The final two weeks of the NFL season are going to be hectic as some teams are jockeying for a better spot in the playoffs while others have nothing to play for. Some teams could elect to rest players or limit their workloads in certain games, so it’s crucial to stay updated on any news that drops before the games begin.
On top of the playoff picture, some players are trying to achieve certain incentives within their contracts or milestones. For instance, there might be a player that needs a certain number of passing yards to earn more money or a player could need a certain number of receiving yards to break a record.
After having games on Saturday in recent weeks, we’ll be treated to a massive 13-game main slate in Week 17. With plenty of teams to choose from, here are my favorite stacks for the main slate in Week 17 on DraftKings.
Patrick Mahomes ($8,500) + Travis Kelce ($8,100) or JuJu Smith-Schuster ($5,600)
Mahomes is among the QBs who are chasing history in the final two weeks as he needs 758 more passing yards to break Peyton Manning’s single-season passing record. The All-Pro quarterback has gotten the 300-yard bonus on DraftKings in eight of his last 10 games and he’s thrown multiple touchdowns in three straight.
When stacking with Mahomes, focus on pairing him with Kelce or Smith-Schuster. Kelce owns a 22.9% target share (second-highest among TEs) while Smith-Schuster is 23 yards away from earning a contract incentive for reaching 900 receiving yards.
Bring-back options: Jerry Jeudy ($6,400), Latavius Murray ($5,500), Courtland Sutton ($5,100)
Nearly all of the Broncos’ skill players are questionable this week, so you’ll want to keep tabs on their statuses over the weekend. Jeudy would be the primary target if he’s active as he’s scored 14-plus points in three straight games, including 33.3 points against the Chiefs in Week 14. The backfield of the Broncos is a mess with Chase Edmonds back, so prioritize the receiving weapons in Denver’s offense.
Jared Goff ($5,600) + Amon-Ra St. Brown ($7,800) + D’Andre Swift ($5,300) or DJ Chark Jr. ($4,300)
The game with the highest projected total in Week 17 is the showdown between the Bears and the Lions. Goff has posted 24-plus points in three of his last four games and he’ll get to play at home on Sunday, where he’s excelled this season.
St. Brown has a safe floor with eight-plus targets in nine straight games, but he also has a nice ceiling of 30-plus points, which he’s done twice in the last five weeks. Swift has gotten four-plus targets in five straight games while Chark has recorded 14-plus points in three of his last four outings.
Bring-back options: David Montgomery ($6,900), Cole Kmet ($4,500), Chase Claypool ($4,500), Khalil Herbert ($4,000)
The Bears lack receiving weapons right now, so using Montgomery or Herbert is viable, especially after the Lions just got gashed for 320 rushing yards against the Panthers in Week 16. Claypool practiced in a limited fashion on Thursday, so there’s a chance he returns on Sunday against a Lions defense that is allowing the third-most points per game to WRs. Kmet is also viable if you’re using a bring-back piece from the passing game of the Bears.
Trevor Lawrence ($6,200) + Christian Kirk (6,000) + Zay Jones ($5,000) or Evan Engram ($4,400)
Not many QBs are playing at a higher level than Lawrence right now as he’s combined for 1,909 passing yards, 14 passing touchdowns, and 1 interception in his last six games. He’s also rushed for 191 yards and another two scores in that span.
While the Texans have been strong against WRs, Kirk and Jones get enough volume to make them intriguing options with the Jaguars looking to make the playoffs. Engram has been a man possessed in recent weeks, totaling 31 receptions, 367 yards, and three touchdowns on 40 targets in his last four games.
Bring-back options: Brandin Cooks ($4,800), Royce Freeman ($4,600), Chris Moore ($4,200), Jordan Akins ($3,100)
This is a game that should benefit the pass-catching weapons of the Texans as they are expected to be playing from behind for the majority of this contest. Cooks returned last week and caught four passes for 34 yards and a touchdown. Moore is the No. 2 option in the passing game with Nico Collins on injured reserve while Akins has gotten more usage in recent weeks. If you believe the Texans keep it closer than expected, then Freeman is a low-rostered option as he’s gotten 27 total carries in the last two weeks.
Mike White ($5,400) + Garrett Wilson ($5,500) + Elijah Moore ($3,500) or Tyler Conklin ($2,900)
It appears that White is trending toward returning on Sunday, so we can seemingly fire up all of the skill players on the Jets with confidence again. White registered 22-plus points in two of his three starts thus far and the Seahawks allow the 11th most points per game to QBs.
Wilson is the main beneficiary of White returning as he was a true WR1, combining for 19 catches, 335 yards, and two touchdowns on 30 targets in his previous three starts. Moore and Conklin also receive boosts with White under center, so they are certainly worth considering if you need to save some salary.
Bring-back options: D.K. Metcalf ($6,900), Tyler Lockett ($6,600), Kenneth Walker ($6,200), Noah Fant ($3,400)
The Seahawks are another team dealing with injuries on offense as a decent amount of their skill players are questionable. Fant might be the best points-per-dollar play if he’s active as he’s caught a touchdown in three of his last four games and Will Dissly was just put on injured reserve. Marquise Goodwin could also become a viable bring-back option if Lockett is ruled out and Goodwin is active.
Kirk Cousins ($6,400) + Justin Jefferson ($9,500) + TJ Hockenson ($5,400) or KJ Osborn ($4,600)
Trusting Cousins to perform well in an important divisional game on the road in cold weather isn’t an ideal situation. That being said, he’s been much better as of late, recording 22-plus points in four of his last five games.
Jefferson is only 209 receiving yards away from breaking Calvin Johnson’s single-season record and we know he’s capable of doing that in a single game as he notched 223 receiving yards just three weeks ago and 183 receiving yards in Week 1 versus the Packers. Hockenson has six-plus targets in eight straight games and he just produced a season-high 38.9 points on 16 targets in Week 16. Osborn and Adam Thielen are volatile options, but I’ll side with Osborn due to his lower salary.
Bring-back options: Aaron Jones ($7,100), Christian Watson ($5,900), AJ Dillon ($5,800), Allen Lazard ($5,400), Romeo Doubs ($4,700)
The Packers won’t have a shortage of bring-back options as they spread the ball around on offense. We’ve seen Dillon become more involved in the red zone recently, so he could be a better value play than Jones on Sunday. There isn’t a team that allows more points per game to WRs, so Watson, Lazard, and Doubs are all worth having exposure to in Week 17. Watson is questionable to play on Sunday, so make sure he’s active before inserting him into your lineups.