starters for some or all of their games. While every matchup may take place on Sunday, this week has a short-slate feel due to fewer available elite options and what will be a loose salary environment by kickoff.
The role of late-breaking news about who will play a majority of snaps gives Week 17 a preseason DFS feel. Monitoring developments in the hours leading up to kickoff takes on extra importance. As does keeping an eye on Narrative Street, where Steve Smith will get fed (until he takes a swing at Dre Kirkpatrick), Antonio Gates may or may not be hobbling toward history, and several other records and contract incentives come into focus (hello, David Johnson and Mark Ingram).
Our focus, at the time this is being written, is to identify high-upside options who won’t be affected by last-minute developments. We can build around these plays when more value opens up on Saturday and Sunday morning. By then we could be confident enough in Rob Kelley’s health to ride him against the mail-it-in Giants, or fired up to give Rex Burkhead a shot if Jeremy Hill is out (well, “fired up” may be a little strong).
The main takeaway is to stay plugged in throughout the weekend, as the dynamics will change often before kickoff on Sunday. Thank you all for reading this season. It was a lot of fun. Good luck in Week 17, everyone.
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers, $8,800
Rodgers has been on an absolute tear since Week 7, posting our highest quarterback grade, five more touchdown passes than anyone else, and the second-most yards at his position. He has eight games of 20-plus FanDuel points in his last 10, including two 33-plus-point performances — one of which came last week. He will be chalky for a quarterback, as it’s no secret the Packers will be involved in one of the few games with both teams needing a win. Eating a little chalk is worth it with a red-hot Aaron Rodgers.
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