The penultimate week in the 2024/25 NFL regular season, which kicked off on Christmas Day with a double header and a single game on Thursday Night Football, continues on Monday morning with a small 8-game slate for us to get our teeth into. Things kick off with a 6-game early window, highlighted by four Divisional matchups that should provide some spicy content, before a two-game late window with a huge clash between the Vikings and Packers.
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NFL 2024-25 Daily Fantasy Tips: Week 17
Quarterbacks
Baker Mayfield - $15,190
Baker comes up against a poor Panthers defence in a total lined at 48, where points are expected. Whilst Baker struggled last time out against the Panthers, I expect him to look better this week. Mayfield has had a tremendous season, ranking 3rd in the NFL in passing touchdowns, and 4th in passing yards. Meanwhile, the Panthers rank 30th in DVOA against the pass, and have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
Joe Flacco - $8,000
Not a lot to pick from in this slate at quarterback, and this one could obviously be a no-go if Anthony Richardson plays this week. But, if Flacco plays, he could have a massive day against a Giants defence that has given up on the season. The Giants, over the past four weeks, have allowed quarterbacks by the name of Cooper Rush, Derek Carr, and Michael Penix Jr look serviceable, so a Joe Flacco with nothing to lose could destroy them. At the price, it’s worth a pop for players to have a team with Joe Flacco, so they can load up elsewhere.
Running Backs
Josh Jacobs - $16,710
Jacobs has been unbelievably consistent over the second half of the season, with eight 20+ scores over the past 9 games. Despite the Vikings being a top 3 defence against the run-in fantasy, it’s hard to imagine Jacobs not getting the volume to once again put up a 20+ score. This game is expected to be tight, so Jacobs should get plenty of touches, and if he can get into the endzone, I love Jacobs again this week.
Bucky Irving - $14,170
Bucky Irving gets the A1 matchup for running backs this week, as he takes on a Carolina Panthers outfit that has been consistently steamrolled by running backs this season. Less than a month ago, Irving had his biggest game of the year against this very defence, rushing for 152 yards and a touchdown, whilst hauling in 3 passes for 33 yards. Irving should continue to act as the Bucs’ number 1 running back and will once again go close to being the highest scoring running back in this slate.
Tyjae Spears - $9,010
We backed Spears last week, and he delivered with a massive 21.6 points for us at a cheap $8,760. This, despite Tony Pollard playing in the game, showed Spears has taken over as the lead back at the Titans to close out the season. Once again, Pollard has missed practice all week, and appears in line to play on a limited basis. Spears gets a great matchup this week against a Jaguars defence that concedes the second most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. A quality RB2/FLEX option again this week.
Wide Receivers
Brian Thomas Jr. - $14,240
Have the Jags stumbled upon the best wide receiver in this year’s draft? With just two weeks left in the season, I would say without a doubt they have. BTJ has been tremendous this season, and even after Trevor Lawrence was shut down for the year, Thomas Jr has continued producing with Mac Jones under center. In the four games since the bye, Thomas has averaged 12.3 targets, 10.3 receptions, 99.8 yards, and one touchdown per game. Against a Titans defence that was non-existent last week against the Colts, expect another big game from the rookie this week.
Mike Evans - $14,090
Evans requires 91 yards per game over the next two weeks to reach his goal of an 11th straight 1000-yard season in the NFL. Baker Mayfield has come out and said he wants nothing more than for Evans to reach this goal, so I have no doubt Evans is going to be targeted heavily this week. Evans scored 28.8 points five weeks ago against this team, hauling in 8 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers pass defence is only slightly better than their run defence, which isn’t saying much. Expect Evans to have another big game this week.
Jordan Addison - $11.980
We will keep going back to the well with Addison, as his upside at this price is hard to ignore. Back in week 2, Addison managed a solid 22.9 points against the Vikings. Since week 11, Addison has been targeted far more often by Sam Darnold, averaging 8.7 targets, 5.8 receptions, 84.7 yards, and one touchdown per game. With fantasy scores of 33 and 42 in that span, Addison can be a match winner for you if he gets it right again this week.
Tight Ends
Jonnu Smith - $11,120
Jonnu Smith just keeps on keeping on. In one of the bigger surprises of the season, Smith has put up huge numbers, particularly in the second half of the season. This week, Smith gets a great matchup against a Cleveland Browns defence that has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. With both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle questionable, expect Tua Tagovailoa to feed Smith during this game. With Smith averaging close to 21 points per game over his last 6, he is a great option for an elite tight end this week.
Chig Okonkwo - $7,330
Okonkwo has taken over as Mason Rudolph’s number one target the past two weeks, averaging 10.5 targets, 8.5 receptions, and 70 yards per game over that span. This week, the Titans take on a Jags defence that have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. Okonkwo should continue to be heavily involved in the Titans offense this week and get you a decent score through volume.
D/ST
Indianapolis Colts - $6,400
This is purely a play against a horrible Giants offense, that is more than likely the worst unit in football right now. Now, the Colts may come into this game with nothing to play for if the Broncos win on Saturday, and if that’s the case the defence might not turn up to play here. However, if the Colts are still alive in this game, I expect their defence to score points against the Giants. The Colts are a bottom half of the league defence at getting to the quarterback, but with this offensive line guarding Drew Lock, expect them to get a handful of sacks this week.
Dallas Cowboys - $4,540
The Cowboys D/ST is the play of the week here, taking on an Eagles offense without Jalen Hurts at quarterback. Kenny Pickett has been slated to start, so sacks and turnovers are well and truly on the table. The Cowboys defence has been vastly improved since the return of Micah Parsons, with scores over the past five weeks including 22, 17, 15, and 8, and I expect double digits for the Cowboys this week. They are the third cheapest D/ST unit, and I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see them lead the D/ST scores in week 17.
Suggested Draftstars Lineup
